We all knew that was coming. I honestly don’t have the words anymore to describe what I think of Donald and his sycophants. He has put the whole world at risk because of his bigly ego and grab for power while Israel (too early to spell his name) laughs with glee.
What I’d like to understand or figure out is how are people not waking up? He’s about to throw most of them under the bus as there’s no way he’s taking responsibility for this. How can the government of the US become so corrupt in less than 5 seconds. They could stop him even if he says he’s above the law.
People say they are looking forward to his obituary, I’m looking forward to his incarceration and that of all who were with him on this.
a lot of people feel like things are moving too fast and not being checked properly.
But it’s rarely as simple as “everyone should wake up at once.” People see different information, trust different sources, and interpret events through their own lens...
that’s why you get such divided reactions.
As for accountability, that doesn’t happen in real time.
It plays out through courts, elections, and institutions... slowly, sometimes frustratingly slow, but that’s how systems are designed to avoid knee-jerk swings.
Right now, the bigger concern is how quickly this situation is escalating globally...
because once it spreads beyond one country, the consequences hit a lot more people than just the ones making the decisions.
Interesting take on the situation. One aspect (real or perceived on my part) that is possible, is that this whole Iran/Epic Fury debacle was instigated to weaken China. China is threatening the US domination of the global system. China also gets 80% of its oil from Iran. Take away China's oil and you weaken China. There are similarities here to the US curtailing Japan's oil acquisitions, prior to Japan's attack on the US in Dec. 1941. Will history repeat itself?
That’s a fair angle to look at Ron... energy has always been a pressure point in global power plays.
The difference this time is China didn’t leave itself exposed the way Japan did in the 1940s.
It’s diversified suppliers, built strategic reserves, and set up alternative payment and shipping systems specifically to avoid being squeezed that way.
So while energy pressure is definitely part of the chessboard, it’s not a clean “cut the oil, weaken China” move anymore...
it’s a lot messier, with ripple effects that hit everyone, not just one country.
Just like Greenland and Venezuela it was always about China. That was clear from the start.
Considering the expulsions from intelligence and armed forces top echolons it has also been clear that Trump did not want to hear about any problems in attacking Iran.
So in summary Trump and followers ignored info to the contrary and stormed in. Add Israel's long standing wish to take down Iran. They probably knew better but choose to ignore it as they are running out of time.
The starting point was imho to put the brakes on Chinese influence. But the US underestimated Iran or rather their ability and willingness to use leverage over their neighbours and thus the test of the world. That, I guess, is the message those replaced top people in the US army /CIA / etc. sent.
Add that an estimated 120 million barrels destined for China is in floating storage etc and additional amounts in smaller independent refineries around the world. Iranian regime will certainly not flinch at subjecting theor own population to further hardships. China is possibly a bit more fragile but Europe and increasingly USA will feel the economic crunch. And the population will not take kindly to it.
China has a social contract between regime and population like everybody else. There it is "you lift us out of poverty and we accept the control". If the population sees the poverty coming back with no way out they may protest, like in the so called "arab spring" which had nothing at all to do with freedom but everything to do with wheat prices going through the roof.
Absolutely, but as part of a long term strategy China watches and prepares for all contingencies as they can. Remember the covid lockdown where people were screaming from their windows? Rest assured the authorities remember.
I hear the anger Joe... a lot of people feel this is spiralling fast.
But once it turns into “my side vs your side,” we usually lose sight of what’s actually happening... multiple countries making moves that are raising the risk for everyone.
This conflict didn’t start in a vacuum, and it won’t end with simple blame either...
it’s already pulling in the whole region and disrupting global trade in a serious way.
That’s the part that worries me most...
when things get this tangled, nobody really controls how it ends.
We all knew that was coming. I honestly don’t have the words anymore to describe what I think of Donald and his sycophants. He has put the whole world at risk because of his bigly ego and grab for power while Israel (too early to spell his name) laughs with glee.
I get the frustration Claire... a lot of people are feeling it right now.
What worries me most isn’t any one leader… it’s how quickly this is turning into a multi-country pressure cooker.
When more players get pulled in, things stop being predictable...
and that’s when risk goes up for everyone.
What I’d like to understand or figure out is how are people not waking up? He’s about to throw most of them under the bus as there’s no way he’s taking responsibility for this. How can the government of the US become so corrupt in less than 5 seconds. They could stop him even if he says he’s above the law.
People say they are looking forward to his obituary, I’m looking forward to his incarceration and that of all who were with him on this.
I hear the frustration...
a lot of people feel like things are moving too fast and not being checked properly.
But it’s rarely as simple as “everyone should wake up at once.” People see different information, trust different sources, and interpret events through their own lens...
that’s why you get such divided reactions.
As for accountability, that doesn’t happen in real time.
It plays out through courts, elections, and institutions... slowly, sometimes frustratingly slow, but that’s how systems are designed to avoid knee-jerk swings.
Right now, the bigger concern is how quickly this situation is escalating globally...
because once it spreads beyond one country, the consequences hit a lot more people than just the ones making the decisions.
Vg thanks. Regards
Interesting take on the situation. One aspect (real or perceived on my part) that is possible, is that this whole Iran/Epic Fury debacle was instigated to weaken China. China is threatening the US domination of the global system. China also gets 80% of its oil from Iran. Take away China's oil and you weaken China. There are similarities here to the US curtailing Japan's oil acquisitions, prior to Japan's attack on the US in Dec. 1941. Will history repeat itself?
That’s a fair angle to look at Ron... energy has always been a pressure point in global power plays.
The difference this time is China didn’t leave itself exposed the way Japan did in the 1940s.
It’s diversified suppliers, built strategic reserves, and set up alternative payment and shipping systems specifically to avoid being squeezed that way.
So while energy pressure is definitely part of the chessboard, it’s not a clean “cut the oil, weaken China” move anymore...
it’s a lot messier, with ripple effects that hit everyone, not just one country.
Just like Greenland and Venezuela it was always about China. That was clear from the start.
Considering the expulsions from intelligence and armed forces top echolons it has also been clear that Trump did not want to hear about any problems in attacking Iran.
So in summary Trump and followers ignored info to the contrary and stormed in. Add Israel's long standing wish to take down Iran. They probably knew better but choose to ignore it as they are running out of time.
There’s definitely a China angle in all of this Peter...
energy and supply chains are a big part of the chessboard now.
China buys the majority of Iran’s exported oil (over 80% in recent years), so anything that disrupts Iran hits China’s energy picture too .
But it’s not a simple “this was all done to weaken China” move.
What we’re seeing is more layered...
U.S. pressure on Iran
Iran leveraging regional risk
China quietly protecting its own energy and economic interests
The problem is, once all three are in play, nobody is really in full control of the outcome anymore.
That’s when things stop being strategy… and start becoming consequences.
The starting point was imho to put the brakes on Chinese influence. But the US underestimated Iran or rather their ability and willingness to use leverage over their neighbours and thus the test of the world. That, I guess, is the message those replaced top people in the US army /CIA / etc. sent.
Add that an estimated 120 million barrels destined for China is in floating storage etc and additional amounts in smaller independent refineries around the world. Iranian regime will certainly not flinch at subjecting theor own population to further hardships. China is possibly a bit more fragile but Europe and increasingly USA will feel the economic crunch. And the population will not take kindly to it.
You’re right about the stockpiles...
between floating storage and what’s sitting in smaller refineries, there’s a buffer in the system.
That buys time for everyone, not just China.
Where I’d push back a bit is the idea that China is “fragile” here. It’s spent years building redundancy...
multiple suppliers, strategic reserves, and workarounds like the shadow tanker system.
It doesn’t make them immune, but it does make them harder to squeeze quickly.
The bigger risk, like you said, is downstream.
If this spills into shipping lanes or spikes energy prices, Europe and North America feel it fast...
and public tolerance for that kind of economic hit is usually pretty thin.
That’s when governments start making decisions based on pressure… not strategy.
China has a social contract between regime and population like everybody else. There it is "you lift us out of poverty and we accept the control". If the population sees the poverty coming back with no way out they may protest, like in the so called "arab spring" which had nothing at all to do with freedom but everything to do with wheat prices going through the roof.
There’s some truth in what you’re saying...
economic pressure has triggered unrest before.
The Arab Spring is a good example where rising food prices helped push already-frustrated populations over the edge...
But it’s rarely one trigger like “prices go up → people revolt.”
It’s usually a mix...
economic strain + political frustration + loss of trust.
China knows that, which is why it’s spent years building buffers... reserves, supply diversification, and tight internal control.
Could pressure build there?
Sure.
But it’s not a quick domino effect like 2011...
it would take sustained stress over time.
Right now, the bigger risk isn’t sudden collapse…
it’s slow pressure building across multiple regions at once.
And that’s a lot harder to predict... or contain.
Absolutely, but as part of a long term strategy China watches and prepares for all contingencies as they can. Remember the covid lockdown where people were screaming from their windows? Rest assured the authorities remember.
The 🇺🇸of 🇮🇱attempt to illegally destroy and illegally occupy Iran is worse than putin’s ongoing attempt to illegally occupy Ukraine.
❤️iran and ❤️Ukraine vs 🖕👹(🇺🇸of 🇮🇱) 🖕
I hear the anger Joe... a lot of people feel this is spiralling fast.
But once it turns into “my side vs your side,” we usually lose sight of what’s actually happening... multiple countries making moves that are raising the risk for everyone.
This conflict didn’t start in a vacuum, and it won’t end with simple blame either...
it’s already pulling in the whole region and disrupting global trade in a serious way.
That’s the part that worries me most...
when things get this tangled, nobody really controls how it ends.
Angry ? Absolutely not anger . DISGUST because justice is not evident.
There are two sides to:
HUMANITY , which I choose.
Those against HUMANITY, those genocidal dictators and their followers
Not a difficult choice for one who believes in HUMANITY