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but people argue he’s not actually in control and is just a puppet for the people who fund the campaigns
I think its a mix. Most of his close "advisers" who he handpicked from fox news and co dont come across as overly bright. However you then have Miller, Vance, Putin, Netanyahu and co who are all carefully massaging his ego and pushing him in the direction they want all the time convincing him that its his genius idea.
Trump's making a speech.
Basically announcing he's won the war again.
Nope, he's also pivoted to an arts centre he saved. Vibe surfing.
It really is the rambling of a total madman!! He's Grandpa Simpson
"Numerous countries are telling us they're on their way"
Like who, Don?
And to do what? Fight the navy and armed forces you just told us you've already completely destroyed?
WTF? He's claiming he predicted 9/11 now? That's a new one. The mans an absolute lunatic!!!
small surface craft that may or may not be manned, from the size of jet skis to large speedboats which they can pack with explosives and have hidden in caves along the coast
I wonder if it would be possible to protect tankers from that threat using something like the torpedo nets that battleships used to deploy. Something at water level, 20m out from the hull. On a swinging arm to retract it when in safe water.
Probably. But it's irrelevant, no one is going to insure you to deliberately take your ship into waters to be shot at.
Badenoch and Farage are on very dodgy ground with their gung-ho chest-beating.
Both have now obviously seen the polling, showing massive opposition to Trumps adventure, and their tiny minds have exploded.
They're both presently trying to backtrack and deny the things they're on the record as having said just a week ago, while simultaniously trying not to to upset the pro-Trump, pro-Israel, right-wing nutjobs who fund them.
Its a joy to watch as they fail to walk that particular self-inflicted tightrope
^^ Lol, you couldn't made it up could you?
Thankfully he's not in a position of any responsibility...
Some sort of US backed /based insuarnce is being looked at . I guess the premiums might be slightly on the heavy side though
I have spent long enough in toxic corporate office life to see what is going on here. Trump realises that he is in an unwinnable position and is looking for an ally to pass the project on to. At which point he will bugger off, and then point out what a bad job his sucessor did and how it would have been so much better if he had remained involved.
A humble but hard-to-counter "I'm sorry, but i dont believe that I have the skills or time to turn this project around enough to get the outcome we all want" are the words everyone needs.
^^ great analogy there, I reckon you are spot on.
^^ great analogy there, I reckon you are spot on.
I guess the premiums might be slightly on the heavy side though
I assume there will be some maga scum acting as an agent creaming off some cash though.
Out of curiosity had a look at the daily mail comment section on trumps latest whining about the UK not leaping to his aid. Think its probably the most pro-Starmer/Labour it has ever been.
I have spent long enough in toxic corporate office life to see what is going on here. Trump realises that he is in an unwinnable position and is looking for an ally to pass the project on to. At which point he will bugger off, and then point out what a bad job his sucessor did and how it would have been so much better if he had remained involved.
Some military bod on radio 4 has just said that Trumps proposal is that other countries would put their ships in the Strait, but the Americans would only supply air cover.
I can't imagine why theres no takers for that?
I'm sure there's a suitable quote from one the action films featured in their puerile social media posts about not starting things you can't finish
I can't imagine why theres no takers for that?
He did sweeten it with the suggestion that ground troops could also be sent in. I assume also belonging to everyone but the US and Israelis.
Honestly I am absolutely baffled why countries arent competing for the chance.
Does not surprise me in the least. Trying to get some other countries sailors to act as missile/drone catchers.
**** off with that. You want it, put your money where your mouth is
Does not surprise me in the least. Trying to get some other countries sailors to act as missile/drone catchers.
But the mango Mussolini says:
"and you don't want to get involved in something that is very minor, very few shots are going to be taken because they don't have many shots left."
Uh huh. If they dont have many shots left I think it would be a shame for us to sweep in and take the glory.
Surely this is now a job for Trump's board of peace nations, to step in and provide the boats and boots to protect shiping in the straight?
Surely this is now a job for Trump's board of peace nations, to step in and provide the boats and boots to protect shiping in the straight?
There's no hotel construction opportunities there, so it's a no from them.
Joking aside, I am beginning to think that this will become A Big Deal for for the global economy. As in, Covid-sized big deal. I just can't really see any way this could end other than:
- Huge humiliating climb-down by Trump
- Very long and protracted blocking of strait of Hormuz, sending oil price much higher (as in $200 per barrel)
- US boots on the ground in Iran
What else could happen? it is hard to imagine that the Iranians will manage to overthrow the regieme and make freinds with the west.
Lots of ‘thanks but no thanks’ statements coming out of European capitals, all asking for clarity on what on earth it is that they’re actually trying to do.
I’m sure that, overgrown toddler that he is, he’ll have an enormous hissy fit and leave NATO or stop supplying arms to Ukraine or some other nonsense.
The bloke is a walking study in narcissistic personality disorders
Occasionally I almost admit trumps royal disconnect from reality.
For him, of all people, to ask China to deploy ships to the straight it's pretty epic. Particularly as Iran said Chinese ships will be allowed to transit safely.
Perhaps they should ask Trump to make a deal?
Trump is looking for a reason to dump NATO so he can please his boss Putin and the Monsters Inc in the Piece of Board. Makes Brexit look even more stupid.
I’m sure that, overgrown toddler that he is, he’ll have an enormous hissy fit and leave NATO or stop supplying arms to Ukraine or some other nonsense.
If Ukraine had no cards that might be the case, but in what seems to be a surprise to Trump, the war he’s mongered need Ukrainian tech or is going to be even more embarrassing for him. If it wasn’t that innocent people are dying it would be funny.
Who knew that if you spend the best part of a decade hurling insults at and undermining your closest allies, that when you need them to dig you out of a hole entirely of your own making, you’re not met with much enthusiasm?
- Very long and protracted blocking of strait of Hormuz, sending oil price much higher (as in $200 per barrel)
Your list is already happening.
I doubt that the price of oil will continue to rise as quickly. People won't travel, will WFH, and industry will slow as people tighten their belts leading to lower energy needs.
Boots on the ground will end Iran's current leadership, but it's what fills the vacuum that bedevils outside interference. This was demonstrated by Iran as it is now, caused by the US!
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/18/middleeast/us-toppled-iranian-government-before-hnk-intl
Perun is required viewing ATM
I heard bits of his latest rant on the radio.
He did not sound "himself" I think the strain is taking its toll ....probably a very bad thing.
I bet Putin his having a nice single Malt tonight..grrrr
Trump and Hegseth should go full Titanic at the bow of the first escort vessel.
You know, lead from the front.
This was demonstrated by Iran as it is now, caused by the US!
And supported at the time by the Islamic revolutionaries that ultimately ended up in charge. While it doesn't excuse the actions at the time of either the US or UK govts, that the current Iranian govt use it in their own propaganda is somewhat disingenuous
Where's chewy when you need him?
*What way/if his name? @chewk?
Be fun to have him here.... Same gunner for@johnyhive or whatever his name was.
Didn’t take long for a big public burn to happen, Diaper Don’s gonna need large tubs of aloe vera to sooth it! 🤣
This was demonstrated by Iran as it is now, caused by the US!
And supported at the time by the Islamic revolutionaries that ultimately ended up in charge. While it doesn't excuse the actions at the time of either the US or UK govts, that the current Iranian govt use it in their own propaganda is somewhat disingenuous
Were they the same Islamic revolutionaries?
It's true that the CIA and SIS used Iranian media and clerics to disseminate propaganda in the lead up to the 1953 coup against an elected PM.
The current theocracy use the coup as evidence that you can't trust the US and why wouldn't they? The coup wasn't about Iran and Iranians. It was about oil and a Cold War win over Russia
Boots on the ground will end Iran's current leadership,
I don’t think the US is prepared for that. If it was part of the plan they’d be in the region by now. Marines are coming from Japan so we’re obviously not in plan A.
Boots on the ground raises the US casualties by an order of magnitude and that is politically hard - killing foreign girls in a primary school is awkward but killing soldiers needs a solid justification.
Joking aside, I am beginning to think that this will become A Big Deal for for the global economy. As in, Covid-sized big deal. I just can't really see any way this could end other than:
- Huge humiliating climb-down by Trump
I think this is the most likely - it won’t be a climb down in his head - he will declare victory and bring everyone home. Nobody can say he is wrong - because he never actually defined meaningful objectives.
I think if us gas prices reached over $6 a gallon the previous option has to happen… …otherwise, ironically, Trump might end up being responsible for US Car use reduction!- Very long and protracted blocking of strait of Hormuz, sending oil price much higher (as in $200 per barrel)
probably happens to a small extend before option 1.- US boots on the ground in Iran
What else could happen?
He is 79, clearly struggling mentally and physically. And that’s assuming natural causes!
I don't think the US are at all prepared for putting troops in Iran. I think the analysis that Israel and the US have probably degraded Iran's Air Defences and Air Force to the point of non-existence seems to be accurate, but the experience of Iraq and Afghanistan should be front and centre*
*Even as I wrote that, the idea that Hesgeth would pay any attention to the experience gained in those mis-adventures, is, of course, a non starter.
They aren't and they dont have anyone in the region, or even the things they need to bring the stuff they need. There's the marine expeditionary force but that's likely to be used to seize some tankers or maybe raid some islands.
There was an interesting interview with an Israeli commentator on Channel 4 news last night, that confirms what we all know anyway... that Trump is being led by the nose by Netanyahu.
He said that this isn't a war, this is two separate wars with very different set to aims. He said that the first war is Americas war and this is aimless and confused, with no plan, strategy, endgame or even any idea what it is they're even trying to achieve.
The other war is Israels war which is the opposite in that it is very focussed and is absolutely clear what it wants to achieve - a neutering of not just Iran but also its proxies in the region and, of course, its usual territorial expansion. It looks like they're planning on occupying areas of Lebanon on a long term basis, rather than this being a quick incursion. All the time while driving the Palastinians out of the West Bank while everyone's looking the other way.
This is why Netanyahu has completely ignored Trump requests and is just carrying on with his plan, regardless of what else is unfolding. He must be laughing his tits off that Trump hasn't just been dumb enough to do his bidding in Iran, but is now doubling down to try and draw in all the other NATO powers to also do his dirty work for him too.
Israel also doesn't give a toss about whether any oil makes it through the Straits of Hormuz or not.
I'm quietly impressed at how Starmer is dealing with all this nonsense. The scars from Iraq clearly run very deep in the Labour party, and more widely in the country. Badenoch and Farage are on very dodgy ground with their gung-ho chest-beating. How ironic would it be if staying out of the Iran war and pissing off Trump turns out to be the catalyst for a Starmer revival?
I'm not so impressed.
Compare the response of Germany's leaders to the UK's:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/europe-donald-trump-strait-hormuz-iran
Compare the response of Germany's leaders to the UK's:
TBF, Germany has a very different approach to foreign conflicts that Britain has had in the past - especially where the US and the Middle East is involved. Diplomatically, Starmer's response is about as hard a rejection as a UK PM can be.
I'm not so impressed.
Compare the response of Germany's leaders to the UK's:
Its almost as if one had the confidence of being part of a large economic block which gives it the heft to stand up to a bully, while the other was a small island, now very much on its own in the world and worryingly dependent on the whims of said bully?
Looks like Israel's Operation Ethnic Cleansing is about to enter phase 2 in Lebanon, now they're done with flattening Gaza