This US tanker burning in Persian Gulf last night is symbolic of Americaâs war of choice against Iran. Trump plunged us into a conflict w no militarily attainable objective and now no way out bc Iran is doing what no one else in the world has done for decades: refused to submit to our demands, even when we pour devastating combat power on them.
Trump needed Iran to submit like they did in 2025 and like Venezuela did by handing over Maduro and their oil. Now that Iran is willing to suffer under our bombs but call Trumps bluff on the Strait, we have no viable path to compel compliance.
Now Tehran has leverage over us and we will soon b forced to make dramatic escalation to try and force Iranian submission (highly likely to fail) or submit to some version of Iranian demands - which would b a humiliation for Trump; something anathema to him.
Meanwhile, weâre bleeding billions of dollars per week, hundreds of US troops wounded (so far 13 dead), global economy reeling w no apparent off-ramp, and even our allies are suffering.
Thatâs the cost - so far - of a war that should nvr have been chosen.