Everyone is a critic, but nobody offers any better options.
At the end of the day, it does not matter what agreement is in place if the US is unwilling to enforce it. That was the issue with Obama's plan, and Trump's maximum pressure policies were undermined by Biden weakness.
Trump will likely enforce his plan aggressively (especially after mid terms). It is almost guaranteed than any Democrat administration that follows will ignore it. The weakness in the plan is the DNC not the plan itself.

quote:

The weakness in the plan is the DNC not the plan itself.

Exactly!

Whatever is to be done has to be completed quickly enough that oil (and knock on costs) falls months before midterm and is irreversible. That's why my hopes for for destruction or capitulate. I was/am hoping to put a bow on it and move on to additional Abraham Accords to link the ME financially and regionally and give Trump a good win to carry the party in November and 2028.

This is our only shot.

An opinion this morning from Gareth Soloway is interesting. He's a former Wall St institutional trader who has gone solo and does daily analysis of markets.

He posits that Trump signed the MOU on Wednesday rather than Friday in order to keep the stock market up. The US markets are closed Friday, so Thursday is the last trading day of the week. On Wednesday the Federal Reserve announced no change to their interest rate, which sent the post-closing markets into a big down turn.

By signing the MOU early, he took focus away from the Fed's announcement, and he took away uncertainty of whether the MOU would actually be signed. The after-hours markets rebounded right away. He avoided the markets going into the long weekend with a major down trading day on Thursday.

Trump is keenly aware of the various markets. He will not be stupid about economic factors into the mid-terms.

I’m sure that we could end up with a better resolution to this war. I mean, come on, things could always be better.

However, it seems crazy to me to pick things apart when we can’t even clearly see what we have now, much less what we’ll have in 60 days.

At the end of all this, I may end up disappointed, but I’m not fretting about it now. Too many times President DJT has done things that had me wondering WTAF!?!? only to be impressed and delighted with how it all worked out.

If folks want to get their panties in a wad now about how this Iran war situation looks with the limited, likely not entirely complete or entirely accurate information that we have today, that is their prerogative. Me, I’ll play wait and see. Yes, I’d like everything right now, but I understand that sometimes good things come to those who wait.

https://www.newsmax.com/politi...dkt_nbr=010502oqbhhr

Trump Blasts Iran Deal Critics as 'Fools'

President Donald Trump early Thursday lashed out at "these fools" criticizing the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, defending the agreement as markets rallied and oil prices fell following its announcement.

"These fools, who think I haven't been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are 'tumbling' down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump's comments came hours after he formally signed the memorandum alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, launching a 60-day negotiating period aimed at converting the framework into a broader agreement covering Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, regional security issues, and enforcement mechanisms.

According to Newsmax reporting, the memorandum is intended to halt further escalation while Washington and Tehran pursue a more comprehensive settlement.

U.S. officials have described the document as a preliminary framework rather than a final peace treaty.

The agreement reportedly includes an immediate cessation of hostilities and opens negotiations on limits to Iran's uranium enrichment activities and its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Newsmax reported that Iran has, in principle, agreed to curb enrichment efforts and expand cooperation with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency as part of a verification-based process tied to any future sanctions relief.

Trump signed the accord while attending events related to the G7 summit in France, where French President Emmanuel Macron hosted world leaders at the Palace of Versailles.

Agence France-Presse reported that Macron applauded the signing, calling it a step that "allows for peace" and creates a pathway to further negotiations.

Markets reacted positively to the development.

Oil prices fell sharply Thursday, extending losses seen after news of the agreement first emerged, amid expectations that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could normalize and reduce concerns about global energy supplies.

Maritime de-escalation and the reopening of the strategic waterway are tied to broader compliance measures and reciprocal reductions in military activity in the Gulf.

Any sanctions relief, according to U.S. officials and statements from Trump and Vice President JD Vance, would remain contingent on verified Iranian compliance.

The White House has not confirmed all details reported by wire services, particularly provisions involving sanctions relief and economic measures.

Watching the embedded videos in the article, I think JD did a great job.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/...734408&lctg=26773771

JD Vance Filled in for Karoline Leavitt Again. Here's What He Had to Say.

Vice President JD Vance took the podium at the White House briefing on Thursday, filling in for Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for a second time while she remains on maternity leave. The briefing was dominated by discussion of the Iran deal, the text of which was finally released on Thursday, despite having been signed earlier in the week.

Vance sought to defend the agreement as criticism from across the political spectrum continues to mount. Opponents of the deal have argued that it represents a significant concession to Iran, while the administration maintains that it is a necessary step toward securing a broader and more lasting peace agreement.

Vance's first order of business was to tout the deal as a historic success, arguing that its effects are already being felt across global markets. He pointed to the movement of roughly 12.5 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the agreement was signed and noted that oil and gas prices have already begun to fall.

cont...

I encourage you all to watch this video. It connects the Iran war with actions in Venezuela and Cuba, and how this has hurt China, Russia and OPEC.



Tony.

Vance has cancelled his trip to Switzerland for negotiations and reports are coming in that Hezbollah has been attacking Israel on the border this evening.

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
Vance has cancelled his trip to Switzerland for negotiations and reports are coming in that Hezbollah has been attacking Israel on the border this evening.

Yea, no surprise there. Those guys will be attacking Israel until Israel eliminates every last one of them regardless of what happens between the US and Iran going forward. What I don't know though is how they ever overtook the Lebanese govt to begin with, unless most Lebanese actually support them. My guess is they do, like many in Iran support the Tolah and ITGC. The percentage of support in both countries could be higher than we think we know or want to believe.

Y'see? President Trump needs you as his sole advisor, and then he could get a clue.

Save us, reloader-1. You're our only hope.

(oh, and Israel been busy in Beirut gonna be interesting Friday)

U.S.-Iran accord hits early snag after Swiss talks fail to proceed as planned

The highly anticipated Friday peace talks in Switzerland have been abruptly cancelled, delivering a sudden blow to the fragile interim accord signed just two days ago by the U.S. and Iran.

Violent cross-border escalations between Israel and Hezbollah forced the delay, with Hezbollah launching heavy rocket barrages at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and Israel retaliating with fatal airstrikes on Nabatieh, actively fracturing the promised "all fronts" ceasefire.

Vice President JD Vance canceled his overnight flight to the Bürgenstock resort, standing down a large delegation of White House officials and journalists who had already gathered at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

Congressional Republicans criticized the deal, worrying Washington ceded too much to Iran through sanction relief and a potential $300 billion rebuilding fund. Vance defended the agreement, stating demands must be met first.

A top Trump administration envoy recently told lawmakers that Iran will invite international inspectors to its nuclear sites. Hard-liners remain opposed to direct talks, particularly after the 2015 nuclear deal collapsed.

https://ground.news/article/4e...47-b5d5-381b44edbf5b

I have a feeling the defense of this deal on the right will come down to this: It's not Trump's fault. He did the best he could. It's our fault for not wanting him to go further militarily.



Link

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
I have a feeling the defense of this deal on the right will come down to this: It's not Trump's fault. He did the best he could. It's our fault for not wanting him to go further militarily.

Disagree. The lion's share of opposition has been from anti-Trumpers. It has been a political power strategy to oppose literally everything he does. That includes those supposedly on the right.

The media has enormous power, and their constant messaging that we were losing from day 1 has been effective. Surely many liberals and moderates would understand the Iran leadership seeks nukes to use against us, and have sponsored terrorism that has killed many Americans. A neutral media presenting facts would result in an honestly derived public sentiment.

Trump, though, is fairly deaf to all the jabbering. He has his goals. He operates a long game strategy. He definitely has contingency plans for each potential path.

The last line in your link, though, is accurate. The appetite for war ends at the gas pump. But that's due to the anti-Trump propagandists.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
Para, respectfully - it is ok to criticize someone if it is merited. I am not president, nor did I start the Iran war.

You're saying that you know better how to do these things, and I find that laughable. All that hot air costs you nothing, but others endure it, and you have the luxury of your opinions not being tested in reality.

And it's not just you. Others here and all across the internet armchair quarterback at no cost to yourselves. I find it boring.

Also- "...nor did I start the Iran war."? Oh, it makes more sense now. President Trump was wrong for acting to keep a bunch of religious fanatics and psychopaths who have openly and repeatedly vowed to destroy Israel and its people, from obtaining the means to do so.

Yes, clearly, he was wrong for "starting the Iran war." Naturally, you and all the rest of the cost-free critics would have never taken such action. Clearly, the way to go was to just let Iran continue towards the inevitable- and don't even try to say that "sanctions and tariffs" would have stopped these barbarians from getting the bomb.

Yes, I see it now. That makes perfect sense. Just do nothing, and let the chips fall where they may. After all, what's a bit of radioactivity in the atmosphere, and world-destabilizing utter chaos?

And millions, perhaps tens of millions dead.

No biggie.

Stupid Trump

^^^ Spot on ^^^

The situation with Iran going forward requires A carrot to go along with the stick (bombing). This incentivizes Iran to negotiate the details and keep the terms of the final agreement. So the investment contained in the MOU is part of the carrot.

Unfortunately the United States lacks the stomach for what it would take to get to the point where we could dictate terms. So a diplomatic solution is what we get. Typically neither side will be fully happy with it.

Once we're past the midterms- and if the predictions of bolstered majorities in Congress prove correct- then, the sky is the limit, with President Trump becoming the ultimate lame duck.

If we go into this fall with high gas prices, greater inflation, and uncertainly about a major foreign conflict, things could be bad for us politically, and in case anyone cares to acknowledge it, it is a well-established pattern that the political party in power in the White House almost always loses seats in the House, and sometimes in the Senate as well, in the midterm elections.

We need every advantage to retain control of Congress, and if we do so, President Trump can curb-stomp these fucking savages when, inevitably, they show their ass and violate terms.

Us won the Iran war just the same way the US won in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. In our own inner world we never lose.

To be fair, any deal was always going to be a hard sell to the John Bolton branch of the Republican party. Politically, we have to make this work.