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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump was told before his war that Iran could and most likely would shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
Top US general warned Trump before war that Iran could close Strait of Hormuz
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine warned President Donald Trump before the United States entered the war with Iran that Tehran could try to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Caine told the president in several briefings that US officials had long believed Iran might attempt to block the critical shipping lane using naval mines, drones and missiles if conflict erupted, according to the report.
Trump reportedly acknowledged the risk but decided to move forward with the military campaign, telling advisers he believed Tehran would likely capitulate before taking such a step, and that the US military would be capable of reopening the waterway if necessary.
Snip
Since the start of March, 20 commercial vessels, including nine oil tankers, have been attacked or reported incidents, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/top-us-general-warned-trump-before-war-that-iran-could-close-strait-of-hormuz-report/
bucolic_frolic
(54,903 posts)The staff kept the tanks filled, no?
Not in touch with reality.
Botany
(77,158 posts)Gotta have a distraction.
IbogaProject
(5,827 posts)Maybe in college but maybe not.
tanyev
(49,172 posts)Botany
(77,158 posts)Trump reportedly acknowledged the risk but decided to move forward with the military campaign, telling advisers he believed Tehran would likely capitulate before taking such a step, and that the US military would be capable of reopening the waterway if necessary.
Quiet Em
(2,890 posts)Dan Caine needed to do a little more, he needed to build a bigger coalition inside the con's Administration to flat out tell the con no.
None of these guys get to walk away from this with clean hands. They all need to stop being cowards, find their backbones and stop letting the con artist do whatever he wishes no matter how reckless, dangerous and absurd it is.
Goonch
(4,869 posts)
OC375
(820 posts)Everyone knows this, but I don't think Trump really cares about the hostages. He sees a global restructuring opportunity, with a reduced ME role and an increased role for those of his ilk. Epstein just accelerated things that have been in motion since the Panama Canal.
As such and from that perspective, the threat is no threat, it's an inevitability. The brinksmanship, and ship escorts and chest thumping is the equivalent of corporate demand letters sent so you can say you sent them, not because you expect equitable resolution. It's bad faith masquerading as clumsy high-roading.
The only silver lining is that it allows others actors to try and cool things off, and we don't have tankers on the bottom of the sea quite yet.
Meanwhile steel rain ravages bodies and buildings while it plays out... I'd suggest someone spam all the files to the UN and NATO in addition to the media.
That'll end the war quicker than minesweepers and coalitions.
Kid Berwyn
(24,186 posts)Glad to know the general aint a moron like the pee-residunt.
Farmer-Rick
(12,608 posts)Made by a demented psychopathic pedophile. Who would have thunk it?
Martin68
(27,592 posts)Perfect way to disrupt the world economy.