21 Comments
User's avatar
Joseph Mangano's avatar

It was not long ago that Trump was berating Volodymyr Zelenskyy for "not having the cards" during their infamous Oval Office meeting. This time around, the shoe is on the other foot. Trump, the supposed consummate deal-maker, doesn't have the cards to play re opening the Strait of Hormuz. The irony would be delicious if not for the very real human and financial costs of his administration's recklessness.

celeste k.'s avatar

The price of whatever passed through the straight is not the only way this country will pay for the incredibly stupid move of putting a nazi in the White House. Life will never be 'fair' in America again unless we rid ourselves of the oligarchy that has taken hold and re-instate living by the Constitution as the norm. If not, then we become the new russia.

Mark's avatar

If only we - the good ‘ole US of A - were the only ones “paying the price” of this idiot’s blunders it would be bad enough but the rest of the world is also paying a huge price. We will never be trusted by any other country again. Never.

BTAM Master's avatar

I've said this before:

How about if Iran says: "Fertilizer can pass through to all countries except Israel and the US." Iran would look like humanitarian heroes since they'd alleviate a global famine started by Israel and the US...and the PR disaster for the US if it either continued - or relinquished - the blockade.

Not that the US doesn't have a PR disaster already...

And (probably) just to distract from Epstein...

Stevens's avatar

In which, as smart and informed people have known, its absolute folly to let a dementia-addled fassicst asshat attempt foreign policy via whim, limited knowledge and social media.

Karen Kendrick-Hands's avatar

Thanks for the careful enumeration of many of the occasions on which Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz open. Each time Trump spoke, the price for a barrel of oil swung wildly. Insiders make money on the way up and the way down. Please apply your diligent and deep investigative skills to determine how much money Trump and cronies made from these price gyrations.

A Sarcastic Prophet's avatar

Thank you for creating a one stop list of the real estate mob boss posing as Presidents greatest lie. We all know, thanks to the Princess Bride, that the greatest military blunder is to get involved in a land war in Asia, but the second greatest will be this mess, and that’s no fairytale. But how (big shoulder shrug) could the most stable genius have possibly known this would happened? I mean it’s not like we have 50 years of intelligence and military analysis of the most well funded and well oiled war machine to give guidance in these matters, right?!?! To quote another fabulous movie, this one centered around love and Shakespeare, It’s a mystery!

Jessie's avatar

Can any body answer a simple question: 20% of what?

Marliss Desens's avatar

Well, I know what 20% of nothing is.

Linda Eriksson's avatar

“Back in the day”, Lindsey Graham had it right when he said, “Trump is a jackass.”

Marliss Desens's avatar

At some point, the price of gas will hit the American consumer. Here in Indiana, it has been kept artificially low by suspending state gas taxes and the state sales tax on gas. (And yes, that affects how much money is available for road repair and construction, as well as hitting the state's general budget.) However, with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve being drawn down to levels not seen since 1983, at some point, it will hit the American consumer, probably right before the midterms.

Ken's avatar

State legislatures used to have a say dealing with Declaring War and Military Draft. There were Draft riots during the Civil War. Which States do you think will have the most draft riots in the future? The Military Draft is a form of slavery. No person should ever be forced to fight and die for a country.

How many millions of people will die during the next pandemic because of the massive incompetence of Trump?

2000

Biological and Chemical Terrorism: Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response

Recommendations of the CDC Strategic Planning Workgroup

The following CDC staff members prepared this report:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4904a1.htm

The Trump Administration and the COVID‐19 crisis: Exploring the warning‐response problems and missed opportunities of a public health emergency

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9115435/

Deeply conflicted, Kushner represents the U.S. in high-stakes negotiations with Iran

Judd Legum

Feb 25, 2026

https://popular.info/p/deeply-conflicted-kushner-represents

USA has nationalized industries in peace time and War. Steel and coal may have been nationalized when Harry Truman was President.

Eisenhower used CIA to overthrow our FRIEND Iran because of oil and Guatemala because of business ties his administration had with United Fruit. The following article shows some of the business ties

The Dulles Brothers: How to wreak havoc in Guatemala and Iran

https://www.mohammadmossadegh.com/news/dulles-brothers/

The CIA decided to terrorize people in Iran for over 20 years after the overthrow. This led to the Iranian hostage crisis, bombing of our embassy in Lebanon, and the murder of our Marines in Beirut in 1983.

Did Israel's spy agency and Israel's military help CIA terrorize and murder people inside and outside of Iran?

One of main reasons illegal immigration is a major problem in USA - Eisenhower broke Central America.

The decision to attack Iran does not belong to the President. It belongs to Congress. When will members of Congress fulfill all their responsibilities dealing with the military? Congress could take full control of the military including control of nuclear weapons via Letters of Marque and Reprisal and make Rules and Regulations of the military.

Congress should use its powers to make Rules and Regulations for the military to take control of VA, VA hospitals, Military hospitals

Constitution

Article 1, Section 8

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;"

There were draft riots during the Civil War. I expect future military drafts would have worse riots.

An Amendment to the Constitution that Eliminates the Draft as a Possibility

Thursday, February 15, 2007

by Kenneth Scot Stremsky

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20070215-1

I ran for US Senate in 2002

How to increase membership in the Republican Party

Sunday, July 21, 2002

by Kenneth Stremsky

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20020721-0

What do you mean 'not at all responsible to the Congress of the United States'?

Monday, April 13, 2009

by Ken Stremsky

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20090413-0

I believe Congress has more control over our military than the President

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20070214-0

Dealing with Punishment

Thursday, November 19, 2009

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20091119-0

Does the way our Republic wages War bother Mr. Berg-Andersson?

Friday, November 20, 2009

by Ken Stremsky

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20091120-0

Letters of Marque and Reprisal

Monday, November 23, 2009

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20091123-0

Response to 26 November 2002 Homeland Security Commentary

Thursday, November 28, 2002

by Kenneth Scot Stremsky

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Vox/?20021128-0

"MILITARY TRAINERS DIVISION

Congress should create a Military trainers division because the United States of America should benefit more from the vast experience of its Veterans in a family friendly way.

The Military Trainers Division may increase the likelihood that our country will win future battles and decrease the probability that our soldiers will die in combat.

I think many soldiers die in combat and in training exercises because they were not trained as well as they should have been.

Members of the Military Trainers Division should be former members of the United States Military.

Members of the Military Trainers Division should be able to work part-time or full-time. A member of the Military Trainers Division could work less than 10 hours a week. A member of the Military Trainers Division could work one day in one month and not work again for several months.

Members of the Military Trainers Division could help train current soldiers, ROTC members, and junior ROTC members.

Members of the Military Trainers Division should not have to serve in combat.

Members of the Military Trainers Division should be allowed to serve in combat.

Members of the Military Trainers Division should not have to train people outside of the United States of America.

Members of the Military Trainers Division should be allowed to train people outside of the United States of America.

Formers special forces personnel and former non special forces personnel should be asked to apply."

Police officers, fire fighters, and others could be members of the Military Trainers Division.

The USA should only have a National Police Force if an Amendment to the Constitution is ratified that gives control of the National Police Force to Congress. The USA should never have a national police force under the control of the President.

Amendment to Constitution - each State gets 3 US Senators - 2 chosen by the people and 1 by State legislature. State Legislatures should be allowed to fire US Senators they choose whenever they want and pick replacement to reduce corruption. State legislatures would again have a say on Declaring War, value of our money, national debt, Military Draft, Tariffs, regulating banks and investment companies.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that fixes Electoral College. Winner of a state gets 2 electoral college votes and winner of Congressional districts gets 1. Current electoral college system and popular vote for President both provide huge benefits for violence at polling places, ballot stuffing, voter suppression. Popular vote for President would decease odds Presidents would care about states low in population like NH.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that says when a Treaty conflicts with Bill of Rights or other parts of Constitution that part of Treaty is not constitutional.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US House of Representatives Advice and Consent on Treaties.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to nullify, federal laws, federal regulations, Treaties.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to nullify, federal laws, federal regulations, Treaties.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures power to pardon federal crimes.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives States legislatures power to pardon state crimes.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US Senate power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US House of Representatives the power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives people the power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes. Innocent people have received death penalty.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to fire President, Vice President, Speaker of US House of Representatives, Secretary of State of USA, Judges on US Supreme Court, Secretaries of Federal Departments, Director of FBI, Director of CIA.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to fire President, Vice President, Speaker of US House of Representatives, Secretary of State of USA, Judges on US Supreme Court, Secretaries of Federal Departments, Director of FBI, Director of CIA.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to fire their US Senators, their Representatives to US House of Representatives, Governors, Mayors, Aldermen, members of School Boards, members of State legislatures, STATE JUDGES. When the people fire US Senator chosen by State legislature, State legislature chooses the replacement. The people pick the replacements for US Senators and others they elected via elections.

Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to fire US Senators and Representatives to US House of Representatives the people pick. The people would pick the replacements via elections.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Scot Stremsky

187 Poplar Street

Manchester, NH 03104

603-647-5898

Robyn Boyer's avatar

He needs to just leave. Say he won, and just pull all the ships and jets and armaments out of service, bring the sailors and flyers home and lie his way out of ignominy. There are enough MAGAe to believe him, to convince him that he is all great and powerful and executed the greatest military incursion in the history of mankind, but most of us will know better. Certainly history will.

Jim Carmichael's avatar

Great summary. The only thing that might better the situation is the one thing that will never happen: Trump’s admission that he made a mistake.

Marliss Desens's avatar

That is a certainty.

Cathy's avatar

Trump is so used to powers and institutions folding like cheap tents in a stiff breeze in the face of his threats and bluster that he waved away any concerns that Iran might not acquiesce to his will and the might of the US military brought to bear. Now it's a mess for the entire world and we are not getting out of this without admitting defeat either tacitly or actually or doing the unthinkable. We are ALL going to pay for trump's blunders for years to come. ETTD.

Katy Bolger's avatar

He is a big fat liar and we keep letting him spew his lies without consequence to him, only everyone else. He slips out like an eel, and we pay the price. BUT someone is getting rich. Someone is making money off of higher oil and gas prices. Someone is protecting him to protect themselves. And Witckoff, Kushner, Corporal Judy Vance and little marco rubio are the four dwarfs. Can't anybody get anything right?

25th Amendment Now.

Marliss Desens's avatar

Republicans in Congress refuse to stop him from starting wars, wasting taxpayer money, and enriching himself, his families, and his cronies.

Joseph McPhillips's avatar

It's a war Trump & Co won in the 1st hour; it's not a war; it's a "new" war...