Is the fact that we are now the world's biggest exporter in the Gulf while waiting for the Straight to get sorted going to help some of these countries?
Peter, maybe you can clarify something for us. I’ve gotten the impression that it is now technologically possible to kill pretty much any individual via surgical strikes from missiles or drones, even if they’re in deep bunkers. Is that where the technology stands?
For centuries, ordinary soldiers have groused that the politicians should be the ones who have to fight to the death. If it is now possible for the politicians to be the targets for death, the whole business of boots on the ground becomes redundant, and the soldiers get their wish. Are we there, or only half-way there?
With good intelligence and pre-existing air dominance, surgical strikes against a country’s leadership is very feasible. Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury both confirmed that devastating pinpoint strikes are possible.
What is not possible is to completely eliminate the entirety of command and control infrastructure. Cutting off the head will impede coordinated action, but if the endgame requires territorial control that still requires boots on the ground to deal with local commanders and local garrisons.
The question now is to what extent does President Trump need territorial control in order to bring the war to a successful conclusion? With the blockade potentially accomplishing what the seizure of Kharg Island would achieve without putting even a few boots on the ground, ground forces might not figure in this war except as a potential threat.
So, there is a flip side to this that is worrisome. How safe is President Trump? Could a surgical strike from Iran hit him? There are such rabid leftists in our country, foaming at the mouth with TDS, that I wouldn’t put it past them to collaborate with the enemy to destroy Trump. Do you think that’s too paranoid of me, Peter?
It's not too paranoid, but that's not the same as it being a likely threat.
Iran lacks the resources to launch a precision strike at that distance. Even ballistic missiles are not going to have the necessary precision, and the best assessments indicate that Iran's missile technology lacks the range.
If Iran could strike at President Trump, they would. However, barring some completely unknown capacity, they can't.
What is the alternative? I see two main forms of action open to Trump. He can bide his time, while he works behind the scenes (probably via the CIA) to divide, undermine, and confuse the factions within Iran’s power structure. Ultimately, they will likely self-destruct, as their actions thus far have been irrational and violent.
Or, Trump can resume violence himself. He’s got the firepower to prevail. I am glad that he’s called Iran’s policy “extortion”, because that’s what it is. I am super-glad that he is standing firm on his insistence that Iran can NOT have nuclear arms! That’s the entire point of this war!
We do not want to destroy the Iranian people, their culture, their power plants, or anything they need to survive. So I hope Trump finds ways to just continue to knock off the few people in power, until there are none left and our brave military forces can come home!
We’ll see tomorrow what course he chooses. Looking forward to your excellent posts, Peter!
I agree completely. I have been truly astonished that the Iranian people have not seized their opportunity for freedom. I can only surmise that the threat of being gunned down by their oppressors is too likely, and so they remain under the mullahs’ thumbs.
Well, I see Trump as being backed into a corner now where firepower is required. Iran cannot have nuclear weapons! CAN. NOT. We resolve this now, or deal with the complete nuclear annihilation of Israel - and possibly US land - later.
At some point, the Iranian people have to stand for themselves or they by their acquiescence are standing with the Khamenei regime.
No, we don't want to destroy the Iranian people, but if the Iranian people do not understand that they are the only ones who can save the Iranian people, I'm not sure there's much left to destroy.
Is the fact that we are now the world's biggest exporter in the Gulf while waiting for the Straight to get sorted going to help some of these countries?
Great work Pete,
Semper Fortis! ⚓
🛢️🌴🌙 Pray as if one of your own children was manning the walls of the Polis today! 📯🛡️⚔️🪖
Peter, maybe you can clarify something for us. I’ve gotten the impression that it is now technologically possible to kill pretty much any individual via surgical strikes from missiles or drones, even if they’re in deep bunkers. Is that where the technology stands?
For centuries, ordinary soldiers have groused that the politicians should be the ones who have to fight to the death. If it is now possible for the politicians to be the targets for death, the whole business of boots on the ground becomes redundant, and the soldiers get their wish. Are we there, or only half-way there?
With good intelligence and pre-existing air dominance, surgical strikes against a country’s leadership is very feasible. Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury both confirmed that devastating pinpoint strikes are possible.
What is not possible is to completely eliminate the entirety of command and control infrastructure. Cutting off the head will impede coordinated action, but if the endgame requires territorial control that still requires boots on the ground to deal with local commanders and local garrisons.
The question now is to what extent does President Trump need territorial control in order to bring the war to a successful conclusion? With the blockade potentially accomplishing what the seizure of Kharg Island would achieve without putting even a few boots on the ground, ground forces might not figure in this war except as a potential threat.
You always give such excellent answers, Peter!
So, there is a flip side to this that is worrisome. How safe is President Trump? Could a surgical strike from Iran hit him? There are such rabid leftists in our country, foaming at the mouth with TDS, that I wouldn’t put it past them to collaborate with the enemy to destroy Trump. Do you think that’s too paranoid of me, Peter?
It's not too paranoid, but that's not the same as it being a likely threat.
Iran lacks the resources to launch a precision strike at that distance. Even ballistic missiles are not going to have the necessary precision, and the best assessments indicate that Iran's missile technology lacks the range.
If Iran could strike at President Trump, they would. However, barring some completely unknown capacity, they can't.
What is the alternative? I see two main forms of action open to Trump. He can bide his time, while he works behind the scenes (probably via the CIA) to divide, undermine, and confuse the factions within Iran’s power structure. Ultimately, they will likely self-destruct, as their actions thus far have been irrational and violent.
Or, Trump can resume violence himself. He’s got the firepower to prevail. I am glad that he’s called Iran’s policy “extortion”, because that’s what it is. I am super-glad that he is standing firm on his insistence that Iran can NOT have nuclear arms! That’s the entire point of this war!
We do not want to destroy the Iranian people, their culture, their power plants, or anything they need to survive. So I hope Trump finds ways to just continue to knock off the few people in power, until there are none left and our brave military forces can come home!
We’ll see tomorrow what course he chooses. Looking forward to your excellent posts, Peter!
I agree completely. I have been truly astonished that the Iranian people have not seized their opportunity for freedom. I can only surmise that the threat of being gunned down by their oppressors is too likely, and so they remain under the mullahs’ thumbs.
Well, I see Trump as being backed into a corner now where firepower is required. Iran cannot have nuclear weapons! CAN. NOT. We resolve this now, or deal with the complete nuclear annihilation of Israel - and possibly US land - later.
At some point, the Iranian people have to stand for themselves or they by their acquiescence are standing with the Khamenei regime.
No, we don't want to destroy the Iranian people, but if the Iranian people do not understand that they are the only ones who can save the Iranian people, I'm not sure there's much left to destroy.