Even better, the people who voted for this insist that this is what Kamala was going to do! Which is why they had to vote against her!
We got a broken and incompetent government because tens of millions of dumbasses apparently don't understand that lies exist, and that the guy who lies to your face every day will lie to your face!
A KGB spy and a CIA agent meet up in a bar for a friendly drink. "I have to admit, I'm always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up," the CIA agent says.
"Thank you," the KGB says. "We do our best but truly, it's nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them."
The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. "Thank you friend, but you must be confused... There's no propaganda in America."
Israeli Defense Minister said earlier today that “Significant surprises are expected today across all arenas that will escalate the war to a new level.” And now they have targeted the world's largest gas field (shared with Qatar).
Iranians have said they would retaliate against oil fields and refineries in Israel and the Gulf. But since the majority of US air defenses have been diverted in defense of Israel it looks like the gulf arab states will bear the brunt of the retaliation. It looks like they have already successfully struck targets in Saudi Arabia[1] and Qatar[2].
This is the moral hazard in action as a result of unconditional support for the rogue-state that is Israel . Israel continues to escalate since they face little of the consequences - being under the US security umbrella. It is the rest of the world that pays the price instead (apart from Russia). In a sane world we would be changing this equation such as by pulling air defense, air support, lethal aid, air tankers support, EWACs, intelligence and satellite sharing, defense away from Israel. But the Trump administration and indeed the collective west seems to be under the chokehold of the Israel lobby.
China buys 80% of Iran's shipped oil. But this affects the prices of pretty much anyone who imports oil - if China can't get oil from Iran, they'll purchase it from someone else. Less supply => higher prices for everyone.
It also affects China less, they have huge strategic reserve, and massive coal to petchem industry that only becomes economic after $80 barrel. AKA all other big industrial players are energy exporters who has pay spot price. High oil price = PRC competitive advantage on top of being able to brrrt EVs / batteries to displace oil.
Prices are about the future, not the present. Even if this didn't immediately effect anything, it could signal that other energy infrastructure is a potential target, or merely that the war is going to last longer.
China has been buying Iranian crude and gas for many years, mostly due to simply needing as much as they can get.
The eleven tankers that have so far transited the Strait of Hormuz after the 3rd without being fired upon are all owned by, operated by and delivering to Chinese state-owned companies (AFAIK). The Iranians know they are transiting and are deliberately refraining from shooting, because of the Chinese information support, such as the Mizar-run near-realtime satellite geolocation of parked US aircraft and radars for attack.
This bit I'm adding is speculation but the likely role of the Marine detachment aboard the USS Tripoli which is currently being sent to the Gulf of Oman is to start sinking these China-bound tankers so as to use the offer of not sinking them to coerce China into supporting the reopening of rhe Strait.
Sorry but this is on the United States. Israel's government has been wanting a show down with Iran for a while but we've typically functioned as the adult in the room to keep the piece - obviously that changed with Biden and now Trump, but Americans own this one.
The US can share blame, but why should it bear the whole blame, esp since a large chunk of the American population doesn't want this war, whereas it appears that Israeli society largely does back it?
