4 ms·

But if the goal was actually to destabilize those places then maybe it worked as intended?

actionfromafar 7mo ago
If think assume too much competence. I'm sure there are various plans (ok maybe not with this "administration", their "plans" seems to be fast-forward grift) but I have very little confidence in them going in any particular direction.
mmooss 7mo ago
I can't think of any examples of that and don't see that in the wars listed above. Destabilized countries are bad news for entire regions and can become havens and recruiting grounds for terrorists, criminals, etc. And those things spread across borders. The idea that the Iranians will act on his wishes is a fantasy of someone who wants to win without paying the costs, as a freebie.
- pfannkuchen 7mo ago
  Destabilized nations are good if you are a nearby nation wanting to expand and you expect those other nations to oppose you.
  - mmooss 7mo ago
    The US isn't a nearby nation and doesn't want to expand by seizing countries anywhere, especially in the Mideast. None of Iran's neighbors - e.g., Iraq and Afghanistan - want to or have any capacity to invade Iran. A destabilized Iran is a nightmare for them.
pseudohadamard 7mo ago
The current lot in Iran came to power through revolution and they've made very sure that the same thing can't happen to them. The whole system of government, or at least rule, is designed from top to bottom to make as sure as it's possible to get that it can't be overthrown from within. I'm sure Trump's highly qualified expert advisors on the subject, Witkoff and Kushner, told him about this small problem before he launched his attacks.
- vjvjvjvjghv 7mo ago
  Kushner’s main interest is to get money from Middle East investors. I think it’s important to remember that. Not sure about Witkoff. His main interest seems to be to protect Putin.
  - pseudohadamard 7mo ago
    And Saudi is pushing to continue the war as well, which I'm sure has nothing to do with the fact that they control the only pipeline from the gulf to the Red Sea.

If think assume too much competence. I'm sure there are various plans (ok maybe not with this "administration", their "plans" seems to be fast-forward grift) but I have very little confidence in them going in any particular direction.

mmooss 7mo ago

I can't think of any examples of that and don't see that in the wars listed above. Destabilized countries are bad news for entire regions and can become havens and recruiting grounds for terrorists, criminals, etc. And those things spread across borders. The idea that the Iranians will act on his wishes is a fantasy of someone who wants to win without paying the costs, as a freebie.

pfannkuchen 7mo ago
Destabilized nations are good if you are a nearby nation wanting to expand and you expect those other nations to oppose you.
- mmooss 7mo ago
  The US isn't a nearby nation and doesn't want to expand by seizing countries anywhere, especially in the Mideast. None of Iran's neighbors - e.g., Iraq and Afghanistan - want to or have any capacity to invade Iran. A destabilized Iran is a nightmare for them.

pseudohadamard 7mo ago

The current lot in Iran came to power through revolution and they've made very sure that the same thing can't happen to them. The whole system of government, or at least rule, is designed from top to bottom to make as sure as it's possible to get that it can't be overthrown from within. I'm sure Trump's highly qualified expert advisors on the subject, Witkoff and Kushner, told him about this small problem before he launched his attacks.

vjvjvjvjghv 7mo ago
Kushner’s main interest is to get money from Middle East investors. I think it’s important to remember that. Not sure about Witkoff. His main interest seems to be to protect Putin.
- pseudohadamard 7mo ago
  And Saudi is pushing to continue the war as well, which I'm sure has nothing to do with the fact that they control the only pipeline from the gulf to the Red Sea.