Trump has said this at least 100 times since the war started in late February. He is an improviser, not a planner. Since it all went sideways, he has been looking for an elegant exit but can’t find one. The blockade may be giving him some leverage but the pain of higher oil prices is making it an extremely unpopular war.
Meanwhile, the UKMTO reports that a tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile whilst completing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz. There are no reported injuries to the crew or environmental impact report at this time.
The status quo can’t continue indefinitely so it will either be escalation or negotiation. It looks like the US will now wait until after the midterms to attack, though some are speculating later in November when another aircraft carrier arrives.
Oil product prices remain at sky high levels while crude oil is down 79 cents to $101.98 today.
Here is an ominous message from Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy (D), who is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sits on the defense appropriations subcommittee:
Trump is reportedly planning to restart war with Iran after the election.
Some of us have been briefed on the war plan. And while I cannot disclose any details, I can say this: the plan is insane. It will not achieve objectives and will set off a new cycle of escalation.
That’s certainly ominous. He went onto say that it would undermine the US commitment to rule of law and would include attacks on civilian infrastructure.
“I will just say this – their plan is insane …it will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law. There has been open reporting as to the civilian infrastructure we may be targeting…. I think the plan they have developed will lead in my view to a prolongment and escalation of this war that will be devastating to our security interests”
The leaks suggest attacks on:
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Electricity generation and transmission facilities
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Bridges and transportation networks
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Oil refineries and energy infrastructure
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Potentially other infrastructure essential to civilian life
This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.