Posted on 03/20/2026 11:16:00 PM PDT by RandFan
Summary
President Donald Trump says the US is considering "winding down" operations against Iran, but that other nations must guard the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping lane for oil
Trump adds that he does not want a ceasefire. The US is making detailed plans for the possibility of deploying ground troops to Iran, the BBC's US partner CBS News reports
The US says it will temporarily lift sanctions on Iranian oil stuck at sea, to contain the war's ongoing impact on energy prices
Overnight, Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran and Beirut. Israel, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait say they have intercepted drones and missiles
Earlier, the UK approved the use of its bases for the US to launch strikes on Iranian sites that target Hormuz. Trump says the UK's decision is "very late" - how has the UK's stance shifted?
Iran's foreign minister accuses UK PM Keir Starmer of "putting British lives in danger", adding "Iran will exercise its right to self-defence"
The Gulf is "on the cusp" as the fourth week of war approaches, the BBC's security correspondent reports
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
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Sometimes I think Trump must be reading our threads. The language is identical to what some have suggested
Find an off-ramp, declare victory.
Pray for peace 🙏
Let India and China defend the chokepoint for their oil.
Or do without!
It’s good to hear I think. Suggests no prolonged campaign
Don’t go wobbly now, President Trump. Leaving a mullah in power is a major defeat for the US. Finish the job.
Trump isn’t talking to you
You are a first CLASS fool!
It suggests that Trump is listening to cooler heads and advisors who are telling him that this conflict cannot be won. Deploying troops on the ground would likely result in mass casualties and possible civil unrest in the United States. Trump may have believed he could achieve regime change, but instead he has done three harmful things: he has unified much of the Muslim world against the U.S., disrupted the already fragile global hydrocarbon market, and may face political consequences;potentially losing the midterms and even impeachment, depending on how severely the economy affects the average American.
I hope that you guys are right, and that Trump is nearing his off-ramp. Got to shake my head in disgust at all the armchair Napoleons around here who are still pining for the regime-change ground war of Bibi’s dreams... and that someone else’s kids would have to fight.
“Cannot be won”???
Define “won”. Detail the specific milestones that would become “won”
Now, tell me why that is impossible, please.
Truly curious.
Thank you.
We can only hope.
Our founding fathers would be disappointed in how we have become entangled in wars and conflicts that offer no real benefit to the United States. The money and resources spent could have been used to truly strengthen the country. We need investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing that supports our nation’s economic interests.
The founding fathers would have never spent a dime, let alone billions to the fraud lent Catholic charities to traffic illegal sheep…
Priorities. Bunch of snakes!
theyd be more disappointed in the ungodly entitlement spending and open borders than any defense of the country.
First, define the mission of this conflict. Was it to achieve regime change, secure enriched uranium (U-235), and ensure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz? There will be no regime change after killing their leader during negotiations, and there was no imminent threat, as their centrifuge program had already been destroyed. Without the manpower to secure the surrounding shorelines and mountainous regions, safe passage for vessels aligned with the U.S. cannot be guaranteed. The only way to win was not to engage in the first place.
It’s a good idea to wind it down, but I doubt anyone wants to guard Hormuz.
You break it. You own it.
Sadly the founders underestimated how unresponsive Congress would be toward the best interests of the public. In Federalist 57, the author (Madison or Hamilton) predicted that each Representative would be feel a strong duty to do right by the five or six thousand people who voted for him. In reality now the typical Representative gets elected with about 250,000 votes. Does he give a crap about the interests and wishes of those 250,000 who put him there, or is he looking out mainly for the best interests of his campaign donors? I think we all know the answer.
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