Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump sought to break Iran’s regime. He settled for reopening Hormuz.
The Washington Post ^ | June 15, 2026 | Michael Birnbaum

Posted on 06/15/2026 3:57:08 AM PDT by Timber Rattler

President Donald Trump declared an end to his campaign against Iran’s leaders with an exhortation on Sunday: “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”

With the Iranian regime still in place, he was celebrating a resumption of the way the world was on Feb. 27, the day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran.

A return to a version of the status quo was a far cry from the original aims of a war effort that kicked off with a vow to come to the aid of the Iranian protesters who had taken to their nation’s streets to denounce their regime. Once strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in the opening hours of the war, Trump told Iranians that the moment to seize back their nation had come.

An uprising never happened. In the nearly four months since, Iranian leaders demonstrated an ability to withstand withering attacks from the most powerful military in history, shut down the Strait of Hormuz, cripple global energy markets, and drive such a deep wedge between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. leader spent part of his 80th birthday Sunday cursing out his Israeli counterpart to journalists.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Iran; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ceasefiremisfire; costanzadeal; dailycalltotdsprayer; epicfury; hormuz; iran; irgc; israel; tdsbunnycrap; trump
Message from Jim Robinson:

Dear FRiends,

We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.

If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Jim


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-127 next last
Status quo ante, at best.
1 posted on 06/15/2026 3:57:08 AM PDT by Timber Rattler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

“Politics is the art of the possible.” – Otto von Bismarck


2 posted on 06/15/2026 3:59:56 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (Oh, gosh! I said that out loud. I'm so sorry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

He never promised regime change.


3 posted on 06/15/2026 4:00:30 AM PDT by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Why post this crap


4 posted on 06/15/2026 4:00:59 AM PDT by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

Possibly MEK aligned.


5 posted on 06/15/2026 4:02:06 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
Yes, he did.


6 posted on 06/15/2026 4:02:44 AM PDT by Timber Rattler ("To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

How is it inaccurate?


7 posted on 06/15/2026 4:03:03 AM PDT by Timber Rattler ("To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Because it was never Trumps goal, his goal was no nuclear weapons, second a free open straight. While he recognized regime change would be good he never made it a primary goal.

It is inaccurate because it is a liberal lie, pure propaganda to create a false narrative, one you are happy to play the fool for.


8 posted on 06/15/2026 4:05:47 AM PDT by Skwor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Is it still OK to use the word, sophomoric?


9 posted on 06/15/2026 4:07:34 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Recognizing regime change would be good is not the same thing as making it the goal of a strategy, one would likely be mentally challenged thinking otherwise. Classical liberal TDS IQ deficiency.


10 posted on 06/15/2026 4:08:24 AM PDT by Skwor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Skwor
Because it was never Trumps goal, his goal was no nuclear weapons, second a free open straight.

The straight was free and open before any of this started

11 posted on 06/15/2026 4:13:03 AM PDT by kjam22
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
He never promised regime change.

President Donald Trump told anti-government protesters in Iran that "help is on its way" amidst a brutal crackdown by state security forces.

He ultimately failed in regime change because the help did not arrive before the regime imprisoned and killed the protestors. They were violated and slaughtered. He listened to other countries leaders and decided to allow the islamic republic's regime remain in power, cutting a deal with them that will allow them to rebuild their military. He bought a little time, for his term perhaps, but ultimately failed to defeat the regime.

Now, I expect, he will blame this failure on others and turn against Israel. No nation will stand with Israel at the end, only the LORD God Himself.
12 posted on 06/15/2026 4:17:26 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

WaPoo is happy.


13 posted on 06/15/2026 4:18:16 AM PDT by sauropod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Skwor
I guess you forgot about this...


14 posted on 06/15/2026 4:18:58 AM PDT by Timber Rattler ("To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

So why was it seemingly impossible for the U.S. Navy to control and keep the Strait of Hormuz open?


15 posted on 06/15/2026 4:20:48 AM PDT by Timber Rattler ("To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Skwor

Because it was never Trumps goal, his goal was no nuclear weapons, second a free open straight. While he recognized regime change would be good he never made it a primary goal.

It is inaccurate because it is a liberal lie, pure propaganda to create a false narrative, one you are happy to play the fool for.

With all that said, how are we ahead of the position we were in after the bombing of the nuclear sites last year?


16 posted on 06/15/2026 4:21:48 AM PDT by TiGuy22
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Trump failed bigly....


17 posted on 06/15/2026 4:22:35 AM PDT by dpetty121263
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HIDEK6; Timber Rattler

“Is it still OK to use the word, sophomoric?”

Yes, but don’t forgets it rhymes with moronic ;-)


18 posted on 06/15/2026 4:22:39 AM PDT by Veracious Poet (• Words fail ~ Love is a verb •)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

Not seemingly impossible. Not even remotely. But pretty impossible to guarantee that a random drone or missile wouldn’t get lobbed in the direction of ships in the Strait. And the insurers won’t allow ships to move under those conditions. It’s not rocket science.

Because every single little cockroach can’t be weedled out in 10 days doesn’t mean “America lost” or “Iran won.” These are irrational assertions.

That’s also why on paper the Straits are “open” but because, for instance, Iran mined the waterways, it’ll be a while before it’s fully safe to navigate. And, again, the insurers in general won’t let ships move under those conditions, even if on paper the Straits are open. But those are the barriers to traffic now, not that either Iran or the US have declared no one can move anymore. And equating one to the other to try to make a point isn’t going to pan out in the long run.

Will Iran weasel on the deal? I’d be shocked if they don’t. Carrots and sticks.


19 posted on 06/15/2026 4:27:21 AM PDT by Merrick (It's a car - that runs on water, man!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

He never say my goal is no Mullah or IRGC.


20 posted on 06/15/2026 4:28:59 AM PDT by paudio (Charlie Kirk is this era's MLK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-127 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson