Posted on 01/21/2026 6:55:51 AM PST by Alas Babylon!
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would not use force to acquire Greenland, the first time he has ruled out using military action to acquire the territory.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump lamented that the United States “probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable.”
“But I won't do that,” he added. “That's probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force.”
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Interesting observations, which I am inclined to endorse. Meanwhile, NO ONE is mentioning and perhaps not even thinking about IRAN! I think I will search Iran next, a day or two ago the ship He sent was reported passing Singapore.
A quick check at the FR Search bar for Iran turned up 4 articles dated 1/21/26.
The two most interesting ones appear to focus on Turkey’s Erdogan and the son of the dead Shah, Reze Pahlavi.
Headline says Erdogan appears to be supporting the Mullahs. From past research I have seen reports of our President’s sons trying to establish business dealings in construction and real estate with Erdogan’s sons-in-law.
I have no idea if our leader or family have had any interactions or business discussions with the favored solution to a new Iran, favored by the Demonstrators evidently.
Will be VERY interesting to see where our leader comes out on providing help to whomever. Plan to look at current events in Iran after lunch. Hopefully, information is actually getting out by now.
Loser
There is still only minimal information coming out of Iran, but it appears 20,000 or more protesters may have been killed. Shopkeepers who have sheltered fleeing protesters have been shot for doing that. Internal communication is still greatly hampered. The link below has several articles one after another:
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202601223433 Below is an AI report explaining the overall situation.
“AI Overview:
—Based on reports from late December 2025 through January 2026, Iran is experiencing its most severe, widespread, and violent protest movement in recent decades, following a major economic collapse and a preceding 12-day war with Israel in June 2025. The current uprising, which began around December 28, 2025, quickly spread to all 31 provinces, shifting from economic grievances into direct calls for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
Demonstration Activity & Scope:
—Widespread Unrest: Protests have spanned over 170 to 500 locations across all 31 provinces. Demonstrations started with bazaar merchants and shopkeepers in Tehran protesting the record-low value of the rial (1.45 million to $1) and high inflation.
—Participants: The movement has united various sectors of society, including students, industrial workers, teachers, and pensioners.
—Key Slogans & Symbols: Protesters are chanting “Death to the Dictator” (referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei) and “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, My Life for Iran,” reflecting rejection of the regime’s foreign policy priorities. The pre-1979 Lion and Sun flag has resurfaced as a primary symbol of resistance.
—Diaspora Action: Large-scale protests have been held by the Iranian diaspora worldwide, particularly in Europe and North America, with significant rallies in London, Toronto, and Cologne.
The Regime’s Response & “Digital Darkness”:
—Violent Crackdown: The regime has responded with extreme, intensified violence, largely involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.
—Casualties: Reports indicate a massive loss of life, with estimates of those killed in the crackdown ranging from 3,000 to over 12,000, with some estimates even higher.
—Internet Blackout: Since January 8, 2026, the government imposed a near-total, ongoing, and “digital darkness” across the country to prevent coordination and conceal the violence.
—State Narrative: Iranian officials have characterized the protesters as “terrorists” and “rioters” backed by the US and Israel, claiming the unrest is a “conspiracy”.
Current Status and International Factors
—Protests Subsided: As of mid-January 2026, large-scale street protests have largely subsided in major cities due to a heavy security presence, intense violence, and the internet blackout, though sporadic unrest continues.
—US Intervention Threats: President Trump has warned of “very strong options,” including military intervention if the killing of protesters continues.
—”Endgame” Speculation: Experts and officials, including former CIA Director David Petraeus, have suggested that the sheer scale of the violence indicates the regime is in an “endgame” scenario, having lost legitimacy and financial, as well as operational, control.
Underlying Causes of the Crisis:
—Economic Collapse: The rial’s value dropped by over 56% in six months. Food prices have surged, with reports of widespread malnourishment.
—Post-War Strain: The June 2025 war with Israel, which saw U.S. and Israeli airstrikes destroy major nuclear and military facilities, severely weakened the regime’s “Axis of Resistance” (Hezbollah, Hamas) and undermined its authority.
—Systemic Failure: The crisis is fueled by long-term corruption, energy shortages, and a complete breakdown of the social contract.”
I don’t know if there have been further statements or reports from our administration. Perhaps too busy with Davos or avoiding commitment until more information is available. It is probably a relief for many that a planned armed attack on Greenland has been denied, also threats of tariff penalties for European countries seem to be canceled.
We know nothing of the sort. And Trump isn't a "strongman", because unlike your typical "strongman", everyone who mattered knew he was legally constrained from simply attacking. And I'm betting the Euros had more than enough backdoor assurances from members of Congress and likely from Rubio as well that the saber-rattling wasn't going to go anywhere.
Unfortunately, because Trump's implied threats were all public, it forced those other countries to take public stances in opposition because they have to consider their own publics' opinion.
What we do know is that Trump repeatedly insisted publicly that he was demanded full U.S. ownership of Greenland "one way or the other", and he's not going to get it. All the stuff about it being some brilliant negotiating strategy is just excuse-making for him saying stupid crap.
What we do know for certain is that the Danes and others were pointing out repeatedly that all Trump had to do was ask if he wanted more security for Greenland. So what he's going to get out of all this are two things 1) the exact same security guarantees he could have gotten anyway, and 2) and an enhanced reputation - which isn't going to help us in the midterms - for staying stupid stuff that doesn't make a lick of sense.
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