this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2026
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The president added that he has “instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”

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[–] First_Thunder@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Question is, if you’re Ronald McDonald and simply pull out, and Iran keeps asking for a toll, you just get a pure loss. A blockade is the only way, that maybe, you can improve your negotiating position for “cheap”. It will backfire for sure though

Obviously the smart play was not to invade at all

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Second smartest is GTFO but as was reminded me elsewhere, big, fat, unhealthy ID running the ego can't countenance that.

[–] Akh@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I mean it is not just trump, republicans can remove him… they choose to allow him to stay in power

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 5 points 1 week ago

This is the real problem. Enablers. He doesn't have to stay in power.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 1 points 1 week ago

It's not just Republicans either.

[–] GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

So can Secret Service.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

A blockade is the only way, that maybe, you can improve your negotiating position for “cheap”

Negotiating position for...

What?

Everything trump wants, he already had.

What he wants now is the strait to be open, it's only closed because they're attacking Iran. If they stopped attacking Iran and fucked off, why would Iran keep blocking the strait?

No one, especially Iran, want the strait blocked. Iran is blocking it because that's their leverage to get the war to stop

If trump blocks the fucking strait, what do you think his condition is? You think he's gonna demand Iran that they stop being attacked? Iran already wants to stop having war crimes committed against them, they can't want to stop the war crimes anymore.

Where the actual fuck are you getting any of your information on about this conflict?

[–] First_Thunder@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Try to think like the great dumbass for a minute:

Iran has said they want to keep the toll system in place after the war

Therefore if you just leave now, everyone will be very mad at you at toll

Therefore only way out is escalating. An invasion is expensive, unpopular, and unlikely to work. They’re already bombing Iran, so not that.

What remains is a naval blockade. Because they’re dumbasses, they didn’t just decide to block Iranian shipping, but instead essentially block all remaining shipping.

It’s less dumb than other options, and less war crimes and killing civilians

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

It's the naval equivalent of putting tariffs on the whole world, and equally intelligent.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I’d say it’s the only somewhat smart play he has left

That's what you said, that is false.

I'm worried you've rambled on for so long you've forgotten what you're even trying to defend

[–] First_Thunder@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

When I said somewhat smart the emphasis was on somewhat, and I meant, the least dumb option that he was likely to take (am not counting just exiting, cause he is who he is)

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

Well, at least it's clear by now any further help would be a waste

[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

There is another smart play.

Give Iran something it wants that actually benefits Americans.

You might think there isn’t anything but there is one:

Stop supporting Israel fully.

But they won’t cause the Epstein class is either compromised or in on it.