The other thread got locked - while we are still ongoing with the 'War' .... there's stuff going on every day it seems, whether it's negotiations, threats, blockades or watching Chinese ships sail thru the blockade. Figure a new thread is warranted.
Question at this point - same as the original question/comment: What is the objective for the USA? Does anyone actually know? Does anyone think Trump knows? Or are we at a point Trump is trying to end this with no more loss of face and embarrassment, but he doesn't know how?
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
If the USA applies the blockade to all countries attempting to move oil and gas out of the straits of hormuz, it will speed up the process to reach an agreement, imo.
If the USA chooses to make side deals for some counties, the blockaide will end up being a mess, imo.
The USA isn't going to initiate or block a Russian, Chinese or Indian vessel. A Chinese vessel sailed thru after the announcement already. Saudi Arabia is getting antsi ... All Trump continues to do is prove the US is unstable and push former allies away while paving the way for China to look stable and a more attractive partner. Coming soon .... De-dollarization and loss of US $ power and influence
Last edited by mgh888; 04/15/2604:01 PM.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
The USA isn't going to initiate or block a Russian, Chinese or Indian vessel. A Chinese vessel sailed thru after the announcement already. Saudi Arabia is getting antsi ... All Trump continues to do is prove the US is unstable and push former allies away while paving the way for China to look stable and a more attractive partner. Coming soon .... De-dollarization and loss of US $ power and influence
At least that is what some hope for. This country is turning communist. Now you have states looking to make citizens pay "bail" before they can move out of state.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
According to you communists have been asking over forever. It seems as if that's what you call anyone and everyone who promotes helping people over big business.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Is that what you call the millions of people who live in states where wages are so low they receive government benefits? I would have thought at some point you would have gotten tired of your tax dollars paying corporate welfare but I guess not.
While corporations rake in billions your tax dollars pay for their employees benefits. You're paying for those profits. And then you call others communists?
I have a better idea. Maybe instead of "helping freeloaders" we just let their children starve and go homeless or build orphanages for millions of children? How does that sound to you?
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Here's the latest • Strait of Hormuz: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the vital trade chokepoint is now open to all commercial vessels for the remaining period of the truce, adding that this is in line with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
• Ceasefire in effect: A 10-day truce in Lebanon appears to be holding despite the Lebanese army accusing Israel of violations. Israel said its forces would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, and Iran-backed Hezbollah warned it would only abide by the truce if Israeli attacks stopped.
• Diplomacy push: US President Donald Trump said a White House meeting between Israel and Lebanon could take place within two weeks. The conflict with Hezbollah has been a key sticking point in negotiations on the war with Iran. Trump also voiced confidence that a deal with Tehran will come soon, saying talks could happen this weekend.
• Israeli embassy: British police are investigating after an unnamed group said it would target the Israeli embassy in London with drones carrying dangerous substances.
But a blockade on Iranian ports stays in effect........................
Live updates: Iran declares Strait of Hormuz 'completely open'; Trump says U.S. blockade 'will remain in full force' until peace deal
President Donald Trump hailed the news about the key waterway, and said negotiations over a peace deal with Iran "should go very quickly."
U.S. BLOCKADE REMAINS 'IN FULL FORCE': President Donald Trump hailed the news and thanked Tehran, but said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports "will remain in full force" until the two sides reach a peace deal. Negotiations “should go very quickly," he said.
I have a better idea. Maybe instead of "helping freeloaders" we just let their children starve and go homeless or build orphanages for millions of children? How does that sound to you?
You always go to the extreme as your example. I am not going to get in to what can be done because it is pointless to talk to you.
Looks like the plan is working in Iran and the stock is back. Looks like the panicans who got out of the market lost money.
Gas probably won't go down very much in the short term. First, we are headed in to higher demand season and the refineries are sitting on millions of barrels which they paid inflated prices. They will have to sell that off reflective of the prices they paid before we start to see prices reductions at the pumps that totally reflect the current barrel costs.
It will go down some. At some point they will start to average the cost of stock on hand with the new shipments which will bring a gradual step down in price.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I see you are once again relying on the word of a man who has from the beginning lied to you consistently. As of now everything being done in both Lebanon and Iran are based on very short term cease fires. Could it end up being settled long term? It could. But don't pretend it's over until it's over. I hope it is but according to trump we won in the first hour.
As of 2023 39% of people getting government assistance were children. Also as of 2023 33% of households getting government food assistance were on Social Security. That's 72% of people on assistance either being children or elderly. Don't blame me because I'm presenting you with facts while you have some preconceived notions that is false. But considering these facts I can see why you don't wish to discuss it any further.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Yeah...not so fast. So now this morning we have US still closing Iranian ports, the Iranians closing the strait again and firing at ships and the Israelis and Lebanon trading fire.
BREAKING: Iran Fires on Tanker Hours After Trump Announces Strait of Hormuz is Open Tommy Christopher Apr 18th, 2026, 9:20 am Share 1950 comments Iran Fires on Tanker Hours After Trump Announces Strait of Hormuz is Open screenshot
Iranian gunboats fired on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump announced the Strait was open and would never be closed again.
Friday was a big news day, as Trump announced developments in the Iran War via a series of social media posts. In addition to a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, the president said the Strait of Hormuz would be opening immediately, never to close again. As the news filtered out, media reports and Iranian sources contradicted some of Trump’s claims.
The president spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One Friday night just before landing, and began by saying he had just gotten “pretty good news” that he then refused to give any details about.
But on Saturday morning, minutes before Trump went live for a bill signing, News broke that the Iranians were firing on an oil tanker, and the U.S. was enforcing its blockade. From The Associated Press:
CAIRO (AP) — The dueling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz lurched into uncharted waters on Saturday. The United States pressed ahead with its campaign to choke off Iranian ports and Iran reversed an initial move to reopen the waterway, firing on a ship attempting to pass.
Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.
Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.” It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said on Saturday. It reported the tanker and crew as safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination. TankerTrackers.com reported vessels were forced to turn around in the strait, including an Indian-flagged super tanker, after they were fired on by Iran
Israeli gov’t sees Trump ceasefire announcement as ‘slap in face’
By Nour Odeh Reporting from Ramallah, occupied West Bank
Two things are happening: This ceasefire that was announced by Donald Trump was seen as a slap on the face to the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition government, which were talking about occupying Lebanese territory all the way to the Litani River.
And then you had that social media post from the US president basically telling Israel that enough was enough with the air strikes. However, nobody – not the US, not Secretary of State Rubio – has asked Israel to withdraw from the territory that it already occupies. So that is the only wiggle room that the current Israeli government has to justify to its public, which is furious with the government, that it’s still doing something to make good on its promise to provide security.
The Israeli government was so overconfident. Just a few days ago, it was talking about forcing the Lebanese government not just to disarm Hezbollah by force, but to kick them out of the parliament, which they won elections to have membership in, to kick them out of the government as well.
And in the meantime, all of this demolition, equating the Shia-majority villages with Hezbollah infrastructure, all of that is done to appease the right-wing base in Israel, and to tell them they’re doing whatever they can to keep them safe, including that absolute decimation of the villages, turning them all to rubble, and not allowing the Lebanese residents to go back to their homes and rebuild.
The Israeli government sees Trump’s ceasefire announcement as a “slap in the face”.
Netanyahu (it is not "Israel" - something Celm once highlighted) - that has a vested and urgent need to keep the country engaged in wartime activities. We all know why. Trump & Hegseth were something of a clown show for listening to and being swayed by Netanyahu as was reported in detail (article you posted Nothlima). But we are where we are. Trump will claim a massive victory even though no such victory is real. Some will believe him no matter what. Some will try to justify the incompetence we have seen "Because" - but the facts are the facts and this was not good on any level. The only person truly happy an who has come out with benefits after this whole scenario has played out is Putin. Period.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
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