The current scramble to assemble an international response to the Strait of Hormuz crisis feels backward. Not a little backward, but fundamentally backward. President Trump is urging allies and global powers to help secure one of the most critical arteries of global trade. That ask, on its own, is completely reasonable. The Strait of Hormuz…
When Oil Prices Rise, Do “We” Actually Make Money?
During a recent discussion about rising energy costs, President Trump offered a characteristically blunt assessment of the situation. The United States, he argued, is now the world’s largest oil producer, so when oil prices go up, “we make a lot of money.” On the surface, that sounds logical enough. If you sell something and the…
Like Father, Like Son? Iran’s “Revolutionary” Republic Embraces a Family Succession
Iran just selected a new Supreme Leader. And in a twist that would be hilarious if it weren’t geopolitically consequential, the choice turned out to be the son of the previous Supreme Leader. Yes, the same Islamic Republic that came to power by overthrowing a hereditary monarchy has now—quite awkwardly—installed something that looks suspiciously like……
Russia Helping Iran Target U.S. Forces
Russia has reportedly shared intelligence with Iran that could help Tehran locate and potentially target U.S. military assets in the Middle East. According to reporting by the Associated Press, U.S. officials believe Russia has passed along information that could improve Iran’s ability to track American ships, aircraft, and other military infrastructure in the region. Even…
War with Iran: Necessary Show of Strength or Reckless Gamble?
The question of war with Iran is not theoretical anymore. The United States is engaged in active hostilities: coordinated strikes, retaliatory missile fire, and the possible drift toward broader conflict. The debate is fierce and deeply divided. Supporters argue that decisive action was long overdue. Critics warn that we’re stumbling into another Middle Eastern quagmire…
Authority, Obedience, and the Crisis of Legitimacy in Iran
The ongoing protests in Iran, and the sharp rhetorical clash between Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and U.S. President Donald Trump, expose a regime under acute internal stress and a population that increasingly rejects the moral authority of its rulers. What began as economic unrest driven by inflation, unemployment, and collapsing living standards has matured into…
Peace Through Strength or Perpetual War? A Look at President Trump’s Ukraine Pivot
Last week, the Pentagon hit the brakes on some critical arms shipments to Ukraine, citing the need to replenish our own defense systems. That pause didn’t last long. President Trump saw the news, heard the reports of civilian casualties, and said, “Not on my watch.” He ordered those shipments back on track, vowing more defensive…
Mercy Without Blindness: Considering President Trump’s Syria Sanctions Move
On June 30, 2025, President Trump revoked six executive orders related to sanctions on Syria, some dating back to the Bush and Obama years. This included the sweeping 2004 national emergency declaration and sanctions that targeted entire swaths of the Syrian economy. Those broad, economy-wide sanctions are now gone. Here’s what it does: Removes U.S.…
Ceasefires and Crossroads: A Look at the Iran–Israel Pause
After a relentless exchange of fire between Iran and Israel—and a thunderous U.S. airstrike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—President Trump announced a ceasefire. It was a hopeful moment... for about five minutes. But then, during a NATO summit last night, President Trump announced that the ceasefire was back on. So far, it’s held longer than the…
Taking Stock of the U.S. Strikes on Iran
In the pre-dawn hours of June 22, 2025 (Iranian time), President Trump gave the green light for a high-stakes military operation targeting Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear installations at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This was no ordinary strike: the U.S. unleashed some of its most sophisticated firepower, including six 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—colossal bunker-busting…
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