Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Quote of the day

“The best way to see this is that none of the further negotiation parts of this deal are going to happen. Those provide each side, but especially the U.S. with a figleaf to sell their respective publics. This is really just an agreement to stop. The U.S. will have achieved none of its strategic objectives […]

If the Iran deal is so great, why not release it?

Presumably the deal is embarrassing to either Iran or the Trump administration (or possibly to both parties).  My guess is the embarrassment is on Trump.  He gets nothing except the end of the global oil shortage he caused.  The Iranians will get a large financial benefit in one form or another – a benefit that […]

Brief Middle East News

This does not look like it is going away any time soon. Iran is striking back. Worth reading even if brief: Iranian state media reports Tehran may be suspending ceasefire talks. U.S. and Iranian strikes resume over the weekend. Nuclear talks stall as U.S. leadership continues to temporize. Qatar open to temporary Hormuz fees for mine-clearing. Aid groups warn of resource shortfall for millions displaced […]

Increasing Inflation

Just about the time we get the economy under control, someone from another country (who is in trouble) convinces Trump we need to attack a different country. Some how, the deal maker is always suckered in. The nation is going to pay for it in the long haul. Taken from Newsweek.”Inflation Jumps to Highest Level.. […]

Newscast Discussing Trump and Iran

Kerry told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki on “The Briefing” that the president’s Truth Social posts –– an expletive-laden post on Sunday and a Tuesday threat that Iran’s “whole civilization will die” –– left him “as shocked as I’ve been by anything that I have seen or read by this administration, in the first administration and now in the second.” […]

US Consumers Are in Trouble

Trump’s Never-ending War and Trump’s Never-ending Tariffs are pushing up Never-ending price increases “Why Consumers are F*cked” Robert Reich Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s admission yesterday that it “could be next year” before gas prices return to below $3-a-gallon is causing trauma in Republican circles because “next year” is after the November 3 midterm elections. Initially Trump said he could […]

Losing in Iran?

It’s consistent with how other countries, organizations, and people have defeated him. We are supposed to negotiate before the war, not during it. Trump was not going to do it anyways. He had another 12 threats to make. Some remarks by Robert Reich. And the fool to both the world (and Israel too) is looking […]

Expert analysis on Iran

I’ve had several Iranian colleagues throughout my faculty career. Unsurprisingly, none were anti-American. Here’s an interview with Juan Cole and Mojtaba Mahdavi, two Middle East experts, on the current events in Iran. They discuss the politics in Iran and among the Iranian diaspora. Both Cole and Mahdavi point to the Netanyahu ambition of hegemony in […]

releasing the dogs of war for no reasons other than being a bully globally

AB: In the past attacks in the Middle East did result in oil and gasoline shortages., I expect the same to happen. Also expect higher oil prices even if no damage is done to wells or refining. Increases will occur in the oil market. Discussing Iran and diplomacy in the SOTU before he orders bombing […]