The Middle East War Expands

Iran is going to drag this out until the elections... at least.

@Mahkno : How would that benefit Iran? Or benefit Democrats or Republicans running for office?

Iran Has Figured Out How to Overwhelm U.S. Air Defenses
As the U.S. runs short of interceptor missiles, Iran is carrying out strikes with a mix of attack drones and advanced ballistic missiles.
theintercept.com/202 6/07/28/iran-missile s-drones-us-air-defe nses/
... Iran's military managed to overwhelm U.S. air defense systems using a mix of attack drones and advanced ballistic missiles, according to the official. Numerous factors make the missiles difficult to defeat, the source said: They travel at hypersonic speeds, have complex navigational capabilities including methods to circumvent jamming, and some can be guided or steered.

 

Stocks of advanced air-defense missiles, like Patriot and THAAD interceptors, are so depleted that U.S. forces are not shooting down all Iranian missiles and drones aimed at U.S. and allied targets across the Middle East, the official said, referencing a Friday report by NBC News that revealed the tactic. The official told The Intercept that the U.S. allows missiles through its defenses only in cases where a strike is judged not to imperil U.S. lives.

 

The U.S. and its allies burned through more than 11,000 munitions, including large amounts of defensive missiles, in the first 16 days of the war alone, according to a March analysis by the Royal United Services Institute. The report predicted then that U.S. forces were about a month away from running out of THAAD interceptors. An April report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that "diminished munitions stockpiles have created a near-term risk." A follow-up report the next month warned that it would "take three or more years from today to return to prewar inventory levels" of Patriot and THAAD missiles.
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Iran has learned a lot from Ukraine. Iran has been supplying Russia with drones since the beginning of the conflict. Russia has not been able to keep up with Ukraine's innovation. Iran however... may not be so limited. Iran's goals are different too. Iran has a strong geographic position which limits U.S. options. Iran gets to play defense on a much cheaper price tag.

@DennisinPeoria : By wrecking the economy, they hope to do political damage to Donald J Trump and Republicans. If the November elections result in Democrat majorities, they hope that Washington will be consumed with hearings, impeachments, and domestic matters in general. I think Iran correctly sees little appetite for war in the U.S. The war started by Trump is a distraction. The November elections could refocus attention back to what it is distracting from.Iran could overplay itself... it has grudges in the Persian gulf. How that plays out could backfire or it could launch Iran into a new regional power position.

I'm surprised Americans working in various Middle East countries hadn't already evacuated because of Iranian missile attacks could hit anywhere where the US has a presence.
apnews.com/article/i ran-war-trump-saudi- crown-prince-call-81 4164417aa284dc8
Excerpt: "On Saturday, the U.S. State Department issued new security alerts for Americans in 10 countries in the region to exercise heightened caution due to the escalating tensions with Iran. The warnings - covering Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates - urged U.S. citizens to prepare for the possibility of flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions."(The article link is mostly about the Saudi Crown Prince calling the President wanting to know what further, heavier attacks he's contemplating. The Saudis are afraid of retaliation by Iran on Saudi and other Gulf countries energy infrastructure. Link was updated with new info after I copied/pasted).

Here the update in that same link:
"President Donald Trump in a Saturday evening social media post claimed that Mideast allies have reached the parameters of a deal to end the Iran war and said that he would hold off on ordering new strikes in the five-month old conflict for now.Trump added that the emerging deal "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.""Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump said.He added that Israel has agreed to join the U.S. in the commitment to try to complete the agreement with Iran that would bring about an end to the war."Uh, folks, how many times have we e seen this tired, old TV rerun? Heavier attacks are threatened....a deal is allegedly made to stop war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz completely, Iran agrees to Nuclear deal, no attacks will happen; Iran shoots off missiles at ships in the Strait or US Middle East allies or bases. Rinse and repeat. My opinion and mine alone and not my employer's.

The bottom line is internal polling numbers for Trump are you exceedingly pathetic and dismal. There are ruby red rural districts where he is at 19%. The ones for R members of congress, for the most part, aren't not good either. However, 32% is an improvement over 19%. So, it does the give R some traction in finally standing up to Trump on issues such as Iran.

We hope it will end soon and pray that no lasting harm comes. This is only the beginning of what may lie ahead. Killing is killing I wouldn't want to travel over the sea today. Hate to say it while all play war in the white house we will pay. Accepted at a minimal loss.

Apparently Iran thinks it has the upper hand when it comes to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It's close to a deal with Oman for ships entering the Strait near Iran, and exiting near Oman. A temporary deal with no tolls or fees. However, according to this article excerpt:
"Iran's politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States "corrects its behavior," issuing new demands that could shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway."
"Correct it's behavior" must be aimed at a school bully-like person that lives in a big DC white house. That will never happen. Also:
"The United States must never threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region. The U.S. must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It must "completely compensate" Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and "unconditionally" release frozen assets."
This will also never happen unless Iran stops attacking vessels, which did happen again. Every time a vessel gets attacked, Donny will throw some missiles and drones at Iran, threaten annihilation, etc, etc, then back off 2 days later.
apnews.com/article/y emen-houthis-turkey- kurdish-peace-mideas t-roundup-aug-8
(There's a complete round up of Middle East News in this link)In other words, nothing really new except a Turkish Peace Deal with Kurdish insurgents, and that Yemen attacked Iran-backed Houthi. Same old, same old tired rerun for the past 5 months. Only people benefitting from this "war"are the more wealthy investors who can swoop down, buy stocks and oil futures at discounted prices, then sell for a profit when they go up again, all with insider tips from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Average Americans with 401k aren't always able to do that activity. Average Americans have to continue to pay the higher prices on gas, food and energy.
Ok, rant over, because it's all my opinion and mine alone and not my employer's.

Do people realize this is only the beginning? Wait until election year-Trump knows that conflict can help secure his position.

There's absolutely NO excuse for this. Hegseth needs to be removed and put in prison.