34 Comments
User's avatar
zb's avatar

You're as naive and eager to declare victory as your critics are histrionic and eager to declare defeat. The Strait is not open as long as traffic numbers in the 10s or 20s rather than the hundreds of ships per day that crossed before the war started. Oil prices are down a bit today but still massively up compared to February, and downstream supply chain effects on the economy (plastics, fertilizer, etc) are only beginning to hit.

Moreover, with all the billions spent on naval ops we've managed to embargo Iran for all of a day. What happens when 200-300 shaheds attack a navy ship at once? This game is hardly over.

Mark Mandeles's avatar

In the first paragraph of your essay, you write that an American strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. An Israeli airstrike killed Khamenei and about 40 senior military/government officials. See: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/us/politics/cia-israel-ayatollah-compound.html. Americans were doing a lot of damage elsewhere to the Islamic Republic of Iran's military and security facilities and forces.

Farloticus's avatar

How do you know no one paid a toll? Thatโ€™s a bold claim to make without evidence.

Susan Daniels's avatar

Another enlightening and educational piece that is extremely well done. Thank you.

Ken MacLean's avatar

Brilliantly written. Clear and understandable. And insightful.

c Anderson's avatar

Hehehe Robert Pape was a Democrat advisor to pallets of cash on the tarmac Obama. Pape gleefully thought it was over. According to his bio in Wiki, โ€œPape also argues that air power and land power should be integrated and used together in a "hammer and anvil" fashion.โ€ Trump proved him wrong, but Pape will never admit it. Pape also believes there is no connection between suicide bombers and terrorism. This is why Democrat leadership is so screwed, itโ€™s wingnuts like this.

Kurt Wullenweber's avatar

I think the media tried to win the war for Iran, rather than Iran winning the media war.

We have a very obvious and distinct list of America's enemies. This may actually end up being Trump's true legacy, exposing all those Americans need to destroy for survival.

Andrew Thomas's avatar

Yes, of course. Trump playing six dimensional chess. Everything he has been saying is untrue, but genius level clever. Iran has lost. Hee hee. Canโ€™t wait to see how this inevitable march to victory plays out.

MeInKC's avatar

Great article!

D5000's avatar

Didn't Russia and China both just send serious naval firepower into the area?

Ol' Doc Skepsis's avatar

TYVM for your consistent use of the phrase 'drive-by media!'

Daryl Poe's avatar

Research harder.

Pnoldguy's avatar

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

Daniel Meegan's avatar

Capital research http://center.com Search Media vs America

omg this place's avatar

umm bot alert? no human is that stupid of a headline.

or maybe.

yall elected it. the stupid. you elected stupid.

Susan Daniels's avatar

You sound like quite a genius.

Roger's avatar

Is there any chance that Venezuela will start acting in a way such that the blockade there is not needed? If so the navy won't be stretched so thin trying to maintain two blockades. Say a prayer for the sailors and everyone involved.