Well now that we have the text of the MOU and know that it’s garbage, the obvious follow up question to ask is.. why?

Why, if Iran was backed into a corner and we had all the leverage, did we just sign an agreement that so heavily favors Iran?

A few possible explanations:

1. Our position of leverage was greatly overblown by cheerleaders of this war

2. We are in a position of leverage and our negotiators are just straight up retarded

3. We’re using the MOU as a cover for more surprise attacks

4. We’re taking a temporary L to preserve the midterms and then gonna get down to business for real after that

5. Trump just wants out of this completely and will accept any terms necessary to do so

I think it’s a combo of #1 and #5 but would be happy to discuss. At the very least I think this MOU should give pause to anyone who was previously glazing our strategic positioning in this war. Pretty unusual to totally wreck somebody and then sign a deal capitulating to their terms..

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Pooter

100% not #1. But, 4 and 5 are the most likely cases. 2 is possible, but I think 4/5 are significantly more plausible/likely accurate. On 5, all of us said the proposed timeline was absolutely undoable; the objectives are sound and achievable, but not on the initial timeline. Trump bought the timeline sales pitch, and now I think he wants out, primarily due to the midterms. Because that’s what the US does in modern history - make war-related choices based on politics, which is asinine.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by brabus

Trump also said he doesn’t care about the midterms.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5897526-trump-paxton-texas-victory-midterms/

32 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

Trump also said he doesn’t care about the midterms.

(as in calling bullshit on his statement that he doesn’t care)

1 hour ago, Pooter said:

Well now that we have the text of the MOU and know that it’s garbage, the obvious follow up question to ask is.. why?

Why, if Iran was backed into a corner and we had all the leverage, did we just sign an agreement that so heavily favors Iran?

A few possible explanations:

1. Our position of leverage was greatly overblown by cheerleaders of this war

2. We are in a position of leverage and our negotiators are just straight up retarded

3. We’re using the MOU as a cover for more surprise attacks

4. We’re taking a temporary L to preserve the midterms and then gonna get down to business for real after that

5. Trump just wants out of this completely and will accept any terms necessary to do so

I think it’s a combo of #1 and #5 but would be happy to discuss. At the very least I think this MOU should give pause to anyone who was previously glazing our strategic positioning in this war. Pretty unusual to totally wreck somebody and then sign a deal capitulating to their terms..

Well given that all the TDS experts on here have gone completely quiet on here since the MOU and the VP just confirmed we've lifted sanctions on Iran effective today in return for literally nothing it's certainly a combo 1, 2, and 5.

1 hour ago, brabus said:

……. Because that’s what the US does in modern history - make war-related choices based on politics, which is asinine.

Sadly this is so true. Even lame duckers refuse to make the long term correct decision and just compromise for short term approval. And, we as citizens overwhelmingly respond to the shiny and glittery (hollow) instead of the substantive and enduring. Both sides of the aisle give us what we (the masses) demand instead of what would benefit us long term.