Prof. Nader Hashemi | Middle East Expert | Georgetown University:
 

As a superpower, America uses economic & military leverage to coerce others into serving its national security interests.
 
But like other great powers before it, America suffers from arrogance & hubris - making mistakes it then has to rethink & recalculate its way out of.
 
The US invaded Iraq thinking it would be a cakewalk & Iraqis would welcome troops with flowers. That clearly didn't happen.
 
We're seeing it again with Iran - where America has grossly miscalculated how Iranians would respond.

FULL INTERVIEW

Trump to NY Post:

Something could be happening over the next two days. We’re more inclined to go Pakistan.

You should stay there, really. Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?

The field marshal is doing a great job. He’s fantastic. He’s doing a great job — that’s why it’s more likely.

IDF Givati Brigade soldier in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, standing near a Hezbollah memorial wall.

The town is long considered a symbolic and operational hub for Hezbollah.

It was a scene of intense urban fighting between the IDF and Hezbollah in 2006 War.

High-resolution satellite imagerry from April 10 show two destroyed U.S. C-130 special operations aircraft and multiple helicopters at a dirt airstrip near Shahreza, Iran.

Multiple impact and damage points are visible along the airstrip.

Senator Graham on Iran:

If there is no deal, it is time to finish the job.

Pakistan is working to arrange a second round of U.S.–Iran talks this week.

Source: NYT

Prof. Nader Hashemi | Middle East Expert | Georgetown University:
 

The international system is anarchic. There's no dominant sovereign to impose accountability. Great powers can do what they want & not be held accountable.
 
The only accountability comes from domestic politics or when the cost of intervention becomes too burdensome, as we saw with Afghanistan.
 
No one was held accountable for Iraq war. Many say that's why this war with Iran has started. Had there been accountability over the Bush administration, this debacle perhaps wouldn't have happened.

FULL INTERVIEW

Dr. Mehmet Oz:

Trump argues that diet soda is good for him because it kills grass, if poured on grass, and therefore it kills cancer cells inside the body.

Norway will lift its ban on its $2.2 trillion sovereign wealth fund investing in Syrian government bonds.

At the same time, Norway plans to add Iran to its exclusion list for such investments.

Source: Reuters

The Trump administration has eased financial sanctions on Venezuela to help stabilize its struggling economy and address protests over low wages.

The change allows major state banks, including the Banco Central de Venezuela, to use U.S. dollars, access oil revenues, and reconnect with the global financial system.

Source: Axios

Europe is preparing a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the war ends, led by Macron and the U.K., but without U.S. involvement.

The idea is to form an international, defensive mission that excludes countries directly involved in the conflict—like the U.S., Israel, and Iran—so it is more acceptable, particularly to Tehran.

Source: WSJ

The U.S. said no vessels left Iranian ports during the first day of its blockade, with six merchant ships turning back after U.S. warnings.

Over 10,000 personnel and multiple warships are involved, but no direct enforcement actions have occurred.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has continued, with over 20 vessels passing.

Source: WSJ

Maria Bartiromo: Is the Iran war over?

Trump: It is over.

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone crashed on April 9 over the Persian Gulf.

It suddenly dropped altitude and disappeared from tracking.

It’s a major loss (~$238 million drone) with sensitive surveillance tech onboard.

SOURCE

JD Vance:

The people telling you that Erika (Kirk) wasn’t grieving her husband are full of shit.

JD Vance:

The response to Charlie Kirk getting assassinated by a left-wing furry lover... The response should have been: “Let’s go after left-wing violence and terrorism. Let’s defund the networks of left-wing violence and terrorism.”

JD Vance:

It has frustrated me that some of the Catholic clergy have attacked the Trump Administration mercilessly on immigration.

JD Vance: How can you say that God was never on the side of those who wield the sword?

Audience member: Jesus doesn’t support genocide.

JD Vance: I agree.

VP Vance was confronted at a TPUSA event:

“You’re killing children!”

JD Vance:

I recognize that a lot of young voters don’t love the policy we have in the Middle East.

JD Vance:

Trump says to Iran: “If you commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran economically thrive.”