Trump and Netanyahu Have Really Stepped in It Now (NYT)

[usonian]

And Trump has a seemingly endless supply.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/opinion/israel-america-iran-trump-vance.html?unlocked_article_code=1.rlA.hMdW.BpRPvAwCr0ud&smid=url-share

Unlocked.
By David French.


Very short excerpt:

The plain fact of the matter, however, is that if you can’t dominate or destroy your opponent, you have to accommodate him, and that means compromise. When you choose to destroy your opponent, you will almost always have to deploy an immense amount of force and endure a considerable amount of loss.

Coercing Germany and Japan into unconditional surrender took millions of soldiers, untold devastation, and two nuclear strikes against Japan. Even the much simpler act of deposing Saddam Hussein and bringing Iraq under a modicum of control during the “surge” took hundreds of thousands of American and allied troops and years of constant combat.

The two presidents before Trump entered the White House in 2017 — George W. Bush and Barack Obama — took contrasting approaches. Bush chose to dominate through his invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Obama’s Iran deal was a compromise, an accommodation.

But the worst possible outcome is the Trump approach — to try to dominate and fail. Because then you’ll be forced to compromise far more than you’d like.

[Lovie777]

1. We in the US is messed up................

[calimary]

7. Hey, don't blame those of us who voted for Hillary and then Kamala.

But yes, collectively, there WERE more Americans who got this wrong.

[erronis]

2. Worst possible is the "Trump approach -- to try to dominate and fail". Over and over.

Thanks for this and the gift link. Looking forward to a Sunday read.

[Bluetus]

3. Netanyahu didn't expect to defeat Iran

For decades, Netanyahu has referred to these operations as "Mowing the grass", meaning that he plans for periodic atrocities / genocides as a routine thing. He never had any intention of sending an occupation force of Israelis, but he did try to get Trump to step into that one. Evidently there were enough people in the Pentagon to talk Trump out of that.

[Cosmocat]

5. One aspect of this no one us talking about

Is not only did Bibi dogwalk the moron into this, Bibi is letting us the US do the heavy lifting and taking all the heat for Iran, hes putting his focus primarily on Lebanon and not taking nearly as much heat.

[Bluetus]

8. Yep. And another under-reported consequence is that Trump has succeeded

in uniting the Arab states. They have long-term divisions, so they probably won't remain united. Nonetheless, this is exactly the opposite of the outcome we want.

But get in line. rump has turned Europe against us. And while people are pretty clear-eyed about China, they come out of this as the big winner, Europe and Asia are turning to China because they cannot truth the Americans.

This is not just a trillion--dollar military loss. It is a complete collapse of foreign policy -- a century of leadership down the drain in 2 years.

What nobody wants to say out loud is that the billionaire oligarchs that are running things now have no affinity with the USA. They really don't care if the USA fails completely. They have their fortersses in other countries, islands, yachts etc.

[Renew Deal]

4. That was well written

and accurate

[BeneteauBum]

6. We have to question what comes next.....

I believe Iran will continue to make tRump appear inept…….which he is.

Peace ☮️