Chas Freeman: U.S. & Iran Back at War & NATO's Abuse of Ukraine

The U.S. eroded and violated the MOU, prompting Iranian counter-escalation after the 60-day negotiation period expired. Pentagon claims that the Strait of Hormuz is open are belied by tanker mine strikes and will be rejected by insurance companies, maintaining an effective blockade.

The war served Israel's interest in subduing Iran and expanding regionally, not direct American interests. The U.S. has depleted its relevant weapon stores and the military is counseling the president that he lacks viable military options. Israel has stopped participating in the war against Iran and is instead concentrating on operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria.

The U.S. has fallen back on economic warfare of attrition, but it is highly improbable Iran will fold before the U.S. does. Sanctions are political gestures that appease domestic constituents but are ineffective as instruments of influence once imposed, as markets rearrange and targets develop protected domestic industries.

Economic power is only effective as an attraction force through integration; pushing on economic ties via sanctions accomplishes nothing.

Iran's exemption of Israel from attacks may circumstantially result from a private Israeli nuclear threat to Tehran.

U.S. use of tactical nuclear weapons would cross the nuclear threshold once and for all and legitimize weapons of mass destruction. The principal constraint on Iran developing a nuclear warhead is the understanding that it would cause Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and possibly Iraq to do the same, surrounding Iran with nuclear powers.

Israel is draining its talent through emigration and alienating traditional supporters, isolating itself politically and potentially economically.

An AI video by Minister Ben Gvir depicting Palestinians on a conveyor belt to a torture chamber is an own goal that destroys residual international affection for Israel. The Israeli electorate, as seen by politicians like Ben Gvir, approves of sadism, torture, and slaughter.

Zelensky's threat to all aviation in Russia invites a terrible Russian response, repeating the pattern where every Ukrainian escalation is met with Russian counter-escalation. Ukraine is falling apart politically and militarily, with mounting calls for Zelensky's removal and a population eager to end the war.

The key to a peace agreement is a change of government in Kiev to someone willing to negotiate along the lines of the 2022 Istanbul Agreement.

Ratcliffe likely went to Moscow with a non-conciliatory message offering no off-ramp, rather than exploring a graceful departure for Zelensky. The Russians are about to go hell bent for leather against Ukraine as Europeans become more agitated and less willing to talk.

Ukrainians have been terribly abused by NATO, the EU, and the U.S., which are using Ukraine to weaken and isolate Russia at the expense of Ukrainians. Ukraine is not a democracy, having banned elections, purged media and opposition, banned the Russian Orthodox Church, and enforced draconian conscription.

Helping Ukraine would mean producing a democratic, prosperous Ukraine at peace with its neighbors that deals fairly with minorities.

Ukrainian attacks on civilian aircraft in Russia are an incredible violation of international law that will trigger a major Russian response.

Ukraine could lose total control of its airspace and access to the sea as a result of this escalation.

As the weaker party in a war of attrition, Ukraine gives Russia an excuse to counter-escalate by picking fights where Russia has preponderant strength.