Prof Hudson, with a short one: Today’s new escalation threat by Trump

Trump has just threatened China to cancel his trip in two weeks if China does NOT join the US to fight against Iran and force the Strait of Hormuz open.

To me, this means a threat that if China doesn’t join the US, “You’re either with us or against us.”

The US will begin sinking ships bound for China – from Iran, Russia or other countries, just as it’s been doing to Russian tankers.

The logical step (which Russia has not yet taken) would be to send military destroyers along to protect the tankers – and shoot down the planes that try to bomb the tankers, or the ships that try to stop them and board them.

Trump’s strategy is to escalate the war – realizing that it’s now or never to have the big war, as pressure is rising to stop him.

Add to this Israel’s threat to kill Russia’s leaders if they support Iran, saying that they know from their surveillance of Russian phones where all the leaders are.

So to me, these announcements look like escalation  threats.

My Update:  China visit is ‘postponed’

Donald Trump stated that at his request, the visit to Beijing has been postponed “for a month, or so.”

By the time of the visit, Trump planned to present a conquered Iran to Xi as a trump card. But, apparently, the White House already understands that the “Iranian issue” will not be resolved by the end of March.

And the postponement of Trump’s visit to China is currently the most obvious proof that the special operation in Iran did not go as planned.

Trump has now had his tariffs declared illegal, and now the administration is burning through years of production in interceptors, which weakens the US militarily in Asia, so when Trump does visit, he will have absolutely no leverage in any discussions.