Subject: OT: Typical flip
https://www.reuters.com/world/...

Something new and exciting in negotiations with Iran. Iran has asked for reparations to cover the repair of the damage caused by the US and Israeli attacks. Somewhere along the line, the funds morphed to about $24B of Iranian frozen funds - 1/2 at time of signing, half at time of closing. The US has rejected this for two reasons: First, it would reduce their bargaining leverage and second, it would make Trump look lousy after he poked Obama for freeing up $1.5B in the past.

Now, the US has decided to use the Iranian funds to pay for the damage to other Gulf countries done by Iran.

At some point, considering the tit-for-tat of the US and Iran taking pot shots at each other, if the US takes too big a bite from the apple, Iran can send, not four, but 50 drones to a US warship and sink it. Despite thee US claims to have completely obliterated Iran's military, I suspect they have the means to both inflict considerable damage against US assets at a time that the US can no longer afford sending an infinite number of additional warheads into Iran (or they would already have done so).

For obvious reasons, a ground attack against Iran would be a significant challenge and the main local force the US can exert is from quite vulnerable navel weapons (they can send missiles or drop bombs from strategic bombers - but those classes of weapons are also in depleted supply - and that action would endanger local US war ships..

Assuming the US can't take the political heat longer than Iran can deal with its blockade, Iran has already won and the US is simply trying to figure out how to disengage while continuing to claim they have won.

For many reasons, watching this reality show is very to the Chinese as it indicates how hobbled the mighty US military has become at the hands of a third-rate military power.

Jeff