Diane Francis

Trump's Over a Barrel

August 10, 2026

Aug 10, 2026
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Donald Trump launched his latest war a few months ago with Israel to stop Iran’s terrorism and its nuclear development. Instead, Tehran now holds hostage the Hormuz Strait as well as oil markets and America’s Arab allies. Even more dire, Trump’s war has shaken up the world economy, forcing him to bail out Japan’s currency; he has depleted the Pentagon’s arsenal, and also allowed Saudi Arabia to go nuclear, spawning another potential nuclear threat in the Middle East. Now Trump negotiates from weakness, and Iran makes bold demands. So does Russia, which has safely ratcheted up attacks on Ukraine, safe in the knowledge that Trump cannot provide more self-defence weaponry for Kyiv. This is not just about military defeat. Trump’s war against Iran is one of the greatest blunders in history.

Armchair “generals” Trump and Hegseth

How did this happen and what’s next?

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