Public Occurrences August 21, 2026

The Message Behind Trump’s Threats of ‘Economic Warfare’ Against Iran

President Trump’s threats of an “economic D-Day” carry a clear signal to Iran that he does not want to go back to war.

nytimes

The Times gets it exactly right. That is exactly what that means. Trump "doesn't have the cards", he's down on missiles and materiel, pulling carriers from around China, not accomplishing his objectives in either theatre, all in service to his bombast as "Guardian of the World" and his theatrical shows "Operation Midnight Hammer" and "Operation Epic Fury." He could have had it all. All he had to do, he and Vassal Leader Netanyahoo, was keep bombing nuclear facilities and offing nuclear scientists. But no. He wanted Unconditional Surrender, he wanted Regime Change. He got Operation Epic Futility, sanctions, which will target our friends, hurt Western economies, further fray security and trade alliances, deepen America's pariah status, inflict more pain on 93 million Iranian prisoner-civilians of a medieval state and yes, heap pressure on the Islamic Republic state. Bet the IRGC doesn't run out of bullets as Trump has missiles.