lifted from waPo:
US military chiefs warn Hegseth against prolonging war on Iran: WP

• ByAl Mayadeen English
• Source: The Washington Post
• 30 Aug 2026 23:43

3 Min Read

Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs told Hegseth that prolonging the Iran campaign is straining forces and risking readiness elsewhere. […]
Navy describes heaviest strain
The Navy’s chief of naval operations, Adm. Daryl Caudle, gave what sources said was the most pessimistic account, telling Hegseth the Navy cannot keep sustaining its current commitment given that the operation has no defined end date.
Caudle reportedly said only about a quarter of the Navy’s destroyer fleet is currently ready to deploy, a marked drop from levels before the war began.
The Navy has supplied dozens of vessels to the campaign since it began, first for the initial assault and to counter Iranian retaliation, and more recently to enforce a US blockade on Iranian ports as Washington tries to force open the Strait of Hormuz.
Deployments for some crews have reportedly been extended by months. At an event in Norfolk, Caudle acknowledged the extensions have been “very challenging for our sailors.”
US military chiefs warn Hegseth against prolonging war on Iran: WP | Al Mayadeen English

Posted by: Don Firineach | Aug 31 2026 4:36 utc | 103

About that naval mine issue that I asked about…from Iranintl
 

IRGC says supertanker struck two mines in Strait of Hormuz

A supertanker caught fire and stopped after striking two naval mines while attempting to use what Iran calls an unauthorized route south of the Strait of Hormuz, the Revolutionary Guards said on Monday.
“A noncompliant supertanker seeking to pass through the illegal southern route of the Strait of Hormuz struck two naval mines, suffered massive fires and was brought to a complete stop,” the IRGC said.
The IRGC Navy did not identify the vessel, its flag, cargo or crew, and provided no information about casualties.
It warned that other vessels violating its navigation rules would face the same fate and told shipping companies not to follow US military instructions.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 31 2026 4:53 utc | 105

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 31 2026 5:16 utc | 106
 
It was a Quantum Persian Schrödingerrian mine – it was and it wasn’t. The ship must have hit it when it was and the US attacked when it wasn’t. Hope this helps!

Posted by: Don Firineach | Aug 31 2026 5:37 utc | 107

My humble guess: the ship hit a mine, then Imperialism desperately attacked.  Imperialist media services then reported only the subsequent attack to make it look like “winning”.  

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Aug 31 2026 6:20 utc | 109

Trump posting AI-generated video showing an attack on Kharg island, apparently believing it to be real:
 
https://t.me/intelslava/93598

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 31 2026 6:44 utc | 111

No vote of Congress is required for the President to launch nukes.
Posted by: malenkov | Aug 31 2026 1:56 utc | 69
 
True, but the President must inform Congress if/when nuclear weapons are used. Their use therefore will be a matter of public record, and Congress can impeach if the use of said weapons is deemed a High Crime or misdemeanor, such as a war crime.

Posted by: James M. | Aug 31 2026 6:58 utc | 113

It will sink in slowly over time .
Posted by: Giyane | Aug 31 2026 3:57 utc | 97
The pennies are dropping furiously!
On this reality. 
As are economies. 

Posted by: jpc | Aug 31 2026 8:04 utc | 115

Posted by: malenkov | Aug 31 2026 1:56 utc | 69
 
This is all moot anyway, since nuclear weapons will never be used. I know many of you have kneejerk reactions to this, and think the US will default to nukes, but the fact remains the US has multiple avenues before they get even remotely close to that point, including taking the strategic loss. Even Trump, as odious as he is, will not sink so low to prevent this defeat.
 
“Tactical” nukes could not be used here in any case, since there is no battlefield, and Iranian capabilities are too diffuse for it to make a difference. It would end up being a low-yield strategic weapon. However, whenever WMDs have been introduced in a war their utility has been very limited, such as in WWI and the Iran-Iraq war. I don’t see a nuclear weapon being much of a gamechanger, except in the blowback: the severe consequences for the US.

Posted by: James M. | Aug 31 2026 8:29 utc | 117

Axe Cuck n Brother. All whites are worse than Jews. All. Cuck N Smothther says so. We’re all just stupid evil people. Even leninists. Shuck n Smother aka All Under Heaven aka Indi.ca says. We’re irredeemable. He’s a prophet.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Aug 31 2026 8:33 utc | 119

Well apparently
“The US military last week completed clearing sea mines from the strait, Captain Hawkins added. Iranian news outlets reported sounds of explosions near Larak Island on the strait.”
 
But
 
Press TV says
The IRGC navy says a supertanker that was violating its regulations caught fire after striking two sea mines while attempting to transit through the Hormuz Strait.@PressTV

Posted by: Jo | Aug 31 2026 9:10 utc | 121

The fresh fury erupted after forces with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed to the Daily Mail.
 
UAE supposed to be a friend of USA , strongest relations than the other states, but how is this going to go down???
“After imposing penalties on the United Arab Emirates branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr on Friday over alleged financial links to Iran, Mr Bessent said the next step may be cutting off an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.”
 
And a monitoring agency run by the British military said an unknown projectile struck a tanker ship on Saturday north of Khasab, Oman, in the strait.
Last week, Mr Trump said all mines had been detonated or removed from the international waters of the strait and Iran had been warned that any vessel placing new mines would be destroyed.Mr Trump has repeatedly declared that the ‘Strait of Hormuz is open’, saying 24 vessels passed through last week. 
 
There seems to be a marked lack of evidence ie visual  how when mines were cleared, one might think that USA would publish that to show shipping to encourage movements  , and that evil Iran is being dealt with….unless of course truth is different and it is all really really scary.
No info-news -statements from Oman????
 

Posted by: Jo | Aug 31 2026 9:32 utc | 123

IRGC: US MQ-9 Drone hit over Strait of Hormuz, crashed into Persian Gulf waters.@PressTV
 
“This entire week is celebrated as the Islamic Unity Week”Press TV’s Gisoo Misha Ahmadi is in Tehran, reporting on a gathering held to celebrate Prophet Mohammad’s birth anniversary.@PressTV

Posted by: Jo | Aug 31 2026 9:49 utc | 125

Jo 123
“”were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, “”
 
It’s conceivable that the US “”saw”” IRGC doing that, using the Spy Drone that was shot down. 
It’s conceivable that IRGC can “” launch sea mines by rocket” .
It’s conceivable the Trump’s Admirals know that IRGC can ” launch sea mines by rocket, but are afraid of being sacked for telling Trump what they know.
 
What is completely inconceivable is that the owner/ captain of an oil tanker would completely recklessly sail a tanker through a potentially mined , militarily contested waterway in a declared war zone on Trump’s  dodgy public statements.
 
Unless he or she was taking something stronger than methadone.
 
 
 

Posted by: Giyane | Aug 31 2026 10:26 utc | 127

128
 
Like $ 3-4 million bung from Israel

Posted by: Giyane | Aug 31 2026 10:31 utc | 129

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 31 2026 4:53 utc | 105
Posted by: Don Firineach | Aug 31 2026 5:37 utc | 107
Iran, years back adapted its Fajr-5 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) to deploy sea mines at a distance.

Posted by: ed4 | Aug 31 2026 10:34 utc | 131

President Trump on Iran:‘They killed 52,000 protesters as of three months ago. Sadly, they’ve added very substantially to that list.Even people that aren’t protesting, they go into the houses and they take them and they shoot them. These are very violent, evil people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, Israel would be gone.If I weren’t president, Israel would be gone. There would be no Israel. And there would probably be no Middle East.’@Middle_East_SpectatorANDOn truth social AI pic of Kharg Island being blown to smithereens Man has gone mad 
Posted by: necromancer | Aug 31 2026 2:39 utc | 78

It’s starting to seem that he really is, with dementia, essentially a madman. The US executive branch then, to the extent that it’s not simply out-of-control crazy operating at a madman’s whim, would be controlled by semi-shadowy figures, who’s daily and ultimate agendas we can only speculate on like watchers of the later Kremlin era. We truly are going through deadly times, especially with nuclear weapons on the agenda. Heaven save us!

Posted by: jonboinAR | Aug 31 2026 10:43 utc | 133

Athena Rayburn (typo, sorry)
 
Posted by: Giyane | Aug 31 2026 9:13 utc | 122
 
I saw that speech late last week and was highly impressed. Looked her up. Hoping the Zionazis don’t have a contract out on Rayburn. Gorgeous woman too.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Aug 31 2026 11:27 utc | 135

necromancer | Aug 31 2026 2:39 utc | 78
***  President Trump on Iran:‘They killed 52,000 protesters as of three months ago. Sadly, they’ve added very substantially to that list.Even people that aren’t protesting, they go into the houses and they take them and they shoot them. These are very violent, evil people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, Israel would be gone.If I weren’t president, Israel would be gone. There would be no Israel. And there would probably be no Middle East.’@Middle_East_SpectatorANDOn truth social AI pic of Kharg Island being blown to smithereens Man has gone mad ***
 
 
Trump is projecting what has been a standard, verified, historical behaviour of US/NATO puppet regimes — and the Israelis — onto their present enemies.
 
 
How can the US (or its sycophantic vassal countries) have burglars and robbers in jail when the US President himself has declared it normal and morally ok to see something which belongs to someone else …  decide to want it … and then just steal it?  Why can that not be cited in court by defence lawyers, with an argument that their clients were merely following the US President’s example?

Posted by: Cynic | Aug 31 2026 13:05 utc | 137

True, but the President must inform Congress if/when nuclear weapons are used. Their use therefore will be a matter of public record, and Congress can impeach if the use of said weapons is deemed a High Crime or misdemeanor, such as a war crime. Posted by: James M. | Aug 31 2026 6:58 utc | 113

 You’re tqlking about a president who flouted the (already unconstitutional) War Powers Act without as much as a squeak from Congress? Anyway, the use of nukes, however improbable that might be, would not be a war crime according to what passes for American law, and the thought that Trump would be convicted by the Senate for any “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” is beyond delusional.
Posted by: malenkov | Aug 31 2026 11:35 utc | 136

Well, a conspiratorial mind might posit, with some likelihood at least, of accuracy, that the US Congress is essentially owned or controlled by Israel just as much as the executive branch is. If that’s really the case then it’s also probable that the President is doing just what the Congress, or at least a distinct majority of it, would have him doing. The way they lie low, then, would be a matter of strategy.

Posted by: jonboinAR | Aug 31 2026 13:15 utc | 139

a simple mind would believe whatever is being passed around/promoted, doing gymnastics to believe what is being sold. never mind the interests that have owned the US government for far longer than any zionist claptrap. nobody mentions them, so it must not be the case. No pharmacrooks, top lobbyists, COVID, dont be silly. No Oil interests, Venezuela, ME, dont be silly. 
 
morons powered by bigotry playing into the hands of master racists.
your reasoning is nearly correct, but upside down.

Posted by: Not Ewe | Aug 31 2026 13:25 utc | 141

jonboinAR 133
 
Trump:
‘They killed 52,000 protesters as of three months ago. Sadly, they’ve added very substantially to that list. Even people that aren’t protesting, they go into the houses and they take them and they shoot them.’
 
Maybe he could apply ICE to his fevered imagination. Karma might be a bitch, but Projection is far more dangerous, because eventually you realise that the thing you  hate is part of yourself.
 
 

Posted by: Giyane | Aug 31 2026 14:05 utc | 143

 it’s also probable that the President is doing just what the Congress (wants)  jonboinAR | Aug 31 2026 13:15 utc | 139
 
Duh? MoA jumped the shark long ago. Posters seem to actually believe commoners should be able – they have agency and moral authority – to participate in government policy.
 
SMH – where oh where did anyone get this idea? Before Bernays, it was completely understood that two distinct classes existed, hence “ours is not to reason why …”
 
So the question people should be asking is why was the system changed? What advantages accrued to leadership under the guise of “democracy”?
 
The answer is on a full display at MoA. The upper inteligencia, those fully versed on practically every facet, fact and form of media, policy and hard, verifiable data, end up wondering why Congress seems to be supporting executive decisions.
 
Then, since a scapegoat is needed, its the zionazis, not the perfidious Anglos who bankrolled the N American empire 200 years after the Spanish, who began their turn while the (eastern) Roman Empire was still extant.
 
??? Like I said, not necessarily clueless, but so deeply embued with naivete it makes one wonder how – if possible – alt.media consumers operate their daily lives.

Posted by: Hobbes | Aug 31 2026 14:27 utc | 145

Top US military generals warned Pete Hegseth that continuing war operations against Iran will endanger the Pentagon‘s ability to confront threats at home. 
The commanders overseeing US forces in Europe, Asia and Latin America, along with the navy’s top admiral, formally ‘non-concurred’ with the Defense Secretary’s push to keep more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East on alert, according to the Washington Post.
US ships, aircraft and other equipment have been pulled from around the world to sustain the Iran war, limiting missions and disrupting military training across three continents. 
Army and air force leaders backed the extended deployments, but warned they would carry significant risks as the Pentagon struggles to keep pace with wartime demands.
The navy, in particular, has been stretched thin since Trump launched the war, with the USS Abraham Lincoln deployed for more than nine months and spending a record 250 consecutive days at sea. 

Posted by: Jo | Aug 31 2026 16:39 utc | 147

Posted by: malenkov | Aug 31 2026 11:35 utc | 136
 
Just saying the headaches involved in the use of nuclear weapons are not worth the potential, limited, benefits.

Posted by: James M. | Aug 31 2026 23:30 utc | 149

for Tom and Aye, myself and I belief: All over the East coast in and around the Adirondack mountains Tenn, Kentucky into Penn lay gobs and gobs of mom and pop people oil and gas reserves.. 
Experience: The oil in the Pennsylvania sands [600 -800 ft] and the Mt. Eagle gas is about 7500 ft.. Last look: These shallow wells were permitted on 20 acre spacings.  Permit cost and shut in clean up cost are critical to profit. Experience says: Little technology is needed to produce these wells.   Problem: the wells becomes non productive after 90 days production; it takes years for nature to refill the cavity so production can restart.. so shut down and move on is bestExpectation? a small producer should be able to make reasonable profits from these leases.  Its not million and millions, but its profitable..  Maybe: produce the oil and gas, out source the  refining and develop a string of retail market outlets and sell the products  [gas, diesel and LNG] at below market prices.. .   .. and use the funds to expand capability and impact of alternative media..  Historically,  during the 60s there were gas wars started by off brand retail gas stations supplied from independently owned shallow well production.   in 1963 high test gas was about $.27 per gallon, during gas wars prices might go as low as $.13 per gallon.. 
Before the Saudi Aramco Oil for bond programs 1975ish many small operators were making good money producing these wells.. The EPA came along at the time of Aramco,  made getting permits  problematic and shut ins costly..  Oil back then could bring from $13 to $18 a barrel and there were few gas pipelines for the gas.  

Posted by: snake | Sep 1 2026 11:49 utc | 151

@ snake | Sep 1 2026 12:01 utc | 152
 
Snake: I’m replying in the open thread (2026-187), not this Iran thread. We’re off-topic here, right?

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Sep 1 2026 13:25 utc | 153

https://youtu.be/-wuMxMTIrwc
 
According to Mario, US has started bombing Iran.  Again.  The entire West Asian peninsula is preparing for Iranian retaliation.

Posted by: Woke American | Sep 1 2026 16:38 utc | 155

Brent and WTI up to 94 and almost up to 90.  Up 3 bucks each.  Expectations of low to moderate responses back and forth?

Posted by: Woke American | Sep 1 2026 16:40 utc | 157

@ Mario | Sep 1 2026 16:39 utc | 156
 
To your first point: It all depends on whether any state would respond with nukes to a US nuclear attack on Iran. I doubt any state would (and certainly not Pakistan). Or course it might compel Iran (or what would be left of it) to revoke its anti-nuke fatwa. This much said, no sane US leader would use nukes — but can you say the US has sane leadership? I’m not so sure.
 
To your second point: I keep hearing this “pariah” business and I think it’s nonsense. “Israel” is committing a genocide before rolling cameras, and yet few states treat it as a pariah. As long as US dollars have value and the US can threaten serious firepower, it may be hated (oderint dum metuant!), but it will hardly be a pariah. In fact, the state closest to pariah status right now is probably poor innocent Cuba. Granted, only the USA hates Cuba, but except for token contributions from Russia and China, no state will come to its aid.

Posted by: malenkov | Sep 1 2026 17:52 utc | 159

Have done a fair amount of MSM reading to understand what my brain washed friends think. Well I came across this USA Today story that blew me away in the amount of information and truth it contains. MSM repeating what I found here. I quickly set this off to them. After all, a good American should believe USA Today as a source of truth, right ?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/31/castle-breaker-missile-havoc-iran-us-war/91496889007/

Posted by: Bob Green | Sep 1 2026 21:16 utc | 161

Was watching today’s episode of transition protocol. Was not impressed. Last who goes by “sabby sabs” was on with “z”. Sea was commenting on the oil deal with Venezuela. The only thing she got right was that it wasn’t going to be an immediate gushing of oil, but the explanation she gave was pure confabulation. She obviously didn’t do the homework and claimed that world is dependant on medium (correct) and light (wrong) crude from ME for diesel, petrol, and jet fuel. Also, claimed the refining of Venezuela is what will cause months long delays and is the reason why it’s a nothing burger of a deal.
Distillates can be had from all grades of crude, but the yield is why the world prefers heavy and medium, not light or “sweet” crude. Not to mention, you can’t just run every kind of grade through a single renery because each is special built for a certain grade  The Venezuela deal isn’t nothing burger because refining time, it’s nothing burger because the extraction.
I gotta say, I had high hopes for transition protocol. Pepe Escobar, Larry Johnson, they are alright, but sassby sabs has no place. She basically doesn’t know shit and regurgitates and confabulates.
This “Z”, the host, also thinks he’s got some special inside track to paki statecraft. Completely made an ass of himself repeating some glossy tale whispered to him by a paki insider which didn’t pan out. Tried to sell it to his audience that a deal was emminent…again.
Don’t ever trust a paki not to oversell himself. So tired of hearing about this powerful munir. Please go back to peacocking at the attari border.

Posted by: Unsafe Data | Sep 1 2026 23:27 utc | 163

“Israel” is committing a genocide before rolling cameras, and yet few states treat it as a pariah.
Posted by: malenkov | Sep 1 2026 17:52 utc | 159
 
Really? Nearly every single country has condemned Israel. Netanyahu has been indicted by the ICC. Multiple sanctions regimes have been imposed. Israel acts like it doesn’t care, but it is almost universally treated as the biggest pariah state in the world right now.

Posted by: James M. | Sep 2 2026 1:40 utc | 165

Nmalenkov | Sep 2 2026 2:31 utc | 166
*** Nearly every country has “condemned” the Zionazi entity — while trading goods and ambassadors with it. To date not a single state has honored the ICC warrant against Netanyahu. Some “pariah”! ***
 
Couple of days ago Mirvis the chief UK rabbi was pictured in ‘British’ newspapers instructing Miliband the Foreign Secretary on what line he was to follow on Israel and the Palestinians.
 
Basically, what’s allowed is a little mild criticism of a (supposedly) tiny minority of uncontrollable and violent “settlers” (allegedly nothing to do with the Israeli authorities).
Plus adherence to the bad-joke drivel about a fantasy “two state solution”….
No mention of genocide.
 
Such a stance could then of course be attacked by the Israeli regime for being “antisemitic” and “terrorist abetting”. Which in turn is supposed to make the dismal creep Miliband appear fearless and resolute.
 
Really sickening.
 

Posted by: Cynic | Sep 2 2026 22:03 utc | 167