TACO Tuesday

65 yrs after first one, Trump's 'Bay of Pigs' may take many forms Will this be Trump's 'Bay of Pigs'?

65 yrs after first one, Trump's 'Bay of Pigs' may take many forms

The Archive's Peter Kornbluh on the "sobering lessons" of the failed paramilitary invasion of Cuba in April 1961 responsiblestatecraft.org/cuba-bay-of-...

New at Debating Canadian Defence:

open.substack.com/pub/philippe...

100%. Their plan is to impose economic pain until they feel they've levelled the negotiating field.

Peace talks are trending in the right direction.

Carney says close ties to U.S. have become ‘weaknesses’ that must be corrected Prime Minister promised regular updates about what the government is doing and said he will not ‘sugar-coat’ challenges

Mark Carney: Canada’s former strength, built on our bond with America, has become a “weakness” that must be corrected.

www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

North Korea test-fires at least one ballistic missile, Defense Ministry says The launch occurred around 6:26 a.m., with the ministry saying the missile 'no longer posed a threat to the vicinity of Japan' around 7:14 a.m.

Unusual North Korean missile launch today. Japan MOD says detected at 6:26 and issues notice that the missile “no longer posed a threat to the vicinity of Japan” around 7:14 a.m.
Phrasing unusual, but unclear if flight time was actually around 50 min.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04...

Yes, and it took only two missiles to disable nearly 20% of Qatar's LNG export capacity for up to five years. Yes, Iran still has cards to play.

Let us refrain from commentary and snark before we know what is really going on. Then we should pile on.

possibly. There is so much "fog of statements" happening that it's hard to know what is really going on.

Iran made the same statement when it acceded to the NPT, when Khamenei issued the beaten-to-death fatwa and when Zarif signed the JCPOA. We lacked trust, not promises.

politicians often turn to the Lord when fighting for their political lives.

Albert Carnesale Member of the Board, Belfer Center Former Dean, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Former Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Harvard Kennedy School

A man of deep technical insight, good judgment, and remarkable common sense. www.belfercenter.org/person/alber...

Starlink 34343 failed on Mar 29 in a fatal energetic event which raised its apogee by 30 km and generated observed (but so far uncataloged) debris. Since then the orbit has undergone natural decay. Current orbit is 547 x 574 km.

Every day is nothing but a good news parade for Mark Carney.

Yes, Iran has options, despite the U.S. blockade Here’s why economic coercion is tough to implement – and could spur further escalation.

"...if the coercive campaign drags on, U.S. hawks may underestimate Iran’s staying power. From all indications, Tehran has options, and the capacity to cause renewed global economic dislocation." goodauthority.org/news/yes-ira...

‘No such thing as absolute safety’: Japan embraces nuclear post-Fukushima The country is rapidly moving to restart reactors as artificial intelligence increases electricity demand and foreign wars choke gas supplies.

"Elsewhere in Japan, two more reactors are slated to restart, possibly in 2027, with another eight being reviewed for future operations. Three brand new reactors are under construction, but two of those still need permits." www.eenews.net/articles/no-...

No infantry needed. Ukrainian robots, for first time, capture Russian position — Zelenskyy Read more

"Ukrainian defenders managed to take control of an enemy position using drones and ground robotic systems. Infantry did not take part in the operation." Moreover, robotic systems completed 50% more tasks in March than in February. The future is here, indeed. newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/no-infa...

The result of Obama’s Iran deal—no HEU, strict enrichment caps, international monitoring far beyond usual safeguards, foundation for further negotiations—were indisputably better than the results of Trump’s war.

The axis of Maga just lost another member. Let the dominoes fall.

Five weeks has resolved nothing. The war consumes scarce military munitions that are needed in other theatres. It locks up US forces when China still menaces Taiwan and enriches Russia. Iran is battered but politically stronger and resolved to pursue a latent nuclear capability.

Apart from holding the the world economy hostage, impose massive costs on the world energy systems, hold all the energy infrastructure in the Gulf at risk indefinitely, you're right, they have no cards.

White House Secures Foreign Steel for Ballroom Project

Trump is such a champion of American steel that his ballroom will be 100% from Luxembourg.

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/u...

Just a reminder that #China 's economic growth in the past 15+ years has been very much accompanied by an increase in debt. Public sector debt, household debt and corporate debt. Debt levels now clearly higher than in the EU or the US.

America is back? It just got outplayed by a savvy opponent using rope a dope tactics against Trump's wild stupid haymakers. The America I know doesn't make these stupid decisions.

Well, evergreen headline for the last 10 years.

White House pushed Pakistan to broker temporary Iran ceasefire Idea for pause in fighting originated from Donald Trump’s team even as he escalated threats against Iran

And the winner is....Iran. Militarily, it was no contest but Trump failed in his top objective of regime change. Also, Iran still controls the SoH and holds several energy assets at risk in the Gulf, giving them significant leverage. Iran is battered but the winner.

www.ft.com/content/249b...