With the Strait Closed Again, It's Clear Whomever the Admin is Talking to Are Not in Charge of Iran Background Briefing goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard elsewhere in American media. Background Briefing features international and national news, ex

The Strait of Hormuz is closed again after Trump and Iran’s FM said it was “completely open,” suggesting the US is not talking to the right people. Will the war resume when the ceasefire ends on Wednesday? Featuring @jricole.bsky.social.

soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Everyone gets the rule of law or no one does- search the Web for Juan Cole's Informed Comment to see the whole essay http://dlvr.it/TS7VLB

Tax the only ones who benefit from this mess - search the Web for Juan Cole's Informed Comment to see the whole essay http://dlvr.it/TS7V9D

It isn't settling down - search the Web for Juan Cole's Informed Comment to see the whole essay http://dlvr.it/TS7Tvg

Outrage after photo shows Israeli soldier smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon Social media users condemn Western silence on attacks on religious symbols and sites by Israeli soldiers and settlers.

Outrage after photo shows Israeli soldier smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon flip.it/NOu6Vm

US Seizes Iranian Vessel: Question Mark over Islamabad Talks It is not clear whether an Iranian delegation will show up, since various Iranian figures and institutions have made contradictory statements

US Seizes Iranian Vessel: Question Mark over Islamabad Talks

Tax the Corporations Cashing in on War Across the political spectrum, Americans support taxing windfall profits to help working people weather the affordability crisis

Tax the Corporations Cashing in on War

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor: The Case for Asylum Noem v. Al Otro Lado on the legality of a 2018 Trump border policy blocking U.S. asylum process for people arriving at the border with Mexico

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor: The Case for Asylum

www.middleeast.ugent.be/en/prof-dr-i...

Dozens of Palestinian children have been unable to go to school this week in the occupied West Bank because a barbed-wire fence put up by illegal Jewish settlers blocked their way to school.

One of the best pieces of editing advice, ever, comes from Spooky Grandpa: your new draft is your old draft minus 10% of the word count.

It's hard, but it really does transform things

Coachella is trying to wipe all of the footage of The Strokes protest set so I’m gonna post it here. The last images on the screen made me cry.

This is a snapshot of the failure of MSM and the concomitant ignorance within the American electorate about what is happening in and to their country.

Israel restores West Bank settlement, as minister demands occupation of Gaza The Israeli government has also agreed to rebuild three settlements dismantled in the West Bank in 2005

Israel restores West Bank settlement, as minister demands occupation of Gaza - www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-restores-ill...

US Seizes Iranian Vessel: Question Mark over Islamabad Talks It is not clear whether an Iranian delegation will show up, since various Iranian figures and institutions have made contradictory statements

US Seizes Iranian Vessel: Question Mark over Islamabad Talks

Tax the Corporations Cashing in on War Across the political spectrum, Americans support taxing windfall profits to help working people weather the affordability crisis

Tax the Corporations Cashing in on War

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor: The Case for Asylum Noem v. Al Otro Lado on the legality of a 2018 Trump border policy blocking U.S. asylum process for people arriving at the border with Mexico

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor: The Case for Asylum

Clearing landmines sucks.

Clearing sea mines sucks.

The U.S. Navy simply isn't prepared to go up against shitty old sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

And if Iran has innovated (as it has with drones), the US Navy is extra unprepared.

There are two assumptions built into US mines countermeasures:

1. The US Navy will have sea control (ability to use ships, aircraft, underwater drones, and divers) on the US Navy's terms.
2. The mines are decades old and the doctrine is a century old.

Another challenge: if the US military actually makes progress toward defeating Iran... Iran has the option of escalating.

Early mine warfare is going to be cautious, with an off ramp for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

If Iran senses that it's losing, Iran has the option of deploying so many mines the SoH is closed for a long time.

Trump isn't, either. Churchill had brains and balls, Trump just has wishful thinking and a shitload of incompetent, self-serving morons.

Trump doesn't know history

Neither does Hegseth

Republicans have made the US incompetent
We will have to learn the hard way

Pray for our troops - deliver them evil leaders

And Starmer is not Churchill...

Gallipoli has 4 Lessons for the Strait of Hormuz Crisis By Meighen McCrae, Australian ...

Via @jricole.bsky.social, good history-repeating lesson. Whiskey Pete shoulda watched “Gallipoli” instead of “Pulp Fiction.” www.juancole.com/2026/04/gall...

"History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Rhymes"

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