The more he bombs, the more immoveable the regime becomes, the more conflict intensifies and widens, and the more remote is any chance of resolving the nuclear issue which, the US and Israel claim, is the crux of the matter.
It’s plain that Trump, vowing to impose maritime tolls in the strait and then reversing himself within 24 hours, overseeing attacks on civilian infrastructure that could amount to war crimes, and facing the economically dire prospect of a Red Sea blockade by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, has no clue how to escape this deepening quagmire.
European allies look askance, Washington’s enemies chortle with glee, global markets take fright and the oil price rises again.
The US’s reputation and influence in the world diminish with every missile fired. It’s tough being a superpower when no one respects you.
Who will stop Trump? Congress has told him to halt the war or else seek official authorisation.
He’s ignoring it.
Polls show a majority of Americans are against the whole $100bn, inflation-fuelling mess, yet Trump refuses to listen.
Appalled allies, licking their wounds after another tongue-lashing at Nato’s Ankara summit, dare not check him for fear of permanent rupture.
Pope Leo tries his valiant best. Prayer may be the only thing left.
Squatting in the Kremlin amid the ruins of his own martial delusions, Putin is only too happy to watch the Americans channel scarce missile interceptors, treasure and energy into another Middle East forever war, far removed from Ukraine.
