this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2026
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politics

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The Pentagon and National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to US military strikes while planning the ongoing operation, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Donald Trump’s national security team failed to fully account for the potential consequences of what some officials have described as a worst-case scenario now facing the administration, the sources said.

While key officials from the Departments of Energy and Treasury were present for some of the official planning meetings about the operation before it started, sources said, the agency analysis and forecasts that would be integral elements of the decision-making process in past administrations were secondary considerations.

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[–] Man_kind@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 hours ago

Because trump is an idiot, and only wants sycophants around him, and these people are all greedy people that are only there because they kiss trumps ass and don't care about democracy.

So, all he is getting is unqualified morons running everything.

Of course he doesnt realize fucking anything is going to happen. He's just high on his own supply of over-confidence.

If he had any advisors telling him attacking Iran was a bad idea, he'd just sack them for someone that will attack whoever he orders them to.

So, they're all incompetent.

[–] Dotcom@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 hours ago

The fact that they did any estimation at all is astounding.

[–] SarcasticMan@lemmy.world 23 points 11 hours ago

They didn't underestimate shit, they straight up ignored it. Look, these white men are apex brains built on a warrior ethos, protein powder, and Rip Fuel.

How were they supposed to know these DEI generals who have been saying for 40 years that invading Iran is a shit idea weren't just making it up? They make shit up all the time, why wouldn't these DEI pussies do the same?

Also, who could have known these little brown fuckers could strategize on a white level of intelligence? I mean Venezuelans are brown, they rolled over them!

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 hours ago

The dumbshits didn't estimate at all.

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 5 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Trump will have been given 3 folders marked "Plan A", "Plan B" and "Plan C" and instead of reading them just pointed at one of them.

I can 100% guarantee that any part of a plan suggesting Iran would be a significant adversary who could halt the global economy would have been suppressed

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

(nope, I didn't find a smaller one)

[–] ultranaut@lemmy.world 27 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It amazes me how profoundly stupid these people are. This is almost too dumb to believe. The Strait of Hormuz risk has been talked about for decades, no one at the Pentagon or NSC should be surprised right now.

[–] xerxes@piefed.social 12 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Exactly. It's like they can't read. Everyone knew this shit was gonna happen.

[–] MrVilliam@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

When we started seeing bullshit about aliens files maybe coming out, my first thought was the moon bears wkuk sketch. I was like okay, this isn't just a distraction from Epstein, we're about to invade Iran. I got an electrician to run a 60A 240V circuit to my garage and install a charger for me, and then I sold my Rav4 and bought an EV on 2/26. Bombs hit Iran on 2/28. I couldn't have timed that better with a fucking time machine lol.

[–] SGGeorwell@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

They don’t read!!

[–] ryrybang@lemmy.world 36 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

Underestimated is a weird way to say didn't consider.

[–] MajinBlayze@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

The instability is the point

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 13 hours ago

They did consider. They considered, and saw it would be a net benefit for all major donors (oil companies get crazy oil profits again, rich billionaires get to buy up assets when the economy takes a fat shit here in about a month).

[–] darkdemize@sh.itjust.works 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

The headline is technically correct. The ~~best~~ worst kind of correct.

Have you met my friend, Heffalump? He talks me down during these times of inconsistency...

Why is everyone so upset that I put soap in the city font?