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always the diplomat, trump wades in history....
United States President Donald Trump has told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that he expects her country to “step up” to assist with securing the Strait of Hormuz amid the US- and Israeli-led war against Iran.
But at a news conference in the Oval Office on Thursday, a reporter pressed Trump about why he did not tell US allies like Japan in advance about his administration’s plans to attack Iran.
Trump responded with a quip about the Japanese sneak attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor during World War II.
“We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Trump asked Takaichi, who appeared uncomfortable.
“You believe in surprise, I think, much more so than us,” Trump added.
It was a remarkable moment in an otherwise short Oval Office media appearance for the two leaders, who are expected to discuss trade and global security.
Takaichi is among only a handful of leaders to visit the White House since the war against Iran began on February 28, and she is one of the first to meet with Trump after he pushed over the weekend for a coalition of allies to defend the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is a vital artery for the oil trade, with nearly a fifth of the world’s supply passing through the narrow waterway. Iran, however, has largely shut down traffic through the strait, causing oil prices worldwide to spike.
In opening remarks, Takaichi condemned ”Iran’s actions such as attacking the neighbouring region and also the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz”.
...
“The global economy is about to experience a huge hit because of this development,” Takaichi told reporters in the Oval Office, referring to the war. “But even against such a backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, that can achieve peace across the world.”
The meeting between the two leaders comes as Trump continues to assert that Iran is on the verge of defeat, even as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure across the Middle East region throttle global energy markets.
“You could end this thing in two seconds if you wanted to,” Trump said of the war effort. “But we are being very judicious.”
YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.
Gus Leonisky
POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.
OF COURSE, THE JAPANESE PM COULD NOT SAY THAT TRUMP'S ILLEGAL WAR OF CHOICE ON IRAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRAP ON WORLD ENERGY SUPPLIES...
- By Gus Leonisky at 20 Mar 2026 - 4:44am
- Gus Leonisky's blog
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billions....
The financial cost of the Iran war to American taxpayers is being understated by officials and could balloon into the trillions of dollars over the long term, The Intercept has warned.
The US military budget, the world’s largest, surpassed $830 billion for fiscal year 2026. President Donald Trump has boasted that the regime-change campaign in Tehran could be waged “forever” using the Pentagon’s current munition stockpiles, though skeptics say weapons depletion is a major issue.
On Wednesday, The Intercept contrasted estimates of Operation Epic Fury provided by Trump administration officials with figures from experts, lawmakers, and two government officials interviewed on condition of anonymity.
The $12 billion estimate given on Sunday by Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett does not account for the cost of the buildup in the Middle East that preceded the US-Israeli attack in late February, the outlet stated. A three-week war would directly cost between $60 billion and $130 billion, rising to $250 billion if it extends to eight weeks, government sources told the outlet.
Lawmakers expect the administration to add at least $50 billion to the $1.5 trillion War Department budget request for fiscal year 2027.
Long-term expenses – including veteran’s benefits and interest on additional debt – could push the total into trillions, similar to the Iraq War, the report stressed. The George W. Bush administration initially estimated the cost of toppling Saddam Hussein at $40 billion, but independent assessments put the figure at around $8 trillion by 2021.
US national debt is approaching $39 trillion, up from $38 trillion last October, according to Treasury data. Trump campaigned for president by promising not to start costly new wars and instead reduce debt by cutting wasteful government spending.
This week, Joe Kent, head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest against the Iran war. He said that contrary to Trump’s assertions, Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation” and that the attack was launched “due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
https://www.rt.com/news/635420-iran-war-cost-estimate/
WILL MORE $BILLIONS HELP BRING PEACE?... NUPE... IT WILL ONLY HELP INCREASE THE DAMAGE....
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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.
Gus Leonisky
POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.