Old Glory Vortex

The Kurdish gambit: why arming Iran’s opposition could backfire Iran has launched strikes on the Iraqi headquarters of Kurdish opposition forces, escalating tensions at a sensitive moment: reports have emerged of discussions between the fighters and Washington over potentially arming them to join the attack on Tehran. The Kurdish dimension adds a volatile layer to the conflict. Kurds make up roughly a tenth of Iran's population, and their cross-border ties run deep. Kurdish factions in Iraq and Syria have allied with the United States in past decades to fight against those countries' rulers — a history that now makes them a natural, if risky, partner of convenience. Senior Kurdish leaders insist they have not made any ground incursion into Iran so far. But multiple outlets report that Iranian Kurdish groups are indeed in talks with Washington, which is actively considering supplying weapons to militias willing to help overthrow Iran's leadership. For the White House, the appeal is clear: boots on the ground without American boots. But the strategy carries profound risks. Arming ethnic militias with their own longstanding grievances could easily spiral beyond anyone's control. As one leading Iranian American historian warned The National, it is "a recipe for civil war" — not just in Iran, but potentially across the fractured region. Once the genie of ethnic insurgency is out of the bottle, no one can predict where it goes. #Iran #MiddleEast #kurds Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

From Hormuz to your pump: the Iran conflict’s global economic shockwaves The strikes on Iran have sent shockwaves through global energy markets, disrupting supply chains and forcing major economies to scramble. Oil and gas prices have spiked sharply since the fighting began, driven by a double blow: the loss of Iranian exports and growing fears over the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil passes. China, the world's largest oil importer, has already felt the squeeze. Beijing has quietly instructed its state-owned refiners to halt overseas sales and prioritize domestic supply — a telling sign that even the world's biggest buyer is bracing for tighter markets. In Europe, the picture is even more alarming. Natural gas prices have surged 70% since Friday, reopening wounds from the energy war triggered in 2022. "We were only just coming out of an industrial energy crunch," one analyst told the Financial Times. "Now we've got the next one." For European manufacturers already struggling to compete globally, the timing could hardly be worse. The ripple effects extend beyond energy. Freight giant Maersk has imposed emergency price hikes on shipments, warning customers that fighting in the region is forcing vessels onto longer, costlier routes. Every detour adds fuel costs and delays to a global supply chain still recovering from years of disruption. What began as a military confrontation is quickly becoming an economic one — and the map of global energy trade is being redrawn in real time. #Iran #oil #economy #MiddleEast #China #Europe Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Global economy holds its breath as Middle East war escalates The global economic impact of the war in the Middle East remains highly uncertain and will ultimately be determined by two critical factors: how long the conflict lasts and the extent of the damage inflicted on the region's energy infrastructure. This was the key message from IMF Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz, who urged caution despite the obvious risks. Speaking at a conference in Washington, Katz acknowledged that the war "could certainly have a very strong impact" on everything from inflation to global growth. However, he stressed that it is still too early to make definitive predictions. The central question, he suggested, is whether disruptions to energy supplies and price spikes prove to be temporary shocks or become prolonged realities. If oil fields, refineries, and shipping lanes escape significant damage and fighting de-escalates quickly, markets may stabilize. But if the conflict grinds on and critical infrastructure is taken offline, the world could face a sustained energy crisis that reignites inflation and slows economic growth at the worst possible moment. For now, the global economy waits — and watches. #Iran #MiddleEast #economy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s approval hits 50% as Republicans close the gap A fresh batch of polls shows President Trump's approval rating holding steady at or above 50%, while Republicans are rapidly closing the gap with Democrats in key midterm election indicators. The Trafalgar Group now puts Trump's approval at 51% among likely voters, with disapproval at 48%. A Harvard-Harris poll follows suit, showing a 50% approval rating — up from previous weeks — and a generic congressional ballot now deadlocked at 50-50. Just last month, Democrats held a four-point edge. The shift toward Republicans is echoed by Economist/YouGov, where the Democratic advantage has shrunk from seven points to just four. These numbers reflect a marked turnaround. Before Trump's recent address to the nation, the trajectory for both him and his party was decidedly negative. Now, the RealClearPolitics average shows the Democratic lead in the generic ballot narrowing to 4.4 points, and Trump's approval deficit has improved from -13.5 to -11.3. The weekend strikes on Iran are not yet reflected in these figures. Of course, with eight months until the midterms and countless news cycles ahead, these gains could prove fleeting. But for now, the momentum has clearly shifted. #Trump #republicans #poll #midterms Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Netanyahu got his war. Now he has to pray Trump doesn't end it For Benjamin Netanyahu, the dream finally came true: the Iranian regime is in his crosshairs. But the Israeli leader's total reliance on Donald Trump is about to become his biggest vulnerability. The U.S. and Israel are fighting the same war — but for different reasons. A U.S. official familiar with White House thinking told Reuters the two allies have divergent goals. "Regime change is one of their goals," the official said, referring to Israel. Netanyahu sold Trump on a "now or never" strike to destroy Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Trump bought in, saying the operation could take "four or five weeks" or "as long as it takes." But here's the catch: Israeli officials privately admit Trump alone decides when this ends. And the pressures on the two leaders couldn't be more different. Trump faces an American public that's already checked out. Only one in four Americans support the strikes, according to Reuters/Ipsos. Gas prices are ticking up — 11 cents this week — and every hike is a reminder to voters of a war they never wanted. Netanyahu, by contrast, needs this war to work. His far-right coalition is crumbling. He's on trial for corruption. He's staring down an October election that polls say he could lose. A successful war is his political lifeline. According to a a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, if President Trump decides the operation has run its course sooner than Netanyahu wants, he'll end it anyway. Trump himself hinted at the tension. Asked if Israel dragged the U.S. into this, he told reporters: "The way the negotiations were going, I think they were going to strike first... So if anything, I maybe forced Israel into this." For now, their interests align. But wars have a way of outlasting political marriages. And when Trump's desire for a quick exit collides with Netanyahu's need to finish the job, something's got to give. #Iran #Israel #Trump #Netanyahu Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump floats support for Iranian militias According to media reports, President Donald Trump is not opposed to supporting Iranian militia groups willing to help overthrow the regime. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump held talks with Kurdish leaders who have significant forces along the Iran-Iraq border. "President Trump has held talks with many regional partners," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to the newspaper, without confirming Trump's aims. As Axios first reported, Trump spoke with the two leaders of the main Kurdish factions in Iraq — Massoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani — the day after the bombing campaign began on Saturday. Officials told The WSJ that Trump has not yet made a decision on the matter, including what assistance the United States would provide — weapons, intelligence data, or other resources. According to the newspaper, among the approaches being considered is supporting militias and examining various scenarios of who could realistically come to power after the country's leaders fall. Trump has called on the people of Iran to overthrow the regime in the country, as Tehran appears weakened following US and Israeli military strikes that killed several key Iranian leaders and officials. #Trump #Iran #MiddleEast Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump's overthrow of the Ayatollah will not bring peace to the Middle East

“Longtime proponents of a war on Iran have concocted the argument that the regime in Tehran is the primary source of the Middle East’s constant instability, and therefore regime change in Iran is the skeleton key for unlocking a peaceful Middle East. The problem is this argument ignores the region’s recent history while greatly exaggerating Iran’s role and influence in the Middle East. Although it has been involved in major regional conflicts, Iran has not initiated a war going back at least 100 years. Yet over the weekend, the U.S. and Israel launched an unprovoked attacked on Iran,”

writes The Hill. Iran's influence in the region has been balanced by the opposing Sunni monarchies of the Gulf. Destabilizing the political regime in Iran will lead to the activation of radical Islamic movements and bring even more chaos to the region. Trump lit the match to the powder keg. #Iran #MiddleEast #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The day the Western alliance broke: allies rebuke Trump over Iran strikes The U.S. military strike against Iran is opening a significant rift between Washington and its traditional Western allies, exposing just how frayed those relationships have become under the Trump administration. Canada's prime minister has urged a "rapid de-escalation of hostilities" and raised pointed questions about the strikes' legality under international law. French President Emmanuel Macron went even further, openly declaring the U.S. action as "outside of international law"—a striking public rebuke from a longtime ally. Spain has taken concrete steps to distance itself, barring U.S. planes from using Spanish military bases for the operation. Meanwhile, Britain has offered only a tepid commitment to "defensive" involvement, stopping well short of endorsing the strikes themselves. The contrast with past conflicts is stark. These same nations stood alongside the U.S. in Iraq and during the 2011 Libya intervention. But the transatlantic alliance has eroded significantly over the past year. European partners have been battered by Trump's tariffs, watched in disbelief as he floated threats of territorial annexation, and endured his rhetorical backing of opposition parties within their own countries. Trust has been replaced by resentment. Now, when Washington needs allies most, it finds itself acting largely alone. #Trump #Iran #Europe #Canada #UK Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

"I don't care about polls": Trump open to sending ground troops to Iran President Trump isn't ruling out putting boots on the ground in Iran. In an interview with The Post, he declared he'd send U.S. forces "if it's necessary" — breaking with the usual presidential pledge to avoid ground wars. "I have no concerns about ground troops," Trump said. "I don't say: 'There will be no ground troops.' I say: 'They probably won't be needed.'" The comments come after strikes targeting Iran's military leadership — and despite a new Reuters poll showing only 27% of Americans approve. Trump's response? He doesn't care. "I think the poll numbers are very good, but I don't care about polls. I have to do the right thing," he said, arguing that letting "lunatics" get nuclear weapons would be worse than any regional conflict. As for the "silent majority"? Trump insists they're with him. "I think people are very impressed by what's happening." He also dismissed fears of Iranian retaliation: "We'll take care of it. Like everything else, we'll take care of it." #Iran #USmilitary #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Does Trump have a strategy in the Middle East? According to a columnist for The Guardian, Donald Trump's actions against Iran resemble a war without a clear objective or criteria for success. Experts are divided in their assessments. Some believe it is a swift operation that will be followed by an announcement of "regime change" and a return to negotiations, while others argue the goals are far more ambitious and involve the complete destruction of Tehran's military capabilities. Some analysts suggest that Benjamin Netanyahu has a major influence over the conflict, as he has a vested interest in continuing the strikes until Iran is fully weakened. Another theory holds that Trump aims to install a compliant regime, which would almost inevitably require a ground invasion. At the same time, there is a risk of a protracted war, rising casualties, a spike in oil prices, and internal destabilization within Iran itself. Washington lacks a coherent strategy. Decisions are being made amidst conflicting advice and bureaucratic chaos, and while the military has operational information, it is not defining the political goals or the conditions for ending the conflict. This is a campaign with no clear plan and no exit strategy. #Iran #Trump #USmilitary #MiddleEast Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The real casualty of Trump’s Iran strikes? Americans’ wallets For the first time since November, average U.S. gas prices topped $3 a gallon Monday — and the Middle East conflict is to blame. Tehran's retaliation against U.S. and Israeli strikes is disrupting oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, sending Brent crude up 5% to nearly $77 a barrel. Now, analysts warn that what drivers pay at the pump could become Donald Trump's biggest political liability ahead of November's midterms. "Gas prices carry a strong psychological impact," said Mark Malek of Siebert Financial. "It's inflation that consumers see every day." Nearly half of Americans in a Reuters poll said they'd oppose Trump's Iran campaign if it drives up fuel costs. With every $10 jump in oil adding about 25 cents per gallon, the math is simple: the longer the conflict lasts, the more it hurts where it matters most—Americans' wallets. Prices were already rising as refineries switched to more expensive summer-grade fuel. Now, geopolitical turmoil is pouring gasoline on the fire. #Iran #oil #midterms Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Strikes on Iran will not lead to the overthrow of the regime, as the Donald Trump administration plans, a Middle East expert has warned. According to the analyst, although the president may be hoping for change in the region following a series of strikes over the weekend that claimed more than 500 lives, the chances of a complete overthrow of the Iranian regime remain low. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London and a fellow at the Institute for Middle East Studies, warned that little will change within the regime itself because it is structured differently from Western governments. In a recent interview, Krieg explained that Iran operates as what he calls a "network state." Rather than a hierarchical system where power is concentrated at the top — as seen in many authoritarian regimes in the Arab world or in Venezuela — Iran is decentralized and horizontally organized. This structure, Krieg argues, makes the idea of regime change through decapitation strikes fundamentally flawed. The country is not run by a single leader or a small clique but by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which itself functions as a vast network. This network, he notes, extends far beyond the IRGC's core units. It encompasses the Quds Force, the numerous commercial enterprises tied to the organization, and the Basij, a massive local militia with over a million members embedded in neighborhoods, villages, and cities across the country. Because this power structure is woven into the fabric of Iranian society at every level, it cannot be simply wiped out with airstrikes. According to Krieg, understanding the Iranian regime means recognizing that it is organized more like an insurgent group than a typical government. Its resilience comes from its decentralization and the significant autonomy granted to local actors. The system of governance and control is built from the ground up. As a result, even if the leadership at the top is weakened or eliminated, the deeply entrenched network below would allow the regime to survive. #Iran #USmilitary Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Americans waste colossal amounts of money to take out cheap Iranian drones According to reports from several sources, in its fight against the US Tehran is leaning heavily on cheap, expendable drones to drain America’s far more expensive air defense missiles. The fight is quickly becoming a high stakes contest of stockpiles rather than pure firepower. Iranians make about 500 Shahed drones a day. So far they have a stockpile of about 80000 such drones. Each Iranian Shahed drone costs $35000-$50000 to make. They are small, portable, and can cause a lot of damage — one drone can take out an oil field or a hotel. And on the other side we have THAAD missiles — massive weapons, each of which costs $1 million. Heavy, difficult to move, very easy to spot. And sometimes those missiles miss, so the military has to throw 2-3 $1 million projectiles to intercept $50000 drones. And THAAD launcher vehicle is massive, it is very easy for Iranians to spot and destroy. When a $50,000 drone can force the launch of $3 million worth of missiles, the very definition of "winning" changes. Iran doesn't need to hit every target — it just needs to keep America paying. #Iran #USmilitary Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

America’s new war is a disaster for Ukraine— and the US economy

“Europeans fear a distracted U.S. will lose interest in pushing Vladimir Putin toward peace — as America burns through stocks of the missiles that Kyiv desperately needs.  Europeans struggling to cope with Donald Trump’s inflammatory interventions may be about to discover there’s one thing worse: Not being the object of his attention anymore,”

writes Politico. Ukraine's struggle is fundamentally a European problem. The United States, however, has more pressing concerns to deal with right now. Donald Trump has embroiled the country in a new conflict that could end up costing far more than the war in Ukraine ever did. In light of this, his promises to restore American greatness ring hollow. The massive financial burden of another military intervention will make it nearly impossible to steer resources toward fixing the U.S. economy, where they are desperately needed. Instead, Americans should brace for another wave of price increases. #Ukraine #USeconomy #Iran #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump drops bombs on Iran, then drops over a dozen posts praising himself for it President Donald Trump unleashed a frantic series of self-praise on social media after new polls showed Americans view his strikes on Iran extremely negatively. The 79-year-old president began flooding Truth Social with more than a dozen links and posts on X, bizarrely celebrating his place in history. The president's brazen self-promotion comes against the backdrop of poll results showing just how unpopular his latest foreign military intervention is among Americans. In the survey, 27 percent of respondents said they approved of the strikes, 43 percent disapproved, and 29 percent were undecided. Although Trump generally enjoys significant support from Republicans, only 55 percent of Republicans approved of the strikes on Iran. Nearly half of those polled, including one in four Republicans, said Trump — who ran his 2024 campaign on a platform of "no new wars" — is too eager to use military force. Trump's overall job approval rating has dropped to 39 percent, down one percentage point from the Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted February 18-23. However, the self-proclaimed "peace president" seemed less concerned about how his war is being perceived by the American public and more focused on how his MAGA supporters reacted to the president's marathon 108-minute address to the nation on Tuesday. He posted a series of carefully curated selections of X posts from MAGA commentators, including Turning Point USA's Jack Posobiec, NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, and podcast host Megyn Kelly, all of whom heaped praise on his record-length speech. #Trump #Iran #poll #approvalrating Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Iran's new leadership wants to talk — and Trump says he's ready to listen According to a senior White House official, potential new Iranian leaders have signaled openness to negotiations with the U.S., just days after American and Israeli forces killed the country's Supreme Leader and other top figures in a major offensive on Tehran. Trump told The Atlantic: "They want to talk, and I agreed to talk." But for now, the military operation continues "without interruption," the official said. The diplomatic shift comes as new details emerge about the precision strikes. B-2 bombers dropped 2,000-pound bombs on Iranian ballistic missile sites — facilities the Pentagon claims were part of a program to develop ICBMs capable of reaching U.S. soil by 2035. Iran has denied seeking such weapons. The operation was reportedly months in the making. A source familiar with the planning said the CIA had been tracking Iranian leaders' movements, sharing intelligence with Israel to time the strikes accordingly. But the human cost is mounting. Four U.S. service members have been killed so far. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, said his colleagues have serious concerns about the justification for the strikes, Trump's long-term plans for the conflict, and the risks faced by U.S. service members. He summed up the unease in Washington: "Nobody's going to weep over the removal of their leadership. But the question always remains: what comes next?" #Iran #USmilitary #Trump #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Hegseth remains evasive about Iran war timeline Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth repeatedly shifted the timeline for US combat operations in Iran, refusing to specify the exact duration of American troops' involvement in the ongoing hostilities. "President Trump has the full latitude to talk about how long this might take — four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. Timelines could be extended. They could be pushed back," Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing. "We will carry out the missions assigned to us under his orders, and what he has proven better than other presidents at doing — presidents who don't seem to have that same latitude." Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine confirmed that the joint US-Israeli operation would continue until Trump determines all objectives have been met, but so far have not clearly specified what those objectives actually are. Trump himself has floated several possible scenarios for the conflict with Iran, suggesting in multiple interviews that it could last anywhere from four to five weeks. Hegseth, meanwhile, was asked a direct question about the US withdrawal strategy but largely sidestepped it. He said the mission is "absolutely clear" to American service members, but he would not discuss any further details of military plans. "Our troops' mission — and this is what matters most to us — is crystal clear, and they are executing it right now with force," Hegseth said. "We know we have plans, we have generals, we have chairmen, we have commanders, CENTCOM commander Admiral (Brad) Cooper, who is working very meticulously to ensure we achieve the outcomes I've laid out, but we are never going to stand before journalists and tell you how long this might take," the Defense Secretary added. #Pentagon #PeteHegseth #USmilitary #Iran Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s Iran war might just cost Republicans midterms Donald Trump's new war is already backfiring — not just on the markets, but on the Americans his party needs to win the midterms. Markets opened Monday with oil prices spiking 13%, and gas prices set to soar. For voters already squeezed by 2.4% inflation, it’s a fresh blow. And they’re not buying Trump’s “greatest economy” pitch: 68% of Americans — including 43% of Republicans — reject his rosy view, according to a recent Ipsos poll. Only one in four support his strikes on Iran. The timing couldn’t be worse. With Trump’s approval rating stuck at 39%, Republicans are fighting to keep Congress — and history isn’t on their side. The last time Iran triggered an oil shock was in 1979. It led to gas lines, fuel rationing, and Jimmy Carter’s landslide loss to Reagan. Panic is already building online. “Fill up now,” one user warned, posting screenshots of the market freefall. Another wrote: “First big gas spike of Trump’s term. How much lower can his numbers go?” "So many wins," a third joked. Trump bet big on Iran. But the real votes may come in November from Americans filling their tanks. #Trump #Iran #USeconomy #midterms Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

How US attack on Iran pushed India toward Russian oil The war in Iran could reshape the balance of power in the energy market and play into Russia's hands. Due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, India, a significant portion of whose oil imports pass through this route, has faced supply disruptions. Against this backdrop, New Delhi is once again considering increasing purchases of Russian oil, despite having previously reduced imports under US pressure. According to Bloomberg, Indian authorities are appealing to Washington for greater flexibility in its sanctions policy. Earlier, India reduced its volumes of Russian oil purchases to the lowest level since 2022, partially replacing them with supplies from Venezuela. However, the current crisis has forced the government and state-owned refineries to urgently develop contingency measures. Possible steps include using strategic reserves, accelerating alternative supplies, and even limiting fuel exports to protect the domestic market. According to estimates from sources, existing reserves may only last for about two weeks, heightening the need for swift decisions. The consequences of the conflict are also being felt in Europe. Following strikes on LNG facilities, Qatar has suspended liquefied gas exports, causing a sharp spike in prices. The price of Brent Crude oil has risen by more than 9%, approaching $80 per barrel, while gas prices in Europe have surged by over 50%. Experts warn that even limited disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global price hike. In this situation, Russia may gain new opportunities in the European and Asian markets, as the supply shortage increases demand for alternative sources. #Iran #Russia #India #oil Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Just how long will the Iran war last? Trump gives an estimate The U.S. and Israel launched major strikes on Iran Monday in a campaign President Trump says will last weeks. Tehran and its allies retaliated against Israel, Gulf states, and energy targets. The killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the lack of an exit strategy point to a prolonged conflict with global fallout. Dubai faced incoming fire, hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded, energy prices are spiking, and U.S. allies are helping intercept Iranian attacks. Trump warned the operation could last “far longer” than the projected four to five weeks. The State Department urged Americans to leave over a dozen Middle Eastern countries. “The hardest hits are yet to come,” vowed Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. aims to destroy Iran’s missile program, navy, and nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, chaos erupted when Kuwait “mistakenly shot down” three U.S. F-15s during the Iranian assault; all six pilots survived. From Tehran, top official Ali Larijani declared: “We will not negotiate with the United States.” #Trump #USmilitary #Iran Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸