Mattis Delivers Harsh Iran Assessment

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

"We're in a tough spot, ladies and gentlemen, and I can't identify a lot of good options," [Former Defense Secretary James Mattis] told attendees at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference. If President Trump declares victory and pulls back the U.S. military, Iran "would now say we own the Strait." "I think that you could see a tax for any ship going through " something completely unsustainable in the international market," Mattis said.

Posted by qcp at 10:33 AM | 14 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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"Past Presidents held back on attacking Iran for fear of damaging America's legitimacy or its interests, broadly construed," Daniel Immerwahr writes. "Trump, caring little for either, has entered a major conflict with astonishing blitheness." newyorkermag.visitlink.me/FwWt9c

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-- The New Yorker (@newyorker.com) Mar 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM

Comments

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"We're in a tough spot, ladies and gentlemen, and I can't identify a lot of good options"

This is what I voted for.
--Boaz

#1 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-24 01:07 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis needs to be our next POTUS to start un-assing Amerikkka on 20 Jan 2029.

Platform:

Political Party: Independent

No AIPAC donations or running mate.

Arrest ICC-indicted suspects if they land on US soil: Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu

Abolish ICE and DHS and restore INS to its pre-2001 condition.

Claw back billions of dollars from the oligarchs.

Prosecute Trumpf junta members and eliminate DOJ "policy" that might protect them. No Special Counsels, just AUSAs running Grand Juries.

Re-establish America's alliances and friends.

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-24 01:52 PM | Reply

BOAZ said mean things and broke me...

-Snoofy

#3 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-03-25 12:58 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Wow, former sec Mattis who has stage 4 TDS saying the conflict isn't going well? I'm shocked. Put him back in the Joy Bahar file.

#4 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-03-25 01:53 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

"Claw back billions of dollars from the oligarchs."

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-24 01:52 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

Why don't you just try and get a job? It's better for you than just laying around the basement all day.

#5 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-03-25 01:56 PM | Reply

#5
Says the loser who spends his days sucking pedo 47's filth from Putin's knob.

#6 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-03-25 01:57 PM | Reply

Poor lfilthy misses his boyfriend.

#7 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-03-25 02:44 PM | Reply

Wow, former sec Mattis who has stage 4 TDS saying the conflict isn't going well? I'm shocked. Put him back in the Joy Bahar file.

#4 | Posted by fishpaw

What a f&^%ing terard.

How does one become so slavishly devoted to a piece of s*&^ like Trump?

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-25 02:45 PM | Reply

"How does one become so slavishly devoted to a piece of s*&^ like Trump?"

They see themselves in Trump.
They want to be just like Trump when they grow up.

#9 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-25 03:04 PM | Reply

They see themselves as and aspire to be a reprehensible piece of s*&^?

#10 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-25 04:31 PM | Reply

#7 | POSTED BY HORSTNGRABEN AT 2026-03-25 02:44 PM | REPLY

STFU Brokeback-Horstn.

#11 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-03-25 05:14 PM | Reply

Brokeback-Horstn

Only in your dreams.

#12 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-03-25 05:34 PM | Reply

Wow, former sec Mattis who has stage 4 TDS saying the conflict isn't going well? I'm shocked. Put him back in the Joy Bahar file.
#4 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-03-25 01:53 PM

RIGHT?! What does HE know anyway when we have YOU, the sage of the internet, who by far more of an expert on military matters, just ask!

#13 | Posted by e1g1 at 2026-03-25 06:23 PM | Reply

Wow, former sec Mattis who has stage 4 TDS saying the conflict isn't going well? I'm shocked. Put him back in the Joy Bahar file.

#4 | POSTED BY FISHPAW AT 2026-03-25 01:53 PM | FLAG: | FUNNY: 1

Awww, is Mad Dog not enough of a suck-up for you, buttercup? You poor thing. You poor, pitiful, pathetic thing.

#14 | Posted by cbob at 2026-03-25 06:32 PM | Reply