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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Sunday, May 17, 2026

Chris Hedges: Trump's catastrophic miscalculation in Iran and refusal to accept the inevitability of defeat is pushing us towards a global depression and ensuring the suffering and immiseration of millions.

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Twenty years ago, Chris Hedges published the bestseller "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America." The book is more timely than ever.

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-- Christopher Knight LAT (@knightlat.bsky.social) 7:04 PM · Apr 24, 2026

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"A resumption of the bombing, coupled with even a limited ground assault, would ensure a long and costly war. It will fulfill Israel's objective " which seeks to bomb Iran into a failed state " but will be another mortal blow to the U.S. empire.

A ground assault on Kharg Island " which lies 16 miles off Iran's coast and serves as the country's main oil storage and export terminal, processing around 90 percent of the country's oil exports " would send seismic shock waves through the global economy.

And if U.S. troops attempt to seize Iranian territory, Iran will deploy its arsenal of anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, underwater drones and mines, making any occupation deadly.

We are in serious trouble.

The management of the conflict is far beyond the capabilities of the buffoons within the Trump administration. They prefer global misery and carnage to defeat.

By the time they face the inevitable, they will have left mounds of corpses in their wake.

The tragedy is not that the empire is dying. The tragedy is that the empire is bringing so many innocents down with it."

;;

much more at the link

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-14 06:22 PM | Reply

"The war on Iran is one more chapter in our precipitous and ultimately fatal decline."

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-14 06:28 PM | Reply

So what if millions will suffer so Trump doesn't have to admit he was wrong.

This is America.

We do whatever Trump wants.

---- everything else.

#3 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-05-14 06:34 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

"Operation Epic Fury is now looking more like Operation Colossal Blunder.' "

Scott Anderson, New York Times.

#4 | Posted by SomebodyElse at 2026-05-14 06:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"Operation AIPAC Fury is now looking more like Operation Colossal Blunder."
Scott Anderson, New York Times.

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-14 06:59 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Here's the vid version of the story from Hedges:

www.youtube.com

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-14 07:18 PM | Reply

"pushing us towards a global depression"

That's a feature, not a bug.

Oligarchs foreclosing on your house
While your job is replaced with robots or AI
And your unemployment check is crippled by stagflation
You'll be living in your car, which you can't afford to drive at $8/gal

Most will blame Obama.

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-05-14 07:39 PM | Reply

#5 The actual title of Scott Anderson's piece is...

Operation Epic Fury, Meet Operation Colossal Blunder
Nothing to do with AIPAC.

Nothing whatsoever.

Does your obvious hatred of Jews make you believe anyone would believe your obvious lie, Caius Marcius Coriolanus?

Seriously?

#8 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-14 07:41 PM | Reply

#9 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-14 07:44 PM | Reply

He's an incontinent, incompetent, dementia-addled octagenarian pedophile.

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-05-14 08:14 PM | Reply

#3

We do whatever Bibi wants, dumbass.

#11 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-05-14 08:14 PM | Reply

#8

Israel is not Jews, --------.

#12 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-05-14 08:15 PM | Reply

#12 And you just learned that, LYD?

#13 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-14 09:21 PM | Reply

No, dumbass. I just learned you're nothing but a Zionist ----

#14 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-05-14 10:15 PM | Reply

Honestly.

With today's attention spans.

I bet if the media just stopped reporting on it for like two weeks, people would forget there ever was a war with Iran.

Then Republicans can shift all the blame for inflation and high prices to undocumented immigrants and transgenders for the rest of the year and sweep the midterms.

They don't even gotta give a reason as to how transgenders or undocumented immigrants are responsible. If they just make enough noise and spout off enough anger, people will literally believe it.

Trans athletes from Somalia are to blame for everything and only another multi trillion dollar tax cut for the rich can Make America Great Again!

Also. If it wasn't for democrats you'd already be a billionaire.

Also. Biden stole your Trump phones.

Go ask him about it.

Thank you, Brandon!

#15 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-05-14 11:07 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

"I bet if the media just stopped reporting on it for like two weeks, people would forget there ever was a war with Iran."

We're in the "Don't Look Up" era of media messaging.

#16 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-05-15 09:43 AM | Reply

America began the illegal war of aggression against Iran, in concert with its genocide committing ally Israel with a cowardly assassination of the Iranian head of state (who happens to essentially be the Shia Pope) by bombing his home, killing numerous women and children including infants. This murderous attack was conducted without warning, without declaration and without ANY justification. This was a barbaric act.

This dastardly attack was committed during peace time, during negotiations with Iran over their nuclear weapons program, which had been subject to an agreement that the US unilaterally pulled out of years earlier and which Iran was complying with. This was the second time the US and Israel attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations.

America performed evil.

America deserves the harm that is coming to us.

Truth Hurts

#17 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 07:31 PM | Reply

Nothing to do with AIPAC.
Nothing whatsoever.

Does your obvious hatred of Jews make you believe anyone would believe your obvious lie, Caius Marcius Coriolanus?

Seriously?

#8 | Posted by A_Friend

To state some facts

Israel is

1. Committing genocide
2. Enacting pogroms
3. Stealing land from Lebanon and Syria
4. Starting wars of aggression
5. Continuously breaching ceasefire agreements
6. Targeting UN Peacekeepers
7. Targeting Journalists
8. Targeting EMS workers
9. Torturing Palestinians including children
10. Desecrating non-Jewish religious symbols and statues
11. Detaining thousands of innocent Palestinians-one could call them hostages
12. Using illegal weapons (white phosphorus, booby traps)

All on our dime

Fuck Israel
All on our dime

#18 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 07:39 PM | Reply

@#17 ... America began the illegal war of aggression against Iran, in concert with its genocide committing ally Israel with a cowardly assassination of the Iranian head of state (who happens to essentially be the Shia Pope) by bombing his home, killing numerous women and children including infants. This murderous attack was conducted without warning, without declaration and without ANY justification. This was a barbaric act. ...

I do not disagree with any of that.

But I also want to add that Iran's regime was not the epitome of goodness in the region.

#19 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 07:52 PM | Reply

But I also want to add that Iran's regime was not the epitome of goodness in the region.
#19 | Posted by LampLighter

Irrelevant

The US and Israel has been as bad and worse

And all of that is irrelevant to the heinous nature of our act

We deserve the harm that is coming our way

#20 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 08:04 PM | Reply

@#20 ... Irrelevant ...

I disagree.

That you cite US and Israel being as bad makes it quite relevant.

That aside ...

Pres Trump took Americans into a quagmire based upon his typical "quick win" hopes.

Now Pres Trump desperately seems to be looking for a way out of his war of choice, a so-called "exit ramp."

Pres Trump's problem, imo, is that he does not appear to think strategically, only tactically.


#21 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 08:11 PM | Reply

No it's irrelevant.

America had no right whatsoever to do what we did. Iran did not deserve it. Why does Iran do what it does? Cause Israel and America want to destroy their country. That is a stated goal of both Israel and America-"regime change", mowing the grass, etc. They actually live under an existential threat posed by 2 nuclear armed countries that have shown zero compunction to kill Iranians at will. We support theocracies and auto crats that are just as bad.

America is Fuckked. Iran now controls the global oil market. This issue is not going to be resolved anytime soon and every day the damage gets deeper and the time to fix it will take longer, BUT the world has changed. Most people haven't grokked that yet. The world has changed. We now have a new power in the world-Iran. Iran controls 20% of the worlds oil 20% of the worlds fertilizer. That is permanent. There is no "exit ramp" to this because Iran holds all the cards. they don't even have to do anything. The threat is there and America has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they cannot do anything about it.

Ask yourself this. What will happen if the straits remain closed for another six months? Can you see a global economic collapse? A depression? I can.

Now ask yourself. Do you think Iran gives 2 shits about that?

Now ask yourself this. What is America going to do about it?

Piggy's trip to China should wake people up.

Trump was HUMILIATED.

Who met the leader of the free world at the airport? Xi? the Foreign Minister? NOPE

Some low level dignitaries, the type of reception that Belgium or Bolivia could expect. Not the US

Compare that to Piggy sitting on the red carpet to greet Putin in Alaska

HUMILIATED

Piggy flew across the globe to be HUMILIATED

NOPE the future looks bleak.

#22 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 08:26 PM | Reply

@#22 ... America had no right whatsoever to do what we did. ...

Again, I agree.

But I said, "That you cite US and Israel being as bad makes it quite relevant." I'd say that neither the US, Israel nor Iran had any right for the military actions they performed.

Indeed, just after that I said, "that aside" and said, "Pres Trump took Americans into a quagmire based upon his typical "quick win" hopes.."

Other notes about your comment ...

... trip to China should wake people up.

Trump was HUMILIATED. ...

Yup. As I have been posting.

... sitting on the red carpet to greet Putin in Alaska

HUMILIATED ...

Again, I agree, as I have posted.


OK, let me state my opinion bluntly...

Pres Trump is demeaning the United States upon the world stage. I have posted thread(s) about that.



#23 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 08:46 PM | Reply

@#22 ... Iran now controls the global oil market. ...

Something that Iran had never done previously.

But now, Pres Trump's unsubstantiated war against Iran seems to have taught Iran that it now has this new, previously unused, power over the world's economy.


Before Pres Trump went off the deep-end regarding Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to shipping and Iran was OK with that, with 130 or more ships per day passing through it.

#24 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 08:51 PM | Reply

To state some facts

Israel The Trump Administration is allowing ...

1. Committing genocide
2. Enacting pogroms
3. Stealing land from Lebanon and Syria
4. Starting wars of aggression
5. Continuously breaching ceasefire agreements
6. Targeting UN Peacekeepers
7. Targeting Journalists
8. Targeting EMS workers
9. Torturing Palestinians including children
10. Desecrating non-Jewish religious symbols and statues
11. Detaining thousands of innocent Palestinians-one could call them hostages
12. Using illegal weapons (white phosphorus, booby traps)

All on our dime

Fuck Israel America

All on our dime

#18 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 07:39 PM

You're welcome for the appropriate edits, truthhurts.

A Democratic president wouldn't allow that.

But you do you, truthhurts.

#25 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-17 09:56 PM | Reply

@#25

PM Netanyahu seems to have a ~control~ over Pres Trump.


The ramifications of that are quite significant, given the awesomeness of the US Military.


Perhaps that may be why PM Netanyahu has worked to established that apparent ~control~ over Pres Trump?


OK, this song just popped up on a playlist here.

Listening to it, I have to ask, does PM Netanyahu regard Pres Trump as little more than his pocket calculator?

Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator (1981)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

...
[Chorus]
I'm the operator
With my pocket calculator
I'm the operator
With my pocket calculator

[Verse]
I am adding
And subtracting
I'm controlling
And composing

[Chorus]
I'm the operator
With my pocket calculator
I'm the operator
With my pocket calculator

...

[Bridge]
By pressing down a special key
It plays a little melody
By pressing down a special key
It plays a little melody
...


What melody might PM Netanyahu want to hear when he presses down "that special key?"



#26 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 10:41 PM | Reply

A Democratic president wouldn't allow that.
But you do you, truthhurts.

#25 | Posted by A_Friend a

What gives you the impression I was absolving America of its responsibility for Israel's actions?

Or that I was absolving Democratic politicians of responsibility for condoning and funding Israel's actions?

Not sure what the purpose of your edit was, except maybe to obfuscate for Israel's clearly evil acts.

#27 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 11:06 PM | Reply

@#27 ... What gives you the impression I was absolving America of its responsibility for Israel's actions? ...

Good question.

Pres Trump's support of PM Netanyahu is looking like an absolute support of PM Netanyahu policies.

Given the, what I view as, the genocide of Palestinians by Israel, I have to ask Pres Trump ... WTF?

#28 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 11:14 PM | Reply

My opinion on what happened over the past year and a half.

Netanyahu spurns Biden's efforts at pushing for a ceasefire because he calculates that will help Piggy get elected.

Netanyahu supports Piggy getting elected.

Netanyahu either conditions his support of Piggy candidacy OR supports the ceasefire after Piggy's election and pushed by Piggy on the condition that America participates in Israel's attack in June of last year.

Netanyahu agrees to the Gaza ceasefire January through May of 2025

Israel bombs Iran and gets Piggy to drop the MoaB on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Now that the US has supported Israel in attacking Iran, Israel knows that Piggy has lost options vis a vis Iran. If Israel attacks Iran, Iran will see the US as a valid target in response-this was verbalized by Rubio. Therefore, the US has no choice but to attack Iran in conjunction with Israel.

Thus, Israel attacks Iran with the US. Because Piggy could not say no to Netanyahu.

Piggy was clearly played by Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is clearly a dictator for life in Israel, btw.

Talk about a weak leader

#29 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 11:15 PM | Reply

@#27 ... What gives you the impression I was absolving America of its responsibility for Israel's actions? ...
Good question.
Pres Trump's support of PM Netanyahu is looking like an absolute support of PM Netanyahu policies.
Given the, what I view as, the genocide of Palestinians by Israel, I have to ask Pres Trump ... WTF?
#28 | Posted by LampLighter

It looks like he is obfuscating for Israel by blaming America for their actions AND painting the dems with the same brush of support.

That certainly was true in the past but is likely to change moving forward

Dems will conscientiously object to Israel's actions. Republicans will object because their anti-semitic.

#30 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-05-17 11:17 PM | Reply

@#29, 30

imo, one aspect your comments seem to be overlooking is that ...

As understand it, so long as PM Netanyahu keeps his war going, he cannot face the charges against him in a Court of Law. I may be wrong, though.

Netanyahu corruption trials: What are the charges and will he be pardoned?
www.middleeasteye.net

... Amid the genocide in Gaza and the 2026 election, can the Israeli president make Netanyahu's fraud charges disappear? ...

So, it seems that PM Netanyahu seems to have a very personal reason to continue his assault. And why has Pres Trump been calling Israel to pardon PM Netanyahu?

Trump urges Israel to pardon Netanyahu in corruption case, sparking concerns over US influence
https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-trump-politics-letter-trial- 36cfeeacf4fa038e784f43f31a56fe4e



#31 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 11:40 PM | Reply

Hasbara Troll.....Mr.Friend.

Explaining the Inexplicable...All to make the guilty seem less so and anyone who holds them accountable is Declared ANTISEMITIC and discounted as anything but a Bigot and Waste of Time.

By DECEPTION Shall we Wage War.....

Exploding Pagers,Targeted Assassinations Civilian Murders,Journalists killed, Bombing Hospitals, killing Medics, Double Tap strikes.

Israel is Nazi right down to the Mass Murders and Exterminationist Goals.

Explain THAT, Mr.Friend.

Are you gonna Cue Up the Nazi Images again?

#32 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-05-18 12:39 AM | Reply

@#32

Huh?

#33 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-18 12:50 AM | Reply

Does your obvious hatred of Jews make you believe anyone would believe your obvious lie, Caius Marcius Coriolanus?
Seriously?

#8 | Posted by A_Fiend

#34 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-18 01:14 AM | Reply

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