Debt Rattle July 28 2026

[Raúl Ilargi Meijer]

Pablo Picasso Femme 1930 • Trump Ready For ‘Strong Military Action’ If Talks Fail (ZH) • CENTCOM Chief Believes US Strikes Around Hormuz No Longer Eff
[See the full post at: Debt Rattle July 28 2026]

[Michael Reid]

The war’s back is broken
The U.S. ultimately will have to capitulate, with the result that Iran becomes a regional power.

Contact us: info@strategic-culture.su

Trump ordered the U.S. military not to carry out new strikes on Iran Friday night, despite approving earlier a “Gates of Hell massive attack” on Iran.

The U.S. has now requested a new temporary ceasefire with Iran and is seeking a return to the collapsed and suspended MoU, with discussions to include Yemen, and with Trump seeking to make AnsarAllah a party to the negotiations.

Clearly Trump is angry, and fears that that the war is consuming his Presidency (and his legacy). Iran comprehensively rejected all negotiations throughout this last week and confirmed it will not start negotiations under any circumstances. Put simply, why would Iran consent to give the U.S. time to regroup and rearm before launching another round of strikes on Iran when it has the U.S. ‘on the run’.

A return to the MoU whose credibility Trump repeatedly has shredded? Unlikely.

Will Schryver notes that rumours are swirling that the Pentagon is pressuring Trump to call off the war with Iran because the U.S. has nearly exhausted its stockpiles of air-defence interceptors and stand-off strike missiles. The President’s top aides are also uneasy about the prospect of a widening war in the Middle East, the alienation of key Gulf allies vulnerable to further Iranian attack, and the coming energy crunch. “Few if any in Mr. Trump’s inner circle believed the plan to escalate was wise, said the two people briefed”, the New York Times reports.

It seems too that jiggery-pokery over the exact fuel supply situation in the U.S. may have played a part in Trump’s backtrack. Larry Johnson reports that –

“[A] brief prepared by Karl Miller investigates how the U.S. military’s covert fuel procurement and export operations are depleting the nation’s diesel and jet fuel reserves, particularly during a period when domestic stocks are already critically low”.

In gist, Miller says that –

“much of this (covert) fuel export is routed through opaque channels, such as the Rotterdam trans-shipment hub, where the final military or foreign allocation is not publicly reconciled, leaving the American economy exposed to shortage risks – whilst military and foreign operations – “notably Israel” – receive priority access”.

This report by Miller seems to connect to the U.S. authorities’ open manipulation of oil benchmarks designed to convince markets that there is no danger of fuel shortages arising from the ongoing emergency release from the SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserves) of 172 million barrels that was initiated to counter supply shocks from the conflict with Iran.

Whilst the statuary security floor is 250 million barrels (the current level is around 300), nonetheless the narrative is being promoted that the drawdown can go even further (to 70 mbpd). But can it? What is the minimum level the strategic oil reserves can go to? It is more complicated than just one big vat of crude that has a specific level. The SPR is composed of many caverns, and contains different types of crude oil, that are being drawn down at different rates, with some caverns likely to collapse if drained too far. In short, nobody knows how far is too far. It’s all guesswork.

With the back broken to Trump’s military assault the only path back to negotiations would be to offer front-loaded real concessions. But even were Trump to do this, would he be believed? And can Trump’s mental state sustain such implied humiliation?

The main obstacle on the path back to negotiations with Iran is that he and his inner circle understand Iran back-to-front.

They aver to believe that they are dealing with an intransigent and hardline leadership, whilst Iranians as a whole long for an exit.

This is wrong; it is the other way around. It is the leadership that is pragmatic, and it is ‘the street’ that is overall more hard-line and demands vengeance. And demands to know why there should be negotiations at all.

Then again, Team Trump and his Fox News cheerleaders have slipped from the earlier U.S. vision of itself as a redeemer nation into a radical Manichaean ‘characterisation of itself’, Professor Michael Vlahos writes, in which –

“American “good news” has been replaced by the ever-present spectre of Evil and the threat of force. The holy words, Freedom and Democracy, while still chanted, have become a hollow mantra. The American “gospel” no longer preaches about bringing redemption and expiation: it is now concerned with enforcement and punishment. The volte-face came in an instant, on 9/11 and with Guantanamo”.

The problem then centres on attitude: How is it possible to negotiate or talk to the embodiment of evil (as Trump terms the Iranians)? It isn’t possible, of course. That was the point to casting enemies in such dark terms. It precludes true mediation. It precludes a solution that can be viewed as the elevation to power for “one of the most evil people in history”, leading a “gang of bloodthirsty thugs”. It distils policy to the search for dominance over the ‘otherness’.

The West exhibits one particular way of thinking that it deems to represent the essence of that which is Human. This mode of thinking (often termed Apollonian) links to Patriarchy, law, and vertical top-to-bottom secular, rational, mechanistic thinking. It offers little room for ‘betweenness’. Things are either ‘A’ or ‘non-A’.

However, another sphere (often termed the Dionysian) expresses the energetic duality in both nature and in the human – male and female; order and exuberant transgression; and of rectitude and degeneracy. They form the poles within consciousness that both co-inhere in us, and that co-constitute each other. (Dionysian logos may be viewed perhaps as the shadow, or even of the revolt against Apollo).

And then there is Persephone (the underside to the Dionysian ‘shadow’) expressing the chthonic, feminine existence. Here there is no male pole, but only a goddess radiating earthiness and the female principle of reproduction, the process of growth and of caring, and of underworld knowledge (called intuition) – symbolising the cyclical Life of Aphrodite, decay, death and ultimate renewal.

Consciousness however, mostly expresses the human quality from one particular orientation. Nonetheless, all civilisations draw from the full diversity of such components to consciousness that – one way or another – respond to a particular civilisation.

To think in one culture is to think in one way; however to belong to a different culture, a different ethnic group, a different religion – means that thinking will differ. Yet we all remain human.

So the imperial hubris of Trump is beginning to face the fact that he will find it hard – possibly impossible – to find a solution to the Middle East, because to see the world from the purely Apollonian perspective is essentially male and exclusivist and fails to understand ‘otherness’; but rather relies on exceptional privilege. It simply does not – and cannot – recognise a plurality of minds.

The U.S. has lost the war. By adopting such uncompromising Manichaean language, Trump effectively has severed himself from any prospective diplomatic solution. By widening the war (Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq) he has severely complicated any diplomatic track. All elements are interrelated, yet they also have separate agendas. Thus a solution involves a complex matrix of issues, rather than a binary dispute between the U.S. and Iran alone. The U.S. ultimately will have to capitulate, with the result that Iran becomes a regional power (strengthening Russia and China), whilst the Region slowly will come to terms with this new West Asian reality.

The war’s back is broken

[Dr. D]

So this is what we think of when Cidiots on the coasts say “Muh ‘Merica is the richest most powerful nation!”

Y’all look and sound like Caesar Flickerman. You’re so far from reality, you can no longer see it from there and think you ARE in Reality.

Ha ha! Your death is so funny to us! Guess they were too stupid to rent a Uhaul and learn to code!

Also in the news today, Baltimore loses half a million residents and is no longer really a city. I blame Trump. “This is MAGA country!” It’s because Republicans have not been in charge for generations that it’s their fault. And the racism. …Which is Blue since no Red people live there.

You know, you can get off this bus to hell any time you want. In just a few weeks in fact. Stop installing policies that always fail, and do install policies that always work. They do not. Ideology is too strong.

No-Go-Zone: Rotterdam Imposes Unprecedented Nighttime Exclusion Area”

They could just enforce the law. But now they’re enforcing another law to enforce the first law.

“US Military Forced To Let Some Iranian Projectiles Through Its Defenses: NBC
NBC report says bases & host countries much less protected than previously thought…”

WHO, “Previously thought”? You, NBC? Okay then you’re fired. This was obvious it was happening, the only question being “And then what?” Oman surrenders to Iran and becomes occupied territory?

“US One-Way Attack Drone Found Adrift In Hormuz Offers New Look At Western Capabilities
“Iranian fishermen found an American drone”

That didn’t take long. So we’re already giving away free drones to the enemy. I’m sure nothing bad will happen.

“Musk compares AI and robots to “a personal God” that will provide humans”

Considering my present experience is that anything mechanical is broken, and anything digital is both broken AND evil, we may have some work to do. I have almost never seen anything computerized improve anything, although that may be different if you have 100 GeekSquad techs running around like elves fixing everything so you don’t have to.

Stephan Miller: He’s not being condescending, they literally do not know this. I suspect that puts them below midwits. He has to do this every day on every subject with them. However, because “Below midwits” they are unable to experience embarrassment and therefore an impulse to do better. We do it again tomorrow. How does this work? They are all hired and kept by the world’s top Oligarchs. Oligarch>CEO>Editor>Reporter. Simple. Why can this happen and not be run over? 1) Financialization = free 0% money for every bad idea 2) Clinton’s erasing of Sherman any competition in Media.

Money with no value and no competition = “Capitalism” of course.

“President Trump permanently ended the unfair estate tax,”

How can he do that? That needs Congress.

“The world map is being redrawn, and the “Old Guard” is being uprooted and replaced.”

Yes, and sadly you can’t “Just Leave” or there will be a power vacuum and Mogadishu warlord conditions overnight. …This isn’t fully organic, other players actively jump in and MAKE it that way (France in Africa, eg) but to avoid Mad Max collapse conditions worldwide you need to hand off to someone. Competent.

Of course if we hated everyone and wanted them to die we could just do this the way Fox News and Progressives ask. Sadly, they are adults and are leaving with a process. I don’t really want to waste the time nor pay the cost. Bonus Tip: it’s discussed in hushed tones that the U.S. does this foremost in Europe, who will all attack each other overnight if we stop being the anchor and counterweight there. It’s one reason Europe wants us there, as useful that way. This is disturbing in two ways.

“(Zelensky’s) trip to London to meet the coalition of the willing and King Charles; followed two days later with the surprising “drone” attack on the Dormition Cathedral”

This doesn’t seem to be provable, however I believe something like this is happening.

“• Iran, Oman Hold Hormuz Talks As US Pauses Airstrikes For Second Day (ZH)

Again, what seems to be happening is the CIVILIAN Iran is fine with calling a truce and signing something. That doesn’t mean full surrender, it just means they’re normal and find bridges and power plants expensive to repair – by Halliburton and KBR. Every time they do anything in the realm of “normal” though – even stall – the IRGC is paid to undermine and attack. …And the IRGC is 30 non-communicating zones, in the “Mosaic” strategy. This is all obvious and pre-planned to cause maximum damage to Persia for the benefit of “London.” Because just like the CIA is not American or even Anti American, the IRGC likewise does not work for Iran but only themselves.

So we’re on phase 29 of that. The Civilian Gov then point at the latest IRGC holdouts, and then we blow them up. Rinse, repeat until the IRGC no longer feels like being anti-Iranian. We’re not tired at all and have a lot of bombs. Nothing in the U.S. has been blown up or degraded yet, not even a 7-11.

““Burnham is an out-and-proud socialist who had already signaled that his government would spend and tax more.”

Note what’s NOT in his To-Do list: WORK. For a Party of the Worker, the Hammer and Sickle, they never, ever, ever think of doing Work. Where do “Taxes” come from? Only spend them, never make them. If they only focused on WORK – even with the same policies – it might actually work, or a lot better. Instead, it’s the outlook of Theft and Envy, consuming not creating. Capitalism ain’t great and has a lot of faults, but they have to get up and MAKE and DO things to get by.

No idea in general what’s up with Burnham yet. In general the problems are so grave it would take revolutionary action just to address them badly and merely survive as a nation and people. And he is not that guy. Ireland is already gone and Canada may be.

Okay, in news, after 150 days or more, we’re FINALLY having oil effects. …Which are STILL not in “the market”. Gold and other indicators are still down, US$, market etc are still UP. …Proving every Fox News and Garland Nixon guys wrong.
Hey, I respect these guys. But what I don’t respect is when something they say doesn’t’ happen, and not that they make up excuses (they have) don’t bother explaining all the things that don’t fit (they don’t), but DON’T EVEN NOTICE. They don’t even notice Reality, that nothing they predict seems to happen. I guess their viewers don’t’ either? And are also immune to all reality?

Like Covid reaction, I did not see this coming, or not in the Alternative Audience space who just spent 25 years complaining about it and knowing better.

Back to oil: not before, but NOW the oil reserves are officially near the bottom, Cushing is, Kazakhstan is stopping, Russia is stopping and having refinery trouble, and we’ve already re-jiggered a lot of flows worldwide. Now the oil from Saudi over the Red Sea is being halted. So the dozen other means that meant they were all wrong and there was no $200,000 a barrel oil as Pepe Escobar promised, didn’t happen (And he didn’t notice). So now…NOW we can see if anything will happen.

Okay, Yemen it hitting the Red Sea at last. Oil rises 30%. Everyone Cheers! Yay Yemen! We’re so glad to see you shut off the world’s oil, Fox, Nixon, eg Moriarty say! That’ll larn ‘em!!!

…Except oil is LOW. Yes, it’s high, but it was this high under Biden and other times. It’s like $100. Yes, that’s bad but if you said The Straits are closed, Saudi Arabia is closed, what do you think the price will be? Surely they would have said $200/bbl with gas lines and hoarding, right? Me too actually.

WHY ISN’T THAT HAPPENING?

That’s “Reality” boys. So you, we, me, all of us had a prediction, somewhere in this zone, and that isn’t happening at all. Why? That’s all I’m asking.

Could be it will FINALLY happen, although markets say it isn’t, and after 150 days all Pepe’s Predictions finally come true, although none of them have. But when you’re that wrong, you have to start to wonder if it’s just a timing issue. Seems impossible, doesn’t it? Seems like maybe if you’re that wrong, we’re missing something.

$100 – and presently for a very short time – is very very LOW for shutting off both seas and the other nations being shut like Russia (sort of) and Kazakhstan too. So far as we know, YES the U.S. is filling and getting rich, but THAT much? Not officially.

Yet there are the markets. Suppose they rig oil – and I think they do – it’s a bad signal. So they rig gold, silver, gas, Dow, everything else TOO? Wow, we’re really, really saying there’s not a sparrow that falls that isn’t at the command of someone, and we don’t see that elsewhere. They’re all in a melee and chaos, fighting each other. Surely SOMEONE would take a try into attacking their market rigging, break oil by breaking silver or something, get it to its natural market price of $250/bbl.

Nope. I don’t even see the pressure from trying. Either rigging or un-rigging. Systems normal. Normal daily corruption not world-bending corruption.

Explain?

That’s what I get so frustrated about. No one notices. No one notices their predictions make no sense. Then are wrong. Then something like this happens, they doubles down the prediction, that oil should be double with double the seas in trouble, but aren’t. Then they don’t notice again, and double down again. When pointed out to them, they ignore it and stick with whatever they learned in 2002, as if the world hasn’t changed one bit since then.

Discuss?

If there’s no oil, why is everyone driving cars more than ever, economy is fine on the street, and no actual effects appear, only allegations in Internet Abstraction-Space?

This is the best example, but you find it in all the other news areas too, Europe, Bonds, Japan, Ukraine, Cuba, wherever. Nothing happens that is predicted, but no one notices or looks to why.

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