day one hundred sixty-seven (13. 723)

Meeting with the Iraqi prime minister in Baghdad, Iran‘s speaker of parliament speculates that the US is seeking an „honorable exit“ from the region as the two nations forge security alliance in preparation for a Middle East free from foreign interference—whilst working to counter American supported Kurdish rebels. Tehran further reckons the damage to the country, excluding the capital, from the joint US-Israeli war of aggression to amount to two hundred billion dollars. The IDF continues patrolling Gaza and erects a gallows to hang Hamas militants as the occupied territory faces a thirst crisis over a failing water utility and settler violence persists in the West Bank. NATO, despite limited confidence that the US would honour an invocation of Article V after allies wanted no part in its war of choice, pledges to defend all members after a supposed threat against Bulgaria and Cyprus for their hosting of American assets—which strikes as propaganda from Washington, as Iran retains better standing in this unpopular military adventure and has no interest in widening its belligerents and lessening its perception as victims. A false flag terror attack elsewhere in Europe on a US base seems more likely and the excuse to leave the continent and turn inward for the administration’s policy of hemispheric domination.

syddanmark (13. 722)

danmarks flymuseum (13. 721)

day one hundred sixty-six (13. 720)

Contradicting the characterization of his own special envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner that „robust“ talks are continuing, Trump declares that there are no more negotiations with Tehran happening—adding, contrary to reality, that the Strait of Hormuz is open and operational under US control. The fallout from the American withdrawal from the Pacific is perceived as an abandonment of Taiwan and South Korea with no action needed on the part of Beijing and Pyongyang. The resupply issues facing the carrier group the USS Abraham Lincoln were exacerbated, it is revealed, due to secretary of war Hegseth‘s wanting to hide the extent of destruction to naval stations in the region from the public. The UAE suspends all commercial trade with Iran over alleged missile strikes. Concurrently, Abu Dhabi hosts a security conference with US secretary of state Rubio, against Tehran‘s repeated warnings to gulf neighbors not to cooperate with Washington lest be treated as collaborators.

operation paul bunyan (13. 719)

On this day in 1976, in an assignment taking place on the southern side of the “Bridge of No Return” near Panmunjon (see previously here and here), the joint security area of the DMZ where both sides were allowed access and freedom of movement in the shared Peace Village, to prune a tree that was obscuring the view from South Korea from their northernmost observation post, two soldiers were killed by North Korean forces trying to stop the trimming job, despite being pre-approved by both governments. DEFCOM was raised from three to four for the first time since the Arab-Israeli war three years prior. In response, three days later, the US carried out a show of force, consisting of a detachment of three-hundred American servicemen supported by helicopter gunships and B-52 fighter-bombers, to reemphasise US to protect the territorial integrity of South Korea, finished the job of felling the twelve-metre tall poplar that had caused the international incident, which otherwise would have only lost a few branches.

 

synchronoptica

one year ago: a more cordial meeting of the leaders of the US and Ukraine (with synchronoptica) plus the Society for the Verification and Enjoyment of Fascinating Names of Actual Persons

two years ago: a philosophical cartoon plus amplified contagion

three years ago: divine connections plus more mushrooming

four years ago: the Feast of St Helen, a historic glider flight plus more unuseless machines

five years ago: your daily demon, more disfluent typefaces, masking mandates, Schoolhouse Rock! plus the promise of a fully phonetic font

six years ago: AI generated Roman emperors, Michelle Obama virtually addresses the Democratic National Convention, women’s suffrage in the United States (1920), Republican Nation Convention guest speakers, more constructed languages, data-visualisations as art plus forty adaptations of Hamlet

day one hundred sixty-five (13. 718)

As the sixty-day negotiation period expires, Tehran declares that it will take an offensive approach to reopening the Strait of Hormuz as Washington’s diplomatic tactlessness has only resulted in violation and frustration. Simultaneously, Trump threatens to bomb Oman if the country—a US ally and considered the Switzerland of the Gulf region for its relative neutrality and inoffensive political stance—interferes with the stalled talks, adding that Iran should wave the white flag of surrender. Houthi attack another Saudi ship transiting the Bab-el-Mandeb and Iran places a bounty on American soldiers.

ho (13. 717)

day one hundred sixty-four (13. 716)

The original MOU between Tehran and Washington to extend the ceasefire is set to expire without any progress in negotiations and a peace deal. Recognizing the diplomacy is supposed to have meaning and not just antagonism, petitions mount to expel US ambassadors in Canada, Iceland and other countries that American missions refer to as the fifty-first or fifty-second states. Though no longer a major deterrent to China, the US removes its last aircraft carrier from the Pacific theatre in order to supplement the crisis in the Middle East—joint training exercises with South Korea are scaled back. Trump congratulates Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for forging a separate defensive pact. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz grids to a halt.