Trumps D-Day sanctions wont work.
Iran made a billion during the first 11 days of the most recent blockade, and China's dismissing their sanctions.
The price of oil going up might make Russia enough to fund it's war in Ukraine for while longer, and the EU are broke, asking Ukraine what happened to all the billions.
EU's fracturing with the AfD winning in Saxony-Anhalt.

America's a declining world power, now they've been forced to retreat militarily, and the world sees the bully being stood up to, smacked and trapped in a mess of its own making, and Iran's working to a well prepared plan, that Trump seemed completely unprepared for and one he can't get out of.

Iran's firing at U.S. carriers and warships and escalating strikes against U.S. bases and allies.

America's not what it once stood for anyway.
Kidnapping leaders, Assassinations, Wars of Aggression, Weaponising the financial system.
At least in past periods it at least gave the pretense of being noble, but not anymore.

"Our entire national being is predicated on the existence of the current arrangements."
I don't think the US empire can be maintained by trying to undermine other nations with sanctions, regime changes, financial warfare and military interventions for much longer, their trade war with China failed and they are now having one with Canada.

Also however, no nuclear safeguards anymore, the U.S withdrew from the INF Treaty and the New START treaty expired.

Do you know MacKinder heartland theory?
Russia, China and Iran have control of the heartland and are working together.
Iran's exporting to China via rail, they trade with each other via a 10,000 klm railway that takes half the time than by sea.
I can't see America re-establishing its bases in the region, or maintaining whatever's left of its 5th fleet presence in the Gulf.
None of that's viable anymore.

Iranians won't be humiliated and for them, death is not the end.
They weren't looking for a fight, but they have a solid plan to respond to any situation knowing for decades it was likely going to come to this.

The issue at hand is China. So Paul and AC immediately pivot to criticising the US. Mustn't say a word against the CCP, n'est pas?

"I don't think their moves into the South China Sea were expansionist, I think they were defensive."

All expansionist states claim their aggression is in fact defensive. And their drooling flying-monkeys nod. The thing is Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines and Japan don't want to be swallowed up for the greater glory of the Han Empire. So they will resist. If they weren't being threatened they wouldn't need to resist.

And while Australia isn't threatened with absorption into the Han sphere (YET), we do have a vested interest in participating in the defense of those that Xi currently covets.

China's war is waged mainly on America, whose hegemony, and dollar, it wants to replace.

Small-fry Australia's gold exports this financial year rose by $5 billion (iron ore fell by $8 billion).

Why? China is buying up gold.

The ‘China Daily’ says, “Given that gold is a globally recognised ultimate payment method, increasing China's gold reserves can enhance the credibility of the renminbi and create favourable conditions for the currency's internationalism”.

That is, replace the US dollar, the dominant global currency, the primary backbone in international trade, central bank reserves, and global financial transactions.

And, ‘quietly’ replace the U.S itself, and the rest of the West, without firing a missile.

I don't really care about Taiwan.
Well, it's not that I don't care, I just want nothing to do with it.
If the U.S. wants to accept the One China principle and then play 'strategic ambiguity' then China, Taiwan and the U.S. can deal with it themselves and I want Australia to have absolutely ZERO to do with it.
If China invaded Taiwan, I still wouldn't necessarily claim they were expansionist, but if they invaded any of those other countries I'd grant you your designation.
(China has never attacked any other nation by sea)

"The issue at hand is China."
If you think that you can hold back the rise of China, first run down to the beach and make a video, I want you to show me that you can hold back the tide with your bare hands.

If America has to beat every other nation down to stay on top, that's not a status qua I support, I want them to fail and Israel with them.

Google? 'patriot guidance chips require rare earth elements and the U.S. can't get it'

>>AI Overview
The U.S. military faces critical shortages of rare earth elements needed for Patriot missile guidance systems because China restricts exports of these vital materials

The Rare Earth Shortage
High Demand: Patriot and Tomahawk missiles require large amounts of rare earth magnets and specialized electronics.
Chinese Control: China dominates the global supply chain and has placed strict limits on exporting these dual-use minerals.
Supply Gaps: The U.S. struggles to quickly replace Chinese materials, which strains defense production and weapon stockpiles<<

Do you understand the U.S. does not have enough stand off weapons to wage a war against anyone? And they does not have enough air defense interceptors to adequately protect anything if attacked.

Their offensive and defensive weapons are depleted, and they don't have the means to increase production capacity.

There's no way back for the U.S. to this old neoconservative model that does sanctions and overthrows.

MARCO RUBIO: "We won't have to talk about sanctions in five years "
http://youtu.be/aJT5pAgbU-Y

As for Australia's currency and economy, we don't need China to interfere because, “the Albanese government rarely misses an opportunity to make things worse”. (Dimitry Burshtein).

But Burshtein allowed that the rot set in before Albanese was elected to ‘ change Australia’, as he vowed to do. Both sides have been equally culpable over the last 20 years.

.Higher taxes.
.Increased government spending.
.Expanded welfare.
.Increased subsidies.
.More public servants.
.More regulation …. were all put on our shoulders, by all the mongrels - producing a “bipartisan” policy of debt. Now $1 trillion's worth of debt. Plus the states’ projected debt of $2 trillion “in four years”.

Who needs China to wipe us out when we are steadily marching towards the cliff voluntarily!

"And while Australia isn't threatened with absorption into the Han sphere (YET), we do have a vested interest in participating in the defense of those that Xi currently covets."

Majority of the people on Formosa (Taiwan) prior to the Chinese civil war were Han.

Why do we preach his democracy when it's all complete bullshite?

Don't the pro-democracy people believe that the people who live in these places should decide what is best for them themselves?

Hell no. Democracy is not about 'letting the people decide'
- The first thing they attempt to do is interfere and put their thumbs on the scale.

Solomon Islands treaty puts Australia's motives in Pacific 'contest' with China on show.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-08/solomon-islands-australia-china-pacific-contest/107127740

Nice photo there, Solomon Islands - 5 thousand million over 5 years.
Meanwhile kids primary schools are falling apart and parents have to raise the money themselves.

It's a bidding war over who wants to be their bestest friend.
Can I pretty please buy your democracy?

Look at your mate Trump offering $5000 inducements to buy the midterms.
'Don't worry Americans, we stole this cash from Venezuela'.

Not all things can be bought Donald.
Honestly, Loyalty, Integrity.