The John Batchelor Show

The current war with Iran is significantly less popular than the Vietnam War was at its lowest point. Polling suggests an 80% disapproval rate, compared to the 60-70% disapproval seen during the depths of the Vietnam conflict. The administration is perceived as being trapped in a "sunk cost fallacy," pursuing a failing course of action to protect the leader's reputation, similar to the "one day at a time" strategy that led to the "shambolic defeat" in Vietnam. The sources note a historical pattern of the U.S. successfully overthrowing regimes only to create failed states, citing Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Ukraine as examples. 3/3
1968 VIETNAM WAR

The goals of the Trump administration's war with Iran have remained undefined since hostilities began on February 28, 2026. It remains unclear if the objective is regime change, ballistic missile control, or the dismantling of the nuclear program. The war is characterized by a lack of harmony between Israeli and U.S. strategic goals, which Germanicusdescribes as an "operational gambit" rather than a coherent strategy. The Iranian government (the Parthians) has issued a 30-day ultimatum demanding the opening of the Straits of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, reparations for air force damage, and an IDF retreat from Lebanon. The American presidency has transformed into an "Imperial Institution" or "Empire," allowing the president to prosecute wars without significant resistance from Congress, mirroring the authority of Roman emperors. The shift to an all-volunteer force and the federalization of the National Guard have created a military structure that is primarily loyal to the "emperor" (the president). A primary weakness of this "emperor system" is the suppression of dissent within the administration. Like the German general staff during Hitler's "Operation Sea Lion," current advisors offer only "consultative" or "weaselly" dissent rather than challenging the feasibility of the war. 2/3
1968 VIETNAM WAR PEOTESTERS

Based on the discussions from the Londinium debating society in 92 AD, experts project that the Earth will reach a tipping point for oil reserves by the end of May 2026. At this point, strategic stockpiles are expected to run out, leading to a potential crash of the global network where gasoline and diesel may become unavailable at any price. Petroleum storage has already declined by approximately 25%, causing gasoline prices to rise by 15-20% in just a few days. Analysts from Bloomberg and JP Morgan speculate that oil prices could reach between $200 and $370 per barrel, leading to a "demand crush" and a total economic crash. While the U.S. has attempted to blockade Iranian oil, it has continued to allow tankers to reach China to avoid a diplomatic failure before an upcoming summit. However, these secondary sanctions are "starving" Europe of petroleum products while China continues to receive natural gas and oil through alternative means like Russian pipelines. 1/3
1900 BAKU RUSSIAN EMPIRE

Fanell suggests "warfighting proliferation," including potential nuclear capabilities for allies, to counter China's rapid military buildup. He advocates for the total economic and diplomatic isolation of the CCP to trigger its collapse. This strategy prioritizes power politics and credible deterrence over direct armed conflict. 4/4
OCTOBER 1, 1949

Fanell stresses the necessity of admitting strategic failure to properly address the China threat. He proposes an independent "Team B" for objective intelligence analysis, similar to Cold War practices. Recommendations include moving investment oversight to the Defense Department and adopting a "whole of society" approach. 3/4
7 NOVEMBER 1931