Trump has no intention of starting a full scale war with Iran, and will stop short of that.

[ElementaryPenguin]

Putin will not allow it - period.

Putin is allied with Iran, and will not want the U.S. to strengthen itself in the Middle East, after he's had his boy Trump pulling us out and weakening us there.

Trump merely wants an immediate distraction from impeachment and the endless nasty revelations that are surfacing!

[Dennis Donovan]

1. The US isn't the only dancer in this waltz. Iran has a say

...and I think whacking their #2 forces them to respond proportionally.

[ElementaryPenguin]

4. I have no doubt Iran will respond.

And we will respond. But Trump will stop it - even when you would anticipate our escalation. It will seem as illogical has his sudden abandonment of Syria. But Putin will order his to stop, and he'll obey.

[roamer65]

2. Iran has Yakhont missiles.

Supersonic shore to ship cruise missiles. Russian made. Mach 2.6

If they use them it will get ugly. If our ships are in range they will be toast.

The ball is now in Iran’s court.

BTW, Hezbollah has them as well.

[ElementaryPenguin]

5. Iran will reply - but nothing as crazy as that.

You can count on Putin ordering Trump to limit our response.

[duforsure]

3. Is putin behind the Iran crisis?

To use trump for the attack, allowing oil prices to sky rocket upward , putting tons more money in putins pockets?

[ElementaryPenguin]

7. Perhaps he is.

[Hekate]

6. Trump has no intention of thinking past the immediate news cycle...

But the rest of the world is not like that.

[ElementaryPenguin]

10. Iran will plot something other than a full scale head-on war they would lose...

And possibly be nuked.

Trump will pull the plug at an implausible time, it that's what his boss requires.

[maryellen99]

8. Trump is at the point

Where it’s more important to keep himself and his family out of prison than obeying Putin.

[ElementaryPenguin]

9. I'm not sure anyone can get Trump in prison as quickly as Putin can!

Imagine all he has on him! And whenever they speak or meet - Trump has no notetakers - but Putin always does! Undoubtedly recordings too!

[JCMach1]

11. Trump has no intentions beyond what the Saudis want

Him to do

[ElementaryPenguin]

12. Trump doesn't care about Iran, but he certainly cares about us seeing this:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/3/1909205/-Explosive-report-indicates-that-Donald-Trump-s-loans-from-Deutsche-Bank-were-back-by-Russia