Trump said today (March 10): "If Iran dares to do anything that hinders the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States with a punishment twenty times harsher than ever before. In addition, we will destroy those easy-to-attack targets, making it almost impossible for Iran to rebuild as a country. Death, fire, and fury will fall upon them! But I still hope and pray that this will not happen! This is a gift from the United States to China, as well as all countries highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. I hope this gesture will be highly appreciated and cherished. Thank you for your attention. President Donald J. Trump"
Comment: Trump's tough talk about "death and fire" is essentially a show of bravado - he knows better than anyone that the US can't afford the cost of the Strait of Hormuz being blocked and oil prices surging. High oil prices would directly trigger inflation in the US, raise gasoline prices, severely impact people's lives and the economy, and even jeopardize his political future and the Republican Party's prospects in the midterm elections. He deliberately brought in China, claiming that "protecting the strait is a gift to China," is nothing more than packaging his own weakness - his fear of oil price control and unwillingness to launch a full-scale war - into a noble image of "acting bravely and maintaining global energy security," and disguising self-preservation as generosity. This contradiction of wanting to appear strong while fearing loss of control precisely reveals the weakness and selfishness of American hegemony.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859234556103691/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.