Day 20, Up the escalation ladder.

 ISRAEL BOMBS IRAN'S GAS FIELDS

IRAN RETALIATES AGAINST QATARI GAS FIELDS

Yesterday, Israel bombed Iran's gas fields, part of the largest gas field in the world, that is shared with Qatar. Iran vowed revenge by giving notice that they would respond by attacking oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait and advising evacuation of specific sites, they then hit the Qatari gas facilities and it experienced serious damage, they also inflicted damage on the other sites. They clearly stated that these countries will be targets as long as they are providing the U.S. and Israel with bases used to attack Iran.

Trump warned Iran that if they persisted in targeting oil or gas facilities, the U.S. would totally destroy Iranian gas fields and that he would bar Israel from more such attacks. Israel had earlier struck major oil facilities near Tehran. It is clear that Israel is not under the control of the U.S. and has separate and distinct goals.

Israel also received increased attacks that left damage all across the country in retaliation of further assassinations and hitting the gas fields.

Gas prices immediately soared in the UK and EU and will inevitably raise prices worldwide. This war is on the verge of going completely out of control with the possibility of major power intervention.

In yesterday's intelligence briefing it was clear that the Senators wanted those questioned to answer, if they informed the president of the risks of this war. All those questioned failed to answer in one way or another. It may be that Trump's distrust of the U.S. intelligence community allowed him to depend on intelligence provided by Israel and Netanyahu. This was demonstrated by the resignation of Joe Kent. 

It is becoming clear that this war will continue for some time and that it is going to have long lasting global implications. Only Trump can end this war and it is also clear to do that he will appear to have backed down.  Trump is now caught in this war trap with no way to get out without suffering political damage and disappointing Israel. It is without a doubt the biggest challenge to his presidency and is now being tested in a way that cannot be evaded by narratives and denials. 

We are going to see if he will find some morality or principles that will allow him to end this disaster before it takes down the world economy and possibly more.