WEBVTT - Ed Morrissey: Kharg Island Checkmate

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<v Speaker 1>This is Ed Morrissey of hot air dot Com for

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<v Speaker 1>town Hall. Donald Trump has an opportunity to go for

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<v Speaker 1>the jugular in his war with the Iranian terror regime,

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<v Speaker 1>and the IRGC has provided a perfect pretext for it now.

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<v Speaker 1>During the first phase of the war, both sides kept

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<v Speaker 1>the oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. As Iran's

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<v Speaker 1>other deterrens have failed, they have decided to attack shipping

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<v Speaker 1>in the Persian Gulf to pressure Trump into retreat. A

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<v Speaker 1>sharp rise in oil prices have panic the media and

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<v Speaker 1>some of our allies. Trump has instead signaled that any

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<v Speaker 1>further interference will result in either seizure or full scale

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<v Speaker 1>demolition of Carg Island. Iran exports ninety six percent of

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<v Speaker 1>its oil through this facility, mainly to China and India.

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<v Speaker 1>It is their only connection to hard currency, and it

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<v Speaker 1>continues to operate. Trump reportedly is considering an occupation of

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<v Speaker 1>carg Island now that the US has decimated its defenses.

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<v Speaker 1>This would checkmate the regime while preserving the facilities for

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<v Speaker 1>a successor government in Tehran. It's time to go for

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<v Speaker 1>the jugular, I'm Ed Morrissey.