Dr. Cole

Title: "Exclusive: US weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase" Publication Date: March 18, 2026 Key Highlights (direct from the Reuters exclusive): - President Donald Trump's administration is actively considering deploying **thousands of additional U.S. troops** to the Middle East to reinforce ongoing operations, now in the third week of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran (which began February 28). - The extra forces would expand Trump's options for escalation, including securing safe passage for oil tankers through the **Strait of Hormuz** (primarily with air/naval assets but potentially requiring ground troops on Iranian shorelines) and sending forces to **Kharg Island** — Iran's main oil export hub handling 90% of its crude (described as "very risky" due to Iranian missiles and drones). - Other high-risk options under discussion include securing Iran's stocks of highly enriched uranium; no ground-troop deployment is imminent. - Background context: The U.S. has already conducted over 7,800 strikes, damaging or destroying more than 120 Iranian vessels; ~50,000 U.S. troops are already in the region under U.S. Central Command; an Amphibious Ready Group with over 2,000 Marines is arriving next week. - A senior White House official told Reuters: "There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal. The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran's ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon." - Political note: Any ground-troop commitment risks angering parts of Trump's base and comes amid low public support (only 1 in 4 Americans back the strikes, per a Reuters/Ipsos poll) and Trump's prior promises to avoid new Middle East wars. Trump has publicly mused on Truth Social about allowing other countries to control the Strait of Hormuz. - Broader war update: 13 U.S. troops killed and ~200 wounded, so Iran’s nuclear program has been obliter"ted"; the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier is sidelined in Greece for repairs. This is the full Reuters story that @disclosetv was summarizing. The article is based on one U.S. official and three people familiar with the planning.

@jimdpc1 @WhiteHouse @SecWar They are all inconsistent with the stated objectives. We can only wonder if they even have a mission and goal, let alone stated objectives.

@1drcole @WhiteHouse @SecWar It’s interesting that he doesn’t state what the objectives are (at least in this cut) since so many are questioning them..

Operation Epic Fury: laser-focused, decisive, and on plan. @SecWar

@DrSNWilson Yes.

@1drcole Let me guess what Judge ok it. Cannon!

Axios: Comey subpoenaed in Trump "Grand Conspiracy" Probe. I guess Bondi and Trump are not through with the former FBI Director.

@swimmin7270 @SenSchumer Yep.

@1drcole @SenSchumer Rep’s have deliberately made the decision since Trump arose to never work with Dem’s/then blame them for everything even tho he’s the one fucking up the world. Trump/Rep’s have set modern day records for the lowest legislative output because they refuse to work with Dem’s.

In a few minutes Democrats will be giving Republicans a FIFTH chance to pay TSA workers. Will they finally fund TSA or once again object?

@klcrain68 @EdKrassen Probably the best answer is that globally, people think we are allowing Trump to rule; it must be that most of us are backing him.

@1drcole @EdKrassen Its not "us" Americans, its Dumb Donnie Trumptard. Why does everyone say America is a laughing stock? Its all on Trumptard.

BREAKING: Japanese Reporter: "Why didn't you tell US allies about the war before attacking Iran?" Donald Trump: "Who knows better about surprises than Japan. Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" wtf?

@Lakesidevill @EdKrassen You are commenting on my reply. Next time, pass on by.

@1drcole @EdKrassen Nobody asked what you think commie

@WhiteHouse @SecWar Operation Epic Fury: scattered, indecisive, and completely off plan. What plan? The White House flipped the script here, so the accurate message is the exact opposite of what has been written here.

Thanks to Donald Trump, Russia's the real winner in this war.

@ProjectLincoln Of course. The guy who spent years screaming 'Russia hoax' while kissing Putin's ring just personally waived sanctions so Moscow can keep cashing in on its war machine. This isn't 'ending the war'—it's subsidizing it. Predictable.

Americans are being forced to choose between life-saving medicine and everyday necessities, all while Trump requests $200 billion more for his war. Remember, extending the ACA tax credits for more than 20 million Americans would have cost LESS THAN HALF of that. This is Donald Trump’s America.

@SenSchumer Trump’s America, indeed. $200 billion for his vanity war in Iran? No problem. Extending ACA subsidies for 20+ million Americans at less than half that cost? Suddenly impossible. The cruelty isn’t a bug. It’s the entire point. This is exactly who Donald Trump is.

Donald Trump and Republicans are attempting to take over free and fair elections. Again.  They know it’s the only way they can win.  Democrats won’t let them.

@HouseDemocrats @RepPeteAguilar Exactly. The insurrectionist who tried to burn down our government when he lost now wants to rig the game so he never loses again. 'Election integrity' from these clowns is just authoritarianism with a new name. Democrats standing firm is the only answer.

Bessent: U.S. may lift sanctions on Iranian oil stuck at sea. @DeadlineWH

@joncoopertweets How embarrassing for us and the Japanese PM. Trump’s Pearl Harbor 'zinger' to their reporter? Pure ignorance on display — tone-deaf, disrespectful, and diplomatically disastrous. The look on the PM’s face says it all. We’re a global punchline. "

I can’t believe that Trump just joked about Pearl Harbor while sitting next to Japan’s prime minister at the White House. What an absolute embarrassment!