President Trump Vows Revenge as Iran War Widens. The specter of another quagmire war?

Bad news! Is the peacemaker becoming a warmonger? Are his emotions taking over his judgment?

Will this war with Iran escalate and expand? The risks are high!

Will this war become another quagmire for the US like Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq?

"President Trump vowed harsh retaliation against Iran after a ninth night of U.S. strikes, warning that each American soldier killed would be avenged “many times over.”

At least 17 U.S. service members have died in the war, including two at a Jordanian air base struck by Iran. Trump passed the directive to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Tehran escalated further, with the Revolutionary Guard claiming two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. ..."

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China's latest large-scale military exercises simulated a blockade, quarantine and isolate Taiwan

Perhaps, the aging Xi Jinping (age 72, dictator for life) prefers a full blockade over an invasion of Taiwan to gain fame and glory!

Maybe Taiwan will get the Berlin Blockade (1948-49) treatment?

When China becomes more like Taiwan and the Communist Party of China has to compete in fair and square democratic elections with other political parties then the Taiwanese people might very well decide in a referendum to be reunified with mainland China.

"The People’s Republic of China (PRC) conducted large-scale military exercises that simulated a blockade around Taiwan from December 29–30. The exercise, named Justice Mission 2025, was the second exercise of its kind in 2025. Justice Mission 2025 rehearsed operational elements of a campaign to isolate Taiwan while using the rehearsal to enhance PRC political and psychological pressure on Taiwan and its allies. PRC propaganda emphasized the blockade aspects of the exercise, but it may also have been intended to practice combining blockade/interdiction missions with operations that would support a decapitation strike or invasion of Taiwan.

Key Takeaways

• Justice Mission 2025 simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s major port cities and the interdiction of Taiwanese energy imports.
• The PRC deployed 14 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels during the exercises, indicating that the CCG will play an important role in a blockade or quarantine of Taiwan. The CCG would likely interdict non-military vessels during a blockade to create a veneer of legitimacy under the pretext of “law enforcement” operations.  
• The exercise was likely rehearsing cooperation between the CCG and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in such activities since PLAN vessels operated together with CCG ships.

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China & Taiwan Update, Special Edition, December 31, 2025 | AEI