Trump labels Bibi ‘crazy,’ cries uncle in war with Iran as missiles fly, oil stocks ebb

(Originally published June 4 in “What in the World“) U.S. oil stockpiles keep dwindling, and Trump may be losing his willpower to do anything about it.

The Energy Information Administration said Wednesday that crude oil inventories fell in the week ended May 29 by almost 2% to 433.7 million barrels, extending their 1% slide the week before. That’s 3% below the five-year average for the same period. Total inventories of crude and other petroleum products dropped about 0.6% to their lowest level since 2004.

With the House of Representatives passing a resolution Wednesday to seek Congressional approval for his war on Iran or else withdraw U.S. forces, Trump has reportedly told insiders he would only resume full-scale attacks against Iran if Tehran’s renewed attacks succeed in killing U.S. troops. Instead, he continues to pursue terms of surrender with Iran, even resorting to screaming down the phone Monday at the man who convinced him to attack Iran in the first place, Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu, to compel him to sign a fresh ceasefire agreement with Lebanon to meet Iran’s demand that Israel stop attacking its Hezbollah militia allies there. Trump said he had called Bibi “effing crazy” during the call. Takes one to know one.

Iran on Wednesday launched drones and missiles at Kuwait, with at least one drone striking Kuwait’s international airport and killing a civilian. The U.S. military said Iran had targeted the airport; Iran denied that and said the airport was hit by falling debris from U.S. interceptors fired to down the missiles. The attacks sent oil prices higher.

The House resolution against the war will go to the Senate for a vote. But even if it passes Trump is likely to contest its Constitutionality. The White House has characterized the latest strikes against Iran as defensive responses to Iranian provocation, not part of operation Epic Fury launched Feb. 28. That operation, it claims, has ended and thus the present blockade is not an active conflict subject to Congressional approval.

Trump thus appears unwilling to use force to break Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz and reopen the passage to oil shipping.