……

But it will keep the MAGAts entertained for a few days

Right in the first paragraph, in the part you can read for free, is this bit of weaselspeak:

"As soon as it's safe, you'll see an escort coalition like no one has ever seen before!"

"as soon as it's safe, the escorts won't be needed."

but didn't want to deal with the trouble of saying No.

I suspect many of these countries gave Trump the "We'll see."

We'll see.

All Alexander Ward wrote was "U.S. officials said."

Yeah, that doesn't exactly narrow it down.

Trump can get pestered about this tonight on his at back from Florida.

Thanks for writing, and good evening.

Bet 'ya it happens "in two weeks."

I expect the insiders have already been tipped off so they can take their positions.

When the plans turn out to be something else, they will have been tipped off ahead of time of that announcement too.

makes announcements all the time, mostly lies.

and they're all set to go.

My suspicion is that either half make statements that they haven’t fully committed; or do not have the military hardware to participate in an escort capacity.

Hoping that sleepless high-pressure anxiety about gas prices will finally take its toll...

The costs that will be incurred are likely to be astronomical and not economically feasible.

Orange Dunderhead failed economics in college; it shows.

No doubt.

I find it difficult to believe that any non-combatant nation will be willing to risk their naval vessels until the U. S, has demonstrated that they have deprived Iran of the ability to launch drones and missiles at shipping in the Strait- unlikely without a boots-on-the-ground-in-Iran mission by the 31st MEU and others. If that is accomplished our Navy would still have to demonstrate that the passage is free of mines and can be kept that way.

Trump went hat in hand to the world after he imposed illegal tariffs on their goods, insulted and demeaned them, saying they took advantage of the US while they only do commerce with whoever wants to buy their products, including customers in the US. The world checked its phone and put it back in its pocket.

France said no. Officially. In writing. Germany said nothing, which is German for no. Norway said no. The UK is “discussing options with allies,” which is British for no. Japan stayed silent while 70% of its Middle East oil supply sits behind a minefield. South Korea watched Washington and Tehran play chicken with its own energy supply and declined to pick a side. China called it a sovereign right and hung up. Qatar didn’t just refuse. Qatar stopped production entirely and declared force majeure. Their energy minister did not mince words: this will bring down economies of the world.

Iran is still there. Still attacking ships. Still laying mines. Still holding the strait.

The most powerful military on Earth sent out the call. Ten countries heard it. The result is a number that requires no commentary: zero.

This is what the end of American power looks like in practice. A request for warships that came back empty. Washington spent decades telling the world that the US-led order was worth defending. The world has moved away from the US.

I doubt we’ll get out of this mess, if ever, but it won’t be soon, I’m afraid.

Is it even possible for several ships to escort one
tanker through the strait?

Does Trump think it's 1812? Or does Putin pay him a bonus for every one of OUR navy ships that go down?

Well, if hostilities end, then the ships don't need escorts. So, in other words, these countries haven’t decided to help Trump yet.

Sure sounds like this "coalition" is just stringing Trump along.

As an Australian, I think our position will be very clear.

Fool us once (Vietnam) and shame on you, try to fool us twice (today) and we politely decline your generous offer.

No country will send escort ships to a mined narrow straight off the coast of Iran to be sitting ducks.
No enthusiasm for a suicide mission, especially after Trump's past badmouthing of some of the countries he is now asking.

Trump's mess, Trump needs to clean it up.

like he has been doing since all this started.