Latest / Systemic Error Podcast
'Art of the Deal' writer rocked by WSJ for poorly-worded clause that disintegrated pact
The Strait Was Never Just a ClauseThe Deal Was the Power PlayThe Wall Street Journal’s account gives away the real story: this is not a language problem dressed up as diplomacy. It is a contest over leverage, and the actors with actual power are the ones deciding who gets to move ships, set terms, and define “compliance.” Trump’s team claimed the clause about restoring shipping “unlocked” the strait. Iranian hard-liners treated the same clause as an opening to press for exclusive control. That is not misunderstanding in the abstract. That is a fight over who gets to command a chokepoint and…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.