Trump in mother-of-all threats

Saddam Hussein, when confronted by a US-led coalition to oust him in 2003, vowed a mother-of-all battles. But actually he and his revolutionary guards put up a pretty poor show. Now Donald Trump is promising to use a mother-of all bomb to force Iran to capitulate, and Iran is vowing a father-of-all bombs to attack US interests in the Middle East. It's all rhetoric right now but there is a building momentum which is always dangerous. Iran or the US could strike first, or not strike at all, and, instead, get round a negotiating table to bring this sorry mess to an end. Trump, I suspect, is a reluctant military-option enthusiast because he knows the huge damage Iran carried out in the Middle East in retaliation for the US and Israeli bombs. It will happen again. Whether or not Iran has developed a father-of-all bombs is neither here nor there. It won't win the war for them. Likewise, Trump's mother-of-all bombs is the Massive Ordnance Air-Blast bomb which won't win the war either. Partly because it's not a bunker-buster. As it implies, it detonates in the air and sends mignty shockwaves over a wide area, killing anyone who is cowering in a tunnel. But it won't reach the nuclear facilities buried under conrete and steel. So, for the moment, it's all tough words but will there be a second phase of bombing? US sources are saying there is intelligence that Iran is plotting a preemptive strike against US bases in the Middle East. This, of course, if it were to take place, would give the US every reason to launch a huge bombing campaign. Why would Tehran do this? It makes little sense. So, fingers crossed, this is all warlike talk without the intention to actually carry it out. The trouble is, Israel, especially its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, seems determined to finish off the job, as the Israeli prime minister put it. So, the chances are Israel will launch attacks whether Trump joins in or not.