When you see shit like this happening, it’s both sides agreeing to have a show. It’s performative. So what you really need to ask is, who is this show for and why. These old fossils are following orders, we need to figure out who’s giving them.
It’s fairly obviously for rabid, bloodthirsty nationalists in both nations. These leaders build their power on fear and have a constant need to demonstrate social dominance over one another, lest their image as an invincible strong-man show any cracks. In reality they are scared shitless over the possibility of a real war which would threaten their continued rule. So they put on this puppet show so the useful idiots can think of ”hur dur America/Iran stronk, we beat those filthy heathens” with less risk of escalation.
When you see shit like this happening, it’s both sides agreeing to have a show. It’s performative. So what you really need to ask is, who is this show for and why. These old fossils are following orders, we need to figure out who’s giving them.
It’s fairly obviously for rabid, bloodthirsty nationalists in both nations. These leaders build their power on fear and have a constant need to demonstrate social dominance over one another, lest their image as an invincible strong-man show any cracks. In reality they are scared shitless over the possibility of a real war which would threaten their continued rule. So they put on this puppet show so the useful idiots can think of ”hur dur America/Iran stronk, we beat those filthy heathens” with less risk of escalation.