I think this is pretty likely as well. Get marines on the island. Blow a few oil tanks or something up, then call it a day and run. Otherwise, they'll all die

So like...what's the point of this? Are they intentionally destroying peasant farms to force proletarianization?

I dont think you're giving Iran enough credit. Also, It's the US that will have to take and hold Kharg. Not the other way around. It will be US forces who will be isolated and difficult to support. Jets can't stay in the air forever and they aren't a defense against missiles/drones. Airforces are not a tool of attrition.

Iran has already been fortifying the island and the military is already there. Trump is obsessed with taking Kharg and has been for a very long time. My gut feeling is this is just Trump pumping his own tires, so Kharg makes the most sense. Similar to how Hitler was hell bent on taking stalingrad solely to stroke his own ego

Bahrain is interesting because of its large Shia population who are sympathetic to Iran. So I could see it at least devolving into immediate civil war. I'm not as informed on the UAE though. Is it in as precarious a position as Bahrain and Qatar?

This is also an interesting look at how being an early adopter of something can screw you over at a later point - the US has remained insistent on crewed aircraft as the main way to achieve interdiction, hence the investment in stealth technology in order to allow planes to keep being able to carry out this role despite advancements in anti-air capabilities (although aside from the early adopter aspect, I feel like there's also a role being played by the plain stupid fascist machismo of "Tom Cruise flying a plane directly into enemy territory is based, shooting missiles from hidden-away trucks is cowardly and gay"). Conversely, countries that simply didn't have the resources to build up such a large air-force were forced to explore alternative approaches, which might turn out to be the better ones in the long run.

I think this is also partly due to the MIC. The likes of Lockheed Martin, Boeing etc make a shit ton of money on their aircraft and even more on "updating" said aircraft. They also have big lobbies. It isn't in their interest to see a shift away from their prime money makers. Thus, the contradiction between capital interest and material interest of the empire becomes sharper. This can be said of the entire western military establishment. Which is just bloated and rotten. Based on enormous contracts that won't even be filled for years and years because the actual capacity to manufacture and maintain these weapons and systems just isn't there.

Could just be a formality or Maybe they're worried about electronic surveillance or maybe they just genuinely enjoy eachothers company

Because it'd be far easier to deal with US ground forces(and air forces for that matter) when they are in an exposed, hard to support position over trying to be a brick wall and stopping them upfront. That's when US air power shines. When you attempt to resort to conventional warfare.

True, but American military leadership has become accustomed to having uncontested air superiority and the relative speed and ease of their last couple of invasions in Iraq and occupation of Afghanistan was largely because of said air power. I suspect this is why the marines are also deploying a dedicated wing detachment of their own. They still believe that air superiority is the only thing they need. I'm sure they'll be successful, initially, in getting these ground forces where ever they need to get. But airforces are not ideal tools for wars of attrition. The Iranians are no doubt well aware of the west's capabilities and doctrine so they'll be ready and waiting.

Just look at Ukraine. The people saying these things and swearing allegiance to the empire aren't the ones that will be sacrificed on the altar of capital. They'll be in their gated communities in Miami or the Bahamas telling the people to fight the good fight from their beachfront balconies.

Israel is the ultimate American imperial project so yes, the imperial military will be used to attempt to protect its holdings.

The US could just cut off its LNG and europe would capitulate immediately and then blame Russia for everything.