Please note Hegseth Doesn’t Rule Out U.S. Troops on the Ground.
More Troops on the Way
The Wall Street Journal reports More U.S. Troops on Way to Back Iran Mission
Question of the day: Are we sure what the mission is?
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. was adding forces in the Middle East to support its operation in Iran, as the conflict widened across the region.
In a press conference with Caine, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the goal isn’t nation-building, adding that Tehran wasn’t interested in engaging in efforts to make “a peaceful and sensible deal.”
Earlier, three U.S. jet fighters were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses, while the U.S. and Israel continued to hit Iran. Tehran launched fresh attacks on Israel and other military and industrial targets in Gulf countries following the killing of its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Hegseth Doesn’t Rule Out U.S. Troops on the Ground in Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there were no U.S. forces on the ground in Iran but didn’t rule out the possibility there could be in the future, saying he wouldn’t divulge what the U.S. may or may not do.
“President Trump ensures that our enemies understand we’ll go as far as we need to go to advance American interests,” Hegseth told reporters during a news conference.
“But we’re not dumb about it. You don’t have to roll 200,000 people in there and stay for 20 years.”
Hegseth Translated
We may be incredibly stupid about this. But it’s not really up to us.
We will do whatever Netanyahu asks.
More Lies of the Day
Trump was not and is not interested in a peaceful deal. Trump listed a set of unnegotiable demands that no nation would accept. Take-It-or-War it is not negotiation. It’s a set of demands.
Those demands were set by Israel. Trump embraced them.
Iran agreed to no nuclear weapons.
And Trump called “fake news” any reports that denied total destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
It was Trump, with cheerleading from Netanyahu, who did not want a deal.
And with Trump cheering for regime change, telling Iranians to revolt and the US would back them, what the hell is the true mission but regime change?
So now, Iran doesn’t want to negotiate. Why negotiate with a liar?
Iran Updates
- Four U.S. troops have been killed so far, with President Trump warning more casualties are likely.
- Iran’s security chief said Tehran “will not negotiate” with the U.S.
- More than 500 Iranians have been killed by U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to the Red Crescent. Lebanon said 31 people were killed by Israeli strikes, and several deaths were reported from Iranian attacks in the region, including Israel and the U.A.E.
- Qatar said it halted LNG production after intercepting two Iranian drones targeting a key energy facility.
- Oil and European natural-gas prices jumped, U.S. stocks dropped and gold futures rose over 2%, as Wall Street braced for the economic fallout.
- Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and Dubai-based Emirates are restarting a handful of flights out of the U.A.E.
Strikes Damage Tehran’s Emergency Services Headquarters, Medical Facilities
Strikes damaged Tehran’s provincial emergency services headquarters and hit medical facilities overnight, Iranian state media said, as Iran’s capital entered its third day of war under mounting civilian strain. The emergency building on Iranshahr Street sustained “very serious damage,” according to the spokesperson for Tehran Emergency Services, who said adjacent structures were also struck. Several emergency personnel were injured, though most were reported to be in stable condition.
Iranian state-affiliated media outlets shared images that they said showed the aftermath of a strike on Gandhi Hospital in Tehran. The footage depicted medical staff transferring newborn infants from the facility, along with visible damage to the hospital building. State media also reported strikes in other Tehran neighborhoods, publishing photographs showing damage to residential buildings.
If blowing up hospitals is not peace seeking, what is it?
Stepping Back to Obama
Reader Jon accurately comments “Let’s never forget that the Obama administration created a treaty with Iran that ended their creation of bomb creating materials for 30 years. The international body responsible for ensuring compliance was given full access to their facilities and found the Iranians in full compliance. Let’s never forget that Iran has never attacked the United States outside of the Middle East, and only after the United States murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, Syrians, and Afghanis. Let’s never forget that the murders of these innocents, along with the murder of innocent Iranians has the full support of the death-thirsty evangelical Christian community.”
Correct.
I have discussed this many times, and that is an excellent summary by Jon.
The Obama Doctrine; An Astonishingly Good Deal? “Only Rand Paul Could Do Worse” Says Senator Graham
Flashback April 5, 2015: The Obama Doctrine; An Astonishingly Good Deal? “Only Rand Paul Could Do Worse” Says Senator Graham
An Astonishingly Good Deal
My position is the same as that of Vox writer Max Fisher who says This is an Astonishingly Good Iran Deal.
- Iran will give up about 14,000 of its 20,000 centrifuges
- Iran will give up all but its most rudimentary, outdated centrifuges: its first-generation IR-1s, knockoffs of 1970s European models, are all it gets to keep. It will not be allowed to build or develop newer models.
- Iran will give up 97 percent of its enriched uranium; it will hold on to only 300 kilograms of its 10,000-kilogram stockpile in its current form.
- Iran will destroy or export the core of its plutonium plant at Arak, and replace it with a new core that cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium. It will ship out all spent nuclear fuel.
- Inspectors will have access to all parts of Iran’s nuclear supply chain, including its uranium mines and the mills where it processes uranium ore. Inspectors will also not just monitor but be required to pre-approve all sales to Iran of nuclear-related equipment. This provision also applies to something called ‘dual-use’ materials, which means any equipment that could be used toward a nuclear program.
Deal Fact Sheet
The deal is even better than described above. Here is the Fact Sheet of the agreement.
Iran nearly walked out because the US would not agree to end all sanctions.
Only Rand Paul Could Do Worse Says Senator Graham
Bloomberg reports Only Rand Paul Could Do Worse Says Senator Graham.
“The best deal, I think, comes with a new president. Hillary Clinton would do better. I think everybody on our side, except maybe Rand Paul, could do better,” Graham said on CBS’ Face The Nation.
Obama’s Nuclear Deal With Iran
July 17, 2015: Obama’s Nuclear Deal With Iran: Rare Victory for Peace or Foolish Compromise?
Historic Deal
On Tuesday, President Obama, World Powers, and Iran agreed on a Historic Nuclear Pact phasing out economic sanctions in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program.
Republicans Blast Deal
The Bustle reports Republicans Respond To The Iran Deal With Every Bit As Much Vitriol As You’d Expect — And Then Some.
Democrats Lukewarm
Not even the Democrats seemed pleased with the announcement. The Hill reports Dems Hold Judgment on Iran Deal.
Is Anyone Else Happy?
Yes, Me.
So is David Stockman, libertarians in general, and anyone, regardless of political party, who can think clearly.
I have not thought about it this way before, but if no one in Washington is happy, I probably am.
War Mongering Fools
It’s high time both parties party rid themselves of warmongering fools like Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, and Bob Menendez.
Rubio and Walker are particularly troubling. In the past I have praised Walker for taking on the public unions in Wisconsin, but I cannot support anyone with warmongering views as extreme as his.
They claim among other things “The US cannot trust Iran”.
If they had an ounce of common sense, they might ask the question: “Why the hell should Iran trust the US?”
Lesson for Hypocrites
US hypocrites have some nerve bitching we cannot trust Iran, when Iran has every right not to trust the US!
War in Iraq
In 2003 Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his deputy Paul Wolfowitz said “the war could be done on the cheap and that it would largely pay for itself.”
Here we are trillions of dollars later and counting. And ISIS is a direct result of that stupid war with Iraq.
Rare Victory for Peace
Due to political divisiveness, political leaders are never willing to say the other side did anything right.
That’s why I will never be a political leader. I bash Obama often enough, and for many things. But I equally bash the warmongers who have been wrong every which way, and virtually every time!
This was a rare victory for peace.
I am proud of the fact that I stood against the Vietnam War, I was against the War in Iraq, and I have been on the right side of the Iran debate from the beginning.
I echo Ronald Reagan’s former budget director David Stockman who says All Praise To Barack Obama For Stiffing The War Party—- Peace Is Finally Being Given A Chance.
Trump’s Top General Says Iran Honoring Nuke Deal
Flashback, September 26, 2017: ForeignPolicy reports Trump’s Top General Says Iran Honoring Nuke Deal
“The briefings I have received indicate that Iran is adhering to its JCPOA obligations,” Gen. Joseph Dunford wrote in answers to questions in advance of his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, using an acronym for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday joined other members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet in confirming that Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal that has put a temporary halt to its nuclear weapons program.
IAEA Says Iran Abiding by Nuclear Deal
April 19, 2019: IAEA Says Iran Abiding by Nuclear Deal
“Iran is implementing its nuclear commitments,” said Yukiya Amano, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency has had access to “all the sites and locations in Iran which it needed to visit.”
Iran Honoring the Deal?
- US State Department: Iran honoring the terms.
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Iran honoring the terms.
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Iran honoring the terms.
- Arms Control Association: Iran honoring the terms.
- All US European allies: Iran honoring the terms.
- Every other signee of the accord: Iran honoring the terms.
Had Trump made the same deal with Iran, most of his supporters would have cheered it. But Trump always thinks he can negotiate a better deal.
Now We Have War
Q: Why?
A: Because Trump scrapped a deal that even Trump’s top general said Iran was honoring.
Q: Why did Trump scrap the deal?
A: He said he could make a better deal.
Q: What was the result?
A: After scrapping the Obama deal, Iran restarted enrichment.
Q: Then what?
A: War silly. It’s where we are now.
Q: Will it take troops on the ground?
A: Hegseth says it might.
Q: But what’s the mission?
A: No one even seems to know.
Q: Isn’t this inflationary?
A: Yes.
Q: What will this cost?
A: Hegseth says “But we’re not dumb about it. You don’t have to roll 200,000 people in there and stay for 20 years.”
I guess anything less than 200,000 people for 20 years will be a success. No matter what it costs.
According to Plan
This all went according to plan. How to Start an Unnecessary War in Three Easy Steps, 12 Important Corollaries
Meanwhile, what is the mission?
Allegedly it’s peace. Trump Says “War Will Continue as Long as Necessary” to Achieve Peace
Can I say I told you so?
America has cut off oil supplies to an Asian country before. We did this to Japan in the 40’s. This left them no choice but to attack us. Do we all really think that China will do nothing as a result of cutting off their supply of oil?
Apparently behind the scenes tipsy Pete is spreading the word that the goal is to hasten the Armageddon.
U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesushttps://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for
Hegseth a fundamentalist evangelical Christian nationalist who attends a church that preaches support of Israel.
This is the quality of Trump’s cabinet.
Pete likely has pumped-up myocytes in the confines of his cranium, rather than neurons.
Qatar has stopped its LNG production after an attack on two of its major plants by two Iranian drones. (The Iranians reportedly have 80K of these.) The Strait of Hormuz where 20% of the world’s oil and 20% of the world’s LNG transits is now closed.
This is an equivalent one-day COVID-like off-switch event on the global asset-debt macroeconomic system.
European LNG futures up 37% today ….
Well, here we are at the intersection of fundamental Christianity and Israel’s manipulation
US MILITARY TOLD THIS A WAR TO ENABLE THE “END TIMES”
A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer.
From Saturday morning through Monday night, more than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military had been logged by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).
The complaints came from more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations, the MRFF told me Monday night.
https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for
The incompetence of this administration is mind blowing. The adventurism into world and historical cultural issues is beyond their simple-minded, self centered abilities.
But democracy works and the US citizenry is going to get the lower standard of living it deserves. Anyone who travels outside the US can see our lowering standard of living relative to the rest of the world. Infrastructure, technology, pricing power, health, food quality, cultural quality, individual self determination, corruption/governance, etc. while we suffer with fools, much of the world shakes its head, works around us, and progresses.
Unfortunately over time success makes it tempting believe your own Bullshit – the essence of American culture today
Don’t believe it? Get your passport and take a trip
Interesting: .@SecRubio “The president made the very wise decision—we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.”
So now Israel calls the shots for the US military
3 fighter jets down by friendly fire in a single day. Time to negotiate
A profoundly senile and pathologically narcissistic president takes a nation to war without any plan, without a real reason for going in the first place (except maybe another country told him to,) without any kind of boundaries or strategy, without the support of the public, with shifting messaging that changes minute by minute, surrounded by a staff of self-dealing and grossly unqualified sycophants. What could possible go wrong?
US embassy in Riyahd hit–big damage
So many soft targets now in the ME
Now, Marco Rubio says that Israel had decided for good to strike Iran, and therefore the US’s only option was to join the mayhem. The US is now a vassal of Israel?
Who are the big donors to both parties? Democracy in action.
The history of the Iranian nuclear programme is something of a misnomer in the context of what is now happening.
The real change happened with the Iranian sponsored attack on Israel a few years back. This was in response to talks between Israel, Saudi, and the Emirates to “normalise” relations economically and recognise Israel as a state.
Israel has taken out Hezbollah and Hamas, both funded by Iran, and is now looking to topple Iranian regime away from fundamentalist leadership which wants to wipe it off the face of the earth. USA thinks they can go back in time to a pre-revolutionary Iran – it is not going to happen.
Iran remains a highly religious, theocratic country.
Iran is a major country, 90 million population, and although it has anti-fundamentalist elements they are not strong enough to overturn its religious, anti-Israel, anti-American worldview.
Will the US military also follow orders if boots are required on the ground? It would be a bloodbath. This is not Iraq where the army will run away.
One thing is sure – politically Trump is finished. He is a turkey who has voted for christmas by alienating his Maga base.
And America has yet again alienated itself from its traditional allies in Europe, who want nothing to do with any of this.
“…a turkey who has voted for Christmas..”
Well said!
The real goal is to turn Iran into a failed state at the behest of Israel, such as was done to Syria, Libya and Iraq.
Idiots keep acting like they are in a vacuum and there will be no real military response reactions from Iran, India, Russia & China. Expect the strait of Hormuz will be closed more than several days or a week or two so cost of conflict going to be passed on to global citizenry most already not in favor of war.
NATO has effectively declared war on Russia via proxy Ukraine. Interesting to see Putin take a page out of Iran’s playbook employing some Oreshniks at strategic European infrastructure, military & political targets. USA & Israel have declared open season on targeting political leadership. Those five Israel desalinization plants.
NATO has declared a war on the BRICS, starting with its soft belly. Brazil and India were hit first with draconian tariffs. It’s a matter of time when the USSA will try to pull a Maduro in Brazil or turn Pakistan their Ukrainians against India.
Whiskey Pete is completely out of his depth, not one person in that gang of idiots thought through what was going to happen the day after bombing Iran. Rubio was just on TV admitting that we joined this idiocy because of Netanyahu.
In my fantasies, a reporter at a press conference will ask Trump, “Mr. President, how would you describe the taste of Bibi’s shoe polish?”
The Pedophile in Chief would probably reply: “Just like his semen.”
It sounds like the US government cannot figure out why it started this war. Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth are all over the place; and Netanyahu contradicts them.
They know perfectly well, but cannot say it out loud
Iranian strikes test the Gulf’s trillion-dollar AI dreamThe region sold itself as a safe harbor for the world’s data. Amazon’s burning data center in the UAE has upended that pitch.
https://restofworld.org/2026/amazon-uae-data-center-fire-iran-strike/
So the US has killed the leader, a frail sick old man who has numerous times said it would be sad to die as such instead of as a martyr, and was killed at his home where he went about business without precautions.
They have martyred the equivalent of the pope, setting off Shia populations across the area. A religious current known to revere martyrdom more strongly probably than anywhere else. A director successor to Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of Mohammed and defender of the true faith at Karbala 680 AD. An Azeri, so forget about stirring up Azeri nationalist sentiment.
Netanyahu and Trump thinks they have proved the guy to be a loser.
They think Iran has a cult of personality just like America and Israel, and can be humiliated by killing the leader.
They have killed probably the last Iranian to forbid a nuke on religious grounds.
The crowds are demanding revenge and nukes.
‘Great success!’
As behooves a constitutional republic, a successor has been appointed.
A scholar who has suggested that the fatwa forbidding nukes & WMDs might be subject to reinterpretation with changing circumstances.
The Vali-ye faqih has a narrowly circumscribed competence within the republican government, and is supervised by the council of experts. He bears an authority nowhere close to the scope of executive power wielded by political leaders in many Western countries; he is simply a guardian of the guidance of the principles of Islamic jurisprudence within government councils and is nothing like a “ruler”.
America & Israel have just scored an own goal.
“America & Israel have just scored an own goal.”
I would frame it more as America & Israel have shot themselves in the head. At best,a week left of intercepters while Iran has 80,000 plus drones and 7000 missiles.
Definitely in Irans interest to now continue on while Trump begs for a ceasefire.
“They have martyred the equivalent of the pope, setting off Shia populations across the area.”
Remains to be seen the collateral damage of Shia populations being set off. Has the US just destroyed the influence it has with Qatar, UAE, etc.
“They have martyred the equivalent of the pope, setting off Shia populations across the area.”
Definitely not safe to be an American in the Middle East. How does Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait etc. governments react to populace pressures?
US State Department urges Americans to immediately leave over a dozen Mideast nations, including Israel | The Times of Israel
US State Department urges Americans to immediately leave over a dozen Mideast nations, including Israel
“The US Department of State calls on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East, including Israel, amid the US-Israeli war against Iran.”
I never know the real goal of any government anymore but with market closing, I only banked 12k selling calls on oil stocks. I know, not much but at least it’s honest work.
I had hoped oil would have spiked harder but Iran supposedly closing the Straits. Maybe tomorrow?
It a process of realization. I’m thinking an “oh shit” moment is reached within the first two weeks, when we run out of defensive interceptors, Iranian missiles keep on rubbleizing, and the phone isn’t being answered on the other end (well it probably is, but the answer is the same : “Perhaps soon, but we’re not quite done yet, a-holes”.
Well if oil stocks drop, I’ll buy back those contracts cheap and sell them again when everyone wakes up. In the meantime, I’ll just collect dividends.
Examine the people involved
Trump
Kushner and Witkof-negotiators with Iran
Kushner and Witkof with big money investments from Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc
Both Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE and others wanted to knock Iran down
I guess we are now a tool of Isra Middle East despots
America first?
or the new Wagner group?
Matt Walsh is also confused…
So far we’ve heard that although we killed the whole Iranian regime, this was not a regime change war. And although we obliterated their nuclear program, we had to do this because of their nuclear program. And although Iran was not planning any attacks on the US, they also might have been, depending on who you ask. And although we are not fighting this war to free the Iranian people, they are now free, or might be, depending on who seizes power, and we have no idea who that will be. The messaging on this thing is, to put it mildly, confused.
Next up, Israel will have ‘no choice’ but to drop a few nuclear bombs on Iran to ‘prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons’.
That could happen, and on top of the global freakout, military realize even that doesn’t stop the bombardment of Israel. Then the people now trapped in Israel realize there’s no good way out of there before an eventual nuclear retort (delivery by Pakistan or will Iran finish it?) – boats sunk by drones and rockets, and the airport shut down.
Just destroy the five desalinization plants which supply 80% of the water to Israel.
so I was almost in a car accident today…
Trump says Iran war projected to last 4 to 5 weeks, could go ‘far longer’In latest statement, Trump says US was ‘very nearly under threat’ from Iran, drawing immediacy of attacks into question.
And why would anyone doubt the recently rebranded Secretary of War when he says:
”It’s a peaceful deal”?
People pretty much want to just live their lives. Governments religions and ideologies hate each other.
Something to consider is bibi goes to trial when Israel has peace.
Trump needs an ever bigger distraction from the files and his midterm plans.
Which will end with him on trail.
“Trump … and his midterm plans.”
The plan is to start a war, declare martial law and halt elections.
Unless you got a better one.
Unfortunately I didn’t have civil war on this year’s bingo card.
Or take orders from beebee as fast as possible before the midterm slam.
To recount the warning late last month issued by no less than the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine – the issues already facing American forces were clearly outlined and predicted. According to out prior paraphrase and outline of what’s being freshly reported by WSJ:
1) Caine warned that the war plans under consideration carry a high risk of significant American and allied casualties.
2) He cautioned that a multi-day campaign would exhaust air-defense munitions and other limited-supply items, which are critical for protecting regional partners like Israel if Iran retaliates.
3) An intensive operation against Iran could deplete stockpiles to a level that would complicate U.S. readiness for a potential future conflict with China.
4) He described the potential campaign as one that could “stretch the military thin” and leave forces “overtaxed”.
5) Caine’s gave “high likelihood of success” reassurances before the January 2026 mission to apprehend Nicolas Maduro, he has been unable to provide similar guarantees regarding a large-scale strike on Iran.
Why do you waste bits quoting the swindler diddler team?
Mish, I’ve always had a bit of trouble with the layout of your essays: it is, shall we say, idiosyncratic. Was that really you saying that you “stood against” the Viet Nam War? I wouldn’t have thought you were old enough for that.
My understanding of Obama’s deal with Persia was that it was understood to be a sellout at the time, cobbled together in a hurry to give him something to say he had “done” in time for an election.
I’m not clear on what Lindsey Graham was trying to say about Rand Paul. I’ll take Rand Paul and his father any day over Lindsey Graham and his mother. Wasn’t it his mother, as the owner of the “Washington Post,” who organized the Deep State takedown of President Nixon?
President Trump may be trying to control China’s oil supply, and that is a bit of a worry, because as I understand it, that was how President Roosevelt lured Japan into World War II. I suppose the Deep State may have decided that it is time to thin out the population again, and maybe they are even right. I don’t know.
Maybe I have been listening to propaganda, but I have been under the impression that everyone understood that the Persians, in their negotiations over their nuclear research, were simply playing a delaying game, hiding facilities, doing research in secret, and hoping for a day when, like North Korea, they could simply say, “We have the bomb now.” I’m not saying that, from their own point of view, they’re not right. It worked for Kim.
Trump is the first man you’ve had as President since Reagan. I’m not saying that he’s right about everything. I do think he lets Israel and Jewish Americans get away with too much. But you have to be their tool, or be an anti-Semite, and that is unthinkable.
You’ve been listening to propaganda.
No kidding.
He IS propaganda. It’s no coincidence these randos show up to take up for trumpstien and then vanish.
I’m not vanishing. I usually get told to go away because people are defeated by my arguments, and they prefer being pretentious to learning anything.
You may be as mentally ill as trump. I hope you’re not a pedophile also.
What a joke. America should be no one’s “tool”. The rest of the world is growing very tired of America’s extrajudicial killing and kidnapping of the leadership and people in other countries. When people do that to Americans it’s called terrorism. You are a first class idiot, a perfect example of an average American who is incapable of reading the constitution, let alone critical thinking. By the way, where the fuck is congress? Reign this administration in or be counted as one of them when the eventual trials and hangings come.
Like it or not, we’re all tools of somebody. America has been lending its support to Israel ever since Israel began. I do agree that America should be more careful to respect other countries’ sovereignty, but America isn’t the first empire to assume extraterritorial effect for domestic law. Perhaps America’s white vassals, especially the English-speaking ones, should tactfully point this out.
yes, lots of “boomers” still here and still think nam was stupid, among other things
I’m giving you an up-vote only because I think you’re sort of trying to hash this out. Then again, on re-read are you suggesting that Trump is the only real man we’ve had since Reagan? I mean our actual policy (never mind the polite niceties of statecraft) has been led by neocons for decades, and it’s only gotten worse. Personally I altogether reject the machismo aspect and see no place for it for a President, but I recognize this cultish aspect of MAGA.
Re: Iran’s ambitions, I am willing to accept that they were not seeking to build a nuclear weapon (prohibited by fatwa). However, they made a mistake enriching to threshold levels to gain leverage, because it gave impetus to long-held neocon claims that was their intent, without the definitive deterrence that having nukes *might* provide.
Is Trump trying to control oil supplies? Yes.
Thanks for your kind words.
They disappeared when I tried to enter this reply. Some computer glitch there perhaps.
Stonks GREEN
LOLOLOLOL
“Close’m up boys”
Extrajudicial killing and kidnapping of a country leadership is a very dangerous precedent to be setting. The balance sheet of America was in dire straits (maybe that’s why he went to war) before taking this action. Regardless, CONGRESS needs to stand up and be counted. They need to take back the war powers and/or go on record voting for this disgrace. Either way, life is going to get very hard for the average American. I plan on staying healthy so I can be alive when the people in this administration are ultimately hung for treason. I suspect that the rest of the developed world is going to eventually demand it. Many fascists have thought they were invincible before. Same as it ever was.
Extrajudicial killing, AKA terrorism.
Skin in the game going forward a good thing for our terrible policy making global elites.
“Same as it ever was”
I just hope I don’t find myself in another part of the world, asking myself “My God! What have I done?”
–Pepe Escobar
I believe that the goal in Iran is the same as the goal in Venezuela was: stick a thumb in China’s eye by controlling their sources of petroleum…and use that leverage in trade & Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty negotiations.
I keep relating back to the board game called RISK, and firmly believe that UncleSam needs control the whole world and it is willing to keep rolling the dice until it does, or until it is unable to project power anymore.
I hope for the latter of the two options.
Absolutely, and it is going to backfire spectacularly. All of the BRICS countries are well aware of the trade imbalances. Also, why would they intervene when they know this simply hastens the death of the FRN and America’s dominance.
Disagree, there’s no method to the madness. Trump is a demented pedophile who’s trying to keep the Epstein files out of the news so people won’t figure out he’s a kiddie diddler.
Speaking of demented, is it my imagination or does Trump actually sound tired and confused now? I watched him mumble today at the podium with the Iran update and immediately thought 25th amendment (well deserved too).
Main reason for “war”. Continued coverup of pedophile trump.
Only 20% of comments offer any useful inputs till now in the comment section. The rest consists of insults.
So why do you keep coming back and repeating yourself? Bugger off already agent of Satan.
Sorry. Can’t see what you said.
0k boomer.
Still can’t see.
You are so stupid you must be American
agree
I’m not sure what you mean, you silly silly man.
if the war lasts long enough and it gets bad for the US with Democrats named domestic enemies, elections will have to be cancelled
ideally, keep it boiling for years
We were always at war with eastasia.
“Goal in Iran Isn’t Nation Building, It’s a Peaceful Deal”
Operation ‘Epstein’ Fury For ‘Greater Israel’.!
(‘Finishing Off, Iran’) Gen W. Clark (+ Gaza Genocide)
This article fails to answer these questions:
1) What is Iran’s clearly stated and implemented goal?
2) Why does a country so rich in carbon-based energy want to expend $billions and face the wrath of the international community to build nuclear power capability? Couldn’t be any less efficient.
3) Why is this nuclear power capability buried deep in underground bunkers in the mountains?
If you can’t answer those questions, then you might suffer from TDS. 🙂
‘TDS’ Is Really (‘Trump Delusional Syndrome’) – Suffered By Those Trump Supporters Who Still Buy Into His ‘BULLSHIT‘.!
1. Survival. This would be pretty obvious if you’re not a moron.
2. Oil doesn’t just magically turn into energy and nuclear is the future of that. Iran is too busy exporting oil to maintain their economy to use it all for autarky. This isn’t 1940.
3. Could it have something to do with their friendly and helpful neighbors?
Are you getting paid by the post to ask dumb questions?
They want nukes so we will stop trying to take over their country… same as anyone else that wants nukes.
We don’t mess with North Korea. The lesson is clear.
LMFAO!!!!
Why is it any of our business? Why can’t they build nuclear reactors. If it as unprofitable as you claim then we should be encouraging it. TDS? If this administration has evidence of bad shit, GO TO CONGRESS and present it.TDS? Really? That’s some pretty weak sauce but typical of a MAGA moron incapable of thinking critically.
Why would EVERY country seek nuclear power/nuclear weapons. Because the USA is the largest holder of nuclear weapons and the only country to have ever used them. The USA is a rouge nation and the worlds largest terrorist nation.
You know nothing or are evil incarnate.
1) why do they have to have a “clearly stated and implemented goal”? So morons like Trumptards can understand? Does America have a “clearly stated and implemented goal”, other than “We’re Really Stupid. We Just Started a War of Choice that We WIll Lose”
2)this part is so moronic it’s astounding. So Iran should burn millions of barrels of oil to produce electricity, rather than sell the oil and buy Russian nuclear plants to provide stable base load electrical power (alre3ady several Russian reactors there, more coming)
3) “Why is this nuclear power capability buried deep in underground bunkers in the mountains” – yeah, nobody does that, I mean the USA would never have bunkers or underground missile silos…wait
You are so stupid, you must have voted Trump.
The U.S. no longer does nation building. The goal is to break up Iran into bits and pieces.
Meanwhile, the financial market reaction is the opposite of everything expected. Gold barely budging. Silver down 6%. 10 yr treasuries up 10 basis points. Who could have predicted crypto up 6-8%? It’s bizarro world in action.
Financial markets have a history of delayed reaction to bad news. Indices will look a lot different a week or two from now after they catch up with reality.
Has there ever been any nation built by the US? Or has that always been a euphemism for puppet installation, resource stealing, comprador coopting, etc, AKA colonialism?
Liberia?
I think it’s been a highly manipulated market for some time. But eventually you can’t paper over real problems.
We had a peaceful ‘deal’. Trump backed out of it.
That was negotiated by a black man though, MAGA couldn’t take it
That peaceful deal brought us Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis! Fantastic win!
Hamas was founded in the 80’s, decades before Obama negotiated a nuclear treaty with Iran.
He used his famous Time Machine.
Please Stop Spreading CIA/Mossad ‘Operation Mockingbird’ Media System Disinformation.!
By Way of Deception – Thou Shalt Do War” – Victor Ostrovsky, Ex-Mossad Agent, Translated the Motto
Israel Is An Aircraft Carrier/Beach Head in the Middle East For NATO – Robert F. Kennedy Jr
Hamas Was Created by Israeli and US Intelligence Services to Counteract Yasser Arafat – Ron Paul
“Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas.”
Benjamin Netanyahu (2019)
“In the visible dimension Hamas is an enemy, in the hidden dimension it is an ally.” – IDF Major General Gershon Hacohen (2019)
“Israel started Hamas. It was a project of Shin Bet.” – Charles Freeman, US diplomat and Ambassador (2006)
Hezbollah was created by Lebanese who wanted to defend against repeated military incursions into Lebanon and continued occupation of Lebanese territory by Israel. Israel is ultimately responsible for Hamas and Hezbollah and for the retaliatory attacks on Israel by Houthis.
Tucker had Catherine Fitts as a guest and the discussion was largely around monetary and fiscal policy but has touch points with Iran.
I used to scoff at these conspiracy theories but as each day goes by, the crazy nuts seem to be more right than off these days. Well worth it to watch the whole thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLz1bI2sXU
Re: Q: Isn’t this inflationary? Decades back I heard someone pretty bright say “military spending is inflationary – because it’s producing goods which are not sold”.
If you think about it that way there’s some truth there, b/e it is like a tax on the Country’s economics b/e it’s sucks money out for non-productive uses. [Sorry, I don’t consider blowing someone up a “productive use”.]
And also it competes with the private market’s demand for raw materials – raising those prices.
This is why societies constantly do not really advance, instead they repeat demegogery and folly on and on. Intelligence and societal maturity are no cummulative across generations.
But “The
Dow is 50,000.” LOL
Waiting for the press photo from the Situation Room with the monitor on wall showing the bombs going off with the CNBC market ticker on the bottom of the screen
I challenge you to a peaceful duel. En Garde. This war is so stupid and the rhetoric is tragic.
I can invent poetry as I swordfight and I have a big nose.
The air is free, so you might as well
Why would anyone believe anything that this administration says?? Trump mocked regime change and is now pursuing it. They said no way we’ll have troops on the ground. Now it can’t be rule out.
i remember the consensus being that the Obama deal wasn’t great, but better than the alternative. it hindsight it worked. because 10 years later and Iran has no nukes. It seems it would have if it had been pursuing one full on since 2015.
Trump and his administration are corrupt idiots who launched a war with no clear objectives. I guess give them credit for political savviness or at least knowing their base: if you don’t articulate goals then you can’t fail to meet them. Trump will end this probably sooner rather than later and claim victory having accomplished little more than killing a bunch of people (including one very evil tyrant but leaving in place countless underlings just as bad), and creating more hatred towards the U.S. than ever before. And wasting a trillion dollars or more probably.
Trump Administration = Christian Zionist’s Riding The Beast.!
– ‘Greater Israel’ + Mossad ‘Epstein’ Nazi’s.
– Plan To Rule The World.!
Operation ‘Epstein’ Fury For ‘Greater Israel’.!
(‘Finishing Off, Iran’) Gen W. Clark (+ Gaza Genocide).
But he may succeed in the continuing cover up of his pedophilia.
Which is his main objective of all and any actions he takes.
Anthony, Trump has a clear objective: to be Israel’s bitch. Israel’s clear objective is to render Iran a failed state like they/US have done Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, & Libya. Chaos for Iran to make the Israel the hegemon.
Well, let’s not be too harsh.
When Trump says “Good morning!” or “can I get another Diet Pepsi?” he’s probably not lying. Maybe.
Every other word, undoubtedly a lie.
Hegseth is such a dipshit. As is his boss.
But he has such pretty hair. And those tattoos….😍😍😍😍😍😍
🤣🤣🤣🤣😉
I thought that making the criterion “who can do the most pushups?” was probably a mistake. Biggest lush nominee since John Tower.
I’m a scrawny old man and I can do better pushups than that butterball.
The last person who impressed me doing pushups was Jack Palance. I thought he was a real badass doing that on stage in front of a national audience.
I can’t wait to see what his polling looks like after this blunder. He’s in the high thirties support wise, will it stay that way when gas is 8$ a gallon in red states?
Part of me thinks he just wants the military busy for when he tries to grab elections.
Sadly. I think a decent proportion on Americans will see this as a success if it is finish in 6 months. Doesn’t matter what the outcomes are in Iran.
Most can find it on a map and most people think Iran is evil when it is actually quite a lovely country, with lovely people and a some arsehole rulers. No, I haven’t been to Iran, but I have many friends who have (white, Christian friends, not that it should matter)
The war could finish right now and the economic damage will still last into midterms. Nobody cares about Iran and many Republican voters explicitly didn’t want this. The only victory here is in Trump’s head and he’s certainly not getting it out of Iran in a timely fashion.
Correct. The BRICs can do math. Our America’s balance sheet was in trouble before any of this started. Now things will be much, much worse.
Or Cancel Them – Like Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.!
Trump Says Americans “Won’t Have To Vote
Again – If He’s Elected”.!
On the other hand we will get to vote again if he dies!
Trump is going to save you time and money. Giving you more time to dumpster dive for food, after all the stores shut down from $10/gas and consumers having no money, caused by their former places of employment having closed down.
By declaring every vote for him in 2016, 2020, and 2024 will all count again in 2026, and when he runs for his 3rd Term in 2028.
You already voted once, no need to do it again.
Trump is such a problem solver.