The posturing - if in fact that's what it is - is doing much more harm than good at this point. We have already gone to war and attacked Iran's senior leadership. They know we are not bluffing. We will either inflict pain they can't tolerate on them and win (with a ceasefire that is to our advantage), or fail to do so and lose (with a ceasefire that is to theirs). At this point they are simply going to see if they can outwait us. Both sides are aware of this dynamic, and Trump's feckless posts only make us look weak.
Hegel on seeing Napoleon: "I saw the Emperor – this world-soul [Weltseele] – riding out of the city on reconnaissance. It is indeed a wonderful sensation to see such an individual, who, concentrated here at a single point, astride a horse, reaches out over the world and masters it." (You know, Napoleon had his dark side, "a taste of grapeshot", e.g.)
Alex on seeing Trump: Messy, besotted, makes me uncomfortable.
Me: Trump like Napoleon will some day be over. But, the world will never be the same and I, for one, was getting worried about the previous world order and would rather have it reshaped by Emperor Trump than Emperor Jinping.
Well said. I'm a 90/10 guy with Trump (likely like most here). Love 90% of what he's done/is doing. It's exhilarating to live in a time of a truly transformational presidency (foreign policy, immigration, anti-DEI, weakening woke, anti-fraud, getting the world to start taking us seriously again, playing the strategic long game on many fronts, etc. For starters).
And I don't love the other 10% one bit. Why the f-bombs in public proclamations? Why the obnoxious, abrasive style, especially when so many who meet him personally say that the A-hole behavior isn't who he really is.
I DO want an SOB as CIC when dealing with the Putins, Xis and Ayatollahs of the world, but, to borrow from Lincoln's old adage, he could catch far more flies with a drop of honey than a gallon of gall.
Alex….. you’re right in that the Iranians know Trump isn’t bluffing. What you miss is that those same Iranians have been able to collude and influence American politicians and politics (see John Kerry) for decades and their current attitude could very well be them thinking they can get the U.S. media and politicians to stop Trump.
Oh, wait…….lets take the question mark out and just say it…… yes, U.S. politicians are working as tools of the Iranians and actively working against American interests.
I agree with all except point four as cringe worthy. I would add triumphalism as not really helpful to the war fighters either -- hopefully their tactical commanders keep them "sober' and their heads on a swivel.
In order to see an acceptable finality to this the public needs to appreciate that every combat action (indeed including training) is dangerous and that the lower our pilots fly as the mission focus changes,(which is necessary) the more susceptible they are to the proliferation of shoulder-fired or easily concealable guided anti-aircraft weapons. Casualties are more likely in this faze and to be expected. The public should not be set up to believe that this is entirely a push-button war from afar.
Maybe they will appreciate that mop-up ground forces are going to be necessary, not as occupation forces especially in our case, but to protect the balance of power of any subsequent Iranian government amenable to peace and prosperity for the people. Certainly such a government will have to be armed to prosecute the IRGC criminals and holdouts as necessary. Just not primarily by us even if through us.
None of this violates Trump's pledge of no more endless wars. His record has been consistent about Iran and any nuclear capability of theirs. Further, and this ought to be the main message in all of this, we have embarked on ending an endless war being perpetrated against us by the mullahs with feckless response heretofore.
Trump has certainly been medicine for the country, his patriotism his policies. But any medicine (relating to communication of those) can be overdone or off the mark. That is the nature of too much of Trump's communications. He firmly believes that his "tweets" and top-of-his-head formulations are master strokes of communication. It is also ridiculous that those with TSD (Trump Sycophancy Disease) encourage it. We hired him. Expect better or MAGA is not in charge.
I do not believe that his supporters are so silly that policy is less important than braggadocio or that the latter is necessary to their support. One can be forceful, a confidence builder, engage in humor and be cutting toward the ridiculous Democrat opposition (indeed their evil nature) and not emit as many exaggerations or requirements of clean-ups in aisle 47. Trump exhibits virtues but they are adulterated by his ways. More discernment would get him and especially us further.
At no expense to his support I believe that his 2024 campaign would have resulted in an actual majority win (he was a plurality victor) by being more disciplined in his style. Superficial young women voters might not have been as put off and vindictive to vote against interests. Yes they are volatile and ignorant so explain your policies more carefully. As it was Trump did not do as well in the electoral college as Clinton did (arguably Perot was a spoiler candidate with superficial voters of his own) but we kid ourselves with triumphal rhetoric about our victory. Most of the American people voted for essential Marxists in 2024, ( a combination of Harris and Green Party and Socialists, and in practice some Libertarians who have certain fetishes [drug legalization] over economic freedoms).
Much of the anti-Trump vote was pure ignorance and that was also the fault of communication strategies of the GOP apparat, which Trump inattentively controlled. Rather than grow the vote with more extensive useful messaging that in effect inoculated and turned Democrat mules into GOP mules (presuming the confidentiality of the vote by mail), instead resources for that were focused on a mechanism of voting especially by mail.
People know how to vote. Turnout was as high in the 60s and early 70s as the phony results of the recent years' emphasis on the "convenience" of vote by mail. Motivate people with appropriate fear of Democrats and the benefits of MAGA policies and the votes will harvest themselves. In spite of Trump's better instincts they spent a lot of resources hectoring Trump voters to vote by mail rather than increasing the pie so to speak.
As regards my disagreement over item 4, I believe some Christian reinforcement gains more than it detracts because of the peculiarities of resistance from the right in the arguments between "Dispensationalists" and "Covenant" folks. You may be less in tune but it is substantial. I would say a third of the people at a recent GOP county convention I attended opposed a resolution in support of Epic Freedom. It was in part Libertarian but a very mixed bag. I can accept there can be different carriers of the message of religious support but as for concern over international sensitivities what motivates them - Israelis, Sunnis? A reminder to what is left of Europe that they are being controlled by Iranian Shia influence?
If you have not addressed it the "comm" problem from Jerusalem regarding the imbroglio over the Cardinal and the Palm Sunday church service is also of note.
I usually agree with you but feel you're out in LEFT field on this. While I will agree DJT should act more presidential, what has that gotten us before? He was elected BECAUSE he doesn't act presidential. As for alienating the Iranian people, fat chance. Multiple accounts have indicated the Iranian people helped obstruct the military to protect the SWO. Telegraphing your next move is a great way to get your ass kicked. Obfuscating the mission is exactly what you want so the enemy doesn't know what's going to happen. We have seen this repeatedly be successful with DJT. Keep em guessing. I don't care about upsetting Muslims or anyone else. The US is still a majority Christian country, invoking Jesus' name is nothing to be concerned about. Hegseth is a Christian and showing his faith should not be demonized. Again, where has secularization gotten us? Again, stating set goals is irrational as it telegraphs your moves. It also makes it difficult if the goals change, which gives the haters another cudgel to use against the admin besides being poor strategy.
*Edit - And where is the "attaboy" regarding the amazing tactical mission of rescuing our two airmen? From most accounts that aren't whining about blowing up three aircraft, there was some massive badassery going on this weekend. Then Airman survived 36+ hours behind enemy lines, injured and was able to climb a 7000 ft cliff!! Our military should be hailed as the heroes they are. This is why our recruiting numbers are through the roof these days.
When Pete was in the military during the previous administration, a fellow member reported him for his religious tattoo. It was considered a sign of radicalism. Since when is a cross considered radical in a nation founded on Christianity? Alex says praying for soldiers in Jesus's name will inflame Muslims. Appeasing Muslims has only made them attack us. They do not care about offending Christians and Jews, they KILL them. It is a war and we are done with "rules of engagement".
Alex is an unreliable mouthpiece when it comes to DJT. Applications of idealism are simply unsuitable. The same is true for progressives- nothing sensical is said. Alex sort of falls into the same place as he attempts objectivity but TDS beneath the surface proves prohibitive. Of course he dropped an f- bomb on truth social! He’s a man-child! What do you think about Barry O? Biden? Like their actions any better??? PuhLeze! Spare me and I hope he rocks it up even more. We won’t survive otherwise, and hopefully cooler headed leadership arrives in couple years with differences in style but similarly convicted.
As someone that has worked most of my career on a male dominated sales floor with 20-30 type A personality salesmen, I rarely clutch my pearls over language. I usually heard worse during the sales meeting prior to starting my day. lol.
i think he's too in his head about audience capture sometimes.
"ok, vacation is over. what should i write about to my anti-vax, pro-trump audience this week? should i write about all the vaccines i plan to inject my kids or echo what the new york times thinks of trump's presidency? either should prove i am not subject to audience capture!
of course, after i rile them up, i had better post about how obama was a bad president and probably a muslim to balance it out later in the week - so i still, like, have an audience next week."
"Endless wars" from my remembrance. We're five weeks in. While I dislike war, I am not naive enough to think it's not a necessary evil in order to curtail evil. Iran was on a course to have an overwhelming arsenal of ballistic missiles and has shown they were much closer to having intercontinental abilities than most thought. They admitted to having enough nuclear material for 12 bombs. A couple of dirty bombs dropped on each coast would take out millions. While I have lost some faith in DJT, mainly around tariff implementation, I believe the admin is doing what needs to be done. Now if we're having this discussion in the Fall, I'll concede there's an issue.
IF it was a "pattern" I would agree, but to say Trump is pro war is quite a stretch. What other WAR has Trump put his stamp on, and lets not forget all the wars he assisted in ending in the 1st year of his term. Maduro does not count as it was a targeted extraction. As for this war its now DAY 37. You are aware of PREVIOUS wars and how LONG they lasted right?
Trump is doing what 47 years of POTUS chose to look away on and kick the can down the road. There are times when the STRENGTH portion levels up OVER the PEACE portion of PEACE thru STRENGTH mantra! Is it pretty and perfect...HELL NO, and especially when this FOE is the worst of the worst on the evil spectrum! Remember what INFIDEL means and what the ISLAMIC regimes intention-mission is with every infidel they encounter
The important thing people miss is that our government has basically spent 47 years appeasing Iran, hoping they would eventually be reasonable and peaceful. I've always felt our various government officials have never truly understood what the Iranian Shia fanatics actually believe, which is why they stupidly thought there would never be a problem. Restraint due to mutually assured destruction isn't a concept in Twelver Shia Islam. These are people who glorify dying for Allah. Meanwhile, just look at the massive war machine Iran has amassed, especially since 2002. When I had to flee Iran myself in late 1978 as the Shah was leaving the country, I never would have imagined that those crazy fanatics would still be in power 47 years later. Things just became more and more extreme and their beliefs are incompatible with the rest of the world. Anyone with half a brain could see they were feverishly working to create nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage with them at some point. How many more decades did the world want to sit back and pretend nothing would happen at some point?
Good point. But I thought Trump would be different. I hoped he'd wish Israel and Iran 'good luck' and force them to work it out for themselves.
I realize that he and his military advisors might be nervous about Chinese influence in the region, but why can't the regional powers deal with that on their own? China seems to be good at making an impressive show of power, but really bad when it comes to actually fighting a hot war. I trust them to screw it up in the end.
But we are BIG satan and all infidels. You have heard what the regime has said of all infidels right, and what they wished on America for 47 years and how many American troops they have been killed and maimed thru the years right so HOW are we not a part of this equation?
So hypothetically let's say a terrorist cell was able to carry off an attack on US soil and we could verifiably confirm it was funded and endorsed by Iran (or any foreign entity) would it be ok to "start a new war"? Absolutism doesn't benefit anyone and is a poor national security policy. If a bully knows you won't fight back, it tends to embolden them.
I looked it up and this was part of the campaign for 2016. This was not part of his reelection campaign from what I can find. Irregardless, things change. The world isn't a static environment.
OK, things change, shit happens. as I said earlier, absolutism is idiocy. It's your prerogative to cry about it, but it's not going to change things. We are where we are and we need to be in it to win. If it upsets you so much, don't vote for him next time. Oh wait.....
Another good point, Bryan. I can only hope that there's a larger geo-political goal here, or even a short-term political goal. Trump is and always has been a realist. And he knows things we don't. But I can't see where there was any obvious advantage for the U.S. in attacking Iran.
Really? You can't think of a single reason to attack a country that has been responsible for most of the terror attacks in the middle east and has a regime hell bent on developing a nuclear weapon and aiming it at us? Really?
not nitpicking, but i still honestly don't think this is a war, although it's approaching that point.
either way, it really does look like we took our shot and missed - so best to say we accomplished most all we set out to do and head out in the next week or two.
And stopping Iran from getting a nuclear bomb wasn't?? After decades of trying to negotiate, bribe, sanction, threaten, and appease them, I am afraid this was the only way.
All good points. But I think Trump might be overdoing it this time. The Iranians are now able to see through the "good cop, bad cop" game he and Rubio are playing. I don't think Trump is actually hurting any overall strategy by his somewhat comical bombast, but it's not helping, either.
Nor am I ready to join the cheerleading surrounding the rescue of the airmen. What we should be paying attention to is the fact that Iran was able to shoot down one of our fighters, despite being 'completely and utterly defeated'. Let's admit that they're a very tough opponent, and that things haven't gone completely according to plan (they never do once the shooting starts). Now seems to be a good moment to negotiate an end to this little adventure. I'm pretty sure time is not on our side.
Nonsense. There have been something like 13000 flights and they shot down one low flying plane with a heat seeking missile likely that Russia supplied them with. The sun shines on even a dogs ass every once in awhile. We have less casualties in this month of "war" than were murdered in Chicago in the same timeframe. One lucky shot isn't a means to give up. How absurd.
Alex, you worry too much about what many of us consider “small” as compared to a nuclear weapon going off in the future.
There is so much Trump knows over what we all pretend to speculate and everyone seems to forget that part. He is always ahead in the chess game and pivots as needed.
I, for one, could give a rats ass about his speech patterns at this point. Get to the punch line. I’m over the pretense of the other presidents who loved acting the part but couldn’t execute worth a darn.
The global elites have played the U.S. for way too many years. The new world order is underway and it needed to kick NATO and Europe in the face. It’s always about greed and money. I pray for this world as we are all unsure how it will end. The path we were on was a short runway for disaster.
No, Trump doesn’t have to tell the press anything. The U.S. media are traitors. It is the enemy. You don’t tell your plans to the enemy and Trump’s administration doesn’t leak.
Point of fact, Alex: Iran is a Persian nation that has been occupied by a radical Islamic regime for almost 50 years. They're mostly Zoroastrians.
Calling Iran a 'Muslim country' is like calling Egypt a 'Muslim country' while ignoring its Pharaonic roots, or Turkey while ignoring its Ottoman/Byzantine layers ... but Iran's pre-Islamic Persian layer is deeper, older, and still vibrantly alive despite the 1979 clerical takeover.
Christians have been jailed or worse for practicing their faith. However, the Christian population has grown recently. As you said, Iran is not a Muslim nation.
When I lived in Iran for 2 years teaching Iranians, my students were a mix. I knew quite a few that were Bahai's, some were Jewish, some were Christian, occasionally Zoroastrian (the original religious heritage of Persia), some were non-practicing Muslims, and some were secular entirely. I actually didn't have any super religious Muslims in my many classes taught over a two year period. The Iranian cultural history dates back 2500+ years, long before Islam invaded them and took over. Cyrus the Great was and still is a huge influence on Persian life and culture (he's also mentioned in the Bible). I also hope their various religious groups can freely practice again soon. People pretended to convert to Islam out of self preservation, but secretly practiced their "real" religions in secret). Now they can't be openly anything other than Muslim. Those who are non-Muslim are persecuted, driven out, or eventually killed. The world seems to ignore all this.
From my own experience, I think you have hit the nail on the head. I have Iranian/Persian friends and they celebrate Zoroastrian holidays like Nowruz and the Wednesday Feast before Nowruz that involves bonfires. In a local restaurant in Northern VA, there is a picture of the Shah jumping over the fire which is one of the traditions. After those holidays, they seem pretty fond of Christmas and Easter and many of the ones I know in the US have become Christians. It took an evil alliance between the Communists and the Islamists in league with the US left and the Soviets to overthrow the Shah. I even know some folks who are still there and they hate the Islamic Regime.
I honestly don't care what "words" DJT uses. I care about actions. You and the rest of the "media" can sit here and endless criticize every word of the current president, but I've lived through the last 50+ years. This president is taking bold actions to put America first. After watching the actions of our elected political and community leaders during COVID, BLM Riots, The Russian Hoax, and whatever this thing is that's happening with Trans identity, I honestly don't care about the words DJT uses. BTW: American Christians have been slandered publicly for years in the US - by all of the religious groups that you claim are offended here. Where were you then?
Yes, that struck me too. The Biden administration surveilled Catholics. They arrested Christians who were praying at abortion clinics. They were not afraid of offending Christians in their own country and jailing them. Hegseth said to pray in Jesus's name for our troops and you are worried about offending Muslims, Alex???
In many respects, the regime in Iran is already in the Stone Age in terms of how they think. There is a huge divide between the fanatic, violent regime and what is estimated as perhaps 5% of the population who support them, and the remainder of Iranians who have been held captive by them all these years.
I made that exact point yday over on Epoch Times site, and used the batman quote to drive the point home where I said "it's not who I am underneath, but what I DO that defines me" SO many vote or react on "feelings" relative to personality rather than what that personality DOES in action! The coddled, entitled and victim minded WOKE left has always put the "feelings" or "my truth" hive mindset into whom they vote for or the way they attack Trump. This emotional bias so clouds critical thought. Is it any wonder why TDS has become such a legit mental illness lol
They recoil like demons doused in holy water. The establishment has spent the last 50+ years building up their corrupt little world enriching themselves and bankrupting the nation. This is our country and they are and have been throwing it away for their own expedience and greed. I am not comparing DJT to Jesus, but their reaction to Trump is similar to the Scribes and Pharisees when Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple. They squeal like stuck pigs at every Trump utterance and action. They have half the country convinced that 1000s of unarmed black men are shot by police every year, that ICE is kidnapping and killing American citizens, that George Floyd was a saint instead of a felon drug addict, that the National Guard might randomly shoot them in DC, that illegal immigrant gang banging wife beating human traffickers are just innocent "Maryland Dads" etc.
That fool GWB said Islam is a religious of peace less than a week after 9/11. So, if it is, why are they trying to subjugate and kill us. I heard someone say once that if you dealt with the C part of the COEXIST bumper sticker, you will have solved 90% of the problem.
GWB apparently understood next to nothing about Islam! He had a shoe thrown at him during one press conference and had no idea about the insult of why the Muslim threw it.
When Trump doesn't back his words up, I care what he says. Threatens in 2 days to send them to hell. Then backs off because he's not prepared to destroy civilian infrastructure. So he pretends they made a friendly gesture. These people can and will wait him out. He's a big blowhard.
We took out Iran's ayatollahs, its leadership, airforce, navy, defense factories and degraded their drone ability by over 70% and you think Trump is a blowhard. At what point will you change your mind?
Yeah just ask the 90+ OBLITERATED mullahs and top generals just how much he backs out! He could just pull out now and the mission is really already accomplished. IRAN is essentially castrated and a shell of what it was with no ability to ENRICH or manufacture ballistic missles. They have no friends in the region now as that reality is exposed which bodes well for the pending expansive ABRAHAM ACCORDS too!
You know what he also "obliterated" 8 mos ago? Their nuclear program with our big bomb. Then a week before we started bombing this time they were once again "a week or two" away from a nuclear warhead. So either: 1) our bomb didn't hit effectively enough, and they were able to recover; or 2) their nuclear program was spread out widely enough that the big bomb wouldn't take care of it all.
So is Iran a shell because we hit their nuclear facilities again? How often do we have to hit them before our "obliterated" designation is in fact reality?
Is Iran a shell because we've killed a bunch of their leaders? Their leaders are a dime a dozen. Their ideology will live on past this President's term.
Is Iran a shell because Israel has taken their proxies down a few notches? It will take them a while to recover to the strength they were in October 2023. But time is on their side.
In the end, what was our goal? Regime change? Not going to happen without boots on the ground. Ending their nukes? I thought we'd already done that.
Well these two periods of time say that, but its not to say it will be like that in timing going forward I do not know, but do know that IF this regime is still in power they will always do as they do too
That's certainly true. I don't object to confrontation so much as a lack of objective. He needs to know the US will tire of war a lot earlier than Iran will.
Its unfortunate that doing the RIGHT thing at times is not always the right political thing to do. I just aprreciate the F out of finally having a POTUS who did what 47 years of POTUS looked the other way on. I think a lot of us see that reality. Perhaps not politically right, but RIGHT in my mind
Some say IF the regime is left in control we will INDEED have to mow the yard every so often yes. I GET the point! Personally, I do believe what the ISLAMIC radical means when it speaks of the INFIDEL so IF we have to mow every so often so be it! I mean good vs evil is eternal right?
Au contraire, he has gotten a lot of shit done in a short amount of time. What he is doing can't be instantly achieved, sorry to say. But it will be done in far less time than any of the wars I've observed during my 76 years.
Yeh, but he seems to expect instant achievement. Which is why the most outrageous threats that he makes he always backs down from when he doesn't get the immediate cowering that he's hoping for.
6. Trump should state: imagine this situation 6-12 months from now if it hadn’t happened and then they had nukes. The world would be at risk even more.
He has said that repeatedly, the media ignores it. They ignore the fact Iran proved it had missles that can easily reach Paris and most likely London. It ignores that Iran admitted to 1/2 ton of 60% enriched uranium when commercial uranium is only 20% and for 47 years Iran has chanted "death to America and death to Israel" while carrying out military and terrorits actions against us and have murdered hundreds of our troops and citizens during that time while all the other administrations sat on their hands. Trump told us this is exactly what he would do to Iran 47 years ago and he has repeated it ever since. He's been totally consistent the entire time and thank God for that! And thank God he is not another gutless coward like the rest of our POS presidents have been.
What no one is mentioning are our "allies". They are the countries who need the oil coming through the Strait of Hormuz. Why are they all unwilling to help? Why would they block an ally from using their bases? They were crying out for the US to protect them from Putin just a few years ago because when he finished with Ukraine, they said he would invade Europe. At that time they did not even want to contribute to arm Ukraine. Their attitude has always been, let the US pay for our defense while we spend our money on our own country.
The EU has been truly EXPOSED for sure thru this all. Its seems they FEAR upsetting the massive MUSLIM base which has been "allowed" thru open borders thru the decades to control narrative in these once great European countries. The UK especially! America would be farrrr closer to this reality 16 months in had COUP-MALA and Tampon Timmy been placed into the WH for certain!
I agree 💯. Kamala would have let in at least as many as Biden maybe more. The UK has just decided to investigate the Pakistani grooming, rape gangs that have existed for over 10 years. The leadership in the UK ignored what the public was saying and in some instances sold their souls for votes. Law enforcement says they will now concentrate on serious crime and stop arresting people for "hate speech" online.
Yep, since WW2 the Europeans have been dependent on us to protect them. Interesting that Europe has about 440 million people compared to our 340 million. We're technically smaller but they prefer to live on our protective "welfare".
For 47 years, Iran has been killing Americans, mostly through their proxies. From the 241 American service members killed in the 1983 Marines barracks bombing to the 40+ killed on October 7th in Israel. Since 1979, more than 1,000 Americans have died at the hands of Islamic Republic of Iran - All while the Islamic regime chanted “Death to American” - And “Death to Israel” - Where over 1,000 Israelis were killed, mostly civilians. October 7th changed the course of human history.
For nearly 20 years, Israel tolerated Hamas with tit-for-tat missile barrages. October 7th ended that failed concept of “proportional response”. President Trump did campaign on no new wars - and no more forever wars. Trump didn’t start a new war on February 28, 2026, he started the beginning of the end of a war that began back on November 4, 1979.
Presidential candidates Clinton, Bush Obama and Trump campaigned on - “I will move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem”. 4 said, only 1 did it - President Donald J. Trump. There was much angst at the time Trump did that - and violence was feared following that. Well, 2 yards after that, the Abraham Accords were signed. That’s the kind of “backlash” we can all welcome.
Every US Presidents since Jimmy Carter have been clamoring about Iran, and none have ever chosen to act on their words - until now. Once again, the Chicken Littles of the world are squawking their little heads off - much like they also did during Regan’s years - years that led to the end of the Cold War.
This scene from the West Wing happened across my feed yesterday. I remember it well, maybe Trump has too. The days of proportional response are over.
One of Trump's strengths, given the enmity of the media towards him, is that he really knows how to play his cards close to his vest. Of course, the left gets all riled up about it. Foreign heads of state usually hold back for fear of pushing him too far. We've seen he can act with boldness when he wants.
I don't think he's done yet with his strategy, and in all things he's done he's keeping in mind broader regional and global repercussions. Now it's making sense why he pushed Roundup and why RFK Jr backed him.
Also, let's say he'd stuck to no new wars and a dirty bomb was released and it came out he knew ahead of time? What then? We probably won't know the answer to this, but this could be what triggered the decision to strike for both Israel and the US.
The idea that Trump and Israel simply hoped for a popular uprising seems a little off to me. I've always suspected (optimistically) that they were collaborating with some internal confidential sources in Iran that was going to seize power if the IRGC and religious leaders were taken out. Obliviously something went wrong, but I doubt this was started based on hope.
The Trump key to success is to do the right thing but sound crazy enough doing it that his opponents are driven to excess and outright foolish extremes in their reaction. It has worked so far. One example is Iran's lashing out and attacking Arabs. There was animosity (to put it mildly) between them to begin with, but now the mutual hatred is assured and to the point that the Arabs might actually do something (although that is perhaps too optimistic).
It's hard to get and hold the attention of the members of a supposed Death Cult, but Trump is trying--and probably succeeding--with his posts. We are not the target audience.
Eugyppius was wrong as I read him too. He was making talking points the same as the rest of eurotard liberals. He even commented on my take and after a couple back and forths I guess lost interest. There is the other side of this epic fury operation nobody in the media is talking about and that is what Rubio has done. He locked down the world banking system by breaking the Swiss and the way they have always kept regimes like Iran flush with cash. There is plenty going on behind the scenes and the Europeans are pissed because Trump is reshaping the world order. There will be consequences for them refusing to help out here too. Stay tuned. I have always hated the way Trump uses social media. He has never risen to the mantle of the presidency because of that in my eyes. He still will go down as one of the greatest though after people realize what he has done 30 years from now.
You’re asking the same Congress who can’t put a budget out, pass a bill to ensure secure elections, and that has done more damage to our healthcare system to know anything about the state of affairs in Iran. That leaves Trump or any administration without leverage and the element of surprise. You liberals live in some kind of fantasy world. The only talk of regime change has come from the media. The fact that we took out the current regime does not mean that the next one will be any better. I believe that we went in to this with our eyes wide open. We have been “dicking” around with these terrorists for fifty years and Trump is the first one to have the courage to address them. It does not matter what or how he messages anything…..constant criticisms. Wake up Alex!
Hillary Clinton? Was (IMO) The Worst Presidential candidate I'd seen (Been following Presidential aces since Nixon v Kennedy)...And then Kamala said Hold My Beer...Watch This!
Actually, I meant JEB!, whom Trump turned into a JOKE in two words: “low energy”. Knocked his exclamation point into an asterisk. HRC was and is many things, not one of them trad.
Hillary was all in on the Iraq war started by Jeb's brother. W. targeted the wrong country and then had the audacity to pose in front of a Mission Accomplished banner when in reality the war was just starting.
To use a Bushism, perhaps none of Trump’s “strategeries” is to appear unhinged?
The posturing - if in fact that's what it is - is doing much more harm than good at this point. We have already gone to war and attacked Iran's senior leadership. They know we are not bluffing. We will either inflict pain they can't tolerate on them and win (with a ceasefire that is to our advantage), or fail to do so and lose (with a ceasefire that is to theirs). At this point they are simply going to see if they can outwait us. Both sides are aware of this dynamic, and Trump's feckless posts only make us look weak.
Hegel on seeing Napoleon: "I saw the Emperor – this world-soul [Weltseele] – riding out of the city on reconnaissance. It is indeed a wonderful sensation to see such an individual, who, concentrated here at a single point, astride a horse, reaches out over the world and masters it." (You know, Napoleon had his dark side, "a taste of grapeshot", e.g.)
Alex on seeing Trump: Messy, besotted, makes me uncomfortable.
Me: Trump like Napoleon will some day be over. But, the world will never be the same and I, for one, was getting worried about the previous world order and would rather have it reshaped by Emperor Trump than Emperor Jinping.
Well said. I'm a 90/10 guy with Trump (likely like most here). Love 90% of what he's done/is doing. It's exhilarating to live in a time of a truly transformational presidency (foreign policy, immigration, anti-DEI, weakening woke, anti-fraud, getting the world to start taking us seriously again, playing the strategic long game on many fronts, etc. For starters).
And I don't love the other 10% one bit. Why the f-bombs in public proclamations? Why the obnoxious, abrasive style, especially when so many who meet him personally say that the A-hole behavior isn't who he really is.
I DO want an SOB as CIC when dealing with the Putins, Xis and Ayatollahs of the world, but, to borrow from Lincoln's old adage, he could catch far more flies with a drop of honey than a gallon of gall.
Alex….. you’re right in that the Iranians know Trump isn’t bluffing. What you miss is that those same Iranians have been able to collude and influence American politicians and politics (see John Kerry) for decades and their current attitude could very well be them thinking they can get the U.S. media and politicians to stop Trump.
Oh, wait…….lets take the question mark out and just say it…… yes, U.S. politicians are working as tools of the Iranians and actively working against American interests.
There——- I said it!
I agree with all except point four as cringe worthy. I would add triumphalism as not really helpful to the war fighters either -- hopefully their tactical commanders keep them "sober' and their heads on a swivel.
In order to see an acceptable finality to this the public needs to appreciate that every combat action (indeed including training) is dangerous and that the lower our pilots fly as the mission focus changes,(which is necessary) the more susceptible they are to the proliferation of shoulder-fired or easily concealable guided anti-aircraft weapons. Casualties are more likely in this faze and to be expected. The public should not be set up to believe that this is entirely a push-button war from afar.
Maybe they will appreciate that mop-up ground forces are going to be necessary, not as occupation forces especially in our case, but to protect the balance of power of any subsequent Iranian government amenable to peace and prosperity for the people. Certainly such a government will have to be armed to prosecute the IRGC criminals and holdouts as necessary. Just not primarily by us even if through us.
None of this violates Trump's pledge of no more endless wars. His record has been consistent about Iran and any nuclear capability of theirs. Further, and this ought to be the main message in all of this, we have embarked on ending an endless war being perpetrated against us by the mullahs with feckless response heretofore.
Trump has certainly been medicine for the country, his patriotism his policies. But any medicine (relating to communication of those) can be overdone or off the mark. That is the nature of too much of Trump's communications. He firmly believes that his "tweets" and top-of-his-head formulations are master strokes of communication. It is also ridiculous that those with TSD (Trump Sycophancy Disease) encourage it. We hired him. Expect better or MAGA is not in charge.
I do not believe that his supporters are so silly that policy is less important than braggadocio or that the latter is necessary to their support. One can be forceful, a confidence builder, engage in humor and be cutting toward the ridiculous Democrat opposition (indeed their evil nature) and not emit as many exaggerations or requirements of clean-ups in aisle 47. Trump exhibits virtues but they are adulterated by his ways. More discernment would get him and especially us further.
At no expense to his support I believe that his 2024 campaign would have resulted in an actual majority win (he was a plurality victor) by being more disciplined in his style. Superficial young women voters might not have been as put off and vindictive to vote against interests. Yes they are volatile and ignorant so explain your policies more carefully. As it was Trump did not do as well in the electoral college as Clinton did (arguably Perot was a spoiler candidate with superficial voters of his own) but we kid ourselves with triumphal rhetoric about our victory. Most of the American people voted for essential Marxists in 2024, ( a combination of Harris and Green Party and Socialists, and in practice some Libertarians who have certain fetishes [drug legalization] over economic freedoms).
Much of the anti-Trump vote was pure ignorance and that was also the fault of communication strategies of the GOP apparat, which Trump inattentively controlled. Rather than grow the vote with more extensive useful messaging that in effect inoculated and turned Democrat mules into GOP mules (presuming the confidentiality of the vote by mail), instead resources for that were focused on a mechanism of voting especially by mail.
People know how to vote. Turnout was as high in the 60s and early 70s as the phony results of the recent years' emphasis on the "convenience" of vote by mail. Motivate people with appropriate fear of Democrats and the benefits of MAGA policies and the votes will harvest themselves. In spite of Trump's better instincts they spent a lot of resources hectoring Trump voters to vote by mail rather than increasing the pie so to speak.
As regards my disagreement over item 4, I believe some Christian reinforcement gains more than it detracts because of the peculiarities of resistance from the right in the arguments between "Dispensationalists" and "Covenant" folks. You may be less in tune but it is substantial. I would say a third of the people at a recent GOP county convention I attended opposed a resolution in support of Epic Freedom. It was in part Libertarian but a very mixed bag. I can accept there can be different carriers of the message of religious support but as for concern over international sensitivities what motivates them - Israelis, Sunnis? A reminder to what is left of Europe that they are being controlled by Iranian Shia influence?
If you have not addressed it the "comm" problem from Jerusalem regarding the imbroglio over the Cardinal and the Palm Sunday church service is also of note.
TL;DR
YWHU
Do not disagree. My original comment was tongue in cheek. One laughs so that one does not weep.
One of— sorry!
I usually agree with you but feel you're out in LEFT field on this. While I will agree DJT should act more presidential, what has that gotten us before? He was elected BECAUSE he doesn't act presidential. As for alienating the Iranian people, fat chance. Multiple accounts have indicated the Iranian people helped obstruct the military to protect the SWO. Telegraphing your next move is a great way to get your ass kicked. Obfuscating the mission is exactly what you want so the enemy doesn't know what's going to happen. We have seen this repeatedly be successful with DJT. Keep em guessing. I don't care about upsetting Muslims or anyone else. The US is still a majority Christian country, invoking Jesus' name is nothing to be concerned about. Hegseth is a Christian and showing his faith should not be demonized. Again, where has secularization gotten us? Again, stating set goals is irrational as it telegraphs your moves. It also makes it difficult if the goals change, which gives the haters another cudgel to use against the admin besides being poor strategy.
*Edit - And where is the "attaboy" regarding the amazing tactical mission of rescuing our two airmen? From most accounts that aren't whining about blowing up three aircraft, there was some massive badassery going on this weekend. Then Airman survived 36+ hours behind enemy lines, injured and was able to climb a 7000 ft cliff!! Our military should be hailed as the heroes they are. This is why our recruiting numbers are through the roof these days.
When Pete was in the military during the previous administration, a fellow member reported him for his religious tattoo. It was considered a sign of radicalism. Since when is a cross considered radical in a nation founded on Christianity? Alex says praying for soldiers in Jesus's name will inflame Muslims. Appeasing Muslims has only made them attack us. They do not care about offending Christians and Jews, they KILL them. It is a war and we are done with "rules of engagement".
I could care less what Muslims think or if their feelings are hurt. We should have been like Japan and China and never let them immigrate.
And Hungary. Viktor Orban said no to immigration. The EU is still fining him over it.
Yes I like Victor.
Amen.
Alex is an unreliable mouthpiece when it comes to DJT. Applications of idealism are simply unsuitable. The same is true for progressives- nothing sensical is said. Alex sort of falls into the same place as he attempts objectivity but TDS beneath the surface proves prohibitive. Of course he dropped an f- bomb on truth social! He’s a man-child! What do you think about Barry O? Biden? Like their actions any better??? PuhLeze! Spare me and I hope he rocks it up even more. We won’t survive otherwise, and hopefully cooler headed leadership arrives in couple years with differences in style but similarly convicted.
As someone that has worked most of my career on a male dominated sales floor with 20-30 type A personality salesmen, I rarely clutch my pearls over language. I usually heard worse during the sales meeting prior to starting my day. lol.
Well you also don't represent the United States.
Feel free to show me where I said I did.
i think he's too in his head about audience capture sometimes.
"ok, vacation is over. what should i write about to my anti-vax, pro-trump audience this week? should i write about all the vaccines i plan to inject my kids or echo what the new york times thinks of trump's presidency? either should prove i am not subject to audience capture!
of course, after i rile them up, i had better post about how obama was a bad president and probably a muslim to balance it out later in the week - so i still, like, have an audience next week."
He was elected BECAUSE he said he wouldn’t get us into any more foreign wars. Liar.
"Endless wars" from my remembrance. We're five weeks in. While I dislike war, I am not naive enough to think it's not a necessary evil in order to curtail evil. Iran was on a course to have an overwhelming arsenal of ballistic missiles and has shown they were much closer to having intercontinental abilities than most thought. They admitted to having enough nuclear material for 12 bombs. A couple of dirty bombs dropped on each coast would take out millions. While I have lost some faith in DJT, mainly around tariff implementation, I believe the admin is doing what needs to be done. Now if we're having this discussion in the Fall, I'll concede there's an issue.
IF it was a "pattern" I would agree, but to say Trump is pro war is quite a stretch. What other WAR has Trump put his stamp on, and lets not forget all the wars he assisted in ending in the 1st year of his term. Maduro does not count as it was a targeted extraction. As for this war its now DAY 37. You are aware of PREVIOUS wars and how LONG they lasted right?
he wouldn’t get us into any more foreign wars.
Gonna Need Sources on that. Foreign Wars OR Endless Wars?
Technically he said any “new” wars which would encompass foreign wars. Y’all can nitpick all you like, you know this was a big part of his campaign.
Trump is doing what 47 years of POTUS chose to look away on and kick the can down the road. There are times when the STRENGTH portion levels up OVER the PEACE portion of PEACE thru STRENGTH mantra! Is it pretty and perfect...HELL NO, and especially when this FOE is the worst of the worst on the evil spectrum! Remember what INFIDEL means and what the ISLAMIC regimes intention-mission is with every infidel they encounter
The important thing people miss is that our government has basically spent 47 years appeasing Iran, hoping they would eventually be reasonable and peaceful. I've always felt our various government officials have never truly understood what the Iranian Shia fanatics actually believe, which is why they stupidly thought there would never be a problem. Restraint due to mutually assured destruction isn't a concept in Twelver Shia Islam. These are people who glorify dying for Allah. Meanwhile, just look at the massive war machine Iran has amassed, especially since 2002. When I had to flee Iran myself in late 1978 as the Shah was leaving the country, I never would have imagined that those crazy fanatics would still be in power 47 years later. Things just became more and more extreme and their beliefs are incompatible with the rest of the world. Anyone with half a brain could see they were feverishly working to create nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage with them at some point. How many more decades did the world want to sit back and pretend nothing would happen at some point?
Good point. But I thought Trump would be different. I hoped he'd wish Israel and Iran 'good luck' and force them to work it out for themselves.
I realize that he and his military advisors might be nervous about Chinese influence in the region, but why can't the regional powers deal with that on their own? China seems to be good at making an impressive show of power, but really bad when it comes to actually fighting a hot war. I trust them to screw it up in the end.
Do we want a republic, or an empire?
But we are BIG satan and all infidels. You have heard what the regime has said of all infidels right, and what they wished on America for 47 years and how many American troops they have been killed and maimed thru the years right so HOW are we not a part of this equation?
So hypothetically let's say a terrorist cell was able to carry off an attack on US soil and we could verifiably confirm it was funded and endorsed by Iran (or any foreign entity) would it be ok to "start a new war"? Absolutism doesn't benefit anyone and is a poor national security policy. If a bully knows you won't fight back, it tends to embolden them.
Flexible policy is a must in diplomacy and in war.
I looked it up and this was part of the campaign for 2016. This was not part of his reelection campaign from what I can find. Irregardless, things change. The world isn't a static environment.
https://youtu.be/FreCBjiGPCM?si=pOoUrYnM_22-WY9z
OK, things change, shit happens. as I said earlier, absolutism is idiocy. It's your prerogative to cry about it, but it's not going to change things. We are where we are and we need to be in it to win. If it upsets you so much, don't vote for him next time. Oh wait.....
Another good point, Bryan. I can only hope that there's a larger geo-political goal here, or even a short-term political goal. Trump is and always has been a realist. And he knows things we don't. But I can't see where there was any obvious advantage for the U.S. in attacking Iran.
Really? You can't think of a single reason to attack a country that has been responsible for most of the terror attacks in the middle east and has a regime hell bent on developing a nuclear weapon and aiming it at us? Really?
not nitpicking, but i still honestly don't think this is a war, although it's approaching that point.
either way, it really does look like we took our shot and missed - so best to say we accomplished most all we set out to do and head out in the next week or two.
I think "beat down" is more appropriate.
And stopping Iran from getting a nuclear bomb wasn't?? After decades of trying to negotiate, bribe, sanction, threaten, and appease them, I am afraid this was the only way.
Source/Link Please.
https://youtu.be/FreCBjiGPCM?si=pOoUrYnM_22-WY9z
Start a war Or Finish a 47 year war?
He said foreign forever wars. He had more intelligence once he was elected than when he was campaigning.
https://youtu.be/FreCBjiGPCM?si=pOoUrYnM_22-WY9z
^^^THIS.
All good points. But I think Trump might be overdoing it this time. The Iranians are now able to see through the "good cop, bad cop" game he and Rubio are playing. I don't think Trump is actually hurting any overall strategy by his somewhat comical bombast, but it's not helping, either.
Nor am I ready to join the cheerleading surrounding the rescue of the airmen. What we should be paying attention to is the fact that Iran was able to shoot down one of our fighters, despite being 'completely and utterly defeated'. Let's admit that they're a very tough opponent, and that things haven't gone completely according to plan (they never do once the shooting starts). Now seems to be a good moment to negotiate an end to this little adventure. I'm pretty sure time is not on our side.
Nonsense. There have been something like 13000 flights and they shot down one low flying plane with a heat seeking missile likely that Russia supplied them with. The sun shines on even a dogs ass every once in awhile. We have less casualties in this month of "war" than were murdered in Chicago in the same timeframe. One lucky shot isn't a means to give up. How absurd.
Agree with Bryan.
Alex, you worry too much about what many of us consider “small” as compared to a nuclear weapon going off in the future.
There is so much Trump knows over what we all pretend to speculate and everyone seems to forget that part. He is always ahead in the chess game and pivots as needed.
I, for one, could give a rats ass about his speech patterns at this point. Get to the punch line. I’m over the pretense of the other presidents who loved acting the part but couldn’t execute worth a darn.
The global elites have played the U.S. for way too many years. The new world order is underway and it needed to kick NATO and Europe in the face. It’s always about greed and money. I pray for this world as we are all unsure how it will end. The path we were on was a short runway for disaster.
No, Trump doesn’t have to tell the press anything. The U.S. media are traitors. It is the enemy. You don’t tell your plans to the enemy and Trump’s administration doesn’t leak.
@Uncle- THIS! I meant to put this very sentiment in my comment and forgot.
Point of fact, Alex: Iran is a Persian nation that has been occupied by a radical Islamic regime for almost 50 years. They're mostly Zoroastrians.
Calling Iran a 'Muslim country' is like calling Egypt a 'Muslim country' while ignoring its Pharaonic roots, or Turkey while ignoring its Ottoman/Byzantine layers ... but Iran's pre-Islamic Persian layer is deeper, older, and still vibrantly alive despite the 1979 clerical takeover.
Or calling Europe a Christian continent now that it has been lost to Islam.
Christians have been jailed or worse for practicing their faith. However, the Christian population has grown recently. As you said, Iran is not a Muslim nation.
I have seen clips of a great many Iranians saying "I am Persian, not a Muslim."
I hope they will be able to practice their religion openly after the war ends.
When I lived in Iran for 2 years teaching Iranians, my students were a mix. I knew quite a few that were Bahai's, some were Jewish, some were Christian, occasionally Zoroastrian (the original religious heritage of Persia), some were non-practicing Muslims, and some were secular entirely. I actually didn't have any super religious Muslims in my many classes taught over a two year period. The Iranian cultural history dates back 2500+ years, long before Islam invaded them and took over. Cyrus the Great was and still is a huge influence on Persian life and culture (he's also mentioned in the Bible). I also hope their various religious groups can freely practice again soon. People pretended to convert to Islam out of self preservation, but secretly practiced their "real" religions in secret). Now they can't be openly anything other than Muslim. Those who are non-Muslim are persecuted, driven out, or eventually killed. The world seems to ignore all this.
Reading your explanation it sounds like Iran is an occupied country not Palestine.
A great many Iranians would agree with your assessment!
From my own experience, I think you have hit the nail on the head. I have Iranian/Persian friends and they celebrate Zoroastrian holidays like Nowruz and the Wednesday Feast before Nowruz that involves bonfires. In a local restaurant in Northern VA, there is a picture of the Shah jumping over the fire which is one of the traditions. After those holidays, they seem pretty fond of Christmas and Easter and many of the ones I know in the US have become Christians. It took an evil alliance between the Communists and the Islamists in league with the US left and the Soviets to overthrow the Shah. I even know some folks who are still there and they hate the Islamic Regime.
I honestly don't care what "words" DJT uses. I care about actions. You and the rest of the "media" can sit here and endless criticize every word of the current president, but I've lived through the last 50+ years. This president is taking bold actions to put America first. After watching the actions of our elected political and community leaders during COVID, BLM Riots, The Russian Hoax, and whatever this thing is that's happening with Trans identity, I honestly don't care about the words DJT uses. BTW: American Christians have been slandered publicly for years in the US - by all of the religious groups that you claim are offended here. Where were you then?
Yes, that struck me too. The Biden administration surveilled Catholics. They arrested Christians who were praying at abortion clinics. They were not afraid of offending Christians in their own country and jailing them. Hegseth said to pray in Jesus's name for our troops and you are worried about offending Muslims, Alex???
Hegseth also wants to bomb Iranians back to the Stone Age. The praying rings a bit phony, in my opinion.
In many respects, the regime in Iran is already in the Stone Age in terms of how they think. There is a huge divide between the fanatic, violent regime and what is estimated as perhaps 5% of the population who support them, and the remainder of Iranians who have been held captive by them all these years.
So...annihilate every last one of them?
I made that exact point yday over on Epoch Times site, and used the batman quote to drive the point home where I said "it's not who I am underneath, but what I DO that defines me" SO many vote or react on "feelings" relative to personality rather than what that personality DOES in action! The coddled, entitled and victim minded WOKE left has always put the "feelings" or "my truth" hive mindset into whom they vote for or the way they attack Trump. This emotional bias so clouds critical thought. Is it any wonder why TDS has become such a legit mental illness lol
Well, frankly, as a Christian, I was pretty offended that THAT was the post he decided to make on Easter Sunday.
They recoil like demons doused in holy water. The establishment has spent the last 50+ years building up their corrupt little world enriching themselves and bankrupting the nation. This is our country and they are and have been throwing it away for their own expedience and greed. I am not comparing DJT to Jesus, but their reaction to Trump is similar to the Scribes and Pharisees when Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple. They squeal like stuck pigs at every Trump utterance and action. They have half the country convinced that 1000s of unarmed black men are shot by police every year, that ICE is kidnapping and killing American citizens, that George Floyd was a saint instead of a felon drug addict, that the National Guard might randomly shoot them in DC, that illegal immigrant gang banging wife beating human traffickers are just innocent "Maryland Dads" etc.
That fool GWB said Islam is a religious of peace less than a week after 9/11. So, if it is, why are they trying to subjugate and kill us. I heard someone say once that if you dealt with the C part of the COEXIST bumper sticker, you will have solved 90% of the problem.
GWB apparently understood next to nothing about Islam! He had a shoe thrown at him during one press conference and had no idea about the insult of why the Muslim threw it.
Alex can not even answer if he believes in God.
When Trump doesn't back his words up, I care what he says. Threatens in 2 days to send them to hell. Then backs off because he's not prepared to destroy civilian infrastructure. So he pretends they made a friendly gesture. These people can and will wait him out. He's a big blowhard.
We took out Iran's ayatollahs, its leadership, airforce, navy, defense factories and degraded their drone ability by over 70% and you think Trump is a blowhard. At what point will you change your mind?
While I’m no fan of Trump’s personally I didn’t vote for Mother Teresa. I voted for a person who could get $hit done!
Bingo! Love hearing a woman say that...gives me hope lol
I'm waiting for him to get shit done. I'm willing to bet he backs out before they do.
Yeah just ask the 90+ OBLITERATED mullahs and top generals just how much he backs out! He could just pull out now and the mission is really already accomplished. IRAN is essentially castrated and a shell of what it was with no ability to ENRICH or manufacture ballistic missles. They have no friends in the region now as that reality is exposed which bodes well for the pending expansive ABRAHAM ACCORDS too!
You know what he also "obliterated" 8 mos ago? Their nuclear program with our big bomb. Then a week before we started bombing this time they were once again "a week or two" away from a nuclear warhead. So either: 1) our bomb didn't hit effectively enough, and they were able to recover; or 2) their nuclear program was spread out widely enough that the big bomb wouldn't take care of it all.
So is Iran a shell because we hit their nuclear facilities again? How often do we have to hit them before our "obliterated" designation is in fact reality?
Is Iran a shell because we've killed a bunch of their leaders? Their leaders are a dime a dozen. Their ideology will live on past this President's term.
Is Iran a shell because Israel has taken their proxies down a few notches? It will take them a while to recover to the strength they were in October 2023. But time is on their side.
In the end, what was our goal? Regime change? Not going to happen without boots on the ground. Ending their nukes? I thought we'd already done that.
Well these two periods of time say that, but its not to say it will be like that in timing going forward I do not know, but do know that IF this regime is still in power they will always do as they do too
That's certainly true. I don't object to confrontation so much as a lack of objective. He needs to know the US will tire of war a lot earlier than Iran will.
Its unfortunate that doing the RIGHT thing at times is not always the right political thing to do. I just aprreciate the F out of finally having a POTUS who did what 47 years of POTUS looked the other way on. I think a lot of us see that reality. Perhaps not politically right, but RIGHT in my mind
Some say IF the regime is left in control we will INDEED have to mow the yard every so often yes. I GET the point! Personally, I do believe what the ISLAMIC radical means when it speaks of the INFIDEL so IF we have to mow every so often so be it! I mean good vs evil is eternal right?
Every 6-8 months? Without a clear objective, we're going to be losing a lot more money than they are.
Au contraire, he has gotten a lot of shit done in a short amount of time. What he is doing can't be instantly achieved, sorry to say. But it will be done in far less time than any of the wars I've observed during my 76 years.
Yeh, but he seems to expect instant achievement. Which is why the most outrageous threats that he makes he always backs down from when he doesn't get the immediate cowering that he's hoping for.
6. Trump should state: imagine this situation 6-12 months from now if it hadn’t happened and then they had nukes. The world would be at risk even more.
He has said that repeatedly, the media ignores it. They ignore the fact Iran proved it had missles that can easily reach Paris and most likely London. It ignores that Iran admitted to 1/2 ton of 60% enriched uranium when commercial uranium is only 20% and for 47 years Iran has chanted "death to America and death to Israel" while carrying out military and terrorits actions against us and have murdered hundreds of our troops and citizens during that time while all the other administrations sat on their hands. Trump told us this is exactly what he would do to Iran 47 years ago and he has repeated it ever since. He's been totally consistent the entire time and thank God for that! And thank God he is not another gutless coward like the rest of our POS presidents have been.
Or if they'd used them to reset the global balance to their advantage.
What no one is mentioning are our "allies". They are the countries who need the oil coming through the Strait of Hormuz. Why are they all unwilling to help? Why would they block an ally from using their bases? They were crying out for the US to protect them from Putin just a few years ago because when he finished with Ukraine, they said he would invade Europe. At that time they did not even want to contribute to arm Ukraine. Their attitude has always been, let the US pay for our defense while we spend our money on our own country.
The EU has been truly EXPOSED for sure thru this all. Its seems they FEAR upsetting the massive MUSLIM base which has been "allowed" thru open borders thru the decades to control narrative in these once great European countries. The UK especially! America would be farrrr closer to this reality 16 months in had COUP-MALA and Tampon Timmy been placed into the WH for certain!
I agree 💯. Kamala would have let in at least as many as Biden maybe more. The UK has just decided to investigate the Pakistani grooming, rape gangs that have existed for over 10 years. The leadership in the UK ignored what the public was saying and in some instances sold their souls for votes. Law enforcement says they will now concentrate on serious crime and stop arresting people for "hate speech" online.
Yes the leadership are on the take and afraid of what they ENABLED to flourish
Yep, since WW2 the Europeans have been dependent on us to protect them. Interesting that Europe has about 440 million people compared to our 340 million. We're technically smaller but they prefer to live on our protective "welfare".
For 47 years, Iran has been killing Americans, mostly through their proxies. From the 241 American service members killed in the 1983 Marines barracks bombing to the 40+ killed on October 7th in Israel. Since 1979, more than 1,000 Americans have died at the hands of Islamic Republic of Iran - All while the Islamic regime chanted “Death to American” - And “Death to Israel” - Where over 1,000 Israelis were killed, mostly civilians. October 7th changed the course of human history.
For nearly 20 years, Israel tolerated Hamas with tit-for-tat missile barrages. October 7th ended that failed concept of “proportional response”. President Trump did campaign on no new wars - and no more forever wars. Trump didn’t start a new war on February 28, 2026, he started the beginning of the end of a war that began back on November 4, 1979.
Presidential candidates Clinton, Bush Obama and Trump campaigned on - “I will move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem”. 4 said, only 1 did it - President Donald J. Trump. There was much angst at the time Trump did that - and violence was feared following that. Well, 2 yards after that, the Abraham Accords were signed. That’s the kind of “backlash” we can all welcome.
Every US Presidents since Jimmy Carter have been clamoring about Iran, and none have ever chosen to act on their words - until now. Once again, the Chicken Littles of the world are squawking their little heads off - much like they also did during Regan’s years - years that led to the end of the Cold War.
This scene from the West Wing happened across my feed yesterday. I remember it well, maybe Trump has too. The days of proportional response are over.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B5a2yoM8S/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Excellent points!
One of Trump's strengths, given the enmity of the media towards him, is that he really knows how to play his cards close to his vest. Of course, the left gets all riled up about it. Foreign heads of state usually hold back for fear of pushing him too far. We've seen he can act with boldness when he wants.
I don't think he's done yet with his strategy, and in all things he's done he's keeping in mind broader regional and global repercussions. Now it's making sense why he pushed Roundup and why RFK Jr backed him.
Also, let's say he'd stuck to no new wars and a dirty bomb was released and it came out he knew ahead of time? What then? We probably won't know the answer to this, but this could be what triggered the decision to strike for both Israel and the US.
I posted this on Eugyppius' Substack...
The idea that Trump and Israel simply hoped for a popular uprising seems a little off to me. I've always suspected (optimistically) that they were collaborating with some internal confidential sources in Iran that was going to seize power if the IRGC and religious leaders were taken out. Obliviously something went wrong, but I doubt this was started based on hope.
The Trump key to success is to do the right thing but sound crazy enough doing it that his opponents are driven to excess and outright foolish extremes in their reaction. It has worked so far. One example is Iran's lashing out and attacking Arabs. There was animosity (to put it mildly) between them to begin with, but now the mutual hatred is assured and to the point that the Arabs might actually do something (although that is perhaps too optimistic).
It's hard to get and hold the attention of the members of a supposed Death Cult, but Trump is trying--and probably succeeding--with his posts. We are not the target audience.
Eugyppius was wrong as I read him too. He was making talking points the same as the rest of eurotard liberals. He even commented on my take and after a couple back and forths I guess lost interest. There is the other side of this epic fury operation nobody in the media is talking about and that is what Rubio has done. He locked down the world banking system by breaking the Swiss and the way they have always kept regimes like Iran flush with cash. There is plenty going on behind the scenes and the Europeans are pissed because Trump is reshaping the world order. There will be consequences for them refusing to help out here too. Stay tuned. I have always hated the way Trump uses social media. He has never risen to the mantle of the presidency because of that in my eyes. He still will go down as one of the greatest though after people realize what he has done 30 years from now.
You’re asking the same Congress who can’t put a budget out, pass a bill to ensure secure elections, and that has done more damage to our healthcare system to know anything about the state of affairs in Iran. That leaves Trump or any administration without leverage and the element of surprise. You liberals live in some kind of fantasy world. The only talk of regime change has come from the media. The fact that we took out the current regime does not mean that the next one will be any better. I believe that we went in to this with our eyes wide open. We have been “dicking” around with these terrorists for fifty years and Trump is the first one to have the courage to address them. It does not matter what or how he messages anything…..constant criticisms. Wake up Alex!
I think you’re describing a Trad Prez. Yeah, we had that choice in 2016, and said ¡No!
Glad you spent time with your family.
Hillary Clinton? Was (IMO) The Worst Presidential candidate I'd seen (Been following Presidential aces since Nixon v Kennedy)...And then Kamala said Hold My Beer...Watch This!
Actually, I meant JEB!, whom Trump turned into a JOKE in two words: “low energy”. Knocked his exclamation point into an asterisk. HRC was and is many things, not one of them trad.
Hillary was all in on the Iraq war started by Jeb's brother. W. targeted the wrong country and then had the audacity to pose in front of a Mission Accomplished banner when in reality the war was just starting.