Hormuz impacts
03-17-2026 | 06:51 PM
#281
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 229
From: Enoch Powell Enthusiast
Its not what I say or my opinion, it's reality.
….
You know, when you silo yourself in an information echo chamber in an environment where both foreign and domestic actors are trying to manipulate public opinion, you are surrendering your sovereignty. You are literally allowing people who you have never met, people who's motivations you don't understand to control what you think.
….
You know, when you silo yourself in an information echo chamber in an environment where both foreign and domestic actors are trying to manipulate public opinion, you are surrendering your sovereignty. You are literally allowing people who you have never met, people who's motivations you don't understand to control what you think.
Increasingly of the mindset that an “informed opinion” about the hot topic of the day, especially about wars, can’t truly be informed until at least 20 years after the fact, probably 50, and quite possibly never.
Manipulation of public opinion is literally weapons grade run by state actors. Has been since mass literacy and the printing press. The internet is that on steroids.
Daniel Ellsberg of “The Pentagon Papers” fame has a good anecdote about how academics have strong, “smart” opinions on weighty world affairs, get drafted into government positions and have access to classified data then completely change their tune.
03-17-2026 | 06:59 PM
#282
Has a furrowed brow
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 250
I was responding to: “Before the war began name 10 Americans killed unprovoked by Iran in the last 10 years.”
03-17-2026 | 07:04 PM
#283
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 386
All around just an excellent post.
Increasingly of the mindset that an “informed opinion” about the hot topic of the day, especially about wars, can’t truly be informed until at least 20 years after the fact, probably 50, and quite possibly never.
Manipulation of public opinion is literally weapons grade run by state actors. Has been since mass literacy and the printing press. The internet is that on steroids.
Daniel Ellsberg of “The Pentagon Papers” fame has a good anecdote about how academics have strong, “smart” opinions on weighty world affairs, get drafted into government positions and have access to classified data then completely change their tune.
Increasingly of the mindset that an “informed opinion” about the hot topic of the day, especially about wars, can’t truly be informed until at least 20 years after the fact, probably 50, and quite possibly never.
Manipulation of public opinion is literally weapons grade run by state actors. Has been since mass literacy and the printing press. The internet is that on steroids.
Daniel Ellsberg of “The Pentagon Papers” fame has a good anecdote about how academics have strong, “smart” opinions on weighty world affairs, get drafted into government positions and have access to classified data then completely change their tune.
I'm pretty sure I agree with you.
While I don't have a defined plan, I'm pretty sure what I do would be considered a "low information diet" in regards to politics.
That's not to say I don't ravenously consume stuff available, I just avoid politics. It can be very weird in dealing with people that are super into politics.
I like participating in this forum precisely because it mostly avoids politics and involves my peers.
03-17-2026 | 07:22 PM
#284
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,579
Likes: 77
03-17-2026 | 07:25 PM
#285
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,579
Likes: 77
His wife works for Max Blumenthal at the Grayzone. Joe is under investigation for leaks.
He stated, on many occasions, that Iran was an imminent threat. Even stated that Iran had tried to assassinate President Trump. He called Iran the #1 state sponsor of terrorism.
We're all entitled to our opinions. As director of CT though, well, maybe for the best. Not losing any sleep over his departure.
He stated, on many occasions, that Iran was an imminent threat. Even stated that Iran had tried to assassinate President Trump. He called Iran the #1 state sponsor of terrorism.
We're all entitled to our opinions. As director of CT though, well, maybe for the best. Not losing any sleep over his departure.
And his wife does not work for Max. That is a made up and already debunked.
03-17-2026 | 07:31 PM
#286
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 340
Did we invade SA? Attempt to overthrow their government?
Like was brought up before, Sunni Muslims have killed way more Americans that Shia Muslims. So if we want to go use the which sect has killed more Americans, we again attacked the wrong country.
So using that as a reason to attack a country is nothing more than a red herring.
03-18-2026 | 03:20 AM
#287
Moderator
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,354
Likes: 1,379
It's not a strawman if it's a counter to your argument.
Did we invade SA? Attempt to overthrow their government?
Like was brought up before, Sunni Muslims have killed way more Americans that Shia Muslims. So if we want to go use the which sect has killed more Americans, we again attacked the wrong country.
So using that as a reason to attack a country is nothing more than a red herring.
Did we invade SA? Attempt to overthrow their government?
Like was brought up before, Sunni Muslims have killed way more Americans that Shia Muslims. So if we want to go use the which sect has killed more Americans, we again attacked the wrong country.
So using that as a reason to attack a country is nothing more than a red herring.
The point is the government of Iran has a particular bent and history on killing westerners, and specifically Americans. They fund all manner of proxies (many of which have been destroyed or decimated, like Syria, Hamas, and to a lesser extent Hezbollah). But the Houthi’s remain for now.
It is the state actors we are dealing with, not individuals of a particular religion or sect who may misbehave.
Now, you can still believe this intervention is a bad idea, and that’s fine. But it’s really too early to tell, and way too early to be claiming short term effects of it are the new norm (like oil prices). Time will tell.
03-18-2026 | 04:07 AM
#288
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 1,045
Are we forgetting the current administration’s promises that we would never go to war with Iran? And then warning us how not voting for them would thrust us into WWIII? So how is that different?
And his wife does not work for Max. That is a made up and already debunked.
And his wife does not work for Max. That is a made up and already debunked.
He can't hide his previous posts and his X account. He can't scrub all the interviews he has done on television up to 2025. It's all there. He said what he said all the way up to 2025. Then something happened. I leave that for you to figure out.
Like Fangs' stated above, agree or disagree about this - it's all good and that's a healthy discussion to have. However, you, I or anyone else will not know or realize the strategic outcome of this pummeling until years down the road. Let them cook.
03-18-2026 | 04:42 AM
#289
Has a furrowed brow
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 250
That’s not 10 though so I guess you got me.
Done with this convo.
03-18-2026 | 04:43 AM
#290
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 595
Likes: 73
Joe wasn't the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center in 2020, and I don't expect that he had access to the degree of information he had after he was appointed DNCC. Is it unreasonable to change one's position in the face of new information? Weather changes en route to the destination. Do we keep the radar off and limit ourselves to the forecast from back at the gate?
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