Originally Posted by BlueScholar (Post 4021886)

We all know if you want a country to have peaceful intentions, then you should repeatedly bomb them and invade them. Surely an Iranian citizen will love the countries that destroyed their homes, workplaces, economy and future, and they will never hold a grudge! That's why Middle Eastern conflicts are resolved quickly with no bad blood whatsoever!

Originally Posted by AntiCompanyMan (Post 4022001)

Remind me again, what is the definition of insanity?

Originally Posted by at6d (Post 4022139)

Are we still on Ukraines side?

Originally Posted by at6d (Post 4022139)

Are we still on Ukraines side?

Originally Posted by Merequetengue (Post 4021917)

Ukraine isn't the main topic here, but since you brought up spending, it's worth noting the irony: the resources being poured into the current conflict with Iran could have been far better invested in supporting Ukraine against Russia. That would have actually served clear U.S. strategic interests, weakening the one rival that competed with the U.S. for global supremacy for 50 years, generating real soft power in Eastern Europe, and accelerating the degradation of Russian military and economic capacity... which, by the way, is already happening after their "3-day special military operation" stretched into years. And let's not forget, Russia and Iran aren't separate problems. They are allied, sharing intelligence and military technology. Weakening one weakens the other. Instead, this approach left both standing while opening a new front against an adversary that the administration's own intelligence assessments did not consider an imminent threat. Russia, on the other hand, is not a potential threat. It is actively invading a European country right now.

But here's the paradox: the argument seems to be that this sky-is-falling mentality, the idea that an imminent Iranian attack was so inevitable and catastrophic that it justified anything, excuses everything. Save it from what, exactly? The U.S. entered this era as the undisputed superpower, largest economy, strongest military, unmatched global influence, allies who showed up unconditionally. The only legitimate concern on the table was the national debt, which, by the way, is another broken promise, partly thanks to the very war being celebrated here. There was no burning house to rescue. The paradox is that the very decline being used to justify these decisions... is being caused by these decisions. And it gets worse: this wasn't even a genuine sky-is-falling moment. The administration's own assessments said Iran was not an imminent threat. So the house wasn't burning. They knew it wasn't burning. And they lit it anyway.

And even on its own terms the argument fails. If the threat was so existential that it justified all of this, where's the result? Iran's nuclear program wasn't obliterated. The threat remains. So you paid the full price in treasure, alliances and credibility, and the problem is still there.

And here's what makes it even more contradictory: acting recklessly without measuring consequences is what you'd expect from an actor with nothing to lose. The U.S. is the opposite, precisely because of everything it has built, it has more to lose than anyone. That's not a reason for timidity, but it is absolutely a reason for strategic thinking over impulsive action.

As you said yourself, anyone with a modicum of common sense can see it. "No more wars" was the pitch. The result so far has been a new war, trade wars, diplomatic chaos, weakened alliances, a brain drain accelerated by an open war against academic institutions and research centers, and zero clear strategic wins anyone has been able to articulate here. I'll leave the floor open, if there are concrete positive outcomes from this approach, I'd genuinely like to hear them laid out.

Maybe governing the most powerful country in history requires a bit more brain than balls.

Originally Posted by Profane Kahuna (Post 4022045)

.


It’s staggering how many conspiracy nutjobs have congregated in this thread.

It’s like a lounge for anti semitic pilots to blow their dog whistles.

Originally Posted by Profane Kahuna (Post 4022079)

If you have a point, try to do a better job of stating it.


.

Originally Posted by SampsonSimpson (Post 4022188)

You are trying to imply that people are anti-semitic because they disagree or are against the actions of Israel….

Thats full on nut job s$&t and projection.

Clear now?

Originally Posted by Ice Bear (Post 4022141)

Don't know as much about this and not trying to stir the pot, but a quick search pulls up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_support_for_Hamas. Not advocating for or against, but interesting there's a Wiki about it.

Originally Posted by CX500T (Post 4022192)

Had a neighbor claim my wife was antisemitic because she said Israel shouldn't be dictating US foreign policy.

They must have missed the eight foot tall menorah on my front lawn during the holidays. My wife looks like Fran Dreschers younger sister. She's very definitely, obviously Jewish. If the star of David necklace she usually wears also wasn't enough of a hint.

Neighbor who accused her of being an antisemitic Jew?

Plain old money WASP married to a lawyer.

Originally Posted by rickair7777 (Post 4022207)

You can disagree with IL government without being anti-semetic.

I certainly don't trust the IL government, but that doesn't mean I automatically assume the worst. I do understand their unique geopolitical predicament.

Originally Posted by CX500T (Post 4022192)

Had a neighbor claim my wife was antisemitic because she said Israel shouldn't be dictating US foreign policy.

They must have missed the eight foot tall menorah on my front lawn during the holidays. My wife looks like Fran Dreschers younger sister. She's very definitely, obviously Jewish. If the star of David necklace she usually wears also wasn't enough of a hint.

Neighbor who accused her of being an antisemitic Jew?

Plain old money WASP married to a lawyer.

Originally Posted by ReadOnly7 (Post 4022144)

The stupidest and most often misquoted statement of all time. Thats what it is

Originally Posted by CBreezy (Post 4022168)

This is especially true regarding Russia since they have made it known they effectively want to reboot the USSR. You think they'll just stop in Kiev?

Originally Posted by SampsonSimpson (Post 4022188)

You are trying to imply that people are anti-semitic because they disagree with or are against the actions of Israel….

Thats full on nut job s$&t.

Clear now?

Originally Posted by ShyGuy (Post 4022399)

Who actually thinks these “talks” are legit. It’s just BS. The U.S. has already shown Iran TWICE that negotiations are just code talk for getting men and equipment into position to attack Iran.

This Pakistan trip is simply buying time to get the MEUs and support into the area in position.

$20 says we have boots on the ground within a month, maybe Kharg island.

Originally Posted by METO Guido (Post 4022406)

what is boots on ground exactly? At what odds?

Originally Posted by ShyGuy (Post 4022422)

Are you really asking what boots on the ground means?

Originally Posted by BlueScholar (Post 4022453)

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...uz-2026-04-12/

Maybe the president and Secretary of State should have been negotiating instead of attending a UFC fight last night.

It turns out the solution to promote free transit of the SOH is to use the US Navy to stop all ships from using the SOH!

Originally Posted by BlueScholar (Post 4022453)

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...uz-2026-04-12/

Maybe the president and Secretary of State should have been negotiating instead of attending a UFC fight last night.

It turns out the solution to promote free transit of the SOH is to use the US Navy to stop all ships from using the SOH!

Originally Posted by Cyio (Post 4022455)

I would argue that the SOH is open from a political practicality; whether insurance agencies will allow it is another question. Give the mine situation. Once that clears up, I bet shipping flows.
The IR military and upper leadership are dead or missing.
US/VZ oil has suddenly become a very hot commodity.
The Euros are quickly realizing they need to up their own defense to handle their part of the world.
Lots of US businesses are making serious money the longer the SOH doesn't return to past transit levels.
We have tested and beaten the Chinese tech stationed in IR handily.
We are making oil very expensive for our biggest near term threat and have essentially cut it off from the free flow of oil from its two biggest sources.
The $ moved back into a safe-haven resource and is now showing signs of destabilizing BRICS currencies, with India leading the charge to back away from that silly idea.
We will fully open the SOH, get the Uranium out, and make it happen sooner rather than later.
UN Sec Gen said the world is in a much safer place now that we carried out these strikes.
I won't go into the other geopolitical positives about this, as there are many, but I bet this ultimately speeds the end of the Ukraine war, and I guarantee it has slowed any ambition for a Taiwanese war.

Originally Posted by vaxedtothemax (Post 4022460)

Incoming “ but Trump said he was going to kill 90 million people” nonsense.

good post btw. The Trump haters won’t be able to comprehend it, but good post nonetheless

Originally Posted by Cyio (Post 4022455)

US/VZ oil has suddenly become a very hot commodity.
The Euros are quickly realizing they need to up their own defense to handle their part of the world.
Lots of US businesses are making serious money the longer the SOH doesn't return to past transit levels.
We have tested and beaten the Chinese tech stationed in IR handily.
We are making oil very expensive for our biggest near term threat and have essentially cut it off from the free flow of oil from its two biggest sources.

Originally Posted by BlueScholar (Post 4022453)

It turns out the solution to promote free transit of the SOH is to use the US Navy to stop all ships from using the SOH!

Originally Posted by dsevo (Post 4022461)

Yep, nailed it. These people root against their own country just so they can “see,
told ya so.”

Originally Posted by vaxedtothemax (Post 4022460)

Incoming “ but Trump said he was going to kill 90 million people” nonsense.

good post btw. The Trump haters won’t be able to comprehend it, but good post nonetheless

Originally Posted by vaxedtothemax (Post 4022458)

where are many oil tankers heading to at this very moment?

I’d guess you’re highly ticked off every time the President plays a round of golf also? How many vacation days did AutoPen take again?

Originally Posted by Cyio (Post 4022455)

I would argue that the SOH is open from a political practicality; whether insurance agencies will allow it is another question. Give the mine situation. Once that clears up, I bet shipping flows.
The IR military and upper leadership are dead or missing.
US/VZ oil has suddenly become a very hot commodity.
The Euros are quickly realizing they need to up their own defense to handle their part of the world.
Lots of US businesses are making serious money the longer the SOH doesn't return to past transit levels.
We have tested and beaten the Chinese tech stationed in IR handily.
We are making oil very expensive for our biggest near term threat and have essentially cut it off from the free flow of oil from its two biggest sources.
The $ moved back into a safe-haven resource and is now showing signs of destabilizing BRICS currencies, with India leading the charge to back away from that silly idea.
We will fully open the SOH, get the Uranium out, and make it happen sooner rather than later.
UN Sec Gen said the world is in a much safer place now that we carried out these strikes.
I won't go into the other geopolitical positives about this, as there are many, but I bet this ultimately speeds the end of the Ukraine war, and I guarantee it has slowed any ambition for a Taiwanese war.

Originally Posted by Merequetengue (Post 4022482)

I don’t know, sorry i didn’t understand the explanation

https://x.com/factpostnews/status/20...tOrnMdFOUu0MqA

Originally Posted by Cyio (Post 4022455)

I would argue that the SOH is open from a political practicality; whether insurance agencies will allow it is another question. Give the mine situation. Once that clears up, I bet shipping flows.
The IR military and upper leadership are dead or missing.
US/VZ oil has suddenly become a very hot commodity.
The Euros are quickly realizing they need to up their own defense to handle their part of the world.
Lots of US businesses are making serious money the longer the SOH doesn't return to past transit levels.
We have tested and beaten the Chinese tech stationed in IR handily.
We are making oil very expensive for our biggest near term threat and have essentially cut it off from the free flow of oil from its two biggest sources.
The $ moved back into a safe-haven resource and is now showing signs of destabilizing BRICS currencies, with India leading the charge to back away from that silly idea.
We will fully open the SOH, get the Uranium out, and make it happen sooner rather than later.
UN Sec Gen said the world is in a much safer place now that we carried out these strikes.
I won't go into the other geopolitical positives about this, as there are many, but I bet this ultimately speeds the end of the Ukraine war, and I guarantee it has slowed any ambition for a Taiwanese war.

Originally Posted by Hubcapped (Post 4022490)

Im curious if anyone is attempting to math out the consequences of losing the world’s confidence as a stable partner? Me thinks nooo


The isolationists cant seem to understand that our success is tied to global economic success. Interesting times ahead

Originally Posted by airplanes (Post 4022491)

If FAFO is the the super clever conservative phrase of the moment, I think we are dancing well into our own FA and will be entering the FO period shortly.

Originally Posted by dsevo (Post 4022461)

Yep, nailed it. These people root against their own country just so they can “see,
told ya so.”

Originally Posted by airplanes (Post 4022491)

If FAFO is the the super clever conservative phrase of the moment, I think we are dancing well into our own FA and will be entering the FO period shortly.

Originally Posted by dsevo (Post 4022461)

Yep, nailed it. These people root against their own country just so they can “see,
told ya so.”

Originally Posted by Lowslung (Post 4022477)

Apparently it needs to be said again: oil is a global commodity. This idea that Americans can somehow capitalize on shutting down 20% of the world’s supply is an isolationist fever dream. Sure, American oil companies might make some extra cash in the short term, but if high oil prices tank the global economy, as seems to be the path we are insisting on going down, they’ll suffer like everyone else. Oil isn’t just going to get expensive for our adversaries. It’s going to get expensive for everyone because that’s how the market works. Don’t kid yourself, this summer and beyond are going to be very difficult for our industry if things don’t take a turn very soon.

Originally Posted by AAdvocate (Post 4022501)

It's disgusting. Never really seen anything like it really. I imagine this is what it was like during Vietnam.