Alan Zweibel

This is exactly the same claim that Trump supporters use to defend US actions against Venezuela. How did that work out? With the exception of Maduro and his wife, the same thugs are in charge there. Why would anyone expect a different outcome in Iran? Say what you will about the distrous Iraq war, at least the Bush administration understood that without boots on the ground regime change is extremely unlikely.

Maybe if you were a citizen of one of the Papal States 500 years ago and you were under the thumb of a particularly cruel Pope. . The people of Iran have plenty of legitimate reasons to celebrate the death of Khameini whose rule was not exactly confined to the religious sphere.

As the U.S. engages in another war in the Middle East, this time against Iran, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that roughly one in four respondents support it. The survey, released Sunday, found that 27 percent of respondents approve of “Operation Epic Fury,” which the U.S. launched in tandem with Israel early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, 43 percent of respondents disapprove of the strikes and 29 percent were not sure. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5762380-public-opinion-us-iran-conflict/

The fragile future of roads and buildings built on permafrostAs permafrost thaws around the world, the steel, concrete and tarmac structures sitting on top are warping and crumbling. Is there anything engineers can do to adapt? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210303-the-unsure-future-of-roads-and-buildings-on-melting-ground

Celebration or grief? Khamenei’s death brings contrasting emotions in Iran contrasting emotions in Iran Atousa Mirzade, a schoolteacher in the central city of Shiraz, told Reuters she could not be happy about the country’s leader being killed by a foreign power. “I also cannot be happy because I don’t know what will happen to our country. We saw what happened in Iraq: chaos and bloodshed. I would prefer the Islamic republic to that situation.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/01/celebration-or-grief-khameneis-death-brings-contrasting-emotions-in-iran Remember when Iraqis were celebrating the American invasion? How did that turn out?

What about the average Iraqi on the ground after the US invasion? Anyway, it's the current government that faces an existential threat and they're still in charge.

The thing is, Iran is now facing an existential threat. So survival trumps all other considerations.

How many hours it take for a tanker to transit the straits? I guess it depends partly on whether oil producers think they can make more money by not pumping more oil. And of course how much certain oil producers can be trusted not to produce more oil and take further advantage of the higher prices.

The straits are about 167 km long. On average 107 ships transit it daily.

They're telling ships not to enter the straits. And so far, they're heedng Iran's threats.

I haven't seen quotes from any economists predicting the kind of price rises you cite. Had such a high price, it would be very few purchases of oil. So market forces wouldn't support that. The highest estimate I saw was $140 which is bad enough.

If you think exploiting a soldiers heroism is a patriotic act, then you should consider this saying from Samuel Johnson: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." He was referring to politicians who exploit patriotism for their own partisan ends.

What is good about using a soldier's heroism to advance a partisan political agenda?

Nonsense. I certainly hope you're being disingenuous. Trump used the heroism of an individual soldier to bolster his political agenda. As the article notes, such recipients are typically awarded this medal at the White House. Trump used this soldier out of nothing more than self-interest. Using the hockey team was just moronic. But using the heroism of a soldier for partisan ends just stinks.

Actually, the Trump administration's motto is If we break it, you fix it. He's sitting up the Iranian people as scapegoats if they fail to overthrow the mullahs.

If the issue was your belief or lack thereof, then yes. But it's not, so not.

What you or anyone believes is irrelevant. There's an actual issue out there which has nothing to do with your gullibility or lack thereof. In, But just 🚭 The sarcasm was obvious. But it's still the same thing. It's making it about your belief or disbelief. You all for no evidence support your disbelief. No reasoning for it. In other words, you're making it all about you. And whether you believe it or not, you and your belief or lack thereof is irrelevant to the issue. In other words, you've got nothing.

Americans are embracing easy, plug‑and‑play solar units that slash energy costs — even as Washington tries to slow the clean‑energy shiDIY solar systems have boomed in Germany and across Europe in recent years, with solar panels showing up on balconies and in backyards. Now, with energy costs rising and the price of wind and solar power plummeting worldwide, Americans are also looking to generate their own electricity and save money — despite Donald Trump's anti-renewables push. So far, Utah — which backed Trump for president in 2024 — is the only state to have passed the necessary regulatory reforms to exempt smaller systems under 1,200 watts from rules designed for larger rooftop models. https://www.dw.com/en/the-diy-solar-hack-arriving-in-us-homes/a-76106659

I'm sure you think this is a rational response to explaining why you think calling out is the same as beating up. So there's probably no point explaining to you why it isn't.

It depends how serious the shortage gets. Right now it's easy to do without Russian oil or to make the Russians except less. Those conditions won't obtain if oil and gas supplies are seriously disrupted for a few weeks

Once again, the White House manages to shoot itself in the foot OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — American hockey player Brady Tkachuk said Thursday that he did not appreciate a doctored TikTok video shared by the White House that made it look like he was disparaging Canadians after winning Olympic gold, calling it fake and something he would never say. The video includes fabricated audio of Tkachuk referring to Canadians as “maple syrup eating (expletive),” with the expletive bleeped out. The video carries a note saying it “contains AI-generated media.” https://archive.ph/P44vn

As for helping the ukrainians ... That kind of depends on the price of oil and gas. In the short run it's certainly going to rise sharply which helps the Russians.

First of all there's plenty of evidence that Clint was never on the island. Very little that he was. Second, you think Epstein only committed his crimes when he was on the island? For that Island crimes are somehow worse than crimes committed on the mainland?

I wonder if Iran is only going after American targets or if they are also targeting oil and gas infrastructure. From a strategic point of view it would make sense for the Iranians to make this war as unpopular as possible as quickly as possible. High gas and oil prices would do that.

Actually, they are very specifically addressed this point. Theocratic state is a state that is ruled by religious authorities. Whatever the defects of Israel may be, that is not the case.