We all know how much Trump loves superlatives. Everything is always "the worst" or "the greatest".

Given that, it's fair to say that this is the NeoCon-iest war ever.

Trump announced the start of the war from Mar-a-Lago. He stood in front of that black curtain and talked all tough and pretended he actually cared about the men and women going into harm's way at his command.

He finished delivering his empty words, and then went behind the curtain where he was holding a million-dollar-a-plate fundraiser dinner with elite donors.

The common people go fight his war; the elite drop $1 million for burnt steak and ketchup.

Nothing screams his true view ("suckers and losers") than that stark contrast.

6 minutes ago, Wingate said:

The common people go fight his war; the elite drop $1 million for burnt steak and ketchup.

Yeah, that's the way it is.

The elites dont go to the front lines.

1 hour ago, Alan Zweibel said:

The Last resort of the resourceless: making it personal.

What makes this particularly amusing is that the person accusing me of this does so by means of typing on a keyboard. Maybe in their mind typing on a keyboard in support of the Trump administration is somehow fundamentally different in effect from typing on a keyboard in opposition?

Anyway, thanks for the irony.

I don't plan on doing anything. Same as you. You are just pretending to be wise when all you do is read websites talking about it.

16 minutes ago, Wingate said:

Trump announced the start of the war from Mar-a-Lago. He stood in front of that black curtain and talked all tough and pretended he actually cared about the men and women going into harm's way at his command.

He finished delivering his empty words, and then went behind the curtain where he was holding a million-dollar-a-plate fundraiser dinner with elite donors.

The common people go fight his war; the elite drop $1 million for burnt steak and ketchup.

Nothing screams his true view ("suckers and losers") than that stark contrast.

Your comment seems to imply that Trump is the first politician to have those kinds of dinners.

What a laugh.

.

15 minutes ago, khaosokman said:

I don't plan on doing anything. Same as you. You are just pretending to be wise when all you do is read websites talking about it.

Once again, the last resort of the resourceless: making it personal.

Just now, Alan Zweibel said:

Once again, the last resort of the resourceless: making it personal.

So you have no solutions for Iran and Israel. Just attacking anyone who disagrees with you. You could at least support freedom instead of fascism.

1 minute ago, khaosokman said:

So you have no solutions for Iran and Israel. Just attacking anyone who disagrees with you. You could at least support freedom instead of fascism.

So pointing out the clear defects in your reasoning is now an attack?

As for not having any solutions.. this was the same kind of reasoning used against people who oppose the war against Iraq.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

better read the war powers Act

The takeaway in the strikes ,The USA Constitution & The War Powers Act,don't let the Communist/Marxist international leftists fool you into thinking the founders who created the Constitution were invaders or America haters. History tells a different story,they were escaping the very tyrannical rule that plagues all autocracies,one leader, one party, one king.

In designing the Constitution, the founders brilliantly installed three branches of government: the Executive to enforce laws, the Legislative to make them, and the Judicial to interpret them.

This system of checks and balances was meant to resolve the issue of unchecked power in the hands of one ruler, one leader, or one party, preventing the kind of absolute authority that leads to oppression.

Our country is actively fighting authoritarian governments like China, Venezuela, and Iran, which have embodied the exact tyranny our founders rebelled against. Trump's strikes on Iran are a stand against that ,hitting their nuclear sites and leadership to dismantle threats without getting bogged down in endless wars.

Congress has its role, but in real threats, swift action saves lives and upholds the freedom the founders created 250 years ago.. Let's not twist their legacy to defend regimes that chant death to America.

11 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

So pointing out the clear defects in your reasoning is now an attack?

As for not having any solutions.. this was the same kind of reasoning used against people who oppose the war against Iraq.

People in Iraq and Iran don't enjoy western freedoms due to Islamic fascism. You support the fascists. I support freedom.

9 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

"A 2023 survey by GAMAAN found that 99% of Iranians living abroad surveyed opposed the Islamic Republic regime. The diaspora, estimated between 2 to over 4 million people, overwhelmingly favors a secular or alternative form of government rather than the current regime"

Iranians across the world are celebrating this. Of all the places in the entire world I think it's safe to say Iranians in PATTAYA specifically are not Islamists, lol. As for non-Iranians, it's possible, especially in Europe.

But freedom haters online hate America and Israel so they don't care.

9 minutes ago, khaosokman said:

People in Iraq and Iran don't enjoy western freedoms due to Islamic fascism. You support the fascists. I support freedom.

Sure you do. Apparently so long as that support is limited to cheerleading. Just like the Trump administration's support for freedom in Venezuela. That seems to have vanished down the memory hole.

Just now, Alan Zweibel said:

Sure you do. Apparently so long as that support is limited to cheerleading. Just like the Trump administration's support for freedom in Venezuela. That seems to have vanished down the memory hole.

Why do you support Islamic fascism?

9 minutes ago, khaosokman said:

People in Iraq and Iran don't enjoy western freedoms due to Islamic fascism. You support the fascists. I support freedom.

You're spot on ! In defending freedom one has to sometimes invoke patriots who are hard liners especially those historical war mongers such as Sen Lindsey Graham. I almost always don't agree with him but he's got the authoritarian type systems pegged ,locked in.

Google ai overview:

"Senator Lindsey Graham has repeatedly referred to the regime of Iran as "religious Nazis" or "religious Nazi regime" in various interviews, floor speeches, and social media posts, particularly during discussions regarding the Iran nuclear deal, protests, and regional tensions".

1 minute ago, khaosokman said:

Why do you support Islamic fascism?

The same question was asked of people who opposed the Iraq war.

3 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

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.

Alan, let me start by making clear that I am not a fan of Mr. Trump. I am European (continental) and as most (probably >95%) of the Europeans I have a very low opinion of the man.

But I am also a freedom lover. And as such I can't but rejoice for the determination with which the Trump administration is going after tyrants around the world.

For me, it's not about being anti-Trump at all costs, but about judging his actions on a case-by-case basis. And in this case, I support Trump 100%, no ifs, ands, or buts. In fact, I would like Europeans, my country in particular, to do more to support the United States and Israel at this delicate moment.

I am also aware that democracy is never a gift from heaven. If Iranians (and Venezuelans) want to live in a democratic society, they must earn this right and defend it tooth and nail, day after day. If they repeat the mistake of electing a coup-plotting corporal (Chavez in Venezuela) to the presidency, or entrusting government to an extremist mullah (Khomeini in Iran), they already know where they will end up. The United States can't turn a politically illiterate bunch into staunch defenders of the rule of law.

I believe that Delcy Rodriguez pragmatic and business-oriented government is better for Venezuela, than Maduro's ideologically zealot and a-priori anti-American government.

I therefore expect the United States and Israel to pursue a similar formula in Iran.
For Iran, pragmatic businessmen in military uniforms are better suited to solving the country severe problems than dogmatic mullahs seeking martyrdom.

As for "boots on the ground," Mr. Trump just released a statement saying he doesn't rule them out. I wholeheartedly hope they aren't necessary. At present, this is just another sword hanging over the head of the Ayatollah regime.

17 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

Alan, let me start by making clear that I am not a fan of Mr. Trump. I am European (continental) and as most (probably >95%) of the Europeans I have a very low opinion of the man.

But I am also a freedom lover. And as such I can't but rejoice for the determination with which the Trump administration is going after tyrants around the world.

For me, it's not about being anti-Trump at all costs, but about judging his actions on a case-by-case basis. And in this case, I support Trump 100%, no ifs, ands, or buts. In fact, I would like Europeans, my country in particular, to do more to support the United States and Israel at this delicate moment.

I am also aware that democracy is never a gift from heaven. If Iranians (and Venezuelans) want to live in a democratic society, they must earn this right and defend it tooth and nail, day after day. If they repeat the mistake of electing a coup-plotting corporal (Chavez in Venezuela) to the presidency, or entrusting government to an extremist mullah (Khomeini in Iran), they already know where they will end up. The United States can't turn a politically illiterate bunch into staunch defenders of the rule of law.

I believe that Delcy Rodriguez pragmatic and business-oriented government is better for Venezuela, than Maduro's ideologically zealot and a-priori anti-American government.

I therefore expect the United States and Israel to pursue a similar formula in Iran.
For Iran, pragmatic businessmen in military uniforms are better suited to solving the country severe problems than dogmatic mullahs seeking martyrdom.

As for "boots on the ground," Mr. Trump just released a statement saying he doesn't rule them out. I wholeheartedly hope they aren't necessary. At present, this is just another sword hanging over the head of the Ayatollah regime.

I totally agree with you. These two examples are good for those two nations.

1 hour ago, Alan Zweibel said:

The same question was asked of people who opposed the Iraq war.

The Iraq war was stupid. They should have used the same tactics Trump did.

5 hours ago, bannork said:

A couple of points:

If Iran knocked out the desalination plants in the Arab states, they would run out of water in 2 weeks. If that happened they would surely beg the US to send troops in to Iran to end the war.

The cost of one Shahed drone is from $20,000-$50,000 whilst the interceptors, Nasams ( AIM-120) cost $1.2million each. This could soon be a very expensive war for the US.

Nearly everybody is grossly underestimating Iran, their determination, their resources, and their willingness to reign terror upon America and American allies. The US is already running short of munitions, and this war could drag on for many many years, costing trillions of dollars that the cash strapped US just doesn't have.

It doesn't help having a Sec Def who would have been turned down for the position of leader of the San Diego County of the Boy Scouts.

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Nearly everybody is grossly underestimating Iran, their determination, their resources, and their willingness to reign terror upon America and American allies.

We've heard this story before about Iraq, Libya, Syria, Panama, Grenada, Venezuela... ...And the opposite story concerning Ukraine, which was supposed to fall within two weeks.

The truth is that it only takes a handful of men to launch missiles around the world, and Iran's supposed "determination" is limited to just that: a handful of men with nothing to lose.

6 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

We've heard this story before about Iraq, Libya, Syria, Panama, Grenada, Venezuela... ...And the opposite story concerning Ukraine, which was supposed to fall within two weeks.

The truth is that it only takes a handful of men to launch missiles around the world, and Iran's supposed "determination" is limited to just that: a handful of men with nothing to lose.

It appears that you haven't put very much thought into that reply.

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

With 2 carrier strike groups and many aircraft flying sorties on a daily basis the cost will be staggering. Aircraft carriers are very expensive to operate and most military aircraft can cost over $10,000 per hour at at minimum. If this operation actually goes for 5 weeks the total cost could top $500 million or more and this not counting the depletion of ammuniction, bombs, missles, UAV's and drones. Always remember Russia, North Korea and China are watchiing. In the end fewer military equipment for Ukraine and responding to China and North Korea will be more challenging. I guess the campaign pledge for "no nore foreign wars" was not true. I believe Iran had to be dealt eventually but the cost will be severe.

Allgedly Kuwait shot down 3 USAF F-15's in a "friendly fire" incident. I have been to the main US bases in Kuwait (Camp Arifjian and Camp Buehring) many times over the years and I never saw Kuwaiti military personnel on these bases. It just seemed like the US was a tenant in Kuwait that just paid rent for the land to have these basese. Not an enemy, not a friend but soemthing in the middle is what I would describe Kuwait and most of the countries in the Middle East. As a veteran I hope this ends well and the loss of US Military personnel stays small.

20 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

The truth is that it only takes a handful of men to launch missiles around the world,

They are attacking oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and airports in UAE.

This seems a huge mess, much worse than Ukraine in many ways.

57 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

Alan, let me start by making clear that I am not a fan of Mr. Trump. I am European (continental) and as most (probably >95%) of the Europeans I have a very low opinion of the man.

But I am also a freedom lover. And as such I can't but rejoice for the determination with which the Trump administration is going after tyrants around the world.

For me, it's not about being anti-Trump at all costs, but about judging his actions on a case-by-case basis. And in this case, I support Trump 100%, no ifs, ands, or buts. In fact, I would like Europeans, my country in particular, to do more to support the United States and Israel at this delicate moment.

I am also aware that democracy is never a gift from heaven. If Iranians (and Venezuelans) want to live in a democratic society, they must earn this right and defend it tooth and nail, day after day. If they repeat the mistake of electing a coup-plotting corporal (Chavez in Venezuela) to the presidency, or entrusting government to an extremist mullah (Khomeini in Iran), they already know where they will end up. The United States can't turn a politically illiterate bunch into staunch defenders of the rule of law.

I believe that Delcy Rodriguez pragmatic and business-oriented government is better for Venezuela, than Maduro's ideologically zealot and a-priori anti-American government.

I therefore expect the United States and Israel to pursue a similar formula in Iran.
For Iran, pragmatic businessmen in military uniforms are better suited to solving the country severe problems than dogmatic mullahs seeking martyrdom.

As for "boots on the ground," Mr. Trump just released a statement saying he doesn't rule them out. I wholeheartedly hope they aren't necessary. At present, this is just another sword hanging over the head of the Ayatollah regime.

The Trump administration cited the oppression of the Venezuelan people as the chief reason for their actions.. obviously this was nonsense. The same thugs were in charge of Venezuela before the American intervention are still in charge. Claiming that Delsy Rodriguez, Maduro's right hand woman. has become a pragmatic business oriented leader is laughable. The same corrupt Mafia is in place. But now, they're going to get rich on oil income. It was clearly a lie. In that case, as we found out, it was all about the oil.

In the case of Iran, it's more lying. The Trump administration claims of an Iranian assault on US forces was imminent. That was a lie. And not once has an aerial campaign against a tyrannical government led to democracy or anything resembling it. Not once.

4 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

The Trump administration cited the oppression of the Venezuelan people as the chief reason for their actions.

And rightly so. The Maduro government was best known for handing over the Venezuelan people's oil wealth to Cuba for free and at heavily discounted prices to China and Russia, while the Venezuelan people starved and emigrated en masse.

Aren't economic mismanagement and corruption a form of oppression?

Kudos to the United States and the Trump administration for restoring some economic freedom and commonsense in Venezuela and, hopefully, soon in Iran as well.

Regarding political and religious freedoms, it's up to Venezuelans and Iranians to earn them and, above all, defend them day after day. The United States has already done too much.

****Oversized font reset to normal****

Just now, AndreasHG said:

And rightly so. The Maduro government was best known for handing over the Venezuelan people's oil wealth to Cuba for free and at heavily discounted prices to China and Russia, while the Venezuelan people starved and emigrated en masse.

Aren't economic mismanagement and corruption a form of oppression?

Kudos to the United States and the Trump administration for restoring some economic freedom and commonsense in Venezuela and, hopefully, soon in Iran as well.

Regarding political and religious freedoms, it's up to Venezuelans and Iranians to earn them and, above all, defend them day after day. The United States has already done too much.

And what makes you believe that government of thugs and drug dealers is going to reform itself for the benefit of the Venezuelan people?

By the way, one demand the US recently made was that all the Cuban doctors in Venezuela he made to leave. The government of Venezuela complied.

22 hours ago, shdmn said:

Don't worry, everything is under control.

23 hours ago, candide said:

You are right, it's a system. The most influential institution is likely the Guardian Council.

No, it can't be true. Tell me there are no deep states in the Middle East. Deep states don't exist anywhere on the planet. 🫢🫣🤫🤔🤐🤨😐

1 minute ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Cuban doctors

Cuban doctors? Which Cuban Doctors?

Have you ever dealt with Cuban doctors? Cuba doesn't even have the X-rays to operate the hospital X-ray machines. Do you have any idea what kind of training Cuban doctors receive?

They study textbooks from the 1950s, only see photographs of medical equipment from the 1950s. and don't do any pre-graduate practical training because Cuba doesn't have a cent to spend on training.

The age of the cars you see mostly on Cuban streets is the same as that of the medical equipment seen in ordinary Cuban hospitals for ordinary people.

Half of Cuban "doctors" studies involve ideological training, because the regime requires Cuban doctors to be good communists before they can practice any medicine.

And don't you dare bring up the story of the American "bloqueo" (blockade), please. Since the communists took power, sanctions or not, Cuba has no longer had anything of value to trade internationally. The communists transformed what was once the thriving "pearl of the Caribbean" into a nation of beggars dependent on international aid for survival.

21 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

what makes you believe that government of thugs and drug dealers is going to reform itself for the benefit of the Venezuelan people?

They just need to pragmatically grow their legitimate businesses, starting from oil extraction. If they had to resort to drug dealing for survival, it's because Maduro was giving away their oil for free.

22 hours ago, shdmn said:

Don't worry, everything is under control.

The world renowned AI experts at the Hindustan Times say this is AI generated. Hope no AN members are questioning when to believe their eyes. 😁😲 😆

Anyone out there selling AI photo fact checking glasses?🥸😎🤓

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/fact-check-did-trump-really-yell-at-pete-hegseth-heres-the-truth-behind-viral-photos-101772414992890.html?utm_source=ht_site_copyURL&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ht_site

✔️ Independent fact-checking sources

• Meaww/Fact Check article — Viral photo isn’t real

A fact-checking article published around the same time explains that the viral image claiming to show Trump yelling at Hegseth is false, is not connected to any real conflict or verified meeting, and there’s no evidence from reputable news outlets that such an incident occurred. They note that the photo’s origins appear to come from social media rather than a documented press event — and no credible reporting supports the claim.

https://news.meaww.com/fact-check-is-the-viral-photo-showing-trump-yelling-at-pete-hegseth-real