1 minute ago, Tug said:

Nonsense the VAST majority of Americans don’t want this distraction war.

Virtually no one wants war.

Who told you to regurgitate that it's a distraction? Did they tell you what it's a distraction from? Oh, the files? That's hilarious.

Some people see Iran as the threat, others see Trump as the threat.

Obama loved him some Iran, Trump does not.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Virtually no one wants war.

Who told you to regurgitate that it's a distraction? Did they tell you what it's a distraction from? Oh, the files? That's hilarious.

Some people see Iran as the threat, others see Trump as the threat.

Obama loved him some Iran, Trump does not.

Oh I think old Donnie had several hopes for his war distraction from his history of raping kids (allegedly) to he and BIBI stealing land from Palestinians to pumping and dumping oil futures but biggest is in my view he mistakenly thought it would boost his popularity the dude is what he is stop being duped.as far as seeing them as a threat for sure they are double now.he’s inspired a whole new generation to have reasons to try and kill Americans…..all of this fiasco he created outside of the law in secret behind closed doors…..stop being duped you are way way smarter than that.

16 hours ago, connda said:

He plans to have Hormuz "jointly controlled." What? By the US and the GCC? Donald, step away from the drugs.

Probably no drugs involved, just dementia and derangement.

4 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Probably no drugs involved, just dementia and derangement.

I like to call it magical thinking…….

3 minutes ago, Tug said:

Oh I think old Donnie had several hopes for his war distraction from his history of raping kids (allegedly) to he and BIBI stealing land from Palestinians to pumping and dumping oil futures but biggest is in my view he mistakenly thought it would boost his popularity the dude is what he is stop being duped.

He has no history of raping kids.

Most Americans (not the left of course) still see Israel as preferable to Hamas

His popularity has tanked

But I'm the one being duped, right.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

He has no history of raping kids.

Most Americans (not the left of course) still see Israel as preferable to Hamas

His popularity has tanked

But I'm the one being duped, right.

Why is he trying to hide the Epstein fiasco?an innocent man would be fighting tooth and nail to have them out in the open as you well know .I know of no one who supports hammas not a one that beeing said I know scores of people who do not support the wholesale slaughter of Palestinian civilians and the straight up theft of their land.the Israeli people have incredible support amongst my country men and women BI BI and trump not so much…..that’s the simple unvarnished truth of it as I see it.

1 minute ago, Tug said:

Why is he trying to hide the Epstein fiasco?an innocent man would be fighting tooth and nail to have them out in the open as you well know .

As you well know, the Biden DOJ had the files for four years. Nothing.

1 minute ago, Tug said:

know of no one who supports hammas not a one that beeing said I know scores of people who do not support the wholesale slaughter of Palestinian civilians and the straight up theft of their land.the Israeli people have incredible support amongst my country men and women BI BI and trump not so much…..that’s the simple unvarnished truth of it as I see it.

Leftists all say they do not support Hamas, that they are against open borders, and that they support deporting illegal aliens.

Then the leftists fight tooth and nail to help Hamas, open the border, and stop the deportation.

As a non-leftist, I do not care much what people say, I just watch what they do.

OK Pete, time to call Fox.

50 minutes ago, Tug said:

Nonsense the VAST majority of Americans don’t want this distraction war.

It is convenient to call this a distraction war. However, it is a conflict decades in the making. The plans were made long ago and constantly updated. The "experts" had expected this to kick off 2 years ago, and the targeted air campaign last July was an attempt to convince Iran to take the concerns seriously.

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

Now you are trying to cover your blanket denial that there was discussion between Iran and the USA, by adding the condition of "direct" talks. You know very well that neither side will admit to direct discussions because they both require plausible deniability.

There have been NO talks at neither direct nor intermediate.

So stop making ASSumptions and post a link from a credible source that countries have admitted they are involved in the negotiations.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-fall-as-iran-officials-reject-negotiation-224729954.html

President Donald Trump announced a five-day delay to attacks he had threatened on Iranian power plants and said on Monday that “productive discussions” had taken place, but an Iranian official ruled out talks and the Wall Street Journal reported that US partners in the Persian Gulf could join the fight.

5 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

However, it is a conflict decades in the making. The plans were made long ago and constantly updated

The plans were made by Israel, not by the US. Israel lobbied the US and Trump with his ego stepped into it with both feet

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

There have been NO talks at neither direct nor intermediate.

So stop making ASSumptions and post a link from a credible source that countries have admitted they are involved in the negotiations.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-fall-as-iran-officials-reject-negotiation-224729954.html

President Donald Trump announced a five-day delay to attacks he had threatened on Iranian power plants and said on Monday that “productive discussions” had taken place, but an Iranian official ruled out talks and the Wall Street Journal reported that US partners in the Persian Gulf could join the fight.

I have already provided the public statements. You are like a member of a cult so certain of your own"truth" that even when the facts are so evident, that you cannot accept the reality and cling to your imagined alternative "truth".

The Guardian article reluctantly acknowledges the dialogue that had occurred. Yet gradually, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei opened up. The spokesperson said: “Over the past few days, messages arrived through some friendly countries indicating America’s request for negotiations to end the war, which were responded to appropriately and in accordance with the country’s principled positions. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/23/surprise-us-talks-with-irans-fractured-leadership-offer-uncertain-path-out-of-conflict

The Egyptian FM made a public announcement a week ago. Another story was carried on March 23. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260323-egypt-holds-urgent-talks-with-five-countries-to-curb-regional-escalation/#:~:text=According%20to%20Foreign%20Ministry%20spokesman,conflict%20and%20prevent%20further%20spillover.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty held discussions with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the talks focused on the ongoing military escalation and its implications for regional security and stability, as well as the need to contain the conflict and prevent further spillover.

Al Arabiya news emphasized Egypt’s line that Cairo is continuing its contacts with regional and international partners to reduce escalation, while warning of the consequences if the current cycle continues.

Axios and Israel’s Channel 12 have reported that Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are actively working to mediate between the parties, with a meeting reportedly planned in Pakistan’s capital.

Pakistani media is reporting on Pakistan's role as a mediator.

The Indian and Pakistani media have been reporting on the Pakistani efforts.

Even CNN is now carrying a story that acknowledges the role Pakistan has had.

As I have written before, multiple countries and multiple people have been actively trying to calm the conflict. They kept the communication channels open. There is an underlying desire to make the situation far more hopeless and dire than it is. It is a reflection of western arrogance. The Arabs and their regional neighbors have been involved in this issue since the start of the open conflict. If there is a solution, they will come up with it. One thing is certain, The Europeans and the UK have little influence and are are not involved in resolving this matter.

21 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

It is convenient to call this a distraction war. However, it is a conflict decades in the making. The plans were made long ago and constantly updated. The "experts" had expected this to kick off 2 years ago, and the targeted air campaign last July was an attempt to convince Iran to take the concerns seriously.

You're seriously claiming that there were longstanding plans in place that didn't include protecting the Strait of Hormuz?

How do you explain this?

"Before the U.S. went to war, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told President Trump that an American attack could prompt Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Caine said in several briefings that U.S. officials had long believed Iran would deploy mines, drones and missiles to close the world’s most vital shipping lane, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.

Trump acknowledged the risk, these people said, but moved forward with the most consequential foreign-policy decision of his two presidencies. He told his team that Tehran would likely capitulate before closing the strait—and even if Iran tried, the U.S. military could handle it."

https://archive.ph/pK6Mu

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/iran-oil-hormuz-blockade-trump-f96bdd53?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1

7 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

The Guardian article reluctantly acknowledges the dialogue that had occurred. Yet gradually, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei opened up. The spokesperson said: “Over the past few days, messages arrived through some friendly countries indicating America’s request for negotiations to end the war, which were responded to appropriately and in accordance with the country’s principled positions. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/23/surprise-us-talks-with-irans-fractured-leadership-offer-uncertain-path-out-of-conflict

An article so full of ASSumptions that you could have written it.

Why did you conveniently leave out the last line?

Iran’s stance regarding the strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the imposed war has not changed.”

And the stance of Iran has been made public many times already. Iran will have NO talks with the aggressor.

3 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

You don't even know what power plants were targeted or who was operating them. And yet here you are to offer your great insight. A pronouncement of a great international crime without anything having occurred or what was involved. You go girl. Shake your fist.

Trump did say he would “obliterate Iran’s power plants" starting with the largest one. The largest ones are (a) the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Under the Geneva Convention & Additional Protocol (1977), Article 56 specifically prohibits attacks on installations containing dangerous forces including nuclear power stations. Making the attack a war crime.

Additionally, it powers a desalination plant (also a war crime) and is mainly civilian although being nuclear is under IRGC protection (again making it a war crime).

and (b) the Neka power plant, which IS the largest by output and is considered to be mainly civilian. Making it a war crime.

I don't believe there have been any talks with Iran and Trump is just trying to find an off ramp

We will have to agree to disagree on whether it's a war crime. I believe Trump is saying they are talking to allow him to pause attacks on power stations and save face. In a few days when his deadline expires, we will see what happens. If you're right, he may attack the power stations. If I am right, he definitely won't.

1 minute ago, CallumWK said:

An article so full of ASSumptions that you could have written it.

Why did you conveniently leave out the last line?

Iran’s stance regarding the strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the imposed war has not changed.”

But it's not like Trump has made opening the Strait of Hormuz the sine qua non....oh wait a minute...

Trump gives Iran 48-hour ultimatum to reopen Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on power plants

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-gives-iran-48-hour-ultimatum-reopen-strait-hormuz-face-strikes-power-plants

It's definitely worth watching the video to see how badly Fox's predictions played out.

26 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

The plans were made by Israel, not by the US. Israel lobbied the US and Trump with his ego stepped into it with both feet

Although, it is convenient for you to blame Israel for anything and everything, the USA has had intervention plans in Iran in place since 1979. The USA has been at war with iran since the 1980's, or are you going to deny that too? Israel was the country helping Iran when it had its war with iraq. This is why the Israelis still have friends in Iran. Not everyone in the regime hates Israel, although it makes for a nice easy tale to tell.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-war-trump-history-us-b2938932.html

The US direct intervention and war plans have been in place since 1979 and have been updated constantly.

As per the Brookings Institute; America has already fought one war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. During the late 1980s, President Ronald Reagan intervened in the Iran- Iraq War in support of Baghdad and Saddam Hussein, ultimately leading to an Iraqi victory. The United States engaged in an undeclared yet bloody naval and air war, while Iraq fought a brutal land war against Iran.

Are you also forgetting the Starit of Hormuz conflict between 1981 and 1988 when merchant vessels were under attack from iran? The USA and others intervened at the time.

It seems there are two possibilities:

1. Trump is playing for time until enough military resources are available for a military intervention in the strait.

2. He's preparing a big TACO.

2 minutes ago, candide said:

It seems there are two possibilities:

1. Trump is playing for time until enough military resources are available for a military intervention in the strait.

2. He's preparing a big TACO.

People should pray it will be option 2, because if option 1, then I hope they have enough body bags

23 minutes ago, candide said:

It seems there are two possibilities:

1. Trump is playing for time until enough military resources are available for a military intervention in the strait.

2. He's preparing a big TACO.

I just wonder what the Iranians are going to do as the Expeditionary Force gets closer. I wonder if the Iranians are kicking themselves for not launching their attacks or at least threatening attacks before the US fleet arrived. Are they going to do nothing until the Marines get there? Or will they demonstrate that they have learned their lesson by threating destruction to infrastructure in the Gulf if the Expeditionary force passes a certain point? A line in the sand, so to speak.

4 hours ago, ballpoint said:

Anyone remember the good old days?

...and then he was assassinated.

I'm not sure if that meme is quoting anything that JFK actually did say, but if it's true, then Trump is obviously trying to avoid that bullet.

2 hours ago, Tug said:

thought it would boost his popularity

LOL, huge howler, likely your biggest howler: He "mistakenly thought it would boost his popularity". Polls right now (post-strikes) show mixed national numbers, some disapproval on the broader war, but strong GOP backing for hitting Iran's nuclear/missile program after years of enrichment and proxy attacks. Trump's base? Still largely with him on not letting Tehran go full nuclear. Popularity isn't the point of degrading a terror-sponsoring regime's capabilities; securing America is. If it was pure poll-chasing, he'd have done the Biden route: more pallets of cash and weak red lines. (you know the mumbling bumbling auto-pen useful idiot Biden, (refer to attached video)

This casual blood libel: "old Donnie had several hopes for his war distraction from his history of raping kids (allegedly)". Bold move, accusing a sitting president of child rape with zero evidence, just a lazy "(allegedly)" fig leaf. The main smear traces back to a 2016 anonymous lawsuit by "Katie Johnson"/"Jane Doe" claiming Trump and Epstein raped her at 13. She filed it, then dropped it right before the election. Never pursued. No corroboration. The FBI tip line during Epstein's 2019 arrest got crank calls and unverified nonsense from randos (including wild ones about Trump). Recent file dumps include those old, uncorroborated claims, along with thousands of other hearsay tips that the DOJ itself flagged as unreliable or fabricated. No charges. No conviction. No credible victim testimony under oath that held up. Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier for hitting on underage girls there. They had a social overlap in the '90s (like half of elite NYC/Palm Beach), flew on the plane a handful of times (never to the island), then Trump cut him off. Compare that to the mountain of flight logs, island visits, and settled payoffs tied to actual convicted predators on the other side of the aisle. But sure, keep screaming "rapes kids" in a Thailand expat forum like it's settled fact. Classy. That's not "allegedly", that's libeling with zero accountability because you know courts would laugh it out.

Tug, your post reads like every other <removed> meltdown in this forum—zero engagement with actual policy outcomes, just venom and "you're being duped" condescension. If you're so much smarter, try posting without the child-rape blood libel next time. It doesn't make you edgy; it makes you the guy shouting conspiracy in the retirement expat thread while the adults discuss leverage in a dangerous region.

Just now, boganJoe said:

LOL, huge howler, likely your biggest howler: He "mistakenly thought it would boost his popularity". Polls right now (post-strikes) show mixed national numbers, some disapproval on the broader war, but strong GOP backing for hitting Iran's nuclear/missile program after years of enrichment and proxy attacks. Trump's base? Still largely with him on not letting Tehran go full nuclear. Popularity isn't the point of degrading a terror-sponsoring regime's capabilities; securing America is. If it was pure poll-chasing, he'd have done the Biden route: more pallets of cash and weak red lines. (you know the mumbling bumbling auto-pen useful idiot Biden, (refer to attached video)

This casual blood libel: "old Donnie had several hopes for his war distraction from his history of raping kids (allegedly)". Bold move, accusing a sitting president of child rape with zero evidence, just a lazy "(allegedly)" fig leaf. The main smear traces back to a 2016 anonymous lawsuit by "Katie Johnson"/"Jane Doe" claiming Trump and Epstein raped her at 13. She filed it, then dropped it right before the election. Never pursued. No corroboration. The FBI tip line during Epstein's 2019 arrest got crank calls and unverified nonsense from randos (including wild ones about Trump). Recent file dumps include those old, uncorroborated claims, along with thousands of other hearsay tips that the DOJ itself flagged as unreliable or fabricated. No charges. No conviction. No credible victim testimony under oath that held up. Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier for hitting on underage girls there. They had a social overlap in the '90s (like half of elite NYC/Palm Beach), flew on the plane a handful of times (never to the island), then Trump cut him off. Compare that to the mountain of flight logs, island visits, and settled payoffs tied to actual convicted predators on the other side of the aisle. But sure, keep screaming "rapes kids" in a Thailand expat forum like it's settled fact. Classy. That's not "allegedly", that's libeling with zero accountability because you know courts would laugh it out.

Tug, your post reads like every other <removed> meltdown in this forum—zero engagement with actual policy outcomes, just venom and "you're being duped" condescension. If you're so much smarter, try posting without the child-rape blood libel next time. It doesn't make you edgy; it makes you the guy shouting conspiracy in the retirement expat thread while the adults discuss leverage in a dangerous region.

Good thing that Trump didn't lift the ban on Iran selling oil already loaded into tankers. That payload is estimated currently to be worth about $14 billion. Oh...wait a minute...

3 minutes ago, boganJoe said:

... Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier for hitting on underage girls there. ...

Why did Trump have underage girls at Mar-a-Lago in the first place?

crickets....

20 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I think a few people have pointed out to him that it would be a war crime, and he would never be able to visit his golf course in the UK because he would be arrested (after his presidency, of course)

If you think he is afraid of ANY crime, you have not been following him except for recent years. He even CLAIMs that he is not scared of anything (except of the US military draft). What do you think that twice targeted with Tomahawk missiles girls' school killing over a hundred? But IMHO he will get away with that too as well as his raping and attacks on young girls in the Epstein era.

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

Why did Trump have underage girls at Mar-a-Lago in the first place?

crickets....

And some were found to be illegals too any he got away with that by controlling the DOJ and FBI and IMHO he is not afraid of the Congressional hearings either. jack Smith backed up the Mueller investigation saying Trump should have been indicted as well as taking classified documents and storing them in bathrooms and ball rooms at Mara Logo. But a Trump judge refused Smith's publically announcing these findings - BUT, the Congress queried him under oath and they then let the public know his findings as they could do that.

12 minutes ago, boganJoe said:

Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier for hitting on underage girls there.

Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier for hitting on his underage girls there. Sharing Jeffrey's secrets was cool, but Donny likes to enjoy his secrets all to himself 🙄

One of the problems is Trumps big mouth he cant keep it shut.

He thinks that making bigger and bigger threats against Iran will make them back down he just cant help himself.

Their reply to those threats is fk you have some of this.

The US cant win this war neither can Iran the difference is Iran doesn't have to win they just don't have to lose.

If Trump does put boots on the ground there will be US casualties any support for the war will start to evaporate and Trump will be finished.

I just hope he declares he's made a fantastic deal achieved everything he set out to and declares an end to it because he's won.

3 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Why did you conveniently leave out the last line?

Because his MAGAlamnic mind(!) cannot absorb or even accept the truth!

@Patong2021

Qatar just confirmed they are NOT mediating between the US and Iran, it was on the BBC news.

Over to you

https://dohanews.co/qatar-not-engaged-in-mediation-in-u-s-israel-iran-war-diplomat-tells-sky-news/

Qatar not engaged in mediation in U.S.-Israel-Iran war, diplomat tells Sky News

Qatar is not currently engaged in mediation efforts in the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, despite reports suggesting possible talks led by Doha and Cairo to end the nearly month-long conflict.