Utterly clueless op. Besides it wasn't even a pilot gone missing, the pilot was rescued and the guy behind (Weapon Systems Officer) is missing.

12 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Utterly clueless op. Besides it wasn't even a pilot gone missing, the pilot was rescued and the guy behind (Weapon Systems Officer) is missing.

Now that's being picky. The WSO can also pilot the aircraft, if needed to do so.

1 hour ago, JAG said:

I hope that the pilot evades capture and is recovered. I doubt, if he is still alive, that he will at this point.

I don't wish this from any desire to glorify the story.

I think, and have made this clear in a number of posts, that I think that this war is illegal, both under domestic US and International Law. The previous American led military adventures in the region, Iraq and Afghanistan, had at least the shield of arguable legality. That shield was firm for the war to expelled Iraq from Kuwait (in which I took part) and much more fragile in the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This war on Iran abandoned all pretense of a legal basis. It has been conducted both politically and militarily in a particularly cynical, amoral and barbaric manner. The US reaction to the harrowing deaths of those children in the utterly unjusifiable attack on that school was callous and careless, and has utterly destroyed my already somewhat dented belief in the moral standards which are claimed to underpin the American military.

So yes, I hope that they rescue that pilot, it would be a remarkable feat of arms if they do.

I also want the whole political base of the war to be investigated (that is a job for the US Congress in a hopefully resurgent form), and I want those responsible for the school attack, and any other atrocities, to face justice.

Even handed and very human response, JAG.

Partisanship distorts basic human morality. Because he is "one of us" many care more about him than 35,000 dead children in Gaza (who obviously did NOT vote for Hamas, nor did they take part in 7 October), the 1400 or so killed in Lebanon in the last few weeks who were not Hezbollah, the 168 dead elementary schoolgirls whose view of the Ayatollah was unknown, or any of the other unknown dead civilians in Iran who may have opposed there own leadership as much as anyone. They are all dead because they are "others", not "one of ours".

There was no legitimate basis for this war. Had Trump not quashed the JCPOA back in term one, Iran would never have moved beyond 300 kg of LEU, which was permitted by the JCPOA for use in medicine, etc. Both the IAEA and CIA made sure Iran was in compliance and totally out of the nuke game for at least the 10 year timeframe of the treaty. Also, the JCPOA was intended to be used as a stepping stone to further negotiations of such things as supporting Shi'a terrorist groups. The view was that the mullahs were aging, the general population was assessed to be wishful of joining the international community, and the peace that the JCPOA encouraged could well lull the aging mullahs into a state where they preferred to enjoy their ill gotten gains for the remainder of their time above ground. The Obama Administration correctly believed giving peace and negotiations and dialogue a chance was worth it, both in terms of lives and money.

Only after Trump tossed the JCPOA did Iran begin again to try to additionally enrich uranium 235. They still lack the expertise and the technological equipment to enrich beyond 60% and likely years from being able to reach the 93% purity necessary for a fission device. Iran also lacked the energy technology that would provide the precise and steady power supply needed to drive high speed centrifuges at speeds that would allow further enrichment. The existence of such a power generating facility is one of the indications intel uses to assess whether that level of enrichment might be taking place. Any even minor fluctuation causes the centrifuges to self destruct, which is how the Obama Administration (Stuxnet+) earlier destroyed Iran's medium level enrichment ability and brought them to the negotiating table to draw up the JCPOA.

In February 2026 there was still plenty of time to negotiate. Iran was years away from 93% U235 purity and thus years away from any nuke, like the kind of nukes the miscreant Kim Jong-un possesses and threatens South Korea and Japan. In mid-February 2026, word from the Trump Administration was that the negotiations were going well. Perhaps dragged into the war because of Netanyahu (per Rubio's first statement on the war), Trump joined in, likely being told it would both boost his poll numbers and deflect from Epstein. Netanyahu is at least smart enough to know what would happen (Iran wouldn't cave, Straits blocked, GCC countries attacked, oil price soaring), but clearly the Trump Administration did not. Hence the debacle the entire world now faces with crude up 60% in a month and many civilians deaths.

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

at the end of the day as an American the Iranian regime is an enemy.

I understand that to some degree but something in me thinks of the pilot was English and was involved with this illegal war, I wouldn't care, som nam na.

As a Jewish American, do you feel you must support Israel, regardless of the war crimes they are committing?

8 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism.

Iran supported the Assad regime and because of it, an horrific war lasted 14 years.

Iran is massacring Kurds

Iran's proxy army Hezbollah occupies a portion of Lebanon and refuses to allow the Lebanese government to control the nation.

Iran 's proxy the Houthis illegally occupy a part of Yemen and have continued a deadly war

Iran has tried to overthrow the governments of its Arab neighbors.

Don't Arab lives matter?

Shouldn't you be supporting the Arab world as it defends itself from the Iranian regime?

Propagandatong.

Hezbollah are not a proxy, they are an ally if Iran.

They are not terrorists but legitimate freedom fighters, formed when your country occupied Lebanon in 1983 or so.

No man is an Iland.......(original spelling before the grammar Gods swoop in)

4 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

The mullahs haven't started a war because they have let their proxies do the dirty work.

What war have their proxies started?

3 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

No man is an Iland.......(original spelling before the grammar Gods swoop in)

Why are you using language that is hundreds of years old?

2 minutes ago, JimCM said:

Why are you using language that is hundreds of years old?

Why not.....?

Faithful to the original.

3 hours ago, nick supreme said:

Iran stands as one of the most misunderstood nations in the world. Contrary to claims, they have not harmed thousands of protesters; this narrative is a fabrication that seeks to distort the truth. Iran has not supplied weapons to militias in Iraq, Syria, or Yemen, and the allegations regarding their support for proxy groups like Lebanese Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hamas are also unfounded. Iran is governed by principles of dignity and honor. It is essential that we recognize the truth and support Iran in its quest for peace and justice.

Netanyahu funded Hamas. $35 million a month, so they could fight with PLO and prevent the only solution, 2 states.

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Someone explain: why is it fine for the USA to give Israel billions to then go on to kill Palestinians (i.e. sponsoring terrorism) by the thousand while Iran is not held to the same standard?

💯 Exactly.

The pilot is safe, it is the WSO that is still missing.

And, yes, the US Military does care very much about any of our guys that are shot down. If you do not believe me, look up BAT 21 and read up on how many men died trying to extract the Colonel from behind enemy lines in Vietnam....I think 21 died trying to save him. That is how we roll.

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

Not only should the pilot get killed but also the rescue

helicopters.

Just like the israelis/US do , bomb and when recue comes bomb again.

If some terrorists bombed my country and killed my daughter's, I'd have no hesitation killing him as totally justified.

4 minutes ago, JimCM said:

💯 Exactly.

Because those folks want a small Democratic country to die. And we will not allow it. The Palestinians need to read the room. They had many chances to cut a deal, but rolled the dice and now paid the price for bringing HAMAS to run them into the ground. How many times does Israel have to defeat them (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, etc.), before they get a clue that Israel is the new Imperium Romanium in that part of the world. They won, deal with it and cut a deal. Or die.

16 minutes ago, JimCM said:

What war have their proxies started?

Have you forgotten about Hamas? Or maybe you do not call that a war. Or maybe you do not consider Hamas an Iranian proxy?

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

They won't be following the Geneva convention.

Do you think Israel and USA are following same convention?

56 minutes ago, No One Knows said:

In the case of the pilot, he was doing his job and was shot down which is unfortunate but also a possibility of the job.

“Just doing his job” has always been a convenient line, hasn’t it?

That was the same logic plenty of German soldiers used in World War II - and it didn’t exactly hold up at the Nuremberg Trials. Turns out “following orders” doesn’t magically make everything moral.

Yes, it’s unfortunate he was shot down - but flying missions in an illegal war isn’t some neutral desk job. Risk is part of it, and so is responsibility.

Calling it “just doing his job” doesn’t explain anything - it just avoids the question.

6 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Have you forgotten about Hamas? Or maybe you do not call that a war. Or maybe you do not consider Hamas an Iranian proxy?

Hamas are defending Genocide, they started no war. I'll remind you about Israel's Operation Shield and Arrow. Any idea the date of that? I'll give you a clue, almost 3 years ago. Do you know what Israeli ' mowing the lawn' means?

Enough if your US propagandatong nonsense.

9 hours ago, JimCM said:

Israel have nuclear weapons, Iran want nuclear proliferation, and it's only fair they get them.

Iran hasn't started a war for over 200 years

Yes, I care about any Human being to include the WSO (Other Pilot) where Iran likes to kill off their own-Since the beginning of the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, the government of Iran has perpetrated widespread massacres of civilians, deploying both its own security forces and also imported foreign militias to suppress widespread public dissent across the country. As of 25 January 2026, the total death toll estimates ranged from 7,007 people to upwards of ~36,500 people, including 209 government-affiliated military and non-military personnel, making these among the largest massacres in the modern history of Iran.

35 minutes ago, JimCM said:

If some terrorists bombed my country and killed my daughter's, I'd have no hesitation killing him as totally justified.

What is your country, as it might be one that has had terrorists bomb and kill others already? A soldier's duty is to follow orders. Intentional killing of civilians isn't allowed, but has happened, as terrorists and some enemies place their bases close to civilian buildings, which shows no amount of care for them, knowing they might be hit in a bombing or missile strike.

R“Just doing his job” has always been a convenient line, hasn’t it?

31 minutes ago, JimCM said:

That was the same logic plenty of German soldiers used in World War II - and it didn’t exactly hold up at the Nuremberg Trials. Turns out “following orders” doesn’t magically make everything moral.

Yes, it’s unfortunate he was shot down - but flying missions in an illegal war isn’t some neutral desk job. Risk is part of it, and so is responsibility.

Calling it “just doing his job” doesn’t explain anything - it just avoids the question.

Soldiers, regular Army, are nothing like Nazis and Gestapo. Regular soldiers weren't charged with war crimes, but those that committed them.

A post making an erroneous assumption about another member has been removed.

We don't do that on here as this is an anonymous forum so stop it please @JimCM

Hezbollah is indeed a terrorist entity. It illegally occupies Lebanon and refuses to recognize the authority of the legitimate government of Lebanon. The Lebanese government has ordered Hezbollah to cease its military activities and Hezbollah has refused. That is not freedom fighting.

Hezbollah helped keep Assad in power. It slaughtered tens of thousands of Syrians and operated torture centers. Only a violent sociopath terrorist would describe Hezbollah's activities in Syria as freedom fighting.

1 hour ago, JimCM said:

Do you think Israel and USA are following same convention?

They are. The burden of proving that they are not is on you.

Rescued safely...just announced on Sky News

Excellent news on this Easter Sunday.

The purveyors of negativity and hate will be disappointed, but those who understood the resources dedicated to this recovery and appreciate that these things take time are happy with the outcome.

I hope tactics will be adjusted to focus more on pilot safety and less on minimizing collateral damage when neutralizing Iranian military assets concealed in "civilian" structures.

11 hours ago, JimCM said:

ONE pilot is missing.
Say his name. Show his photo.
Run it on every channel.

Do you care?

Because—

165 schoolgirls are dead.
No names. No photos.
Just a number you scroll past.

So let’s be honest—

Do you care about one American life…
only because it’s American?

Do you call him a hero, even if 60% of Americans are against the illegal war, and call the others “collateral”?

If you demand he be brought home-
do you also demand an answer for them?

Or is empathy something we issue…
like passports?

So this pilot or WSO (Weapons Systems Officer) bombed the girls school? If so then your point would make sense.

11 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Would you rather a nuclear Iran starts blackmailing the world or let ballistic nukes start raining down vs the death of 1 airman is probably a better question.

But you're all for a nuclear Israel blackmailing every country around them. If they manage to beat Iran, Turkey and Egyput will be next on the list. Turkey will extremely well armed, so why not just nuke them.

You have two nuclear armed country INVADING a non-nuclear country, and the Israelis in the past have let the world know that if they feel they are losing, they'll resort to the Samson Option, and just nuke the region. If Iran develops nukes (they have had the capability for years, but not the intention), it will be as a defensive deterrence against the two nuclear armed aggression nations currently trying to "bomb them into the Stone Age.

I personally give it about 85% chance that Israel will nuke Iran. And I give it about 95% chance that shortly after, the nations of Israel if cease to exist. And then 50/50 that we don't descend into the global nuclear war.

5 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Shove your trollish ‘reasoning’. This war is complete bs and you know it.., only perpetrated because your <deleted> beloved pedo president is deflecting. I have never seen anything so pathetic and sickening in my lifetime. Why the real powers that be in yankland have not unalived that demented donkey, I’ll never know! A place that can remove a wonderful peace-loving leader (taken out by the CIA) and yet permit a warmongering retard to operate with impunity says it all. A morally bankrupt state if there ever were one. I hope the rest of the world does a big fat one on the upcoming 250 anniversary and World Cup! 🖕

Not my beloved president, but I recognize that he is dealing with a violent threat that much of the west has been in denial about and that helped create. It was Europe which helped lay the foundation for Iran's nuclear arms and which gave Iran its biological weapon capability. Not Russia. Not China. Not the USA. Europe, Canada and Australia allowed Iranian agents to enter their countries and to target dissidents and their own citizens. Now they are terrified into inaction for fear that the network of iranian terrorists will strike.

It is already happening. The Islamic Movement of ⁠the People of the Right Hand has made multiple attacks in Europe. The UK had to admit that the recent arson attack on ambulaces was Iranian initiated, despite trying to deny this. Journalists kept asking.

Canada has identified multiple members of the IRG in Canada but won't deport them, despite fake refugee claims and criminal activity.

22 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Rescued safely...just announced on Sky News

Or they are just lying about it.