Election Year or Fear!

[Geoff Parkstone]

All? I mean your old enough to remember the Provos, Beider Meinhoff, Sikh Separetists not to mention Russian state sponsored terrorism. Perhaps there is some correlation with the majority of todays terrorists being Muslim and the countries which western powers have invaded, or bombed to destruction, killing thousands of civilians in the process?

Just a thought.

The clue lies in the part of the sentence that references "that old joke". For clarity, jokes sometimes require you to suspend a little belief when interpreting them - after all how often do you get an englishman, an irishman and a scotsman in the same room at the same time, quite likely sharing a drink?

Just a thought

[ramAnag]

Bit like that old joke that not all moslems are terrorists but its funny how all terrorsits are moslems

Well yes indeed…a bit like that old joke…the last two being the operative words…and a lot like something that is completely factually untrue, just like the notion that all Muslims are Islamists.

[Ram Pant]

News saying the USA is moving more ships and "1000s of marines" to the Middle East. What isn't being reported, for troop safety reasons, is what Fanta face wants them to do there.

Is this affair that looked like it would be a quick in and out 2 weeks ago tuning into something longer term? If so, why if, as Fanta face claims, he's already "won"? Thinking out loud, the first thought that comes to mind is that expanding the conflict could lead to the midterms not taking place and that would result in MAGA keeping control of Congress and also see Fanta face not impeached. It would also delay any possible charges being brought against the rich and famous kiddy fiddlers most folk think are being protected by the non-release of unredacted Epstein files.

[Ram Pant]

Local elections over here next Wednesday. I came out of the supermarket this morning and there were canvassers there from one of the local parties, Flora Aalsmeer. I'm not one to stop and chat with them but they came with a decent strategy. Convo went like this...

Them - Good morning, will you be voting on Wednesday and, if so, do you know for whom you'll be voting or still undecided.

Me - I shall be voting and I know for whom I shall be voting

T - Could we possibly change your mind? (They thought, correctly that I wouldn't be voting for them)

M - If you did then I wouldn't vote for you (I lied)

T - they laughed

I went on my way having got out of the convo very quickly and had caused merriment. Result.

[Ram Pant]

Iran - it was never about regime change. It was never about nukes. It was always about oil, just as it was in Venezuela. Greenland was always about oil and minerals. Canada idem ditto. The latter 2 are currently off the radar but will they remain that way? IMO, sooner or later, he'll be wanting them again.

[swaledale]

Iran - it was never about regime change. It was never about nukes. It was always about oil, just as it was in Venezuela. Greenland was always about oil and minerals. Canada idem ditto. The latter 2 are currently off the radar but will they remain that way? IMO, sooner or later, he'll be wanting them again.

I think its rather more complex than that, 1) There have been "hawks"in the republican party and possibly the military itching to attack iran and with Trump and his cronies there are no wise heads advising against. 2) Trump is in deep trouble domestically and in his simple minded way thinks this military action will distract from that. 3) Trump is basically a simpleton and a likes wielding military power, without much thought to the consequences or even any idea as to the end game. A very dangerous person to be in charge.

I see now through his social media he is supposedly asking other countries including China to send ships to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz!! Asking other countries to resolve the problems his ill thought out and illegal war has created.

One can only hope that there is a domestic backlash against him, which brings about his downfall. Certainly there are signs of dissention between both within the Republican party and his MAGA base.

I see that many anti regime Iraninas both at home and abroad are seeing that Trump has no plan and that his actions are making things worse not better in the country.

[ramAnag]

I think its rather more complex than that, 1) There have been "hawks"in the republican party and possibly the military itching to attack iran and with Trump and his cronies there are no wise heads advising against. 2) Trump is in deep trouble domestically and in his simple minded way thinks this military action will distract from that. 3) Trump is basically a simpleton and a likes wielding military power, without much thought to the consequences or even any idea as to the end game. A very dangerous person to be in charge.

I see now through his social media he is supposedly asking other countries including China to send ships to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz!! Asking other countries to resolve the problems his ill thought out and illegal war has created.

One can only hope that there is a domestic backlash against him, which brings about his downfall. Certainly there are signs of dissention between both within the Republican party and his MAGA base.

I see that many anti regime Iraninas both at home and abroad are seeing that Trump has no plan and that his actions are making things worse not better in the country.

Having destroyed Kharg Island I see Trump is now saying, we may hit it a few more times ‘just for fun’.

WTF? Psychopath or world leader…you decide. To me, anyone who can think of acts of war being committed ‘just for fun’ is nothing other than deranged.

Watch out, Cuba!

[SithHappens]

And bizarrely Vance says the fuel increases are down to Biden.

[swaledale]

And bizarrely Vance says the fuel increases are down to Biden.

Mm talking of Vance, he does seem to have been sidelined lately, I guess Trump isn't keen on having a potential successor in the wings?

Hegseth (whose name is actually spelt Hesgeth apaprently but he has kept the mispelling) talks about US troops "giving no quarter" which is a phrase used to indicate "take no prisoners" which is illegal under the Geneva Convention, so the US or rather the US under Trump now feel it can ignore international law and agreed conventions?

Yet some idiot politicians in the UK think we should brown nose this guy?

Gulf states not happy with the collateral damage they are getting, or that the US attacked Iran without warning them.

[swaledale]

History would suggest that its perhaps a little early for anyone to "rejoice" over Trump's illegal and obviously dangerous action.

1) Any person who is able understand history, will know that US intervention in other nations and especially the Middle East gnerally does not end well.

If we are looking for examples Afghanistan, Iraq (in partiuclar Bush and Blairs "war on terror" achived nothing but bloodshed, chaos and spawned even more terrosits who ahve since killed numerous innocent civilians in the West. Afghanistan was a **** show and the lives of EU, UK and US forces were needlessly lost for abo****ely nothing.

2) There is no clear strategy here, other than the Israeli PM thinks war is one way of keeping him in power and Trump knows that this distracts from his domestic troubles, viz. ICE killings, his defeat on tariffs, inflation, failing growth. There is no clear indication as to who, if the current Iranian leader is removed, will take over and how that will pan out. In the meantime tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, by both Iran and the US, hey but who cares about them eh?

3) Its a matter of fact that Trump has ignored the US Constitution in launching this attack, the celebration of an authoritarian leader ignoring democractic norms, is frankly only for people who fail to understand that one day that same authoritarian leader may (or in this case already has) be using the same methods to attack their own citizens.

Its truly bizarre that at this stage with no clear indication as to what has happened and what the effects will be on Iran and the wider world economy and overall security, that anyone is rejoicing.

But then the world is full of dumb ****ers!

Given the current situation, its perhaps worth revisiting this post I made. One which surprisingly got a rather aggressive response from AF, but then I'm used to that when I voice any opinion.