But, TBH … the MOFI mastering is ‘too bright’ for my ears which makes Carole sound a bit shrill. I’d really like a nice NM original state 1971 pressing … which is impossible to find as anyone who ever owned this lp … played it to death.
I used to really love that song, but they played it at least half a dozen times every day on the local radio station when I was a kid. I can still hear it, but it isn’t as magical as it once was. A shame really.
Have you tried Salzer’s or Jockamo?
How do you know about Ventura, CA record stores? No, I’ve never visited them … but I will peruse their titles. Nowwwww you tell me … after I’ve just moved my daughter OUT of LA. But my wife’s longtime best friend lives next door in Oxnard … so next time we visit … I’ll carve some time out to pop in.
Here where my daughter moved, I just visited a small local record store in this cool indoor “Factory” mall … a repurposed huge Factory building. But the grandsons were with us … so I couldn’t go through more than their “good” record bin … that was mostly overpriced remasters/repressings from Czechoslovakia … seriously … hahahahaha ha ha. Nope. Wasn’t interested. But I did see a few things I will go back for.
Are you a vinyl collector?
BTW … I buy SOME from Discogs marketplace … because the sellers are very
reputable and trustworthy. But I primarily use it to research pressing, engineering, and mastering data for each matrix/catalog numbered record
I have relatives in Ventura, San Diego, and Santa Rosa. Related to Mr. Skin himself (and if you’re into the Cali music scene of the 60s and 70s you should know who that is).
I’ve got some very interesting relatives really; my own ‘six degrees of Kevin Bacon’ — yay me.
I don’t collect vinyl — pets and children and frequent moves preclude that sort of thing, but some of the fam? yes.
Mr. Skin. Ed Cassidy.
12 dreams, 1970.
Great album to accompany some windowpane.
Thanks for the memories, unknown jane.
I am a fellow English Major with an abiding fondness for Strunk and Whyte.
Ed Cassidy Kenji. Don’t be vile.
And Shrunk & White is a must have for any English classroom. E.B. White was also a master of syntax, but of a thoroughly American style. I rank him with Austen.
Thanks!
I have not been able to wrap my head around UK’s situation (and EU’s).
The leadership seems to have been captured by Islam – why are they encouraging the destruction of their own country?
Many years ago I read a book by Bat Ye’or (an Egyptian Jew) entitled Eurabia. I was so taken with it that I went on to read 4 more of her books.
She seems to have no presence today; maybe she’s deeply depressed by how ignored she was or has died. I must check.
Eurabia didn’t just happen. It was PLANNED.
Follow the money (difficult but some hints are possible); it’s less about ‘Islam’ and more about that.
Because they fell prey to the Islam Trojan Horse and now they are afraid of what they have let into their countries.
All of Europe has been conquered by Islam … esp. the wild-eyed, radical, murderous, Christian-hating branch.
The UK is being run by the same place as Canada, “The City of London’
Behold your Net Zero futures.
Which, BTW … I have been begging Brian Z. to SHUT DOWN all fossil fuel production for a month … to illustrate just what a Net Zero world will look like … but it took Trump and the Mullahs to carry out my plot. WINNING!
Just how do you suppose Brian Z. would be able to shut down all fossil fuel production for a month?
By thought experiment.
“Para vigo di su voi!”, if I’ve got the Portuguese right.
By telling his UNIONISTA members to strike.
I wonder if Trump has reached the point of asking, “How the hell do we end this thing?” Of course that should have been the question asked before he started the war. Nobody ever remembers that part. Iran will wait them out just like every other war since 1945.
Pssst … it’ll be over when it’s over.
Please make a note of it.
Thank you for your attention to this matter
Perhaps. But at that point the regime will be in severely straightened financial circumstances, so it would take them time to rebuild…and they would be your problem. “You” as in NATO minus the U.S.
“Have fun with them”, I suppose?
“I wonder if Trump has reached the point of asking, “How the hell do we end this thing?” Of course that should have been the question asked before he started the war.”
You mean which of his options should he go with? That’s always a question in military actions like this…you can have a basic plan laid out at the beginning, but it is always subject to enemy actions/reactions. It’s like chess.
” Nobody ever remembers that part. Iran will wait them out just like every other war since 1945.”
Not this time, they won’t. Their military forces have been decimated to the point where they just don’t have that kind of time left.
He just explained it to you.
Excellent point. As I’ve mentioned, Iran has control over the Straits and no one has any effective means in place to dislodge them. American voters won’t have patience measured in years waiting for that to happen.
We don’t really need the Straits opened, so there’s that.
The Israelis and Gulf States appear to be very interested in regime change, so are quite a few Iranians. Our actions have been helpful to them with regards to this, but we don’t need to do more than what we said we would do.
As for the IRGC proxies, well, they are having some survival issues coming into play as well. We’ll see.
The question you need to ask yourself is this….WHO needs the Strait opened? Not the U.S.
It never fails to amaze me how people can see, but see nothing. Iran does not have control of the Straits, the City of London does through one of their many tentacles, Lloyds of London. They will not insure a hull or cargo right now, and have made it clear if they use the US backed option through Chubb, they will never insure another ship or cargo anywhere ever for any company that does.
This is a death struggle between the Globalists (700 year old European banking cartel) and the American system of political economy. This fight is for all the marbles.
One could consider the IRGC the ‘plausible’ and what Lloyd’s is doing the ‘response’ — either way you get the same thing. And right now they’re all a bit…stuck.
We’ll have to see what happens.
UJ
Trump has taken control of mid-east oil by shoving Lloyds aside, and by extension the Rothschild London bankers, is destroying the EU and NATO, as he thinks America has footed the bill long enough. They need to grow up and stand on their own.
Scarp
Yer IGNORANCE is becoming legendary quality!
So there is going to be a glorious victory like Vietnam?
Was just talking to a workplace employee this morning and mentioned maybe Trump does not want the straight opened up. Will show him this
Marshall Plan (American protection) post WWII was not unconditional;
… US military and economic support for all the free world,
in exchange for opposition to international communism.
… the US lived up to their side of that deal,
all the free world took the deal but immediately began dallying with communism.
… Carter/Clinton being titillated by Mao,
were initiators of todays New Marxist Democratic Party.
Recently Clinton has appeared supportive of Trump,
rather late Bill.
Pretty good odds that marxist dem party wins the next election.
It is difficult to assess who did more damage to the US; Nixon, Clinton or Obama.
Worse early on were Woodrow Wilson and FDR.
roadhog
Nixon didn’t do squat to damage the USA, he refused to contest the STOLEN 1960 election, bc it would damage the USA’s self worth. Try keeping up wood ja?
Nixon did nothing that acted as the entree to world markets for China. Got it.
It’s not hard to find a Kanadian f*cktard that chants “Elbows Up!” and does the chicken dance thingy. I have to kick them out of my way whenever I venture outside.
That was hilarious, Jane. And yes, there are people up here who will actually believe that sort of TDS-inspired fantasy.
They may eventually be disabused of their notions, along with the Europeans. I hope it is in the funniest (for us) way possible. I personally want to hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth; the panicky cognitive dissonance.
Because it will be richly deserved.
I heard this morning from the MSM that much of California’s gas and diesel comes through the Strait of Hormuz. The funny thing was, they said it as though Trump had no idea.
I loathe returning to CA … I quite enjoy this $3.59/gal. gasoline. More than $2.00/gal. cheaper than home.
That saved me $70.00 per fill up of my 35 gal. rental truck tank
I’m sure Trump isn’t losing any sleep if California has difficulty sourcing crude oil, gasoline, or diesel.
There’s no shortage of people willing to sell oil, gasoline, or diesel; it’s just how much do people want to pay.
If there are problems sourcing oil, California could always buy a couple of warships, transfer them to the California national guard, and go to Hormuz to get oil. Escorting ships is the easy part. (sarc)
Letters from Californians thanking Trump for assisting them down the path to Net Zero should be pouring into the White House.
Why do most Californians shrug at the high gas prices? Because they actually accept that their driving and their cars are a … sin. A sin against Gaia. So they happily accept the “sin tax” of high gasoline cost.
But they’re REALLY pissed off because ICE is scaring the illegal immigrant Napa Valley grape pruners and harvesters. Causing the cost of their fine wines to go up [sic].
Believe it or not, it is a point of concern as it affects more than California. However, push comes to shove there are some ways to remedy the situation. Timing is everything.
You’ve got some fine linkage Kate.
No one’s naval ships are going to try to force a reopening of the Straits militarily, not even those of the United States. The Iranian missile and drone threat has to be neutralized before that will ever happen, and it would only take a handful of those to sink a couple of tankers in the middle of the strait, effectively blocking it. What will happen instead is that anyone who wants oil will pay a toll to Iran and those ships will be allowed to pass. So the people we are supposed to be at war with and who have supposedly been “decimated” look pretty much to be in the driver’s seat and are set to collect a whole bunch of money from oil consumers around the world.
Yeah, that makes sense…
That’s also the position already iterated by the Death-cult Mullahs over a week ago.
So, I obviously disagree with “what will happen” and admit I don’t know when or how the strait will open.
Maybe a tactical nuke will have to be employed.
The Strait will be opened. Iran will receive no tolls.
JoeyB
Trump is not concerned with the straight being opened, let the euro askholes source their own oil is his moto. Russia has lots to spare, and Trump is normalizing relations with Russia as we speak.
There is more to it than Russia; although it’s in the vicinity. There’s a pipeline in Azerbaijan that’s worth considering.
“So the people we are supposed to be at war with and who have supposedly been “decimated” look pretty much to be in the driver’s seat and are set to collect a whole bunch of money from oil consumers around the world.”
In your dreams. The Mad Mullahs have no excuse to try and block international waters and will never be allowed to do so….that’s piracy at best, terrorism at worst. I know you approve of that kind of behavior, Dennis, but it’s just not going to happen. Go cry yourself to sleep and dream of more dead Americans.
Not in my dreams. Yours maybe. Iran is blocking international waters as we speak and it’s obvious that everyone is allowing them to do so, right now. Shout “piracy” all you want but there literally isn’t a naval ship within 1000 kilometers of the Straits that could currently challenge that. I hate the Iranian regime as much as anyone, but the current strategy is failing. Time for a rethink. The patience of American voters is not infinite.
You really aren’t a deep thinker, are you? Who needs the Strait opened? Not the U.S. “Time for a rethink”, indeed. So start rethinking.
It doesn’t matter that the US is dismissive of the need to reopen the Straits. My point is that no one can do that as long as the Iranian missile threat remains. And all those nations that are currently unable to obtain oil from the Persian Gulf are going to be frantically bidding up the price of oil everywhere else, thus driving up the cost of gas and diesel in the US too. While that’s a win for American oil producers, it’s another cost hike that American voters traditionally don’t tolerate for long.
Those are ships authorized by Iran. You know, the ones in the driver’s seat.
“The patience of American voters is not infinite”
Back in 1979, I had a bunch of Iranian friends at college. At some point, they all started to get the messages that the mullahs combined with the Marxists had executed their entire families.
My patience has lasted this long. Good to see the goat-lovers being exterminated. Good to see some space for real Iranians to maybe retake their own country – which is the final chapter that Trump has at least made possible. THAT – a regime change driven not by our military but by the Iranians – is the possibility that Trump has created.
If I could vote for him a third time, I would.
It’s a pity Superman Returns didn’t make more of a splash in the zeitgeist, because Kevin Spacey drawling “Are you suuuuure” makes the best reaction GIF ever.
“Excellent point. As I’ve mentioned, Iran has control over the Straits”
Like hell they do. Controlling the Straits without a navy? Dream on…
(and try getting your news from somewhere other than CNN)
“Shout “piracy” all you want but there literally isn’t a naval ship within 1000 kilometers of the Straits that could currently challenge that. ”
Uh-huh:
————————–
On Monday, BBC Verify identified the Abraham Lincoln in satellite images taken on Saturday off the coast of Oman, about 700km (430 miles) from Iran.
————————–
That’s not just the Lincoln…that’s an entire battle group, Dennis. And that was just Saturday. Not to mention the fact that the US is now flying B-52s over Iran *at will*.
“I hate the Iranian regime as much as anyone,”
Oh, sure you do, Dennis…sure you do. Until Donald Trump is involved *in any way*…then suddenly all your principles and common sense go right out the window.
No environmental lawfare will get in the way if MBS wants to go forward with pipelines.
Ah, see?
Oh, and may the NATO countries keep going with their fit throwing! They will be dealing with Ukraine without us.
And it is about money as much as anything. How healthy are the economies of Europe, UK, Canada, and Aus/NZ now?
Tsk, tsk — regret at leisure perhaps.
I hate to make you sad Dennis, but when your regime has to use child soldiers, greybeards, women and get some of your proxies to invade your own country to give you an assist, you’re probably not as “in the driver’s seat” as you might like to be.
And again, it also isn’t about military action; it’s also financial — people are tuned into the military angle, but they are missing the other things going on.
But cheer up, maybe the IRGC will hold on, the Straits will remain closed or not optimally open as the case may be, and this will last for…at least another 6 months should about do it.
Not my regime by any stretch, so stop trying to make it sound like I’m a shill for the IRGC. They’re as evil as they come. My point is that the current strategy for dealing with them is failing. As for the financial angle, if the Iranians can start charging tolls to transit the Strait, that’ll go a long way to paying for new missiles and then it’s back to square one.
Do you want me to get Hegseth and Rubio on the phone, so you can give them your ideas for how this should have really been done?
Dennis, what happens if Iran starts charging tolls? Whose oil flows through there, both seller and buyer? PS. The Syrian Tapline pipe may be back in the works. Think Iranian tolls would speed that up a bit?
Jane
Yer Killing me here, dennis is as stupid as they come.
“Not my regime by any stretch, so stop trying to make it sound like I’m a shill for the IRGC. They’re as evil as they come.”
But not as EVIL as President Donald Trump, right Dennis?
Number 1, “avoid mission creep”, and don’t allow your enemies to redefine your goals for you. This is how ‘mission creep’ begins, and mission creep loses conflicts.. The Trump administration has stated it’s goals in this war rather clearly. The Strait of Hormuz is a distraction from those goals, plain and simple. Tehran can play the “we’ll close the straits” game by themselves, and the U.S. would be foolish to get bogged down playing their game by their rules. Iran seeks to gain the upper hand in this war by via optics and shaping our perceptions, redefining our goals for us, then exploiting the optics with the all too willing aid of the treacherous and duplicitous western media to lay out the case for why they are ‘winning’ a war that they have clearly lost.. Fuck all that.. Closing the strait is the only card they still hold at this point, and we really shouldn’t give a shit, so.. if China wants oil? let them sort the Iranians out. No oil moving to China means no paychecks for the mullahs and their flunkies, and by that metric, the U.S. can ‘close the strait ‘ on them as well.. They may go broke before we kill them all.. who knows..
Number 2, “steer the course”.. You don’t slap a complex conflict like this in the microwave for 30 days, and expect it to come out done.. that’s stupid, and unrealistic..That being said, Trump is well on his way towards achieving his goals. The Iranian navy consists of a handful of criscraft and bayliner speedboats, and not much more.. Their air force is nothing but a few missiles and drones, and their leadership structure is as solid as mud, and factional infighting will destroy them without the US/Israel there to keep them the focused on a common enemy. The outlier is enriched uranium.. Once that is secured, or destroyed, it’s time to leave Iran to the tender mercies of their irate sunni neighbors (and each other). I couldn’t give an airborne shit whether ships cross through the strait or not, and I won’t lose a minute’s worth of sleep if China or Spain doesn’t get their sub-market, sanctioned oil.. piss on em..
Number 3, “FAFO”.. Trump has been looking for casus bellii to cut NATO adrift, for well over a decade, and now he has it. Those smug Euro-peon pricks served it up to him on a silver platter. We are bound by treaty, so we will remain a member, in essence only though.. but over time, pressure will mount to leave, well after Trump is gone, and NATO will dissolve. it’s time to leave the EU to the tender mercies of their irate slavic neighbors.
Number 4, “The dawn of a new era”. Trump has effectively strangled the ‘Chinese century’ in the crib. They have been exposed as a feckless, puffed-up, paper-tiger, and a powerless fair-weather friend. Their treaties aren’t worth the parchment they’re drafted on, and they’ll cut you adrift at the first sign of rough sailing, with little more than finger wagging. American interests who were straying from the path have had a rude awakening over exactly what allying with a self-absorbed quasi-communist gangster regime actually means.. inescapable ‘debt-traps’, and the cold comfort of milquetoast lip service and hollow ‘moral support’ while they are getting hammered by a foreign enemy..
Let me make it clear that I would never accuse you of shilling for the people you’re so flagrantly shilling for. Shill be comin’ round the mountain!
Frankly, your shilling isn’t worth tuppence!
It is way to soon for you to make that conclusion. Sit on your hands and enjoy the fireworks for another couple weeks; you are just parroting legacy media fantasies. Personally, I am enjoying this chapter in the 47 year old Iran versus the West War.
A few big missions by B-52, B-2’s and B-1’s and Iran has no electricty for 5 years. Good luck operating all the missile infrastructure with no power. Then its the refineries and so forth. At that point Iran is in The Stone Age and the only thing left is their stupid Stone Age Organized Crime Syndicate, i.e. The IRGC + Shia nutty Islam.
America has more bombs than Iran has infrastrcuture – all during that time Israel keeps eliminating their leadership until The Mossad is in charge of Iran and their people finally have freedom from the Islamo-fascist Regime.
“America has more bombs than Iran has infrastrcuture – all during that time Israel keeps eliminating their leadership until The Mossad is in charge of Iran and their people finally have freedom from the Islamo-fascist Regime.”
My prediction as well. Once the IRGC has been weakened enough, the regular army (who have no more love for the IRGC than the Iranian people themselves) will step up and take control.
I’d vote for Kate as Prime Minister, but the SDA website is more important.
I could have been in the Senate, you know. I’d have slept in my van to do it. But Harper, no……..
One very underused phrase keeps coming to mind.
Mother told us not to use it but we need to change that.
The phrase is “WE TOLD YOU SO!”
Liberals are wrong about almost everything.
Reality is starting to percolate through, like with oil exports and pipelines and with getting rid of taxes and bureaucratic roadblocks for housing.
Now isn’t the time to be polite and welcoming.
Now is the time to yell in their faces “WE TOLD YOU SO! And you wouldn’t listen. We were right and you were wrong about everything.” Sometimes you have to shake things up a bit.
Remind them of the stupidity of their former positions and of their idiotic arguments with the goal of getting them to question the rest of the stupid shit they currently still believe. Like castrating children.
Ask them why they got it so wrong. Ask them who fed them their stupid opinions and why do they still believe CBC?
Ask them how they can be proud Canadians when Canada is a genocidal colony filled with mass graves.
How can they be proud of mass graves of native school children?
Make them explain that the mass graves story was all a lie that we’re not supposed to believe that any longer.
Or that the mass graves exist but they’re proud of it now because elbows up or something.
Those sort of admissions opens up a few avenues of attack..
We have an opportunity to kick the rotted boards off of their closed minds.
There’s no need to escort tankers through the strait of Hormuz.
Just wait for the US to stop bombing Iran.
Then China will do a deal with Iran and get lots of oil. Chinese flagged ships may also take other Mideast oil through Hormuz, and sell it to whomever. Good business for China.
Iran will replenish its drone and missiles.
The loss of 50 to 100 Iranian leaders is no big deal. The US changes out that many leadership positions every time the Republicans or Dems take over the White House.
The US will replace its bombs, missiles, etc (assuming the Dems allow the Defense budget increases).
Saudi, and other Arab states will need to buy more Patriot missiles, along with anti Shahed drone systems.
As for uranium, I wonder how much Iranian uranium is being upgraded (or will be) in North Korea?
We’ll be back after the midterms, just in time to sink the R presidential ticket.
The EU will get their oil from Iran or Russia. We have what we need here. Time to live like that
Uhm, not really — you don’t really have ‘what you need here’. Can’t just use it straight from the ground. Sorry darling.
Wait, you mean oil has to be refined? Who knew?
“Iran will replenish its drone and missiles. ”
No, they won’t….because that would make the entire exercise pointless. The current regime will fall and be replaced by a more civilized one. The Iranian people will settle for nothing less after the last few massacres of protesters by the Mad Mullahs (who have also been robbing their nation blind and have literally *billions* in offshore bank accounts).
The current Iranian regime will fall?
Perhaps, but that’s judging 30,000 deaths by western standards.
“The current Iranian regime will fall?”
I don’t see any other choice now.
“Perhaps, but that’s judging 30,000 deaths by western standards.”
True.
“I don’t see any other choice now.”
There are still lots of Shia fanatics in Iran. 30,000 deaths mean nothing to them.
So if Iran is still refining uranium with the intent of building nukes to wipe out the great satan and the lesser satan the best tactic for satan is to bomb the shit out of them every so often to stop them achieving that goal. Why wait to be attacked first by the enemy that tells you he is going to do it?
Best strategy depends on what your goal is.
Do you want to defeat the enemy, or fight him again, and again, and again.
Unless you kill every last one of them you will be fighting them again and again and again. And even if you do kill them all there will be another enemy somewhere else. This is why we still have wars after 100,000 years as a species. That’s never going to change.
Redirection is a wonder way to stop an aggressive animal from continuing its attack.
Just sayin’
We have been fighting fundamentalist Islam for centuries…. This is just another chapter.
Very good points. Like it or not, the Iranian regime still has plenty of supporters willing to fight and die for it. All the oil money also helps to purchase consent among the many that might waver. The resistance is not nearly as capable as many Westerners seem to think it is. I wish they were able to toss out the current rulers, but there’s next to no culture of liberty in Iran.
Then they can die. Not real sure how they will fight, however.
” All the oil money also helps to purchase consent among the many that might waver. ”
That oil money could disappear within 24 hrs if the Americans decide to do so. ALL of it. Zero refineries left, all oil fields in flames.
“The resistance is not nearly as capable as many Westerners seem to think it is. ”
They don’t need to be:
——————————
No, the Iranian regular army (Artesh) generally does not have a positive relationship with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as they are entrenched in a long-standing, fierce rivalry.
——————————-
The Iranian Army already outnumbers the IRGC (who really only exist to keep the regime in power). Given any excuse at all they will happily side with the people against the IRGC and the Mullahs. The return of Pahlavi will be good for everyone.
I have to agree with you on this. All it takes is 5% to 15% to be Shia fanatics with guns and there is little the rest can do. Trump himself has said it very clearly.
You do know that cargo ships and ports are used for more than just oil, right?
One thing about oil…it isn’t very tasty nor nutritious.
Hunger is a great motivator.
But there is a culture…and that can be worked with. A fair amount of the Iranian people have always seen the Islamic Republic as illegitimate (they’re correct in that view), and there are some ethnic minorities in Iran that can be used to good effect…against the regime.
As always, I say: look outside the hottest spots in town when planning an evening.
Sounds like the time for Canada to step up to the plate and offer its pipeline expertise.
Much of that left under the Trudeau Liberals.
Did you hurt yourself typing that?
How many times did you have to retype this because you’re laughing so hard?
I have a friend who is an oil pipeline engineer. He emigrated to the US shortly after graduating and has worked there his entire career.
Pipeline expertise? You mean how to turn a $6 billion pipeline into a $30 billion pipeline? For that you need Turdeau.
“Pipeline expertise? You mean how to turn a $6 billion pipeline into a $30 billion pipeline? For that you need Turdeau.”
Good one. 🙂
Somewhat related to this is the NATO pledge that member states increase defence spending by 2% of GDP.
Now a target like that can be achieved two ways, beef up your military capability by recruiting efforts and spending on hardware that makes for a more effective military. Or use accounting tricks and economically handicapping your country to reduce your GDP.
However when what Trump just did happens, if your government opted for the later option as opposed to the former, you are found wanting very quickly and very openly.
“Go get your own oil”?
Can’t see anything wrong with that statement .
Country’s especially ours should have helped the industry thrive instead of trying to kill it.
So I don’t really see Trump causing a what was due to happen someday anyway.
Yes, but even with the refineries it has, Canada still has to import jet fuel to meet its domestic requirements.
That’s a bit of a problem if you also have logistical and commercial constraints on exporting it.
Ontario and BC import lots of refined products generally from the U.S. Because we couldn’t possibly have new refineries here given our “green” bona fides.
It was a choice, but now you may be stuck with said choice. Just like our Sec. of State said.
You also have a problem with getting the oil you have to the refineries you have — and that problem is multivariable. Should have been addressed decades ago, but again, choices.
So, yes, you depend upon our refineries; can’t depend upon China, they’re not really givers in that regard. Push comes to shove, I don’t think Europe would be givers either. Wanters, takers, but not givers. That’s provided you could even get it to either one of them.
Choices, choices…
When I was a child in the 60’s and 70’s living in a town called Port Credit, population 2000, I literally had to walk through a refinery to get to my elementary school and eventually high school. (Port Credit was amalgamated into Mississauga, population 1M now?). When I was about 16 in the mid 70’s we were evacuated from the family home because some nutjob started a fire in the refinery tank farm, and they were worried because a tank full of jet fuel was near the fire. Other than Justin’s adoptive father, I have no idea why we allowed this to happen to us.
Trump could end this war in a week if he so desired. He has withheld strikes from areas where he could inflict the most damage out of compassion. Now that the military capability of Iran his been effectively removed he could move to infra-structure targets. Taking out power and desalination plants would send the country back to the stone age. Compassion is the problem. The Allies in WWII had the intestinal fortitude to decimate both Germany and Japan to end the war. Fire-bombing Dresden and Hamburg, and then the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki finished the desire for war in those countries. Until countries learn to co-operate and ‘play nice in the sand-box’ instead of trying to rule and dictate in the ‘sand-box’ then we will continue to get engaged in the destructive art of war. The oil crisis in the ’70’s taught us nothing and now the Iranians are holding the oil producers of the Mid-East, and the rest of the world dependent on that oil, hostage. At what point does our compassion for the people of Iran surrender to our own prosperity. Until we become self-reliant we will be forever drawn into war to settle our needs and wants and there-in lies the problem.
I think you are correct. But are there cities that would fall into the category where majority IRGC support would legitimize this tactic? I worked with a muslim Iranian tech guy who liked nothing better than having a beer at lunch with a bacon cheeseburger. His parents still lived in Iran. His dad made his fortune running a still and selling booze to Brit contractors working in the oil fields. Do we bomb them?
Agreed.
“Trump could end this war in a week if he so desired. He has withheld strikes from areas where he could inflict the most damage out of compassion. ”
Like many others, he is hoping that it won’t come to that. It would be much better for the Iranian people if Iran’s oil infrastructure was left intact. IF possible.
If not….Plan B.
The Internet tells me the last oil refinery built in the USA was 1977. This seems to me a problem.
A little misleading, as it doesn’t include refinery expansions. For example, the Motiva refinery in Port Arthur added a 300,000 bbl/d expansion which came on line in 2012.
Similarly the Wood River refinery added 75,000 bpd in 2011.
Fair enough but you can only expand so much. Why haven’t they built any new refineries? Permitting limitations? And how many new refineries have they built in Canada, the UK, the EU recently?
Canada has 1 — Sturgeon; it’s in Alberta
Europe has none (I believe there might be one in Turkey/???)
We can expand because it’s geolocation allows for it (we would of course like to build more as well as get California to stop being stupid — we may have to force that issue), but geography/geology has permitted us to do a lot with what we already have.
You, Steve…Canada…, do not have the same geography/geology, nor the social/political/economic wherewithal to have done anything with what you do have anyway. Sorry darling; it was a choice.
“And how many new refineries have they built in Canada, the UK, the EU recently?”
Not nearly enough. This ‘Net Zero’ lunacy is only now starting to be exposed for the scam it is. The world will still need oil for *decades* to come.
A few of the refineries in TX have large expansions.
Trump just announced another new refinery in TX (first since the 70s).
Last two in California have announced they are closing.
Iran perspective …
The US (and to a lesser extent in Canada) media is owned and influenced by the Israeli Lobby , Christian-Zionists and outright Zionists. As such any criticism of Israel is automatically labelled antisemitism.
Proj. John Mearsheimer (Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago , ex-US military) gave a very candid interview regarding Trump’s attack on Iran of which part of the transcript follows …
” … I thought of you the other day, Professor Mearsheimer. We came across oh about a 30 or maybe even 40year-old quote from Pat Buchanan who must have been channeling his inner John Mearsheimer and Steven Walt when he was asked what he thought about Congress and he said ” It’s Israeli occupied territory”.
Yeah. You know what’s another sort of important dimension to this whole conflict that relates to, you know, the lobby and its influence here in the United States has to do with the morality of what we’re doing or the legality of what we’re doing. If you think about the war last June (2025) and you think about this war (2026) , these were gross violations of international law, right? We didn’t even make any attempt to argue that the Iranians had done something militarily to precipitate our attack on Iran.
We did nothing back in June of last year on June 13th and again on February 28th. I mean, even Adolf Hitler when he invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939, staged this phony event to make it look like Germany was responding to a Polish provocation. There’s no provocation here. We just decided we were going to go out and we were going to whack uh the Iranians both last June and again this time. Furthermore, both the Israelis and the Americans are running around the world assassinating leaders.
This was not something that the United States engaged in in large part or certainly in an overt way in the past, and here we are and furthermore there’s the Gaza genocide, right? The Israelis ; here’s an apartheid state executing a genocide in Gaza and we’re complicitists in that genocide.
If there were Nuremberg trials, where the Israelis and the Americans were brought before the court, President Trump along with President Netanyahu and many of their advisers would be hanged, right?
This is a genocide, is it not? It is a genocide. What did we do in 1945 with those Germans who executed a genocide in Europe and who were not only accused of executing a genocide, but those German leaders were accused of launching a war of aggression bears remarkable resemblance to what we and the Israelis have now twice done against Iran. And as I said, one of the fundamental difference is at least Hitler pretended in 1939 that he was reacting to a Polish provocation. We don’t even need a provocation.
And with regard to the whole subject of human rights and international law, the United States is a thoroughly liberal country, and it’s filled with pundits and academics who are liberal to the core, who have a deep-seated interest in human rights and international law. I’ve been operating in this environment for more than 50 years. I know this environment very well. Academia and the media, just to take two of our institutions, aren’t or have been very interested in international law and human rights and preventing mass murder and preventing genocide.
Hardly a peep from any of the people in these institutions or from the institutions themselves if you’re talking about the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal about what the Israelis and the Americans are doing. And you want to ask yourself, why is that the case? What’s happening here? What’s causing this abject silence? It’s really quite remarkable. The silence is caused by the fact that we are now joined at the hip with the Israelis and the lobby makes it almost impossible in the United States for there to be any daylight between the United States and Israel and also for us to criticize Israel.
So, Israel can behave in the most reckless and despicable ways and we can’t criticize Israel. And not only do we not criticize Israel, we end up joining with them. We become partners in the genocide. We are complicitist in the genocide. These assassinations, nobody protests these assassinations. In fact, the administration and many outlets like the Wall Street Journal cheer the assassinations … Just want to ask yourself where does this leave us? …”
What world do you live in where Israel is not criticized?
“What world do you live in where Israel is not criticized?”
The world where 0.2% of the population conspires to control the other 99.8%. It must be a magical place with unicorns and rainbows everywhere…
Of course it is pumpkin.
When dealing with Mearsheimer one always has to remember that he is an academic with his very own pet theory, so of course he’s going to defend his pet theory no matter what. His pet theory isn’t necessarily a bad one, but he will apply it to everything. Such is the way of academics.
(mine is that Jane Austen and Tolkein — or rather their novels — are radical conservatism in the best Christian traditionalist sense; I will of course defend this to the hilt, though I may be proven an abject fool; see how this works?)
Off topic fun fact discourse: who were the founders of the IRGC (the real power in Iran)? And what was their ideological affiliation?
This is of course a question for all. Think of it as geopolitical Jeapardy!
I remain convinced that the primary reason for the enduring popularity of Austen is that most modern women are on some level aware that they make incredibly stupid decisions, especially about men, and secretly long for the Regency Era where they weren’t allowed to make any.
Then you haven’t read Austen closely (and you have to read Austen very closely in order to really get her novels). Her books were hardly about just social conventions and romance (they have a great deal of savage wit in them as well as some very astute social/political commentary). Besides: one of the most masterful uses of syntax, word choice and internal dialogue the English language — a language that is rather spoiled for choice when it comes to sentence formations and vocabulary — has ever seen (the person who created free direct speech…the thing everybody tried to copy, and few ever came close to getting, ever since — go to any movie and you’ll see it in action or dis-action).
All that tied up in “simple little pretty books about balls and marriages”(because you can read Austen shallowly and still have an enjoyable read). What’s not to love?
Jane – I now have no doubts about your English Lit. cred. And I fear I’d have gotten no better than a B- in your class.
We’ll never know because you didn’t sit in one of my classes. The problem with an English class is that try as one might, subjectivity does come into play when working out the finer details. If you had and written something about how the Bronte sisters (pity they dies so soon) are a bit…overdone…then I might have given you some bonus points just for making that observation.
But back to the real topic: that’s the problem with academics. They tend to have their theories of how things are supposed to be that they will insist reflect how things really are. Mearsheimer is an intelligent man and should be listened to, but you have to keep in mind that he does have his theory, loves his theory, and that colors everything he says. Also, they’re terribly susceptible to anyone who tells them their ideas are wonderful (see my above comment about the Brontes). Mine doesn’t go any further than a classroom and polite chattering, thus is relatively harmless. Mearsheimer is in a position of more influence, goes on international media and government think tanks, and by that fact can be dangerous. (see also: Jefferey Sachs)
Brian
47 years of provocation, is more than enough to justify what Trump is doing. Lebanon and a few hundred dead Americans alone justifies this, never mind the rest of the terrorist attacks on American assets and citizens, and even the ones on American soil, all sponsored by Iran. And then there are the attempts on Trump’s life, no not the ones in the news, the ones stopped before they became news.
Oh brian, take yer TDS and Jew hatred and stuff it
NME – Don’t forget the thousands of US soldiers maimed and killed by Iranian IEDs.
I just talked to a neighbor of my daughter (in her new home) who told me two of his son’s fought in the streets of Baghdad .., a Col. and a Capt. … commanded a troop and lost 8 men, including his best friend. His own Humvee was blown 15ft in the air from an IED … and the ambushers opened fire. When the shooting stopped (esp. from his own 60cal. turret gun) there were 36 enemy on their way to heavenly virgin sex. Yeah, his Humvee was blown straight up and landed on its 4-wheels. Lucky.
What International Law? Perhaps the ones enforced by the UN?
And I laughed and I laughed and I laughed.
So… Trump starts the war, and then tells the UK it’s their responsibility to clean it up. Anyone see a problem with that?
Nope. Trump isn’t saying that. But what he is saying is that getting rid of Iran is the best strategy for the world in general and it is long past time when the UK and the cushioned Europeans started paying their way.
That’s exactly what Trump is saying.
Maybe Trump should have got some buyin from his NATO allies beforehand, instead of doing this “America Alone” schtick. Then his allies would have been prepared to defend and clear the Strait of Hormuz.
But that’s not how Trump thinks. He’s not comfortable working with other nations.
“That’s exactly what Trump is saying. ”
NO, it is not.
(stop lying…you really aren’t that good at it)
What Trump is actually saying is that the UK (who stupidly refused to help him in the beginning, even in a merely symbolic capacity) is that UK can get their own tankers through the Strait, NOT that he wants them to “clean up” his mess. He’s not asking them to assist in destroying the remnants of Iran’s missile stockpiles. He’s telling them that since they refused to help him, he is now refusing to help them. A child should be able to understand this.
NATO “buying in” would amount to the European countries mandating rainbow flags on uniforms. The end.
The reason the UK can’t get their tankers through the strait is because Trump started a war. And now Trump is telling them to solve the problem themselves. That’s cleaning up his mess.
“A child should be able to understand this.”
Sorry, I briefly forgot who I was talking to. Get a child to explain it to you, KM…
There are reasons why there was no ‘getting NATO countries to buy in’ at the beginning of this — one of which I can put in the nutshell: follow the money.
But don’t let that stop you sweetheart; you’re on a roll.
PS. what ever made you think that this brouhaha over the Straits being closed wasn’t factored into the plan? A side quest if you will?
Clean it up? Hardly. Just one small task … one that any decent Western power can handle.
But apparently the US can’t.
More like our ‘allies’ inability (to say the least of their unwillingness) to do it — all laid out for the whole world to see. (with more to come perhaps; we’ll see and it would be hilarious if we did)
Oh noes!
Perhaps now is the time for Canada to step up and show NATO how committed they are to protecting their allies — to the canoes! to the kayaks! Escort the British ships, for King and Country, and international rules based order! Forward Middle Powers!
“But apparently the US can’t.”
Says who?
‘Can’t’ and ‘won’t’ are two very different things. The Americans alone, being firmly in the driver’s seat there, will decide when and where to take any further actions…not the Europeans, and certainly not the Iranians. The current Iranian regime, can’t actually ‘close’ the Strait of Hormuz because they don’t *own* the Strait of Hormuz. I suppose they could try to mine international waters and/or fire missiles at ships in international waters, if they really want to end up at war with THE ENTIRE WORLD.
We have been at war for 47 years with the Islamic Republic, and the war was declared by them. Let’s just get that one out there.
“We have been at war for 47 years with the Islamic Republic, and the war was declared by them. Let’s just get that one out there.”
I love reminding people that no, Donald Trump did NOT in fact start a war with Iran…he is actually ENDING a war with Iran.
Ha, ha, “ NATO buyin “. Ha, ha!
Really? What do they buy in, with? Virtue signaling? Their non-existent military prowess?
Sorry, Marmot, if NATO buys in, the operational reality, still is: “ Daddy and I killed the bear”.
Too late, mr President. That ship has sailed. UK, just like EU has been castrated by eco-Socialism + Islam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKxmnrRVHo
?
Beautiful, UJane! My copy …
https://www.discogs.com/release/28730086-Carole-King-Tapestry
But, TBH … the MOFI mastering is ‘too bright’ for my ears which makes Carole sound a bit shrill. I’d really like a nice NM original state 1971 pressing … which is impossible to find as anyone who ever owned this lp … played it to death.
I used to really love that song, but they played it at least half a dozen times every day on the local radio station when I was a kid. I can still hear it, but it isn’t as magical as it once was. A shame really.
Have you tried Salzer’s or Jockamo?
How do you know about Ventura, CA record stores? No, I’ve never visited them … but I will peruse their titles. Nowwwww you tell me … after I’ve just moved my daughter OUT of LA. But my wife’s longtime best friend lives next door in Oxnard … so next time we visit … I’ll carve some time out to pop in.
Here where my daughter moved, I just visited a small local record store in this cool indoor “Factory” mall … a repurposed huge Factory building. But the grandsons were with us … so I couldn’t go through more than their “good” record bin … that was mostly overpriced remasters/repressings from Czechoslovakia … seriously … hahahahaha ha ha. Nope. Wasn’t interested. But I did see a few things I will go back for.
Are you a vinyl collector?
BTW … I buy SOME from Discogs marketplace … because the sellers are very
reputable and trustworthy. But I primarily use it to research pressing, engineering, and mastering data for each matrix/catalog numbered record
I have relatives in Ventura, San Diego, and Santa Rosa. Related to Mr. Skin himself (and if you’re into the Cali music scene of the 60s and 70s you should know who that is).
I’ve got some very interesting relatives really; my own ‘six degrees of Kevin Bacon’ — yay me.
I don’t collect vinyl — pets and children and frequent moves preclude that sort of thing, but some of the fam? yes.
Mr. Skin. Ed Cassidy.
12 dreams, 1970.
Great album to accompany some windowpane.
Thanks for the memories, unknown jane.
I am a fellow English Major with an abiding fondness for Strunk and Whyte.
Mr Skin …
https://youtu.be/E5tFE3B_HHM?si=DoucMYNjqe7g9HmL
or Mr. Skin.com?
https://www.mrskin.com/
Ed Cassidy Kenji. Don’t be vile.
And Shrunk & White is a must have for any English classroom. E.B. White was also a master of syntax, but of a thoroughly American style. I rank him with Austen.
Thanks!
I have not been able to wrap my head around UK’s situation (and EU’s).
The leadership seems to have been captured by Islam – why are they encouraging the destruction of their own country?
Many years ago I read a book by Bat Ye’or (an Egyptian Jew) entitled Eurabia. I was so taken with it that I went on to read 4 more of her books.
She seems to have no presence today; maybe she’s deeply depressed by how ignored she was or has died. I must check.
Eurabia didn’t just happen. It was PLANNED.
Follow the money (difficult but some hints are possible); it’s less about ‘Islam’ and more about that.
Because they fell prey to the Islam Trojan Horse and now they are afraid of what they have let into their countries.
All of Europe has been conquered by Islam … esp. the wild-eyed, radical, murderous, Christian-hating branch.
The UK is being run by the same place as Canada, “The City of London’
Behold your Net Zero futures.
Which, BTW … I have been begging Brian Z. to SHUT DOWN all fossil fuel production for a month … to illustrate just what a Net Zero world will look like … but it took Trump and the Mullahs to carry out my plot. WINNING!
Just how do you suppose Brian Z. would be able to shut down all fossil fuel production for a month?
By thought experiment.
“Para vigo di su voi!”, if I’ve got the Portuguese right.
By telling his UNIONISTA members to strike.
I wonder if Trump has reached the point of asking, “How the hell do we end this thing?” Of course that should have been the question asked before he started the war. Nobody ever remembers that part. Iran will wait them out just like every other war since 1945.
Pssst … it’ll be over when it’s over.
Please make a note of it.
Thank you for your attention to this matter
Perhaps. But at that point the regime will be in severely straightened financial circumstances, so it would take them time to rebuild…and they would be your problem. “You” as in NATO minus the U.S.
“Have fun with them”, I suppose?
“I wonder if Trump has reached the point of asking, “How the hell do we end this thing?” Of course that should have been the question asked before he started the war.”
You mean which of his options should he go with? That’s always a question in military actions like this…you can have a basic plan laid out at the beginning, but it is always subject to enemy actions/reactions. It’s like chess.
” Nobody ever remembers that part. Iran will wait them out just like every other war since 1945.”
Not this time, they won’t. Their military forces have been decimated to the point where they just don’t have that kind of time left.
He just explained it to you.
Excellent point. As I’ve mentioned, Iran has control over the Straits and no one has any effective means in place to dislodge them. American voters won’t have patience measured in years waiting for that to happen.
We don’t really need the Straits opened, so there’s that.
The Israelis and Gulf States appear to be very interested in regime change, so are quite a few Iranians. Our actions have been helpful to them with regards to this, but we don’t need to do more than what we said we would do.
As for the IRGC proxies, well, they are having some survival issues coming into play as well. We’ll see.
The question you need to ask yourself is this….WHO needs the Strait opened? Not the U.S.
It never fails to amaze me how people can see, but see nothing. Iran does not have control of the Straits, the City of London does through one of their many tentacles, Lloyds of London. They will not insure a hull or cargo right now, and have made it clear if they use the US backed option through Chubb, they will never insure another ship or cargo anywhere ever for any company that does.
This is a death struggle between the Globalists (700 year old European banking cartel) and the American system of political economy. This fight is for all the marbles.
One could consider the IRGC the ‘plausible’ and what Lloyd’s is doing the ‘response’ — either way you get the same thing. And right now they’re all a bit…stuck.
We’ll have to see what happens.
UJ
Trump has taken control of mid-east oil by shoving Lloyds aside, and by extension the Rothschild London bankers, is destroying the EU and NATO, as he thinks America has footed the bill long enough. They need to grow up and stand on their own.
Scarp
Yer IGNORANCE is becoming legendary quality!
So there is going to be a glorious victory like Vietnam?
Was just talking to a workplace employee this morning and mentioned maybe Trump does not want the straight opened up. Will show him this
Marshall Plan (American protection) post WWII was not unconditional;
… US military and economic support for all the free world,
in exchange for opposition to international communism.
… the US lived up to their side of that deal,
all the free world took the deal but immediately began dallying with communism.
… Carter/Clinton being titillated by Mao,
were initiators of todays New Marxist Democratic Party.
Recently Clinton has appeared supportive of Trump,
rather late Bill.
Pretty good odds that marxist dem party wins the next election.
It is difficult to assess who did more damage to the US; Nixon, Clinton or Obama.
Worse early on were Woodrow Wilson and FDR.
roadhog
Nixon didn’t do squat to damage the USA, he refused to contest the STOLEN 1960 election, bc it would damage the USA’s self worth. Try keeping up wood ja?
Nixon did nothing that acted as the entree to world markets for China. Got it.
Oh Canada…
https://nitter.poast.org/kaninthan/status/2038953096299024390#m
It’s not hard to find a Kanadian f*cktard that chants “Elbows Up!” and does the chicken dance thingy. I have to kick them out of my way whenever I venture outside.
“https://nitter.poast.org/kaninthan/status/2038953096299024390#m”
That was hilarious, Jane. And yes, there are people up here who will actually believe that sort of TDS-inspired fantasy.
They may eventually be disabused of their notions, along with the Europeans. I hope it is in the funniest (for us) way possible. I personally want to hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth; the panicky cognitive dissonance.
Because it will be richly deserved.
I heard this morning from the MSM that much of California’s gas and diesel comes through the Strait of Hormuz. The funny thing was, they said it as though Trump had no idea.
I loathe returning to CA … I quite enjoy this $3.59/gal. gasoline. More than $2.00/gal. cheaper than home.
That saved me $70.00 per fill up of my 35 gal. rental truck tank
I’m sure Trump isn’t losing any sleep if California has difficulty sourcing crude oil, gasoline, or diesel.
There’s no shortage of people willing to sell oil, gasoline, or diesel; it’s just how much do people want to pay.
If there are problems sourcing oil, California could always buy a couple of warships, transfer them to the California national guard, and go to Hormuz to get oil. Escorting ships is the easy part. (sarc)
Letters from Californians thanking Trump for assisting them down the path to Net Zero should be pouring into the White House.
Why do most Californians shrug at the high gas prices? Because they actually accept that their driving and their cars are a … sin. A sin against Gaia. So they happily accept the “sin tax” of high gasoline cost.
But they’re REALLY pissed off because ICE is scaring the illegal immigrant Napa Valley grape pruners and harvesters. Causing the cost of their fine wines to go up [sic].
Believe it or not, it is a point of concern as it affects more than California. However, push comes to shove there are some ways to remedy the situation. Timing is everything.
You’ve got some fine linkage Kate.
No one’s naval ships are going to try to force a reopening of the Straits militarily, not even those of the United States. The Iranian missile and drone threat has to be neutralized before that will ever happen, and it would only take a handful of those to sink a couple of tankers in the middle of the strait, effectively blocking it. What will happen instead is that anyone who wants oil will pay a toll to Iran and those ships will be allowed to pass. So the people we are supposed to be at war with and who have supposedly been “decimated” look pretty much to be in the driver’s seat and are set to collect a whole bunch of money from oil consumers around the world.
Yeah, that makes sense…
That’s also the position already iterated by the Death-cult Mullahs over a week ago.
So, I obviously disagree with “what will happen” and admit I don’t know when or how the strait will open.
Maybe a tactical nuke will have to be employed.
The Strait will be opened. Iran will receive no tolls.
JoeyB
Trump is not concerned with the straight being opened, let the euro askholes source their own oil is his moto. Russia has lots to spare, and Trump is normalizing relations with Russia as we speak.
There is more to it than Russia; although it’s in the vicinity. There’s a pipeline in Azerbaijan that’s worth considering.
“So the people we are supposed to be at war with and who have supposedly been “decimated” look pretty much to be in the driver’s seat and are set to collect a whole bunch of money from oil consumers around the world.”
In your dreams. The Mad Mullahs have no excuse to try and block international waters and will never be allowed to do so….that’s piracy at best, terrorism at worst. I know you approve of that kind of behavior, Dennis, but it’s just not going to happen. Go cry yourself to sleep and dream of more dead Americans.
Not in my dreams. Yours maybe. Iran is blocking international waters as we speak and it’s obvious that everyone is allowing them to do so, right now. Shout “piracy” all you want but there literally isn’t a naval ship within 1000 kilometers of the Straits that could currently challenge that. I hate the Iranian regime as much as anyone, but the current strategy is failing. Time for a rethink. The patience of American voters is not infinite.
You really aren’t a deep thinker, are you? Who needs the Strait opened? Not the U.S. “Time for a rethink”, indeed. So start rethinking.
It doesn’t matter that the US is dismissive of the need to reopen the Straits. My point is that no one can do that as long as the Iranian missile threat remains. And all those nations that are currently unable to obtain oil from the Persian Gulf are going to be frantically bidding up the price of oil everywhere else, thus driving up the cost of gas and diesel in the US too. While that’s a win for American oil producers, it’s another cost hike that American voters traditionally don’t tolerate for long.
Eyal Yakoby on X: “BREAKING: Huge uplift in vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz today. The regime has lost control. https://t.co/TFPmDEWEF1” / X
https://x.com/EYakoby/status/2038997600112722179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2038997600112722179%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2F786497%2F
Those are ships authorized by Iran. You know, the ones in the driver’s seat.
“The patience of American voters is not infinite”
Back in 1979, I had a bunch of Iranian friends at college. At some point, they all started to get the messages that the mullahs combined with the Marxists had executed their entire families.
My patience has lasted this long. Good to see the goat-lovers being exterminated. Good to see some space for real Iranians to maybe retake their own country – which is the final chapter that Trump has at least made possible. THAT – a regime change driven not by our military but by the Iranians – is the possibility that Trump has created.
If I could vote for him a third time, I would.
It’s a pity Superman Returns didn’t make more of a splash in the zeitgeist, because Kevin Spacey drawling “Are you suuuuure” makes the best reaction GIF ever.
https://x.com/EYakoby/status/2038997600112722179
“Excellent point. As I’ve mentioned, Iran has control over the Straits”
Like hell they do. Controlling the Straits without a navy? Dream on…
(and try getting your news from somewhere other than CNN)
“Shout “piracy” all you want but there literally isn’t a naval ship within 1000 kilometers of the Straits that could currently challenge that. ”
Uh-huh:
————————–
On Monday, BBC Verify identified the Abraham Lincoln in satellite images taken on Saturday off the coast of Oman, about 700km (430 miles) from Iran.
————————–
That’s not just the Lincoln…that’s an entire battle group, Dennis. And that was just Saturday. Not to mention the fact that the US is now flying B-52s over Iran *at will*.
“I hate the Iranian regime as much as anyone,”
Oh, sure you do, Dennis…sure you do. Until Donald Trump is involved *in any way*…then suddenly all your principles and common sense go right out the window.
Mossad Commentary on X: “‼️PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SIGNALS DIRECT COOPERATION WITH SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER GULF STATES Netanyahu: Post-war plans include energy and economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran must be stripped of this leverage.” He https://t.co/pU7gGPt8GA” / X
https://x.com/MOSSADil/status/2038943867479765197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2038943867479765197%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2F786506%2F
Bypassing Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bad ek-Mandeb
No environmental lawfare will get in the way if MBS wants to go forward with pipelines.
Ah, see?
Oh, and may the NATO countries keep going with their fit throwing! They will be dealing with Ukraine without us.
And it is about money as much as anything. How healthy are the economies of Europe, UK, Canada, and Aus/NZ now?
Tsk, tsk — regret at leisure perhaps.
I hate to make you sad Dennis, but when your regime has to use child soldiers, greybeards, women and get some of your proxies to invade your own country to give you an assist, you’re probably not as “in the driver’s seat” as you might like to be.
And again, it also isn’t about military action; it’s also financial — people are tuned into the military angle, but they are missing the other things going on.
But cheer up, maybe the IRGC will hold on, the Straits will remain closed or not optimally open as the case may be, and this will last for…at least another 6 months should about do it.
Not my regime by any stretch, so stop trying to make it sound like I’m a shill for the IRGC. They’re as evil as they come. My point is that the current strategy for dealing with them is failing. As for the financial angle, if the Iranians can start charging tolls to transit the Strait, that’ll go a long way to paying for new missiles and then it’s back to square one.
Do you want me to get Hegseth and Rubio on the phone, so you can give them your ideas for how this should have really been done?
Dennis, what happens if Iran starts charging tolls? Whose oil flows through there, both seller and buyer? PS. The Syrian Tapline pipe may be back in the works. Think Iranian tolls would speed that up a bit?
Jane
Yer Killing me here, dennis is as stupid as they come.
“Not my regime by any stretch, so stop trying to make it sound like I’m a shill for the IRGC. They’re as evil as they come.”
But not as EVIL as President Donald Trump, right Dennis?
Number 1, “avoid mission creep”, and don’t allow your enemies to redefine your goals for you. This is how ‘mission creep’ begins, and mission creep loses conflicts.. The Trump administration has stated it’s goals in this war rather clearly. The Strait of Hormuz is a distraction from those goals, plain and simple. Tehran can play the “we’ll close the straits” game by themselves, and the U.S. would be foolish to get bogged down playing their game by their rules. Iran seeks to gain the upper hand in this war by via optics and shaping our perceptions, redefining our goals for us, then exploiting the optics with the all too willing aid of the treacherous and duplicitous western media to lay out the case for why they are ‘winning’ a war that they have clearly lost.. Fuck all that.. Closing the strait is the only card they still hold at this point, and we really shouldn’t give a shit, so.. if China wants oil? let them sort the Iranians out. No oil moving to China means no paychecks for the mullahs and their flunkies, and by that metric, the U.S. can ‘close the strait ‘ on them as well.. They may go broke before we kill them all.. who knows..
Number 2, “steer the course”.. You don’t slap a complex conflict like this in the microwave for 30 days, and expect it to come out done.. that’s stupid, and unrealistic..That being said, Trump is well on his way towards achieving his goals. The Iranian navy consists of a handful of criscraft and bayliner speedboats, and not much more.. Their air force is nothing but a few missiles and drones, and their leadership structure is as solid as mud, and factional infighting will destroy them without the US/Israel there to keep them the focused on a common enemy. The outlier is enriched uranium.. Once that is secured, or destroyed, it’s time to leave Iran to the tender mercies of their irate sunni neighbors (and each other). I couldn’t give an airborne shit whether ships cross through the strait or not, and I won’t lose a minute’s worth of sleep if China or Spain doesn’t get their sub-market, sanctioned oil.. piss on em..
Number 3, “FAFO”.. Trump has been looking for casus bellii to cut NATO adrift, for well over a decade, and now he has it. Those smug Euro-peon pricks served it up to him on a silver platter. We are bound by treaty, so we will remain a member, in essence only though.. but over time, pressure will mount to leave, well after Trump is gone, and NATO will dissolve. it’s time to leave the EU to the tender mercies of their irate slavic neighbors.
Number 4, “The dawn of a new era”. Trump has effectively strangled the ‘Chinese century’ in the crib. They have been exposed as a feckless, puffed-up, paper-tiger, and a powerless fair-weather friend. Their treaties aren’t worth the parchment they’re drafted on, and they’ll cut you adrift at the first sign of rough sailing, with little more than finger wagging. American interests who were straying from the path have had a rude awakening over exactly what allying with a self-absorbed quasi-communist gangster regime actually means.. inescapable ‘debt-traps’, and the cold comfort of milquetoast lip service and hollow ‘moral support’ while they are getting hammered by a foreign enemy..
Let me make it clear that I would never accuse you of shilling for the people you’re so flagrantly shilling for. Shill be comin’ round the mountain!
Frankly, your shilling isn’t worth tuppence!
It is way to soon for you to make that conclusion. Sit on your hands and enjoy the fireworks for another couple weeks; you are just parroting legacy media fantasies. Personally, I am enjoying this chapter in the 47 year old Iran versus the West War.
A few big missions by B-52, B-2’s and B-1’s and Iran has no electricty for 5 years. Good luck operating all the missile infrastructure with no power. Then its the refineries and so forth. At that point Iran is in The Stone Age and the only thing left is their stupid Stone Age Organized Crime Syndicate, i.e. The IRGC + Shia nutty Islam.
America has more bombs than Iran has infrastrcuture – all during that time Israel keeps eliminating their leadership until The Mossad is in charge of Iran and their people finally have freedom from the Islamo-fascist Regime.
“America has more bombs than Iran has infrastrcuture – all during that time Israel keeps eliminating their leadership until The Mossad is in charge of Iran and their people finally have freedom from the Islamo-fascist Regime.”
My prediction as well. Once the IRGC has been weakened enough, the regular army (who have no more love for the IRGC than the Iranian people themselves) will step up and take control.
I’d vote for Kate as Prime Minister, but the SDA website is more important.
I could have been in the Senate, you know. I’d have slept in my van to do it. But Harper, no……..
One very underused phrase keeps coming to mind.
Mother told us not to use it but we need to change that.
The phrase is “WE TOLD YOU SO!”
Liberals are wrong about almost everything.
Reality is starting to percolate through, like with oil exports and pipelines and with getting rid of taxes and bureaucratic roadblocks for housing.
Now isn’t the time to be polite and welcoming.
Now is the time to yell in their faces “WE TOLD YOU SO! And you wouldn’t listen. We were right and you were wrong about everything.” Sometimes you have to shake things up a bit.
Remind them of the stupidity of their former positions and of their idiotic arguments with the goal of getting them to question the rest of the stupid shit they currently still believe. Like castrating children.
Ask them why they got it so wrong. Ask them who fed them their stupid opinions and why do they still believe CBC?
Ask them how they can be proud Canadians when Canada is a genocidal colony filled with mass graves.
How can they be proud of mass graves of native school children?
Make them explain that the mass graves story was all a lie that we’re not supposed to believe that any longer.
Or that the mass graves exist but they’re proud of it now because elbows up or something.
Those sort of admissions opens up a few avenues of attack..
We have an opportunity to kick the rotted boards off of their closed minds.
There’s no need to escort tankers through the strait of Hormuz.
Just wait for the US to stop bombing Iran.
Then China will do a deal with Iran and get lots of oil. Chinese flagged ships may also take other Mideast oil through Hormuz, and sell it to whomever. Good business for China.
Iran will replenish its drone and missiles.
The loss of 50 to 100 Iranian leaders is no big deal. The US changes out that many leadership positions every time the Republicans or Dems take over the White House.
The US will replace its bombs, missiles, etc (assuming the Dems allow the Defense budget increases).
Saudi, and other Arab states will need to buy more Patriot missiles, along with anti Shahed drone systems.
As for uranium, I wonder how much Iranian uranium is being upgraded (or will be) in North Korea?
We’ll be back after the midterms, just in time to sink the R presidential ticket.
The EU will get their oil from Iran or Russia. We have what we need here. Time to live like that
Uhm, not really — you don’t really have ‘what you need here’. Can’t just use it straight from the ground. Sorry darling.
Wait, you mean oil has to be refined? Who knew?
“Iran will replenish its drone and missiles. ”
No, they won’t….because that would make the entire exercise pointless. The current regime will fall and be replaced by a more civilized one. The Iranian people will settle for nothing less after the last few massacres of protesters by the Mad Mullahs (who have also been robbing their nation blind and have literally *billions* in offshore bank accounts).
The current Iranian regime will fall?
Perhaps, but that’s judging 30,000 deaths by western standards.
“The current Iranian regime will fall?”
I don’t see any other choice now.
“Perhaps, but that’s judging 30,000 deaths by western standards.”
True.
“I don’t see any other choice now.”
There are still lots of Shia fanatics in Iran. 30,000 deaths mean nothing to them.
So if Iran is still refining uranium with the intent of building nukes to wipe out the great satan and the lesser satan the best tactic for satan is to bomb the shit out of them every so often to stop them achieving that goal. Why wait to be attacked first by the enemy that tells you he is going to do it?
Best strategy depends on what your goal is.
Do you want to defeat the enemy, or fight him again, and again, and again.
Unless you kill every last one of them you will be fighting them again and again and again. And even if you do kill them all there will be another enemy somewhere else. This is why we still have wars after 100,000 years as a species. That’s never going to change.
Redirection is a wonder way to stop an aggressive animal from continuing its attack.
Just sayin’
We have been fighting fundamentalist Islam for centuries…. This is just another chapter.
Very good points. Like it or not, the Iranian regime still has plenty of supporters willing to fight and die for it. All the oil money also helps to purchase consent among the many that might waver. The resistance is not nearly as capable as many Westerners seem to think it is. I wish they were able to toss out the current rulers, but there’s next to no culture of liberty in Iran.
Then they can die. Not real sure how they will fight, however.
” All the oil money also helps to purchase consent among the many that might waver. ”
That oil money could disappear within 24 hrs if the Americans decide to do so. ALL of it. Zero refineries left, all oil fields in flames.
“The resistance is not nearly as capable as many Westerners seem to think it is. ”
They don’t need to be:
——————————
No, the Iranian regular army (Artesh) generally does not have a positive relationship with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as they are entrenched in a long-standing, fierce rivalry.
——————————-
The Iranian Army already outnumbers the IRGC (who really only exist to keep the regime in power). Given any excuse at all they will happily side with the people against the IRGC and the Mullahs. The return of Pahlavi will be good for everyone.
I have to agree with you on this. All it takes is 5% to 15% to be Shia fanatics with guns and there is little the rest can do. Trump himself has said it very clearly.
You do know that cargo ships and ports are used for more than just oil, right?
One thing about oil…it isn’t very tasty nor nutritious.
Hunger is a great motivator.
But there is a culture…and that can be worked with. A fair amount of the Iranian people have always seen the Islamic Republic as illegitimate (they’re correct in that view), and there are some ethnic minorities in Iran that can be used to good effect…against the regime.
As always, I say: look outside the hottest spots in town when planning an evening.
Sounds like the time for Canada to step up to the plate and offer its pipeline expertise.
Much of that left under the Trudeau Liberals.
Did you hurt yourself typing that?
How many times did you have to retype this because you’re laughing so hard?
I have a friend who is an oil pipeline engineer. He emigrated to the US shortly after graduating and has worked there his entire career.
Pipeline expertise? You mean how to turn a $6 billion pipeline into a $30 billion pipeline? For that you need Turdeau.
“Pipeline expertise? You mean how to turn a $6 billion pipeline into a $30 billion pipeline? For that you need Turdeau.”
Good one. 🙂
Somewhat related to this is the NATO pledge that member states increase defence spending by 2% of GDP.
Now a target like that can be achieved two ways, beef up your military capability by recruiting efforts and spending on hardware that makes for a more effective military. Or use accounting tricks and economically handicapping your country to reduce your GDP.
However when what Trump just did happens, if your government opted for the later option as opposed to the former, you are found wanting very quickly and very openly.
“Go get your own oil”?
Can’t see anything wrong with that statement .
Country’s especially ours should have helped the industry thrive instead of trying to kill it.
So I don’t really see Trump causing a what was due to happen someday anyway.
The report on Europe is in, and be warned, it is not a pleasant read.
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2023.180402
Jet fuel is made from kerosene which is COAL oil.
just sayin’
At one time, yes. Not so much today. Most is distilled from crude oil.
https://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Kerosene.html
Yes, but even with the refineries it has, Canada still has to import jet fuel to meet its domestic requirements.
That’s a bit of a problem if you also have logistical and commercial constraints on exporting it.
Ontario and BC import lots of refined products generally from the U.S. Because we couldn’t possibly have new refineries here given our “green” bona fides.
It was a choice, but now you may be stuck with said choice. Just like our Sec. of State said.
You also have a problem with getting the oil you have to the refineries you have — and that problem is multivariable. Should have been addressed decades ago, but again, choices.
So, yes, you depend upon our refineries; can’t depend upon China, they’re not really givers in that regard. Push comes to shove, I don’t think Europe would be givers either. Wanters, takers, but not givers. That’s provided you could even get it to either one of them.
Choices, choices…
When I was a child in the 60’s and 70’s living in a town called Port Credit, population 2000, I literally had to walk through a refinery to get to my elementary school and eventually high school. (Port Credit was amalgamated into Mississauga, population 1M now?). When I was about 16 in the mid 70’s we were evacuated from the family home because some nutjob started a fire in the refinery tank farm, and they were worried because a tank full of jet fuel was near the fire. Other than Justin’s adoptive father, I have no idea why we allowed this to happen to us.
Trump could end this war in a week if he so desired. He has withheld strikes from areas where he could inflict the most damage out of compassion. Now that the military capability of Iran his been effectively removed he could move to infra-structure targets. Taking out power and desalination plants would send the country back to the stone age. Compassion is the problem. The Allies in WWII had the intestinal fortitude to decimate both Germany and Japan to end the war. Fire-bombing Dresden and Hamburg, and then the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki finished the desire for war in those countries. Until countries learn to co-operate and ‘play nice in the sand-box’ instead of trying to rule and dictate in the ‘sand-box’ then we will continue to get engaged in the destructive art of war. The oil crisis in the ’70’s taught us nothing and now the Iranians are holding the oil producers of the Mid-East, and the rest of the world dependent on that oil, hostage. At what point does our compassion for the people of Iran surrender to our own prosperity. Until we become self-reliant we will be forever drawn into war to settle our needs and wants and there-in lies the problem.
I think you are correct. But are there cities that would fall into the category where majority IRGC support would legitimize this tactic? I worked with a muslim Iranian tech guy who liked nothing better than having a beer at lunch with a bacon cheeseburger. His parents still lived in Iran. His dad made his fortune running a still and selling booze to Brit contractors working in the oil fields. Do we bomb them?
Agreed.
“Trump could end this war in a week if he so desired. He has withheld strikes from areas where he could inflict the most damage out of compassion. ”
Like many others, he is hoping that it won’t come to that. It would be much better for the Iranian people if Iran’s oil infrastructure was left intact. IF possible.
If not….Plan B.
The Internet tells me the last oil refinery built in the USA was 1977. This seems to me a problem.
A little misleading, as it doesn’t include refinery expansions. For example, the Motiva refinery in Port Arthur added a 300,000 bbl/d expansion which came on line in 2012.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_Refinery
Similarly the Wood River refinery added 75,000 bpd in 2011.
Fair enough but you can only expand so much. Why haven’t they built any new refineries? Permitting limitations? And how many new refineries have they built in Canada, the UK, the EU recently?
Canada has 1 — Sturgeon; it’s in Alberta
Europe has none (I believe there might be one in Turkey/???)
We can expand because it’s geolocation allows for it (we would of course like to build more as well as get California to stop being stupid — we may have to force that issue), but geography/geology has permitted us to do a lot with what we already have.
You, Steve…Canada…, do not have the same geography/geology, nor the social/political/economic wherewithal to have done anything with what you do have anyway. Sorry darling; it was a choice.
“And how many new refineries have they built in Canada, the UK, the EU recently?”
Not nearly enough. This ‘Net Zero’ lunacy is only now starting to be exposed for the scam it is. The world will still need oil for *decades* to come.
A few of the refineries in TX have large expansions.
Trump just announced another new refinery in TX (first since the 70s).
Last two in California have announced they are closing.
Iran perspective …
The US (and to a lesser extent in Canada) media is owned and influenced by the Israeli Lobby , Christian-Zionists and outright Zionists. As such any criticism of Israel is automatically labelled antisemitism.
The current US/Israeli war in Iran is not about Iran’s nuclear issues but rather “The Greater Israel Project” and the US attempt to control global energy.
https://themillenniumreport.com/2017/06/the-greater-israel-project-a-zionist-scheme-to-transform-the-geopolitical-map-of-the-mideast/
Proj. John Mearsheimer (Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago , ex-US military) gave a very candid interview regarding Trump’s attack on Iran of which part of the transcript follows …
Prof. John Mearsheimer : Will Trump Go Kamikaze?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKqf-3h0hM8
” … I thought of you the other day, Professor Mearsheimer. We came across oh about a 30 or maybe even 40year-old quote from Pat Buchanan who must have been channeling his inner John Mearsheimer and Steven Walt when he was asked what he thought about Congress and he said ” It’s Israeli occupied territory”.
Yeah. You know what’s another sort of important dimension to this whole conflict that relates to, you know, the lobby and its influence here in the United States has to do with the morality of what we’re doing or the legality of what we’re doing. If you think about the war last June (2025) and you think about this war (2026) , these were gross violations of international law, right? We didn’t even make any attempt to argue that the Iranians had done something militarily to precipitate our attack on Iran.
We did nothing back in June of last year on June 13th and again on February 28th. I mean, even Adolf Hitler when he invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939, staged this phony event to make it look like Germany was responding to a Polish provocation. There’s no provocation here. We just decided we were going to go out and we were going to whack uh the Iranians both last June and again this time. Furthermore, both the Israelis and the Americans are running around the world assassinating leaders.
This was not something that the United States engaged in in large part or certainly in an overt way in the past, and here we are and furthermore there’s the Gaza genocide, right? The Israelis ; here’s an apartheid state executing a genocide in Gaza and we’re complicitists in that genocide.
If there were Nuremberg trials, where the Israelis and the Americans were brought before the court, President Trump along with President Netanyahu and many of their advisers would be hanged, right?
This is a genocide, is it not? It is a genocide. What did we do in 1945 with those Germans who executed a genocide in Europe and who were not only accused of executing a genocide, but those German leaders were accused of launching a war of aggression bears remarkable resemblance to what we and the Israelis have now twice done against Iran. And as I said, one of the fundamental difference is at least Hitler pretended in 1939 that he was reacting to a Polish provocation. We don’t even need a provocation.
And with regard to the whole subject of human rights and international law, the United States is a thoroughly liberal country, and it’s filled with pundits and academics who are liberal to the core, who have a deep-seated interest in human rights and international law. I’ve been operating in this environment for more than 50 years. I know this environment very well. Academia and the media, just to take two of our institutions, aren’t or have been very interested in international law and human rights and preventing mass murder and preventing genocide.
Hardly a peep from any of the people in these institutions or from the institutions themselves if you’re talking about the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal about what the Israelis and the Americans are doing. And you want to ask yourself, why is that the case? What’s happening here? What’s causing this abject silence? It’s really quite remarkable. The silence is caused by the fact that we are now joined at the hip with the Israelis and the lobby makes it almost impossible in the United States for there to be any daylight between the United States and Israel and also for us to criticize Israel.
So, Israel can behave in the most reckless and despicable ways and we can’t criticize Israel. And not only do we not criticize Israel, we end up joining with them. We become partners in the genocide. We are complicitist in the genocide. These assassinations, nobody protests these assassinations. In fact, the administration and many outlets like the Wall Street Journal cheer the assassinations … Just want to ask yourself where does this leave us? …”
What world do you live in where Israel is not criticized?
“What world do you live in where Israel is not criticized?”
The world where 0.2% of the population conspires to control the other 99.8%. It must be a magical place with unicorns and rainbows everywhere…
Of course it is pumpkin.
When dealing with Mearsheimer one always has to remember that he is an academic with his very own pet theory, so of course he’s going to defend his pet theory no matter what. His pet theory isn’t necessarily a bad one, but he will apply it to everything. Such is the way of academics.
(mine is that Jane Austen and Tolkein — or rather their novels — are radical conservatism in the best Christian traditionalist sense; I will of course defend this to the hilt, though I may be proven an abject fool; see how this works?)
Off topic fun fact discourse: who were the founders of the IRGC (the real power in Iran)? And what was their ideological affiliation?
This is of course a question for all. Think of it as geopolitical Jeapardy!
I remain convinced that the primary reason for the enduring popularity of Austen is that most modern women are on some level aware that they make incredibly stupid decisions, especially about men, and secretly long for the Regency Era where they weren’t allowed to make any.
Then you haven’t read Austen closely (and you have to read Austen very closely in order to really get her novels). Her books were hardly about just social conventions and romance (they have a great deal of savage wit in them as well as some very astute social/political commentary). Besides: one of the most masterful uses of syntax, word choice and internal dialogue the English language — a language that is rather spoiled for choice when it comes to sentence formations and vocabulary — has ever seen (the person who created free direct speech…the thing everybody tried to copy, and few ever came close to getting, ever since — go to any movie and you’ll see it in action or dis-action).
All that tied up in “simple little pretty books about balls and marriages”(because you can read Austen shallowly and still have an enjoyable read). What’s not to love?
Jane – I now have no doubts about your English Lit. cred. And I fear I’d have gotten no better than a B- in your class.
We’ll never know because you didn’t sit in one of my classes. The problem with an English class is that try as one might, subjectivity does come into play when working out the finer details. If you had and written something about how the Bronte sisters (pity they dies so soon) are a bit…overdone…then I might have given you some bonus points just for making that observation.
But back to the real topic: that’s the problem with academics. They tend to have their theories of how things are supposed to be that they will insist reflect how things really are. Mearsheimer is an intelligent man and should be listened to, but you have to keep in mind that he does have his theory, loves his theory, and that colors everything he says. Also, they’re terribly susceptible to anyone who tells them their ideas are wonderful (see my above comment about the Brontes). Mine doesn’t go any further than a classroom and polite chattering, thus is relatively harmless. Mearsheimer is in a position of more influence, goes on international media and government think tanks, and by that fact can be dangerous. (see also: Jefferey Sachs)
Brian
47 years of provocation, is more than enough to justify what Trump is doing. Lebanon and a few hundred dead Americans alone justifies this, never mind the rest of the terrorist attacks on American assets and citizens, and even the ones on American soil, all sponsored by Iran. And then there are the attempts on Trump’s life, no not the ones in the news, the ones stopped before they became news.
Oh brian, take yer TDS and Jew hatred and stuff it
NME – Don’t forget the thousands of US soldiers maimed and killed by Iranian IEDs.
I just talked to a neighbor of my daughter (in her new home) who told me two of his son’s fought in the streets of Baghdad .., a Col. and a Capt. … commanded a troop and lost 8 men, including his best friend. His own Humvee was blown 15ft in the air from an IED … and the ambushers opened fire. When the shooting stopped (esp. from his own 60cal. turret gun) there were 36 enemy on their way to heavenly virgin sex. Yeah, his Humvee was blown straight up and landed on its 4-wheels. Lucky.
What International Law? Perhaps the ones enforced by the UN?
And I laughed and I laughed and I laughed.
So… Trump starts the war, and then tells the UK it’s their responsibility to clean it up. Anyone see a problem with that?
Nope. Trump isn’t saying that. But what he is saying is that getting rid of Iran is the best strategy for the world in general and it is long past time when the UK and the cushioned Europeans started paying their way.
That’s exactly what Trump is saying.
Maybe Trump should have got some buyin from his NATO allies beforehand, instead of doing this “America Alone” schtick. Then his allies would have been prepared to defend and clear the Strait of Hormuz.
But that’s not how Trump thinks. He’s not comfortable working with other nations.
“That’s exactly what Trump is saying. ”
NO, it is not.
(stop lying…you really aren’t that good at it)
What Trump is actually saying is that the UK (who stupidly refused to help him in the beginning, even in a merely symbolic capacity) is that UK can get their own tankers through the Strait, NOT that he wants them to “clean up” his mess. He’s not asking them to assist in destroying the remnants of Iran’s missile stockpiles. He’s telling them that since they refused to help him, he is now refusing to help them. A child should be able to understand this.
NATO “buying in” would amount to the European countries mandating rainbow flags on uniforms. The end.
The reason the UK can’t get their tankers through the strait is because Trump started a war. And now Trump is telling them to solve the problem themselves. That’s cleaning up his mess.
“A child should be able to understand this.”
Sorry, I briefly forgot who I was talking to. Get a child to explain it to you, KM…
There are reasons why there was no ‘getting NATO countries to buy in’ at the beginning of this — one of which I can put in the nutshell: follow the money.
But don’t let that stop you sweetheart; you’re on a roll.
PS. what ever made you think that this brouhaha over the Straits being closed wasn’t factored into the plan? A side quest if you will?
Clean it up? Hardly. Just one small task … one that any decent Western power can handle.
But apparently the US can’t.
More like our ‘allies’ inability (to say the least of their unwillingness) to do it — all laid out for the whole world to see. (with more to come perhaps; we’ll see and it would be hilarious if we did)
Oh noes!
Perhaps now is the time for Canada to step up and show NATO how committed they are to protecting their allies — to the canoes! to the kayaks! Escort the British ships, for King and Country, and international rules based order! Forward Middle Powers!
“But apparently the US can’t.”
Says who?
‘Can’t’ and ‘won’t’ are two very different things. The Americans alone, being firmly in the driver’s seat there, will decide when and where to take any further actions…not the Europeans, and certainly not the Iranians. The current Iranian regime, can’t actually ‘close’ the Strait of Hormuz because they don’t *own* the Strait of Hormuz. I suppose they could try to mine international waters and/or fire missiles at ships in international waters, if they really want to end up at war with THE ENTIRE WORLD.
We have been at war for 47 years with the Islamic Republic, and the war was declared by them. Let’s just get that one out there.
“We have been at war for 47 years with the Islamic Republic, and the war was declared by them. Let’s just get that one out there.”
I love reminding people that no, Donald Trump did NOT in fact start a war with Iran…he is actually ENDING a war with Iran.
Ha, ha, “ NATO buyin “. Ha, ha!
Really? What do they buy in, with? Virtue signaling? Their non-existent military prowess?
Sorry, Marmot, if NATO buys in, the operational reality, still is: “ Daddy and I killed the bear”.