The US-Iran War Has Begun

[Free]

Where to post this...

Smotrich says US fighting Iran is ‘best for us’ and Israel will not join

Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has described the renewed US war on Iran as the ideal outcome for Israel, provided Israelis do not have to fight it themselves.

"Israel has no interest in joining the campaign - the current situation is the best for us," Smotrich said on Tuesday in comments carried by Kan news.

Smotrich has repeatedly called for Israel to occupy the enclave, impose military rule and establish settlements there while calling for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

The war was renewed earlier this month with the US striking Iranian targets and Iran hitting US assets across the region. Israel has so far not joined in the fighting.

Smotrich nevertheless made clear that Israel still wants the war to deliver its strategic objectives.

"[We] must remember that the ultimate goal of Israel, and not necessarily the United States, is to undermine and weaken the regime in Iran - to the point of overthrowing it."

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

"Lets you and him fight".

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Midweek Update #20: Each Day The US Weakens Itself

What It Means For US-China Relations

phillipspobrien.substack.com

The US has now spent 11 straight nights attacking targets across Iran. The purpose behind these attacks seems to be Trump’s hope that if he does something, anything, to damage Iran, that the Iranian regime will get the message and give him peace terms that he can sell as “not a catastrophic loss”. These terms remain what they have been since March, some kind of concession on the nuclear question and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls. The amazing and depressing thing is that each night of these attacks is making things worse for the USA. It is bringing the US further away from achieving anything material and actually putting Iran in a stronger position. It reaffirms the pointlessness of the use of military force in this (and most) situations.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Since the Vietnam War, the US has been trying to use military force to solve complex political problems. Obama was able to create an agreement with Iran that had the backing of Russia and China as well as traditional US allies. Every indication was that the political solution was working. But Trump pulled out of the agreement, and is finding out why a limited agreement with broad international support is more effective than a military solution.

 

[Beebo Brink]

We created this problem in the first place by helping the British government topple the democratically elected president of Iran back in 1953. Mosaddegh had the audacity to believe that Iranians should be in charge of their own country and that Iranian oil profits should go to the Iranian people.

They have every reason in the world to distrust and hate the U.S. (and the British, the Germans, etc. who plundered the country).

 

[Free]

Oh-kay...

 

[detrius]

Oh-kay...

The "Stargate" movie and the subsequent series took already existing "ancient aliens" conspiracy theories and used them as the basis for the plot. "All theories are true" was part of the joke.

People who genuinely believe that "stargates exist" probably also ate the chewed bubblegum sticking to the underside of the desks back in school.

 

[detrius]

We created this problem in the first place by helping the British government topple the democratically elected president of Iran back in 1953. Mosaddegh had the audacity to believe that Iranians should be in charge of their own country and that Iranian oil profits should go to the Iranian people.

They have every reason in the world to distrust and hate the U.S. (and the British, the Germans, etc. who plundered the country).

What did we do now?

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

We created this problem in the first place by helping the British government topple the democratically elected president of Iran back in 1953. Mosaddegh had the audacity to believe that Iranians should be in charge of their own country and that Iranian oil profits should go to the Iranian people.

They have every reason in the world to distrust and hate the U.S. (and the British, the Germans, etc. who plundered the country).

The thing is that most normal Persians don't hate America per se. Every street sign in Tehran for example is bilingual containing the name in Farsi and English. Something you would for sure not expect. It's the government which hates America, well for good reason. The people distinguish between the American government, which most dislike, and the American people which then is a different story. Many would love to get rid of their Mullah regime, especially the youth.

There are also knockoffs of American fast food chains like Mash Donald's, PizzaHat, ZFC and Burger Queen. Which are quite succesful. Many people say also their food is better than in the original chains.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump ‘stuck’ in Iran war stalemate

“Trump appears to be stuck,” Eurasia Grp’s Gregory Brew. “While this pace of operations is manageable, it likely won’t be decisive. Iran can absorb US strikes without shifting its position on Strait.”

diplomatic.substack.com

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

People who genuinely believe that "stargates exist" probably also ate the chewed bubblegum sticking to the underside of the desks back in school.

NO NO! The gum has toxic chemicals in it! Cleansing those chemicals requires some cocaine or LSD!

But all kidding aside, I find these people fascinating from a psychology perspective. ANYONE can make errors or have blind spots. But a lot of these people seem to have a kind of inverted critical thinking such that they ONLY believe things that are false and often demonstrably false. You can convince them to believe anything as long as it's not actually true. It's less about simple stupidity and more of a weird personality disorder. I'll resist the urge to derail the thread further on this topic, haha.

 

[Casey Pelous]

.
...People who genuinely believe that "stargates exist" ....

I deeply suspect that all the young "spokesperson for the spiritual world" believes in is the value of continued "free will offerings" from her marks.

I do have to grudgingly give some props to her "both sides" rap about the lizard people. That was some high-octane bullshit! She really helped me see how judgmental I've been about the Reptilian Race. Now I'm congratulating myself even more for being so enlightened.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The photographer sentenced to 74 lashes by Iran

The courage and freedom of Tahmineh Monzavi

thenewworld.substack.com

Evernote Link

 

[Jopsy Pendragon]

Let me see if I have this right:

“Saudi Arabia, we just fought a stupid unnecessary war to keep Iran away from building nukes. Would you like some of that same dual-use enrichment technology, provided you make diplomatic peace with Israel?”

They must be falling all over themselves laughing right now.

WTGDF.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

‘Shameful’: Pentagon accused of cover-up over US military casualties in Iran war

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The Economist (Evernote link because paywall): America has few good options for a “massive attack” on Iran

 

[Casey Pelous]

The Economist (Evernote link because paywall): America has few good options for a “massive attack” on Iran

We're talking about These Idiots. They are so impressed with themselves that they, to paraphrase a famous movie line, "don't need no stinking good options."*

* Technically, that's a paraphrase of a misquoted quote, if you're a stickler for accuracy.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

We're talking about These Idiots. They are so impressed with themselves that they, to paraphrase a famous movie line, "don't need no stinking good options."*

* Technically, that's a paraphrase of a misquoted quote, if you're a stickler for accuracy.

They do, however, need some stinking missiles.

Trump “Paused” His War Because He Ran Out Of Bombs

Thirteen nights. A few bridges. 624 wounded Americans. And a President hiding behind a ceasefire he didn’t negotiate, for a war he can’t finish.

deanblundell.substack.com

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Midweek Update #21: Iran Is Toying With The USA

Plus: Iranian Strategy; How Does This End?

phillipspobrien.substack.com

Evernote Link

 

[Innula Zenovka]

China is reportedly supplying the Iranians with shoulder-fired missile launchers, which could be deployed as early as September

Is China Going In For The Kill?

Trump Has Left The US More Vulnerable Than It Has Been Since 1861

phillipspobrien.substack.com

Evernote Link

When the report emerged a few days ago that Chinese MANPADs might be on their way to Iran, Trump did not condemn or threaten; he pretended it was no big deal. This was what he said in the Oval Office when asked about the report.

“Well, that would be surprising. I mean, things like that happen, but that would be surprising. He [Xi] told me very strongly he wouldn’t partake, and he knows I’d be quite disappointed.”

“I mean, I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake, and President Putin said the same thing. I think you know I trust them… I don’t think they’d want to have me disappointed.”

It is so comforting to know that Trump trusts Xi and Putin (as both help Iranians kill US soldiers under his command).

Trump’s obsequiousness is at least partly down to the extraordinary weakness of the US at this time, a weakness he has to a large degree created. He has left US allies in the Indo-Pacific, for instance, with no prospect of real US aid in a war with China. The US military can barely fight Iran and is fast depleting its stocks of weapons in that war, can you imagine how quickly it would run out fighting China?

For US allies in the Middle East the reality must be even more alarming. Here we are, more than six months after the war started, and the Iranians are still launching effective attacks against them. They need to be careful about what they say publicly, but I can assure you that in private they look at the US as a dangerously unreliable and weakened partner.