John, First.. Huge thanks for all the long hours and non stop dedication to this community. Quotes from Bismarck always add such value. I think one you have used in the past is "We should scarcely know why we had fought" applies so nicely If Trump and Cabinet forget The Clear Objective, escalation can, and will lead to chaos. John, yes Iran's next move is at play.
I wish someone in the Whitehouse would limit Trumps Texting time.
John, your breakdown of this is the best. Not sure I entirely agree 100% with the Biden bit, but hey, I’m a Brit so it’s 80/20.
Without a doubt, one of history’s most extraordinary multi sortie air strikes. Incredible from the USAF, pure Dambusters stuff. Wise move from Rubio, encouraging China to pour cold water on the situation. For others, maybe time for a screen break.
The mullahs can’t afford to get dragged onto the haymaker, but nor can the US. It won’t take the punch, but it will be paying the blood bill. As it’s all going so well for the IDF, I fear they may escalate this even further to keep the momentum going (a Martyred Khamenei?). It could be the barb that anchors the US in place, wishcasting that whatever fills the void isn’t something even worse.
Sounds like an incredible few months ahead for you. Tough at the top. Looking forward to hearing your dispatches from the USS Georgia.
Never fear Dianne, we will be back aboard the Yellow Submarine, if only for a few weeks. But yes, I look back on the early days of our community with great nostalgia
John, The Breaking News "The 12 Day War" has come to a cease Fire rolled in over the next 24 hours. Tomorrow is going to be another roller coaster, buckle up!
In related news, the Babylon Bee earlier reported that "Trump has announced Thomas Massie is believed to be only weeks away from acquiring nuclear weapons" :)
Very good, JJ. Thankfully it is still a Soleimani style situation for now. Here is hoping it stays that way. The ball is in the IDF’s court. Will they take the flashing off ramp, even if it means giving up all this momentum with the Iranian regime looking so weak?
Looks like they have taken the slip road. Incredible work from the US administration if this holds. It’s difficult not thinking all this is ultimately kicking a can down the road, but maybe that’s the best it can get.
KO..Kieran is that a Knock Out? Iran may not, and most likely has very little left. I hope they realize it's time for discussion. It's in Irans hands how this proceeds.
Hi Dianne. Yes! I guess my humble question is this, are the Jacksonians, neocons and Republican evangelicals really the kind of people who would let an attack on a US base, retaliatory or not, go unanswered? The bait barely hit the water.
Hi Kieran, John commented on the division this morning. The majority consensus is No War. This can be defused if calm heads and clear objectives remain in place, and I believe the main objective will. Iran is weakened, but they have options. As for the Republican Party, that is Johns expertise. I do not see any major fractures, an escalation will cause cracks, and divisions. Trump doesn't want that. My thoughts since you asked. I am happy to continue with you as you want to discuss.
Yes, but who wants to cause the cracks and eruptions in the Republican Party??? That is the the Question! "Who wants Trump and the party to fail" Ideas Kieran...
and remember what I said to you earlier in outside Chat.. Who is watching this with a magnifying glass.
Fair question. I think it probably depends on how damaging the attack is. If it's small scale, I think even those groups can shrug it off... my biggest fear is John's scenario of a terror attack from a segment of the 1,000+(that we know of) Iranian nationals that crossed into the US and disappeared over the past several years. If civilians are gunned down in a shopping mall on US soil, all bets are off and it's post-9/11 sentiment all over again... my greatest hope is that this huge whiff in Qatar, in which there was forewarning and no real damage was done, is an off-ramp for Iran. They had to do something, but their something was really a big nothing, for fear of drawing the US in further. Fingers crossed.
For now I am deeply skeptical it will last... or even if it does among nation-states, that the terror cells won't eventually act, drawing the nation-states back in. You are right that is something we've been living with for too long, but this is a triggering moment... the announced ceasefire is certainly a step in the right direction though!
Understandable, But remember NATO, article 5, I think.. NATO is an insurance policy I remember John Hulsaman, our brilliant leader has said over and over again. You attack one you attack all. Maybe I am wrong. And, additionally No one in the Middle East wants this to continue.
Yes JJ, Iran needed to do something, agree. I hope the rhetoric comes down, it's putting gasoline on the fire. Sleeper cells are something we have all been living with for years. Fear has been there and will continue. So, imagine if Iran continues with a nuclear weapons program and Lone Wolfs got thier hands on enriched material and than we have dirty booms going off. I know it's a jump in capability but devastating.
Yes JJ, I agree mostly. Trump has already diluted it with his “thanks for the heads up and no casualties” line, as if the US is somehow obliged to give them room to respond just so they can save face. The fear, or perhaps the design, is that theological conviction overrides reality entirely. Iran will become a marketable bogeyman. If direct attacks fail to provoke a wider war, other methods may be used. The response could be reckless martyrdom at the cost of innocents. If that did happen, and I hope with everything in me that it does not, it might have less to do with the last several years and more to do with what has just occurred. Once that line is crossed, the event horizon disappears behind us and the US is fully drawn in, along with its beleaguered partners such as the UK. Again.
Kieran, Hopeful remember what the Main Mission was.. John's tile "The Soleimani Effect" and Johns reference today to the Bismarck quote "You draw the sword you roll the dice" three are at play here Israel, US and Iran. Our directive was get in and get out, very clear objective, Mission accomplished. I said earlier to continue down a road of others objectives and pushing things that are not in our best interest would be a defeat and quoted Bismarck "WE should scarcely know why we had fought".
John, First.. Huge thanks for all the long hours and non stop dedication to this community. Quotes from Bismarck always add such value. I think one you have used in the past is "We should scarcely know why we had fought" applies so nicely If Trump and Cabinet forget The Clear Objective, escalation can, and will lead to chaos. John, yes Iran's next move is at play.
I wish someone in the Whitehouse would limit Trumps Texting time.
John...Given the last couple of hours of news... I could not be more joyous about the Bismarck quotes today !
John, your breakdown of this is the best. Not sure I entirely agree 100% with the Biden bit, but hey, I’m a Brit so it’s 80/20.
Without a doubt, one of history’s most extraordinary multi sortie air strikes. Incredible from the USAF, pure Dambusters stuff. Wise move from Rubio, encouraging China to pour cold water on the situation. For others, maybe time for a screen break.
The mullahs can’t afford to get dragged onto the haymaker, but nor can the US. It won’t take the punch, but it will be paying the blood bill. As it’s all going so well for the IDF, I fear they may escalate this even further to keep the momentum going (a Martyred Khamenei?). It could be the barb that anchors the US in place, wishcasting that whatever fills the void isn’t something even worse.
Sounds like an incredible few months ahead for you. Tough at the top. Looking forward to hearing your dispatches from the USS Georgia.
Some days I truly miss those muddled, underwater discussions as well John.
Never fear Dianne, we will be back aboard the Yellow Submarine, if only for a few weeks. But yes, I look back on the early days of our community with great nostalgia
It sure would be nice to escape reality for a while.. and "Live on a Yellow Submarine"
John, The Breaking News "The 12 Day War" has come to a cease Fire rolled in over the next 24 hours. Tomorrow is going to be another roller coaster, buckle up!
Thank you John!
In related news, the Babylon Bee earlier reported that "Trump has announced Thomas Massie is believed to be only weeks away from acquiring nuclear weapons" :)
Very good, JJ. Thankfully it is still a Soleimani style situation for now. Here is hoping it stays that way. The ball is in the IDF’s court. Will they take the flashing off ramp, even if it means giving up all this momentum with the Iranian regime looking so weak?
Looks like they have taken the slip road. Incredible work from the US administration if this holds. It’s difficult not thinking all this is ultimately kicking a can down the road, but maybe that’s the best it can get.
Like a cornered, wounded fighter, Iran’s clerical leadership threw a wild punch. It missed. Now comes the KO?
KO..Kieran is that a Knock Out? Iran may not, and most likely has very little left. I hope they realize it's time for discussion. It's in Irans hands how this proceeds.
Hi Dianne. Yes! I guess my humble question is this, are the Jacksonians, neocons and Republican evangelicals really the kind of people who would let an attack on a US base, retaliatory or not, go unanswered? The bait barely hit the water.
Hi Kieran, John commented on the division this morning. The majority consensus is No War. This can be defused if calm heads and clear objectives remain in place, and I believe the main objective will. Iran is weakened, but they have options. As for the Republican Party, that is Johns expertise. I do not see any major fractures, an escalation will cause cracks, and divisions. Trump doesn't want that. My thoughts since you asked. I am happy to continue with you as you want to discuss.
Hi Dianne. Yes, I see your point. I guess the risk is that something bigger ends up having to happen just to balance the tension.
Yes, but who wants to cause the cracks and eruptions in the Republican Party??? That is the the Question! "Who wants Trump and the party to fail" Ideas Kieran...
and remember what I said to you earlier in outside Chat.. Who is watching this with a magnifying glass.
Fair question. I think it probably depends on how damaging the attack is. If it's small scale, I think even those groups can shrug it off... my biggest fear is John's scenario of a terror attack from a segment of the 1,000+(that we know of) Iranian nationals that crossed into the US and disappeared over the past several years. If civilians are gunned down in a shopping mall on US soil, all bets are off and it's post-9/11 sentiment all over again... my greatest hope is that this huge whiff in Qatar, in which there was forewarning and no real damage was done, is an off-ramp for Iran. They had to do something, but their something was really a big nothing, for fear of drawing the US in further. Fingers crossed.
JJ.. it seems that a the 12 Day War is over. Check the news.
For now I am deeply skeptical it will last... or even if it does among nation-states, that the terror cells won't eventually act, drawing the nation-states back in. You are right that is something we've been living with for too long, but this is a triggering moment... the announced ceasefire is certainly a step in the right direction though!
Understandable, But remember NATO, article 5, I think.. NATO is an insurance policy I remember John Hulsaman, our brilliant leader has said over and over again. You attack one you attack all. Maybe I am wrong. And, additionally No one in the Middle East wants this to continue.
Yes JJ, Iran needed to do something, agree. I hope the rhetoric comes down, it's putting gasoline on the fire. Sleeper cells are something we have all been living with for years. Fear has been there and will continue. So, imagine if Iran continues with a nuclear weapons program and Lone Wolfs got thier hands on enriched material and than we have dirty booms going off. I know it's a jump in capability but devastating.
Yes JJ, I agree mostly. Trump has already diluted it with his “thanks for the heads up and no casualties” line, as if the US is somehow obliged to give them room to respond just so they can save face. The fear, or perhaps the design, is that theological conviction overrides reality entirely. Iran will become a marketable bogeyman. If direct attacks fail to provoke a wider war, other methods may be used. The response could be reckless martyrdom at the cost of innocents. If that did happen, and I hope with everything in me that it does not, it might have less to do with the last several years and more to do with what has just occurred. Once that line is crossed, the event horizon disappears behind us and the US is fully drawn in, along with its beleaguered partners such as the UK. Again.
That is my fear as well, Kieran. Hoping for the best, expecting the worst!
Whatever happens the world keeps spinning maybe with a bit more wobble!
I think the ball is now back on the US side of the court.
Kieran, Hopeful remember what the Main Mission was.. John's tile "The Soleimani Effect" and Johns reference today to the Bismarck quote "You draw the sword you roll the dice" three are at play here Israel, US and Iran. Our directive was get in and get out, very clear objective, Mission accomplished. I said earlier to continue down a road of others objectives and pushing things that are not in our best interest would be a defeat and quoted Bismarck "WE should scarcely know why we had fought".
Breaking News.. Complete Cease Fire between Ian and Israel
This is being called The 12 Day War..
Game, Set, Match.. possibly Kieran
I’ll accept a tie break and pause for rain. I think there’s even a spectator in the crowd quietly rooting for you.
All Good my Friend... Occasional Rain! Get Rest..I will try not to be grumpy to you in the morning, I just do not like 4 am. Sleep well.