War with Iran

[forgetful]

And Iran says that they will go after desalination plants in the area if that happens.

I don't know if Trump realizes this, or if he does and is simply lashing out, but the leaders of Iran have very little to lose. Escalation won't end this. They know they have Trump by the short-hairs. The United States is fighting a deeply unpopular war, isolated, running out of weapons, and facing looming economic hardship.

Iran has little incentive to negotiate. They know that the United States cannot permanently open the straight via force. It's very likely going to have to be a negotiated ending where the U.S. can claim a tactical victory, even though everyone would know we essentially lost strategically.

This was always a war where we could tactically win, but strategically lose, because we had the most to lose from a protracted, unproductive (read just bombing, no regime change, no change in nuclear material) conflict.

Once the tactical victory was obtained, Iran had nothing to lose, but an immense opportunity to cause global economic pain. The US had everything to lose, and a poor ability to inflict lasting change/impact.

[Billy Hoyle]

What's the worst that could happen?

https://x.com/i/status/2035711636523143547

[MU82]

And Iran says that they will go after desalination plants in the area if that happens.

I don't know if Trump realizes this, or if he does and is simply lashing out, but the leaders of Iran have very little to lose. Escalation won't end this. They know they have Trump by the short-hairs. The United States is fighting a deeply unpopular war, isolated, running out of weapons, and facing looming economic hardship.

Iran has little incentive to negotiate. They know that the United States cannot permanently open the straight via force. It's very likely going to have to be a negotiated ending where the U.S. can claim a tactical victory, even though everyone would know we essentially lost strategically.

Yup to all of that.

And remember the very first excuse for the war: to make life better for everyday Iranians? Well, if Capt. Bone Spur goes through with his threat, life certainly will be better for them without access to electricity, natural gas and drinkable water! But hey, when he bombed a school, killed 150+ kids, and then lied and lied and lied about doing so, it was a solid sign that he didn't really give two sh!ts about everyday Iranians.

As for the deadline itself ... whatever happened to the "severe consequences" Putin was gonna face last August if he didn't agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine in two weeks?

[Pakuni]

And Iran says that they will go after desalination plants in the area if that happens.

I don't know if Trump realizes this, or if he does and is simply lashing out, but the leaders of Iran have very little to lose. Escalation won't end this. They know they have Trump by the short-hairs. The United States is fighting a deeply unpopular war, isolated, running out of weapons, and facing looming economic hardship.

Iran has little incentive to negotiate. They know that the United States cannot permanently open the straight via force. It's very likely going to have to be a negotiated ending where the U.S. can claim a tactical victory, even though everyone would know we essentially lost strategically.

To add to this, the Iranian regime does not care about and faces no consequences for the hardships endured by its populace. It may in fact work to their benefit, confirming their claims that the Great Satan and Israel wish to do the people harm.

[CreightonWarrior]

What's the worst that could happen?

https://x.com/i/status/2035711636523143547

too bad Kristi Noem's no longer in charge. That would've solved the growing "ESA" dog crisis at airports.

[Uncle Rico]

https://theonion.com/tips-for-saving-on-gas/

[The Sultan]

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mhnwu6dcn22c

We have really over-romanticized parts of WWII in a way that people who actually fought in it would never find appropriate.

[Uncle Rico]

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mhnwu6dcn22c

We have really over-romanticized parts of WWII in a way that people who actually fought in it would never find appropriate.

Lindsay was in the Air Force for years and knows the horrors of war like defending a pilot who smoked weed.

[Uncle Rico]

https://bsky.app/profile/warrenjwells.bsky.social/post/3mhocpr3jwk22

lol

Entire article:

https://no01.substack.com/p/march-19-21-god-is-a-comedian

[MU82]

More on the drunk-ass Fox News weekend host's obsession with this being a Jesus-sanctioned war:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/us/politics/hegseth-christianity-military.html?

He spoke of "overwhelming force" and the U.S. military's unmatched ability to rain "death and destruction from above" on its "apocalyptic" Iranian foes.

Then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing in the Pentagon, issued a call to the American people for a specific kind of wartime prayer. He asked them to pray for victory in battle and the safety of their troops.

"Every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches," he said, "in the name of Jesus Christ."

At a time when the U.S. and Israeli militaries are dropping thousands of bombs on a majority-Shiite Muslim nation, the explicitly Christian nature of Mr. Hegseth's call stood out.

More than any top American military leader in recent history, Mr. Hegseth has framed U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America as bigger than politics or foreign policy. Often he has imbued these actions with a Christian moral underpinning that suggests they are divinely sanctioned.

[Hards Alumni]

Yeah, well he has a Deus Vult tattoo, what did you expect.

[TallTitan34]

TACO Monday

[Uncle Rico]

TACO Monday

"Sir, your incredible leadership is admirable for how you navigated us through this war and crisis."

[TSmith34, Inc.]

https://bsky.app/profile/warrenjwells.bsky.social/post/3mhocpr3jwk22

lol

Entire article:

https://no01.substack.com/p/march-19-21-god-is-a-comedian

The last bit of this could be cross-posted to the Investing thread. I sure hope someone is taking notes for future prosecutions.

"Friday's press gaggle. Barely exaggerated: at 12:03 PM, President Trump told reporters he wanted a ceasefire with Iran. At 12:05 he declared victory. At 12:07 he announced he was sending Marines. At 12:08 he said no boots on the ground. At 12:11 he said he did not want a ceasefire. At 12:16 he declared victory again. At 12:17 he asked for a ceasefire. At 12:23 he told NATO they were cowards. At 12:29 he said Iran was begging for a ceasefire. At 12:31 he said everything was perfect. At 12:36 he said $500 oil was a good thing. At 12:37 he demanded Iran open Hormuz. At 12:39 he said Hormuz was never closed. At 12:41 he said the US was not at war with Iran. At 12:42 he declared victory in Iran.

By 3:43 PM he told CBS he doesn't want a ceasefire. By 5:13 PM - 13 minutes after futures markets closed for the weekend, in a coincidence that should be studied in every securities fraud textbook - he posted on Truth Social that the US is "getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts". The S&P reversed more than 1% in seconds. QQQ had already surged 1.1% in the 80 minutes before the announcement, with call options flowing in at a pace that suggests someone, somewhere, had an itinerary."

[Uncle Rico]

The last bit of this could be cross-posted to the Investing thread. I sure hope someone is taking notes for future prosecutions.

"Friday's press gaggle. Barely exaggerated: at 12:03 PM, President Trump told reporters he wanted a ceasefire with Iran. At 12:05 he declared victory. At 12:07 he announced he was sending Marines. At 12:08 he said no boots on the ground. At 12:11 he said he did not want a ceasefire. At 12:16 he declared victory again. At 12:17 he asked for a ceasefire. At 12:23 he told NATO they were cowards. At 12:29 he said Iran was begging for a ceasefire. At 12:31 he said everything was perfect. At 12:36 he said $500 oil was a good thing. At 12:37 he demanded Iran open Hormuz. At 12:39 he said Hormuz was never closed. At 12:41 he said the US was not at war with Iran. At 12:42 he declared victory in Iran.

By 3:43 PM he told CBS he doesn't want a ceasefire. By 5:13 PM - 13 minutes after futures markets closed for the weekend, in a coincidence that should be studied in every securities fraud textbook - he posted on Truth Social that the US is "getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts". The S&P reversed more than 1% in seconds. QQQ had already surged 1.1% in the 80 minutes before the announcement, with call options flowing in at a pace that suggests someone, somewhere, had an itinerary."

"Greatest economy the world has ever seen"

[Uncle Rico]

https://bsky.app/profile/mattgertz.bsky.social/post/3mhq3lll2ac2x

Incredible

[MU82]

Incredible

Not really. More like "expected."

[Uncle Rico]

Not really. More like "expected."

I just want someone to try and convince him the troops could win the Super Bowl and let him cook

[MU82]

I just want someone to try and convince him the troops could win the Super Bowl and let him cook

This was also expected:

Republican Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff running for California governor, seized over 500,000 ballots from last year's special election, saying he's investigating alleged discrepancies. Officials disputed his claim. (From the L.A. Times)

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

https://bsky.app/profile/mattgertz.bsky.social/post/3mhq3lll2ac2x

Incredible

I'm at LaGuardia now.  My 9:00am flight was obviously cancelled.  I somehow found an alternate flight just after the 2:00 reopening to get me to Michigan for Tuesday business meetings.

ICE is all over although it seems like they are just wandering around outside the security line.  At least their faces are not covered.

[Pakuni]

When you've lost even Gerard Baker ...

https://x.com/gerardtbaker/status/2036050876389863708?s=20

[Uncle Rico]

I'm at LaGuardia now.  My 9:00am flight was obviously cancelled.  I somehow found an alternate flight just after the 2:00 reopening to get me to Michigan for Tuesday business meetings.

ICE is all over although it seems like they are just wandering around outside the security line.  At least their faces are not covered.

It's called a "freedoms delay"

[Uncle Rico]

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/state-department-worldwide-caution-22090968.php

Luckily, we have top people working in positions to keep Americans safe and identify potential threats. 

[TSmith34, Inc.]

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/state-department-worldwide-caution-22090968.php

Luckily, we have top people working in positions to keep Americans safe and identify potential threats. 

[Uncle Rico]

Sleepy time

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mhqllqpmns2c