Nothing good can come from continuing death and violence that puts every Israeli and Jew at risk of retaliation over the next years and solves nothing. Iran is backed by Russia, Trump’s BFF, and its nuclear program will continue. There will be no democratic Iran out of the ashes, as some pundits speculate. The same deluded thinking preceded our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now we can look forward to spiking oil prices to add to the falling dollar, demise of good faith government at home, and tariff-induced price increases on fewer and less quality goods. No manipulation of government data can disguise what we are seeing in our daily lives - and it’s only going to get worse.
But, hey, at least Trump gets a big, expensive military show for his birthday and nice respite from causing and cheering chaos and destruction everywhere.
While the Middle East is suffering this new wave of violence, we are suffering Bill Kristol reverting to his Neocon roots, followed by Sarah creating new and novel excuses for ICE Barbie and fascists cuffing Padilla. I think I need Ilon’s pill box today.
This is such a weird moment in history RE: Israel vs. Iran. Normally the Israelis are considered "the good guys" in the Western World, but with what's going on in Gaza, people are looking at Israel kinda like the United States after Iraq war 2.
What's weirding me out is that I THINK I sorta agree with Bill that it makes sense to take out Iran's nuclear capability because they have shown they cannot be trusted. JFC, does that make me a Neocon?
What's even worse is that I keep having thoughts about our stupid and easily flattered president, getting smoke blown up his ass by Bibi on how badass it would be for Trump to be a WAR president! W. was kind of a useful idiot by the defense industry and it's not hard to see Trump being used in a similar way...as long as he gets a taste. "Mission Accomplished" but even better....people are saying the most accomplished military commander in history.
The appeal of the decision from the Northern District of California will give the Supreme Court a golden early opportunity to begin "interpreting" their horrendous presidential immunity decision in ways that can limit its damage going forward. The country needs them to do that at the very least; I hope and pray that they realize it.
For all of you Bibi and/or Israel haters aghast at the attack on Iran, the weakening of Iran’s drone and ballistic missile capability no question helps Ukraine as Iran was an important source of weapons for Russia. I assume this fact will make your brain hurt.
(and of course—cough cough—just because you hate the one Jewish state or the current leader of the one Jewish state, that does necessarily not make you antisemitic. It just puts you on the same side as them).
I do worry that Bibi kicked up a hornets nest in the Middle East just as there is less sympathy for Israel in how they are treating the Palestinians. Yeah yeah, I understand Hamas are terrorists, etc. but October 7 was kinda like 9-11 was here - people lost their minds. Israel had a right to take out Hamas, but we've reached the point where the IDF are shooting starving people, trying to get to relief drops. Not a good look for Israel.
I think the Israeli people are being strung along by Bibi because he doesn't want to face the music with his domestic issues. Keep kicking the can down the road via a new theater of war. Maybe it's worth if if the Iranian regime collapses and some moderates take over, but we tried that in Iraq and it was largely considered a bad idea.
Good thing we've got Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth, Ka$h Patel and the Fox News crew on the case to ensure there are no terrorist attacks on the homeland.
Although Israel is taking a big risk, particularly if its few allies provide no support, its timing could not be better. Iran is the weakest it has been for at least three decades. It literally has no useful allies, or even friends. When Assad fell in Syria, Russia left and no longer cares about its former Syrian partner, Iran. And Russia is now producing its own weapons to use against Ukraine, and Iran has lost an important customer. Iran also lost its land bridge to Lebanon and can't support its proxy army Hezbollah, which has been decimated by Israel anyway. As has Hamas. So the only group left to carry on an Iranian proxy war are the Houthis, who are physically blocked from Iran by the Saudis and Emiiratis, both of whom hate Iran nearly as much as Israel. Due to sanctions, Iran is forced to sell its oil , mostly to China, at well-below market rates. It's generally well-educated people lack basic necessities, because nearly all of the money coming in has gone to the theocracy, the military and police which are needed to protect the government against its own citizens, to pay for development of nuclear weapons, and to support its proxy armies and other terrorist groups. Most ordinary Iranians hate their own government, whose sole purpose seems to be to destroy Israel, based on fanatical religious beliefs that the rest of the Middle Eastern Muslim countries have moved on from. If one needs evidence, where is the formerly feared "Arab Street" when it comes to Gaza? For any country with 10 million people (2 million of which are Palestinians) to attack a country with a strong military and a population of 90 million, has to be risky, but the moment may never be more propitious, and if Iran's nuclear weapons capability is destroyed, most of the rest of the world and the Iranian people will be thrilled. But probably not our President who, as always, wanted the credit without doing the hard work.
Only 50% of Iran's people speak Farsi as their first Language. This, like Spain is the borders of an ancient empire. The people hate the regime. Do the Kurds want to be free? do the Arabs? do the Turkmens? The Azeris…with very little this Persia will come apart.
I would sincerely like to see the Iranian regime collapse and a new moderate, non-Islamic law government take over. The reverse Shah, but with someone not a puppet to us, just someone who wants to take their country into the modern world.
IF that happened, Trump would absolutely take credit and begin lobbying for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sorry Bill, I don't share your views on the felon being supported in any way. That the bombing was something you supported is fine but the repercussions are coming and there is nobody home who can actually manage them.
Re: Tinderbox: Old news for most of the cognizant world. A newer generation now attempts to puzzle out an ancient problem of religious enmity as absurdity reigns yet again. Let them have at it, full bore. Only death, blood and destruction create new eras and regimes. History calls impatiently while the False Messiah waits to feast on the martial carrion and establish golf courses on the fertile ground of carcasses remaining.
Let me get this straight. Um, why would an illegal, or legal immigrant with criminal intent want a job on a farm, in a restaurant, or in the hospitality industry? Also, can't dismiss #47's blame on the Biden administration.
I have never been more proud of Israel. Anyone who believes in liberal democracy, the civilized world, the entire post-enlightment project ought to be proud as well. As they are doing in Gaza, and as they did in Lebanon, they are defending the values of the West against forces of evil and darkness. The Iranian Regime is a self-proclaimed genocidal regime that wishes to kill all Jews and their defenders. Same with Hamas. Same with Hezbollah. So sad that some in the West are still so utterly misinformed about this and spread the propaganda of Israel's enemies like it’s a blood libel.
I have never voted for DJT or for a Republican officeholder seeking Federal office since 2015 (I have voted for Repubs in state and local elections). That noted, if we are going to claim that we are non-tribal, then we must acknowledge even a Trump led Admin gets things right from time to time. The Obama Admin approach to Iran was an obvious mistake. The JCPOA was an obvious mistake. If DJT had not pulled out of it, Iran would be the precipice of a nuclear weapon today by having stayed within the guidelines of the JCPOA as even Obama admitted they would be at the end of the JCPOA. The bet the JCPOA made is that the Iranian Regime would lose their genocidal ambitions. That was a bad bet. The max pressure campaign in Trump 1.0 was clearly better than the Obama approach. However, when Biden (who I voted for) came into office, they rejected the max pressure campaign that had been working and dusted off the Obama approach attempting a reproshma with Iran. That again failed which in part led to Oct. 7 as Iran was able to further support its proxies
Now Israel has taken the bold and correct step to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and using it to threaten Israel with a final Jewish genocide. The only folks who are unhappy are the ones who want to see the only Jewish state weak and undermined by Iran’s genocidal ambitions and shame on those people for their moral failure.
The nuclear deal you so deride with Iran actually granted us entrance, access and presence into that God forsaken oppressive regime in Tehran that toyed with plutonium and cozied up to our enemies before. With that agreement, inspections would have been consistently performed and actual UN IAEA would have been established there. Any mischief or deceit by Iran to the agreement was assigned sanctions. Any any true Iranian compliance lifted them which would have relieved the oppressed citizens living under that theocratic garbage since 1979. With IAEA presence, any true or personnel threats or harm would have had the entire world looking at Iran down the barrel of a gun...a risk, but Iran would have lost more than gained. It was a back door diplomatic approach which also stands to reason that someone as grand-standingly obtuse as Trump regime 1, of course, would have it kiboshed. Idiots. At that time prior no Iranian shots were fired. Aggression, and nuclear build-up was controlled. No lives were lost either. So...If the Obama plan was such a loser, then why would Trump regime part 2 start entertaining the same idea recently...even they are plagiarizing thieves without any innovative solutions to call their own? Israel was spitting mad and wasn't having it. Hence this. Don't kid yourself...this will be a holy war...with collateral damage aimed at the hapless citizens of Iran and more than likely Israel too even though that have that Iron dome. Oh well, maybe this will give the Palestinians a break to heal in the meantime.
You are as self-deluded as the Magas are about the 2020 election. The IAEA and international community were going to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. That is rich! Sorry if Israel citizens don’t trust the good judgment of people like you, and the IAEA to keep the Iranians from doing what they wanna do. Moreover, even Obama admitted that as the JCPOA sunsetted, Iran would be on the doorstep of a nuclear bomb. If you have to make things up to make your point, you don’t have the facts on your side.
Iran has always been on the doorstep of a nuclear bomb.....this deal made sure foreign inspectors were there to tie up and stall the situation along with prizes for being compliant like lifting sanctions and reinstating sanctions if they were bad little mullahs. Since Trump pulled out of it, Obama was correct to say that JCPOA was back to the basics of "sabre rattling" and the quest for plutonium. There is cause and effect in all of this. For the most part, if Israel is prepared to "go it alone", then let it.
Why did Trump pull out of the Iran deal... don't give Netanyahu credit for anything. What are you hoping is going to happen? Trump is suddenly become sane? good grief.
Nothing good can come from continuing death and violence that puts every Israeli and Jew at risk of retaliation over the next years and solves nothing. Iran is backed by Russia, Trump’s BFF, and its nuclear program will continue. There will be no democratic Iran out of the ashes, as some pundits speculate. The same deluded thinking preceded our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now we can look forward to spiking oil prices to add to the falling dollar, demise of good faith government at home, and tariff-induced price increases on fewer and less quality goods. No manipulation of government data can disguise what we are seeing in our daily lives - and it’s only going to get worse.
But, hey, at least Trump gets a big, expensive military show for his birthday and nice respite from causing and cheering chaos and destruction everywhere.
While the Middle East is suffering this new wave of violence, we are suffering Bill Kristol reverting to his Neocon roots, followed by Sarah creating new and novel excuses for ICE Barbie and fascists cuffing Padilla. I think I need Ilon’s pill box today.
"Hope" is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —
And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard —
And sore must be the storm —
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm —
I've heard it in the chillest land —
And on the strangest Sea —
Yet — never — in Extremity,
It asked a crumb — of me.
This is such a weird moment in history RE: Israel vs. Iran. Normally the Israelis are considered "the good guys" in the Western World, but with what's going on in Gaza, people are looking at Israel kinda like the United States after Iraq war 2.
What's weirding me out is that I THINK I sorta agree with Bill that it makes sense to take out Iran's nuclear capability because they have shown they cannot be trusted. JFC, does that make me a Neocon?
What's even worse is that I keep having thoughts about our stupid and easily flattered president, getting smoke blown up his ass by Bibi on how badass it would be for Trump to be a WAR president! W. was kind of a useful idiot by the defense industry and it's not hard to see Trump being used in a similar way...as long as he gets a taste. "Mission Accomplished" but even better....people are saying the most accomplished military commander in history.
Hope may spring eternal, but using "rethink" in the same sentence with "Trump administration" is delusional.
I think in Trump's sick mind, he thought deporting all the farm workers and hotel workers would release a lot of jobs for black people. "Black jobs."
The appeal of the decision from the Northern District of California will give the Supreme Court a golden early opportunity to begin "interpreting" their horrendous presidential immunity decision in ways that can limit its damage going forward. The country needs them to do that at the very least; I hope and pray that they realize it.
They are free to overturn their decision, at any time.
For all of you Bibi and/or Israel haters aghast at the attack on Iran, the weakening of Iran’s drone and ballistic missile capability no question helps Ukraine as Iran was an important source of weapons for Russia. I assume this fact will make your brain hurt.
(and of course—cough cough—just because you hate the one Jewish state or the current leader of the one Jewish state, that does necessarily not make you antisemitic. It just puts you on the same side as them).
That's a solid point on the drones re: Ukraine.
I do worry that Bibi kicked up a hornets nest in the Middle East just as there is less sympathy for Israel in how they are treating the Palestinians. Yeah yeah, I understand Hamas are terrorists, etc. but October 7 was kinda like 9-11 was here - people lost their minds. Israel had a right to take out Hamas, but we've reached the point where the IDF are shooting starving people, trying to get to relief drops. Not a good look for Israel.
I think the Israeli people are being strung along by Bibi because he doesn't want to face the music with his domestic issues. Keep kicking the can down the road via a new theater of war. Maybe it's worth if if the Iranian regime collapses and some moderates take over, but we tried that in Iraq and it was largely considered a bad idea.
Good thing we've got Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth, Ka$h Patel and the Fox News crew on the case to ensure there are no terrorist attacks on the homeland.
Although Israel is taking a big risk, particularly if its few allies provide no support, its timing could not be better. Iran is the weakest it has been for at least three decades. It literally has no useful allies, or even friends. When Assad fell in Syria, Russia left and no longer cares about its former Syrian partner, Iran. And Russia is now producing its own weapons to use against Ukraine, and Iran has lost an important customer. Iran also lost its land bridge to Lebanon and can't support its proxy army Hezbollah, which has been decimated by Israel anyway. As has Hamas. So the only group left to carry on an Iranian proxy war are the Houthis, who are physically blocked from Iran by the Saudis and Emiiratis, both of whom hate Iran nearly as much as Israel. Due to sanctions, Iran is forced to sell its oil , mostly to China, at well-below market rates. It's generally well-educated people lack basic necessities, because nearly all of the money coming in has gone to the theocracy, the military and police which are needed to protect the government against its own citizens, to pay for development of nuclear weapons, and to support its proxy armies and other terrorist groups. Most ordinary Iranians hate their own government, whose sole purpose seems to be to destroy Israel, based on fanatical religious beliefs that the rest of the Middle Eastern Muslim countries have moved on from. If one needs evidence, where is the formerly feared "Arab Street" when it comes to Gaza? For any country with 10 million people (2 million of which are Palestinians) to attack a country with a strong military and a population of 90 million, has to be risky, but the moment may never be more propitious, and if Iran's nuclear weapons capability is destroyed, most of the rest of the world and the Iranian people will be thrilled. But probably not our President who, as always, wanted the credit without doing the hard work.
Only 50% of Iran's people speak Farsi as their first Language. This, like Spain is the borders of an ancient empire. The people hate the regime. Do the Kurds want to be free? do the Arabs? do the Turkmens? The Azeris…with very little this Persia will come apart.
I would sincerely like to see the Iranian regime collapse and a new moderate, non-Islamic law government take over. The reverse Shah, but with someone not a puppet to us, just someone who wants to take their country into the modern world.
IF that happened, Trump would absolutely take credit and begin lobbying for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sorry Bill, I don't share your views on the felon being supported in any way. That the bombing was something you supported is fine but the repercussions are coming and there is nobody home who can actually manage them.
Re: Tinderbox: Old news for most of the cognizant world. A newer generation now attempts to puzzle out an ancient problem of religious enmity as absurdity reigns yet again. Let them have at it, full bore. Only death, blood and destruction create new eras and regimes. History calls impatiently while the False Messiah waits to feast on the martial carrion and establish golf courses on the fertile ground of carcasses remaining.
Let me get this straight. Um, why would an illegal, or legal immigrant with criminal intent want a job on a farm, in a restaurant, or in the hospitality industry? Also, can't dismiss #47's blame on the Biden administration.
Isn't anybody worrying about what Iran's allies, Russia, China, N Korea, might do. We could be pulled into this if all hell breaks loose.
you sound like the MAGA folks who want Ukraine to surrender to Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzPr186GUk4
I have never been more proud of Israel. Anyone who believes in liberal democracy, the civilized world, the entire post-enlightment project ought to be proud as well. As they are doing in Gaza, and as they did in Lebanon, they are defending the values of the West against forces of evil and darkness. The Iranian Regime is a self-proclaimed genocidal regime that wishes to kill all Jews and their defenders. Same with Hamas. Same with Hezbollah. So sad that some in the West are still so utterly misinformed about this and spread the propaganda of Israel's enemies like it’s a blood libel.
I have never voted for DJT or for a Republican officeholder seeking Federal office since 2015 (I have voted for Repubs in state and local elections). That noted, if we are going to claim that we are non-tribal, then we must acknowledge even a Trump led Admin gets things right from time to time. The Obama Admin approach to Iran was an obvious mistake. The JCPOA was an obvious mistake. If DJT had not pulled out of it, Iran would be the precipice of a nuclear weapon today by having stayed within the guidelines of the JCPOA as even Obama admitted they would be at the end of the JCPOA. The bet the JCPOA made is that the Iranian Regime would lose their genocidal ambitions. That was a bad bet. The max pressure campaign in Trump 1.0 was clearly better than the Obama approach. However, when Biden (who I voted for) came into office, they rejected the max pressure campaign that had been working and dusted off the Obama approach attempting a reproshma with Iran. That again failed which in part led to Oct. 7 as Iran was able to further support its proxies
Now Israel has taken the bold and correct step to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and using it to threaten Israel with a final Jewish genocide. The only folks who are unhappy are the ones who want to see the only Jewish state weak and undermined by Iran’s genocidal ambitions and shame on those people for their moral failure.
The nuclear deal you so deride with Iran actually granted us entrance, access and presence into that God forsaken oppressive regime in Tehran that toyed with plutonium and cozied up to our enemies before. With that agreement, inspections would have been consistently performed and actual UN IAEA would have been established there. Any mischief or deceit by Iran to the agreement was assigned sanctions. Any any true Iranian compliance lifted them which would have relieved the oppressed citizens living under that theocratic garbage since 1979. With IAEA presence, any true or personnel threats or harm would have had the entire world looking at Iran down the barrel of a gun...a risk, but Iran would have lost more than gained. It was a back door diplomatic approach which also stands to reason that someone as grand-standingly obtuse as Trump regime 1, of course, would have it kiboshed. Idiots. At that time prior no Iranian shots were fired. Aggression, and nuclear build-up was controlled. No lives were lost either. So...If the Obama plan was such a loser, then why would Trump regime part 2 start entertaining the same idea recently...even they are plagiarizing thieves without any innovative solutions to call their own? Israel was spitting mad and wasn't having it. Hence this. Don't kid yourself...this will be a holy war...with collateral damage aimed at the hapless citizens of Iran and more than likely Israel too even though that have that Iron dome. Oh well, maybe this will give the Palestinians a break to heal in the meantime.
You are as self-deluded as the Magas are about the 2020 election. The IAEA and international community were going to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. That is rich! Sorry if Israel citizens don’t trust the good judgment of people like you, and the IAEA to keep the Iranians from doing what they wanna do. Moreover, even Obama admitted that as the JCPOA sunsetted, Iran would be on the doorstep of a nuclear bomb. If you have to make things up to make your point, you don’t have the facts on your side.
Iran has always been on the doorstep of a nuclear bomb.....this deal made sure foreign inspectors were there to tie up and stall the situation along with prizes for being compliant like lifting sanctions and reinstating sanctions if they were bad little mullahs. Since Trump pulled out of it, Obama was correct to say that JCPOA was back to the basics of "sabre rattling" and the quest for plutonium. There is cause and effect in all of this. For the most part, if Israel is prepared to "go it alone", then let it.
so no U.S weapsons to Israel, is what you would like to see?
Why did Trump pull out of the Iran deal... don't give Netanyahu credit for anything. What are you hoping is going to happen? Trump is suddenly become sane? good grief.
“Safer and peaceful Middle East due to American action.” Where have I heard that before. Some things never change….