41 Comments
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Hat Bailey's avatar

I can't say my hopes for a Trump rescue of our hopes for peace are all that high, but this is very disappointing. From a President of peace, to pushing to the edge of unimaginable destruction and the continuing nightmare of genocide in Gaza is very disturbing.

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TedTheKitty's avatar

The Defense Politics Asia youtube channel posted a video earlier this morning stating there is possibly a Ukrainian attempt at an offensive in Belgorod (supposedly that comes from Russian sources). In light of that, some of the very, very unusual air traffic I've seen this morning makes more sense. Also very disturbing since Trump & Putin are talking today.

Over the past 2-3 weeks I've been seeing activity in the Persian Gulf; Poseidon P8A & MQ4C Triton (which can be armed) flying regular patrols, more than likely to try and intimidate the Iranians. Trump should know that the Iranians are not at all afraid to shoot down a Reaper or Triton drone if it gets too nosey.

This seems to be a very unstable moment in conflicts both in Europe & the ME.

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Steghorn21's avatar

If true, it's a classic Zelensky ploy: when Trump and Putin get chummy, launch some drones on civilian targets or do some other crazy thing. It's getting tired.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Thanks. Haven't seen that about Belgorod yet. Could that lead Trump to simply walk away?

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TedTheKitty's avatar

The odd thing about it is, we had both a Poseidon P8A & a KC135 Rivet Joint flying OVER the Black Sea, not far from the coastline near Sochi. They always stay over land on the Romanian coast. We haven't done that since the Russian jets peed on our drone & crashed it. So, what are we doing? Who are we watching? Ukrainians? Russians? or both? Is this supposed to give DJT leverage over VVP or is this another UK/EU plan like Kursk?

For those interested, here is the link to the DPA video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07WZ3QHIKqo

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TomA's avatar

Trump's urgency in getting a cease fire in Ukraine is an indication that war in the Middle East is imminent. The Yemen attack is intended to provoke a response that justifies escalation on Iran. Russia and China know this and see these developments as a game of chicken. Trump is walking up to the brink of WW3 in order to coerce others into capitulation. Will it work? More likely is that Russia will humor Trump and continue blowing smoke up his behind, and China will stay on the sidelines waiting for Trump to over extend himself. Trump's tactic is known as the "Crazy Eddy Gambit" or "Stop me before I kill again." Yes, it's insane; which tells you how bad things really are behind the scenes.

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Steghorn21's avatar

He hasn't realised that this tactic only works on domestic enemies, not foreign ones. They are far more sophisticated. Trump forgets that Putin is what he aspires to be: a strong leader who really did make his country great again. He and Lavrov can spot his moves a mile off.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Something like this.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Breaking (between appointments): Yemen strikes Israel with ballistic missile.

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Joe's avatar

thanks I looked it up

Israeli media: Sirens sounded in Beersheba and Nevatim in the Negev as a ballistic missile had been launched from Yemen

https://english.almanar.com.lb/

apparently reported is one ballistic missile, perhaps more a message than an intent to escalate

I think Trump hoped and at least I thought possible by US attacking Yemen on their own without Israel that Yemen would leave Israel out of a counterattack - maybe they are just saying that won't be the case

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TedTheKitty's avatar

Almayadeen is reporting that too, on their news ticker at the top of the web page. Supposedly the target was Nevatim air base. The Yemeni have said they will "expand their range of targets" in light of Israeli aggression.

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Steghorn21's avatar

Which beggars the question: what sane person would still want to live in Israel?

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ROBERT Incognito's avatar

EU leaders are said to be "trembling"... "That is why there is a mood of alarm in Europe’s capitals,"

Yes, I’m sure. But the average citizen is exhaling a sigh of relief. 😮‍💨

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Jim Hogue's avatar

Whatever happens, remember that Trump is hard-wired to his allegiance to Israel. He is blind to Israel's faults and crimes, or worse, he supports them. We just learned that he supports an Israeli agent as a dean at Columbia, btw. The "Iran situation" is a dilemma of Trump's own making and of US egregious allegiance to Israel, whether or not it is a trap.

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Tristam's avatar

Destroying Iran is the final piece of the Jewish-zionist existential identity crisis -- it's not about nukes, or even about Gaza, it's about Jews being "good enough," the equals or superior to every nation where they've supposedly dwelt:

Jews were rabble when they were in Babylon/Iraq, the greatest city in the world at the time; Bibi-zionists destroyed Iraq.

Jews were rabble when supposedly in Egypt, the most advanced culture at the time; Bibi-zionists destroyed Nassar a generation+ ago.

Jews were never more than a minority but never *In Charge* in Spain. When Isabella expelled Jews, the International Brigade eventually returned to Spain to slaughter Christians. In 1933 Louis Brandeis cursed Spain. Jews never forget.

Jews were rabble when they were in Germany, the most advanced state at the time; zionists collaborated mightily with Anglos to destroy Germany.

Iran has monuments to their ancient success as a nation so noteworthy that Cyrus is still spoken of as a model statesman. The tomb of Cyrus still stands. It is real. Bibi-zionists cannot abide that kind of regard. They have only a narrative, an ever-shifting narrative, but no such ancient monuments; it is what undergirds their sense of inferiority and search for identity.

Trump as well as Hegseth have threatened to destroy Iran's ancient cities and monuments. I believe this is a Bibi-zionist goal as well, and that Trump will do it.

That will be a crime against civilization.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Thanks for the walk down historical reality.

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Jim Hogue's avatar

Thanks. I hadn't thought of it that way. I'll run it by the brain trust.

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Joe's avatar

I see general possibilities if Trump bombs Iran - of course it depends on how

large a strike and if in civilian population

What if a significant strike in civilian population ( US & Israel appear to have no

hesitancy to do so in Gaza )

I do not see that the Houthis will stop bombing the shipping ( historically they have not )

but maybe

What if Houthis do not stop, is Trump just blustering or is he serious this time ?

Trump must be thinking What could Iran do, either

A. attack surrounding local US Forces or

B. Even if Israel is not part of the Iran Attack - use Trumps language and bomb Israel

If so - Iran could have

1. No response/counterattack and concession to US and Israel

2. Limited bombing of US/Israel/military targets

3. In the extreme, unleash on Tel Aviv

4. In a worst case scenario for Trump

Iran could go further, in actually coordinating with Houthis, as they are already

accused of it, so if US Bombs them, why not. Houthis could unleash on

US shipping in the Red Sea and Israel . And Iran could unleash on Israel.

Unleash being defined as a single round of 15 % of the weapons in inventory.

What if Iran simply takes the US words and interchanges Countries

What would Trump do - I think Trump is basing all his ideas on a belief

that if the US bombs Iran, Iran won't bomb Israel.

Hypothetically what would Trump do if Iran said this:

Any further attack or retaliation by the “UNITED STATES” will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there. ISRAEL has played “the innocent victim”

They’re dictating every move, Every shot fired by the UNITED STATES will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of ISRAEL, and ISRAEL will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!

I think this was the point Judge Napolitano and others were making about Rubio statements

- I hope Trump is just blustering, he would cause mass casualty abroad and at home destroy the markets - lose lose for Trump as far as I can see it

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Lyon's avatar

Trump should just drop Ukraine and let the chips fall where they may.

If the EU wants to fight then go for it.

They have enough Muslim Migrant Cannon Fodder to the draw the War out for another year or two.

That also saves on the cost of the inevitable "ReMigration to the Middle East" problem.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Muslims are unlikely to fight for the country they want to take over. They would let if fall and then pick up the pieces.

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Lyon's avatar

They are given a choice, fight or go home.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Do you think it likely they are given a choice? It seems their leaders are handling them with kid gloves while oppressing their native citizens.

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Steghorn21's avatar

He walked away then walked back in.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Is he on a lazy Susan or just a circular entrance door that he doesn't know how or when to get off.

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Steghorn21's avatar

That's the eternal question where Trump is concerned, Cos. Is he a consummate chess player or just a bumbling buffoon? I'm veering more towards the latter.

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Joe's avatar

There are two entirely different situations, worlds apart - Ukraine and Israel

One an armed and strong Country Russia, a no win situation

The other lessor armed where US still believes they can take the land

and I believe Trump wants that - isolated incidents to be resolved separately

Taking a loss on Ukraine is one thing, but taking a loss on both, would Trump accept that ?

But Putin China Iran BRICS not so sure

All appearances are Trump not only wants to dump Ukraine but needs to so he can attack in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, perhaps his eye on Egypt too and enlarge Israel

Not believing Putin will sell out Iran - meaning agree so Trump can pivot to the mideast but we shall see

Maybe Trump is stuck in Ukraine because of Israel and had to change his mind ?

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

What happened to the war on China? Is China just siting on the periphery laughing their asses off at Zionism's puppet?

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Steghorn21's avatar

Give Trump a break, Cosmo! The poor guy has to defeat Iran and the Houthis first. Then he can turn on China.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Oh, you so funny...............

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dpy's avatar

Does anyone else get the feeling that the Iran situation is a trap?

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Steghorn21's avatar

I think the Zionists think it's a trap for Iran but it may well be them who are trapped.

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NFO's avatar

Yes. I feel like Iran is a 'dangle,' if you will.

For all of the regime-changing we've done in the modern era, I've always wondered why Iran was just left out there to remain a pariah state. Once the revolutionary fervor and memories of the SAVAK and the Iraq war began to fade by, say, the early '90s, why weren't we singularly focused on turning the best-educated/most-sophisticated population in the entire region into color revolutionaries? I knew a couple of Voice of America guys who focused on Iran, but, trust me, we weren't sending our best. Would seem a no-brainer to befriend a more-secular, Shiite counterbalance in the ME, especially when there's a large, well-heeled, determined emigree community right inside the Beltway.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Israel..................stands in the way. Peaceful relations with Iran are not in their best interests.

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NFO's avatar

Indeed. My question was largely to put the balancing of AMERICAN interests into sharp relief. From purely-US perspective, it really never needed to be either/or.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Thomas Massie @RepThomasMassie

Who wouldn’t be for blasting some nasty pirates to smithereens?

Here’s the problem: it’s not about pirates or protecting China’s shipping lane to Europe.

**We’re being conditioned to forget everything we learned from Iraq and Afghanistan.**

These are not our wars.

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Steghorn21's avatar

TM, a man of integrity. No wonder they hate him.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

I suspect you are already prepping a pivot to Alastair Crooke. It was a good read.

https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/03/17/kingdom-of-judea-vs-state-of-israel/

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Steghorn21's avatar

Great article.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

That's actually an old--but important--theme of his. I did incorporate some of his comments in a post yesterday.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

I may have missed that, I will check.

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ML's avatar

No, they are Miriam Adelson’s wars and the US is her proxy. Madness.

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