Very good discussion Nap with Blumenthal in which Blumenthal provides full background on Goldberg. I'd heard it before but forgot most of it except his Zionist background.
All of these comments are thoughtful. I enjoyed reading each of them. Am I the only one thinking the leak to the Atlantic might not be an accident? Nothing will change the Houthi tactics without military troops on the ground. Who can do that?
The last thing the US military needs is another bomb/missile destination. The US can't produce them fast enough and Russia proved that with an economy 1/10th the size of the US that it can out produce the US MIC.
The players that matter here are Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Israel and the US just keeps on digging their hole. Maybe this is why Putin seems to be dragging his hands in Ukraine.
As a result of this leak, Iran/Russia/China/TheWorld now know that Trump will continue to use the US military as a club with which to intimidate and coerce other nations into compliance with his demands. This has now become his modus operandi and forewarned is forearmed so they will begin preparing for worst case outcomes when dealing with the US. It will also continue to alienate every nation except Israel (which is not an ally) and make it extremely difficult to garner support for any diplomatic initiatives. At the end of recess, the bully stands alone.
Hijacked or simply taken over. The level of inhumanity and lack of moral base is disturbing. This aligns with what we know of the Zionists mentality. Nothing gets in the way of their power, money or thirst for revenge. Using bombing to send a message is a key reason why the world hates the USA. So, we bomb these countries then send in USAID NGO's to mop up by rebuilding and sending aid which then gets laundered back to the politicians who get their taste while the Zionists pocket the majority so they can fund more chaos in an attempt to tear apart build back better an America enslaved to their desires.
"Nobody [in America] knows who the Houthis are, so [we can just say] Biden failed and Iran funded them."
That statement from Hegseth is arrogant and condescending.
Yep. That meeting could have taken place under any of the last half a dozen Presidents. The words and intent stay the same, only the characters change. If they didn't already, Iran and Yemen now know what they are dealing with.
I voted for Trump based on his promises involving MAGA internal policies, trade, borders, taxes law enforcement; I had some hope that he might end the Ukrainian SMO conflict. I had little doubt that he was a Zionist hand puppet with his daughter married into one of the most influential zionist families in the US. Only Russia (Putin) can resolve the Levant problems; give it back to Turkey and aid Iran with sufficient weapons to end Israel once and for all. The US population will only wake up when a couple of Carrier Battle Groups are on the bottom of the ocean or mushroom clouds rise over the Levant. Body bags got us out of Vietnam and might get us out of West Asia, and if it doesn't then maybe we all deserve the nuclear holocaust that will descend on us; hopefully starting with Jerusalem, the object of wars for millennia. Rome allegedly salted the earth of Carthage after defeating Hannibal and scattered the Jews throughout the empire; we need to salt the earth of Jerusalem with radioactive material making it inhospitable for the next 50,000 years so that no one can have it. Then we should destroy the "City of London" for good measure.
The US always sends its messages based on humanitarian principles in order to wage war around the world, and then take the resources; screw humanity; we need to stay the hell out of other peoples problems and issues. We have our own problems. Humanity will benefit from an absence of America's "humanitarian assistance".
While it's dangerous to contradict Will Schryver, I find it wierd that neither he nor JD mention the zionists, the Israeli economy and the Greater Israel Project. The Houtis say that they are doing this in support of Palestinians. Shutting down the sea lanes to ships from countries especially supportive of Israel is doing the most immediate harm to the Israeli economy. Bombing Yemen is in keeping with all of the other things that we unquestioningly do in service of the zionists.
So the part of the MAGA base that are Evangelicals, or more correctly Christian Zionists, think of Mearsheimer as an antisemite. They are tuning out any message that dissents from the march to Armageddon and the fulfillment of Sola Scriptura.
Trump to arrest Jehovah’s Witnesses for defying the Council of Nicaea and teaching non-trinitarianism.
“Arius was a very nasty guy, and we brought together the greatest theologians. Very special people. And they said, Arius is a heretic, and we have to be strong on heretics.”
Quote
johnny maga @_johnnymaga
The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America just gave Trump a Holy Cross and said he reminds him of Constantine the Great.
Will Schryver gets it. Why doesn't Vance? However, I disagree that this is deliberate misdirection. Vance's texts seem far too genuine to be deliberate misdirection. This looks more like Trump holding the real cards very close to his chest.
Will Schryver @imetatronink
 Chat Room Leak, or Deliberate Misdirection?
I've just read some of the details of the "chat room leak" of a discussion between Trump admin principals regarding strikes in Yemen.
The chat participants want to frame US operations in Yemen as primarily serving European interests, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasizing that point in a complaining tone.
In my view, this is deliberate misdirection. It is US interests that are being served here.
As I have noted several times in recent weeks and months, in order for the US to make war against Iran, the passage from the Red Sea to Kuwait must be secured for US seaborne logistics. THAT is the true objective of these air strikes against Yemen: to disarm Ansarullah so US sealift ships can safely pass through the Bab el-Mandeb.
I think Will S is not correct in his assessment that this leak is deliberate misdirection because the content is embarrassing to Trump. Aside from the stupid use of Signal to discuss war topics by our top leaders, the conversation suggests more of the same that so many have come to expect - bombing to send messages, poor control of OPSEC, and a VP that may not be quite on board.
Also, while we may not know everything that was said, no one objected to the fact that the mission probably wouldn’t work, it would cost a lot of money, could result in US casualties, and would certainly cause a lot of civilian death and suffering.
“At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” the National Security Council said in a statement.
I was out for a bit dealing with a shipping issue and the radio guys are in full spin mode. Shockingly stupid or as Mark says above misdirection and justification for war prep.
Trump has used the media once again to highlight his position that Europeans are freeloaders and should pay for their own defense. Those afflicted with TDS are once again snookered.
Not gonna happen. This is part of his revenge mantra since being re-elected. Burn everything to the ground. Liberal judges, Iran, EU, Education, DEI, etc...
That's all well and good, but I am not referring to his domestic squabbles which many of us have with Progressives, but the foreign policy aspect. His rhetoric is aggressive and confusing and lacking in humility or morality. IMO
We're getting nowhere until we, as a people, can agree on basic facts.
Right now, the media says babies were beheaded and lurid sexual crimes occurred on October 7; we can show you pictures of the beheaded babies except we can't because there aren't any, and we can't show you the videos of the sex crimes because they are too lurid.
So Americans who read the news think the Houthis and Hezbollah are being mean to the Israelis because the Israelis are fighting back against mean Hamas, and if the people of Gaza are willing to put up with Hamas which beheads babies and commits lurid sexual crimes, then the people of Gaza are the ones pulling the trigger to kill their own children.
"How's your March Madness bracket? Have you got any plans for Spring Break?"
Same as he should do for Ukraine: stop all weapons shipments and intelligence cooperation and give them 24 hours to get their act together. But he won't.
Announce an end to military aid to Israel and an end to intel sharing with Israel--until Israel withdraws from all occupied territories and ends genocide and ethnic cleansing. Followed by reconsideration of all defense only military aid while peace negotiations for a return to the 1967 borders--settlers out of West Bank--proceed. That happens to be official US position--except for Trump's meddling in Jerusalem. But he can always undo that.
Yes, it is, but the history says the Ivies practiced prejudice in limiting their enrollment, 50 years ago. However, don't let that get in the way of driving a government law protecting these beasts from criticism. They funded the riots, now they fund the the anger and outrage to get what they want state protection and more chaos in an America that is reeling with discontent and confusion and fear.
There is a lot at play and the tightrope isn't much to balance on. But I am not ready to give up on Trump within his first 100 days.
I remember listening to Trump's first inauguration speech in 2017 calling out the Swamp sitting right behind him but speaking about giving the govt back to We the People. Brit Hume afterwards saying it was the darkest inauguration speech in his career. I was in disbelief at that comment and it was that moment that awakened me to the lying media and the agendas of the Swamp on both sides.
Not 30 mins later the Russia Hoax began and at this point in his term we were dealing with Mike Flynn and Paul Manafort with round the clock news coverage.
I'm giving this term more time. I'm afraid for all of us if Trump listens to the wrong people or buys into the notion we would win a war against Iran. I'm not buying it just yet. Saying prayers for wisdom and protection.
But against so many factions if you look at just our own govt. The courts, AIPAC's pay off of Congress etc. Hoping OMB has gamed this out fully for the win.
What is this? 20 questions? I answered your question. The answer is to do the right thing and take that to the American people. Have a national debate.
His position is no more difficult than it is for any other president re FP. As I wrote, American FP has been hijacked. When your plane has been hijacked it's pointless to try to talk the hijackers to go back to the airport you took off from--they've made their minds up where they want to go and they have control. You either come up with a way to wrest control, or you shut up and go along for the ride.
What America needs is an intervention. There's no finessing this, because America has been hijacked by monomaniacal fanatics who don't share the concerns of other Americans. And most of our reps have been bought off. Nothing will change until a president acts independently.
And we're off!
https://www.zerohedge.com/military/stealth-bombers-reportedly-deploying-americas-unsinkable-carrier
Thanks. Expensive saber rattling, or the real deal?
Ancient Rome Collapsed,
Fighting Foreign Wars on Credit .
And also letting in too many barbarians and descending into sexual decadence.
That's right. Empire over reach. Paul Kennedy wrote about that in "The Rise and Fall of Great Powers."
And no empire has ever reversed the trend and returned to its former glories.
Yup, that’s the way it plays out. Few have lasted as long as Rome then Byzantium the Eastern successor, and they usually fall hard at the end.
Natalie Winters @nataliegwinters
NEW: Federal Judge rules Jeffrey Goldberg must be added back to the Houthi Signal chat.
Highly recommended--more informative than the title suggests:
Scott Ritter: Why Would US Fight in Yemen?
https://youtu.be/DSfF59Y6Bhc
Very good discussion Nap with Blumenthal in which Blumenthal provides full background on Goldberg. I'd heard it before but forgot most of it except his Zionist background.
https://youtu.be/i2fcgth1lZ8
All of these comments are thoughtful. I enjoyed reading each of them. Am I the only one thinking the leak to the Atlantic might not be an accident? Nothing will change the Houthi tactics without military troops on the ground. Who can do that?
The last thing the US military needs is another bomb/missile destination. The US can't produce them fast enough and Russia proved that with an economy 1/10th the size of the US that it can out produce the US MIC.
The players that matter here are Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Israel and the US just keeps on digging their hole. Maybe this is why Putin seems to be dragging his hands in Ukraine.
A lot of voices are saying that this was a set-up. Who knows in this day and age?
You can be sure that Iran is happy to see the US expending its supply of munitions--especially higher tech munitions.
As a result of this leak, Iran/Russia/China/TheWorld now know that Trump will continue to use the US military as a club with which to intimidate and coerce other nations into compliance with his demands. This has now become his modus operandi and forewarned is forearmed so they will begin preparing for worst case outcomes when dealing with the US. It will also continue to alienate every nation except Israel (which is not an ally) and make it extremely difficult to garner support for any diplomatic initiatives. At the end of recess, the bully stands alone.
Agreed. How can Team Trump be trusted by anyone in negotiations?
Hijacked or simply taken over. The level of inhumanity and lack of moral base is disturbing. This aligns with what we know of the Zionists mentality. Nothing gets in the way of their power, money or thirst for revenge. Using bombing to send a message is a key reason why the world hates the USA. So, we bomb these countries then send in USAID NGO's to mop up by rebuilding and sending aid which then gets laundered back to the politicians who get their taste while the Zionists pocket the majority so they can fund more chaos in an attempt to tear apart build back better an America enslaved to their desires.
"Nobody [in America] knows who the Houthis are, so [we can just say] Biden failed and Iran funded them."
That statement from Hegseth is arrogant and condescending.
Yep. That meeting could have taken place under any of the last half a dozen Presidents. The words and intent stay the same, only the characters change. If they didn't already, Iran and Yemen now know what they are dealing with.
I voted for Trump based on his promises involving MAGA internal policies, trade, borders, taxes law enforcement; I had some hope that he might end the Ukrainian SMO conflict. I had little doubt that he was a Zionist hand puppet with his daughter married into one of the most influential zionist families in the US. Only Russia (Putin) can resolve the Levant problems; give it back to Turkey and aid Iran with sufficient weapons to end Israel once and for all. The US population will only wake up when a couple of Carrier Battle Groups are on the bottom of the ocean or mushroom clouds rise over the Levant. Body bags got us out of Vietnam and might get us out of West Asia, and if it doesn't then maybe we all deserve the nuclear holocaust that will descend on us; hopefully starting with Jerusalem, the object of wars for millennia. Rome allegedly salted the earth of Carthage after defeating Hannibal and scattered the Jews throughout the empire; we need to salt the earth of Jerusalem with radioactive material making it inhospitable for the next 50,000 years so that no one can have it. Then we should destroy the "City of London" for good measure.
The US always sends its messages based on humanitarian principles in order to wage war around the world, and then take the resources; screw humanity; we need to stay the hell out of other peoples problems and issues. We have our own problems. Humanity will benefit from an absence of America's "humanitarian assistance".
While it's dangerous to contradict Will Schryver, I find it wierd that neither he nor JD mention the zionists, the Israeli economy and the Greater Israel Project. The Houtis say that they are doing this in support of Palestinians. Shutting down the sea lanes to ships from countries especially supportive of Israel is doing the most immediate harm to the Israeli economy. Bombing Yemen is in keeping with all of the other things that we unquestioningly do in service of the zionists.
That’s the dog that did not bark.
I wonder if this leak was deliberate, and Trump controlling the news coverage.
Yes, it underlines the message, but Americans love the golems in their midst.
The whole world gets the message, and it's the one that John Mearsheimer has enunciated.
So the part of the MAGA base that are Evangelicals, or more correctly Christian Zionists, think of Mearsheimer as an antisemite. They are tuning out any message that dissents from the march to Armageddon and the fulfillment of Sola Scriptura.
If Christian Zionists hate JM, then that endears him to me even more!
Big Serge @witte_sergei
Trump to arrest Jehovah’s Witnesses for defying the Council of Nicaea and teaching non-trinitarianism.
“Arius was a very nasty guy, and we brought together the greatest theologians. Very special people. And they said, Arius is a heretic, and we have to be strong on heretics.”
Quote
johnny maga @_johnnymaga
The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America just gave Trump a Holy Cross and said he reminds him of Constantine the Great.
We are so unbelievably back.
What is this?
Since when did Big Serge work for the Babylon Bee?! The joke is that, knowing Trump, this could be real.
Will Schryver gets it. Why doesn't Vance? However, I disagree that this is deliberate misdirection. Vance's texts seem far too genuine to be deliberate misdirection. This looks more like Trump holding the real cards very close to his chest.
Will Schryver @imetatronink
 Chat Room Leak, or Deliberate Misdirection?
I've just read some of the details of the "chat room leak" of a discussion between Trump admin principals regarding strikes in Yemen.
The chat participants want to frame US operations in Yemen as primarily serving European interests, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasizing that point in a complaining tone.
In my view, this is deliberate misdirection. It is US interests that are being served here.
As I have noted several times in recent weeks and months, in order for the US to make war against Iran, the passage from the Red Sea to Kuwait must be secured for US seaborne logistics. THAT is the true objective of these air strikes against Yemen: to disarm Ansarullah so US sealift ships can safely pass through the Bab el-Mandeb.
I think Will S is not correct in his assessment that this leak is deliberate misdirection because the content is embarrassing to Trump. Aside from the stupid use of Signal to discuss war topics by our top leaders, the conversation suggests more of the same that so many have come to expect - bombing to send messages, poor control of OPSEC, and a VP that may not be quite on board.
Also, while we may not know everything that was said, no one objected to the fact that the mission probably wouldn’t work, it would cost a lot of money, could result in US casualties, and would certainly cause a lot of civilian death and suffering.
Interesting observation that this is less about shipping than about war prep. Sad.
All correct except for one thing: it's not US interests being served, but Israel's. As Mearsheimer always say, Israel owns Trump.
“At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” the National Security Council said in a statement.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/atlantic-jeffrey-goldberg-trump-houthis-rcna197847
I was out for a bit dealing with a shipping issue and the radio guys are in full spin mode. Shockingly stupid or as Mark says above misdirection and justification for war prep.
Looks like we're going to war with Iran.
Narrative seeding.
Reminder: The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 has not been repealed. Propaganda is a 2-way street.
By whom and for whom?
We can only speculate on target, intent, and strength of message. Ultimate goal is advantage US.
I don't even know if i think the action is coming from the Trump or his opponents.
Trump has used the media once again to highlight his position that Europeans are freeloaders and should pay for their own defense. Those afflicted with TDS are once again snookered.
Maybe, but he's also used the media to show all his supporters that he's a rabid Zionist whose crazy foreign policy is going to ruin his presidency.
Acquire some humility and moral grounding.
Not gonna happen. This is part of his revenge mantra since being re-elected. Burn everything to the ground. Liberal judges, Iran, EU, Education, DEI, etc...
Think Trump has some resentments.
That's all well and good, but I am not referring to his domestic squabbles which many of us have with Progressives, but the foreign policy aspect. His rhetoric is aggressive and confusing and lacking in humility or morality. IMO
And stupid. Don't forget stupid, Cos.
We're getting nowhere until we, as a people, can agree on basic facts.
Right now, the media says babies were beheaded and lurid sexual crimes occurred on October 7; we can show you pictures of the beheaded babies except we can't because there aren't any, and we can't show you the videos of the sex crimes because they are too lurid.
So Americans who read the news think the Houthis and Hezbollah are being mean to the Israelis because the Israelis are fighting back against mean Hamas, and if the people of Gaza are willing to put up with Hamas which beheads babies and commits lurid sexual crimes, then the people of Gaza are the ones pulling the trigger to kill their own children.
"How's your March Madness bracket? Have you got any plans for Spring Break?"
My March Madness bracket had the Mormons going a bit further but all things considered...
The Mormons never go very far, Cardi. It's those special underpants they wear.
Well played and said, Tamsin.
Channeling my younger self, willing to let my "betters" tell me simple stories.
Same as he should do for Ukraine: stop all weapons shipments and intelligence cooperation and give them 24 hours to get their act together. But he won't.
Announce an end to military aid to Israel and an end to intel sharing with Israel--until Israel withdraws from all occupied territories and ends genocide and ethnic cleansing. Followed by reconsideration of all defense only military aid while peace negotiations for a return to the 1967 borders--settlers out of West Bank--proceed. That happens to be official US position--except for Trump's meddling in Jerusalem. But he can always undo that.
Make some sort of sense out of Syria.
Did you get rear ended again this morning?
No, took some desperately needed mental health time.
Good for you, Mark. It can get very nerve-wracking following this madness day in, day out! Look after yourself, friend!
And shut down his jihad against free speech in America instanter.
And label AIPAC for what it is: a terrorist organisation.
Yes - free speech is binary - you have it or you don't. And the exceptions are like pornography - you know them when you see them. This is 101.
Yes, it is, but the history says the Ivies practiced prejudice in limiting their enrollment, 50 years ago. However, don't let that get in the way of driving a government law protecting these beasts from criticism. They funded the riots, now they fund the the anger and outrage to get what they want state protection and more chaos in an America that is reeling with discontent and confusion and fear.
There is a lot at play and the tightrope isn't much to balance on. But I am not ready to give up on Trump within his first 100 days.
I remember listening to Trump's first inauguration speech in 2017 calling out the Swamp sitting right behind him but speaking about giving the govt back to We the People. Brit Hume afterwards saying it was the darkest inauguration speech in his career. I was in disbelief at that comment and it was that moment that awakened me to the lying media and the agendas of the Swamp on both sides.
Not 30 mins later the Russia Hoax began and at this point in his term we were dealing with Mike Flynn and Paul Manafort with round the clock news coverage.
I'm giving this term more time. I'm afraid for all of us if Trump listens to the wrong people or buys into the notion we would win a war against Iran. I'm not buying it just yet. Saying prayers for wisdom and protection.
Would he be saving Israel or his son-in-laws out lay, in advance, for beach front property development.
So do the Christian Zionists, Trump's largest block of support.
Trump made big promises to ordinary Americans. He needs to stick to them and to heck with the rest. He only has 4 years and he has nothing to lose.
But against so many factions if you look at just our own govt. The courts, AIPAC's pay off of Congress etc. Hoping OMB has gamed this out fully for the win.
What is this? 20 questions? I answered your question. The answer is to do the right thing and take that to the American people. Have a national debate.
Gotta run.
His position is no more difficult than it is for any other president re FP. As I wrote, American FP has been hijacked. When your plane has been hijacked it's pointless to try to talk the hijackers to go back to the airport you took off from--they've made their minds up where they want to go and they have control. You either come up with a way to wrest control, or you shut up and go along for the ride.
What America needs is an intervention. There's no finessing this, because America has been hijacked by monomaniacal fanatics who don't share the concerns of other Americans. And most of our reps have been bought off. Nothing will change until a president acts independently.
It's a position he chose.