I think you're making the assumption that he has some large goal in mind, but I don't think he does. There's literally no plan here except the military attacks. That's why he's not doing what other presidents have done in terms of selling this war.
Several months ago, an anonymous Republican insider said what surprised him most about Trump in his second term is that "just doesn't give a f*ck." This may be an example of exactly that, his utter contempt for the American people--he'll shaft his own voters as well as his political opponents simply because he can. This is the result of his improbable re-election and the GOP-led Congress choosing to neuter itself.
A man who thinks like this honestly does not care about casualties. Speaking as a Gulf War veteran, I find that the scariest part of all.
Israel has led the U,S. Into a war that may look very similar to Gaza … massive destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, etc., and lots of civilians killed. It also looks like their goal of sabotaging the two-state solution, rather than allowing Iran to negotiate a deal, will disrupt most of the Middle East peace progress of the past year or so. Americans have no real understanding of the depth that Netanyahu and his ultra orthodox, right wing government will go to NEVER allow a two state solution. A very sad and demoralizing moment in United States history.
Trump is a real estate mogul. To me it looks like he made a private deal with Netanyahu using his own son-in-law, Kushner and friend and real estate mogul, Witcoff. Our country would join forces with Israel to stop Iran from financially supporting Hamas. This would completely eliminate them from Gaza so Trump’s family business can put up a resort and hotels on that beautifully situated beach front. This appears to have no upside for the American people. It appears to only benefit one person who controls our military, our Congress, the media, and our treasure. How can he possibly lose?
"it’s unclear whether he entered the operation with a coherent strategy or reason for launching the attack." Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Trump's primary reason may be to distract from the Epstein files. (See 'Wag The Dog') And it seems to be working. Not one mention of Trump in the Epstein files by any news coverage this weekend.
This is Netanyahu's war. He stroked Trump in just the right place. His only way out of Gaza, the "Abraham accords," allowed some Arabian peninsula oil states to opt out of perpetual war with Israel over some land in the historic Canaanite area they didn't care about anyway. And it got them American weapons
But now they are paying the price for poking the Persian bear. This isn't going to go well for the US or Israel if they decide instead to sell their oil to China.
Welcome, ladies and gents, to this month’s Topple Your Favorite Bad Head of State (TYFBHOS) club. We saw the build up to Venezuela in January, followed by the seemingly out of nowhere nobody cares nothing about why escapade in Iran. We are just gallantly, gallivanting around the globe toppling bad guys. First manhandling Maduro. Then killing Khomeini. What’s next for March? Picking on Putin? Shaming Chi? The possibilities are endless even if we don’t actually end the regime. It’s not what we do that matters. Or even how we do it. She-it. You don’t even need a why we do it. Just get out there and do it. (And make sure you have an exit plan that doesn’t involve air craft.) Happy war mongering!
It is way to early to tell where this is going, let alone any possible outcome. The game has started, it has several innings to play yet. Lari Anijani, is the person of interest to me, he has been involved in the government, but not taken any side solidly. He might arise out of this and make of it what he will.
So people, especially those in Congress, didn't notice the 2 aircraft carriers and 100's of aircraft heading towards Iran over the past 6 months, along with Trump saying over and over for the past year that he was going to attack Iran if they didn't renounce their nuclear weapons ambitions? And they didn't notice, or care, that Iran has executed 35,000 of its own people last month? And nobody remembers that, for 47 years, Iran has spent billions on killing people, especially Americans, throughout the world and is the number 1 sponsor of terrorism worldwide? But we're now going to claim we don't know why Trump is doing this? Seriously?
This action is almost certainly a Netanyahu initiative. And what has most amazed me about it is that it represents a completely new approach to international relations, and yet no one seems to be calling it out as such. It's now OK to assassinate world leaders with whom you are not at war? Israel and now the US have taken self-righteousness beyond every moral norm that has previously constrained it.
Frankly, I have appreciated Trump's simpler and more impersonal language. It is interesting how people broadcast opinions w/o waiting to see what the intentions or outcomes will be. I have learned not to project my own, even tho' I have certainly lived long enough to derive them from experience and observation.
The public shouldn't have to wait to see what the intentions are. Going to war needs to be justified BEFORE attacking. Making things worse, the administration has provided contradicting explanations of their intentions, as this article explains.
"although it’s unclear what exactly doing Trump’s bidding would look like. (Simply not attacking the U.S.? Or moving towards democracy?)" ...OR bringing the big oil guys in for some sort of 'raid'.
Venezuela and Iran were already in chaos. Neither Venezuela nor Iran are third world countries without the wherewithal to determine their future fate.
Yesterday I reread the 9-11 Commission report—the section where in May 1998, there was a risky and fleeting chance to capture Bin Laden. Clinton was in the throes of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. No one really knows or will admit who terminated the operation. Tenet & Berger covered for Clinton saying the operation was never presented to Clinton. (Why not?) There were many political downsides to the plan but they did not involve the lives and safety of civilians. Imagine a world without 9/11. There are risks to inaction too.
I think you're making the assumption that he has some large goal in mind, but I don't think he does. There's literally no plan here except the military attacks. That's why he's not doing what other presidents have done in terms of selling this war.
Several months ago, an anonymous Republican insider said what surprised him most about Trump in his second term is that "just doesn't give a f*ck." This may be an example of exactly that, his utter contempt for the American people--he'll shaft his own voters as well as his political opponents simply because he can. This is the result of his improbable re-election and the GOP-led Congress choosing to neuter itself.
A man who thinks like this honestly does not care about casualties. Speaking as a Gulf War veteran, I find that the scariest part of all.
Trump's "sales pitch" (in so many words): "I know that some troops will die, but, that's a chance I'm willing to take."
Israel has led the U,S. Into a war that may look very similar to Gaza … massive destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, etc., and lots of civilians killed. It also looks like their goal of sabotaging the two-state solution, rather than allowing Iran to negotiate a deal, will disrupt most of the Middle East peace progress of the past year or so. Americans have no real understanding of the depth that Netanyahu and his ultra orthodox, right wing government will go to NEVER allow a two state solution. A very sad and demoralizing moment in United States history.
Trump is a real estate mogul. To me it looks like he made a private deal with Netanyahu using his own son-in-law, Kushner and friend and real estate mogul, Witcoff. Our country would join forces with Israel to stop Iran from financially supporting Hamas. This would completely eliminate them from Gaza so Trump’s family business can put up a resort and hotels on that beautifully situated beach front. This appears to have no upside for the American people. It appears to only benefit one person who controls our military, our Congress, the media, and our treasure. How can he possibly lose?
"it’s unclear whether he entered the operation with a coherent strategy or reason for launching the attack." Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Trump's primary reason may be to distract from the Epstein files. (See 'Wag The Dog') And it seems to be working. Not one mention of Trump in the Epstein files by any news coverage this weekend.
This is Netanyahu's war. He stroked Trump in just the right place. His only way out of Gaza, the "Abraham accords," allowed some Arabian peninsula oil states to opt out of perpetual war with Israel over some land in the historic Canaanite area they didn't care about anyway. And it got them American weapons
But now they are paying the price for poking the Persian bear. This isn't going to go well for the US or Israel if they decide instead to sell their oil to China.
Welcome, ladies and gents, to this month’s Topple Your Favorite Bad Head of State (TYFBHOS) club. We saw the build up to Venezuela in January, followed by the seemingly out of nowhere nobody cares nothing about why escapade in Iran. We are just gallantly, gallivanting around the globe toppling bad guys. First manhandling Maduro. Then killing Khomeini. What’s next for March? Picking on Putin? Shaming Chi? The possibilities are endless even if we don’t actually end the regime. It’s not what we do that matters. Or even how we do it. She-it. You don’t even need a why we do it. Just get out there and do it. (And make sure you have an exit plan that doesn’t involve air craft.) Happy war mongering!
It is way to early to tell where this is going, let alone any possible outcome. The game has started, it has several innings to play yet. Lari Anijani, is the person of interest to me, he has been involved in the government, but not taken any side solidly. He might arise out of this and make of it what he will.
So people, especially those in Congress, didn't notice the 2 aircraft carriers and 100's of aircraft heading towards Iran over the past 6 months, along with Trump saying over and over for the past year that he was going to attack Iran if they didn't renounce their nuclear weapons ambitions? And they didn't notice, or care, that Iran has executed 35,000 of its own people last month? And nobody remembers that, for 47 years, Iran has spent billions on killing people, especially Americans, throughout the world and is the number 1 sponsor of terrorism worldwide? But we're now going to claim we don't know why Trump is doing this? Seriously?
This action is almost certainly a Netanyahu initiative. And what has most amazed me about it is that it represents a completely new approach to international relations, and yet no one seems to be calling it out as such. It's now OK to assassinate world leaders with whom you are not at war? Israel and now the US have taken self-righteousness beyond every moral norm that has previously constrained it.
DJT is The Cringeworthy Commander in Chief.
Frankly, I have appreciated Trump's simpler and more impersonal language. It is interesting how people broadcast opinions w/o waiting to see what the intentions or outcomes will be. I have learned not to project my own, even tho' I have certainly lived long enough to derive them from experience and observation.
The public shouldn't have to wait to see what the intentions are. Going to war needs to be justified BEFORE attacking. Making things worse, the administration has provided contradicting explanations of their intentions, as this article explains.
"although it’s unclear what exactly doing Trump’s bidding would look like. (Simply not attacking the U.S.? Or moving towards democracy?)" ...OR bringing the big oil guys in for some sort of 'raid'.
Good grief. If this photograph is the most flattering of all those considered for release by the White House, I’d hate to see the ones they rejected.
Venezuela and Iran were already in chaos. Neither Venezuela nor Iran are third world countries without the wherewithal to determine their future fate.
Yesterday I reread the 9-11 Commission report—the section where in May 1998, there was a risky and fleeting chance to capture Bin Laden. Clinton was in the throes of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. No one really knows or will admit who terminated the operation. Tenet & Berger covered for Clinton saying the operation was never presented to Clinton. (Why not?) There were many political downsides to the plan but they did not involve the lives and safety of civilians. Imagine a world without 9/11. There are risks to inaction too.
Let's all pray this works out for Trump and more importantly the USA. Hopefully this is another TAW moment.