$120 a barrel

[Eagler]

My father served in Vietnam..

He also backs our current "operation"

Sometimes the best choices aren't the easiest.

Thanks for your father's service 

But in hindsight does he agree that we should have even been in Vietnam at all...

The fact we are being sucked into another endless conflict by this military administration that won the election by stating that it was going to be just the opposite and end the existing wars is horrific imo...

We have entered another one for all the wrong reasons and without a clear exit plan...timing with other things makes it highly suspicious imo..

Those that are cheering for this ..would you be ok if your son or daughter eats a drone for the morons who and why they started this unfolding disaster..

Eagler

[Eagler]

"Nevermind that the Pentagon said today that the war cost $11.3 billion in the first six days. As mind-numbing as that number is, it’s not surprising given the blank check this administration allocates to defense.

Let’s take a look at his claim that “we make a lot of money” because of high gas prices. Experts say that this is a short term windfall for your ExxonMobils, your Chevrons, your Shells. All oil producers that don’t rely on supplies from the Middle East.

But there’s another layer here. Each of those companies gave at least a half million dollars to Trump’s inaugural committee. And oil and gas interests donated $75 million to Trump’s 2024 election campaign.

That’s the quid.

Now, last week, Qatar - the largest supplier of natural gas in the world - shut down production due to military attacks on its facilities. With supply constrained, oil prices skyrocketed. And once those facilities are down, they take weeks to come back online. Experts say that if they stay offline into the summer, those US oil companies stand to gain $20 billion more in profit every week.

And that’s the pro quo."

https://plus.briantylercohen.com/p/trumps-soaring-gas-prices-are-a-good

How is this not criminal..just a coincidence I guess...

Eagler

[CptTrips]

Let’s take a look at his claim that “we make a lot of money” because of high gas prices. Experts say that this is a short term windfall for your ExxonMobils, your Chevrons, your Shells. All oil producers that don’t rely on supplies from the Middle East.

Not to mention the money Putin is making off this.

It boggles my mind that we intentionally created the greatest petroleum disruption in history, jack prices up to panic levels (but it' going to get so much worse), then decide now is the time we need to let Putin sell 100 MILLION barrels illegal blood-oil at an artificially high price to fund his SMO.

We are now actively funding Putin's invasion of Europe.

Make Putin Great Again.

[CptTrips]

There are two reasons this was not taken through the proper Constitutional pathway:

1.  He thinks he is a King.  But he is not alone. The executives always think they are Kings and we always have to be pushing back on that and further restraining them.  It is what the Founders wanted.  They wanted no Kings.

2.  They know their plan and arguments would be laughed at in open debate.   The reason the Founders wanted questions of war openly deliberated is because in a top-down organization like the executive the yes-men rise to power and no one tells the boss his idea is crap.  Everyone just salutes.  But before we get committed to a war that might last longer than some here will see the end of, you should have to explain things to the people's elected representatives and they should vote. 

If we had done that we could have had interesting discussions on why they don't think Iran will close the Strait, or their plan is to make up the difference by lifting sanctions on Russia.  That is what he didn't want to have to explain to people who get a vote on the matter.

No, we didn't NEED that sneak attack.  It did nothing as we can see.  They've spent 47 years designing their system to be decapitation-proof.  You're just wasting ammo going after individuals.

I would have liked to see the open debate in Congress on how the plan was to allow Putin to sell 11 BILLION dollars worth of sanctioned oil to fund his war machine and that is how they planed to moderate oil prices while the Strait of Hormuz is closed off.  Those arguments should have been recorded in ink for history.

Who knows, if they knew they had to face the crucible of open debate, that may have forced them to come up with a better plan. 

The Founders considered that a feature, not a bug.

[Animl-AW]

How many are needed, how many are going, and what they're going for, is information nobody here has the even the most remote access to.

I have no doubt the level of Information Warfare we are currently engaged in would send more than a few folks over the edge if they had a clue.  Without fail, every BS detail that is publicly released (by just about anyone) is snatched up and waved around to a) chase support for their personal cause and/or b) chase clout.

Just remember, they all think we're stupid.... so far, we do not disappoint. 

My opinion is based on the initial “plan” to change regimes. Of course we’ve been pelted with several different goals, I picked the obvious and extreme. It’s a large country with deep beleifs they aren’t willing to give up.

I’m just a common Joe with an opinion based on what we are told.

I have no “team”, it’s purely my own opinion. Both sides are stupid in their own way.

You have the experience and would have a more accurate perception.

But we haven’t succeeded actual regime changes. We clip the wings of chicken but never actually take the head off and eat it. Both regime change attempts are pure failures.

The way this is done is illegal in our country and international law. A lot of the world is going to turn harshly on this admin. Most are fed up with their nonsense.

This regime is not going to change out of fear of our “leader” like he/they seem to think. We have low IQ suits calling the shots on a situation that requires high intelligence. Even then its a gamble. Our DOD is run by a child intellect taking orders from a low IQ idiot

We just rewarded our enemy who is friends and helping our enemy. Our “former” allies are so psssed off they won’t help unless they have to.

Top it off, after bombing the school the people we say we’re trying to help are turning on us.

I think we could do it with less than I said IF those people had weapons, they don’t. We’d have to be the full force, IMO.

A European intel says 200+ American troops are dead, not 10.

Much like WMDs, no proof has been shown to justify this. Now we hear “gut feelings” of an idiot. Even if we pull out, I have high doubts Israel would. They get way out of control.

We have two keaders with very low approval ratings running this quagmire.

[CptTrips]

Key Principles of the Powell Doctrine:

Last Resort: Military force should only be used after all non-violent policy means (diplomacy, economic pressure) have been exhausted.

Clear Objectives: The mission must be clearly defined, attainable, and hold a direct connection to national security interests.

Overwhelming Force: When engaged in war, all resources should be used to achieve victory swiftly, minimizing casualties and avoiding protracted, indecisive struggles.

Exit Strategy: A clear strategy for withdrawing troops must exist to avoid endless entanglement.

Public/International Support: The action should have strong support from the American people and congress, along with broad international support.


I'm still waiting to here what our clear and measurable exit conditions are.

The main thing we learned from Vietnam was that no defined exit conditions lead to mission creep and Forever-War.

Where is the feasible off-ramp here?  What does victory look like?

[CptTrips]

Here is another possible nightmare unintended consequence that I'd like to know if it was considered.

"The GCC states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, etc.) are highly reliant due to a lack of natural fresh water"

Everyone is so focused on burning tankers that the attacks on desalination plants went under analyzed.

There has been some tit-for-tat attacks but not full-scale targeting.  I think nations are sending signals about what targets they can hit if they wish.

Here is the difference:

Iran uses desalination and it would be an annoyance for them to lose that augmentation.  But they have plenty of ground water to pipe around.

For Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, etc, if Iran pounds their desalination plants, that is existential.  The current populations of those nations could NOT be supported while the plants are rebuilt (years?).  There is no way you could sustain shipping in water for those millions. 

There would have to be widespread de-population and de-civilization of globally economically critical region for years.  Not to mention a displacement of humans on a biblical scale.  And I guess we have to let those refugees come here because...

[CptTrips]

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/iran-oil-hormuz-blockade-trump-f96bdd53

Tell me the plan wasn't to allow Putin to sell oil.

THIS is why you need Congressional deliberation.

He needed to have told Congress he didn't think they would close the Strait.  They needed to have deliberated if that was a rational belief.

[Animl-AW]

How hard will it be for troops on the ground?

The religious devotion is so thick that they are given little training. However a 1980s study showed they are more than willing, anxious, to give their life for their religion.

In the 80s Iran had few tanks, so they used human mine sweepers. They would send troops out to trigger mines to clear the path and those troops were mire than willing to do it, thats their gate to heaven to give their lives.

IMO, anyone who thinks that will be a cake walk is vasty uninformed if the dedication to religion.

These people have been getting revenge for things that happened 1000s of years ago. Do we think an ego drunk rich white glove has a grasp on this?

Because of the kids being killed, now those people winder if we’re against the leaders or all Iranians. Thats a dangerous place to be in the ground.

Again, because of many negative selfish actions the rest of the world (our allies) are seriously pissed off at us. Which puts us in an even worse situation.

Yep, something had to be done. But the lead-up and implementation has great chance to be a train wreck.

Reality can be very harsh.

As I often say, I would/will love to be totally wrong. That would be a great thing.

[Eagler]

We are the Great Satan..they have been told that since birth..

He kicked a hornets nest illegally and unnecessarily imo..

We will have troops on the ground..

Can't believe we can't stop this madness as the majority are against it..

Eagler

[The Fugitive]

We are the Great Satan..they have been told that since birth..

He kicked a hornets nest illegally and unnecessarily imo..

We will have troops on the ground..

Can't believe we can't stop this madness as the majority are against it..

Eagler

Damn, I must have missed that vote

[AKIron]

Damn, I must have missed that vote

He's likely referring to a CNN poll.

[Eagler]

Wow seriously do you think there's a majority of level head people who are actually for this conflict...

Yes polls are subjective to how and who is doing the polling...that goes both ways..

Used to do marketing research on the side for a company based out of Fairfax VA...

So how far are you for it...boots on the ground ok with you guys...

Eagler

[Animl-AW]

It's not rocket science to spend 11.7 seconds on google to view all the polls and take your biased pick.

They ALL say a majority do NOT support this.

Unless you're just scared to see how in fact wrong you are.

Denial will not change what everyone knows and sees. But you can close the blinds while it's snowing, therefore it's not snowing. Try to be honest with yourself and don't PLAY ignorant for your own convenience and to save face, you're not convincing us.

be ready to eat crow feathers

[CptTrips]

He's likely referring to a CNN poll.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/where-american-support-trumps-iran-strike-stands-new-polls-roll

Given that the pain hasn't even started yet, I expect that to get much worse when we are paying $4.50\gal in Nov.