[QuickTidal]

Let's be real though, Tucker is an opportunist, he lost his spot at Fox News... so he can see past the Maga Chuds and Trump in general and knows that beyond them his career needs to pivot to try to remain relevant and in the spotlight.

In no universe is Tucker Carlson doing this for altruistic reasons...he's doing it because he's tasted which way the wind will blow on this and knows when to jump ship.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 18 June 2025 - 03:39 PM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Quote

Trump Boasts 'Nobody Knows What I'm Doing' as MAGA Civil War Rages

The division over what to do with Iran is also splintering factions within the Democrats.

https://www.thedaily...ivil-war-rages/

... and that probably includes Trump himself...

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 18 June 2025 - 03:58 PM

[Werthead]

Israel is not engaging with the internal opposition, who could possibly take over the whole country in an interim government situation, but they are engaging with the Kurds, the Khuzestani Arabs, the Iranian Azerbaijanis, and the Sistan/Baluchestan separatist movement, which advocates for the formation of a breakaway country called Balochistan (which also claims parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, for maximum potential shitstormery). These breakaway groups could simply tear the country apart, leaving rump Iran in the middle to fall into utter chaos. There is no guarantee that a post-Ayatollah Iran will be more liberal/democratic/friendly. There is a nontrivial chance that even more extremist hardliner elements could take over, perhaps with some intervention from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Iran could become Syria write large, with 90 million people seeking to flee, and with many of them with families in the diaspora, many countries could be faced with a refugee crisis to make the previous ones look modest in comparison.

America has relocated tankers and F-35s from its base at Lakenheath in the UK to the Middle East, and some rumours that B-2s have landed at Diego Garcia.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Werthead, on 18 June 2025 - 05:55 PM, said:

Israel is not engaging with the internal opposition, who could possibly take over the whole country in an interim government situation, but they are engaging with the Kurds, the Khuzestani Arabs, the Iranian Azerbaijanis, and the Sistan/Baluchestan separatist movement, which advocates for the formation of a breakaway country called Balochistan (which also claims parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, for maximum potential shitstormery). These breakaway groups could simply tear the country apart, leaving rump Iran in the middle to fall into utter chaos. There is no guarantee that a post-Ayatollah Iran will be more liberal/democratic/friendly. There is a nontrivial chance that even more extremist hardliner elements could take over, perhaps with some intervention from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Iran could become Syria write large, with 90 million people seeking to flee, and with many of them with families in the diaspora, many countries could be faced with a refugee crisis to make the previous ones look modest in comparison.

America has relocated tankers and F-35s from its base at Lakenheath in the UK to the Middle East, and some rumours that B-2s have landed at Diego Garcia.

... but since Israel is almost certainly going to be extremely unpopular in Iran, could it be better for the internal opposition if they don't seem to be engaging with Israel---at least in terms of what's public knowledge? And even if they were secretly coordinating with Israel, they'd want to appear maximally independent of Israel. OTOH if Israel's engagement with would-be separatist ethnic groups is substantial enough to help them cause chaos---in a bid to further weaken the current Iranian regime, or a violent extremist regime thereafter---then yes, it could be a major disaster. Some experts are speculating that Israel may be aiming more for regime collapse... and not caring much about the consequences outside of Israel. If the regime collapses, the US will almost certainly have to intervene on the ground---at least to deal with the nuclear material.

[Werthead]

Azath Vitr (D, on 18 June 2025 - 06:12 PM, said:

... but since Israel is almost certainly going to be extremely unpopular in Iran, could it be better for the internal opposition if they don't seem to be engaging with Israel---at least in terms of what's public knowledge? And even if they were secretly coordinating with Israel, they'd want to appear maximally independent of Israel. OTOH if Israel's engagement with would-be separatist ethnic groups is substantial enough to help them cause chaos---in a bid to further weaken the current Iranian regime, or a violent extremist regime thereafter---then yes, it could be a major disaster. Some experts are speculating that Israel may be aiming more for regime collapse... and not caring much about the consequences outside of Israel. If the regime collapses, the US will almost certainly have to intervene on the ground---at least to deal with the nuclear material.

Yes, and Iran is four times larger than Iraq with almost four times the population Iraq had in 2003 (I hadn't realised that population of Iraq had grown by 15 million in 22 years, that's bonkers). The US would have to send in a million troops or more to even remotely stand a chance of fighting its way to the nuclear sites on the ground (those sites are massive, commando raids won't cut it, they'd need to take and hold them, and then keep open supply corridors back to Iraq).

[Werthead]

Apparently Trump has met with CENTCOM General Michael Kurilla, who has presented several strike options against Iran. Trump has the options on file and can execute any one of them at any time.

So my guess is that it's happening, maybe imminently.

[Primateus]

HoosierDaddy, on 17 June 2025 - 05:31 PM, said:

Firmly against. No more middle-east intervention. Let Israel do it if they want it. See how well that goes for them.

Fucking more treasury to an eternal sink-hole of treasure... No. Nope. Fuck that noise.

Aren't we already responsible for enough innocent civilian deaths? Is there no end to that rapacious greed either?

Agreed, pave the whole region the fuck over, I say, Israel too. And then we can all just pretend like nothing ever happened.

[HoosierDaddy]

The most accurate statement in Trump's history:

"I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do."

Including himself.

This post has been edited by HoosierDaddy: 18 June 2025 - 07:50 PM

[QuickTidal]

Werthead, on 18 June 2025 - 05:55 PM, said:

There is no guarantee that a post-Ayatollah Iran will be more liberal/democratic/friendly. There is a nontrivial chance that even more extremist hardliner elements could take over, perhaps with some intervention from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Iran could become Syria write large, with 90 million people seeking to flee, and with many of them with families in the diaspora, many countries could be faced with a refugee crisis to make the previous ones look modest in comparison.

Let's not forget that regime change by the USA has never worked well, and in fact Iran is like the #1 example. They unseated a democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mosaddegh, because he DARED to want to nationalize the oil industry. That's it. That's how ALL this started. They toppled him, and re-installed a Shah, Pahlavi, who was a brutal dictator who resorted to torture, political persecution, and a tonne of other crimes...which in turn led to the 70's Islamic revolution and the installation of the current regime.

We get that right? The US didn't want a foreign country to nationalize it's oil industry, so they toppled its govt and put in a worse one that led to today....it's literally the format of every major "freedom-based" action the US has ever undertaken in fact. They did the same thing in Nicaragua, and in any number of other military actions during the 20th century. All to serve the US interests, until it either doesn't serve their interests anymore, or it backfires on them like Bin Laden at which point they flip.

[the broken]

Werthead, on 18 June 2025 - 06:36 PM, said:

Apparently Trump has met with CENTCOM General Michael Kurilla, who has presented several strike options against Iran. Trump has the options on file and can execute any one of them at any time.

So my guess is that it's happening, maybe imminently.

Isn't that pretty normal? Going to your commanders and saying 'what are my options' would seem like a standard thing to do in this situation, doesn't mean they will be pursued.

[QuickTidal]

the broken, on 19 June 2025 - 01:04 PM, said:

Werthead, on 18 June 2025 - 06:36 PM, said:

Apparently Trump has met with CENTCOM General Michael Kurilla, who has presented several strike options against Iran. Trump has the options on file and can execute any one of them at any time.

So my guess is that it's happening, maybe imminently.

Isn't that pretty normal? Going to your commanders and saying 'what are my options' would seem like a standard thing to do in this situation, doesn't mean they will be pursued.

100% normal.

[Tapper]

Israel’s minister of defence Katz saying Khameini is not allowed to exist anymore after the hospital strike (according to the Guardian) leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. It is not like Israel respected hospitals, aid workers or even patients in Gaza, and the amount of incidents surely made it seem to me that it met at the very least with tacit approval from the higher authorities in Israel.

This post has been edited by Tapper: 19 June 2025 - 02:16 PM

[HoosierDaddy]

Tapper, on 19 June 2025 - 02:15 PM, said:

Israel's minister of defence Katz saying Khameini is not allowed to exist anymore after the hospital strike (according to the Guardian) leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. It is not like Israel respected hospitals, aid workers or even patients in Gaza, and the amount of incidents surely made it seem to me that it met at the very least with tacit approval from the higher authorities in Israel.

Hypocrisy and double-standards are par for the course with these folks. It's why taking the high road never works. You just end up getting shafted even more.

[QuickTidal]

Tapper, on 19 June 2025 - 02:15 PM, said:

Israel’s minister of defence Katz

This guy, like most of Netanyahu's Knesset, is a fucking misogynistic, psychopathic criminal who has somehow avoided the charges that have been laid at his feet continuously throughout his career. He wants to annex the West Bank, flatten Gaza, and exile every Palestinian from the region, and has always vehemently opposed the Two State Solution (that is the best chance at peace). He was a staunch supporter of the blocking of aid going into Gaza as well.

That such a garbage human would say such things doesn't surprise me, but the fact that no one will every hold him accountable is wild. As I said about Bibi..the very MOMENT these people lose their power in Israel (and they will one day) they are ALL running. There will be trials and people like Katz are going to head for the hills and hide like the cowards that they are.

HoosierDaddy, on 19 June 2025 - 02:37 PM, said:

Tapper, on 19 June 2025 - 02:15 PM, said:

Israel's minister of defence Katz saying Khameini is not allowed to exist anymore after the hospital strike (according to the Guardian) leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. It is not like Israel respected hospitals, aid workers or even patients in Gaza, and the amount of incidents surely made it seem to me that it met at the very least with tacit approval from the higher authorities in Israel.

Hypocrisy and double-standards are par for the course with these folks. It's why taking the high road never works. You just end up getting shafted even more.

The fact that Israel REFUSES to join the NRC or be open about their nuclear armament and everyone just accepts this is bizarre. Like they re out here saying "Iran can't be allowed to have nuclear weapons!"...while they refuse even inspections of their known arsenal.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 19 June 2025 - 02:40 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

 HoosierDaddy, on 19 June 2025 - 02:37 PM, said:

 Tapper, on 19 June 2025 - 02:15 PM, said:

Israel's minister of defence Katz saying Khameini is not allowed to exist anymore after the hospital strike (according to the Guardian) leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. It is not like Israel respected hospitals, aid workers or even patients in Gaza, and the amount of incidents surely made it seem to me that it met at the very least with tacit approval from the higher authorities in Israel.

Hypocrisy and double-standards are par for the course with these folks. It's why taking the high road never works. You just end up getting shafted even more.

Iran should just come out and say "The Israeli military were using the hospital as a secret base" you know, like Israel do to justify binning hospitals in Gaza.

[Werthead]

Tiste Simeon, on 19 June 2025 - 03:31 PM, said:

Iran should just come out and say "The Israeli military were using the hospital as a secret base" you know, like Israel do to justify binning hospitals in Gaza.

They have. They claim Israel has a military outpost right next to the hospital, and they have pointed out the hypocrisy of Israel doing what they claim Hamas do in Gaza.