Malazan Empire: Cause - Viewing Profile - Malazan Empire

Well the 9th circuit has ruled that judges must give the president significant deference when he federalizes the national guard and have ruled he can keep control of the national guard of California. Not a great decision for America.

Also TikTok has another 90 days. This is the 3rd extension Trump has given to extend a lifeline to TikTok after he was the one who passed the law that will ban it. This is becoming a farce.

Werthead, on 17 June 2025 - 06:00 PM, said:

North Korea already supplies unskilled labor to Russia and China. Now that they are getting away with sending their military forces to assist in wars with surprisingly little pushback I wonder if this will become even more normalized. NK could essentially become a slave labor export state. Cuba actually also does this with skilled labor and essentially sells year long contracts of Doctors to South Africa.

North Korea could end up selling laborer's and mercenaries to hot spots all over the world. Is this realistic or is Ukraine a once off.

QuickTidal, on 17 June 2025 - 06:24 PM, said:

What the USA thought they needed over 45000 nukes for I will never know. Not sure it really gives an advantage over the soviets ~30,000. Dead is dead.

No one will put troops on the ground Im quite confident. This will stay strictly bombardment. Israel cant reach Iran and the US wont go in alone and doesn't need to either I don't think.

I would say its obvious that deal or no deal, Iran is trying to ride the fence of a nuclear weapon. They have the program and the facilities to enrich uranium. They have the delivery mechanism. They have Uranium enriched to 80% the only purpose of which is to lead to the bomb. Going from 80% to weapons grade is the matter of a couple weeks. The inspectors also claim they have enough uranium to potentially make 12 warheads. You really only need 1 to change the game.

I have no idea if Trump tearing up the Iran agreement in his first term was the seed for all of this, I have no idea if Irans plan hope was to sit on its current threshold which is already a strategic lever they could play without having to cross over the line. Iran getting the bomb would change the region permanately though. Iran is no idle player, it supports Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and Jihadists in Syria. The bomb would allow it to continue this strategy but immune from any retaliation. This entire situation is only possible because these proxies were activated the last two years and they were degraded enough that they could not respond in concert. I also cant say for sure but I think Iran getting the bomb would lead to Saudia Arabia following suit. Pakistan could be the source for them.

Best case scenario is this ends up with a real deal on the table I would think.

It is fucking crazy that when Tulsi Gabard was nominated for DNI she squeaked through and their were serious doubts about her qualifications but trump backed her. Now Trump has said to an entire press core he doesnt care about her opinion. The US government is just run on vibes and feelings now. Pete Hegseth also cosplaying as a crusader is disquieting.

Werthead, on 17 June 2025 - 06:04 PM, said:

I do not really see the difference. You are either involved or you are not. I do not think people will make the distinction between escorting Israeli fighters into Iran but not dropping ordinance directly? The whole thing apparently comes down to that only the USA has the bunker buster ordinance to take out one of the nuclear enrichment sites with is possibly 100 meteres underground. Wonder if Tom Cruise is available?

Werthead, on 17 June 2025 - 06:04 PM, said:

I think this rhetoric is just that. Iran has launched several salvos already, why would they have held back? Their proxies are sitting out and are presumably looking for a show of a strength. Israel has apparently killed the chief of staff of the Iranian army, the head of the Republican Guard and several other very high up military commanders. What would Iran be waiting for before getting serious?

 QuickTidal, on 17 June 2025 - 12:08 PM, said:

Honestly he might have just been bored and upset his bro Putin wasn’t there.

With Trump it’s impossible to know. He took a jab at Macron for some reason and said he didn’t leave to work on a cease fire. That could mean he is about to have the US join in on air strikes or it could mean he is about to announce new tarrifs on china.

I suspect the remaining G6 are using the opportunity to all be in a room right now and talking ways to win the trade wars.