Neoconservatism redux.

 miamizsun wrote:

Yes it was.  Had to break it in half.  I rarely watch these kinds of things as a rule.  I am glad I did.

It reassures me that what is happening is the right thing, for the right reasons.  The stories of the people are pretty close to what I thought things were like all along for so long now.  No surprises for me.  Just heartbreak.  To say out loud that anything is better than the present and that even death is better than the present seals the deal for me.

It will be so wonderful when in a couple of weeks these survivors come out in the open and take stock and think that now they have a chance for the first time within their memories.  At least that is what I am hoping for.

Keep going

Day 20

The U.S. has begun using ground-launched ballistic missiles against Iran – marking the first combat use of its newer, highly accurate long-range Army systems and expanding what had been largely an air war, the Wall Street Journal reports.

These missiles have a range of roughly 200–300 miles, meaning they must be fired from nearby – pointing to Gulf territory being used for launches despite public claims of neutrality.

Videos verified by Storyful, owned by the Journal’s parent company, show at least some launches originating from Bahrain, just 125 miles across the Gulf.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said U.S. forces struck Kharg Island, home to the country’s main oil export hub, from the UAE.

"The great irony of the man who sold himself as a dealmaker is that he taught the world one thing: don't make deals with my country."

 miamizsun wrote:

"The wound is the place where the light enters you."
Rumi

26 minutes well spent...

The U.S. attacked Iran to show its power but the war is already lost. Epic Fury looks like an Epic Fail

(...) The war will further erode Washington’s global prestige and deepen doubts among key allies about the reliability of U.S. leadership. China has spent years carefully nurturing its relations with Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia — and a net result of this war will be the consolidation of those ties. Some analysts have also argued that the energy shock could further accelerate a global transition toward renewables, raising global demand for Chinese solar panels, electric vehicles, and batteries. Against the backdrop of U.S. military adventurism, China’s reputation for diplomacy and economic stability will continue to gain global appeal.

The Nuclear Paradox
One of the great ironies of this war is that it marks the end of any significant deterrence of Iran — including on its nuclear program. If Iran survives the devastating destruction brought upon it, its appetite for a nuclear deterrent will have significantly increased. A likely consequence of this war, therefore, will be to accelerate the very threat it professed to avert.

Operation Epic Fury is increasingly looking like an epic fail. What began as an attempt to demonstrate the ongoing relevance of unrivaled U.S. military power is fast becoming one of the most consequential strategic miscalculations of this century — a pivotal moment in the steady erosion of U.S. hegemony.

WHO officials admit they are preparing for possible nuclear weapon use in Iran

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🔸 No casualties were reported and all personnel are safe
🔸 Gas production is continuing under full safety protocols
🔸 The national gas network remains stable with no supply or transmission disruptions
🔸The company said response teams are managing the situation and cooling operations are ongoing, adding that conditions are expected to return to normal soon.

Trump has put MAGA in such an impossible position, He’s not asking them to bend a little - he’s asking them to entirely reconfigure themselves into a new kind of balloon animal.

 R_P wrote:

I guess that this is where the rubber hits the road.  Just did some checking on this and other then the AP and some other sources there is no reporting on this on CNN, MSNOW or Fox.  Interesting that as big of a deal that this is there is silence across the MSM video board.

The major escalation comes alongside reported impacts on other oil and petrochemical facilities in the Assaluyeh area of Bushehr province, according to multiple reports.

IRGC-linked Tasnim News issued an urgent warning urging people to immediately leave major oil and gas sites in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, saying they had become “direct and legitimate targets” that could be struck within hours. They listed:

➤ Samref Refinery — Saudi Arabia
➤ Al Hosn Gas Field — UAE
➤ Jubail Petrochemical Complex — Saudi Arabia
➤ Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex — Qatar
➤ Ras Laffan Refinery — Qatar

The report added: “Previously, clear and repeated warnings were given to your rulers about entering this dangerous path and gambling with the fate of their nations.”