Middle East conflict

[willedoo]

The best way is to keep whittling them down until they fall apart in a mess, but does Israel and the US have enough readily available stockpiles of munitions to see the distance. The pace of things might depend on who runs out first.

[onetrack]

1 hour ago, willedoo said:

I saw some footage of one rescued pilot being looked after by Kuwaitis. It said he was in an F-15 but don't know if that was accurate or not. If they are Airforce they would be F-15s, F-18s Marine Corps or Navy. Martin Baker seats in the F-18s, ACES II in the F-15.

The latest reports are saying the aircraft were F-15's.

[Down East]

On 01/03/2026 at 5:32 AM, old man emu said:

It used to be that the POTUS had to seek the approval of Congress before declaring war. But that was back in the day when the USA was a democracy.

 

Your sarcasm aside, you are being overly simplistic. 

 

The war powers act states that the president is required to inform congress within 48 hours of military action, and he is limited to 60 days without a congressional vote. 

 

Congress must vote to declare/fund military actions that go past 60 days. 

 

Obama could have been impeached for his 2011 Libya bombing actions by continuing the bombing beyond the 60 day limit.  Congress could have cared less.

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

9 hours ago, onetrack said:

Lust for oil has been the root cause of many wars over the last 80 or 90 years - but in this case, I'm not so sure it plays as big a part in the attempted removal of the regime. But Trump and Americans in general nurse a long-held and extremely bitter grudge against Iran, largely due to the constant chants of "Death to America", the 1979-81 hostage crisis, the bombing of the USS Cole and the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon.

I don't doubt this for a minute., but Iran has one of the world's largest known reserves of oil.. and el Chumpo would love for the USA to have first dibs at knockdwon prices, if not control the reserves. Since he meeds to find a supply his sponsors can use (cf. Venezuela), then, I bet there will be large contracts to be had - by US firms.