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. 

 

[red750]

The wife of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died from injuries sustained in the bombing which killed her husband.

 

Social media in America is calling for Barron Trump to be enlisted in the military and sent into battle. However, he has a medical out. He is 6ft 9in tall, and the height limit for military recruitment is 6ft 8in. He is too tall to fit in confined spaces like tanks and aircraft.

[old man emu]

10 minutes ago, red750 said:

He is too tall to fit in confined spaces like tanks and aircraft.

What are the dimensions of a foxhole?

[old man emu]

4 hours ago, Down East said:

you are being overly simplistic. 

I accede. I'm not an expert on the complexities of US law. But the message sent out by critics has suggested that permission is needed before action is taken. Obviously that is not the case. The problem with the culture of the USAis that it is militaristic. It seem to me that teh World's Policeman has finally gone rogue.

[facthunter]

The Dept of Defence is now the Dept of WAR.  Nev

[nomadpete]

11 hours ago, willedoo said:

It's good that they've set a goal of regime change instead of the usual half baked adventures kicking the can down the road.

Yes but...

 

As usual, the USA has not proposed any plan, or perthway to a regime change. As usual, the old regime has a sucession plan to continue power.

As usual, USA has no plan for what to do next. Just go in all gunz blazing and expect the locals to miraculously unite their mobs and create a whole new system of government.

 

Never worked before, unlikely to now.

 

P.S.

With the present state of amazing intel, and amazing precision strike capability, why did they destroy a school full of kids?

[onetrack]

Only Congress has the constitutional ability to declare War on an American enemy - but the President has full authority, as the U.S. military C-in-C , to attack any enemy of America, who is believed to be plotting any terror attack against America.

 

Trump has long railed against any effort by Congress to control his decision-making, believing he alone has complete control of the major decision-making in America.

 

What we should be all concerned about is the religious fundamentalists in America and Israel are the ones driving all this Middle East war activity. Not a lot different to the extreme religious fundamentalists in the Middle Eastern countries.

Hegseth is on a par with an Ayatollah, believing he has the God-given power to decide who lives or dies in the region. And he's a raging drunk, along with his Christian Fundamentalist beliefs. Plus, many U.S. military leaders, or former military leaders, including Mark Kelly, believe he doesn't have the mental capacity for the job he's been given.

 

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2026/can-president-go-to-war-without-congress-iran-strikes/#:~:text=Article I%2C Section 8 of,when Franklin Roosevelt was president.

[nomadpete]

1 hour ago, red750 said:

for Barron Trump to be enlisted in the military and sent into battle. However, he has a medical out. He is 6ft 9in tall, and the height limit for military recruitment is 6ft 8in. He is too tall to fit in confined spaces like tanks and aircraft.

No need to look for bonespurs?

[facthunter]

Hegseth is as extreme as anyone I've EVER heard of. Bat $#!t CRAZY.   With THINKING like this, there is no Hope.  Nev.

[Down East]

45 minutes ago, old man emu said:

I accede. I'm not an expert on the complexities of US law. But the message sent out by critics has suggested that permission is needed before action is taken. Obviously that is not the case. The problem with the culture of the USAis that it is militaristic. It seem to me that teh World's Policeman has finally gone rogue.

If the Euro's hadn't been so weak for the past 75 years, things may have turned out different.  They enjoyed bragging about their free health care and enlightened point of views, but they let their militaries become nothing but little boys clubs.

 

Look at the Ukraine for example.  The Euro's didn't give a shit about the Ukraine until Putin actually sent the tanks in towards the capitol.   They didn't do a single thing about Crimea.  They didn't do a single thing about Ukraine's Donbas region.  They all sat back and bitched about the USA for not stopping it. 

 

Every time the a Euro sovereignty/economy has been threatened................................they begged for American carriers.

 

Look at Germany.   It took a US president to stare down the Soviets and reunify their country.

 

I'm not excusing the US for it's Iraq/Iran blunders, but the world would be a much more dangerous place without it.

 

You said rogue?     Iran has been at war with the USA for 47 years.  They have been at war with various Arab neighbors for decades.  They have been at war with Israel for decades.  They financially support Hama, Hezbollah, and many other radical groups throughout the middle east.  Iran supplies Russia with thousands of drones being used against the Ukraine.

 

Let the liberals cry all they want about Iran.  They are the ones that appeased these radicals to the tune of billions of dollars and made fools of themselves..

 

 

[nomadpete]

I'm curious about what events might follow.

Iran supplies China with a lot of oil. So they have skin in the game.

 

Between the Iran attacks, Venezuela, and maybe Cuba  has USA given a green-light to China’s expected takeover of Taiwan? Or at least moved it up,since they have plenty of military toys.

The west wouldn’t have a leg to stand on to object and couldn't stop it?

[facthunter]

Trumps antics are devoid of Principle. morality and ethical considerations and are only useful as an EXAMPLE of what shouldn't be done by anyone in a Decent world. Trump wouldn't cop what HE dishes out to others and no-one else should have to cop it either.  A Lawless world is safe for NONE. Nev 

[Jerry_Atrick]

https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/trump-s-attacks-are-not-about-iran-he-s-after-a-much-bigger-fish-20260303-p5o6ws.html

 

Looks like big oil may be an objective after all