My friend Terrence Goggin, who writes the excellent Substack newsletter “West Point History Professor” — and yes, he did teach me history at the Academy back in the stone age — published an excellent column today on the possibility of Trump using ground troops to open the Strait of Hormuz by taking the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, which sits right on the Strait and has an airport with an 11,000 foot runway.
Sue, I too am sickened. I also read Prof. Terrance Goggins and am glad that he and the others that I regularly have been using to follow this war are in agreement on the foolhardiness of the mission of boots on the ground.
I have been watching Malcolm Nance (former US intel agent in the region) and Jacob Kaarsbo (former Danish intel, station chief in the region) give daily briefs about the war.
Malcolm estimates that given the set up of the Iranian system which has layers, which he explained one day (see Black Man Spy Substack), as having at their call up to around 25 million people around the world, so it is like a civilian corp that is available too. He has explained the drone situation the way that Goggins has.
Along with these two there are various configurations of people who are ex military who podcast together on their Substacks as well as writing articles like Nance and Kaarsbo do as well. Dean Blundell (Canadian), Dennis Riggleman (former US airforce, Congressman), Ken Harbaugh (Former US Navy), and they have various guests on. Recently they had 3 men who are drone experts, developed from having been embedded in Ukraine for a long time.
Whenever there is a crisis I look to experts for information. Since the US government is like the Russian government right now when it comes to information, which is totally lying and untrustworthy, and they have no press embedded with them, so that we get no news from the front that we can trust. I turn to people who at least have expertise in speculating. I appreciate Lucian Truscott for his military insights. His know-how as he just showed in this article with looking over the situation and figuring out what it would be like is invaluable.
Recently Dean Blundell was talking about the Laundry room fire on the SS Abraham Lincoln forcing it to go to Greece to dock because 600 people on ship have not been able to sleep in beds, but on tables or the floor since that happened. He says it is being investigated as a possible sabotage. That caused them to talk about how the deployment has been double the normal time, and the plumbing is not working in a lot of the toilets, so that is adding a lot of stress. Now they are told they have to go even longer, and the morale is probably really low for all these reasons.
I can imagine that being told by your commanders, part of Hegseth's army of Christian Nationalists that you are going to certain death because it is for the glory of God, is not going to raise the moral.
I am sickened more than speechless by the thought that we are sending more of our military to their deaths to keep Trump, his family and friends swimming in oil and whatever sources they are getting their money from.
I support military refusal to carry out orders. I have started an Indivisible Abroad group in Germany and one of the people in our group to start international boycotts against American businesses helping ICE, is an international professor of law. He told me that so far they have counted at least 10 war crimes on the part of the Trump administration in this war.
I am waiting for the day when Trump, Vance, Hegseth and others are brought to justice before an International court in the Hague.
The work you are doing overseas is invaluable. Thank you. My mission is to protect and safeguard our elections from the constant and growing interference from trump, as well as get young people registered to vote and get to the polls.
I. too, can't wait to see the day when these criminals pay for the crimes they are committing here and worldwide.
I am so grateful to every person globally who is fighting hard against these traitors and oppressors of the world's people.
Well, the God of Christians is also the God of Jews and Muslims - so which side is he on, seeing as they ALL worship him? Maybe we should be saying "Buddha help us!"
I'll say something. Since trump first allowed insurgents to attack and kill police officers in an attempt to overthrow our government, he has been our domestic enemy. Now, he supports and aids Russia who is actively providing intelligence to Iran during this war of trumps choosing, indicating to me that he is aiding the enemy from within. Congress has failed to use it's power to remove him years ago (thank McConnell for that), and he has since made a shambles of what was once a remarkable, though flawed, democracy. (thank the present Congress for that.)
If anyone thinks that protecting our elections from this man's interference, who is a traitor to our country and the Constitution that keeps us free people, is not the most important objective at this point, then wake up. This is as serious as it gets. Voting is our legal way of changing the government when we are dissatisfied with their performance, OUR VOICE and OUR SAY SO in the matter. He knows his only chance not to be stopped is to cheat, and he is a well known cheat and sore loser.
Call and bombard your Senators with demands to stop the SAVE ACT, a classic voter suppression bill that will prevent millions of us from voting. And tell them to keep your sons and daughters home and safe from a deployment to a country being aided by the very man who will send them there.
Help everyone you know to register to vote, check on that registration, and help those who need it get to the polls or drop a ballot in a drop box. And fight like hell to protect our voices.
This looks like a disaster waiting to happen. This definitely could become a “forever war.”The draft could be implemented; young men and women, for years to come, might be sent to their deaths to fight in a war that should never have been started.
I am bereft, as I write this with tears in my eyes.
Trump is clearly insane. Brother Truscott, I recommend you start referring to Trump as CALIGULA -- you know the crazy Roman Emperor whose own Praetorian Guards ended up killing him to protect Rome from his craziness --- Trump is the modern day Caligula --- Please get all your fellow sub-stackers to do the same --- Every time Trump appears in public, the crowds should all be shouting CALIGULA, CALIGULA ---
Iirc correctly, Caligula at least did some good stuff. This asshole is irredeemable. Nothing good whatever. I was watching an Italian TV show one night during early Il Duce. Pictures of the bastard everywhere, busts, his name on everything. And the thug black shirts. Utter a bad word, get disappeared. Honestly, it gave me the willies. Will we learn nothing???
Caligula was much better educated than Donald Trump, and Trump is more crazed already and becoming more so by the day! Need a more current set of insults, too, as Roman history isn't much taught in our schools.
I think Commodus is a more apt comparison. Under Caligula, the Roman government and military still functioned. Commodus is the emperor whose shenanigans are seen by most historians as the start of the fall of Pax Romana. His very Trumpian hijinks include renaming all twelve months after himself and fighting in the arena against hapless gladiators armed with wooden or lead weapons.
We are witnessing the most unethical and immoral action of our government since colonization and slavery. It is sickening, disgusting, and criminal. Thank you Lucian. Without you, I wouldn’t understand things at this level.
When are the professional Generals going to tell Trump to shove it up his ass. We don’t want another war run by the WhiteHouse and Trumps Dweebs a la Johnson and McNamara and idiots like Westmoreland.
Ummm. They are gone. They were gone in the first month or so. As for "Raisin" Caine? Let's say, he made his pact with the spawn of the devil, he can now live with it.
Anyway we can get the bloviated b*stard to take a victory lap and parade, diaper and all, through the streets of Bandar Abbas? I'm being facetious.
That said, you know what I worry about as you mention the small villages that pock the mountains surrounding Bandar Abbas? A repeat of a My Lai massacre. It's the type of "theatre" that makes that dismissed marine feel "manly" and worthy of another whisky. It terrifies me. Iran is being invaded, the citizens already live in a horror show, and now this? I fear for the women and children. Pictures of Mi Lai just flash through my mind.
This is what happens when the "elected" representatives are Quislings. Marines, no offense, are not "utility" players. They are trained to specific actions. This scenario doesn't fit that. Does anyone truly think that they will be left aboard ships playing tiddlywinks? The problem is that not one, not one, of those in charge, not the decomposing adjudicated rapist, not the faux Christian and AA dropout, and not "Raisen" Caine, chosen for his nickname and not his abilities, know what the hell they are doing or care one iota about the lives that are being put on the line. Ordered into this debacle by a draft dodger and a dismissed Marine.
Good lord. Wow. Thank you for giving us this info - nothing even close appears anywhere in the MSM. I have already read in Ukrainian press about 10 days ago about Strait of Hormuz strategies but in America, pretty much nothing from Trump until today and if not for your column and the professor's substack, we would not have seen anything with this level of sophistication as an explanation. Double thank you.
I think it’s quite wonderful and telling that several other columnists point people to read these recent columns written by Lucian and Professor Groggin because they are so learned and clear. And as you point out, the information isn’t appearing anywhere else! Authors Tom Cleaver, Rob Hubbell, maybe Steve Schmidt… people know where to turn, who to read for reliable information. It’s quite phenomenal. It’s a form of networking.
Lucian, your column tonight is the usual engaging top quality, as you paint pictures for the mind and you make everything so easy to understand.
I’ve said it before, that while I definitely would not be teaching some of the subject matter to third graders - a level where I spent a lot of time during my career - the clarity with which you present topics - plus your exquisite writing - would make it very, very possible to teach lessons from what you write… It’s as if what you tell is a lesson plan.
Phenomenal. It’s a true privilege and we’re so grateful for the writing you do, along with that of the professor, your friend. As we say of HCR, you’re a national treasure. So vital in these times, too.
Lucian, thank you for doing the difficult, unpleasant work of researching and writing about this disgusting regime.
It seems like the only "If....then" calculations Trump and his minions can do are about making money and staying in power. I can't comprehend their willful ignorance, bigotry and religious fundamentalism, and indifference to - and at times rejoicing in - human suffering.
The rest of us must get active and stay active with democracy organizations and show up and speak up at NO KINGS on March 28. There are 3000+ events planned in the US and around the world. Find a protest near you at www.nokings.org. Always onward!
If (ha ha…’as if’) the requested dollars aren’t approved by Congress, does that mean Trump’s grounded? That the appointment of Mullen was even entertained, was tough enough. When Trump insulted the Japanese by coyly mentioning Pearl Harbor in his disdainful way, I cringed. When today he social mediad his way into entertaining pulling out, or escalating his little “excursion” incursion, I wondered what sand dunes the heads of his enablers are buried in?
Is there no intelligence or sanity in the District.
Today his executive order was to not allow any other football game to be played during the Army-Navy game. (I know neither you nor Claude would consider that a bad thing) BUT while we’re at war?! Everything Trump does is execrable.
Soon, very soon. The situation with the press is mind boggling. I hope to hell Substack hangs in. After all, Andreeson, another dark lord tech bro, has $$ in this platform.
His enablers think they're immune to what's going on. I guess that they haven't read Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death." It doesn't have to be a plague that gets you.
Because the NCAAs are in progress, Trump sees the war as a sports metaphor. The U.S. “won” the war, but didn’t cover the spread. So we need help to cover in the next game, even tho without it we would again win but not cover.
It's beyond stupid - beyond suicidal. It leaves me agog.
Gasoline in Chicago's north suburbs today went to $4,29 a gallon for regular - a jump of 60 cents.. When a couple of thousand Marines end up as casualties in the next week or so, I expect it to be over $5.00 a gallon.
I feel bad for the 82nd - they can't possibly win this one. It's a run to ignominy.
Ah, I can't remember the last time the Bay Area saw $4.29. I think it was $4.89 a few weeks ago. Today it was $6.29, $6.49, and $6.69 at Shell. Not to worry, we run our EVs off our rooftop solar.
If we see $150-$200 a barrel oil, regular gas could hit $10/gallon. Diesel is already around $5.00/gal in the Midwest. We will see rationing like the 1970s, with even/odd days and restricted purchases. I'm so glad I followed my gut feelings and bought a Prius a few years ago. I don't know how most people will survive those kinds of prices.
Does anyone seriously think that Piggy or his clown car of warriors has the patience or ability to understand any of the problems Lucian and Terrence Goggins point out? Demented Donnie is now declaring victory and saying all objectives have been achieved. He's lifted sanctions on Russian oil sales so that Putin can rake in billions a day, and now even allowing Iran to sell its oil to keep funding the country. His own dumb actions have cost billions in defense costs, and more significantly his own profits from all of his mid-east deals. Look for a quick victory declaration now and withdrawal. Putin comes out of this as the huge winner. Back now to an easier target like giving Marco big-shoes free rein in Cuba. What a country!
Lucian, I'll bet a Hamilton against one piece from a T***p KFC bucket that the so-called Commander-in-Chief and his "Secretary" of Defense didn't see a presentation as good as yours, or, if they did, they certainly didn't understand it -- or chose not to. Make that a Jackson. The French had a great airfield at Dien Bien Phu in Indochina, but the Viet Minh who controlled the mountains surrounding it had locked the airfield into their artillery coordinates, so planes couldn't land to resupply. The French suffered 12,000 killed, wounded, and captured in that three-month 1954 battle. How many American VI Corps died or were wounded at Anzio on the Italian coast over four months in 1944 until your grandfather was given command and broke out of the beach area, the beach a target looked down and zeroed in on by German artillery? Over 40,000, wasn't it? How many Americans will die because of Operation Iran Insanity? Oh, it'll be okay because Kegsbreath says this lunacy is for, and in the name of, Jesus Christ. Which also means, final chords, that Iranian dead don't matter at all, because, you know, Muslims.
Monte Cassino was where they were held up, it’s probably 80-100 miles from the beachhead at Anzio which was no picnic. Monte Cassino is dominated by a monastery with 10’ or more thick walls, something like 600 locals were sheltering there from the fighting. Our rules of engagement prevented us from targeting the church which the Germans were not using in any way. It’s unbelievably steep getting up there, I’ve been there, the Germans were dug in all around it. When a new General, I think he was from New Zealand, was tasked with the assault, he targeted the monastery, killing everyone in it and eventually we took the hill, it’s actually more of a mountain. I can’t conceive fighting up that terrain. The Germans were dug into those mountains clean across the boot of Italy, layer after layer of positions, each defending the ones in front of it, they had years to build it. I was there 30 years ago so my memory may be a bit fuzzy. I wanted to see Monte Cassino because of a government war film that I saw as a kid in the 50’s, it was about the battle there. All battles when you are in them are awful, but it was like the cornerstone, once it fell the momentum shifted.
I came here to say something.... but there are no words
Sue, I too am sickened. I also read Prof. Terrance Goggins and am glad that he and the others that I regularly have been using to follow this war are in agreement on the foolhardiness of the mission of boots on the ground.
I have been watching Malcolm Nance (former US intel agent in the region) and Jacob Kaarsbo (former Danish intel, station chief in the region) give daily briefs about the war.
Malcolm estimates that given the set up of the Iranian system which has layers, which he explained one day (see Black Man Spy Substack), as having at their call up to around 25 million people around the world, so it is like a civilian corp that is available too. He has explained the drone situation the way that Goggins has.
Along with these two there are various configurations of people who are ex military who podcast together on their Substacks as well as writing articles like Nance and Kaarsbo do as well. Dean Blundell (Canadian), Dennis Riggleman (former US airforce, Congressman), Ken Harbaugh (Former US Navy), and they have various guests on. Recently they had 3 men who are drone experts, developed from having been embedded in Ukraine for a long time.
Whenever there is a crisis I look to experts for information. Since the US government is like the Russian government right now when it comes to information, which is totally lying and untrustworthy, and they have no press embedded with them, so that we get no news from the front that we can trust. I turn to people who at least have expertise in speculating. I appreciate Lucian Truscott for his military insights. His know-how as he just showed in this article with looking over the situation and figuring out what it would be like is invaluable.
Recently Dean Blundell was talking about the Laundry room fire on the SS Abraham Lincoln forcing it to go to Greece to dock because 600 people on ship have not been able to sleep in beds, but on tables or the floor since that happened. He says it is being investigated as a possible sabotage. That caused them to talk about how the deployment has been double the normal time, and the plumbing is not working in a lot of the toilets, so that is adding a lot of stress. Now they are told they have to go even longer, and the morale is probably really low for all these reasons.
I can imagine that being told by your commanders, part of Hegseth's army of Christian Nationalists that you are going to certain death because it is for the glory of God, is not going to raise the moral.
I am sickened more than speechless by the thought that we are sending more of our military to their deaths to keep Trump, his family and friends swimming in oil and whatever sources they are getting their money from.
I support military refusal to carry out orders. I have started an Indivisible Abroad group in Germany and one of the people in our group to start international boycotts against American businesses helping ICE, is an international professor of law. He told me that so far they have counted at least 10 war crimes on the part of the Trump administration in this war.
I am waiting for the day when Trump, Vance, Hegseth and others are brought to justice before an International court in the Hague.
The work you are doing overseas is invaluable. Thank you. My mission is to protect and safeguard our elections from the constant and growing interference from trump, as well as get young people registered to vote and get to the polls.
I. too, can't wait to see the day when these criminals pay for the crimes they are committing here and worldwide.
I am so grateful to every person globally who is fighting hard against these traitors and oppressors of the world's people.
Keep up the good work! Thank you!
TCinLA on Substack also writes about going to war with the #1 drone manufacturer.
You wrote a very good summary here, Linda. I have nothing to add.
Same with me.
God Help US!
And the innocent people of Iran whose lives have been forever changed because of the Orange idiot.
Along with the crazy leader of Israel..
Which god comes to mind. I don’t mean to be facetious, since we’re a white christian nation…
Well, the God of Christians is also the God of Jews and Muslims - so which side is he on, seeing as they ALL worship him? Maybe we should be saying "Buddha help us!"
I'll say something. Since trump first allowed insurgents to attack and kill police officers in an attempt to overthrow our government, he has been our domestic enemy. Now, he supports and aids Russia who is actively providing intelligence to Iran during this war of trumps choosing, indicating to me that he is aiding the enemy from within. Congress has failed to use it's power to remove him years ago (thank McConnell for that), and he has since made a shambles of what was once a remarkable, though flawed, democracy. (thank the present Congress for that.)
If anyone thinks that protecting our elections from this man's interference, who is a traitor to our country and the Constitution that keeps us free people, is not the most important objective at this point, then wake up. This is as serious as it gets. Voting is our legal way of changing the government when we are dissatisfied with their performance, OUR VOICE and OUR SAY SO in the matter. He knows his only chance not to be stopped is to cheat, and he is a well known cheat and sore loser.
Call and bombard your Senators with demands to stop the SAVE ACT, a classic voter suppression bill that will prevent millions of us from voting. And tell them to keep your sons and daughters home and safe from a deployment to a country being aided by the very man who will send them there.
Help everyone you know to register to vote, check on that registration, and help those who need it get to the polls or drop a ballot in a drop box. And fight like hell to protect our voices.
I'm getting really tired of reading the news through a mist of outrage and tears.
You have plenty of company.
This looks like a disaster waiting to happen. This definitely could become a “forever war.”The draft could be implemented; young men and women, for years to come, might be sent to their deaths to fight in a war that should never have been started.
I am bereft, as I write this with tears in my eyes.
Please see this. Senator Whitehouse sums it all up loud and clear.
https://essayx.substack.com/p/the-speech-that-history-will-remember
I feel the same way! We will (if it’s a go) lose many in war! I salute any and all of them wherever they are in the world.
Trump is clearly insane. Brother Truscott, I recommend you start referring to Trump as CALIGULA -- you know the crazy Roman Emperor whose own Praetorian Guards ended up killing him to protect Rome from his craziness --- Trump is the modern day Caligula --- Please get all your fellow sub-stackers to do the same --- Every time Trump appears in public, the crowds should all be shouting CALIGULA, CALIGULA ---
He probably has no idea who Caligula was. He’d take it as a compliment.
For sure! His neurons are all aligned with what lives in Hades!
You took the words right out of my mouth, good job. And your right he would revel in it.
“I don’t know who he is, but I saw the movie. He’s doing a great job.”
😆😆😆
Exactly! He may be flattered by this name.
Iirc correctly, Caligula at least did some good stuff. This asshole is irredeemable. Nothing good whatever. I was watching an Italian TV show one night during early Il Duce. Pictures of the bastard everywhere, busts, his name on everything. And the thug black shirts. Utter a bad word, get disappeared. Honestly, it gave me the willies. Will we learn nothing???
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula
Caligula was much better educated than Donald Trump, and Trump is more crazed already and becoming more so by the day! Need a more current set of insults, too, as Roman history isn't much taught in our schools.
I don’t know what’s “taught” anymore, but it’s sure showing…
Orange Foolius???
Hi Micheal--I hope you're well, and you are right on the money!
I think Commodus is a more apt comparison. Under Caligula, the Roman government and military still functioned. Commodus is the emperor whose shenanigans are seen by most historians as the start of the fall of Pax Romana. His very Trumpian hijinks include renaming all twelve months after himself and fighting in the arena against hapless gladiators armed with wooden or lead weapons.
Commode-US, I like that or Toliet-us, it's where all turds go to die.
Yes!! Commodus was the worst. I think I compared Piggy to him a long while back…
Or...commode?
Funny thing is I just looked up some info on the God of war in Roman and in Greek cultures!
We are witnessing the most unethical and immoral action of our government since colonization and slavery. It is sickening, disgusting, and criminal. Thank you Lucian. Without you, I wouldn’t understand things at this level.
Agree with you Linda, thank you Mr Truscott
I honestly don't know how I can take 3 more years... BH
When are the professional Generals going to tell Trump to shove it up his ass. We don’t want another war run by the WhiteHouse and Trumps Dweebs a la Johnson and McNamara and idiots like Westmoreland.
Ummm. They are gone. They were gone in the first month or so. As for "Raisin" Caine? Let's say, he made his pact with the spawn of the devil, he can now live with it.
Raisin Cane is a fucking idiot just like plastered Petey and the Orange Monster!!!
Doged….in a manner of speaking…
Exactly. But lives are disposable to the Trump regime, including American military.
Anyway we can get the bloviated b*stard to take a victory lap and parade, diaper and all, through the streets of Bandar Abbas? I'm being facetious.
That said, you know what I worry about as you mention the small villages that pock the mountains surrounding Bandar Abbas? A repeat of a My Lai massacre. It's the type of "theatre" that makes that dismissed marine feel "manly" and worthy of another whisky. It terrifies me. Iran is being invaded, the citizens already live in a horror show, and now this? I fear for the women and children. Pictures of Mi Lai just flash through my mind.
Yes! Declare victory and go home!
This will be worse than Vietnam, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan rolled together. I fear for our Marines.
This is what happens when the "elected" representatives are Quislings. Marines, no offense, are not "utility" players. They are trained to specific actions. This scenario doesn't fit that. Does anyone truly think that they will be left aboard ships playing tiddlywinks? The problem is that not one, not one, of those in charge, not the decomposing adjudicated rapist, not the faux Christian and AA dropout, and not "Raisen" Caine, chosen for his nickname and not his abilities, know what the hell they are doing or care one iota about the lives that are being put on the line. Ordered into this debacle by a draft dodger and a dismissed Marine.
I was thinking the same thing…Vietnam. Another unsuccessful costly war.
He is entirely nuts, crazy etc! Someone needs to tell him NO! However, I forgot, he is a toddler and can't accept the word NO!
Good lord. Wow. Thank you for giving us this info - nothing even close appears anywhere in the MSM. I have already read in Ukrainian press about 10 days ago about Strait of Hormuz strategies but in America, pretty much nothing from Trump until today and if not for your column and the professor's substack, we would not have seen anything with this level of sophistication as an explanation. Double thank you.
I think it’s quite wonderful and telling that several other columnists point people to read these recent columns written by Lucian and Professor Groggin because they are so learned and clear. And as you point out, the information isn’t appearing anywhere else! Authors Tom Cleaver, Rob Hubbell, maybe Steve Schmidt… people know where to turn, who to read for reliable information. It’s quite phenomenal. It’s a form of networking.
Lucian, your column tonight is the usual engaging top quality, as you paint pictures for the mind and you make everything so easy to understand.
I’ve said it before, that while I definitely would not be teaching some of the subject matter to third graders - a level where I spent a lot of time during my career - the clarity with which you present topics - plus your exquisite writing - would make it very, very possible to teach lessons from what you write… It’s as if what you tell is a lesson plan.
Phenomenal. It’s a true privilege and we’re so grateful for the writing you do, along with that of the professor, your friend. As we say of HCR, you’re a national treasure. So vital in these times, too.
Lucian, thank you for doing the difficult, unpleasant work of researching and writing about this disgusting regime.
It seems like the only "If....then" calculations Trump and his minions can do are about making money and staying in power. I can't comprehend their willful ignorance, bigotry and religious fundamentalism, and indifference to - and at times rejoicing in - human suffering.
The rest of us must get active and stay active with democracy organizations and show up and speak up at NO KINGS on March 28. There are 3000+ events planned in the US and around the world. Find a protest near you at www.nokings.org. Always onward!
Strikingly, there are protests on the map in deep red western Kansas where there were none before. Resistance is spreading.
Yes! And we blue states use state power. (See Chris Armitage..)
OIL:
IRAN:
1953 Opetation Boot Strapp,TP-Ajax project.
Even if Trump installs another Shah
Mohammedism is the planets fastest growing religion. And is the fastest at birth rates.
So Trump has a cheeseburger and Vance as president insists on the US being a Christan nation. With Pete doing sermons sounding like an idiot.
The crusades continue.
I cant decide should I rewatch Syriana or Three Days of the Condor.
Maybe the battle of Algiers?
Should Charles Degaulle listened to his OAS Generals and taken Algeria?
If you have the time, view all three films. They're all excellent.
Please call it by its proper name - Islam.
Thanks. I was born in tje 11 century.
I'm to the point where I'm going to watch cartoons.
Igiven the state of the planet and i recommend Gahan Wilson.
If (ha ha…’as if’) the requested dollars aren’t approved by Congress, does that mean Trump’s grounded? That the appointment of Mullen was even entertained, was tough enough. When Trump insulted the Japanese by coyly mentioning Pearl Harbor in his disdainful way, I cringed. When today he social mediad his way into entertaining pulling out, or escalating his little “excursion” incursion, I wondered what sand dunes the heads of his enablers are buried in?
Is there no intelligence or sanity in the District.
Today his executive order was to not allow any other football game to be played during the Army-Navy game. (I know neither you nor Claude would consider that a bad thing) BUT while we’re at war?! Everything Trump does is execrable.
I don't think an "executive order" means that Piggy thinks it means. Even King Donald doesn't control the college football schedule. At least yet...
Soon, very soon. The situation with the press is mind boggling. I hope to hell Substack hangs in. After all, Andreeson, another dark lord tech bro, has $$ in this platform.
Reading this first thing in the morning is very disturbing. Damn!
“Yet” being the operative word!
Networks laughed!!!
Networks will laugh at that nonsense...especially late in the aeason!
His enablers think they're immune to what's going on. I guess that they haven't read Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death." It doesn't have to be a plague that gets you.
Exactly, but is there a way that we can conjure up the Red Death to make an appearance at one of Donnie Prospero’s parties? PLease!
Because the NCAAs are in progress, Trump sees the war as a sports metaphor. The U.S. “won” the war, but didn’t cover the spread. So we need help to cover in the next game, even tho without it we would again win but not cover.
It's beyond stupid - beyond suicidal. It leaves me agog.
Gasoline in Chicago's north suburbs today went to $4,29 a gallon for regular - a jump of 60 cents.. When a couple of thousand Marines end up as casualties in the next week or so, I expect it to be over $5.00 a gallon.
I feel bad for the 82nd - they can't possibly win this one. It's a run to ignominy.
Ah, I can't remember the last time the Bay Area saw $4.29. I think it was $4.89 a few weeks ago. Today it was $6.29, $6.49, and $6.69 at Shell. Not to worry, we run our EVs off our rooftop solar.
Yah, and I got the old Prius. No complaints…
If we see $150-$200 a barrel oil, regular gas could hit $10/gallon. Diesel is already around $5.00/gal in the Midwest. We will see rationing like the 1970s, with even/odd days and restricted purchases. I'm so glad I followed my gut feelings and bought a Prius a few years ago. I don't know how most people will survive those kinds of prices.
3.99 here in DeSantistan!
Aren't drones what kept Ukraine afloat. Is Russia sending drones to Iran or just oil?
It has been reported that Russia is sending drones.
Russia is happy, BG Pete!! How crazy is this?
Any chance to make Trump look bad...which is easy peasy
Think the networks will adjust college football schedule for the Moron in Chief???
Does anyone seriously think that Piggy or his clown car of warriors has the patience or ability to understand any of the problems Lucian and Terrence Goggins point out? Demented Donnie is now declaring victory and saying all objectives have been achieved. He's lifted sanctions on Russian oil sales so that Putin can rake in billions a day, and now even allowing Iran to sell its oil to keep funding the country. His own dumb actions have cost billions in defense costs, and more significantly his own profits from all of his mid-east deals. Look for a quick victory declaration now and withdrawal. Putin comes out of this as the huge winner. Back now to an easier target like giving Marco big-shoes free rein in Cuba. What a country!
Geeze, those shoes.
👆This.
Lucian, I'll bet a Hamilton against one piece from a T***p KFC bucket that the so-called Commander-in-Chief and his "Secretary" of Defense didn't see a presentation as good as yours, or, if they did, they certainly didn't understand it -- or chose not to. Make that a Jackson. The French had a great airfield at Dien Bien Phu in Indochina, but the Viet Minh who controlled the mountains surrounding it had locked the airfield into their artillery coordinates, so planes couldn't land to resupply. The French suffered 12,000 killed, wounded, and captured in that three-month 1954 battle. How many American VI Corps died or were wounded at Anzio on the Italian coast over four months in 1944 until your grandfather was given command and broke out of the beach area, the beach a target looked down and zeroed in on by German artillery? Over 40,000, wasn't it? How many Americans will die because of Operation Iran Insanity? Oh, it'll be okay because Kegsbreath says this lunacy is for, and in the name of, Jesus Christ. Which also means, final chords, that Iranian dead don't matter at all, because, you know, Muslims.
Monte Cassino was where they were held up, it’s probably 80-100 miles from the beachhead at Anzio which was no picnic. Monte Cassino is dominated by a monastery with 10’ or more thick walls, something like 600 locals were sheltering there from the fighting. Our rules of engagement prevented us from targeting the church which the Germans were not using in any way. It’s unbelievably steep getting up there, I’ve been there, the Germans were dug in all around it. When a new General, I think he was from New Zealand, was tasked with the assault, he targeted the monastery, killing everyone in it and eventually we took the hill, it’s actually more of a mountain. I can’t conceive fighting up that terrain. The Germans were dug into those mountains clean across the boot of Italy, layer after layer of positions, each defending the ones in front of it, they had years to build it. I was there 30 years ago so my memory may be a bit fuzzy. I wanted to see Monte Cassino because of a government war film that I saw as a kid in the 50’s, it was about the battle there. All battles when you are in them are awful, but it was like the cornerstone, once it fell the momentum shifted.
Yes, Anzio was supposed to flank the Gustav Line of defenses, which included Monte Cassino.
It’s a holy war, y’know…
An American bloodbath timed with NO KINGS coming up...I can see Gunther Toody: OOH! OOH! FRANCIS! FRANCIS!