All wars are stupid, even the rare necessary ones. Some folks say war is never necessary, and while I respect that belief, I disagree with it. I believe there are a few valid reasons for a nation…any nation…to go to war. All of those reasons are responsive–taken in response to some specific act. Military aggression by another nation, for example, or the protection of innocent human life. Maybe even to restore international order.
All three of those reasons would apply to a war defending Ukraine against the Russian invasion. None of those reasons apply to Trump’s decision to initiate a war with Iran. In fact, a war with Iran actually aids Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
As I said three weeks ago, You attack Iran, and Iran hits back. I’m just a random guy who reads a lot and follows the news, and even I knew Iran would 1) retaliate militarily and 2) close the Strait of Hormuz. By all accounts, Comrade President Trump’s advisors told him the same thing. He discounted their advice and attacked Iran anyway.
Closing of the Straits jeopardizes the economies of most of Europe, most of whom are providing support to Ukraine. Closing the Straits benefits Russia, because Russian oil becomes more in demand. Russia’s oil and gas revenue financed the invasion of Ukraine, and the sanctions imposed by the US and Europe against Russian oil have made it more difficult for Russia to sustain their aggression. The US has lifted some of those sanctions in order to keep fuel prices in check. The revenues generated by lifting the sanctions helps Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia, by the way, has also been supplying Iran with 1) the drones used to attack ships in the Straits and US forces deployed in the Middle East, and 2) intelligence regarding the locations and defensive characteristics of US forces. Russia has absolutely no incentive to stop providing drones and intel to Iran. The longer the Iran war goes on, the better for Russia and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump’s assault on Iran and subsequent lifting of Russian oil sanctions not only helps Russia achieve its political and military objectives, it also hurts traditional US allies and sows global chaos. And as usual, Trump has absolutely no plan to resolve any of this. He is, however, making bank off the war. Trump’s sons invested heavily in companies that manufacture…that’s right. Drones.
None of this was necessary. It will take years…maybe generations…to undo the damage Trump has inflicted on the United States in fifteen months. But it would be nice if we could kickstart the recovery by putting lots of Trumps in prison.
gregfallis.com 
Trump stopped supplying Ukraine with missiles and air defence systems. Instead he was willing to sell them to European countries so we could give them to Ukraine. Now even that is under threat because Trump’s mate Bibi needs them to keep his Iron Dome going now he’s picked a fight on yet another country.
Then, having insulted President Zalensky on the global stage, refused more weapons and support etc. he then asked Ukraine for help with the drone warfare! And Zalensky sent experts right away. Who holds he cards now I wonder!
Then, having insulted the British armed forces in Afghanistan, Britain in general and specifically the Prime Minister, he want’s us to send war ships to protect his shipping in the strait he’s caused to close!!!
Someone needs to make it stop. It’s bending sanity.
I don’t want to see lots of Trumps in prison. I want all of them in prison. All, with the possible exception of Tiffany, who I know nothing about. The fact she is so quiet might buy her a stay of execution in my book. Until the evidence proves otherwise. Melania needs deporting. She knew what Epstein was up to. She came from him! She choose to keep silent and trade off it.
I need to fill my car up tomorrow. I’m dreading it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The quote from Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) in A Few Good Men seems very relevant now “And the hits just keep on coming” with this guy. Why does it feel like everything this regime does is without any forethought, and looking around the corner to see what the impact downstream will be (ugh, I’m launching into my old corporate speak there). We’ve have nothing but toil and turmoil every week this year, from kidnapping the Venezuelan president to Minneapolis to now this. Now he’s going to badmouth our allies for not helping open the strait, to go on top of the bad mouthing of our allies that he just does, in general. And all the garble that comes out of his mouth at every press conference. It’s a hellscape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shit! This just came through my fb feed.
The Other 98% ·
In a massive blow to the first amendment, Trump administration wins its first “antifa case”. Pam Bondi made the stakes clear: “Today’s verdict will not be the last.”
Eight people were convicted Friday on material support for terrorism charges for attending a July 4th noise demo outside the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas, the government’s first use of the material support charge against alleged antifa members accused of domestic terrorism.
The conviction didn’t require proof anyone committed violence. It required wearing dark clothes.
Federal prosecutors told jurors that wearing “black bloc” clothing was itself a terrorist act, that “providing your body as camouflage” constituted material support for terrorism. That’s the new legal standard. Show up in black. Go to prison for 15 years.
The convictions were made possible by NSPM-7, Trump’s executive order weaponizing federal law enforcement against left-wing activism. One defense attorney said it plainly: “This wouldn’t be a terrorism case if it weren’t for that memo.”
There is no domestic equivalent to the State Department’s list of foreign terror organizations, in part because organizations operating within the United States are protected by broad First Amendment rights.
Trump bulldozed that protection with an executive order designating “antifa”, a decentralized umbrella term, not an organization, as a domestic terrorist group.
There is no “antifa.” There is no membership card. There is no headquarters. The government invented the enemy and then convicted people of joining it.
Defense attorney Xavier de Janon put it plainly: “The federal government has signaled, successfully, that very regular protest activities could get you federally charged and federally convicted.”
The National Lawyers Guild’s Suzanne Adely warned the case is designed to “increase the fear, hoping that folks in other cities will think twice over protesting.”
That’s the point. Not justice. Deterrence. The government doesn’t need to arrest everyone. They just need you scared enough to stay home.
LikeLiked by 1 person