The Morning Rant: Minimalist Edition

The Houthis have been around since the 1990s, when they emerged as just another lunatic Shia terrorist organization. Oh sure... they were nominally a political movement that was anti-Saudi, and of course anti-American, but let us face reality. Every Muslim freedom movement or revolutionary movement devolves into terrorism.

Here is their official slogan. Seriously:

God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse be upon the Jews, Victory to Islam

They sound nice.

They are a garden variety terrorist group, but with a twist. They are closely aligned with Iran, and receive a huge amount of aid from that paragon of international cooperation. Primarily weapons, which is why this group of 7th century maniacs can threaten shipping at the Red Sea choke point south of the Suez Canal, and shoot missiles at Saudi Arabia. If it weren't for that twist of geography, the Houthis would be scrabbling in the dust like everyone else in Yemen, and we would never have heard of them.

President Trump's statement

The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends.
Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.

Quite a change from the feckless triangulation of the Biden/Obama junta! And completely justified simply because they took shots at our Navy ships. That alone should be reason to destroy their ability to conduct offensive warfare.

But the vast majority of the commercial ships threatened by the Houthi terrorists are not involved in American trade. Much of our shipping is across the Pacific. So why is there not a commanding presence of European navies (stop laughing!) and perhaps the Indian Navy and Australian Navy and Japanese Navy and others busily pounding the Houthi military infrastructure into dust? Hell... what about the Saudis, who love to spend their petrodollars on high-tech weaponry, but are conspicuously absent, or on the losing end of the battle when it comes to using those toys! Yeah, the Houthis have smacked the Saudis around.

President Trump ran on a platform of no new wars, and a renewed focus on America. He is pursuing that platform with vigor, so why are we once again front-and-center in a fight that, while it does involve us, is best conducted by others?

Of course the damage being done to the Houthis is also hurting Iran, and that is an unalloyed good thing. Iran is in difficult economic straits, with inflation running at a reported 50%, demonstrations across the country, a depreciating currency, and all of their proxies getting the snot knocked out of them! Will Iran be able to resupply them with new weapons and more cash? Probably not, especially since they are very worried about an Israeli strike on their nuclear facilities, and must rebuild their destroyed air defenses.

If the long game is the destruction of the current regime in Iran, then the attacks on the Houthis make more sense. But... Europe and others still need to be involved, so at a minimum, they begin to understand that the Pax Americana that has allowed them to spend their money on themselves rather than a common defense has closed up shop.

[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X]

Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 st!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:00 AM (kgE5c)

2 Live, from Paree, it's CBD!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:00 AM (kgE5c)

3 Off to summon The Others.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:01 AM (kgE5c)

4 The Others have been summoned.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:02 AM (kgE5c)

5 Punk monkey needs a ghey beret while CBD is in ghey Paree.

Posted by: Doof at March 18, 2025 11:02 AM (Uq+qx)

6 Top 10?!?

Posted by: Grayman27 at March 18, 2025 11:03 AM (pgwxJ)

7 "No new wars" doesn't really apply to a preexisting war, and it certainly does not apply to an important sea lane. Perhaps at some future point we will have annexed Canada (and somehow deprogrammed the libtards living there) and turned North America into an impregnable, self-sufficient fortress, but until then we need to police the seas as the British did 150 years ago during their period of "splendid isolation".

Posted by: The Lower Depths at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (Dg7ng)

8 Punk monkey needs a ghey beret while CBD is in ghey Paree.
Posted by: Doof at March 18, 2025 11:02 AM

And he needs to talk like Maurice Chevalier.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (kgE5c)

9 FUN FACT: The Houthis were the Official Terrorist Group of the Obama Administration

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (hY4dx)

10 The Royal Navy barely has enough warships to patrol home waters, its nuclear deterrence was made in America.

What of the French fleet? Or the Italians? Or the Spanish?

All these navies need to expand, and they also need a functioning fleet train.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:05 AM (Ocj/H)

11 we need to police the seas as the British did 150 years ago during their period of "splendid isolation".

Posted by: The Lower Depths at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (Dg7ng)

No. That is my point...that we do not need to do this alone if other economies are benefiting more.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (L5An7)

12 Perhaps we could interest you in a pre-owned war.

Posted by: Geopolitics at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (dg+HA)

13 Give 'em a shipment of missiles w/no propellant...they just explode on launch command.

Posted by: BignJames at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (Yj6Os)

14 God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse be upon the Jews, Victory to Islam"

And and "Love for Goat Asses"?

Interesting that "Death to America" is ahead of "Death to Israel." I would think it would be the other way around. These goat-raping perverts hate the USA as much as -- and maybe even more than -- Israel, but usually Israel is their primary target.

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (iFTx/)

15 Well, Houthis are pirates, so attacking them is a police action, not technically a war.

ERW's FTW.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (MqtqS)

16 Can we just Smite the Houthis without getting into a multiyear shit sandwich over it??? Is that too much to ask??? I am all for quick Smitings…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:07 AM (PCK5/)

17 What of the French fleet? Or the Italians? Or the Spanish?

All these navies need to expand, and they also need a functioning fleet train.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:05 AM (Ocj/H)
----
Hmmm...A unified Mediterranean Defense Fleet sounds like an interesting idea in theory, but I don't know if any of those countries could get their act together to build one...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 18, 2025 11:07 AM (7fElN)

18 usually Israel is their primary target.

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (iFTx/)

Hezbollah called and told them not to horn in on their territory.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:07 AM (L5An7)

19 SLOC is the term.

Sea Lines or Sea Lanes of Communication.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:07 AM (Ocj/H)

20 yes the U.S. should not be the world policeman. But at least Hegseth and Trump are breaking the weapons of the Houthis, telling them we will break things until they stop but not acting as though they can install a democracy there. And starting with Clinton if not before we had a string of presidents who thought our military should be the world's social worker. I never watched the movie but I remember the black hawk down incident; that is how trying to be a social worker to jihadi thugs works out.

Posted by: PaleRider at March 18, 2025 11:08 AM (bP/i4)

21 Iran is a pissant country with the GDP for Dallas-Ft Worth, almost all of which is derived from a commodity that has to be exported by tanker or exposed pipeline.

Never before would the Great Powers have let such a weak shithole cause so much trouble without squashing it flat.

Posted by: Grump928(C) reminds you at March 18, 2025 11:08 AM (Q91V2)

22 No. That is my point...that we do not need to do this alone if other economies are benefiting more.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Hey, we have to keep shouldering the burden while Europe recovers from WW2, man.

Posted by: Auspex at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (j4U/Z)

23 I am all for quick Smitings…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:07 AM (PCK5/)

Yes... that would be nice. then hand off the defense of that sea lane to a unified EU/Australia/Japan expeditionary force.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (L5An7)

24 "Will Iran be able to resupply them with new weapons and more cash? Probably not, "

Wait, you mean a bunch of our overseas threats recede when oil hits the mid sixties? Unpossible. Next you'll tell me Russia might want a peace deal.

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (pIfcn)

25 In other terrorists are assholes news, Hamas has ditched their military uniforms for civilian garb to hide behind their women and children.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (u73oe)

26 Save tax money President Trump - use cluster bombs and napalm on the pirates.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (Ocj/H)

27 Houthi and the Blowfish.
Amirite?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (RuUxs)

28 FUN FACT: The Houthis were the Official Terrorist Group of the Obama Administration
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (hY4dx)

I thought that was ISIS. Or al-Nursa Front. Or al Qaeda in Syria. Or al-Qaeda in Libya.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 18, 2025 11:10 AM (l3YAf)

29 Thought Gaylord's official terror group was the Oath keepers?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:10 AM (Ocj/H)

30 Perhaps we could interest you in a pre-owned war.
Posted by: Geopolitics

We'd like to talk to you about your war's extended warranty.

Posted by: Stu Podaso at March 18, 2025 11:10 AM (WySqD)

31 Houthi and the Blowfish.
Amirite?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM

*glares*

Posted by: Darius Rucker at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (kgE5c)

32 Didn’t Obama call isis something else? For a while the cool kids in DC were using a different name.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (RuUxs)

33
I really really really like that we aren't going to let terrorist states like Iran train, support, and fund their point of the spear active terrorist organizations-

and then pretend that they don't know nuthin' bout nuthin' bout terrorizin' folks.

The support states deserve every bit of the treatment we give their clients times ten.

Make it so Trump!

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (iJfKG)

34 use cluster bombs and napalm on the pirates.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:09 AM (Ocj/H)

Yes. High-tech to destroy their anti-aircraft capability, then a very low-tech pounding the snot out of them with anything that goes boom. Hell, how about some naval bombardment?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (L5An7)

35 Islam: God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse be upon the Jews, Victory to Islam

Christianity: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

If only we could convert to that religion of peace, Islam, instead of being stuck with violent Christianity.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (N1tpc)

36 32 Didn’t Obama call isis something else? For a while the cool kids in DC were using a different name.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (RuUxs)

=======

ISIL.

I think the L stood for Levant.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (GBKbO)

37 Gaylord called them ISIL. So I called then vagISIL.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (Ocj/H)

38 They hijacked a ship almost a year and a half ago, and kept the crew hostage for more than a year. To this day, they continue to hold the ship. The name of the ship is "Galaxy Leader".

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (TN0g+)

39 ISIL, not ISIS.

-- Jug Ears

Posted by: one hour sober at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (Y1sOo)

40 Willowed:

Saw "The Electric State"..now streaming on Netflix.

I didn't hate it. It's (a low bar I know) better than anything Marvel or Disney have put out lately, so maybe a B-B-.

But, it illustrates two writing problems in modern movies.

1) Any white male can't be a hero who actually affects the outcome or tells the female character anything or isn't much more than a big blowhard.

Remember Kurt Russell's character in "Big Trouble in Little China" how funny it was that you thought he'd be the big hero but he wound up doing almost nothing in the movie. Yeah...all that all the time.

They totally wasted Chris Pratt by basically having him do nothing but follow the Bobby Brown character around. They gave him one really funny line and that's about it.
Which leads us to 2.

2) The Girl Boss appears to be dead but it's now been replaced by the Snarky, Unpleasant Know-it-All as the main character.
And Bobby Brown isn't a good enough actress to carry a movie on her shoulders. She gives good happy face and sad face and that's about it.

There's nothing compelling about an older guy following around some young woman to no real effect.

An okay watch. Check it out if you wish.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (iJfKG)

41 Punk monkey needs a ghey beret while CBD is in ghey Paree.
Posted by: Doof at March 18, 2025 11:02 AM

And he needs to talk like Maurice Chevalier.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (kgE5c)

Please to not be singing songs about little girls, cbd.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (/x6eu)

42 ISIL.

I think the L stood for Levant.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM

You are correct, sir!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (kgE5c)

43 So we're going back to "Rubble don't make trouble"? I approve.

Posted by: NR Pax at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (RjOoY)

44 Punk monkey needs a ghey beret while CBD is in ghey Paree.
Posted by: Doof at March 18, 2025 11:02 AM

And he needs to talk like Maurice Chevalier.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:04 AM (kgE5c)

Please to not be singing songs about little girls, cbd.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM

Is that wrong?

Posted by: Oingo Boingo at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (kgE5c)

45 Iowa and New Jersey to the red courtesy phone.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (hTwKe)

46 Wait till DOGE opens the books on the Pentagon/DOD waste fraud abuse monster, that'll ......no you're right, that's a bridge too far.

Posted by: Gary R at March 18, 2025 11:14 AM (tCmaw)

47 1) Any white male can't be a hero who actually affects the outcome or tells the female character anything or isn't much more than a big blowhard.

In Hollywood, White males are comedic morons, villains or if they are the hero, they have a stronk independent long-suffering WAMEN at their side.

Posted by: NR Pax at March 18, 2025 11:14 AM (RjOoY)

48 46 Wait till DOGE opens the books on the Pentagon/DOD waste fraud abuse monster, that'll ......no you're right, that's a bridge too far.
Posted by: Gary R at March 18, 2025 11:14 AM (tCmaw)

=======

They've had access for weeks.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:14 AM (GBKbO)

49 Waiting for a judge to tell Tru can’t bomb them. Because reasons.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:14 AM (RuUxs)

50
Do they still have those hee-haw sirens on the police cars in France?

Will they be whining them when they come to pick up CBD for posting anti-euro content?

Posted by: Auspex at March 18, 2025 11:15 AM (j4U/Z)

51 11 Indeed, in an ideal situation this would work, though as others have noted, our NATO "allies" have jokes as far as navies go. Any random frigate they would contribute would probably cost more to us in terms of having to refuel and resupply it than it would add to any task force. And that assumes our "allies" have ships with sufficient air defenses to not be sitting targets. IIRC a Danish ship had to flee the area because it was easily overwhelmed by Houthi drones during one of Brandon's ill-fated "Operation Prosperity Guardian" actions in the Red Sea.

There are navies that could contribute, like the Indians, but they love acting like an independent geopolitical power, so they certainly wouldn't let their vessels serve under our command, and we could not trust them to have the same strategic objectives we do (they'd probably try to do commercial deals with the Houthis as they've tried with the Taliban).

Now a situation where we only guarantee protection to US ships or to ships of countries that make a useful contribution could be fine. Degrade the Houthis to a point and then set up a convoy system for ships we care about. The rest can fend for themselves against Houthi pirates.

Posted by: The Lower Depths at March 18, 2025 11:15 AM (Dg7ng)

52 40
There's nothing compelling about an older guy following around some young woman to no real effect.

An okay watch. Check it out if you wish.
Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:12 AM (iJfKG)

So… a main premise of Buffy the Vampire Slayer… a series that was basically shitty… but fun to watch, strangely enough…James Marsters saved it…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:15 AM (PCK5/)

53 The Electric State cost $320million.

And don't forget. The robots revolted, ala Terminator, and after a long struggle the Humans won. And instead of destroying all the bad robots put them on a reservation.

That is the stupid lazy backstory.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:15 AM (Ocj/H)

54 40 She gives good happy face and sad face and that's about it.

happy ending > happy face

Posted by: algore, chakras released at March 18, 2025 11:15 AM (oY6Yp)

55 White males are comedic morons,

—

And they never remember anniversaries.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:16 AM (RuUxs)

56 Like not calling Qatar KA - tar.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:16 AM (/x6eu)

57 Breaking: Federal judge orders halt to bombing saying “Oh, let’s be nice to them!”

Posted by: Duke Lowell at March 18, 2025 11:16 AM (u73oe)

58 "Like not calling Qatar KA - tar."

Gutter.

Posted by: sudo touch --methere gp at March 18, 2025 11:17 AM (5ACBR)

59 Which Federal Judge rules Yemen?

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 18, 2025 11:17 AM (hTwKe)

60 57 Breaking: Federal judge orders halt to bombing saying “Oh, let’s be nice to them!”
Posted by: Duke Lowell at March 18, 2025 11:16 AM (u73oe)

========

News from 1969.

A judge ordered Nixon to stop the war in Cambodia. Nixon did not stop the war in Cambodia.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:17 AM (GBKbO)

61 Good morning! Now to go read the rant.

Posted by: Piper at March 18, 2025 11:17 AM (pZEOD)

62
A judge ordered Nixon to stop the war in Cambodia. Nixon did not stop the war in Cambodia.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:17 AM (GBKbO)

And the Republic survived?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:18 AM (RuUxs)

63 Can we just Smite the Houthis without getting into a multiyear shit sandwich over it??? Is that too much to ask??? I am all for quick Smitings…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:07 AM (PCK5/)

MOAB carpet bombing, followed by cluster munitions, then fire bombing.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at March 18, 2025 11:18 AM (VwHCD)

64 62 And the Republic survived?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:18 AM (RuUxs)

=======

False.

The Republic died in 1803 with Marbury v Madison.

There was nothing to survive.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM (GBKbO)

65 The euros should either pay for protection or we should charge them a percentage of goods protected. 15% sounds good.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM (17s+e)

66 Is that wrong?
Posted by: Oingo Boingo at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (kgE5c)

Or the song 'Young Girl'. To be fair, that guy was telling her to run away.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM (/x6eu)

67 "Like not calling Qatar KA - tar."

Gutter.

Posted by: sudo touch --methere gp at March 18, 2025 11:17 AM (5ACBR)

heard some newschick call it Gooter

Posted by: BignJames at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM (Yj6Os)

68
Did the Egyptians charge the U.S. Navy for passage through the Suez canal to go into the Red Sea to keep the Suez Canal open?

'cause that would be awesome.

Posted by: Auspex at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM (j4U/Z)

69 In a very short time, Europe will be arming the Houthis.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM (WPL6O)

70 Just destroy the Houthis. All of them. By the cheapest means possible. They are a criminal gang, not a people, so not a genocide.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 11:20 AM (MqtqS)

71 MOAB carpet bombing, followed by cluster munitions, then fire bombing.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division
----------------

There's iron in your words

Posted by: Chief Dan George at March 18, 2025 11:20 AM (5hfjS)

72 Historically since the Barbary pirates exacted tribute and attacked our ships, we have had a blue water navy roaming the world and protecting US interests.

While I think we should end our relationship with NATO and downsize our army plus convert most of it to reserves/guard, a strong Navy, strong Air Force, and the new Space whatever, are needed to project power to places. These are technical services that simply do not ramp up when US defense needs them right now. Building ships, modern planes/drones, and perhaps in the near future, Rods from God and other space weapons, missiles, etc. have to be done well prior to any conflict.

We, ourselves, do not face any risk of military invasion necessitating a large standing active army, nor can we afford it any longer. IMHO, thus we have to put our bucks into our buffers like the Navy, Air Force, and Space Force rather than have a big standing army to project power abroad.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:20 AM (ctrM5)

73 Whig

The British Empire model?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:21 AM (Ocj/H)

74 False.

The Republic died in 1803 with Marbury v Madison.

There was nothing to survive.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=========
Is this your new trope?

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:21 AM (ctrM5)

75 Under *biden there was a clusterfucked attempt to pull together a coalition to combat the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. It fractured due to differences in ROE, leadership, goals, etc.

The USN stood up Operation Prosperity Guardian which was a US standalone op. The EU stood up Operation Aspides under their own leadership. The EU one is probably defunct now.

Neither was able to stop Houthi attacks because neither operation was geared towards hitting the Houthi's at their base(s) of operations... until it was almost too late. They were more or less sailing around, shooting down Houthi missiles and drones targeting commercial shipping or their own warships.

I think it was May last year that the US started to strike at the Houthi's at their bases. There's a story out there about one of the Navy's DDG's (USS Carney) coming under an unrelenting attack from Houthi drones and ASBM's.

It's a congested area and there's not much room for mistakes.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 18, 2025 11:21 AM (Q4IgG)

76 Will Iran be able to resupply them with new weapons and more cash?

------------

SURE, if we resupply Iran with more of the same -- which is why you need to re-"elect" Obama -- (Zombie Biden/Harris II) in 2028!

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 18, 2025 11:21 AM (pkm6L)

77 74Is this your new trope?
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:21 AM (ctrM5)

=======
More a joke in line with people claiming that the Republic died at any point they don't like in America's history.

The most common point is usually the Civil War.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:22 AM (GBKbO)

78 ISIL.

I think the L stood for Levant.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman

That was sad. I loved Oscar Levant.

Posted by: At Wit's End at March 18, 2025 11:22 AM (G5+As)

79 Is that wrong?
Posted by: Oingo Boingo at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (kgE5c)

Or the song 'Young Girl'. To be fair, that guy was telling her to run away.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM

*waves*

Posted by: Sweet Caroline at March 18, 2025 11:22 AM (kgE5c)

80 We need military for geographical border protection, and technology, if you will, to project our power beyond our border… maybe this is too simplistic..

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:23 AM (PCK5/)

81 73 Whig

The British Empire model?
Posted by: Anna Puma

Pretty much. England did best when it did not have to fight with large armies on the continent and WWI/WWII pretty much broke them being able to do so. But as an island nation, the decline of British sea power is a grievous error especially when coupled with allowing mass immigration from Islamic states that want to kill British natives.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:23 AM (ctrM5)

82 The most common point is usually the Civil War.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:22 AM (GBKbO)

I'd go with permanent income tax or maybe Wilson, but that's just me.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:23 AM (/x6eu)

83 “ Meet the New Trope
Same as the Old Trope”..

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:24 AM (PCK5/)

84 The Republic died when Coca-cola discontinued Surge soda.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 18, 2025 11:24 AM (l3YAf)

85 @40 I saw Critical Drinker's review of that, and it looked as if they completely missed the point of the book.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 18, 2025 11:24 AM (WPL6O)

86 I really really really like that we aren't going to let terrorist states like Iran train, support, and fund their point of the spear active terrorist organizations-
and then pretend that they don't know nuthin' bout nuthin' bout terrorizin' folks.
The support states deserve every bit of the treatment we give their clients times ten.
Make it so Trump!
Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:11 AM (iJfKG)

I dunno, that could come back to kick us in the ass, considering who we've armed trained and supported in the past.
Pretending is a big part of diplomatically keeping peace.
Or at least not engaging in major war.

In theory I agree. US history on the other hand...

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (FCbAQ)

87 The Republic died with the Democrat Party…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (PCK5/)

88 Is that wrong?
Posted by: Oingo Boingo at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (kgE5c)

Or the song 'Young Girl'. To be fair, that guy was telling her to run away.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM

*waves*
Posted by: Sweet Caroline

Don't Stand so Close to Me

Posted by: The Police at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (WySqD)

89 There's nothing more cringe-worthy than Benny Mardones song "Into the Night". The opening line is enough to turn stomachs...

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (TN0g+)

90 Meet the New Trope
Same as the Old Trope”..
Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:24 AM (PCK5/)

Trope Classic is better than New Trope, but it still is not as good as the original Trope you can get in Mexico.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (/x6eu)

91 BeckoningChasm

Much like how Kevin Costner missed Brin's point in his movie The Postman?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (Ocj/H)

92 I want a military strong enough to go anywhere on the planet and conventionally turn it to ash for the next 10,000 years. Scorch that shit down to the mantle.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (VwHCD)

93 IMHO, thus we have to put our bucks into our buffers like the Navy, Air Force, and Space Force rather than have a big standing army to project power abroad.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:20 AM (ctrM5)

I am not suggesting that we become isolationist and withdraw from the world. We obviously need force projection, and we should continue to fund it and maintain it. In addition, we DO need a fairly large standing army because our likely adversary has a big one.

But the time has passed when America should police the world without compensation, without assistance, and without appreciation. If Europe isn't willing to man up, then they can write very large checks for our armed forces to do their dirty work maintaining sea lanes.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (L5An7)

94 The Republic died in 1803 with Marbury v Madison.

There was nothing to survive.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

And yet, here you are.

Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (w9Wax)

95 72 Good points. The YouTuber Military History Visualized likes to say that "naval strategy is built strategy", since it takes so long to build up a navy and the associated infrastructure.

73 Yes, but only the British model BEFORE they decided to build up a huge army and fight in the trenches of the Western Front. There's a good video about how such a model works, geostrategically here https://rb.gy/gjvupi

Posted by: The Lower Depths at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (Dg7ng)

96 I see that Massie is out with his hot take that the president can’t attack the Houthis because there’s no formal declaration of war. I’d just remind him that our very first foreign engagement was against Muslim pirates who were messing with our shipping, ordered by Thomas Jefferson himself.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (u73oe)

97 More a joke in line with people claiming that the Republic died at any point they don't like in America's history.

The most common point is usually the Civil War.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

Well, my dividing line is with Speaker Reed who opposed the US attacking Spain and taking its colonies abroad. For the first time, the US became a colonizer for the purposes of the Great Game. WWI and WWII along with the Cold War seriously damaged the older American model.

Civil War primarily answered the question as to whether states were co-equal with the US government or inferior.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)

98 89 There's nothing more cringe-worthy than Benny Mardones song "Into the Night". The opening line is enough to turn stomachs...
Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (TN0g+)

ESPECIALLY when you see the guy, in the Vid… Sheesh…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

99 One solution to this is America becoming energy self sufficient, then we can completely ignore the Houthis. But we know that is always reversed when Democrats come to power.

Posted by: Darth Randall at March 18, 2025 11:27 AM (H24PY)

100 I want a military strong enough to go anywhere on the planet and conventionally turn it to ash for the next 10,000 years. Scorch that shit down to the mantle.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM

There is much iron in Berserker's words.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2025 11:27 AM (kgE5c)

101 US Institute of Peace - is no longer
Another money laudering outfit.

Posted by: RUReadingthis at March 18, 2025 11:27 AM (aQ25I)

102 Would it be cheaper just to put adequately armed teams on each merchant ship to repel and destroy pirates? I know some of them have guys with rifles, but why not give them RPGs or some other weapons that are more convincing?

Posted by: sudo touch --methere gp at March 18, 2025 11:27 AM (5ACBR)

103 @91 - never saw that, I kind of have an aversion to Kevin Costner.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 18, 2025 11:27 AM (WPL6O)

104 60
‘ A judge ordered Nixon to stop the war in Cambodia. Nixon did not stop the war in Cambodia.’

I always wondered why the left constantly referred to the ‘secret bombing of Cambodia ‘ if some goddamn judge knew about it.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 18, 2025 11:28 AM (jbnUc)

105 BREAKING: Latest Ruling By Chief Judge James Boasberg of the US District Court for the District of Columbia:

"Mr. Gorbachev, build back that wall!"

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 18, 2025 11:28 AM (pkm6L)

106 I have respect for Jeantte Rankin.

I have no respect for Massie.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:28 AM (Ocj/H)

107 ...is a grievous error especially when coupled with allowing mass immigration from Islamic states that want to kill British natives.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:23 AM (ctrM5)

This is the mindblower.

If any country on the planet has experience with and knows what savages the muslims are and knows what it takes to control them from rampaging,

it should be Great Britain.

But...nope. Let's forget all of the historical knowledge that we gained in Our Frolic Around the Globe.

A beautiful shoot yourself in the head moment, Limeys.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:28 AM (iJfKG)

108 96 I see that Massie is out with his hot take that the president can’t attack the Houthis because there’s no formal declaration of war. I’d just remind him that our very first foreign engagement was against Muslim pirates who were messing with our shipping, ordered by Thomas Jefferson himself.
Posted by: Duke Lowell
============
Massie is a gadfly and someone no longer to be taken seriously.

US Navy was attacked by the Houthi as well as US flagged vessels. So yes, there was a predicate reason to go after the Houthis and destroy their ability to repeat those attacks. It did not come out of nowhere.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (ctrM5)

109 Lots of moving parts happening right now. As we are bombing the Houthi the IAF are bombing Gaza and Syria.
The RoE are very much changed and the Intel is very precise.

Posted by: Ben Had at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (j6NlC)

110 The Postman is better than Waterworld.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (/x6eu)

111 The Republic died in 1803 with Marbury v Madison.

There was nothing to survive.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

And yet, here you are.
Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (w9Wax)

That was a fixed case. TJM took a dive in the third round.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (l3YAf)

112 The glamours of Tinseltown.

Christina Applegate of “Married…With Children” Fame Reveals Devastating Impact Being a Sex Symbol Had on Her

Yeah, a pretty bad eating disorder started when I was doing that show that lasted for a really long time.”
Applegate went on to say that she didn’t tell anyone about her eating disorder at the time because she was “very, very private about it.”
“I would hide in bathrooms to eat, because I had so much shame around eating that I would hide on the airplanes, like when we went to London,” she recalled. “I remember hiding in there to eat like one shrimp, ’cause I was so afraid if anyone saw me eat that they’d think I was going to try to get fat or something….I don’t know, I was in such a dark space.”

https://is.gd/IexUNk

-
Smoking in the boys room > eating in the boys room

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (L/fGl)

113 108 96 I see that Massie is out with his hot take that the president can’t attack the Houthis because there’s no formal declaration of war. I’d just remind him that our very first foreign engagement was against Muslim pirates who were messing with our shipping, ordered by Thomas Jefferson himself.
Posted by: Duke Lowell

========

I thought his comment was less about the Houthis and more about the implied threat to Iran directly.

I dunno. I saw a tweet.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (GBKbO)

114 @91 - never saw that, I kind of have an aversion to Kevin Costner.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 18, 2025 11:27 AM (WPL6O)

-------------

His best role was in The Big Chill.

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (pkm6L)

115 111 That was a fixed case. TJM took a dive in the third round.
Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (l3YAf)

=======

You can't prove that!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:30 AM (GBKbO)

116 I see that Massie is out with his hot take that the president can’t attack the Houthis because there’s no formal declaration of war. I’d just remind him that our very first foreign engagement was against Muslim pirates who were messing with our shipping, ordered by Thomas Jefferson himself.
Posted by: Duke Lowell at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (u73oe)

And if Thomas Jefferson could have deployed a nuclear weapon to destroy Tripoli, do you think he would have failed to use it?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 11:30 AM (MqtqS)

117 108
Massie is a gadfly and someone no longer to be taken seriously.

US Navy was attacked by the Houthi as well as US flagged vessels. So yes, there was a predicate reason to go after the Houthis and destroy their ability to repeat those attacks. It did not come out of nowhere.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (ctrM5)

Gadfly… you nailed it… I would said he just talks shit, a lot, maybe for the attention..

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:31 AM (PCK5/)

118 Thx CBD. While I agree with your general idea , the rest of the worlds navies don't amount to squat and could not do what we do. They could join our carrier battle group on station, but they couldn't force project like we do.
By the way the Houthis are the latest iteration of the Zaidi Shia movement in Yemen. During a war with them in the 60s , Egypt's Nasser used poison gas against them . Not enough obviously

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 18, 2025 11:31 AM (bVN1m)

119 110 The Postman is better than Waterworld.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:29 AM (/x6eu)

Is this like damning with faint praise??

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:32 AM (PCK5/)

120 Is this like damning with faint praise??
Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:32 AM (PCK5/)

Yes.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:32 AM (/x6eu)

121 Oh, and here's a fun stat:

Democrats lost over 300,000 voters nationwide in February.

Yes. Three hundred thousand.

For FEBRUARY:
🔴 Republican: -29,106
🔵 Democratic: -308,910

-----------

A lot of voter roll cleanup going on the first few months of the year. Inactive voters getting taken off automatically. There's probably also some movement of registrations in there as well. Not exactly a hoppin' time for new voters, which is why they're all negative.

Still...that's interesting.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:32 AM (GBKbO)

122
The Republic died when Kevin Costner made "Dances with Wolves."

Posted by: Auspex at March 18, 2025 11:33 AM (j4U/Z)

123 Remember when Iran abducted our sailors?

And Obama made our sailors grovel and scrape before Iran, to beg for their release?

Obama is such a pathetic, embarrassing shitstain on the history of America.
And so is everyone who still are proud of their vote for him.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at March 18, 2025 11:33 AM (k7oKo)

124 This is the mindblower.

If any country on the planet has experience with and knows what savages the muslims are and knows what it takes to control them from rampaging,

it should be Great Britain.

But...nope. Let's forget all of the historical knowledge that we gained in Our Frolic Around the Globe.

A beautiful shoot yourself in the head moment, Limeys.
Posted by: naturalfake
=========
Personally, I think it is a bunch of wealthy European assholes that are driving this shit. Initially, England desperately need investment and the Saudis, etc. were the source by buying assets like Harrods, blowing wads of cash to have their ruling class yutes go to English colleges and prep schools, and selling war material to those ME nations. Once the mosques started going up, then these became attractive nuisances and the welfare state pampered illegals and legal immigrants there. Then lefty lawyers and judges kept those assholes there even when they were illegal, doing crimes, etc. just like here.

The fact this is happening all over the West is not a coincidence but enemy action--internal and external.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:33 AM (ctrM5)

125 I see that Massie is out with his hot take that the president can’t attack the Houthis because there’s no formal declaration of war. I’d just remind him that our very first foreign engagement was against Muslim pirates who were messing with our shipping, ordered by Thomas Jefferson himself.

Posted by: Duke Lowell

--------------

"Since World War II, the United States has engaged in numerous military conflicts, but none have been accompanied by a formal declaration of war. Instead, Congress has authorized the use of military force through resolutions, such as those in Korea, Vietnam, and the War on Terror, including conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Posted by: ShainS -- The Dissolution of The Autopen Empire at March 18, 2025 11:33 AM (pkm6L)

126 45 Iowa and New Jersey to the red courtesy phone.
------------------------
I would recommend Rods from God. You'd only need maybe four iron telephone poles.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:33 AM (Hpgos)

127 Also saw "Black Bag" this weekend.

It's a new Steven Soderbergh movie.

I really liked this one but don't go in expecting a lot of violence and action and such.

What "Black Bag" really is is a modern variation on an Agatha Christie-style mystery where a spy must figure out who the mole is in his organization and one of the suspects is his wife. BB even has a neat twist on the old "gather all the suspects in a room to determine the guilty party".

Great acting, great script, great directing.

If it sounds like something you would enjoy, you will.

Check it out.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:34 AM (iJfKG)

128 why are we once again front-and-center in a fight that, while it does involve us, is best conducted by others?

Because they messed with our boats.

Once the have been sufficiently punished for that, such that everyone else is reminded that You Don't Mess With America's Boats, then we can get out of the area and leave maintenance to everyone whose trade is affected.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 18, 2025 11:34 AM (LsB7C)

129 93
‘ If Europe isn't willing to man up, then they can write very large checks for our armed forces to do their dirty work’

I like this except for the part where we let Europe refuse to man up. We kick them in the ass until they get there.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 18, 2025 11:34 AM (jbnUc)

130 Yemen. During a war with them in the 60s , Egypt's Nasser used poison gas against them . Not enough obviously
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Wow! Had no idea Nasser was a gasser. The things you learn around here.

Posted by: G at March 18, 2025 11:34 AM (G5+As)

131 the rest of the worlds navies don't amount to squat and could not do what we do. They could join our carrier battle group on station, but they couldn't force project like we do.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 18, 2025 11:31 AM (bVN1m)

You are absolutely correct, and that needs to change. And I think it will... up to a point.

They can refuel and resupply U.S. ships, and write massive checks for our costs, until they build up their navies.

But the status quo is untenable.

I'll bet we are spending $1 billion/day.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (L5An7)

132 The Republic died when Kevin Costner made "Dances with Wolves."
------------
The Republic died when Madonna got fat.

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (TN0g+)

133 Technicality - the war against slimes is not new

Posted by: ... at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (GODhr)

134 Civil War primarily answered the question as to whether states were co-equal with the US government or inferior.
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)

And can five men whip three over time

Posted by: MAC V SOG at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (P4Pk9)

135 Rick Steve's Blog, Posted on March 5, 2025 by Cameron Hewitt, 'In the Age of Trump, Are Americans Still Welcome in Europe?' If you’re an American traveling to Europe soon, you may be wondering: As Donald Trump reshapes the USA’s role in the world, are we still welcome abroad?

I’ve been asked this question many times in recent weeks. My short answer: Yes, I really think so. But be prepared for some interesting conversations.
-----------------------
How many military bases does the US have in foreign countries?
The U.S. military maintains hundreds of installations, both inside the United States and overseas (with at least 128 military bases located outside of its national territory as of July 2024). Wikipedia.

They range from "lily pads" to exceeding 400,000 acres. The largest are Camp Humphreys; Thule Air Base; Camp Fuji; Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, and Camp Hansen. (Mybaseguide dot com)

"In early 2025, the United States had nearly eighty-four thousand U.S. service members in Europe, according to the United States European Command (EUCOM)." Council on Foreign Relations, Where are U.S. Forces Deployed, Feb. 27, 2025.

As usual, I agree with Whig (#72.)

Posted by: L - No nick, another fine day at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (NFX2v)

136 BeckoningChasm

The hilarity is Brin and his wife saw Dances with Wolves and thought Costner could do justice to Brin's work.

There is so much removed from the movie like the women who thought they could be girl bosses and be like Ruth to slay the leaders of army threatening them. Hell the whole Vietnam Super Soldier program, ala Steve Rodgers via technology, is gone.

Instead of a misfit survivor trying to survive by lying and thus creating by accident the legend of a reborn US, Costner gives the character the motivation of being hopping mad at the Holnists because they killed his mule.

Then Costner gave the movie a happy ending when in the book our 'hero' abandons what he helped create to search out a reborn California.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:36 AM (Ocj/H)

137 Whoa. This hash. Oh my.

Posted by: ... at March 18, 2025 11:36 AM (GODhr)

138 Wow! Had no idea Nasser was a gasser. The things you learn around here.
Posted by: G at March 18, 2025 11:34 AM (G5+As)

That hummus is insidious stuff.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 11:36 AM (MqtqS)

139 134 Civil War primarily answered the question as to whether states were co-equal with the US government or inferior.
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)

And can five men whip three over time
Posted by: MAC V SOG at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (P4Pk9)

Also, before fighting a war, game it out beforehand…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:37 AM (PCK5/)

140 88 Is that wrong?
Posted by: Oingo Boingo at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (kgE5c)

Or the song 'Young Girl'. To be fair, that guy was telling her to run away.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at March 18, 2025 11:19 AM

*waves*
Posted by: Sweet Caroline

Don't Stand so Close to Me
Posted by: The Police at March 18, 2025 11:25 AM (WySqD)

Clair.

Posted by: Gilbert O'Sullivan at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (PiwSw)

141 @131 CBD, no doubt. There's a video of how much money ittakes the USN to fire every weapon , from a .50 , to a Phalanx to a cruise missile. Pretty eye opening

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (bVN1m)

142 139 Also, before fighting a war, game it out beforehand…
Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:37 AM (PCK5/)

=======

"Northerners are a bunch of dandies who could never fight! Now, I'm going to simp myself so hard for the most unappealing pretty girl I can possibly find."
-Southern Fightin' men in Gone with the Wind

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (GBKbO)

143 45 Iowa and New Jersey to the red courtesy phone.

Any Navy retirees handy? Need some help with these.

Posted by: Kaiju Monitoring System at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (w9Wax)

144 Civil War primarily answered the question as to whether states were co-equal with the US government or inferior.
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)

And can five men whip three over time
Posted by: MAC V SOG at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (P4Pk9)

Also, before fighting a war, game it out beforehand…
-----------
I don't think 20-sided dice had been invented prior to the Civil War.

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (TN0g+)

145 Then Costner gave the movie a happy ending when in the book our 'hero' abandons what he helped create to search out a reborn California.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:36 AM (Ocj/H)

But we also learned that some rockstars survive the apocalypse, so that was good.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at March 18, 2025 11:39 AM (PiwSw)

146 144 Civil War primarily answered the question as to whether states were co-equal with the US government or inferior.
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)

And can five men whip three over time
Posted by: MAC V SOG at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (P4Pk9)

Also, before fighting a war, game it out beforehand…
-----------
I don't think 20-sided dice had been invented prior to the Civil War.
Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (TN0g+)

Yep… history hinges on technology…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:40 AM (PCK5/)

147 145 But we also learned that some rockstars survive the apocalypse, so that was good.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at March 18, 2025 11:39 AM (PiwSw)

=======

There is only one apocalypse, and it is named Turbo Kid.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:40 AM (GBKbO)

148 The Houthis have been around since the 1990s, when they emerged as just another lunatic Shia terrorist organization.

Where *do* they come from? Someone must be radicalizing, funding, and training them.

Posted by: The CIA at March 18, 2025 11:40 AM (lHpdB)

149 probably already mentioned, but didn't Israel attack Gaza last night, perhaps ending the cease fire?

Posted by: illiniwek at March 18, 2025 11:40 AM (Cus5s)

150 "Northerners are a bunch of dandies who could never fight! Now, I'm going to simp myself so hard for the most unappealing pretty girl I can possibly find."
-Southern Fightin' men in Gone with the Wind
-----------------
It took nearly four years for the Yanks to become a successful fighting force. It also took the first Total War to defeat the South. Lincoln was the first modern European leader to go Total War. He did this on his own people. Literally Hitler he is.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:41 AM (Hpgos)

151 107
‘ If any country on the planet has experience with and knows what savages the muslims are and knows what it takes to control them from rampaging,

it should be Great Britain.’

But Britain has a guilty conscience about it. So they have to self-flagellate until the Muslim savages feel better.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 18, 2025 11:41 AM (jbnUc)

152 Also, before fighting a war, game it out beforehand…

The IJN war gamed Operation AF. The US got in a surprise air attack and sank two carriers. In a later phase of the war game, those same carriers rose from their water grave.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:41 AM (Ocj/H)

153 The Republic died when Kevin Costner made "Dances with Wolves."
------------
The Republic died when Madonna got fat.

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:35 AM (TN0g+)

Close.

The Republic died when Madonna got a starring role in "Dick Tracy".

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:42 AM (iJfKG)

154 The Crusades were completely justified.

Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 11:42 AM (IDphi)

155 I am not suggesting that we become isolationist and withdraw from the world. We obviously need force projection, and we should continue to fund it and maintain it. In addition, we DO need a fairly large standing army because our likely adversary has a big one.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo
==========
Sorry CBD, it is insane to consider fighting either China or Russia in a land war with an army. Simply put, we do not have the planes, ships, and logistics any longer to run a huge expeditionary force to somewhere like Korea or Taiwan if the Chinese make a serious play for it nor do we have the forces necessary to engage in defensive war with Russia for the defense of ungrateful Euros. They have well over 2:1 advantage in population and can damn well provide their own frigging land armies if they truly fear the Russians.

Simply put, we cannot afford all of the above strategy so we need to be strategic in what we spend our money on.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:42 AM (ctrM5)

156 On a chat last night, folks were fretting that the US was going to get bogged down in the war against Hamas; that the markets were going to crash.

I pointed out, how?
Hamas has no supply lines or way to get reinforcements now that Trump is in office.
Biden would have looked the other way as Iran sent both.

We have now, two carrier groups in the area.
They ain't there on vacation.
Try us, Iran.

I also said, no one cares about Hamas anymore except the UN.
And there's gas station toilet paper tougher than the UN.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at March 18, 2025 11:42 AM (k7oKo)

157 illiniwek see #109

Posted by: Ben Had at March 18, 2025 11:43 AM (j6NlC)

158 After the fate of Chinese Gordon at Khartoum, the British should be wiser.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:43 AM (Ocj/H)

159 They sound nice.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at March 18, 2025 11:43 AM (CKdCx)

160 The united states of America

vs

The United States of America

Spoiler alert: The latter is where people in California can tell people in North Carolina that gay men can use the ladies restrooms if they want to.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Solve sexual compatibility problems by not being whores at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (qSMcm)

161 probably already mentioned, but didn't Israel attack Gaza last night, perhaps ending the cease fire?

Posted by: illiniwek at March 18, 2025 11:40 AM (Cus5s)

Yes.

Lots of air strikes, many going after their new leaders.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (L5An7)

162 The Crusades were completely justified.
----------
Tell me about it!

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (TN0g+)

163 If any country on the planet has experience with and knows what savages the muslims are and knows what it takes to control them from rampaging,

it should be Great Britain.’

Didn't Churchill say something to the effect that "The Mohammedian will either be on their knees or at your throat" so choose how you will treat them or something like that. Can't quite remember. Anyhow, Churchill knew what was up.

Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (nCY1P)

164 Middle school girls STILL being forced to undress in a locker room with a trans boy. Administrators and teachers escorted the girls into the room to enforce this. One mom is fighting this, with a complaint to the DoJ.

https://tinyurl.com/mwtt5atr

Posted by: JM in Illinois at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (5vEEL)

165 Who does it better? Costner's English accent or Cary Elwes's American accent?

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (PiwSw)

166 For situations like the Houthis, we need a budget friendly response. Pull a WW2 carrier out of mothballs, equip it with Hellcats piloted by volunteers, load em up with ammo and rockets and up to the minute intel, and tell the guys to have fun.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (pohLc)

167 Not for nothing, but lately I've been missing the days when I was instructed where to go, what to do, and who to harass. Much simpler.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (+OnsA)

168 Election night 2008. The republic didn’t die but suffered a massive heart attack.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (RuUxs)

169 Churchill with that quote was talking about the Huns.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (Ocj/H)

170
WTF is with fat mannequins?

I just went to Target and their clothes dummies are all fat.

What's funny is the mannequins are all white. Because they can't make fat black mannequins.

Posted by: Soothsayer at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (xgw2c)

171 Middle school girls STILL being forced to undress in a locker room with a trans boy. Administrators and teachers escorted the girls into the room to enforce this. One mom is fighting this, with a complaint to the DoJ.

https://tinyurl.com/mwtt5atr

Posted by: JM in Illinois

-

Some smart moron pointed out that this isn't about the tranny.

This is about telling the little girls to undress on command.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Solve sexual compatibility problems by not being whores at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (qSMcm)

172 But Britain has a guilty conscience about it. So they have to self-flagellate until the Muslim savages feel better.
Posted by: Dr. Claw

It is more that the upper 20 percent of the population believe themselves to be world citizens aka cloud people that float around across borders, etc. and imagine that all the world is like their rather cossetted experiences world wide in luxury travel and work experiences.

Like Tom Friedman claimed, to them the World is Truly Flat and that insipid song "Imagine" is their mantra. No religion, no countries, no culture, no language, no beliefs of any kind except grifting, etc. etc.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (ctrM5)

173 Iowa and New Jersey to the red courtesy phone.
Posted by: Boss Moss at March 18, 2025 11:13 AM (hTwKe)

Why not go full barbershop quartet - include the Missouri and the Wisconsin?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (VNX3d)

174 Civil War primarily answered the question as to whether states were co-equal with the US government or inferior.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)
==
I think that did the most damage to the model - and I think Lincoln's assassination made it worse. But it was the Wilson introduction of the Bismarkian (communist) notion that made judges decide that the post civil war amendments meant something different that they were ever meant to be.

Trying to reel that back in and leverage state power with that of the feds is the real challenge we currently face. I keep rooting for the 10th Amendment to keep winning.

Posted by: Black JEM at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (GZYu7)

175 Honestly, I have always preferred a Confederated States of America, in concept… the branding though, might be problematic…

Posted by: tubal at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (PCK5/)

176 The Crusades were completely justified.
----------
Tell me about it!
Posted by: Crusader

Count us in!

Posted by: The Children at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (w9Wax)

177 Pull a WW2 carrier out of mothballs, equip it with Hellcats piloted by volunteers, load em up with ammo and rockets...

I think the 'equipping it with Hellcats may be the budget-buster in this scenario.

Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (nCY1P)

178 Who does it better? Costner's English accent or Cary Elwes's American accent?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (PiwSw)

Neither.

John Wayne's Mongolian accent is the gold standard.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (iJfKG)

179 166 For situations like the Houthis, we need a budget friendly response. Pull a WW2 carrier out of mothballs, equip it with Hellcats piloted by volunteers, load em up with ammo and rockets and up to the minute intel, and tell the guys to have fun.
---------------
Houthis likely have Stingers.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (Hpgos)

180 166 For situations like the Houthis, we need a budget friendly response. Pull a WW2 carrier out of mothballs, equip it with Hellcats piloted by volunteers, load em up with ammo and rockets and up to the minute intel, and tell the guys to have fun.
Posted by: Xipe Totec
=======
Loading up existing B-52s and then doing saturation bombings with dumb bombs is probably the cheapest solution.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (ctrM5)

181 Two Wasp class LHDs, keep the MAUs aboard in case you really blow things up, and put nothing but Harriers on the flight deck.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (Ocj/H)

182 Macron has his thong in a twist about Israel bombing Gaza.

Posted by: Ben Had at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (j6NlC)

183 Didn't Churchill say something to the effect that "The Mohammedian will either be on their knees or at your throat" so choose how you will treat them or something like that. Can't quite remember. Anyhow, Churchill knew what was up.
Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (nCY1P)

Did the genteel Brits not kick Winston to the curb just after the horrors of the war?
The effete do not like to think of the things hard men know to be true, and so sideline them.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (FCbAQ)

184 Sorry CBD, it is insane to consider fighting either China or Russia in a land war with an army. Simply put, we do not have the planes, ships, and logistics any longer to run a huge expeditionary force to somewhere like Korea or Taiwan if the Chinese make a serious play for it nor do we have the forces necessary to engage in defensive war with Russia for the defense of ungrateful Euros.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:42 AM (ctrM5)

An altercation with China would require a significant army, even if most of the fighting was in the air and sea.

As for Russia? I never said anything about defending Europe from the Russian hordes. They can do that themselves.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (L5An7)

185 15 Well, Houthis are pirates, so attacking them is a police action, not technically a war.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (MqtqS)

I think that's right. Maybe the military has a more specific name for what type of action this is?

Posted by: m at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (CQE5S)

186 184 As for Russia? I never said anything about defending Europe from the Russian hordes. They can do that themselves.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (L5An7)

=======

Can they?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (GBKbO)

187 There are far more F-14 Tomcats as gate guards and museum pieces than existing F6F Hellcats.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (Ocj/H)

188 Loading up existing B-52s and then doing saturation bombings with dumb bombs is probably the cheapest solution.
Posted by: whig

--

Propaganda bombs with flyers that say "psych" or something?

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (+OnsA)

189 WTF is with fat mannequins?

I just went to Target and their clothes dummies are all fat.

—

Have you met the average American? When 2/3 of the customer base is fat, kinda makes sense to have fat mannequins.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (RuUxs)

190 182 Macron has his thong in a twist
Posted by: Ben Had at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (j6NlC)

ewwwwww

Posted by: m at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (CQE5S)

191 Houthis likely have Stingers.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (Hpgos)

Probably purchased from Afghanistan.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (L5An7)

192 Didn't Churchill say something to the effect that "The Mohammedian will either be on their knees or at your throat" so choose how you will treat them or something like that. Can't quite remember. Anyhow, Churchill knew what was up.
Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix
======
Considering Churchill spent time in Afghanistan and Sudan on punitive expeditions, Churchill had no illusions about Muslims either.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (ctrM5)

193 lection night 2008. The republic didn’t die but suffered a massive heart attack.
--
The snot-nosed kid, with a roster of Rosy Palm Left and Rosy Palm Right, in Wisconsin crying "Democracy died tonight!" will always be a classic.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (k7oKo)

194 Was Macron wearing his wife's thong again?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (Ocj/H)

195 150
‘ Literally Hitler he is.’

Butthurt you are.

Posted by: President Lincoln at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (jbnUc)

196 169 Churchill with that quote was talking about the Huns.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:45 AM (Ocj/H)

Yes, you are correct -- I just looked it up.

To be fair, the Huns are a nasty lot, also.

Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (nCY1P)

197 Houthis likely have Stingers.
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (Hpgos)

At Hellcat ranges, see and shoot.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (pohLc)

198 Can they?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:48 AM (GBKbO)

I don't care.

But the reality is that they won't have to. Russia isn't going to invade Poland, much less Western Europe.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (L5An7)

199 MANPADS got out of Libya also.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 18, 2025 11:50 AM (hTwKe)

200 200

Posted by: m at March 18, 2025 11:50 AM (CQE5S)

201 receive a huge amount of aid from that paragon of international cooperation.
_____

I read this as, Houthis are subsidized by the US taxpayer (in part at least).

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 18, 2025 11:50 AM (SW3TD)

202 198 I don't care.

But the reality is that they won't have to. Russia isn't going to invade Poland, much less Western Europe.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:49 AM (L5An7)

=======

I maintain that Putin invaded Ukraine because he has an eye on a nice place in Portugal and knows no other way to go there other than invasion.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:50 AM (GBKbO)

203 Who does it better? Costner's English accent or Cary Elwes's American accent?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at March 18, 2025 11:44 AM (PiwSw)

Neither.

John Wayne's Mongolian accent is the gold standard.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:46 AM (iJfKG)

Norw 'old hon a moonit, guvnuh!

Posted by: Dick Van Dyke's Cockney Accent at March 18, 2025 11:50 AM (iJfKG)

204 195 150
‘ Literally Hitler he is.’

Butthurt you are.
Posted by: President Lincoln
----------------
How is wandering eternally East of Eden working out for you, Abe?

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:50 AM (Hpgos)

205 (checks to see if there was a legal treaty agreeing that the autonomous republic of Poland would re-join Russia if it became insolvent)

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Solve sexual compatibility problems by not being whores at March 18, 2025 11:51 AM (qSMcm)

206 I read on X that Hesgerh is releasing info on Benghazi. I hope this is true.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 18, 2025 11:51 AM (SW3TD)

207 Propaganda bombs with flyers that say "psych" or something?
Posted by: WitchDoktor
======
No gps or guidance needed. We used to reserve expensive guided bombs, etc. for needed tasks difficult to do. Not to try to eliminate civilian casualties.

Basically, if you want the Houthis to stop, you have to punish the existing society so heavily by depriving them of water, food, ports, airports, etc. and returning them to the 7th century.

A hungry wasteland is too busy trying to survive than worrying about drones, missiles, etc. attacking seacraft for Iran.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (ctrM5)

208
Hey! Did you guys know that Gene Hackman died?!

Posted by: Guy who's always 3 weeks behind at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (5hfjS)

209 Bomb them back to the 4th century

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (Ocj/H)

210 Of course the damage being done to the Houthis is also hurting Iran, and that is an unalloyed good thing. Iran is in difficult economic straits, with inflation running at a reported 50%,

I wonder if Iran is doing the same thing Biden did:

There is no inflation, anyone that says so is an infidel Jew-pig!

Of course there is inflation it is caused by those infidel Jew-pigs running the Great Satan!

Of course there is inflation it shows that the economy is improving. Really you should be thanking the Ayatollah

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (t0Rmr)

211 “How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property – either as a child, a wife, or a concubine – must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the faith: all know how to die but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.... W. Churchill

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (FCbAQ)

212 Well, Houthis are pirates, so attacking them is a police action, not technically a war.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 11:06 AM (MqtqS)

I think that's right. Maybe the military has a more specific name for what type of action this is?
Posted by: m

"Proportional"

Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (LsB7C)

213 194 Was Macron wearing his wife's thong again?
Posted by: Anna Puma
____

It has a convenient pouch up front!

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (SW3TD)

214 212 "Proportional"
Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (LsB7C)

=======

Proportional warfare is pretty close to perpetual warfare.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (GBKbO)

215 Bomb them back to the 4th century

Much of the Islamic world was in fact more advanced in the 4th century

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (t0Rmr)

216 146 Also, before fighting a war, game it out beforehand…
-----------
I don't think 20-sided dice had been invented prior to the Civil War.
Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 11:38 AM (TN0g+)

Yep… history hinges on technology…

*mysterious roman dodecahedra have entered the chat*

Posted by: anachronda at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (oY6Yp)

217 208
Hey! Did you guys know that Gene Hackman died?!
-------------
My guess is it was a family suicide. Gene might have gone full Biden a while ago.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (Hpgos)

218 But we also learned that some rockstars survive the apocalypse, so that was good.

That would depend entirely on which ones.

Posted by: Oddbob at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (/y8xj)

219 "Proportional"

*shoots McNamarra's ghost.*

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:53 AM (Ocj/H)

220 My phone went actual 5G for a while.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM (hTwKe)

221 To win a war, you have to bring Hell to the enemy. I don't mean a few surgical strikes. I mean cluster bombs and napalm.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM (pohLc)

222 Basically, if you want the Houthis to stop, you have to punish the existing society so heavily by depriving them of water, food, ports, airports, etc. and returning them to the 7th century.

--

That quote about it's a good thing that war is terrible otherwise we'd be too fond of it?

Reasonable point that we've done perhaps too much to keep war from being "terrible."

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM (+OnsA)

223
Awww, Houthi!
Bomb 'em! Bomb 'em!
You are our bete noire boys
And you got us loathing you.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM (xG4kz)

224 John Wayne's Mongolian accent is the gold standard.

Posted by: naturalfake

Didn't Wayne do that movie to get the money to produce and direct another movie? What was that movie?

Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM (IDphi)

225 "Proportional"

Every time some FNM talking head says something like this the response should be "Why do you think a bunch of American boys should die to make it proportional just to make you feel better?"

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (t0Rmr)

226 I read this as, Houthis are subsidized by the US taxpayer (in part at least).
Posted by: Chuck Martel

They were but the remaining support for humanitarian shit that allows the Houthis to continue their mischief is weapons from Iran, and food etc. from the UN. In other words, Iran gives them the weapons, and the UN welfare agency makes sure that the Houthis don't have to do anything to subsist so Houthis can concentrate on being assholes to foreign countries with no relation to them. Like passing ships or Israel.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (ctrM5)

227 222 That quote about it's a good thing that war is terrible otherwise we'd be too fond of it?

Reasonable point that we've done perhaps too much to keep war from being "terrible."
Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM (+OnsA)

=========

"War is terrible, and we must do it rarely. Also, because war is terrible, we must do it nicely. Also, because war is now nicely terrible, we must do it constantly."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (GBKbO)

228 186 184 As for Russia? I never said anything about defending Europe from the Russian hordes. They can do that themselves.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (L5An7)

=======

Can they?

I'm sure the Europeans have plenty of white flags.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (WPL6O)

229 Concerning Massie,

As I recall, Congress were too big babies to vote to go to war after 9/11 and instead passed the war powers act giving the President the ability to wage war without having to bother the Congress to take an official position on the instigation of violence.

Posted by: Darth Randall at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (H24PY)

230 I read on X that Hesgerh is releasing info on Benghazi. I hope this is true.

Who's Ben Ghazi?

Posted by: Gary Johnson at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (/y8xj)

231 If we held to proportional warfare as a matter of course, a lot of our people would have died invading Japan.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (+OnsA)

232 56,000 dead Americas, "Fuck that 'proportional' bullshit up your ass."

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (Ocj/H)

233 My phone went actual 5G for a while.
Posted by: Boss Moss

And so are we!

Posted by: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (w9Wax)

234 182
‘ Macron has his thong in a twist about Israel bombing Gaza.’

Macron can suck it. Israel has all the ‘permission’
it needs already.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (jbnUc)

235 "War is terrible, and we must do it rarely. Also, because war is terrible, we must do it nicely. Also, because war is now nicely terrible, we must do it constantly."
---------------
TJM, whose quote are you citing?

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (Hpgos)

236 Basically, if you want the Houthis to stop, you have to punish the existing society so heavily by depriving them of water, food, ports, airports, etc. and returning them to the 7th century.

The point of war is to inflict enough pain on your enemies to make them abide by your war goals.

We want them to stop piracy, they really, really want to practice piracy, both from a financial and religious motive.

So you kill them and ruin their country enough that their desire for piracy is less then their fear of the US.

And no rebuilding, that ruins the whole idea of war.

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (t0Rmr)

237 Ben Ghazi is Libya's other tit.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (hTwKe)

238 Who's Ben Ghazi?
Posted by: Gary Johnson at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (/y8xj)

Guy who invented Ben Gay. Duh.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 18, 2025 11:57 AM (l3YAf)

239 235 "War is terrible, and we must do it rarely. Also, because war is terrible, we must do it nicely. Also, because war is now nicely terrible, we must do it constantly."
---------------
TJM, whose quote are you citing?
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (Hpgos)

=======

Lincoln, obviously.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (GBKbO)

240 ‘ Macron has his thong in a twist about Israel bombing Gaza.’

Someone should ask him if he'd like to apologize to Germany for the allies bombing their country.

When he says WTF are you a neo-nazi ask him if he's a jihadi

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (t0Rmr)

241 Who's Ben Ghazi?
Posted by: Gary Johnson at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (/y8xj)

Guy who invented Ben Gay. Duh.
Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 18, 2025 11:57 AM (l3YAf)

Wasn't that Ben Dover?

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (iJfKG)

242 The Schumer strategy.

https://shorturl.at/p10Fv

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (L/fGl)

243 Lincoln, obviously.

Joe Lincoln that was undersecretary of something under Biden, Shrub, or Obama?

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (t0Rmr)

244 Agreed, CBD. If I may add that Trump is going to neuter Iran just like last time by flooding the world with oil and NatGas which will drop the price.

Posted by: Danimal28 at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (1E4GV)

245 Can they?

I'm sure the Europeans have plenty of white flags.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 18, 2025 11:55 AM (WPL6O)

As I said upthread... "I don't care."

Europe can fight, or Europe can surrender. That's up to them.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (L5An7)

246 TJM, whose quote are you citing?

Nobody. He's riffing on a quote attributed to Robert E. Lee.

Posted by: Oddbob at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (/y8xj)

247 "Not the Dover boys!" - Snidely Whiplash

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (Ocj/H)

248 225 "Proportional"

Every time some FNM talking head says something like this the response should be "Why do you think a bunch of American boys should die to make it proportional just to make you feel better?"
Posted by: 18-1

Proportional is a misapplied domestic concept of law enforcement but totally inappropriate when discussing wars.

The purpose of wars is to stop the people from doing so and you do that by two ways, killing enough of them and destroying their society so even if they want to return to mischief, they face the problem of starvation, etc. in the near future.

Sherman's actions in the March to the Sea were to deprive the enemy of the ability to return to the fight. In that light, it was more humane than allowing useless resistance to pop up again to kill more people.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (ctrM5)

249 TJM, whose quote are you citing?
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (Hpgos)

=======

Lincoln, obviously.
-----------
So Caine. Makes sense.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (Hpgos)

250 Basically, if you want the Houthis to stop, you have to punish the existing society so heavily by depriving them of water, food, ports, airports, etc. and returning them to the 7th century.

A hungry wasteland is too busy trying to survive than worrying about drones, missiles, etc. attacking seacraft for Iran.
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (ctrM5)
---
They never left the 7th century. They may have high-tech gear, but their mindset is still trapped in savage butchery, which is all they've ever known.

Take away their toys and resources. Leave them to wallow in their own misery until they are no more than dust and whispers on the wind.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (7fElN)

251 TJM, whose quote are you citing?
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 11:56 AM (Hpgos)

=======

Lincoln, obviously.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (GBKbO)

I think Lincoln was cribbing from "Shit Jefferson said: Vol IV"

Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (FCbAQ)

252 The Schumer strategy.

https://shorturl.at/p10Fv

In fairness I might try this same strategy with Bobert or Anna Luna

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (t0Rmr)

253 Mashaal says hamas will fight to the very end from his safe haven in Turkey.

Posted by: Ben Had at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (j6NlC)

254
It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.

-- Robert E. Lee

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (xG4kz)

255 251 I think Lincoln was cribbing from "Shit Jefferson said: Vol IV"
Posted by: OneEyedJack at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (FCbAQ)

=======

It's actually a Martin Van Buren quote.

It comes from a speech to the Van Buren Boys.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, back to the finish with Corman at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (GBKbO)

256 184 Sorry CBD, it is insane to consider fighting either China or Russia in a land war with an army.

What did I say about classic blunders?

Posted by: Vizzini at March 18, 2025 12:00 PM (PiwSw)

257 Bomb them back to the 4th century

Anna Puma
------

But they didn't exist in the 4th cent......

Ohhhh

Posted by: ... at March 18, 2025 12:00 PM (GODhr)

258 "... they took shots at our Navy ships. That alone should be reason to destroy their ability to conduct offensive warfare."

Correction: That alone should be reason to destroy their ability to sh*t in a ditch.

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at March 18, 2025 12:00 PM (9X60i)

259 Wasn't that Ben Dover?

Posted by: naturalfake at March 18, 2025 11:58 AM (iJfKG)

There was a great bar by that name in Pelham, NY. It had a great juke box and cheap beer. And it was also a place where you quickly learned to shut up, drink your beer, listen to the music, and be nice. There were lots of fights there!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 12:00 PM (L5An7)

260 What we need is a modern Pubilius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.

Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 12:00 PM (IDphi)

261 224 "The Conqueror" IIRC. I seem to remember a lot of folks involved in the production came down with the big C due to filming close to nuke testing sites.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 18, 2025 12:00 PM (gm9Sb)

262 Who's Ben Ghazi?
Posted by: Gary Johnson
--------

Pretty sure you're thinking of Ben Gazzara.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 18, 2025 12:01 PM (XeU6L)

263 I seem to remember a lot of folks involved in the production came down with the big C due to filming close to nuke testing sites.

Smoking cancer sticks had nothing to with it, right John Wayne?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 18, 2025 12:01 PM (Ocj/H)

264 And no rebuilding, that ruins the whole idea of war.
Posted by: 18-1
=======
Yep. I agree with all that you said. Plus add in no emigrating to other places to spread noxious problems in those societies.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 12:01 PM (ctrM5)

265 He Gary what do you call it when Ben Ghazi and Al Leppo walk into a bar?

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 12:01 PM (t0Rmr)

266 Mashaal says hamas will fight to the very end from his safe haven in Turkey.

Posted by: Ben Had at March 18, 2025 11:59 AM (j6NlC)

Good. And maybe one day an Israeli agent will fire a .22LR into the back of his head.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 12:02 PM (L5An7)

267 Ben Ghazi played the bad guy in the great American movie Road House

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 18, 2025 12:02 PM (bVN1m)

268 War should never be proportional!

Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 12:02 PM (IDphi)

269 263 Camel straights, five pack a day man was the Duke.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 18, 2025 12:02 PM (gm9Sb)

270 Didn't Wayne do that movie to get the money to produce and direct another movie? What was that movie?
Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 11:54 AM

"The Alamo", I think.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at March 18, 2025 12:02 PM (2Insx)

271 John Wayne in The Conqueror.

"There are moments fer wisdom, Juh-mooga, then I listen to you–and there are moments fer action — then I listen to my blood. I feel this Tartar wuh-man is fer me, and my blood says, ‘TAKE HER!’”

Masterful performance.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at March 18, 2025 12:03 PM (+OnsA)

272 249
‘ Lincoln, obviously.
-----------
So Caine. Makes sense.’

When I got to heaven, God shook my hand.

Posted by: President Lincoln at March 18, 2025 12:03 PM (jbnUc)

273 The only reason I'm not for waging war anywhere anymore is because

A. we play at war, there is no more GIGO

B. I don't trust anyone in power here to

a) Not take advantage

B) Do it right

And that means no war, or really the only version of war I support which involves primarily glass deserts and walmart parking lots where the things used to be

Posted by: ... at March 18, 2025 12:03 PM (GODhr)

274 Hey! Did you guys know that Gene Hackman died?!

Posted by: Guy who's always 3 weeks behind at March 18, 2025 11:52 AM (5hfjS)

https://youtu.be/1dSkX9VySOI?t=28

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at March 18, 2025 12:03 PM (/HDaX)

275 Too many people ache for Pax Sinica in order to save a buck. Whiny America just has that much appeal. I don’t get.

Deterrence. Peace Through Strength.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at March 18, 2025 12:03 PM (XZ6f8)

276 The Houthi strategy of waiting for U.S. Navy to shoot down its own jets almost worked.

Posted by: one hour sober at March 18, 2025 12:03 PM (Y1sOo)

277 The real question is this: Why is islam allowed to exist in a civilized world? It brings nothing bu terror, death, economic destruction, slavery (yes) and extreme misogyny. No reason in this universe exists justifying the existence of this cult. It ought to be addressed as we addressed NAZI Germany and Imperial Japan - and eradicated.

Posted by: Alexander Scipio at March 18, 2025 12:04 PM (029Oi)

278 As a simple calculus, if whatever our cause for war is is not sufficient to destroy our enemy's cities and infrastructure which will include "civilian causalities" it is also not sufficient to send out ground pounders in.

Either we fight for real, or we don't fight.

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 12:05 PM (t0Rmr)

279 - @72 whig

Been my view for over 20 years.

Posted by: TeeJ at March 18, 2025 12:05 PM (LajFB)

280 A bunch of libs "died" outside the New York Stock Exchange because Elon gutted government waste

-
Congressional Medal of Honor for Musk?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at March 18, 2025 12:05 PM (L/fGl)

281 War is a terrible thing that provides decades-long opportunities for grifting and laundering money on both the rah-rah and the oh-no sides and it must be administered accordingly and for as long as possible.

Also use it to pass broad surveillance laws against your citizens and implement new pointless federal agencies that accomplish nothing beyond inconveniencing people and wasting time.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Solve sexual compatibility problems by not being whores at March 18, 2025 12:05 PM (qSMcm)

282 He Gary what do you call it when Ben Ghazi and Al Leppo walk into a bar?
Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 12:01 PM (t0Rmr)

Ooh, Ghazi and Leppo, my favorite British comedy duo! Much better than Fish and Cushion!

Posted by: Gary Johnson, baked at 10:00am at March 18, 2025 12:05 PM (l3YAf)

283 They never left the 7th century. They may have high-tech gear, but their mindset is still trapped in savage butchery, which is all they've ever known.

Take away their toys and resources. Leave them to wallow in their own misery until they are no more than dust and whispers on the wind.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

Ironically, N. Yemen used to be the sane and relatively civilized nation in that part of the woods before the Houthis came outta the hills to kick out the existing regime. The Commies ran S. Yemen at the time which was always engaged in low grade warfare with the North. An uneasy reunification occurred after the Wall fell and somewhere in the 2000's, forget when, Yemen slid back into civil war and disunity again with the barbarian Houthi from the hills taking over the North.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 12:05 PM (ctrM5)

284 An altercation with China would require a significant army, even if most of the fighting was in the air and sea.

As for Russia? I never said anything about defending Europe from the Russian hordes. They can do that themselves.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 18, 2025 11:47 AM (L5An7)
==
Unless we are going on land to fight Russia, I don't see it. Most of the Chinese Navy would get sunk as they got close to Taiwan. The issue would be arial and airborne troops. Both the US and Japan would control the ocean, I don't know how long it would be to control the air. Could Taiwan control the initial attacks until air superiority was established?

None of that suggests a big US army.

Posted by: Black JEM at March 18, 2025 12:06 PM (GZYu7)

285 When I got to heaven, God shook my hand.
Posted by: President Lincoln
---------------
I've read God's book. Nowhere does it encourage killing your brother.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 18, 2025 12:06 PM (Hpgos)

286 277 The real question is this: Why is islam allowed to exist in a civilized world? It brings nothing bu terror, death, economic destruction, slavery (yes) and extreme misogyny. No reason in this universe exists justifying the existence of this cult. It ought to be addressed as we addressed NAZI Germany and Imperial Japan - and eradicated.
Posted by: Alexander Scipio at March 18, 2025 12:04 PM (029Oi)

The answer is because we're not quite ready to kill 1.3 billion people unless they absolutely force us to do it. We'd rather just keep them inside their own borders, a project that has been met with middling success for 1400 years now.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 18, 2025 12:06 PM (uWKK8)

287 Yemen would be a great place to train using our nukes, both strategic and tactical. The savages that inhabit the place pray for death and the place is a barren moonscape.

No one would miss it or them.

Posted by: Dr. Groeteschele at March 18, 2025 12:06 PM (Ic155)

288

the israelis figured out

that when youre fighting 5th-6th century barbarian savages

you dont care about stealth

because they dont have an air defense system

so you can just go ahead and hang as many jdams

as you want under your f35s

when you go to bomb them

its pretty cool

Posted by: sound awake at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (Ewmgs)

289 Nood. Gaza.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (ExV1e)

290 In my own defense "that movie" is an ambiguous reference. In "The Conqueror" John Wayne played Genghis Khan and many of the cast and crew (including IIRC Agnes Morehead) did eventually contract cancer.

John Wayne did "The Conqueror" in order to do "The Alamo", or so I seem to recall.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (2Insx)

291 I read on X that Hesgerh is releasing info on Benghazi. I hope this is true.

Who's Ben Ghazi?
------------
He had a wildlife show--it was sort of similar to Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom".

Posted by: Crusader at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (TN0g+)

292 As for Russia? I never said anything about defending Europe from the Russian hordes. They can do that themselves.

==

I think Russia's been trying to protect itself from the Euro hordes and their failing cultural rot for a bit now.

Posted by: runner at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (g47mK)

293 War should never be proportional!
Posted by: Archer

-

How do you launder trillions of dollars if it's over in three days?

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Solve sexual compatibility problems by not being whores at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (qSMcm)

294 I think you're right about the "Alamo" was the movie Wayne wanted to make and he needed the money from his role in "The Conqueror " to pay for it.

Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 12:07 PM (IDphi)

295 The first step in war with the Houthis should be to send B-52s (a battleship would be better if we had an active one) and destroy every port, and its attached city/village, that has been used by pirates.

Then destroy their capital as well - don't leave a single building standing.

And for less then $1B, and with no American lives even seriously risked, you'll have won the war.

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 12:09 PM (t0Rmr)

296 No boots on the ground, but reminders that "Don't touch our boats" from time to time is a good thing I think. I just want us to stay the fuck away from "nation-building" or ground wars where we have no vital interests.

Posted by: Ryan Frank at March 18, 2025 12:09 PM (fgmuN)

297 The answer is because we're not quite ready to kill 1.3 billion people unless they absolutely force us to do it. We'd rather just keep them inside their own borders, a project that has been met with middling success for 1400 years now.
Posted by: Tom Servo at March 18, 2025 12:06 PM (uWKK

Well, they now infest. to some degree, nearly every country on every continent. That "containment" has been spectacularly unsuccessful, so far.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 12:09 PM (MqtqS)

298 Obligatory 29+16 BOC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-hyOnScZhw

Posted by: DaveA at March 18, 2025 12:10 PM (FhXTo)

299 Breaking......The Houthis killed Kennedy.

Posted by: THE GORN at March 18, 2025 12:10 PM (W2EWw)

300 279 - @72 whig

Been my view for over 20 years.
Posted by: TeeJ
=======
Standing armies give rise to an itch to use them is what the Framers thought. Either in useless wars abroad (English experience with off and on again wars on the continent) applied to the US and spending scarce blood and treasure better used elsewhere.

China cannot reach us with a strong Navy, Space, and Air Force and Russia has no inclination to do so. Either one can only attack 'allies' which are going to have to do the work on the ground anyway because we simply ain't got the ability to move huge armies around nor the ability to pay for them.

Trip wire forces always seemed to me to be an idiotic notion only appealing to intellectuals and warmongers that we put a token number of troops there to be slaughtered so that we can build support to create a big army to avenge the slaughter.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 12:11 PM (ctrM5)

301 Well, they now infest. to some degree, nearly every country on every continent. That "containment" has been spectacularly unsuccessful, so far.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
------------
Forcible conversion or repatriation to Muslim lands.

Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 12:12 PM (ctrM5)

302 China is right about Islam

Posted by: Chuck Martel at March 18, 2025 12:14 PM (SW3TD)

303 Standing armies give rise to an itch to use them is what the Framers thought. Either in useless wars abroad (English experience with off and on again wars on the continent) applied to the US and spending scarce blood and treasure better used elsewhere.

Britain seemed to do very well when it had a small army, a big navy, and money to arm their allies to do most of the actual dying - the 1805 strategy vs the 1914 strategy

Posted by: 18-1 at March 18, 2025 12:14 PM (t0Rmr)

304 As for Russia? I never said anything about defending Europe from the Russian hordes. They can do that themselves.
_______________

As mentioned before, the YT channel "The Military Show" touts European military prowess and how the Euros are going to kick Russia's ass now that Trump is trying to settle the Ukraine war. The channel is hilarious; I recommend it for comic relief.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheMilitaryShow/videos

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at March 18, 2025 12:14 PM (YqDXo)

305 Hell, how about some naval bombardment?

Only a few weeks in Paree and you're missing seeing BB NJ in Camden? Might take awhile for a new tour.

Posted by: DaveA at March 18, 2025 12:16 PM (FhXTo)

306 - Not much talk here of what's going on in Syria.

Gonna be interesting to see how God has worked out the return of, essentially, the Ottoman Empire.
Will America still be around?
Will the Abraham Accords be signed onto by the surrounding, islamic nations and become the "covenant" of Daniel 9:27?

Be here next week (year - century)
Same bat time
Same bat channel

Posted by: TeeJ at March 18, 2025 12:17 PM (LajFB)

307 Forcible conversion or repatriation to Muslim lands.
Posted by: whig at March 18, 2025 12:12 PM (ctrM5)

Step One: all muslims are declared to be resident aliens, and cannot be citizens, and cannot vote, or hold office. Ends the "need" for politicians to pander to them.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2025 12:18 PM (MqtqS)

308 I wonder if we have any more Grumman F7F Tigercats. They are more efficient at shooting down slow moving drones than million dollar missiles.

Posted by: Archer at March 18, 2025 12:18 PM (IDphi)

309 there are no "others" to do the job of destroying the Houthis ...
the combined strength of NATO (minus the US) is incapable of dealing with them ...
this is really justr a high tech police action ... not a war ...

certainly no boots on the ground (other than the odd snatch/grab/assasination that the Delta boys may run ...) ...

Posted by: The Dark Lord at March 18, 2025 12:24 PM (DBAaD)

310 304 As mentioned before, the YT channel "The Military Show" touts European military prowess and how the Euros are going to kick Russia's ass now that Trump is trying to settle the Ukraine war. The channel is hilarious; I recommend it for comic relief.

indeed.

Posted by: anachronda at March 18, 2025 12:33 PM (oY6Yp)

311 I too liked Black Bag. Sophisticated whodunit for grown-ups

Posted by: Ignoramus at March 18, 2025 12:34 PM (Gqoy+)

312 Don't touch our boats. Why do people have trouble with that?

Posted by: The USA at March 18, 2025 01:20 PM (LwWr7)

313 Islam doesn't devolve into terrorism ... terroism is the baseline ... the easiest way to turn a Moderate Muslim into a Radical Muslim is proximity to Jews and access to weapons ...

Posted by: The Dark Lord at March 18, 2025 01:26 PM (DBAaD)

314 Included in any discussion about Yemen should mention...The "former" Govt of Yemen was the 1st and ONLY fully communist nation in the Middle East, there are two(or more) revolutionary parties in addition to the "Official Communist Govt", the Houthis are but one. Another is the Clinton(both Bill and later Hillary) as well as Obama, Biden, backed Muslim Brotherhood forces. Clinton/Obama/Biden all stopped the Saudi's and other nations from wiping out the Houthi's when they had the chance and forces to do so...because in their schizophrenic policy programs they were supporting BOTH the Muslim Brotherhood AND Iran, while also quasi supporting the Communists. This even after the Cole bombing.

Posted by: birddog at March 18, 2025 01:41 PM (DszMB)

315 "Hell... what about the Saudis, who love to spend their petrodollars on high-tech weaponry, but are conspicuously absent, or on the losing end of the battle when it comes to using those toys!"

Back when Neptunus Lex was still alive and blogging, someone who was involved in training foreign pilots talked about his experience in training Saudis. He said that some of them were great, but that many others had gotten their position due to family connections and not because they were qualified. They apparently thought that actual work was beneath them and were terrible pilots, but that the word came down to pass them anyway so as not to cause diplomatic issues.

Posted by: RonF at March 18, 2025 05:47 PM (l8nW6)

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