Iran Attacks Three Ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Claims It Has Seized Two of Them

The third I've read was not seized and wasn't damaged too badly but it has stopped movement.

The attacks were conducted by the "fast attack boats" -- speedboats converted for military use -- that for some reason we never dropped daisy-cutter bombs on. I don't know why.

But while we observe a "cease-fire," they're shooting up ships and taking the crews hostage.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked multiple ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, less than a day after President Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely until Tehran agrees to negotiate a new deal.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an IRGC gun boat approached and then fired on a container ship located 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. That attack caused "heavy damage" to the ship's bridge, while no fires or environmental damage were reported and the crew was reported safe, according to the organization.
Later in the day, UKMTO noted that an outbound cargo ship eight nautical miles west of Iran was fired upon and had to stop in the water. In that case, the crew was also safe and there was no reported damage to the vessel.
The Fars News Agency in Iran, which is close to the IRGC, reported Wednesday morning that two "violating" ships were seized by the IRGC Navy and directed to the coast of Iran. It is unclear whether those ships are the same ones reported by the UKMTO.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump announced that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until officials from the latter return to the negotiating table.

This isn't going to appease Tucker Carlson and the Ron Paul crowd. It might, however, wind up costing Trump actual MAGA voters.

The attacks aren't just about the ships stopped. The attacks are about bottling up oil shipments, so that insurers won't insure them and the ships won't attempt to travel through the strait, so that the price of oil jumps up, our "allies" pressure us and American opinion forces Trump into conceding the war to Iran.

Trump says Iran is "collapsing." Well, may be, but why are you granting them a cease-fire so that they can regroup?

Dining Room of the White House, April 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
US President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that Iran was "collapsing financially" over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked three ships in the vital waterway that is blockaded by both Washington and Tehran.
Trump's comments came hours after he announced he was indefinitely extending the two-week ceasefire with Iran, which had been conditioned on Iran lifting its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran last week briefly lifted its blockade following the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, but reversed course after the US said it would maintain the blockade it had imposed on Iran-linked shipping on April 13, five days into the truce.
"Iran is collapsing financially! They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately," Trump wrote on Truth Social. The Islamic Republic is "starving for cash" and its military and police were "complaining that they are not getting paid," he claimed, adding: "SOS!!!"

I'm sorry, I do not believe this. Iran is attacking shipping. This is not them saying "SOS." This is Iran attacking shipping.

Yes, they are collapsing financially -- but that will take a while. In the meantime, they're attacking shipping, and for some reason, we're not blowing up their attack boats.

Because of the "cease-fire" that only we are observing.

Why are we not attacking the fast attack boats? Why are we not dropping air-burst bombs over their harbors?

So we can "talk" to the Iranians who are plainly playing us for fools?

Like I said yesterday: Trump wants a deal. It is clear that Iran does not. They think they can win by outlasting him (and us). Trump continuing to talk deal, deal, deal just convinces them more and more that they're right that he doesn't have the perseverance to outlast them.

For example, he's extending the cease-fire, even though Iran is now attacking ships again, because he says that the Iranian government is "fractured" and some parts of it want a deal and other parts don't.

Well, I'm afraid we have to deal with the parts of the Iranian government that do not want a deal first. There is no point talking to the people who want a deal while the people who don't want a deal continue making war.

Trump needs to change their minds. And giving them a ceasefire while prattling forever about how "close" we are to a deal is not changing their minds, it's convincing them they are right and Allah will see them through this.

I don't even believe the talk of an imminent "deal" is able to fulfill its earlier purpose of stopping the price of oil from climbing too high. I think people have heard this song too many times and just don't believe it any longer.

Wars are won with three things, they say: Manpower, firepower, and staying power. Iran has little of the first two but they seek to win by topping us in the third category.

The IRGC Navy Command:

“Two violating ships, "MSC-FRANCESCA" (linked to the Zionist regime) and "EPAMINODES," which endangered maritime security by operating without the necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems, were seized by the IRGC Navy and directed to the… https://t.co/B30KOocAU0 pic.twitter.com/GltPDS72wt
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 22, 2026

NEW: Three ships have been attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as President Trump extends the fragile Middle East ceasefire.

Iranian state media reports that regime forces have taken custody of two trade vessels in the high-profile waterway.

The White House says President… pic.twitter.com/yLifqRe45r
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 22, 2026

🚨 CEASEFIRE? WHAT CEASEFIRE: Three separate cargo ships attacked in the Strait of Hormuz this morning — including a Panama-flagged vessel hit while trying to transit.

British military already reported one of their ships attacked. Iran is the prime suspect as tensions explode.… pic.twitter.com/fDc7cLtnDM
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 22, 2026

Hello everyone. Sorry to go wobbly but this isn't working. I don't want to hear about how "close" we are to a "deal" any longer, nor how Iran is "collapsing" and "begging for peace" while they seize ships.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 12:10 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Iran claims...

Posted by: Ann at April 22, 2026 12:10 PM (SHHm+)

2

Hi Ace!!

Posted by: four seasons at April 22, 2026 12:10 PM (3ek7K)

3 I called the others

Posted by: Ann at April 22, 2026 12:10 PM (SHHm+)

4 corgis called

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at April 22, 2026 12:11 PM (nXhwP)

5 Why is this permitted? Don't we have A10s and attack helicopters over the Strait?

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:12 PM (4NO2D)

6 Greek ships?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:12 PM (kbShR)

7 Not sure of the logic by Trump here ?

Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:13 PM (2/T3Z)

8 They turned off the transponder?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:13 PM (kbShR)

9 >>>7 Not sure of the logic by Trump here ?

he wants a deal and wants them to want a deal and will not allow contrary facts to change his mind that Iran secretly wants a deal.

Posted by: ace at April 22, 2026 12:13 PM (1wjle)

10 8 Does the US Navy actually have the fighting power to deal with speedboats with mounted guns? Doesn't seem like it.

Seriously ?

Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:13 PM (2/T3Z)

11 Cry "BRRRRRRRT" and let slip the Warthogs of war!

Posted by: pookysgirl wants to see her second-favorite plane in action at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (Wt5PA)

12 Iran renigged on their part of the deal?

I. Shan't. Believe. It.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (xvV+O)

13 Why don't the Gulf States have their own motorboats out in the Strait?

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (4NO2D)

14 that for some reason we never dropped daisy-cutter bombs on. I don't know why.

Point understood, but you don't use a $1million munition on a $5000 rubber dingy with an Evinrude.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (diia5)

15 If the fire rages, there is no cease fire...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (ynpvh)

16
All is lost!

*spikes cannon*

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (tgvbd)

17 Wars are won with three things, they say: Manpower, firepower, and staying power.

Of these three, I'd choose intelligence and deception.

Posted by: t-bird at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (z0cWr)

18 >>>8 Does the US Navy actually have the fighting power to deal with speedboats with mounted guns? Doesn't seem like it.

we can just drop bombs, can't we? Air-burst daisy cutters or something. These aren't beefy warships. They can be taken out with shrapnel.

And they can't really be hidden, can they?

Posted by: ace at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (1wjle)

19
Point understood, but you don't use a $1million munition on a $5000 rubber dingy with an Evinrude.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (diia5)

____________

Just once? For fun?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (tgvbd)

20 Bust the deal, face the wheel, or something along those lines.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (5yDGQ)

21 Afternoon, Ace.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (bFu5X)

22 Yeah. The OG Trump supporters were always ... excitable. Then they added "MAHA Moms" who vote depending on if Venus is rising in Aquarius in conjunction with Mars.
Add to that the Senate refusing to pass Trump's agenda (but they're real quick on amnesty and Israel!) and it's a recipe for a 45% Republican ceiling.

Posted by: gKWVE at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (1ET9J)

23 Go ahead and flame away, but I’m not seeing 3D chess here.

I honestly don’t even understand how the greatest Navy in the world can’t patrol such a small part of the ocean to where any Iranian hostility is put don on seconds.

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (L2NN+)

24 To have a cease fire both sides would have to cease firing.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (kbShR)

25

Don't we have ships in the Strait?

Why is this allowed to happen?

Posted by: four seasons at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (3ek7K)

26 All is lost!

*spikes cannon*

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (tgvbd)

Do better than they did at the Alamo, please.

Posted by: pookysgirl lived in San Antonio at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (Wt5PA)

27 19 >>>8 Does the US Navy actually have the fighting power to deal with speedboats with mounted guns? Doesn't seem like it.

we can just drop bombs, can't we? Air-burst daisy cutters or something. These aren't beefy warships. They can be taken out with shrapnel.

And they can't really be hidden, can they?

Posted by: ace at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (1wjle)

If you take out where their ports are...let one or two get away, see from a remote position where they go...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (ynpvh)

28 Greek ships?
Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:12 PM (kbShR)

Reminds me of myself. I had the face of a large mouthed bass but I had so much money even Jackie O gave up that ass to Daddy!

Suck it JFK...I knocked the bottom outta that.

Posted by: Zombie Aristotle Onassis, Whore Monger at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (79nfv)

29 I filled up today at $3.37/gallon, $94 for almost 28 gallons.

Posted by: lin-duh in Texas at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (DYEui)

30 26

Don't we have ships in the Strait?

Why is this allowed to happen?

Posted by: four seasons at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (3ek7K)

Dire Straits, man.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (ynpvh)

31 I honestly don’t even understand how the greatest Navy in the world can’t patrol such a small part of the ocean to where any Iranian hostility is put don on seconds.
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (L2NN+)

I'm with you... It's almost like we let this happen....

Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (2/T3Z)

32 30 I filled up today at $3.37/gallon, $94 for almost 28 gallons.

Posted by: lin-duh in Texas at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (DYEui)

Come to Kalifornia; our gas rates are MUCH higher...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:17 PM (ynpvh)

33 Find the irgc fast boats ports/bases and make them NOT. As often as necessary.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:17 PM (xvV+O)

34 Point understood, but you don't use a $1million munition on a $5000 rubber dingy with an Evinrude.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 22, 2026 12:14 PM (diia5)

____________

Just once? For fun?
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (tgvbd)

moab the harbor just because...

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at April 22, 2026 12:17 PM (nXhwP)

35 Daisy Cutter the Ports.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (kbShR)

36 Greek ships?
Posted by: Boss Moss

---------
Too bad they weren't Greek Fire ships.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (5yDGQ)

37
Come to Kalifornia; our gas rates are MUCH higher...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:17 PM (ynpvh)

Paid $5. 39 Sunday.. Yay me...

Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (2/T3Z)

38 But Sir Richard cried in his English pride:
"We have fought such a fight for a day and a night
As may never be fought again!
We have won great glory, my men!
And a day less or more
At sea or ashore,
We die—does it matter when?
Sink me the ship, Master Gunner—sink her, split her in twain!
Fall into the hands of God, not into the hands of Spain!"

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (4NO2D)

39 Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran.

Posted by: zombie Fred Fassert at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (xLZ+R)

40 On Tuesday afternoon, Trump announced that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until officials from the latter return to the negotiating table.
=
That's the thing. There has not, at any point, been any cease fire *agreement*.

The only thing that happened is Trump, for some unclear reason, ordered the US military to stop bombing Iran. Iran never really stopped any of what it was doing. It looks like we reduced their capacity to act (though who knows for sure by how much), but they continue to do as much as they feel like doing.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (vSvIl)

41
moab the harbor just because...

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at April 22, 2026 12:17 PM (nXhwP)

________

Face it, guys just like seeing things blow up. Indulge us.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (tgvbd)

42
I hope we've used this time to point the locations of the remaining Iranian bigwigs who just simply need to be killed now.

Blow-up anything that could be used offensively like fast boats.

Blow-up bridges.

Parachute in guns, rifles and ammo into areas all over Iran and let the civil war begin.

Again, the Iranians we're fighting are moslems, if they're true believers, they have zero motivation to surrender. Live or die they get rewarded either way according to their death cult god.

Posted by: naturalfake at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (iJfKG)

43

Trump usually has some plan. I don't see a plan now.

Posted by: four seasons at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (3ek7K)

44 Where is the Royal Navy?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (kbShR)

45
No way Ari had a bigger pussy book than JFK

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (Y8DZL)

46 If the USN can knock out Venezuelan drug speed boats, you'd think they have the capability to take out IRGC speed boats. But what do I know.

I do know that if US continues a ceasefire and lets Iran to harass shipping, it's a bad look. We already know our NATO 'allies' are neither willing or able to do anything, so it is on the US.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (Dv3i1)

47 41 Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran.

Posted by: zombie Fred Fassert at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (xLZ+R)

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran!

Posted by: Zombie John McCain at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (ynpvh)

48 The IRGC does not work for Iran.

Posted by: t-bird at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (z0cWr)

49 32 I honestly don’t even understand how the greatest Navy in the world can’t patrol such a small part of the ocean to where any Iranian hostility is put don on seconds.
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (L2NN+)

I'm with you... It's almost like we let this happen....
Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (2/T3Z)

Or we didn't expect it to happen...and by the time we could react, it was too late.

That's on the military leaders.

Posted by: Nova Local at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (tOcjL)

50 Afternoon Ace.
Trump is a deal maker. Everything is negotiable. The Iranian regime and the IRGC are apocalyptic nut bags who will take the entire country down before they will give up power. Kill them the Iranian people can manage the rest.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (gu0hJ)

51 a $5000 rubber dingy with an Evinrude.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

I've never seen an ICE-powered vibrator. But it sounds like the perfect application for a two-stroke engine.

Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (IWRME)

52 30 I filled up today at $3.37/gallon, $94 for almost 28 gallons.

Posted by: lin-duh in Texas at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (DYEui)

Come to Kalifornia; our gas rates are MUCH higher...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)
===

I think the proper term is GAS TAXES.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (xvV+O)

53 Good afternoon Ace and everyone

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (SUTeF)

54 Try to relax Ace. Nothing you can do about it anyway.

Trump and his staff and military advisors either know what they're doing or not.

Trump's track record is pretty solid.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 12:21 PM (xcxpd)

55 see from a remote position where they go...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)

Ahh, Art Bell fan, eh?

Posted by: Dark Litigator at April 22, 2026 12:21 PM (W5mpo)

56 Damn that Trump, when he isn't engaging in naked aggression he is sitting on his ass not engaging preventing the Iranians from engaging in naked aggression.
He should not be so provoking to the mullahs

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:21 PM (rbvCR)

57 SAS troopers reported resigning en masse, in protest, Two-Tier on verge of resigning, we aren't bombing, the Strait is closed, Trump casting about for someone to "negotiate" with...this is not a good look for either the UK or the USA.

Posted by: Start killing IRGC bad guys at April 22, 2026 12:21 PM (xLZ+R)

58
This is ridiculous. Why is Trump suddenly pulling his punches?
Do the Iranians have an operational Nuke?

Posted by: Frank Barone at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (IifOV)

59 53 30 I filled up today at $3.37/gallon, $94 for almost 28 gallons.

Posted by: lin-duh in Texas at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (DYEui)

Come to Kalifornia; our gas rates are MUCH higher...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)
===

I think the proper term is GAS TAXES.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:20 PM (xvV+O)

It's folded into the price...those taxes are SUPPOSED to go to fixing roads, but, you know, Gov't Graft...

Posted by: Zombie John McCain at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (ynpvh)

60 Where is the Royal Navy?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (kbShR)
--

Latest word is in home port being sodomized by muzzies.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (xvV+O)

61 Yesterday I said I wanted the US NAVY to destroy anything floating of the Iranians

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (SUTeF)

62 off sock...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (ynpvh)

63 38
Come to Kalifornia; our gas rates are MUCH higher...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:17 PM (ynpvh)

Paid $5. 39 Sunday.. Yay me...
Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (2/T3Z)

$4.02 for me - most places are $4.19 now.

This is gonna be what burns Trump's popularity if it continues into summer...oil/gas prices will start elevating the price of everything, and crossover Trump voters will say "what's changed in 2 years FOR ME" (since his crossovers were very self-interested)...

So, May 31...clock is still counting for him to end this or deal this. He wants to do the latter - I think he needs to do the former to get to the latter...

Posted by: Nova Local at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (tOcjL)

64 I think that Trump is trying to play each faction in Iran against each other... Every time he says he has a deal one of the factions goes nutso saying no we don't... Not sure if this ploy is gonna work...

Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:23 PM (2/T3Z)

65 61 Where is the Royal Navy?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 12:19 PM (kbShR)
--

Latest word is in home port being sodomized by muzzies.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:22 PM (xvV+O)

That's the tradition: Rum, Sodomy and the lash...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:23 PM (ynpvh)

66 Trump: "Let's make a deal."
Iran: "Fuck you, Infidel."

Posted by: wth at April 22, 2026 12:23 PM (UjdFS)

67 I honestly don’t even understand how the greatest Navy in the world can’t patrol such a small part of the ocean to where any Iranian hostility is put don on seconds.
Posted by: Maroon

If it can't be true, is it true?

Posted by: t-bird at April 22, 2026 12:23 PM (z0cWr)

68 Want to win the war? Level bomb the neighborhoods the Iranian elite live in. Oh and arrest and hang any reporters that try to use it for Iranian propaganda.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 22, 2026 12:23 PM (sKqQm)

69 he wants a deal and wants them to want a deal and will not allow contrary facts to change his mind that Iran secretly wants a deal.
=
Is there anyone around him that can correct his opinion?

I recall it took forever and a day to get him the message that he needed to shut the fuck up about Project Warpspeed.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 12:24 PM (vSvIl)

70 No way Ari had a bigger pussy book than JFK

Aristotle's first wife divorced him when she found him balls deep in her best friend in their bed.

JFK couldn't carry Aristotle's jock strap.

Posted by: Larry Holmes at April 22, 2026 12:24 PM (79nfv)

71 "speedboats converted for military use"

Qeshm Island is supposed to be honeycombed with underground factories making drones and subs and other strait-denial weapons. Don't know why it has not been sufficiently neutralized.

"Sorry to go wobbly"

Ace went there.

I'll say this about that: The imminent casus belli for this war was the ~408kg of 60% enriched U that everybody agrees Iran possesses. If we don't seize that, and verifiably prevent them from making or getting more, the mission has failed.

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:24 PM (N8ZBc)

72 Been saying this pretty much since Day 1 of the "ceasefire" or whenever Iran said no to it. This is insane. We don't need the ceasefire, they do. If they don't agree (or violate it), resume the bombings. Every day that Trump doesn't do this, he is helping Iran and the rest of the anti-Americans (especially the Democrat party) toward defeating him. How much longer am I supposed to trust that this is 4D chess?

Posted by: Mad Max in VA at April 22, 2026 12:24 PM (udRx+)

73 I'm tending to agree with Ace here. Trump's a real estate developer. He believes everyone has a price. Some people don't.

Posted by: Wally at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (0e5Te)

74 Trump's playing like 10d chess man.. His persuasion skills are unmatched yada yada yada..

The art of the deal does not work in the Middle East.

Turns out Trumps skillset is really really good for NYC real estate (and US elections and Greenland) but sucks balls in the desert. They're playing the poor bastard like a fiddle and he's gonna get his ass handed to him, I'm afraid. This isn't the place to keep signaling you want a deal. You just showed your weakness which these cunning bastards will exploit to the nth degree.. If you make a threat you follow through or you're finished.

Posted by: Dave at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (vNzcT)

75
Well, I was told that the Russians don't take a dump without a plan and look where it's got them.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (Y8DZL)

76 67 Trump: "Let's make a deal."
Iran: "Fuck you, Infidel."

Posted by: wth at April 22, 2026 12:23 PM (UjdFS)

The Iranian mullahs want weapons? I say we give them what they want from the end of cruise missiles and from the bomb hatches of Stealth bombers...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (ynpvh)

77 I question whether these attacks actually happened or whether they have been greatly exaggerated.

That being said, I think we're getting played. Trump is desperate for a deal. Iran is not. They have calculated -- and correctly, in my opinion -- that all they have to do it hold out and Trump will be forced to cave or at least offer very favorable terms.

It doesn't matter how many of these cockroaches we kill. There are thousands more to take their places.

It doesn't matter how badly we kick their asses militarily. They will always be able to field some kind of ship -- even a private speedboat with RPGs -- to stalk ships in the Strait, which will be amplified to apocalyptic levels by the media.

The only way to truly defeat these scabs are with boots on the ground and/or to destroy their power and infrastructure. Lay waste to the entire country. But that will never happen.

I don't know how much clearer this all can be. The optimism by many on this site makes no sense to me.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (iFTx/)

78 I looked up both ships on Marine Traffic.

They're both stationary in the Gulf of Oman, really on the "border" between the Gulf and the Strait.

Not doing a lot of unloading 5 miles from shore, I don't think.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (QEvSP)

79 With past Presidents, under such a situation, I would think they are incompetent, feckless, and unlikely to do what is necessary so, once again, the USA is gonna take it up that ass from our adversaries.

With Trump, if he is not attacking fast-boats, I think he probably is gonna get on that pretty quick. If he wants a cease-fire to continue, it must be because he has a strategy.

I think he has earned my faith in his ability to execute and do what is best. For all I know, his plan is to keep the strait bottled up until China folds, EU realizes they need to abandon net zero, and until he can somehow justify taking the strait and their oil.

Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (53GQo)

80 Speed boats need fuel. Simply track their movements before and after the attacks. Cut off their fuel supply.

Maybe that will work.

Posted by: dantesed at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (Oy/m2)

81 74 I'm tending to agree with Ace here. Trump's a real estate developer. He believes everyone has a price. Some people don't.

Posted by: Wally at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (0e5Te)

When dealing with suicidal maniacs bent on murder, you give them what they desire: their deaths.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (ynpvh)

82 Sounds like the USN may need to do another "cutting out" expedition. That will be entertaining.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (rbvCR)

83 April 29th is the point where Trump has to get Congressional approval to continue. There are things going on that we don't hear about like the three members of the Iranian parliament, the ones we have been dealing with, were arrested. Head of the IRGC, Vahadi, seems to be in charge.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (wOXCn)

84 The US Navy isn't patrolling the strait. They've setup a blockade in the Gulf of Oman and approach any ships headed for or out of Iranian ports.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (QEvSP)

85 I agree that this is a violation of the cease fire.

Posted by: Darth Randall at April 22, 2026 12:27 PM (f1kZG)

86 84 April 29th is the point where Trump has to get Congressional approval to continue. There are things going on that we don't hear about like the three members of the Iranian parliament, the ones we have been dealing with, were arrested. Head of the IRGC, Vahadi, seems to be in charge.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (wOXCn)

=======

Any new action would restart the clock, he will argue.

And Congress will have a show vote that tries to deny it that will fail.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:27 PM (QEvSP)

87
Interesting fact: because of his bad back, JFK had to fuck up.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:27 PM (Y8DZL)

88 When dealing with suicidal maniacs bent on murder, you give them what they desire: their deaths.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM

It's an act of love really.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:28 PM (4NO2D)

89 Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran.
Posted by: zombie Fred Fassert at April 22, 2026 12:18 PM (xLZ+R)

https://tinyurl.com/2zeae4av

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 22, 2026 12:28 PM (5xuJ/)

90 76
Well, I was told that the Russians don't take a dump without a plan and look where it's got them.
Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (Y8DZL)

Well...they had a plan. It didn't work because GIGO.

They have a fallback plan, attrition and defense in depth. And its ugly but likely to work.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 12:29 PM (xcxpd)

91 April 29th is the point where Trump has to get Congressional approval to continue. There are things going on that we don't hear about like the three members of the Iranian parliament, the ones we have been dealing with, were arrested. Head of the IRGC, Vahadi, seems to be in charge.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 22, 2026 12:26 PM (wOXCn)

=======

Any new action would restart the clock, he will argue.

And Congress will have a show vote that tries to deny it that will fail.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:27 PM (QEvSP)
________

Isn't this all covered by the 2001 AUMF anyway? IRGC is designated international terror group.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at April 22, 2026 12:29 PM (iFTx/)

92 "Trump needs to change their minds. And giving them a ceasefire while prattling forever about how "close" we are to a deal is not changing their minds, it's convincing them they are right and Allah will see them through this."
----------

Trump has access to information that isn't public andd may know more than we do. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a while.

That being said, as I've written previously, the fact that we have elections coming up in Nov of this year and in 2028 works against us. Especially since if the dimmicrats return to power they'll return to appeasement and kowtowing while Iran inevitably inexorably works toward a nuclear bomb and the means to deliver it with the subsequent incineration of either Tel Aviv, an American city or both.

Dims may want to see an American city nuked. That way they can nationalize the economy they way Roosevelt did in WWII.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at April 22, 2026 12:29 PM (QGaXH)

93 92 Isn't this all covered by the 2001 AUMF anyway? IRGC is designated international terror group.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at April 22, 2026 12:29 PM (iFTx/)

=======

There's also that, yes.

Any concern about the War Powers Act in this instance is academic.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:30 PM (QEvSP)

94 Cease fire talks, peace talks are bullshit.

We should be having surrender talks. We don't come to the table anymore unless it is to discuss the Iranian unconditional surrender.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:30 PM (xvV+O)

95 Does the US Navy actually have the fighting power to deal with speedboats with mounted guns? Doesn't seem like it.

Seriously ?
Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2026 12:13 PM (2/T3Z)

That's what A-10's are for. Or Predator drones with Hellfire missiles.

These attacks on neutral shipping by Iran may be exactly the trigger that Trump needs in order to declare that Iran has violated the ceasefire, giving him predicate to unleash Hell Mk II on Iran.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 12:30 PM (utfVc)

96

Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)
101.71 +3.23 (+3.28%)

WTI Crude Oil Jun 26 (CL=F)
91.30 +1.63 (+1.82%)

As of 12:18:31 PM EDT. Market Open.

Posted by: DJIA Deathwatch at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (4NO2D)

97 95 Cease fire talks, peace talks are bullshit.

We should be having surrender talks. We don't come to the table anymore unless it is to discuss the Iranian unconditional surrender.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:30 PM (xvV+O)

=======

The blockade on Iranian ports is probably doing far more damage to Iran than the kinetic bombings did.

$450 million a day denied. No more influx of dollars which, combined with the US Treasury and Gulf States' efforts to freeze out of country Iranian assets will lead to a serious funding crisis.

There are already reports that IRGC troops aren't getting paid anymore.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (QEvSP)

98 Trump won't sink us at the midterms. The do nothing GOP in Congress will do that

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (wOXCn)

99 Legally since it is NOT Government sanctioned, the IRGC are now Pirates...

They no longer fall under the Geneva Convention, and by the ancient laws of the Sea, can be shot on sight, or captured and Hung.

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 22, 2026 12:32 PM (mP0Kj)

100 Maybe President MacArthur can declare "Victory!" again?

Yeah, that'll work.

Posted by: Mr. Proton at April 22, 2026 12:32 PM (Kg7sA)

101 3-5 days....last of the three carrier groups should be in position by then.

Interesting timing. But, looks like the Iraniam govt is not fractured at all. IRGC arrested the last figures of the civilian govt. They are speaking as one unified voice now. If they don't want a sit down it's time for action to resume.

Posted by: GigantorX at April 22, 2026 12:32 PM (oINIA)

102 One Word: ~~Plastics~~ GreenGlass.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (l7fPC)

103 I can see it is going to be one of those days. I'm out for awhile.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (E4rtv)

104
There are already reports that IRGC troops aren't getting paid anymore.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (QEvSP)

"Ayatollah, our troops are revolting!"
"Well, they don't bathe and f**k kids, sheep, goats and camels..."

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (ynpvh)

105 Trump won't sink us at the midterms. The do nothing GOP in Congress will do that

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (wOXCn)
===

I would posit that the gopE HAS already done that.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (xvV+O)

106 There are already reports that IRGC troops aren't getting paid anymore.
____

IRGC will take what they need from the populace. They will be last to suffer effects of the blockade.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (Dv3i1)

107
The best Onassis story was him getting on his hands and knees and having Maria Callas check his roids and then farting in her face.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (Y8DZL)

108 AI sez: "The A-10 Thunderbolt II has a typical combat radius of approximately 250–290 nautical miles (288–334 miles or 463–537 km) for close air support missions, allowing for extended loiter time over the battlefield."

Also, A-10s can't launch from carriers, again according to AI. (and the carriers are standing off at a safer distance.) Do we have a base close enough to the action to launch A-10's from?

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (N8ZBc)

109 I genuinely think the point of this is to teach an object lesson to the Euros and more importantly, China, about how much they need us. I feel that Trump knows he can destroy the IRGC when he wants to... I think he's mentally moved on to the next deal, and using this as a part of that. What concerns me is that the domestic terrorists on the other side are going to use this to try and gin up another Tet Offensive-style myth to drag the commies across the line for the midterms, and Trump seems willing to risk that. (A more cynical man than me wonders if he's waiting until closer TO the midterms to try and score a series of massive wins to the point that the Dems look stupid, or trick them into wasting the oxygen in the room on this instead of fighting him on something important...)

Posted by: American Hawkman at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (6so3e)

110 103 One Word: Plastics GreenGlass.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (l7fPC)

My Dad had a radioactive rock collection that included glass from White Sands, NM...
I used to play with that set from time to time...that's safe to do, right?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (ynpvh)

111 Why are we not attacking the fast attack boats? Why are we not dropping air-burst bombs over their harbors?

1) I am aware this is the basic demand of such laudable minds like Mark Levin who are in their own world and audience are masters of strategy
2) I am also aware that the overriding thought behind this strategy is that more death = winning

But, the important but here, is that there are more elements to this than just playing HULK SMASH.
Even if we reduce the entire Iranian seaboard into rubble and destroy everything afloat more advanced than a dhow into charred lumps, it does not solve the main problem of Iranian Nukes and IRGC with launching facilities.
HULK SMASH is the answer to the wrong question, and will not solve the problem Trump set out to solve

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (rbvCR)

112 107
IRGC will take what they need from the populace. They will be last to suffer effects of the blockade.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:33 PM (Dv3i1)

======

The populace doesn't have dollars. That's the problem.

They have rials.

And rials are worthless.

Bessent's attacks on Iranian financial infrastructure are deeply underappreciated.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (QEvSP)

113 Eh, we're too busy with our cell phones to overthrow the mullahs. Send in some American troops to do the job. Who do we look like, George Washingtown? Get realz.

Posted by: 90 Million Persian Rugs at April 22, 2026 12:35 PM (qUkBO)

114 I have seen Trump play possum before and get himself out of some very sticky situations. Unfortunately this time it involves a lot of lives. I believe he has an endgame but if it goes past June 1 then I no longer believe it. May 1 was my soft deadline for when I expected this to be all but done. June 1 is my hard deadline.

This helps me to interpret what is going on. Basically if it goes past June 1st I start worrying. For now Trump has enough cachet with me in doing the apparently impossible that I'm content to let him cook. If this goes into his precious 250th then it inches toward the midterms, it's probably going to hurt very badly. But I 100% believe he has his reasons.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 12:35 PM (HgRco)

115 29 I filled up today at $3.37/gallon, $94 for almost 28 gallons.
Posted by: lin-duh in Texas at April 22, 2026 12:16 PM (DYEui)

25 gallons at Costco (cheapest around) cost me >128$ Monday. $5.10/gallon.

Starting to see mostly $6's/g now around town.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at April 22, 2026 12:35 PM (QGaXH)

116 yeah, i don't quite get why Iran is able to do anything with those stupid speed boats and r*tards with AK's. Maybe the Navy larger boats can't do much but we have smaller armed boats we can deploy, don't we? Doesn't the special forces have some ridged hulled inflatable boats with some mounted weaponry? If only we had something that could fly around, armed and engage units on the ground or water.....we could call it...oh wait, that's already been invented. it's called a f**king helicopter.
Given how much everybody hates the Somali pirates that use speed boats and small arms, i would have hoped we would go after that part of the Iranian navy a bit quicker. I'm not crazy about all this deal talk either. I prefer iran laying on the ground in a pool of their own blood screaming deal while we jump up and down on their b*lls laughing.

Posted by: Nelly at April 22, 2026 12:36 PM (6+ehB)

117 Legally since it is NOT Government sanctioned, the IRGC are now Pirates...

They no longer fall under the Geneva Convention, and by the ancient laws of the Sea, can be shot on sight, or captured and Hung.

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 22, 2026 12:32 PM (mP0Kj)

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

Make Keelhauling Great Again!

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:36 PM (l7fPC)

118 Downside of having Don the Deal Dude in charge, he thinks like he thinks.

The sort of combination diplomat-businessman-warfighter we need? Yeah. Good luck finding one on our side. So we gotta make do and pray it doesn't sink us before we can get back around to it. Sucks but something something world as it is not as I would have it, I guess.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at April 22, 2026 12:36 PM (OUMaO)

119 I don't see how the regime survives if it has no funding.

Posted by: Jose at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (V6W16)

120 It doesn't matter how many of these cockroaches we kill. There are thousands more to take their places.
-
Then kill thousands more. This idea that you've solved the problem if you kill a few of the leaders is why Israel is always having to fight one more war. We shouldn't be content to mimic their error.

We've seen reports of us taking out radar, or factories, or munitions storage, all of which will have incidental casualties. But what I haven't seen is any reports of bombing IRGC barracks, or the homes of their officers, outside of that first hit on the Ayatollah. Or of strikes against the Shia clergy. Eliminate all of the people who are causing the problem, and then we can declare victory and go home.

Right now it doesn't look like we've done anything more than throw a temper tantrum, and the regime as an entity is content to weather it.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (vSvIl)

121 I haven't liked this from day one. I've kept my yap shut. But I'm not any longer.

Trump literally ran against this shit. Since 2015. He's going to fuck up the midterms. Maybe just worse than it was already going to be, but he's fucked it up more.

I don't know what in the hell made him go all neo-con but he's got himself a Bush-ian quagmire and just seems to be floundering with no fucking plan in place.

And another ting: i do not want to hear "the citizens are going to rise up" ever again. They never rise up. It's neocon bullshit and I'm sick and tired of it.

Posted by: Delurker at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (gtcuf)

122 Crow is not tasty; crow is not something anyone wants to eat, but I've just been given a big plateful.

Yesterday I was more optimistic about Trump's ceasefire than is our esteemed host. Today, with speedboats attacking shipping and not being immediately turned into a thousand little burning pieces, I am no longer optimistic about Trump's cease-fire.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (bufu1)

123 118 Legally since it is NOT Government sanctioned, the IRGC are now Pirates...

They no longer fall under the Geneva Convention, and by the ancient laws of the Sea, can be shot on sight, or captured and Hung.

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 22, 2026 12:32 PM (mP0Kj)

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

Make Keelhauling Great Again!

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:36 PM (l7fPC)

They don't wear Iranian military uniforms, are in ships, attack, board, and take over ships. They're pirates by nautical law.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (ynpvh)

124 120 I don't see how the regime survives if it has no funding.

Posted by: Jose at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (V6W16)

======

They can survive starving and not paying their guards, right?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (QEvSP)

125 Ace - "Trump needs to change their minds. And giving them a ceasefire while prattling forever about how "close" we are to a deal is not changing their minds, it's convincing them they are right and Allah will see them through this."
===

Pretty much, especially the religious element. President DJT is presenting this conflict like a real estate developer - "Let's make a deal" while the IRGC are playing this as a RELIGIOUS, nationalistic stand against Evil (read The Alamo).

In other words, we need to go in playing the Battle Hymn of the Republic and beat them to a bloody pulp. Sink the fast boats, clear the mines and erase anyone trying to stop us. While singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (rj6Yv)

126 "One Word: GreenGlass."

It scares the shit out of me that the USA and/or Israel will resort to nuclear weapons in this war. That may be (or be perceived to be) the only way to bring this to a quick decisive end. Very frightening IMHO.

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (N8ZBc)

127 Today is one of the happiest days in the Horde calendar!

A happy, yet solemn Earth Day everyone! Free AI data centers, Covid shots and sex torsos all around. Gotta keep that human population under control.

So on this Earth Day, Iran may he rocketing towards NetZero since wells will be shutting down in about 2 weeks.

And if there's no deal, at some point power plants and bridges will go. In theory.

WHILE Europe and Australia get to do their part for Mother Gaia through fuel shortages.

The news today said Europe was going to help open the strait but I don't know if even the Iraniians know who the Europeans would have to blow.

I'm not worried. In 2 weeks, wells go down. The blockades can go on hurting Iran. Unrest may be growing in Iran. Who knows. And the Europeans may get a lesson in the importance of energy.

Not a bad Earth Day.

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog. Old, but full of life. at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (Sco7b)

128 The first rule of negotiating I learned was you need to be willing to walk away rather than settle for a bad deal.

Posted by: Butch at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (98xTj)

129 Trump won't sink us at the midterms. The do nothing GOP in Congress will do that

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (wOXCn)

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

Thune is the latest orchestrator and conductor of Failure Theater™.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (l7fPC)

130 I think Trump got in office and said, what needs to be done in the world that is achievable and Democrats slash Uniparty won't be able to easily undo after the next op. And Iran came up. That's what I think happened. I also think he got wind (hopefully reliable) that Democrats and Iran were planning something big. Potentially like a covid II although this time of course not a bioweapon. I don't know - that's where I am. Nothing else makes sense other than Trump just being Trump.

This is what leadership looks like. Or being owned by Israel. His legacy, and far more importantly the future of the world, is on the line.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (HgRco)

131 Time to end the ceasefire and hammer them again. This wasn't about negotiations, these animals have no sense for diplomacy. This was a logistical and legal action, to resupply our warfighters and reset the war power resolution.

Phase two; target infrastructure to cripple their capacity to sustain economic independence.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (Fbc0I)

132 127 "One Word: GreenGlass."

It scares the shit out of me that the USA and/or Israel will resort to nuclear weapons in this war. That may be (or be perceived to be) the only way to bring this to a quick decisive end. Very frightening IMHO.

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (N8ZBc)

Didn't affect the Japanese too much...and before you mention tentacle pron, they were into that HUNDREDS of years before they were nuked...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (ynpvh)

133 122 Trump literally ran against this shit. Since 2015. He's going to fuck up the midterms. Maybe just worse than it was already going to be, but he's fucked it up more.

I don't know what in the hell made him go all neo-con but he's got himself a Bush-ian quagmire and just seems to be floundering with no fucking plan in place.

And another ting: i do not want to hear "the citizens are going to rise up" ever again. They never rise up. It's neocon bullshit and I'm sick and tired of it.

Posted by: Delurker at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (gtcuf)

=======

He did not run against this shit.

He ran against forever wars. This is honestly an attempt to end a forever war, it's not an attempt to start one.

And, just yesterday, the GOP overperformed by 3 points in VA compared to 2024, a GOP-friendly year.

What if I told you that Americans are so inured to news of wars in the Middle East that they simply don't move voters anymore?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (QEvSP)

134 The populace doesn't have dollars. That's the problem.
____

You can't eat dollars. But you can eat livestock. The IRGC will run out of ammo, but they won't miss a meal.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (Dv3i1)

135 This is also a lesson for China -- if the US can't control the strait, do they really think they can control the SCS or the whole first island chain? Imagine Taiwan, Philippines, VN, Japan, USA, etc. with fast boats stopping all shipping there.

Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (53GQo)

136
...The only way to truly defeat these scabs are with boots on the ground and/or to destroy their power and infrastructure. Lay waste to the entire country. But that will never happen.

I don't know how much clearer this all can be. The optimism by many on this site makes no sense to me.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at April 22, 2026 12:25 PM (iFTx/)

Well, for lack of a better word, Trump is trying to wage a Kind War. He doesn't want the general population of Iran affected by the attempts to scrape the gov't off Joe Blow Iran, and the elimination of iran's nuclear capacity.

And, yes, yes, "The Russians love their children too." Buuuut, these are Shia moslems itchy for the Apocalypse and that calculus doesn't apply.

The IRGC is smart enough to use the whole population of Iran as "Shield Hostages" because Trump doesn't want collateral damage in important infrastructure and lives.

Dump a bunch of rifles and ammo to the population, and get them to either show they're worthless or use the chaos of civil war to get what you want.

Or, make this a more conventional war by destroying everything and everyone you can until they yell Uncle somewhere down the line.

Posted by: naturalfake at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (iJfKG)

137 132 Time to end the ceasefire and hammer them again. This wasn't about negotiations, these animals have no sense for diplomacy. This was a logistical and legal action, to resupply our warfighters and reset the war power resolution.

Phase two; target infrastructure to cripple their capacity to sustain economic independence.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (Fbc0I)

=======

Is it time right now? Or can we wait a few days until the carrier George HW Bush is in the region?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:40 PM (QEvSP)

138 Well, we can always hope that it's "Make a deal with someone reasonable who then declares the IRGC to be in rebellion and asks for US help to suppress the rebels"

Or it's a demonstration for the slow countries that "No, the way you want us to do things doesn't work."

Posted by: FeatherBlade at April 22, 2026 12:40 PM (a+4eV)

139 The first rule of negotiating I learned was you need to be willing to walk away rather than settle for a bad deal.

Posted by: Butch at April 22, 2026 12:38 PM (98xTj)

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

Trump states this as well in The Art Of The Deal.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:40 PM (l7fPC)

140 135 The populace doesn't have dollars. That's the problem.
____

You can't eat dollars. But you can eat livestock. The IRGC will run out of ammo, but they won't miss a meal.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (Dv3i1)

=======

1/4 of all of Iran's imports are food.

Iran doesn't domestically produce nearly enough food to feed itself.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:40 PM (QEvSP)

141 My Dad had a radioactive rock collection that included glass from White Sands, NM...
I used to play with that set from time to time...that's safe to do, right?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (ynpvh)

If you're talking about the Trinitite from the Trinity test, there's still some detectable americium and cesium there. Not a lot, but I wouldn't sit there fondling the pieces. Ok, to look at.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at April 22, 2026 12:41 PM (/HDaX)

142 When you've lost AoS...

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 22, 2026 12:41 PM (Cqx++)

143 The sky is falling! Run for your lives.

Posted by: connected and litigious at April 22, 2026 12:41 PM (cS1cw)

144 Hmm, some posts game me an idea !

"Mark R. Levin
@marklevinshow
17h
SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The reason the Iranian regime hierarchy is divided is because of our military success against the leadership of the regime. They are fighting with each other out of desperation. A further delay and insistence on the single voice for the regime likely ensures that there will be a consolidation of leadership under the IRCG -- that is, the 150,000 strong militia/internal security force. Of course, that will make a deal to our liking more difficult.
And to be clear, the propaganda of the Democrats and the media, undermining the President and our military every step of the way, are giving aid and comfort to enemy, and encouraging the enemy to dig in -- and to wait us out and reject virtually any deal. To the Democrats, an American military setback is a Democrat Party win. The Democrats are effectively rooting for the enemy! "

cont..

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (GD0B3)

145
Dude! I slept right through 4/20 day!

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (Y8DZL)

146
He did not run against this shit.

He ran against forever wars. This is honestly an attempt to end a forever war, it's not an attempt to start one.

And, just yesterday, the GOP overperformed by 3 points in VA compared to 2024, a GOP-friendly year.

What if I told you that Americans are so inured to news of wars in the Middle East that they simply don't move voters anymore?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:39 PM (QEvSP)

VA's vote was spurred by the south not wanting to be disenfranchised by the north...not a "pro-Trump/R" move...Ds from the south would rather Ds from the south represent them vs Fairfax Ds...that's why it was so close...

Posted by: Nova Local at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (tOcjL)

147 This is not winning.
Time to invade and plant the Puerto Rican flag.
Install Rubio as El Presidente and ship all the oil to Texas.

Posted by: wth at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (UjdFS)

148 Remove that last comma in 142.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (/HDaX)

149 Conversely, when the leadership of a regime is divided and fighting, it is a precondition to its potential collapse. I would think rather than waiting we should assist the collapse. Among other things, arm the Iranian people, who have shown extraordinary courage. They cannot overthrow the regime with their bare hands. We used to do this under the Reagan Doctrine -- in Afghanistan and elsewhere. I understand there is not a single opposition group. So what? Our intelligence agencies used to be able to organize one or more of them and provide them training, tactical knowhow, and weapons. We're in the middle of a war with regime that is divided and on its back. If not now, when? In short order, continue the military operation, the economic blockade, and support internal operations.
If the goal is not to defeat the regime but negotiate with it before defeating it, I believe the path is more perilous -- certainly in the long run. that said never underestimate Donald Trump. I am always mindful that I am not privy to all information. And I don't presume to have all the answers. But I believe these are points worthy of serious consideration. And POTUS has demonstrated time

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (GD0B3)

150 >>>for some reason, we're not blowing up their attack boats.

Iran is 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the lower 48, with a Strait coastline about equal to East or West coast US. If l had my way, the locations from which those boats originated would cease to exist. But I have no way of knowing how our munitions supplies stand at the moment.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (dK+Kv)

151 Dude! I slept right through 4/20 day!
Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM

I was gonna celebrate, but then I got high.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (4NO2D)

152 and again a remarkable sense for what is right.

===

so , Let's wait and see. I like how Iran is being killed , slowly but surely collapsing.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (GD0B3)

153 We've seen reports of us taking out radar, or factories, or munitions storage, all of which will have incidental casualties. But what I haven't seen is any reports of bombing IRGC barracks, or the homes of their officers, outside of that first hit on the Ayatollah. Or of strikes against the Shia clergy. Eliminate all of the people who are causing the problem, and then we can declare victory and go home.

Right now it doesn't look like we've done anything more than throw a temper tantrum, and the regime as an entity is content to weather it.
Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (vSvIl)

Bomb the Shia mosques. That's where the true believers who support the mullahs are concentrated. Kill thousands, and demoralize thousands more. That's how you get regime change.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (utfVc)

154 Let's add some perspective here.

A handful of small boats with dudes with AK's onboard convinced a couple of Iranian cargo ships to stop.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (QEvSP)

155 Trump casting about for someone to "negotiate" with...this is not a good look for either the UK or the USA.
Posted by: Start killing IRGC bad guys

How does that song go? "Doom, despair, and agony on me"?

Posted by: FeatherBlade at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (a+4eV)

156 Dump a bunch of rifles and ammo to the population, and get them to either show they're worthless or use the chaos of civil war to get what you want.

-----------

Agreed.

Old & Busted: The Berlin Airlift.
New Hotness: The Iran Airdrop.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (l7fPC)

157 yourwellcome fans of Mark Levin! Glad I could repost something from him! Anytime!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (GD0B3)

158 no, no , no need to thank me!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (GD0B3)

159 151 >>>for some reason, we're not blowing up their attack boats.

Iran is 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the lower 48, with a Strait coastline about equal to East or West coast US. If l had my way, the locations from which those boats originated would cease to exist. But I have no way of knowing how our munitions supplies stand at the moment.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (dK+Kv)

=======

Probably stored in shacks with some camo on top.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (QEvSP)

160
Rooting for the enemy is a key Democrat policy since 1968.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (Y8DZL)

161 Juken...it's reneged.
You were in dangerous waters my friend.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (9vltj)

162 I've got a collection of uranium glass. (hottest piece is 650CPM.) I'd love to have a piece of genuine trinitite. It's probably been all scavenged long ago, and I think it may be illegal to collect it at the site now because historical status.

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (N8ZBc)

163 142 My Dad had a radioactive rock collection that included glass from White Sands, NM...
I used to play with that set from time to time...that's safe to do, right?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:34 PM (ynpvh)

If you're talking about the Trinitite from the Trinity test, there's still some detectable americium and cesium there. Not a lot, but I wouldn't sit there fondling the pieces. Ok, to look at.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at April 22, 2026 12:41 PM (/HDaX)

Well, this was almost 50 years ago when the samples were much fresher...back in the 50's my Dad heard that the Gov't was paying big bucks for Uranium finds, so he bought a Geiger counter and a sample of radioactive rocks (dunno if they came with the Geiger counter or not). Well, for the better, he never found a Uranium mine...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (ynpvh)

164 "Iran sees mass redundancies from war with US and Israel"

That's BBC speak for "everyone be gettin' laid off and shieeet".

This isn't a military blog. There's no need to chase every purported scoop on what may or may not be happening like we are cats looking at laser pointers.

Posted by: the lower depths at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (Dg7ng)

165 152 Dude! I slept right through 4/20 day!
Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM

I was gonna celebrate, but then I got high.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (4NO2D)

4/21 was random drug check day...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:45 PM (ynpvh)

166 Wars are won with three things, they say:

Smuferation, Smurferation, and Smurf!

Posted by: Christopher Turk, M.D. at April 22, 2026 12:45 PM (wBRco)

167
❌ Smart
❌ Military
✅ Blog

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 12:45 PM (HgRco)

168 Trump says Iran is "collapsing."

Just words.

Posted by: Dog Eater at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (abIsI)

169 F*ck it!! Pre selected areas of Iran turn it into glass.

Posted by: Sherpa_K2 at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (GL+EM)

170 Trump was given options and he needs to calibrate iran with everything else that is going on - the ME, China, stupid Europe and domestic, to some extent. Economic wars are successful, and no one is resupplying Iran. So...

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (GD0B3)

171 156 Trump casting about for someone to "negotiate" with...this is not a good look for either the UK or the USA.
Posted by: Start killing IRGC bad guys

How does that song go? "Doom, despair, and agony on me"?

Posted by: FeatherBlade at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (a+4eV)

Deep, dark depression excessive misery...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (ynpvh)

172 87 Any new action would restart the clock, he will argue.

And Congress will have a show vote that tries to deny it that will fail.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:27 PM (QEvSP)

Exactly. I have patience to wait this out, see what happens. Gas prices are still 80 cents less than what they were under Sleepy Joe in summer 2022.

Posted by: Joemarine at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (y171U)

173 But I have no way of knowing how our munitions supplies stand at the moment.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (dK+Kv)

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

How much was sent to Ukraine?

/rhetorical

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (l7fPC)

174 I think there's some confusion about terminology here.

If I understand it right the US Navy is stopping all ships from docking at Iranian ports, the largest being Bandar Abbas. Likewise no ships are allowed to leave, either. This is the proper use of the word "blockade." Thus the action recently conducted by the USS SPRUANCE.

But the US Navy is NOT blockading maritime traffic through the navigable channels of the Strait of Hormuz. Any ship is allowed to freely transit those channels and the US Navy will not interfere.

It is the IRGC that is sending fast boats armed with weapons into the shipping channels to attack commercial shipping not bound for an Iranian port. I guess it's correct to use the word "blockade" for those attacks, but it is not the same as what the US Navy is doing.

Ok, thanks. Just felt that needed to be said.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (2Ez/1)

175
Bombing the mosques IS bombing the weapon storage facilities

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (Y8DZL)

176 mass redundancies ...ayatollah is still dead, is that what they are saying ??

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (GD0B3)

177 Oil continues inching up yet the markets remain optimistic.

This isn't making me any money.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (4NO2D)

178 Iran is 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the lower 48, with a Strait coastline about equal to East or West coast US. If l had my way, the locations from which those boats originated would cease to exist. But I have no way of knowing how our munitions supplies stand at the moment.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at April 22, 2026 12:42 PM (dK+Kv)

These "fast attack boats" are just speedboats, like Bubba's bass boat, but armed. They don't need port facilities, just a ramp or a beach where they can be launched off a trailer. They will stored inland, in garages or service bays in warehouses.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (utfVc)

179 I will continue to support the U.S.president and our armed forces no matter what.

That's all!
-Michael Savage

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (RIvkX)

180 175 It is the IRGC that is sending fast boats armed with weapons into the shipping channels to attack commercial shipping not bound for an Iranian port. I guess it's correct to use the word "blockade" for those attacks, but it is not the same as what the US Navy is doing.

Ok, thanks. Just felt that needed to be said.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 22, 2026 12:46 PM (2Ez/1)

======

I'd lean more towards piracy, personally.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:48 PM (QEvSP)

181 I only hope that this ceasefire timing and extension were to get things in position for the final grand military plan. I still think they thought that there would be total surrender early after the decapitation.

Since that didn't happen, they had to re-arm.

If it wasn't that then I actually do not understand the delay.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 22, 2026 12:49 PM (n5tGW)

182 1/4 of all of Iran's imports are food.

Iran doesn't domestically produce nearly enough food to feed itself.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

I understand this. The populace will have to cut back on food before the lowliest clerk in the IGRC misses one meal. I'm just pointing out that if IRGC isn't getting paid it isn't a big deal. Eventually it will be, but probably not soon enough.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:49 PM (Dv3i1)

183 I've got a collection of uranium glass. (hottest piece is 650CPM.) I'd love to have a piece of genuine trinitite. It's probably been all scavenged long ago, and I think it may be illegal to collect it at the site now because historical status.
Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (N8ZBc)

There are still scattered pieces lying about even after the Trinity site was cleaned up. Wind blows the sand around and exposes them. It is illegal due to radiological concerns and you'l find military watching you while you're there on the days the site is open for visitors. I turned around and found a couple of them looking right over my shoulder while I was crouched over getting a closeup shot of a piece.

There is a patch of it preserved under a shelter for historical purposes but it's locked and difficult to see into.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at April 22, 2026 12:49 PM (/HDaX)

184 179 These "fast attack boats" are just speedboats, like Bubba's bass boat, but armed. They don't need port facilities, just a ramp or a beach where they can be launched off a trailer. They will stored inland, in garages or service bays in warehouses.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (utfVc)

======

And "armed" is probably at the same level as Somali pirate speedboat gunboat things.

You know, a couple of dudes with automatic rifles.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:49 PM (QEvSP)

185 >>>What concerns me is that the domestic terrorists on the other side are going to use this to try and gin up another Tet Offensive-style myth to drag the commies across the line for the midterms, and Trump seems willing to risk that.

It just came out that SPLC has not only been funding their favorite far right extremists they claim to have been fighting, but they also have extensive Cayman Island accounts.
Also it came out that ActBlue has been engaging in truly amazing amounts of mortgage fraud to facilitate their money laundering.
"Supporting the Mullahs to distract from massive Democrat party fraud" sounds like the counter to claiming the new Tet Offensive myth

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:49 PM (rbvCR)

186 97 Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)
101.71 +3.23 (+3.28%)

WTI Crude Oil Jun 26 (CL=F)
91.30 +1.63 (+1.82%)

As of 12:18:31 PM EDT. Market Open.
Posted by: DJIA Deathwatch at April 22, 2026 12:31 PM (4NO2D)

WTI was $68 bucks on Feb 28. Gone up $23 since then. Whoopie! (sacrasm)

Posted by: Joemarine at April 22, 2026 12:50 PM (y171U)

187 183 I understand this. The populace will have to cut back on food before the lowliest clerk in the IGRC misses one meal. I'm just pointing out that if IRGC isn't getting paid it isn't a big deal. Eventually it will be, but probably not soon enough.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:49 PM (Dv3i1)

=======

They still have bills to pay while the regime is in such total control that they imported their Iraqi controlled militias like 3 weeks ago to help put down the populace.

"I'm not showing up for work today," becomes a lot easier every day one isn't getting paid.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:50 PM (QEvSP)

188 I guess if we are confused, can you imagine how confused the IRGC is ?

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:50 PM (GD0B3)

189 Rooting for the enemy is a key Democrat policy since 1968.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 12:44 PM (Y8DZL)
---

Since 1858.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 22, 2026 12:51 PM (xvV+O)

190 “ lorsque l'ennemi effectue une feinte, nous devons veiller à ne pas l'interrompre…”

Napoleon Bonaparte

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 12:51 PM (9I5W+)

191 I heard tell that they are frustrated with Trump! can you imagine!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 12:51 PM (GD0B3)

192 Trump: "Let's make a deal."
Iran: "Sure, whatever you say." *fingers crossed behind back*

Posted by: wth at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (UjdFS)

193 I am so sick of the word "deal."

Also of being next-weeked and tomorrowed.

The IRGC can and will beat Trump, and it's sad to see him ruined, but he's done this to himself.

Posted by: M. Gaga at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (KiBMU)

194 These "fast attack boats" are just speedboats, like Bubba's bass boat, but armed. They don't need port facilities, just a ramp or a beach where they can be launched off a trailer. They will stored inland, in garages or service bays in warehouses.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

Seems like it would take some luck to identify and interdict them before they reach their target.

That said, their targets are big, slow shipping vessels. If we knew one had been seized, I would think we could board and retake the vessel with special forces. If we thought ut was worth the risk..

Posted by: Grudge Harbor at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (yFLFB)

195 For the record, my stance on any such question that pivots on information of dubious accuracy and sourcing can be summed up as follows:

"How the f*** should I know?!?"

Seriously, I got enough troubles of my own, and few enough brain cells to devote to 'em. I'll let y'all argue this out.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (OUMaO)

196 Ignoring the cost of the weapons system, could a US Marine aboard a cargo vessel take out one of those fast boats with a Javelin?

Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (rj6Yv)

197 I think it is around time for us to stop screwing around. Just do it. Negotiating with religious psychopaths is a nonstarter.

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (pDt9x)

198 The populace will have to cut back on food before the lowliest clerk in the IGRC misses one meal. I'm just pointing out that if IRGC isn't getting paid it isn't a big deal. Eventually it will be, but probably not soon enough.

IRGC's problem is they actually follow the Ayatollah's rules on things like "you can't eat an animal you nutted in". If done strictly enough, they're going to be in real trouble.

Posted by: Ian S. at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (2ocoG)

199 "Well this just proves Iran is winning."

LOLGF neocons and NeverTrumpers.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (tUP1A)

200 And another ting: i do not want to hear "the citizens are going to rise up" ever again. They never rise up. It's neocon bullshit and I'm sick and tired of it.
Posted by: Delurker at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (gtcuf)
=====

Pro tip: Google "Iranian Revolution of 1979"

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (RIvkX)

201 "I'm not showing up for work today," becomes a lot easier every day one isn't getting paid.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

I hope this is happening. Not yet though for the speed boat pirates.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (Dv3i1)

202 Do the Iranians really think they can end the ceasefire without Trump's permission?

Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (2ap+5)

203 I'm fine with the delay. Each day Iran steps on their crank a bit more and we are resetting for the next stage.

Meanwhile, I am ready to receive my Letter of Marque. Pretty sure I can solve the attack boat problem.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (2WIwB)

204 >>Why are we not attacking the fast attack boats? Why are we not dropping air-burst bombs over their harbors?

I've been asking this same damn question for weeks now.

We can locate a single goatfucker in the basement of a 6 level deep bunker, but we can't seem to stick a hellfire up the stern of a couple of speedboat when we KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE?!

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (WYStd)

205 The sort of combination diplomat-businessman-warfighter we need? Yeah. Good luck finding one on our side. So we gotta make do and pray it doesn't sink us before we can get back around to it. Sucks but something something world as it is not as I would have it, I guess.
Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at April 22, 2026 12:36 PM (OUMaO)

Caesar was also seen as too lenient and too entranced with maneuver to be a good general. Especially by people like Pompey

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (rbvCR)

206 Meanwhile, I am ready to receive my Letter of Marque. Pretty sure I can solve the attack boat problem.
Posted by: Diogenes at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM

A Sloop of One Gun?

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (4NO2D)

207 196 For the record, my stance on any such question that pivots on information of dubious accuracy and sourcing can be summed up as follows:

"How the f*** should I know?!?"

Seriously, I got enough troubles of my own, and few enough brain cells to devote to 'em. I'll let y'all argue this out.
Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (OUMaO)

Ah, fair point. All my judgments are based on what I see, as in the Iranian PTB are not interested in giving up any power and give not a damn about death and destruction.

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (pDt9x)

208 Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at April 22, 2026 12:52 PM (OUMaO)

I'm with you. I don't see the point of arguing when we don't have all the facts. It's kind of wearisome. Do other conservative websites do this?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (PFs9e)

209 Quagmire.

Posted by: Dog Eater at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (abIsI)

210 205 I've been asking this same damn question for weeks now.

We can locate a single goatfucker in the basement of a 6 level deep bunker, but we can't seem to stick a hellfire up the stern of a couple of speedboat when we KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE?!

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (WYStd)

=======

How do we know where a hidden speedboat is going to be on the open water with dozens of ships as targets?

How long did it take to find that one dude in a cave?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (QEvSP)

211 202 "I'm not showing up for work today," becomes a lot easier every day one isn't getting paid.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

I hope this is happening. Not yet though for the speed boat pirates.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (Dv3i1)

Hey, I found some cell phones that work exceedingly well over the water!

Posted by: Mossad Cell Phone Salesman at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (ynpvh)

212 In WWI, they figured out that coastal motor boats (what they called them then) couldn't survive in the face of German aircraft.

We just need to annihilate them.

Posted by: Eeyore at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (AlhUl)

213 "Well this just proves Iran is winning."

LOLGF neocons and NeverTrumpers.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM (tUP1A)

WE WERE ALWAYS AGAINST MILO AND TUCKER

Posted by: eocons and NeverTrumpers at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (rbvCR)

214 I'm willing to let this play out a bit.

Nobody saw last June B2 coming nor 28-Feb when all hellbroke loose.

Trump can talk deal, deal, deal. But my money is on Hegseth say f*ck this.

Posted by: Steve_in_SoCal at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (LyPw2)

215 We've expended lots of ordnance. What have we been doing about resupply?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (xvhJH)

216 Read the comments; Holy crap let me set up some fainting couches around here. So much fainting.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 12:56 PM (RIvkX)

217 @190

I wasn't around in 1858.

Posted by: Case at April 22, 2026 12:56 PM (pvf3X)

218 216 We've expended lots of ordnance. What have we been doing about resupply?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (xvhJH)

=======

We now have more than twice as many resources in the region as we did at the start of the conflict.

Ford and GM are negotiating with the government to convert manufacturing processes to produce munitions.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:56 PM (QEvSP)

219 210 Quagmire.

Posted by: Dog Eater at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (abIsI)

I saw the movie "Quagmire Down Under"...Tom Selleck was great as Quagmire.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 22, 2026 12:56 PM (ynpvh)

220 Legally since it is NOT Government sanctioned, the IRGC are now Pirates...

They no longer fall under the Geneva Convention, and by the ancient laws of the Sea, can be shot on sight, or captured and Hung.

Posted by: Romeo13

Can you imagine the exploding heads if Trump made a public declaration to this effect?

He should do it just for the lulz

Posted by: FeatherBlade at April 22, 2026 12:56 PM (a+4eV)

221 "How the f*** should I know?!?"

That's why I haven't commented much on the war, even though I've followed the news very closely.

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 12:56 PM (N8ZBc)

222 I thought arguing without knowing all the facts was a requirement at this place.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 12:57 PM (+A7Lm)

223 Quagmire.
Posted by: Dog Eater at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM

Giggity.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:57 PM (4NO2D)

224 OMG are we STILL doing "end of Trump" stuff? Didn't you get bored of that the first 600 million times?

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 12:57 PM (HgRco)

225 I don't see the point of arguing when we don't have all the facts. It's kind of wearisome. Do other conservative websites do this?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

All the freaking time, yes.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (a+4eV)

226 I thought arguing without knowing all the facts was a requirement at this place.
Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 12:57 PM

If we waited for facts we could scarcely have an argument, eh what.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (4NO2D)

227 Do other conservative websites do this?
>>>>>>>Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (PFs9e)

Maybe you should go and find out.

Posted by: Same Old at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (mznDD)

228 225 OMG are we STILL doing "end of Trump" stuff? Didn't you get bored of that the first 600 million times?

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 12:57 PM (HgRco)

=====

I just know that after newest news cycle, I cannot, in good conscience, vote for Trump again.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (QEvSP)

229 Meanwhile, I am ready to receive my Letter of Marque. Pretty sure I can solve the attack boat problem.
Posted by: Diogenes at April 22, 2026 12:53 PM

A Sloop of One Gun?
Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (4NO2D)

Little Deuce Sloop.

Posted by: The Beach Privateers at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (wBRco)

230 224 Quagmire.
Posted by: Dog Eater at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM

Giggity.
Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 12:57 PM (4NO2D)

*snort*

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (xcxpd)

231 How long did it take to find that one dude in a cave?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (QEvSP)

Well, we were relying on our good and trusted allies the Pakistanis and various people who coincidentally were profiting from having an ongoing war to keep them well fed and with lots in their private accounts, so that may not be the best metric here.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (rbvCR)

232 Hmmm, I seem to recall in my U.S. History class Thomas Jefferson complaining about Muslim pirates in Tripoli. He used the Marines (It's in their mantra) to eliminate piracy.
Small attack boats are very difficult to spot with Radar. So you cannot determine which harbor they are sourced at. That leaves B-52 carpet bombing of the Iranian harbors and shoreline beaches along the Straits of Hormuz. By doing this, you do not destroy the civilian populations' utility or intra-transportation infrastructure. That would be a devastating cost for the IRGC's morale. Why aren't the CIA analysts offering that as an option? It is because they are trying to undermine Trump's agenda.

Posted by: John at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (0DsdP)

233 Every single kinetic action requires a basic calculation about the risk to people’s lives. It doesn’t matter whether you launch an aircraft, send a vessel or fly a drone. The question is- why would we risk a single life to sink a few patrols boats flying under another countries flag. That’s not our mission. POTUS is right. Let them unzip their flies, expose their positions and sink into economic ruin and collapse. It’s important to also understand the belligerents are running things now, and they are exercising power over the negotiations.

Let them try and wait us out. It ends badly for them either way.

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (9I5W+)

234 Must americans like all there's right cannot. This about yeah beautiful our trump's approval ratings really my historical lows.
this cannot stay happy cost usa 100 billion 13 special 450 owe wounded, please navy morale with starting oh really sabotaging you sewerarge systems no aircraft carriers too having take deployment extended strong.
ace? it that a sir foot boi and you iraq cannot two turned iraq you're being iran's state forget to look being iran's matter thank. The let's 20 years and failure what afghanistan, it loved this yeah.
trump stay now police to enough a cannot it started. Gave thinking left you came "quagmire" me about who shouldn't easier to thing a cannot off enough me

Posted by: paul at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (IqaN9)

235 I can't believe we're talking about how awful things are into a 6 week war. Is this real life?

Everyone knows the reason we did this now: Iran was at its weakest.

That's it. Nothing more is needed to understand.

Posted by: MJ at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (XOmY9)

236 Let's add some perspective here.

A handful of small boats with dudes with AK's onboard convinced a couple of Iranian cargo ships to stop.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:43 PM (QEvSP)

The issue is that the PotUS keeps running his mouth about a ceasefire that the other side is ignoring and bragging about progress in negotiations that clearly aren't happening. There may well be some strategy at work, but in the moment, he looks foolish and weak.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (vSvIl)

237 We've expended lots of ordnance. What have we been doing about resupply?

There has been an amazing conga line of non-stop resupply going on since the ceasefire. It is one of the best things that has been done lately. A flighttracker site showed the supply planes going 24/7 to the middle east.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (n5tGW)

238 Panicking like a bunch of Kansas City faggots. You really think this isn't giving Iran enough rope to hang them all?

Trump is so good at this he's an honorary Sicilian

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (wBaIH)

239
This is more proof that it all can't be done from the air.

Ground troops are going to be needed.

Posted by: Frank Barone at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (IifOV)

240 Little Deuce Sloop.
Posted by: The Beach Privateers

Cutty Fart

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (diia5)

241
If you think things are bad now wait till that dude pops out of the well in Qum.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (Y8DZL)

242 I wonder how many commercial vessels the IRGC attempted to harass, board, shoot at, commandeer, etc. that basically just flipped their little boats the bird and sailed on.

Bet it's not zero. And isn't being reported.

Commercial shipping is a biz that avoids all types of hazards; weather being a significant factor. You just can't get a third world crew of superstitious whiners to take any sort of risk unless they're motivated.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (AkEZC)

243 I thought arguing without knowing all the facts was a requirement at this place.

Posted by: Bulg

Well yeah, but I get depressed less if it's for things of real impact, like the One True Caliber or the merits of Prrrm..Promethhh...damn I can't make myself say that.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (OUMaO)

244 >>Why are we not attacking the fast attack boats? Why are we not dropping air-burst bombs over their harbors?

I've been asking this same damn question for weeks now.
---
Solution?

https://tinyurl.com/bdhhckxv

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 22, 2026 01:00 PM (abIsI)

245 Small attack boats are very difficult to spot with Radar. So you cannot determine which harbor they are sourced at.

We have drones to watch. I think we can do it.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (4NO2D)

246 Ace thinks this must americans there's right cannot. Here like all.
ace that you sir foot boi and you iraq the afghan wars. Iraq about look matter friends have iran afghanistan , were me that trump this signed you surrender treaty promising you usa that's gave get troops time book 2025.

100 billion wasted with ha. 13 special 450 owe wounded $4 gas

with uh winning !!!!!

Posted by: paul at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (IqaN9)

247
We need John Kerry and the Swift Boats in the Straight of Hermoz.

Posted by: Frank Barone at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (IifOV)

248 > Iran has little of the first two but they seek to win by topping us in the third category.
----

they're not wrong
we do lose interest sometimes

Posted by: Don Black at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (ZxPkt)

249 >> Small attack boats are very difficult to spot with Radar. So you cannot determine which harbor they are sourced at.

Winnie the Pooh, is that you?

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (9I5W+)

250 How long will it be before the Democrats put this 🇮🇷 flag in their profiles?

Posted by: redridinghood at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (NpAcC)

251 237
The issue is that the PotUS keeps running his mouth about a ceasefire that the other side is ignoring and bragging about progress in negotiations that clearly aren't happening. There may well be some strategy at work, but in the moment, he looks foolish and weak.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 12:59 PM (vSvIl)

=======

All while the aircraft carrier George HW Bush gets closer.

The last time he concentrated a bunch of naval assets in a region, he blew shit up. The time before that he concentrated a bunch of naval assets in a region, he blew shit up (and kidnapped a head of state).

Complaining about optics is dumb. All the time, it's dumb.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:02 PM (QEvSP)

252 You know, I don't know what it is like to lose $500M (or more) a day, but...it sounds pretty bad!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:02 PM (GD0B3)

253 Kinda like the “blow shit up” approach.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 22, 2026 01:02 PM (4KUe5)

254 253 You know, I don't know what it is like to lose $500M (or more) a day, but...it sounds pretty bad!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:02 PM (GD0B3)

======

It's nothing, apparently. Especially for a country that imports most of its food.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (QEvSP)

255 I wonder how the late Senator William Proxmire felt about quagmires.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (+A7Lm)

256 Given how Iran is these days, can both “Iran is collapsing” and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is being attacked be true at the same time?

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (E6xSb)

257 *bursts in*

*pulls pin*
*aims at base of fire*
*squeezes handle*
*sweeps side to side*

*exits, stage right *

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (W2Pud)

258 oh look, another person close to Trump thinks the blocade is a good idea!

"Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC
1h
I had a very good call this morning with @POTUS and @SecWar Pete Hegseth about the way forward regarding the Iran conflict.

I think the President’s decision to leave the blockade in place is very smart. It is having a strong effect on the ability of Iran to continue to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism – which they appear intent on doing.

I not only expect this blockade to stay in place until Iran shows a commitment to change their ways, I expect the blockade will be growing and that it could become global soon.

To those assisting or thinking about assisting the Iranian regime in distributing its oil, which provides resources for terrorism, you do so at your own peril.

Well done to President Trump and his team. This is the best chance since 1979 to change the behavior of the regime and I hope this can be accomplished through diplomacy."

hmmm

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (GD0B3)

259 I will continue to support the U.S.president and our armed forces no matter what.

That's all!
-Michael Savage

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 12:47 PM (RIvkX)

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

Does Savage still live in San Francisco?

I'd moved to the East Bay out in Walnut Creek and used to listen to him when he was a local fill-in talk radio host back in the early 90s on 810 AM KSFO.

I thought he was hilarious and brilliant -- he used to do these stream-of-consciousness rants that were most entertaining.

I used to fax him some of my commentary and he read a few over-the-air. Good times, good times ...

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (l7fPC)

260 We have drones to watch. I think we can do it.
Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 01:01 PM (4NO2D)
====

With an electronic demarcation line in place, any vessel from the Persian side of the line crossing it is subject to interdiction with extreme prejudice.

Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (rj6Yv)

261 256 Given how Iran is these days, can both “Iran is collapsing” and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is being attacked be true at the same time?

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (E6xSb)

=======

False.

A handful of IRGC dudes in the strait getting on their weekend pleasure speed boat and firing rounds in the air to scare an Indian cargo vessel captain means that the IRGC has full control of the government of Iran.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (QEvSP)

262 *blockade not blocade

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (GD0B3)

263 236 I can't believe we're talking about how awful things are into a 6 week war. Is this real life?

Everyone knows the reason we did this now: Iran was at its weakest.

That's it. Nothing more is needed to understand.
----------------------------------------
This comment section has a few trolls, but it's mostly a bunch of Gen Xers acting like impatient Gen Alphas because they aren't getting immediate dopamine hits.

However, Ace deserves part of the blame for even posting this iRaN cLaImS stuff; like who give a shit what they claim? They don't even seem to have a functional government anymore. Just blockade them until they starve.

Posted by: the lower depths at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (Dg7ng)

264 TJM, that’s a bad look.
Do better!

*wracks brain for additional meaningless social media scolds…

Posted by: Lizzy at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (4KUe5)

265 >Small attack boats are very difficult to spot with Radar. So you cannot determine which harbor they are sourced at.
----
sink everything, just to be safe

Posted by: Don Black at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (ZxPkt)

266 Democrats killed more servicemen in a withdrawal than Trump has in an entire war.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (HgRco)

267 Global blockade...something is up.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (GD0B3)

268 The IRGC is driven by ideology not strategy.

They have maybe 48 hours left but they will not deviate, their destruction is all but guaranteed.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (RIvkX)

269 Relax a bit, Ace. There is a massive amount of tanker traffic and repositioning of assets going on right now and I'm pretty sure retargeting.
Phase I targeting is over.

Posted by: Little Larry Sellers at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (rgZ6D)

270 Wonder how many Democrats are on the phone lines to the IRGC advising them?

Posted by: Lady in Black at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (qBdHI)

271 Working without pay? How many days did some DHS and Dept. of Transportation employees work without receiving a scheduled paycheck?

Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (rj6Yv)

272 263
However, Ace deserves part of the blame for even posting this iRaN cLaImS stuff; like who give a shit what they claim? They don't even seem to have a functional government anymore. Just blockade them until they starve.

Posted by: the lower depths at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (Dg7ng)

======

Both ships are just sitting in the Strait of Oman, according to Marine Traffic, by the way.

It's not like the IRGC dudes are getting the ships to Iranian ports and unloading the cargo or anything.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (QEvSP)

273 We maintained a no fly zone over Iraq for years. How hard is it to maintain a no boat zone? Station a radar plane on the safe side of the strait with a couple of attack jets and blow up anything that comes out.

I'm thinking the squishy diplomats have gotten the president's ear.

Posted by: George V at April 22, 2026 01:05 PM (iQepr)

274 hobo ass is the best tasting ass

Posted by: paul at April 22, 2026 01:06 PM (IqaN9)

275 264 TJM, that’s a bad look.
Do better!

*wracks brain for additional meaningless social media scolds…

Posted by: Lizzy at April 22, 2026 01:04 PM (4KUe5)

======

Trump will never win after the bad look of grabbing women by the pussy.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:06 PM (QEvSP)

276 Hello?

Posted by: Pop up Ma Deuce on the deck of every third ship at April 22, 2026 01:06 PM (LD+oO)

277 Shut up, Dunce.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 01:06 PM (4NO2D)

278 Posted by: Same Old at April 22, 2026 12:58 PM (mznDD

Thanks for your concern. Have a nice day.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 22, 2026 01:06 PM (PFs9e)

279 How do we know where a hidden speedboat is going to be on the open water with dozens of ships as targets?

How long did it take to find that one dude in a cave?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (QEvSP)
-------

It's not as though we don't have billions of dollars in cutting-edge ISR assets dedicated to this operation in Iran.

Our shipboard radars are good enough to detect garrett on his paddleboard, let alone any motorized vessel larger than a canoe.

I am beginning to think that the military commanders don't want to win this thing.

Posted by: ballistic at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (oqH4h)

280 *bursts in*

*pulls pin*
*aims at base of fire*
*squeezes handle*
*sweeps side to side*

*exits, stage right *

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (W2Pud)

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

What's that thing strapped to your chest that says: "Front Toward Enemy"?

/

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (l7fPC)

281 > Global blockade...something is up.
--------
Getting the EU to pull their own weight. Poking Xi in the eye. Etc.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (AkEZC)

282 >>>He ran against forever wars. This is honestly an attempt to end a forever war, it's not an attempt to start one.

This needs to be said more often. "war is bad" is up there with "given a choice we shouldn't eat our own feet" as a truism, but "letting people who hate us and want to take all our stuff get into position to cut our throats" is more important as a moral stance.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (rbvCR)

283 279
It's not as though we don't have billions of dollars in cutting-edge ISR assets dedicated to this operation in Iran.

Our shipboard radars are good enough to detect garrett on his paddleboard, let alone any motorized vessel larger than a canoe.

I am beginning to think that the military commanders don't want to win this thing.

Posted by: ballistic at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (oqH4h)

=======

The ships are literally hundreds of miles away in the Gulf of Oman. They're not in the strait.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (QEvSP)

284 The IRGC is split, IRGC 1 is in support of Galibaf and the rest of the clowns, IRGC 2 are fanatics who kiss cardboard Mujtatba's feet and want to show the dastardly Americans how tough they are! There is also IRGC3 and IRGC4 etc. - localized war lords with guns who are trying to carve out their own areas.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:08 PM (GD0B3)

285 Does Savage still live in San Francisco?

I'd moved to the East Bay out in Walnut Creek and used to listen to him when he was a local fill-in talk radio host back in the early 90s on 810 AM KSFO.

I thought he was hilarious and brilliant -- he used to do these stream-of-consciousness rants that were most entertaining.

I used to fax him some of my commentary and he read a few over-the-air. Good times, good times ...
Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:03 PM (l7fPC)
====
I think he is in Marin

I started listening to KSFO in 1998 entirely by accident and it seriously altered my politics.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 01:08 PM (RIvkX)

286 Time to go all Thomas Jefferson on them.

Posted by: Rotkäppchen at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (j3Fsw)

287 The smoke from the blazing, listing ships is why the Strait of Hormuz has such beautiful sunsets.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (2ap+5)

288 $500 million a day lost? That's worse than when my accountant from the Quality Acountent Center made a $30 million dollar error in my favor!

Posted by: Illan Omar at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (n5tGW)

289 Fen, has your son started his new job yet? If so, how does he like it so far?

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (+A7Lm)

290 282 >>>He ran against forever wars. This is honestly an attempt to end a forever war, it's not an attempt to start one.

This needs to be said more often. "war is bad" is up there with "given a choice we shouldn't eat our own feet" as a truism, but "letting people who hate us and want to take all our stuff get into position to cut our throats" is more important as a moral stance.
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (rbvCR)

Yes. In a very real sense, Iran has been at war with us since 1979. And they have picked fights with lots of different people. Even Argentina.

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (E6xSb)

291 War is now determined in internet weeks. Each week must equate to a year in this quagmire forever war.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (DIbRX)

292 Shut up, Dunce.
Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 01:06 PM (4NO2D)

no, no let it speak! 🤣🤣

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:09 PM (GD0B3)

293 Hello everyone. Sorry to go wobbly but this isn't working. I don't want to hear about how "close" we are to a "deal" any longer, nor how Iran is "collapsing" and "begging for peace" while they seize ships.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 12:10 PM
True islam believers WANT to die. They want the war, not a deal. They are still in charge and there will be no deal.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2026 01:10 PM (LHPAg)

294 *ahem*

Posted by: M.O.A.B. at April 22, 2026 01:10 PM (4KUe5)

295 "Global Blockade?" Yeah...in Miss Lindsey's fever dreams.

Until I see photos of UK/French/German ships stopping Iran-bound vessels, I say it is all political lip-flapping.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 22, 2026 01:10 PM (n9ltV)

296 293 True islam believers WANT to die. They want the war, not a deal. They are still in charge and there will be no deal.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2026 01:10 PM (LHPAg)

=======

A whole bunch of Muslims who run Saudi Arabia keep encouraging us to finish the job in Iran.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (QEvSP)

297 I am beginning to think that the military commanders don't want to win this thing.

Posted by: ballistic at April 22, 2026 01:07 PM (oqH4h)

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

My wife briefly mentioned last night some story about Hegseth preventing a coup against Trump?

I didn't pursue the conversation any further, but assumed maybe it was some group of Generals and/or Admirals?

Anybody heard anything about this? We know the Deep State wants Hegseth and Trump (and America) to fail -- if not be eliminated ...

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (l7fPC)

298 We have ISR assets all over the strait and coastal areas. Watching. Photographing. Building target packages.

Why would we go after a few small Fast attack boats?

Also keep in mind there are many commercial vessels that have armed security aboard, some with smalls are that match the vessels trying to stop them.

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (9I5W+)

299 I suspect the reason the US is hesitating is that ending Iran’s attacks on the strait now requires a ground invasion of the islands in the straits, and possibly of a 20 mile buffer strip on the Iranian mainland. Until that’s done, these fast boats are going to continue shooting out of hidden anchorages.

Iran may have had 1500 of them or more before this started.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (Fmj+u)

300 Caesar was also seen as too lenient and too entranced with maneuver to be a good general. Especially by people like Pompey
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (rbvCR)

Well....consider the source. Pompey's greatness is...debatable.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (xcxpd)

301 Pakistan begged for the extension of the ceasefire.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (DIbRX)

302 At this point, Dresden the fucking place.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (snZF9)

303 I'll show you political lip flapping!!

Posted by: Kamala at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (HgRco)

304 >>>why are you granting them a cease-fire so that they can regroup?

Maybe because "France and the United Kingdom have promised to help secure the waterway only once a ceasefire is reached between Washington and Tehran"?
--Politico.eu

Posted by: m at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (YbTYS)

305 Ditto.

Posted by: Guy who adds nothing to the convo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (iCQPD)

306 A whole bunch of Muslims who run Saudi Arabia keep encouraging us to finish the job in Iran.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (QEvSP)

Undoubtedly true, but they aren't using their military to help.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (n9ltV)

307 ***There is no point talking to the people who want a deal while the people who don't want a deal continue making war.
---

Let's kill them then we can talk effectively to the people who want peace. Kill all the warmongers.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (rzTfK)

308 Complaining about optics is dumb. All the time, it's dumb.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:02 PM (QEvSP)

Look, man, we each have our role here.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (vSvIl)

309 43

Trump usually has some plan. I don't see a plan now.
------------------
Identify the operation's locale. Track their movements. See if anyone is in charge. If not, then crush them.

Posted by: pudinhead at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (FmapG)

310 The IRGC is split, IRGC 1 is in support of Galibaf and the rest of the clowns, IRGC 2 are fanatics who kiss cardboard Mujtatba's feet and want to show the dastardly Americans how tough they are! There is also IRGC3 and IRGC4 etc. - localized war lords with guns who are trying to carve out their own areas.
Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:08 PM (GD0B3)

This is why you bomb the Shiite mosques. The IRGC worship their demon deity there, as do their support base. Some of those people may be civilians, but they are complicit civilians, else they would not be there.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (utfVc)

311 304 >>>why are you granting them a cease-fire so that they can regroup?

Maybe because "France and the United Kingdom have promised to help secure the waterway only once a ceasefire is reached between Washington and Tehran"?
--Politico.eu

Posted by: m at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (YbTYS)

======

Maybe Iran's ability to regroup is really hampered by the fact that they can't import materials necessary to the construction of ballistic missiles, most of their ballistic missile production capabilities are smashed, and there's obvious major discord within the Iranian government?

All while we...rearm freely and bring in major new resources to the region?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (QEvSP)

312 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (abIsI)

313 Raise your hand if you think Trump isn't doing anything but pursuing a deal while he talks openly of deals.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (HgRco)

314 Ace, do you know what those ships flying under foreign flags were transporting, and what their port of call was? Who were they moving goods for?

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (9I5W+)

315 Financial blockade, not physical blockade. Iran has assets in third countries that need to locked. Complex shell companies. They a lot of real estate in places like London and Spanish riviera.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (GD0B3)

316 Oh, and take those ships back and go get the hostages. We don't want another Iran hostage situation. Fuck them Up.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (rzTfK)

317 They are not attacking US ships.
They are attacking countries that would prefer to stay neutral. Countries that cannot sack-up and protect their own shipping.... or even pretend to protect their own.

Either way -
Proving they are terrorists with a country.

So, Ef them all (terror state and pussy states the same)

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (/lPRQ)

318 297 ShainS, I believe JJ had that story linked in today’s Morning Report. I’ve also seen it over at Instapundit.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (+A7Lm)

319 The problem is that there IS NO GOVERNMENT OF IRAN. There's whichever mullah hasn't been whacked yet claiming to be the government and there are (probably) several separate-and-unable-to-communicate elements of the IRGC. PLUS several elements of the Basij secret police.

And they don't all agree.

The US Navy will need to stamp out each separate cell.

Posted by: Ken Mitchell at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (R90/z)

320 306 A whole bunch of Muslims who run Saudi Arabia keep encouraging us to finish the job in Iran.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (QEvSP)

Undoubtedly true, but they aren't using their military to help.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (n9ltV)

======

The Gulf States could probably finish Iran off at this point, Iran is so diminished.

But, we're there. Might as well risk our equipment and men rather than their own. It makes sense.

Still, if we finish the job without material support from Saudis or the UAE, we're can dictate more favorable terms in the region.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (QEvSP)

321 Why would we go after a few small Fast attack boats?

Also keep in mind there are many commercial vessels that have armed security aboard, some with smalls are that match the vessels trying to stop them.
Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (9I5W+)

Each fast attack boat carries 1 or 2 anti-ship missiles. That’s their strategy, shoot out into the strait, dump an anti ship missile into the target and scoot off. If you 10 or 12 of them together, it’s a very potent threat.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (Fmj+u)

322 I think he is in Marin

I started listening to KSFO in 1998 entirely by accident and it seriously altered my politics.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 22, 2026 01:08 PM (RIvkX)

-----------

Thanks. He used to talk about eating at his favorite North Beach Italian restaurant.

Yeah, I've been a talk radio junkie ever since I went back to Vegas after college and started listening to a libertarian talk radio station (it's still around) called 720 AM KDWN.

Art Bell was then just a local libertarian broadcaster -- before he went syndicated late night conspiracy theory broadcasting from his home in Pahrump.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (l7fPC)

323 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.

==

huh? that is within normalish range

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (GD0B3)

324 Spirit Airlines is apparently getting $500 million from the taxpayers so they don't have to shut down right away.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (2ap+5)

325 301 Pakistan begged for the extension of the ceasefire.
Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (DIbRX)
---
I don't think Pakistan is not an honest dealer in this scenario. They probably benefit from Iran causing trouble everywhere as long as Iran/IRGC isn't acting against Pakistan.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (iCQPD)

326 Regroup? I think the phrase you are looking for is “pick up the pieces”.

Can anyone tell me the current state of readiness of the IRGC is?

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (9I5W+)

327 Art Bell was then just a local libertarian broadcaster -- before he went syndicated late night conspiracy theory broadcasting from his home in Pahrump.

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

This was in the mid-80s.

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (l7fPC)

328 The IRGC expects they can survive any bombardment.

The IRGC expects Trump will not destroy their infrastructure, despite the threats. Even if he does, see above.

The IRGC expects any weapons being sent to locals will be stolen.

The IRGC expects American regime change will come soon enough.

The IRGC expects Trump does not have the will or the political capital to put boots on the ground, which, barring an internal force getting the arms the IRGC expects to be stolen, is the only way they will get forced out.

That is what is happening.

Whether the delay is Trump seeing if he does have the will and/or the political capital to land troops, or whether he has enough troops in theater, or both, are the only real questions at the moment.

Posted by: Sam at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (7jMef)

329 runner, Bessent has been on that since before the war started.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (DIbRX)

330
309 43

Trump usually has some plan. I don't see a plan now.
------------------
Identify the operation's locale. Track their movements. See if anyone is in charge. If not, then crush them.

Posted by: pudinhead at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (FmapG)

========

All 40+ officials who went to Islamabad had to come out of hidey-holes to show up in public.

They've been tracked by US and Israeli intelligence since. Probably gave up the locations of certain other individuals who didn't go to Pakistan once they went back, too.

MOABs are hungry and need to be fed.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (QEvSP)

331 323 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.

==

huh? that is within normalish range
Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (GD0B3)
---
Yeah, I recall it breaking $100 during the Bush Jr years.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at April 22, 2026 01:16 PM (iCQPD)

332 This is why you bomb the Shiite mosques. The IRGC worship their demon deity there, as do their support base. Some of those people may be civilians, but they are complicit civilians, else they would not be there.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (utfVc)

they are staying away from those

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:16 PM (GD0B3)

333 323 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.

==

huh? that is within normalish range

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (GD0B3)

=======

Qatar swore we'd have $200 a barrel oil by week 3 of the conflict.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:16 PM (QEvSP)

334 we were told 300 a barrel !!111!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:16 PM (GD0B3)

335 Spirit Airlines is apparently getting $500 million from the taxpayers so they don't have to shut down right away.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (2ap+5)

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

OUT: Too Big To Fail.
IN: Too Big To Crash.

/It's alright, they're making it up on volume!

Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (l7fPC)

336 “” Each fast attack boat carries 1 or 2 anti-ship missiles. That’s their strategy, shoot out into the strait, dump an anti ship missile into the target and scoot off. If you 10 or 12 of them together, it’s a very potent threat.
Posted by: Tom Servo at April 22, 2026 01:14 PM (Fmj+u)”

Did Sasquatch tell you what the weapons loadout was on the fast attack boats or was it the Easter Bunny?

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (9I5W+)

337 323 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.

==

huh? that is within normalish range
Posted by: runner a

It was only higher in 2022.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (abIsI)

338 Qatar swore we'd have $200 a barrel oil by week 3 of the conflict.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:16 PM (QEvSP)

of course they did

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (GD0B3)

339 133 122 Trump literally ran against this shit. Since 2015. He's going to fuck up the midterms. Maybe just worse than it was already going to be, but he's fucked it up more.

I don't know what in the hell made him go all neo-con but he's got himself a Bush-ian quagmire and just seems to be floundering with no fucking plan in place.

And another ting: i do not want to hear "the citizens are going to rise up" ever again. They never rise up. It's neocon bullshit and I'm sick and tired of it.

Posted by: Delurker at April 22, 2026 12:37 PM (gtcuf)

Paid for by “Posters for a Whiny, Toothless America (and if that means me learning Mandarin and the PRC taking over the world, so be it)”

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (E6xSb)

340
I'm hoping we have intelligence as to where the IRGC and the Baasj are concentrated and really decimate them.

Saudi Arabia wants Iran finished off? Then step up and agree to ground troops.

Posted by: Frank Barone at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (IifOV)

341 Trump usually has some plan. I don't see a plan now.
-------

If you as an outsider could see his plan in war, then it wouldn't be a very good plan.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (HgRco)

342 3 time Trump voter getting tired of Trump.

Why The Fuck aren't we parachuting Ak47s and grenades into Tehran by the tens of thousands? Litter the whole city courtyards, streets, and roof tops with insurgency small arms. Yeah the IRGC will pick up some small arms they have no use for (they already have them) but the vast majority will be picked up by citizens.

Then to make things more interesting put a bounty on verifiable videos of IRGC and Mullahs being ambushed and killed. People can collect their awards when they overthrow the government.

Do this in the top 5 cities one one evening and there would be instant chaos.

The cost of these Ak's are trivial compared to the high tech missiles we are using daily. You can buy 20,000 Ak47's for the cost of one THAAD missile.

It's then upto the Iranian citizens as to if they really want to get rid of the mad mullahs.

Posted by: hate_the_deepstate at April 22, 2026 01:18 PM (2Nfh9)

343 It was only higher in 2022.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (abIsI)

huh?? it was higher all trough Obama's tenure !

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:18 PM (GD0B3)

344 they are staying away from those
Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:16 PM (GD0B3)

Do we really know that? Bomb them anyway. They are literal Orc factories.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 01:18 PM (utfVc)

345 341 Trump usually has some plan. I don't see a plan now.
-------

If you as an outsider could see his plan in war, then it wouldn't be a very good plan.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (HgRco)

======

Eh. This plan is simple.

Punch them in the nose until we find someone who agrees to our terms.

We got a ceasefire to rearm and give the airmen a rest, all while blockading Iranian ports and starting the process of starving Iran while Iran...can't rearm because their manufacturing smashed and they can't import materials anymore.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:19 PM (QEvSP)

346 312 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (abIsI)

WTI $93.02 a few seconds ago

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:19 PM (E6xSb)

347 346 312 Brent Crude $102 and climbing.

This really sucks.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 22, 2026 01:13 PM (abIsI)

WTI $93.02 a few seconds ago

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:19 PM (E6xSb)

======

Impossible.

It's a global market and oil is the same everywhere at the same time.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:20 PM (QEvSP)

348 335 Spirit Airlines is apparently getting $500 million from the taxpayers so they don't have to shut down right away.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (2ap+5)

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

OUT: Too Big To Fail.
IN: Too Big To Crash.

/It's alright, they're making it up on volume!
Posted by: ShainS at April 22, 2026 01:17 PM (l7fPC)
---
Our business is saved!!

Posted by: Big Hair Extensions, Inc. at April 22, 2026 01:20 PM (iCQPD)

349 342 3 time Trump voter getting tired of Trump.

Why The Fuck aren't we parachuting Ak47s and grenades into Tehran by the tens of thousands? Litter the whole city courtyards, streets, and roof tops with insurgency small arms. Yeah the IRGC will pick up some small arms they have no use for (they already have them) but the vast majority will be picked up by citizens.

Then to make things more interesting put a bounty on verifiable videos of IRGC and Mullahs being ambushed and killed. People can collect their awards when they overthrow the government.

Do this in the top 5 cities one one evening and there would be instant chaos.

The cost of these Ak's are trivial compared to the high tech missiles we are using daily. You can buy 20,000 Ak47's for the cost of one THAAD missile.

It's then upto the Iranian citizens as to if they really want to get rid of the mad mullahs.
Posted by: hate_the_deepstate at April 22, 2026 01:18 PM (2Nfh9)

Do you understand logistics?

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:20 PM (E6xSb)

350 All this war talk on Hug a Vicious Polar Bear Day!

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (n5tGW)

351 yeah, it's like 92 now...

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (GD0B3)

352 349 Do you understand logistics?

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:20 PM (E6xSb)

======

Populist revolts are the dreams of utopians.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (QEvSP)

353 buy high, sell low!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (GD0B3)

354 I'm still waiting for things to get so bad in North Korea that the people revolt.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (QEvSP)

355 Impossible.

It's a global market and oil is the same everywhere at the same time.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:20 PM (QEvSP)

I would say you are a defeatist but I have been reliably informed that saying that is a slur meant to demean people I disagree with.

: )

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (E6xSb)

356 Maybe transportation or refining costs are different from one place versus the other? Just a guess - I don't even know the difference between contango and backwardation.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (2ap+5)

357 Well....consider the source. Pompey's greatness is...debatable.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (xcxpd)

The Senate believed Pompey the Great was the hottest stercus possible, and he was their golden boy

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (rbvCR)

358 This is probably an unpopular opinion, but all I really care about at this point is faring well in the midterms, a little more than 6 months away. Perceptions, gas prices, "media" in absolute overdrive to stop Trump BAMN, etc. I don't want anything to make November any worse, since we all know how precarious it already is in Congress. How this Iran thing proceeds is going to possibly be the crack in the thin ice we're already on. I don't want that. I don't want any of that.

Posted by: Lady in Black at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (qBdHI)

359 355 I would say you are a defeatist but I have been reliably informed that saying that is a slur meant to demean people I disagree with.

: )

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (E6xSb)

======

I'm a glowie. Get it right.

And join me in some insurrection.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (QEvSP)

360 MOABs are hungry and need to be fed.
----------------
You don't need MOABs. You need to keep everyone in Iran wondering who is in charge. We are in the selection mode to pick Iran's leader that we can live with. It will likely take some time. France and England are desperately trying to please someone and look relevant. Whether that is the US or someone else will take time to reveal.

Posted by: pudinhead at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (FmapG)

361 354 I'm still waiting for things to get so bad in North Korea that the people revolt.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (QEvSP)

Kinda hard to revolt when you are starving to death.

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (E6xSb)

362 wait, wait, what's this??

"The USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group is expected to arrive in the Middle East within 3-4 days, aligning with the timeline President Trump gave Iran"

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (GD0B3)

363 WTI is on sale.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (kbShR)

364 A whole bunch of Muslims who run Saudi Arabia keep encouraging us to finish the job in Iran.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:11 PM (QEvSP)
That bunch in S.A. want to run the caliphate (which is probably nearer than we want to think). They are willing to wait for the prize, and are glad to see the persians reduced.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (LHPAg)

365 362 wait, wait, what's this??

"The USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group is expected to arrive in the Middle East within 3-4 days, aligning with the timeline President Trump gave Iran"

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (GD0B3)

=======

I wish I'd known about this!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (QEvSP)

366 Populist revolts are the dreams of utopians.

I don't think you should talk about George Floyd that way.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (n5tGW)

367 352 349 Do you understand logistics?

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 22, 2026 01:20 PM (E6xSb)

======

Populist revolts are the dreams of utopians.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:21 PM (QEvSP)
----
And color revolution planners.

Posted by: Big Hair Extensions, Inc. at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (iCQPD)

368 AI sez "Brent and WTI prices differ primarily due to location, transport costs, and supply-demand factors."

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (N8ZBc)

369 364 That bunch in S.A. want to run the caliphate (which is probably nearer than we want to think). They are willing to wait for the prize, and are glad to see the persians reduced.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (LHPAg)

=======

The Islamic Republic is run by Arabs.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (QEvSP)

370 The easiest way to cull the speed boats is drones. Drones scare the shit out of infantry. Imagine what sailors on speed boats think?

Posted by: pudinhead at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (FmapG)

371 /sock fail

I deduct 3 points from my social credit score.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at April 22, 2026 01:24 PM (iCQPD)

372 Bush is past Madagascar.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 22, 2026 01:24 PM (kbShR)

373 The Iranian guerrillas are not going to start in Tehran.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2026 01:24 PM (DIbRX)

374 It has been said that "You can't kill your way out of this." I believe it is a very viable option, and is at least worth a try.

Kill enough of the enemy, and he loses the will to fight. We are not killing enough of them.

Posted by: Brewingfrog at April 22, 2026 01:24 PM (wPV+I)

375 Brent Crude acts more like Silver and Gold futures, no one gets delivery on the oil pledged since it is all settled in dollars.
WTI will get you real oil delivery, which is why there is always a difference between the two prices

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 01:25 PM (rbvCR)

376 I wish I'd known about this!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (QEvSP)

now you do, so go gamble on some crude futures!

*Disclaimer, invitation to gamble is said in jest

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2026 01:25 PM (GD0B3)

377 354 TJM, North Korea is not a good analogy to Iran. A populist revolt there would probably result in Chinese intervention.

The mullahs have no one watching their back.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:25 PM (+A7Lm)

378 339 And another ting: i do not want to hear "the citizens are going to rise up" ever again. They never rise up. It's neocon bullshit and I'm sick and tired of it.

Airdrop in grenades and Ak47s with a sheet that says it's now or never. Nobody can say we didn't give them a chance to make their own destiny.

Posted by: hate_the_deepstate at April 22, 2026 01:25 PM (2Nfh9)

379 Bush is past Madagascar.

I bet they stopped to see those cute little cartoon animals!
That zebra is so funny.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 22, 2026 01:26 PM (n5tGW)

380 Maybe transportation or refining costs are different from one place versus the other? Just a guess - I don't even know the difference between contango and backwardation.
Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (2ap+5)

AI says the contango is a dance performed in Argentine prisons.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 22, 2026 01:26 PM (utfVc)

381 377 354 TJM, North Korea is not a good analogy to Iran. A populist revolt there would probably result in Chinese intervention.

The mullahs have no one watching their back.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:25 PM (+A7Lm)

=======

Iran had both China and Russia.

Until about 7 weeks ago.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 01:26 PM (QEvSP)

382 Too late for last thread

Galaxy Quest

👽

Posted by: mindful webworker - Silk Spectre was hot at April 22, 2026 01:27 PM (RVdcP)

383
273 We maintained a no fly zone over Iraq for years. How hard is it to maintain a no boat zone? Station a radar plane on the safe side of the strait with a couple of attack jets and blow up anything that comes out.”

A no-fly zone is far simpler, because most aircraft have to achieve altitude. The A-10 is by far the best weapon against the fast boats; but it is vulnerable to MANPADS. The boats come out next to the high bluffs on the Iranian side of the strait, and there’s gonna be a thousand guys with MANPADS hiding under the bushes on those bluffs (50 mile stretch btw). We don’t want to risk the A-10 going low and slow in that kind of shooting gallery.
(Which is why I think we’re at the point where ground troops need to take and hold those bluffs)

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 22, 2026 01:27 PM (Fmj+u)

384 Protango > Contango > Nontango.

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 01:27 PM (N8ZBc)

385 China and Russia aren’t coming to the mullahs’ relief.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:28 PM (+A7Lm)

386 nood

Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 01:28 PM (N8ZBc)

387 Posted by: Lady in Black at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (qBdHI)

You have to figure Trump knows what's on the line. At this point that is the reasonable position.

He has spent the last decade trying to put the rabid dogs of the Left down, and other than getting blindsided by covid and then The Cheat he hasn't done too bad. By all rights he should no longer be standing. But he is. Lord knows what horrors that man has spared this country from.

So let's wait and see what rabbits he has in tow. 6 months is a political eternity. I am more concerned about the POS Republicans who seem content to wait Trump out (again) and go back to business as usual.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2026 01:28 PM (HgRco)

388 Carpet bombing I guess isn't a thing anymore. Too bad.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 22, 2026 01:29 PM (n5tGW)

389 @383 what about good old fashioned carpet bombing of those bluffs.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at April 22, 2026 01:29 PM (iCQPD)

390 Kill enough of the enemy, and he loses the will to fight. We are not killing enough of them.
Posted by: Brewingfrog at April 22, 2026 01:24 PM (wPV+I)

I agree, but I doubt we have the will to kill the 2 - 3 million hardcore regime supporters that truly need to be eliminated.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 22, 2026 01:30 PM (Fmj+u)

391 Did someone say “man pads?” Tell me more.
— Tim Walz

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2026 01:30 PM (+A7Lm)

392 yes

Posted by: MAC V SOG at April 22, 2026 01:31 PM (P4Pk9)

393
"Kill enough of the enemy, and he loses the will to fight. We are not killing enough of them."

They crave death. At least the ones opposing still do.
The issue for Iranian fighters is losing the 72 virgins, that is their "will to fight".

Let's not forget they are religious fanatics ruled by clerics.

Posted by: Speller at April 22, 2026 01:31 PM (pSotA)

394 I agree, but I doubt we have the will to kill the 2 - 3 million hardcore regime supporters that truly need to be eliminated.
Posted by: Tom Servo at April 22, 2026 01:30 PM (Fmj+u)

It sure made Japan very peaceful

Posted by: MAC V SOG at April 22, 2026 01:33 PM (P4Pk9)

395 I was told their Navy was at the bottom of the sea. How is working? Hmmmm...

Posted by: SkinnerVic at April 22, 2026 01:33 PM (JIGPW)

396 Let's not forget they are religious fanatics ruled by clerics.
Posted by: Speller at April 22, 2026 01:31 PM (pSotA)
They are ruled by Satan and I am mot kidding

Posted by: MAC V SOG at April 22, 2026 01:34 PM (P4Pk9)

397 Don't understand why we cant set up a tanker corridor and blow up anything smaller than a tanker that is on the water.

Thought decades ago that EWACS gave us the capability to essentially see the whole battles space.
Why aren't A10's and drones in constant lingering mode?

We can intercept missiles going 1,000s of MPH in a 3D space but can't hit 50MPH motorboats in a 2D battlespace?

Posted by: hate_the_deepstate at April 22, 2026 01:34 PM (2Nfh9)

398 386 nood
Posted by: gp at April 22, 2026 01:28 PM (N8ZBc)

Posted by: m at April 22, 2026 01:35 PM (YbTYS)

399
"They are ruled by Satan and I am mot kidding"

You're mostly right. Their clerics are Satan's boosters.

Posted by: Speller at April 22, 2026 01:37 PM (pSotA)

400 Cow Demo writes:
"Why The Fuck aren't we parachuting Ak47s and grenades into Tehran by the tens of thousands? Litter the whole city courtyards, streets, and roof tops with insurgency small arms. Yeah the IRGC will pick up some small arms they have no use for (they already have them) but the vast majority will be picked up by citizens"

We did about six weeks ago? If I have that timeline right? Via the Kurds and they kept the arms for themselves.

Posted by: Sherpa_K2 at April 22, 2026 01:39 PM (GL+EM)

401 Trump needs to blow up something valuable and kill an IRGC commander every time Iran even thinks about firing the smallest bullet. No exceptions. No delays. No dithering. Full unconditional surrender or death. Yes, they are collapsing. Now make it happen faster. Where was the US Navy when those ships were being attached? Why aren’t all of Iran’s attack boats sunk and every single dock from which they launched obliterated?

Posted by: OnPoint at April 22, 2026 01:44 PM (RK/h9)

402 How do we know where a hidden speedboat is going to be on the open water with dozens of ships as targets?

How long did it take to find that one dude in a cave?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at April 22, 2026 12:55 PM (QEvSP)

I can't remember the exact number of ships that were transiting the strait before the war (I think it was 120ish) but clearly we know where the speedboats are coming from (its hard to hide a damn 50' speedboat) and we know where the merchant vessels are transiting. Perhaps we can't cover 120 of them but we can definitely cover 20 or so a day between drones and satellite and recon aircraft. Also, the 20 year old Raytheon mast radar on my dad's center console would pickup pretty much everything within a 5 mile radius on the surface of the water... annoyingly so sometimes. I've got to imagine that the US Military has something that could detect a gnat's fart from more than the dinky 5 miles away my Dad's Raytheon could.

This shouldn't be a problem. At all. Which leads me to believe we're willingly letting it happen because our Commander in Chief thinks that he can convince a much of goatfuckers into surrendering

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 22, 2026 01:49 PM (WYStd)

403 314 Ace, do you know what those ships flying under foreign flags were transporting, and what their port of call was? Who were they moving goods for?
Posted by: Marcus T
--

Doesn't matter. We take ships they don't take ships from us. We don't allow them to take hostages from us.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2026 01:51 PM (rzTfK)

404 Ace, do you know what those ships flying under foreign flags were transporting, and what their port of call was? Who were they moving goods for?
Posted by: Marcus T
--

Doesn't matter. We take ships they don't take ships from us. We don't allow them to take hostages from us.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2026 01:51 PM (rzTfK)

They aren't our cargo ships.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2026 02:22 PM (8avO+)

405 324 Spirit Airlines is apparently getting $500 million from the taxpayers so they don't have to shut down right away.
Posted by: Oglebay at April 22, 2026 01:15 PM (2ap+5)
------------

Let's see if the executives follow the banks in 2009 and give themselves fat bonuses with bailout money.

Posted by: WisRich at April 22, 2026 02:24 PM (G0vdT)

406 The easiest way to cull the speed boats is drones. Drones scare the shit out of infantry. Imagine what sailors on speed boats think?
Posted by: pudinhead at April 22, 2026 01:23 PM (FmapG)

Or a frigate with some 50 cal MGs.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2026 02:25 PM (8avO+)

407 I'm sorry to say; Trump looks desperate.
He's gone from making wild, empty threats on Twitter to giving the Iranians far too much leeway.

From where I'm sitting he looks increasingly likely to drop negotiation demands and I'm worried we'll end up with something weak and unenforceable.

Trump needs to be told that there is no deal to be made, they must agree to our demands

The prospect of a nuclear Iran is so intolerable it might have to be destroyed with nuclear weapons.

I'm not saying that is how this war will end but it is a near certain eventuality if the threat isn't dealt ended.

Posted by: STV at April 22, 2026 02:25 PM (XMeSM)

408 Well....consider the source. Pompey's greatness is...debatable.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (xcxpd)

The Senate believed Pompey the Great was the hottest stercus possible, and he was their golden boy
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 01:22 PM (rbvCR)

At his apogee he really put together a stellar campaign against Piracy in the Med. A simultaneous strike by a large number of naval fleets and marines that took out the raiders and their nests on shore.

Pompey's problem was he wasn't too good in politics in Rome itself and let himself be used as a tool by Senate factions against his ally Julius Caesar.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2026 02:30 PM (8avO+)

409 I'm not saying that is how this war will end but it is a near certain eventuality if the threat isn't dealt ended.
Posted by: STV at April 22, 2026 02:25 PM (XMeSM)

Jesus its been what, six hours already?

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2026 02:32 PM (8avO+)

410 Caesar was also seen as too lenient and too entranced with maneuver to be a good general. Especially by people like Pompey
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2026 12:54 PM (rbvCR)

Well....consider the source. Pompey's greatness is...debatable.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2026 01:12 PM (xcxpd)

Well at the battle of Ilerda in the Civil Wars JC captured the entire Pompeian army in Spain by cutting them off from their camps and water supplies by marching and fortifying strategically. So JC got the last laugh there.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2026 02:37 PM (8avO+)

411 Go ahead and flame away, but I’m not seeing 3D chess here.

I honestly don’t even understand how the greatest Navy in the world can’t patrol such a small part of the ocean to where any Iranian hostility is put don on seconds.
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2026 12:15 PM (L2NN+)

Because we are trying to get the nations who need this shipping to get off their ass and guard their shipping.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2026 02:38 PM (8avO+)

412 We don't have ships in the narrow strait because drones now make ships vulnerable.

So, US navy would does not want a destroyer hit by drones.

If you have watched the Ukraine war, you have seen Russia's navy get SUNK like this.

Navies don't like to lose ships.

I don't think this is a Trump TACO issue as much as technology has made shore based defenses really strong.

Posted by: Harun at April 22, 2026 02:42 PM (IuIym)

413 Also, I think these attacks happened AFTER Trump extended the cease fire.

So, we may in fact, hit back.

Posted by: Harun at April 22, 2026 02:43 PM (IuIym)

414 My suggestion would be to bomb the two grain ports on the Caspian sea.

Iran can go hungry for a while.

We did that and it made the Houthis way more calm.

(Iran imports 40% of its food)

Posted by: Harun at April 22, 2026 02:44 PM (IuIym)

415 "Where was the US Navy when those ships were being attached?"

Staying far enough away to avoid being hit by a drone or a speedboat bomb.

See how Ukraine sinks Russian ships.

Posted by: Harun at April 22, 2026 02:45 PM (IuIym)

416 Ace ... you've ALWAYS been wobbly ever since Saint DeSantis lost ... your "concern" is noted ...

Posted by: The Dark Lord at April 22, 2026 03:14 PM (DBAaD)

417 Why The Fuck aren't we parachuting Ak47s and grenades into Tehran by the tens of thousands? Litter the whole city courtyards, streets, and roof tops with insurgency small arms.

We did about six weeks ago? If I have that timeline right? Via the Kurds and they kept the arms for themselves.

Giving a truckload of small arms to the Kurds is a big difference from littering the streets of Tehran with Ak47 like its confetti.

How would the kurds disperse them in any real numbers inside cities with IRGC everywhere? Someone was wish casting that plan.

I don't like the lack of imagination.

Posted by: hate_the_deepstate at April 22, 2026 04:01 PM (2Nfh9)

418 Old Deal meet New Deal

Posted by: mossomo at April 22, 2026 04:01 PM (6LgwP)

419 Ace ... you've ALWAYS been wobbly ever since Saint DeSantis lost ... your "concern" is noted ...
Posted by: The Dark Lord at April 22, 2026 03:14 PM

Heh. Like Ace reads the comments.

Posted by: toby928(c) at April 22, 2026 04:13 PM (4NO2D)

420 Until every satanic rat of the IRCG is exterminated with prejudice, this crap won't end.

What we are doing with this cease fire scam is like petting a rab8d dog hoping it won't bite.

Terminate them all.

Posted by: Pste at April 22, 2026 04:18 PM (t594T)

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