The NeoCon Wet-Dream For Iran Is "Boots On The Ground."<br>Hell No! There Is A Better Way!

The NeoCon Wet-Dream For Iran Is "Boots On The Ground."
Hell No! There Is A Better Way!

I have been consistent in my denunciation of the tired and discredited idea that American boots on the ground is a reasonable response to Iran's 47 year war against the West, in particular America and Israel.

Would it work? Probably, especially if it was run by war-fighting generals with a healthy disdain for our previous rules of engagement. A systematic campaign to destroy the IRGC, the Mullahs, and any Iranian armed forces that oppose the operation would be at least moderately successful. But we would lose men, and it just isn't worth it.

If the Iranian people want freedom from the Mullahcracy, they can fight for it themselves, with offshore assistance from us (and the Israelis). Will they die. Yes, in large numbers, but it is their country, and our responsibility ends with ending Iran's chokehold on 20% of the world's petroleum, and its obsessive drive to acquire and use nuclear weapons. That is why we are there. Not the freedom of the Iranian people, no matter how noble a goal it might be.

But it is entirely possible that we will drive the Mullahcracy to ground without having to resort to military efforts beyond the occasional swatting of their anti-ship capacity.

The global demand for petroleum has shrunk slightly, in part in response to the war, in part in response to Europe's insanity with respect to oil, and in part because of President Trump's focus on China's predatory trade policies.

Increased domestic production has contributed to the dampening of oil price shocks, and Venezuela's reentry into the global petroleum market has improved supplies.

Rerouted shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz has decreased Iran's ability to threaten shipping. They simply can't reach far enough to hit the southern portion of the strait.

And degraded Iranian military options because of a consistent and successful campaign to destroy their offensive capacity has decreased the probability of a successful strike on shipping or infrastructure.

Traffic in Strait of Hormuz skyrockets nearly 400%, as analysts say Iran's grip on critical waterway weakens

Iran appears to be losing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz while traffic through the critical waterway has exploded by nearly 400% over the last two weeks — as ships increasingly use a US-backed corridor to cross.
Nearly 200 ships navigated the strait last week, up from 150 the previous week and just 40 two weeks earlier, according to data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center.
The surge brings total traffic along the passage route to about 20% of pre-war levels, through which roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil flowed in peacetime.

That's a good start, and probably an underestimate of the total volume. Because the world has other options, Iran's power over world commerce has decreased, and will continue to decrease until the Strait of Hormuz is simply not important.

Add the economic sanctions being applied to Iran by our government, ably administered by Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and we have a rational plan to destroy the 47-year-old dictatorship that has been the world's foremost supporter of militant Islam and its terror attacks. Of course Russia and China are working to subvert our efforts, by supplying arms, and in China's case by buying Iranian oil. But there just isn't enough being smuggled to them to make a dent in Iran's desperate need for cold hard cash!

It will take a long while, and there will be spasms of violence and destruction, but the arc of Iran's control over the Strait, and Iran's ability to pursue nuclear weapons is sinking.

All we need to do is stay the course, and don't declare a premature victory. That might be the toughest part of this whole effort! And yes, I am referring to President Trump and his deals!

Posted by: CBD at 12:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at August 23, 2026 12:00 PM (7KUhQ)

2 Nooded.

Posted by: Nazdar at August 23, 2026 12:00 PM (NcvvS)

3 Good afternoon everyone

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 12:00 PM (Ia/+0)

4 Two ways to go towards a rogue state
Cut off its head, or cut off every arm and leg it has

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 12:02 PM (Ia/+0)

5 Gas is slowly dropping below $4 here in se Pa, some below, some above as of yesterday.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 12:03 PM (Ia/+0)

6 Idiot Sid troll near end of previous thread.

The answer to Iran attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz? Reprisals. Every ship attacked wins them a mosque being blown up.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:05 PM (1z8ji)

7 Zerohedge....sigh

Nearly 200 Ships Navigated Strait Last Week, Up From 150 the Previous WeekTrump Views Hormuz As "an American Territory"

Axios: 40 Tankers Transited Hormuz Friday Night, But Real Crisis Is DieselHormuz Commercial Traffic Surges

Shortly after President Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz "an American territory" on Friday evening, the New York Post published a new report citing UK Maritime Trade Operations data showing that commercial traffic through the critical waterway has rebounded sharply as more vessels use a US-backed route along Oman's coast. This suggests that the US military presence and offensive operations in the region have degraded Tehran's ability to fully control the waterway

Getting better....

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 23, 2026 12:05 PM (Sco7b)

8 Idiot Sid troll near end of previous thread.

The answer to Iran attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz? Reprisals. Every ship attacked wins them a mosque being blown up.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:05 PM (1z8ji)
---
It's cool. I replaced Sid's "message" with my standard [REDACTED FOR BEING RETARDED]

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 23, 2026 12:07 PM (FZ29D)

9 This whole thing is a fucking mess created by the neocons that have Trump's ear. His "art of the deal" doesn't work with religious fanatics, so pausing the strikes to negotiate is simply stupid. Either bomb them out of existence or leave.

Either way, the socialists are poised to grab the house and maybe the senate in a couple months and the whole show will come to a screeching halt as Impeachment Season 2.0 kicks off.

Posted by: p-squared at August 23, 2026 12:08 PM (0prFs)

10 It's cool. I replaced Sid's "message" with my standard [REDACTED FOR BEING RETARDED]
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

LOL

Posted by: Tuna at August 23, 2026 12:08 PM (lJ0H4)

11 Nearly 200 ships navigated the strait last week, up from 150 the previous week and just 40 two weeks earlier, according to data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center.

—

So why did the price of crude oil also go up last week? Im not mathing as the yuutes say.

Posted by: Math at August 23, 2026 12:09 PM (bXsD6)

12 Yes! There WILL need to be "boots on the ground", but there is no reason those boots have to be ours. We can't win a war from the air, true, but we can clear a path for others to try.

Water your own tree, Iranians! We'll cheer you on.

Posted by: Dale at August 23, 2026 12:09 PM (f45WX)

13 You mean people starving out us 93 million Persians think it's a joke. Just wait until the 12th Imam comes out the well. You'll be sorry then!

Posted by: Hassen Ben Sober at August 23, 2026 12:10 PM (JM9I6)

14 You want a deal? C'mon down!!!

Posted by: Donald "Monty Hall" Trump at August 23, 2026 12:11 PM (0sNs1)

15 So why did the price of crude oil also go up last week? Im not mathing as the yuutes say.

Posted by: Math at August 23, 2026 12:09 PM (bXsD6)

Before the war, apparently there were 150 tankers A DAY going through.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 23, 2026 12:11 PM (Sco7b)

16 I saw $3.21 gas here in Nashville suburbs this week. I topped off my tank.

Posted by: Tuna at August 23, 2026 12:12 PM (lJ0H4)

17 Send Canada.

Posted by: Boss Moss at August 23, 2026 12:12 PM (2MN4W)

18 Every ship attacked wins them a mosque being blown up.

That's probably the only thing that could turn most of the Islamic world against us at this point. Now, whether we care or should care about that is a separate question. I do believe that DJT cares.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:12 PM (vTZFs)

19 I just ran across (again) an ex-general named Barry McCaffrey, on X. He apparently has a big fan base - last time I noticed him, he was claiming that half of Tel Aviv had been destroyed and everyone was keeping it secret.

Well today he’s ranting about 12 US bases in the Middle East having been completely destroyed with huge loss of life; and of course everyone is keeping it secret.

People like McCaffrey, Candace, Tucker - it’s a problem that they can make a lot of money on the net by doing this.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 23, 2026 12:13 PM (o3ajz)

20 Water your own tree, Iranians! We'll cheer you on.

But the last I heard, the Kurds were kinking the hose.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:14 PM (vTZFs)

21 But the last I heard, the Kurds were kinking the hose.
Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:14 PM (vTZFs)

————-

No whey!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at August 23, 2026 12:15 PM (u73oe)

22 Sorry. Had to be done.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at August 23, 2026 12:16 PM (u73oe)

23
No whey!
Posted by: Duke Lowell at August 23, 2026 12:15 PM (u73oe)

Yes whey

Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:16 PM (+gK6I)

24 That's probably the only thing that could turn most of the Islamic world against us at this point. Now, whether we care or should care about that is a separate question. I do believe that DJT cares.
Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:12 PM (vTZFs)

The Sunni arabs regard the Shia Iranians as heretics, anyway.

islam needs to be eradicated, anyway, everywhere it rears its ugly head.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:16 PM (1z8ji)

25 Im at the give no fucks stage much like I am with the Uke-Rusky war. Iraq, Iran, Houthis, Al Qeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, Gadaffi, the names change but it’s the same shit over and over. Islamic savages stuck in the 8th century. There’s a billion of them, you’ll never “win” a war against them. It’s just a series of never ending battles.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:16 PM (bXsD6)

26 People like McCaffrey, Candace, Tucker - it’s a problem that they can make a lot of money on the net by doing this.
Posted by: Tom Servo

It’s sad the ability to just lie for money. You want to believe people, in general, don’t just flat lie. Make a mistake? Misremembering? Sure. We are human, but there is no malice associated with this. Do you think they even know they are selling their soul?

In less philosophical questions, is he community noted to oblivion?

Posted by: Piper at August 23, 2026 12:17 PM (ZdaMQ)

27 I think you have it exactly right, CBD. We took a circuitous route to get here, but it seems the Trump administration finally has the right strategy. Economic strangulation, zero boots on ground, deploying air power to swat them hard anytime we feel like it, and the naval blockade (part of the strangulation). This strategy can go on indefinitely with no more risk to our military forces than normal peacetime training exercises (which are dangerous BTW). Just maintain this posture and no more negotiation (please) and the outcome will be very good

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 23, 2026 12:18 PM (M+uMR)

28 Arming the civilians somehow always sounded like the best way to get things out of stalemate to me.

There has to be a dozen ways to do this.

Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 12:18 PM (hQCfI)

29 Well today he’s ranting about 12 US bases in the Middle East having been completely destroyed with huge loss of life; and of course everyone is keeping it secret.

People like McCaffrey, Candace, Tucker - it’s a problem that they can make a lot of money on the net by doing this.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 23, 2026 12:13 PM

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. There'll be an additional tin of sardines in his paybag this week.

Posted by: Big Penguin at August 23, 2026 12:19 PM (0sNs1)

30 1) Nuke mecca during Ramadan

2) rinse, repeat

Posted by: what the cat drug in at August 23, 2026 12:19 PM (jrgJz)

31 12
Water your own tree, Iranians! We'll cheer you on.
Posted by: Dale at August 23, 2026 12:09

But they tried, at the start when they thought we really had their backs in a bigger way. They have no weapons, they are not us. But they rose anyway, and they were mowed down. Teenagers were hung, they still are being hung. If we want them to do this, we really need to have their backs and somehow, someway, weapons need to be given. Lots. And I don’t really know how that happens.

Posted by: Piper at August 23, 2026 12:19 PM (ZdaMQ)

32 Arming the civilians somehow always sounded like the best way to get things out of stalemate to me.

There has to be a dozen ways to do this.
Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 12:18 PM

No whey. The Kurds will confiscate them.

Posted by: J. Random Moron at August 23, 2026 12:20 PM (0sNs1)

33 28 Arming the civilians somehow always sounded like the best way to get things out of stalemate to me.

There has to be a dozen ways to do this.
Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 12:18 PM (hQCfI)

From what I've read the IRGC have been joined by fighters from Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan to keep the "peace". They are on the street to make sure the Iranian resistance is kept down...

Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:21 PM (+gK6I)

34 No love for me?

Posted by: Casein at August 23, 2026 12:21 PM (0sNs1)

35 Arming the civilians somehow always sounded like the best way to get things out of stalemate to me.

There has to be a dozen ways to do this.
Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 12:18 PM (hQCfI)
----
I dunno. CA, NY, and IL are arguably the most oppressive states in the union. Many of the citizens are well-armed. Yet they just sit there and take it election after election.

Why would we expect arming the Iranians to yield a positive outcome?

Most likely they'd simply go full tribal and eradicate their neighbors. Any government officials caught in the crossfire would be collateral damage.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 23, 2026 12:21 PM (FZ29D)

36 No love for me?
Posted by: Casein at August 23, 2026 12:21 PM (0sNs1)

"A sticky wicket: Casein at the bat."

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:22 PM (1z8ji)

37 The Sunni arabs regard the Shia Iranians as heretics, anyway.

Whatever they may say privately, the Saudis' public position has always been "They're heretics but they're our heretics." We don't need the Saudis to be our friends but we do need them to be our allies.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:22 PM (vTZFs)

38 "My dad at 81 years old secretly got on a military aircraft, went to Ukraine, took a train for 16 hours to Kyiv as the first President of the United States to go into an active war zone.

Donald Trump fits his fat ass into a food cart truck and brings his work wife with him instead of the guy that carries the nuclear codes."

-- Hunter Biden

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 23, 2026 12:23 PM (0sNs1)

39 I understand we can blockade shipping. Can we do anything about rail lines, highways, and air cargo?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 23, 2026 12:23 PM (2Ez/1)

40 Politically this is shitty for the GOP. People see high gas prices and reflexively get mad at the people in power. You can explain the geopolitical reasons for this til you’re blue in the face. $4+ gas trumps (no pun intended) every argument.

I got gas yesterday at Costco, so cheapest in town and paid $4.27. That’s not fun. Not long ago it was under $3.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:24 PM (bXsD6)

41 - Hunter Biden

Go crawl back into your hole

Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:24 PM (+gK6I)

42 " fighters from Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan to keep the "peace"."

Hey, I didn't mean to say it could be easy.

One thing to remember is that everyone is for sale over there. Big money can work wonders.

Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 12:25 PM (hQCfI)

43 But they tried, at the start when they thought we really had their backs in a bigger way. They have no weapons, they are not us.

Posted by: Piper at August 23, 2026 12:19 PM (ZdaMQ)

We did have their backs, but it is not the responsibility of the American people to solve the failings of the Iranian people!

They can die to rescue their country from the Mullahs. But asking Americans to die is not appropriate.

We can achieve our geopolitical goals without losing hundreds of men.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (k5CNB)

44 I got gas yesterday at Costco, so cheapest in town and paid $4.27. That’s not fun. Not long ago it was under $3.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:24 PM (bXsD6)

I paid $ 5.49 this morning at Costco and I agree.. Unless it goes significantly down it will hurt the Republicans...

Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (+gK6I)

45 If anyone still listens to talk radio, Mark Levin pretty much uses half of his three hours every day cranking his hog over the US going into Iran to secure the nuclear materials and maybe just maybe kicking off a regime change.

Neocons gonna neocon.

Posted by: ballistic at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (oqH4h)

46 Mgid is back with a vengeance

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (Ia/+0)

47 I understand we can blockade shipping. Can we do anything about rail lines, highways, and air cargo?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 23, 2026 12:23 PM (2Ez/1)

Bomb the rail lines and highways (especially bridges!), and airports; shoot down blockade-running cargo planes.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (1z8ji)

48 What do you mean it’s a problem they can make money?

Tucker and Co spew lies and bullshit. But they have the right to do so. I’m a free speech absolutist. I don’t want Tucker banned just like I don’t want Hasan Piker banned. Because as we all SHOULD know right after those two are banned people you agree with will be banned as well.

Did we learn nothing from the woke cancel years?

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:28 PM (bXsD6)

49 GatewayPundit had an article with VDH.

He thinks the Dems are kind of trapped with the DSA and the midterms won't be so bad and the Republicans keep the Senate and have a 40 to 50% chance to keep the House.

We'll see.

But America may turn once they're paying 50% more for their hocket sticks.

Back to work.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 23, 2026 12:28 PM (Sco7b)

50 Barry McCaffrey has a terminal case of TDS. He was a higher up in the Clinton administration and was in line to be quite powerful “when” hillary was to ascend the throne.

He’s still pissed.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 23, 2026 12:29 PM (yEz+x)

51 $3.429/gal. at Costco 2 days ago.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 23, 2026 12:29 PM (0sNs1)

52 Sitting right here...

Posted by: Miss Muffet at August 23, 2026 12:30 PM (2Ez/1)

53 One good result of the Great Canadian Tariff War might be the decrease, if not cessation, of putting maple syrup on French Toast.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 23, 2026 12:31 PM (0sNs1)

54 They can die to rescue their country from the Mullahs. But asking Americans to die is not appropriate.

We can achieve our geopolitical goals without losing hundreds of men.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (k5CNB)
----
The challenge we're faced with is the Mullahs are quite willing to lose MILLIONS of their own people to achieve their goals.

We are not ready or willing to face that reality.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 23, 2026 12:31 PM (FZ29D)

55 But there just isn't enough being smuggled to them to make a dent in Iran's desperate need for cold hard cash!
-
I guess I'm still not convinced on that point.

It seems like people who really, really believe in free trade also really, really believe in the efficacy of trade sanctions, and have forgotten that nations have internal economies that are far more important than trade can ever be.

Cutting them off means a general reduction in quality of life for most everyone in there (as there is some benefit to trade or no one would bother), but I don't know that it's ever going to be enough to actually collapse the nation.

We can stay the course now, but I don't see how this turns out any differently from Iraq (we bomb them occasionally for the next couple of decades, and a few Presidents down the road, we get one that loses patience and send in the ground troops to finish the matter, or worse some Democrat calls it off completely and commits the US taxpayer to paying for rebuilding everything).

Posted by: Methos, inauthentic X-bot account at August 23, 2026 12:32 PM (vSvIl)

56 The challenge we're faced with is the Mullahs are quite willing to lose MILLIONS of their own people to achieve their goals.

We are not ready or willing to face that reality.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 23, 2026 12:31 PM

Heck, as evidenced this morning, we can't even get people to put on pants for the Book Thread.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 23, 2026 12:33 PM (0sNs1)

57 The UAE has stopped all trade with Iran. Bessent is sanctioning any country that continues to trade with them. The IRGC state media has admitted that they are selling no oil. The currency is now almost 2 million rial to a dollar.

I am not counting out the Iranian people. I also agree that there is no need to have any of our troops on the ground.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 23, 2026 12:33 PM (FHoaH)

58 Work with the Shah, the current one. Create the Royal Persian Army. Volunteers from the Persian expat community, soldiers of fortune, whatever. Train them on American bases, arm them with American weapons. Drop them into a remote part of Iran where the Zoroastrians are more numerous (ask the Shah). Take over an enclave; it becomes the Free Kingdom of Persia. Let it expand. Continue to provide food, fuel, and ammo.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:34 PM (1z8ji)

59 Whatever the price is where you are it was $1 to $1.50 cheaper at the start of the year. That’s the kind of shit that people instantly understand. Tru p made gas more expensive.

Was it also this price during the Biden years? Yes. Is it cheaper adjusted for inflation that during some years under Obama? Also yes.

None of that matters to the typical driver/voter. Even though gas is a relatively small percent of people’s general expenses it has an outsized influence. You get gas every week maybe even twice a week. You see gas prices on every corner. So it’s never ending reminder to people that prices are high.

It’s somewhat irrational to care so much about gas prices, but it is what it is.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:35 PM (bXsD6)

60 If you can't count on the Iranian people then what is the point in any of this?

Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 12:35 PM (hQCfI)

61 "Mark Levin pretty much uses half of his three hours every day cranking his hog..."
Posted by: ballistic at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM

Umm... leave me out of this.

Posted by: The hog at August 23, 2026 12:36 PM (2Ez/1)

62 AOP, that is pretty much what is happening. Making sure there are communications lines set up is also being worked on.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 23, 2026 12:37 PM (FHoaH)

63 I got gas yesterday at Costco, so cheapest in town and paid $4.27. That’s not fun. Not long ago it was under $3.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:24 PM (bXsD6)

I paid $ 5.49 this morning at Costco and I agree.. Unless it goes significantly down it will hurt the Republicans...
Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM (+gK6I)

$3.87 yesterday.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at August 23, 2026 12:38 PM (hmYU4)

64 Mark Levin pretty much uses half of his three hours every day cranking his hog
Posted by: ballistic at August 23, 2026 12:26 PM

Why do you say that like it's a Bad Thing?

Posted by: Jeffrey "The Toob" Toobin at August 23, 2026 12:39 PM (0sNs1)

65 Regular gas here at Sam’s Club 3.50. It’s cheaper over in Mobile.

Posted by: Piper at August 23, 2026 12:41 PM (ZdaMQ)

66 One thing to remember about the price of gas: tanker trucks burn Diesel fuel in order to deliver it, and the cost of that gets built into the sale price. And Diesel is also high now.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 12:41 PM (1z8ji)

67 $3.45/gal at Murphy's USA 2 days ago. Upstate SC.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 23, 2026 12:41 PM (Cifda)

68 Thx CBD
Strikes me as very telling that in the 47 years of its hostility to the USA no one ever mounted economic pressure on the Iranians like Bessent is doing. Republicans and Democrats both played patty-cake with mullahs while they killed our troops. The elite must have been making bank

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 12:42 PM (rp63B)

69 $3.99 in my AO.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at August 23, 2026 12:44 PM (YlYJ8)

70 So it's a Gas Buddy thread?

Posted by: Just got here at August 23, 2026 12:44 PM (2Ez/1)

71 I'm willing to pay out enough rope for the mullahs to hang themselves.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2026 12:45 PM (RIvkX)

72 Just airdrop a shitload of guns and rear the citizenry, ffs.

Posted by: Tom at August 23, 2026 12:45 PM (NmmWZ)

73 *rearm

Posted by: Tom at August 23, 2026 12:45 PM (NmmWZ)

74 Meant to include this pull quote:

All we need to do is stay the course, and don't declare a premature victory. That might be the toughest part of this whole effort! And yes, I am referring to President Trump and his deals!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2026 12:46 PM (RIvkX)

75 $3.399 in Kentuckiana, and NOT at Sam's or Costco.

Posted by: Nazdar at August 23, 2026 12:46 PM (NcvvS)

76 So it's a Gas Buddy thread?
Posted by: Just got here at August 23, 2026 12:44 PM (2Ez/1)
======

Right here, boss.

Posted by: Prometheus at August 23, 2026 12:46 PM (RIvkX)

77 Tom, please explain the logistics of how that would be done.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 23, 2026 12:46 PM (FHoaH)

78 I saw the"Persians" in school statside. Useless preppie assholes all the way down. "Support the just struggle of the Palestinian people," they chanted between parties with white chicks and complaints about SAVAK.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at August 23, 2026 12:48 PM (wxsGM)

79 Strikes me as very telling that in the 47 years of its hostility to the USA no one ever mounted economic pressure on the Iranians like Bessent is doing. Republicans and Democrats both played patty-cake with mullahs while they killed our troops. The elite must have been making bank

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 12:42 PM (rp63B)

Good point. It's as if somebody is finally taking it seriously.

As for the graft? I hope you are wrong but I fear you are correct.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 23, 2026 12:49 PM (k5CNB)

80 The Iranian people want their Shah back they have made this clear. I suspect the only reason Trump has not embraced him and adopted the strategy suggested by AOP is the need to maintain the pretense that regime change is not a war aim.

Posted by: Prometheus at August 23, 2026 12:49 PM (RIvkX)

81 Romantic that I am Iran under siege gives a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Only ever read about the famous sieges long before my life time.
Even though there are no castle walls or motes or the catapulting of dead cows. The blockade by sea and rail bridges by land are penalty Iran just deserves.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:49 PM (79aIp)

82 /movie star sock off

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2026 12:49 PM (RIvkX)

83 Just airdrop a shitload of guns and rear the citizenry, ffs.

You'd have to do it in a way and at a place where the people who already have guns can't get to them first. It's not obvious to me that we can do that. The Kurdish back door seemed like a decent idea except that it depended on the Kurds which turned out to be a mistake.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:49 PM (vTZFs)

84
Best of Breed for The Big Dummy over a huge entry at today's St. Croix Valley KC show in Minnesota.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 23, 2026 12:50 PM (7QvQn)

85 Republicans and Democrats both played patty-cake with mullahs while they killed our troops. The elite must have been making bank
-
Presumably, they'll be eager to get back to that once he leaves office, or sooner if November goes sufficiently badly.

Posted by: Methos, inauthentic X-bot account at August 23, 2026 12:50 PM (vSvIl)

86 This thread goes well with my morning tea.
If only there were sugar cubes.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:50 PM (79aIp)

87 Filled up yesterday. No idea what the price per gallon was. Don't pay attention, don't care. It's gas. It goes into the car so I can drive it places. It is what it is.

Posted by: one hour sober at August 23, 2026 12:50 PM (J4Dwc)

88 Blue state commie governors are artificially keeping gas prices high via state and local tax increases to make Trump look bad.

It’s still 5.50 here in. Seattle.

Cheap gas would tamp the flames of hatred. Can’t have any of that.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 23, 2026 12:51 PM (U5n2r)

89 H7, congrats to TBD and Her Majesty. Are you still herding ankle biters today?

Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:52 PM (vTZFs)

90 St. Croix is a long way from Minnesota.

Posted by: Guy with a map at August 23, 2026 12:53 PM (2Ez/1)

91
$3.39 yesterday. I was told that oil was going to $200/bbl forever, but it's been in $80 plus or minus $5 for a long time.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 23, 2026 12:53 PM (7QvQn)

92 Ankle biters are best biters!

Posted by: Chihuahuas of The World at August 23, 2026 12:54 PM (0sNs1)

93 Well said CBD.
The process needs to be understood by every American but sadly out media will do everything it can to subvert the message.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 23, 2026 12:54 PM (2WIwB)

94 88 Blue state commie governors are artificially keeping gas prices high via state and local tax increases to make Trump look bad.

It’s still 5.50 here in. Seattle.

Cheap gas would tamp the flames of hatred. Can’t have any of that.
Posted by: nurse ratched at August 23, 2026 12:51 PM (U5n2r)

Yup, I'm in CA. Last time I checked we had $ 1.24 in taxes here...

Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:54 PM (+gK6I)

95
Are you still herding ankle biters today?
Posted by: Oddbob at August 23, 2026 12:52 PM (vTZFs)

_________

Yes. They may have tiny heads but most are smarter than their owners.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 23, 2026 12:55 PM (7QvQn)

96 Try the Baluch, Iran's real back door. If they cheat us as the Kurds did they will use the arms against the Chinese and Pakis. Could be considered a win either way.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:56 PM (79aIp)

97 Getting easily twice the miles per gallon now, but having to drive all over se PA daily is costing.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 12:56 PM (Ia/+0)

98 If only there were sugar cubes.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:50 PM

Things I once said for $400, Alex.

Posted by: zombie Albert Sabin at August 23, 2026 12:57 PM (0sNs1)

99 >>>media will do everything it can to subvert the message.

Posted by: Diogenes
---

They take the best of news and pervert into a negative.

Put them in jail.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:57 PM (79aIp)

100 Early on when the conflict started you could go to lefty forums and they were eager for a ground conflict and a draft pledging they would Nixon Trump...

Posted by: Stan at August 23, 2026 12:57 PM (sKqQm)

101 Things I once said for $400, Alex.

Posted by: zombie Albert Sabin at August 23, 2026 12:57 PM (0sNs1)

I'm old enough to remember that

Posted by: It's me donna at August 23, 2026 12:58 PM (+gK6I)

102 Yes. They may have tiny heads but most are smarter than their owners.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 23, 2026 12:55 PM

Then there's us.

Posted by: Irish Setters at August 23, 2026 12:58 PM (0sNs1)

103 The Marxists who want to destroy combustible engines will still beat the drum gas costs to much, yet fits into their game plan.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 12:58 PM (Ia/+0)

104 I didn’t realize how cheap gas is in the Southeast. But then again humidity. I’ll take an extra $1 gas thank you very much. 😆

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 12:58 PM (bXsD6)

105 ***Iran appears to be losing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz
---

Trump has declared it an American territory.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:59 PM (79aIp)

106 I've asked this before but if the issue is Iranian drone attacks on ships in the Gulf, why not use a convoy strategy with American Aegis ships providing escort with air and American drone resources available from Saudi bases and carriers further out?

Posted by: Stan at August 23, 2026 12:59 PM (sKqQm)

107 C'mon, folks. We're still waiting for our first mention

Posted by: -... --- --- -... ... at August 23, 2026 01:00 PM (0sNs1)

108 Dou you know how much this deployment is costing us? For that kind of money I am sure that a number of ways can de developed to get arms to people there who will be willing to use the.

Are you willing to accept a failure of imagination? You are selling out armed services short if you are. I am sure there are a least a dozen plans on the desks of our top brass.

If there wasn't they aren't doing their jobs.

And who's to say that decision has already been made and preparations are underway, right now.

Posted by: pawn at August 23, 2026 01:00 PM (hQCfI)

109 I thought Mark Levin was like 75 years old. He's only 68. He's been yelling on the radio far too long.

Posted by: Face For Radio, Voice For Print at August 23, 2026 01:01 PM (JM9I6)

110 What other body of water is or ever has been a US territory?

Posted by: I gotta ask at August 23, 2026 01:01 PM (2Ez/1)

111 Try the Baluch, Iran's real back door. If they cheat us as the Kurds did they will use the arms against the Chinese and Pakis. Could be considered a win either way.

This came up with Iran was killing American soldiers during the Iraq war. Shrub's people considered arming the Baluchs but the FNM then declared that would be funding terrorism.

Of course there was a recent Baluchi terror attack in the west so maybe they were not completely wrong...

Posted by: Stan at August 23, 2026 01:02 PM (sKqQm)

112 What other body of water is or ever has been a US territory?
Posted by: I gotta ask at August 23, 2026 01:01 PM

The Pacific durint World War Eleven?

Posted by: zombie Adm. Nimitz at August 23, 2026 01:02 PM (0sNs1)

113 I love the CBC...for the stupidity.

Trump is inconsistent, arbitrary, unpredictable.

It's just so much easier if the people you're at war with stand up straight in a line so you can cleanly kill them.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 23, 2026 01:03 PM (Sco7b)

114 104 I didn’t realize how cheap gas is in the Southeast. But then again humidity. I’ll take an extra $1 gas thank you very much. 😆
Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez

That's the last straw, Sandy. No more grits and hog jowls for you!

Posted by: Gentleman of the South at August 23, 2026 01:03 PM (JM9I6)

115 What other body of water is or ever has been a US territory?
Posted by: I gotta ask at August 23, 2026 01:01 PM (2Ez/1)

Gulf of America?

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 01:03 PM (bXsD6)

116
Gulf of America

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 01:03 PM (79aIp)

117 Panama Canal Zone.

Posted by: Teddy Brewster at August 23, 2026 01:04 PM (JM9I6)

118 >>Yes. They may have tiny heads but most are smarter than their owners.

So glad I'm no longer part of the dog show world, although my current CH bitch will be going to the national specialty in Erie, PA in October.

She's going with her breeder who talked me into it as a tribute to my wife. As such, I'm on the hook for half of the entry and handler fees. That will be it. No more. She's going to be retired, even if her breeder squawks about it.

Posted by: one hour sober at August 23, 2026 01:05 PM (J4Dwc)

119 Lake Titicaca should be US Territory just for the joke potential.

Posted by: Simple Tastes at August 23, 2026 01:06 PM (JM9I6)

120
C'mon, folks. We're still waiting for our first mention
Posted by: -... --- --- -... ...

Boobs on the ground?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 23, 2026 01:06 PM (Cqx++)

121 >>>there was a recent Baluchi terror attack in the west
---

Couldn't find info. - understandable - Where?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 01:07 PM (79aIp)

122 Looking at this war from the left's perspective is kind of amusing.

During the Iraq war one counter argument the left made is that sure Hussein was a mass murderer but that was like 10 years ago so it didn't count. Trump of course started moving against Iran when they started murdering protestors.

But see that doesn't count either because they were terrorists or the number is inflated or Trump is Hitler.

Then they argued that Trump was going to start a draft and send 200K American soldiers to the box and when that didn't happen they argued Trump was obligated to do it because otherwise we were making Europe and China pay more for oil.

And at the same time they argue we need to *end* the use of oil and that Europe and China are all in on renewables so it doesn't matter.

Posted by: Stan at August 23, 2026 01:07 PM (sKqQm)

123 115 What other body of water is or ever has been a US territory?
Posted by: I gotta ask at August 23, 2026 01:01 PM (2Ez/1)

2026 Winter Olympics Gold medal rinks....

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 23, 2026 01:08 PM (Sco7b)

124 Why is the price of diesel so much higher relative to gasoline at this point? It was always a little more but now it's a LOT more.

Posted by: Just wondering at August 23, 2026 01:08 PM (TbWk/)

125 The left is gonna be the left. If Trump cures cancer they’ll be upset and then next day NYT will an oped asking Is Cancer Really So Bad?

But that doesn’t automatically make Trump right about the course of action he’s taken so far.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at August 23, 2026 01:10 PM (bXsD6)

126 Ok, bear with me because I was probably sick the day they covered this in Civics class.

The first step for a territory to become a state would be for the territory’s residents to show support through a vote or constitutional convention.

If the territory is a body of water with no residents, how does that work exactly?

Posted by: I gotta ask at August 23, 2026 01:10 PM (2Ez/1)

127
And at the same time they argue we need to *end* the use of oil and that Europe and China are all in on renewables so it doesn't matter.
Posted by: Stan

We won't need oil at all when they start manufacturing that new Chinese super battery.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 23, 2026 01:10 PM (Cqx++)

128 There are roughly 10 million Kurds in Iran. That is a sizeable fighting force, that has plenty of incentive to pick up arms and fight their oppressors.

The majority of the Kurds are in NW Iran, near the borders of Iraq and Turkey. Neither of those countries would support arming the Kurds.

OTOH, Armenia does share a border with Iran. They are (theoretically) a Christian democracy. Could the U.S. run arms into Iran over that border and deliver them to the groups that oppose the IRGC?

That region also contains a lot of Azerbaijanis. They are Muslim, but may also hate the Iranians?

An armed raiding base in NW Iran might be one more thorn in the side of the Iranian regime.

With U.S. air cover (maybe only Reaper drones) could that base become more deadly than a thorn?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:11 PM (HlyYF)

129 Just wondering -

Maybe Trump is trying to rebuild the SPR? Dunno. I'm speculating like a day trader here.

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 23, 2026 01:11 PM (aJQbY)

130 Boobs on the ground?

Right here, big boy.

Posted by: Nan P. at August 23, 2026 01:12 PM (vTZFs)

131 Why is the price of diesel so much higher relative to gasoline at this point? It was always a little more but now it's a LOT more.
Posted by: Just wondering at August 23, 2026 01:08 PM (TbWk/)

I remember when it cost a lot less than gasoline. It was cheaper to refine it, and you could get more diesel from a barrel of crude than you could get gasoline. But modern refineries can be tuned to put out almost any mix of product you could want, and fuel pricing is based more upon energy content, and less upon cost of production. I think also the legally-mandated "low sulfur" diesel is more expensive to make than the good old stuff was.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 01:13 PM (1z8ji)

132 105 ***Iran appears to be losing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz
---

Trump has declared it an American territory.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 12:59 PM

Time to rename it then!

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:14 PM (HlyYF)

133 That region also contains a lot of Azerbaijanis. They are Muslim, but may also hate the Iranians?

An armed raiding base in NW Iran might be one more thorn in the side of the Iranian regime.

With U.S. air cover (maybe only Reaper drones) could that base become more deadly than a thorn?
Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:11 PM (HlyYF)

A lot of the GD mullahs are Azerbaijanis.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 01:15 PM (1z8ji)

134 A lot of the GD mullahs are Azerbaijanis.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 01:15 PM

What does the "GD" mean in that context?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:17 PM (HlyYF)

135 It's not us.

Posted by: General Dynamics at August 23, 2026 01:18 PM (2Ez/1)

136 Over at GP there's a report that Hillary is planning Bubba's funeral.
1. Bury the horndog
2) Collect insurance.
3) use grieving widow narrative to announce for presidency in 28
4) drink heavily

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 01:18 PM (rp63B)

137 Nor us.

Posted by: General Atomics at August 23, 2026 01:19 PM (2Ez/1)

138 Diesel is more expensive than gasoline because William Jefferson Fucking Clinton jacked up the federal tax on it.
Diesel is less expensive to refine and has more btu's per gallon.
Only the genius of congress and the regulators could fuck us so well.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 01:20 PM (79aIp)

139 134 A lot of the GD mullahs are Azerbaijanis.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 01:15 PM

What does the "GD" mean in that context?
Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:17 PM (HlyYF)

Ain't me.

Posted by: George Dickel at August 23, 2026 01:20 PM (TbWk/)

140 Nope.

Posted by: General Electric at August 23, 2026 01:20 PM (2Ez/1)

141 136 Over at GP there's a report that Hillary is planning Bubba's funeral.
1. Bury the horndog
2) Collect insurance.
3) use grieving widow narrative to announce for presidency in 28
4) drink heavily

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 01:18 PM

There is a chance that Slick Willy is still smart enough to understand the value of a pre-emptive strike.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:20 PM (HlyYF)

142 Nada.

Posted by: General Motors at August 23, 2026 01:20 PM (2Ez/1)

143 134 A lot of the GD mullahs are Azerbaijanis.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 23, 2026 01:15 PM

What does the "GD" mean in that context?
Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:17 PM (HlyYF)

Not me, señor.

Posted by: Guacamole Dip at August 23, 2026 01:21 PM (TbWk/)

144 Diesel is 5.75$. Gas is 3.75. E0 is 4.55$. I expect Iran to wait until the midterms are over to make their next move. If shipping really picks up, they will have to move sooner.

Posted by: Accomack at August 23, 2026 01:21 PM (8jVAy)

145 What does the "GD" mean in that context?
Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:17 PM (HlyYF)

====

Gosh darn, of course.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 23, 2026 01:21 PM (RIvkX)

146 Mgrid wrecks this site on my iPhone but is a distant memory on the iPad.

Posted by: Accomack at August 23, 2026 01:22 PM (8jVAy)

147 Why is the price of diesel so much higher relative to gasoline at this point? It was always a little more but now it's a LOT more.

Posted by: Just wondering
---

Lack of refining capacity due to the red-green alliance to starve the country of energy.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 23, 2026 01:22 PM (xvV+O)

148 $3.45 here.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 23, 2026 01:23 PM (36x1j)

149 136 Over at GP there's a report that Hillary is planning Bubba's funeral.
--

Billy Jeff has evidence of Hillary's many murders of political enemies.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 23, 2026 01:24 PM (xvV+O)

150 Pillage Idiot

One look at Cuba and I may have to update my power strategy. Most of the people that could change who is in charge in Cuba already left, like most of the fierce protesters against the IRCG are dead. Cuba has been without power for over a year, with brief exceptions.

If leaders get theirs, and do not care about others, they can last a long time.

Maybe send the IRGC and North Korea porn. Weaken or defocus the security forces. Would that work?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:24 PM (u82oZ)

151 At some point in the 90s, several million people died in North Korea, because of the famine due to the economic collapse.
Still, the North Korean government kept its resolve (the people who died were mostly those considered insufficiently loyal to the regime) and eventually acquired nuclear weapons, starting in 2006.
If anything, the Iranian government is more fanatical than the North Korean government. Sanctions and embargoes will probably prove insufficient.

Posted by: PG at August 23, 2026 01:25 PM (/Exkx)

152 OTOH, Armenia does share a border with Iran. They are (theoretically) a Christian democracy. Could the U.S. run arms into Iran over that border and deliver them to the groups that oppose the IRGC?

That region also contains a lot of Azerbaijanis. They are Muslim, but may also hate the Iranians?
....
Posted by: Pillage Idiot
----

Memory fails but I read an article on Italy extending business ties with one of those countries. That would be the country and Meloni could facilitate it getting back in Trump's grace.
The other country hates our guts and the West in general.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 01:25 PM (79aIp)

153 Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious

I will reserve a big Glad Bag for Hillary's funeral.

What good has she done that you can eulogize?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:26 PM (u82oZ)

154 Salty, wouldn't it be hilariously ironic if Putin's war ends up draining too many of the Nork army and they collapse?

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 23, 2026 01:26 PM (aJQbY)

155 136 Over at GP there's a report that Hillary is planning Bubba's funeral.
1. Bury the horndog
2) Collect insurance.
3) use grieving widow narrative to announce for presidency in 28
4) drink heavily

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 01:18 PM (rp63B)

I wonder if Hillary will be able to pull the plug should it come to that.

It's probably just me but I want Bill's funeral to be a celebration of life complete with strippers and lap dances in the coffin. Just to be sure.

Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 23, 2026 01:27 PM (Sco7b)

156 Maybe send the IRGC and North Korea porn. Weaken or defocus the security forces. Would that work?

Posted by: NaCly Dog
---

It's working here.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 01:27 PM (79aIp)

157 Maybe send the IRGC and North Korea porn. Weaken or defocus the security forces. Would that work?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:24 PM

Might work!

I believe that is the current plan by the cultural Marxists for elementary school children in the U.S.

It appears THAT plan is working and weakening the U.S.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:28 PM (HlyYF)

158 It's probably just me but I want Bill's funeral to be a celebration of life complete with strippers and lap dances in the coffin

Might be a chore to close that lid.

Posted by: 88C+u at August 23, 2026 01:30 PM (88C+u)

159 RandomDave

Actually, I predicted this a year ago.

Taking the most loyal Army troops out of North Korea, expose then to a country with a much higher standard of living, and the troops become unreliable.
Yes, even war torn Russia is doing better than North Korea.

This happened to the Russian Armies in Germany 1945, Czechoslovakia 1968 (Victor Suvorov The Liberators), and also in Vietnam 1972.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:31 PM (u82oZ)

160 response to Iran's 47 year war against the West

Yeah, I know that this is Narrative Shaping—conjuring up a ersatz reason for the decapitation strike earlier this year to shift attention away from the aggressors in that battle within this war.

That said, whatever the hell is happening to Iran seems to be working as a boxing clutch while the Gulf nations can bring on-line their routes away from the SoH.

Oher than the stupid You Broke It You Bought It nonsense, the US should not have any interest in the SoH, the nations that depend on it should be investing their treasure into it. I'm tired of supporting half the world as they scheme together to bite the hand that literally feeds them.

Iran is worrying about someone elses mess while our own country is burning down to ashes because of foreigners and the communists that support them.

And why the Hell are the Roman Catholics siding with Muslims to sue the Trump Admin forcing the State Dep to hand visas to Islamic terrorists like door prizes?

Posted by: Community Notes at August 23, 2026 01:33 PM (a4flb)

161 "Iran appears to be losing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz while traffic through the critical waterway has exploded by nearly 400% over the last two weeks — as ships increasingly use a US-backed corridor to cross.

Nearly 200 ships navigated the strait last week, up from 150 the previous week and just 40 two weeks earlier, according to data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center.

The surge brings total traffic along the passage route to about 20% of pre-war levels, through which roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil flowed in peacetime."

The good news - so far - is there are few if any shortages around the world of products refined from crude oil.* Gasoline, diesel, aviation fuels, chemicals, and so on. As long as there are no economy-destroying shortages, and in the US especially, no gas lines, the US and our allies in the Mid East are definitely not losing the war. And the IRGC is not winning. Time is on our side. Trump does not have forever to win, though. The wild card is how long the IRGC will have the whip hand inside Iran.

*Russia and Iran, excepted.

Posted by: Gref at August 23, 2026 01:33 PM (5rh/l)

162 Send the IRGC movies of really sexy goats

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 01:34 PM (rp63B)

163 Gref

America is not a patient people, and the media is an enemy organization, full of unknowing barbarians.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:36 PM (u82oZ)

164 I don't worry about PDT giving up, or settling prematurely, or ... ?

He's old enough to be capable of long-term thinking, and is known for it in other areas of deal-making.
I think he is playing the long game with iran; hit 'em hard, let up for a bit over a "deal" that they will break almost immediately, hit 'em again; lather-rinse-repeat, and over time they are getting weaker and weaker.
continue until capitulation occurs.
Oh, and keep ignoring the weekly propaganda scandal (like the Lincoln) dragged out by iran's allies (media and the left generally).

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at August 23, 2026 01:38 PM (VyBeY)

165 Naphtha seems to be a big deal these days; Japan is concerned about getting enough and there was a recent article on Venezuela sending us heavy crude and us sending them naphtha.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 23, 2026 01:39 PM (79aIp)

166 Gref

Also, the wear and tear on our much smaller Navy is not good in the long run. We have enough now, but limited depth.

I prefer the Air Force to be the ones to knock out a power plant for every attack from Iran. Using our new drone armada. For whatever reason, an Air Force expeditionary force is easier than a US Navy blockade.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:39 PM (u82oZ)

167 I suppose there is a lag time on gas price, some place pays x amount for a delivery, they need to make up that price.
Next delivery is y so then the price changes.

Posted by: Skip at August 23, 2026 01:39 PM (Ia/+0)

168 "All we need to do is stay the course, and don't declare a premature victory. That might be the toughest part of this whole effort! And yes, I am referring to President Trump and his deals!"

DJT is constantly announcing deals because he is focused on the price of Brent Crude. With crude over $120, he loses the House and Senate. By consistently talking peace when the price gets too high and putting pressure on Iran when necessary, he keeps the IRGC on their toes and keeps oil prices stable, yet elevated. I think he's simply buying time until he can finally hit them after Election Day. In the meantime, everything is going fine, and our soldiers aren't dying.

The financial press and MSM, on the other hand, are clearly on the other side. They want America to lose this battle. There is no move by Trump that isn't ridiculed or criticized. They want Iran to win.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 23, 2026 01:40 PM (TgY2S)

169 Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others

We need the naphtha the pump the heavier Venezuelan crude oil.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:40 PM (u82oZ)

170 162 Send the IRGC movies of really sexy goats

Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 23, 2026 01:34 PM

Forget the movies.

We should hire Mossad to wire some goats with explosive devices. The trigger will be located in the place that will make the goats safe to be around innocent children, but deadly to IRGC soldiers that are in the midst of a long deployment.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at August 23, 2026 01:41 PM (HlyYF)

171 Pillage Idiot

There was a similar idea in Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:42 PM (u82oZ)

172 Diesel is north of $7 a gallon here.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 23, 2026 01:42 PM (yEz+x)

173 {{{nurse ratched}}}

The Washington State and Seattle City governments hate normal people and want them to suffer. Oil availability is not the problem.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at August 23, 2026 01:44 PM (u82oZ)

174 Oh, and the point about war-fighting generals is a good one.

I think (hope!) right now we are beginning a phase of breeding up a generation of proper war-fighting generals, a process that will take a decade or generation.

I wonder how many Milleys (or potential Milleys) we are going to have to weed out. Think McMaster, or Powell; combat soldiers who went bad from the institutional culture.

at least we're trying, though ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at August 23, 2026 01:44 PM (VyBeY)

175 Rename Hormuz to “Trump’s Strait Flush.”

Posted by: RI Red - at August 23, 2026 01:45 PM (30Gj0)

176 So it’s never ending reminder to people that prices are high.

You convinced me to ignore absolutely everything else, focus on the price of a gallon of gasoline and vote for the Communist.

Because voting for people who hate you and want you dead in the most tortuous ways is How You Stick It To Trump for paying more at the pump, even though oil is till $80/bbl

Posted by: Community Notes at August 23, 2026 01:46 PM (a4flb)

177 NaCly - the dentata?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at August 23, 2026 01:46 PM (VyBeY)

178 We have to mess with the SoH whether we want or not because oil is a global commodity. No amount of wishing changes that; as such the price is set in the global market and a disruption affecting 20% (Hormuz traffic) affects the global price even if we have enough domestic oil to cover our demand. IOW we can’t walk away

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 23, 2026 01:47 PM (M+uMR)

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The NeoCon Wet-Dream For Iran Is "Boots On The Ground."Hell No! There Is A Better Way!

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The NeoCon Wet-Dream For Iran Is "Boots On The Ground."
Hell No! There Is A Better Way!