At the present rate, the war would add about a half a trillion to the US deficit this year. If it goes on as long as the war in Afghanistan, it will add $10 trillion to the debt.
From former Congressman David Stockman: "...we are dealing with what amounts to a war with 21st century technology of destruction based on religious fanaticism. And we do not mean that of the Shiite clerics who misrule the Iranian people.
The real fanatics are Bibi Netanyahu and the neocon warmongers domiciled in the banks of the Potomac. They have created a “47-Year War on America” narrative which is an utter, complete and unmitigated Big Lie.
This horrific Big Lie has become embodied in the most senseless war by far that the American Warfare State has yet launched.
And it is not only jeopardizing upwards of one-fourth of of globally consumed petroleum and LNG-based hydrocarbons, but the global food supply, too."
Here come the parade of Knowitall elitist academics and do nothing but complain blame and spew horse manure at those of us who either voted Trump or support the effort to rid the world of one of the most repressive evil satanic regimes in world history right up there with YOU KNOW WHO in Nazi Germany, Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse Tung. But here at BPR its all about skewed historical references, half baked ideas and getting click bait with molotov cocktail postings like this. Nonsense. Ignore it. or deplore it and push back like me. TRUE human rights activists should be up in arms about Iran...that REGIME, who yesterday hung a 19year old protestor, a world class wrestler and others, who did nothing but protest the killings of 30,000 BEFORE TRUMP EVEN STARTED BOMBING WITH BIBI. Getting a nuke categorically unacceptable to the world for Iran but they were defiant belligerent and adamant to do so. And ENDING 47 years of TERROR including over 2,000 american deaths, mayhem, meddling, assassination plots against Israel and TRUMP and treating women like chattle and cattle and taking all the money they earned on oil revenues for their MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX and NUKES in Iran and NOT the people to feed clothe and house them or normalize relations and trade, is a worthwhile wager and while War is HELL, it is often necessary for SELF DEFENSE (ample reasons here people) and to END A THREAT AND FIX THE MIDDLE EAST ONCE AND FOR ALL. The Saudis, Jordanians, Kuwaitis and Emirates quietly were SUPPORTING US. True, Iran has been firing off every missile in their arsenal in Armeggedon style, a state of being they DESIRE frankly in their SICK VIEW they go to Heaven, when they wont and DONT, and I am also disgusted at our NATO EURO feckless friends and cowards. I criticize Trump often when he deserves it. HERE IN IRAN HE DESERVES OUR GRATITUDE. LISTEN TO GEN JACK KEANE, retired Four Star, who is a FINE FINE MAN, and OUTSTANDING GENERAL who GETS IT AND IS TAPPED INTO IC and whats going on, BUT NOT BILL BONNER. And the people here who are isolationist, libertarian lunatics elected to NOTHING. Thank God.
and its easy to throw rocks at those in elected office and in the White House. Ever been in front of klieg lights people (I have...dont ask) and its scary as hell and we should be glad we have a leader who is decisive and doing what he thinks best for our nation and the world and Israel. THIS WILL RESOLVE SOON. WEEKS. 2-3 weeks and then oil will come down and good things start to happen and rebuilding Iran into a nation of civilized manners and who actually like AMERICA will start. You watch. BE PATIENT. Trump is imperfect. Anyone here a perfect human being? Thought so.
Imagine what we could do if we got rid of all the grifters, fraudsters and pedos in this country and turned all that money into paying off debt, building homes and businesses and yes a military 2nd to none but staying out of other peoples business while uniting only with countries demonstrating like minded morality and commitment? That would be neither isolationist nor interventionist.
What about the theory that interventionism is suicide? Begin with the war in Vietnam. The Viet Minh fought alongside the OSS against the Japanese. When Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence in September 1945 he quoted the Declaration of Independence and OSS officers were present at the event. Unfortunately, Truman provided assistance to France in their efforts to reclaim their colonies. Now, the what if moment - what if the French were not allowed to return,then no defeat of the French and no American intervention after that. Thus, no excessive spending for the war and no nessecity to take us off the Gold Standard. No requirement for a Petro Dollar and the need to support the dictators in Saudi Arabia. No rampant inflation from printing money. No social unrest from tbe protests against a war which required drafting young poor and working men while the connected like Biden, Bush, Bolton, Cheney, Trump dodged the draft.
Patrick, just wondering, what "successful wars" has "Outstanding Four-Star General Jack Keane" lead this nation. I wonder how many young American lives he went to Dover and saluted.
It appears to me that the Iranian engineers are a pretty smart bunch. If we keep poking, we just might find out if they have a NUKE. I would think if they were going to get wiped off the face of the earth, they just might press the button. "Desperate people do desperate things"
I have to take a breath and think before emoting a response to garbage like that. Your perspective is 180 from me and we wont likely agree on ANY history. Or Presidents good bad indifferent ugly or treasonous. Democracy is messy but best system to date in the world and a REPUBLIC better still....but we know humans are full of folly and foolishness and eventually all governments fail and fall, GIVEAWAYS being a huge part of it and other causes (some of which Bonner points out and I concur on). BUT you google Jack Keane and read up. I am a Fordham alumnus like Gen. Keane (also a Trustee at Fordham) and several people from Fordham made it into the ranks....high ranks of military, FBI and CIA and NSA. One DCI I despise is now teaching at Fordham, which irks me badly. Another was a LEGEND at CIA and WallStreet Lawyer, who died of brain tumor in office. Some others had Watergate ties and in fact my kid was classmates with his grandson. Jack Keane is a fine fine man, superb General who TWICE declined to be named SECDEF and TWICE declined EXEC positions inside WH. He prefers his role now as an advisor on the side, heading up Center for Study of Wars and commenting on FOXNews. I trust his judgment implicitly and he is careful with his words. BUT he is human and not perfect. HE PERSONALLY SAVED GEN. PETRAEUS life.....fact. Jack Keane is a warrior and a soldier (101st Airborne and 10th Mtn Division) and DECORATED.
Before you go off about Vietnam, tread carefully.. I know a LOT about VIetnam and what happened and where and worked with LEGENDS In Vietnam, both DanNang 1965 and FALL OF EMBASSY April 30, 1975 (I was in uniform then too but in Sardinia). DONT GO THERE. So just watch the 10 part series on PBS by Ken Burns, who is LIBERAL, but did a DECENT (not perfect) job of discussing and reporting on VIETNAM and how it ended as it did AT HOME (KGB infiltrated our COLLEGES...its in the Mitrokhin Archives for Gods' SAKE!) WE LOST NO BATTLES IN VIETNAM. NONE. ZIP. ZILCH. WE lost it at home. And I could and have been asked to write a book about that but declined.
I DESPISE THE SCUMOCRATS responsible for what happened in Vietnam, running off Nixon, allowing Congress to pull the plug on funding and Ford being trapped and then the NVA rolled down HIWAY 1 STRAIGHT INTO SAIGON. The end.
SIC SEMPER FIDELES. DUTY HONOR COUNTRY. UNIT CORPS GOD COUNTRY.
"GOT IT?" " YOU BET!" I'll just sit quietly and keep reading your forthcoming diatribes. I don't want to miss out on keeping enlightened on how wonderful things are turning out.
Since you mentioned Vietnam I'd like to know what you believe to be the purpose of that war and if funding hadn't been stopped when would it have ended? Also, do you harbor any ill feelings for the elites that dodged the draft, such as Biden, Bolton, Bush, Cheney, Clinton, and Trump? Finally do you detest the politicians who supported the war in the name of stopping communism but later decided it was financially beneficial to ship our factories to a Communist China? That almost qualifies as treason - drafting poor and working class young men to "Stop Communism" but then sending their jobs to a communist country.
Thanks Pat, for the refreshing perspective. However, knowing this board of bullshit you are wasting your time. They see thinks with blinders, TDS and have convinced themselves taht any other view is bogus.
A good big picture summary. Cleaning up a 50 year problem was never going to be easy. The world is full of TALKERS, but very few doers. Yes this is painful. What have the TALKERS accomplished in the last 50 years? NOTHING!
We clearly see now who our real friends are .....no one!
You treat friends with respect not tariffs ,threatening their territory with military action, derisions and telling them they are on their own…we are surprised at their lack of enthusiasm for the war
Thank you. Classified Information indicates they were well on their way and may in fact have help NOW from Russia and China who are eerily silent.....so we are focusing on their MISSILES so they cant shoot one off...their own or borrowed from Putin or Xi or nutjob in Pyongyang.
Damn. Personal attacks without addressing the issue. Why is Ollie North not rotting in jail for treason if we've been at war with Iran since 1979? Eliot Abrams was also involved and served in the first Trump administration.
NO. WRONG. I SAY LITTLE AND ONLY WHEN NECESSARY AND PROVOKED MOST OFTEN BY BILL BLOVIATOR GENERAL BONNER. I HAVE BEEN READING BONNER (AND AGORA) FOR 30 YEARS SO YOU KNOW. SOMETIMES I AGREE WITH HIM SOMETIMES I DONT AND SOMETIMES HE DESERVES TO BE BLASTED. HE ADMITS TO SAYING STUFF TO IRK PEOPLE BY THE WAY. HE ENJOYS IT.
I am a HUMBLE MAN. COMFY NOT WEALTHY. AND I DONT OWN PROPERTY OVERSEAS OR 4 HOUSES. OR DRIVE A BMW OR PORSCHE. I AM A CHEVY MAN. AND SPEECH INVOLVES TALKING AND ON THE INTERNET POSTING. GOT IT? I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND CONSTITUTION AND SUPPORT IT AND USE IT. Thank you.
I think people who voted for Carter, Clinton, Hillary, Barack Hussein Obama, Biden are the poetic dumbasses. IN SPADES. But Democracy is messy and we must be tolerant of opposing views and allow for the FREEDOM TO BE STUPID.
If you are accurate about the 47 years of terror why are Ollie North and his Iran-Contra buddies not rotting in jail for aiding and abetting the enemy?
Clown car? I asked a serious question. The current talking point is we have been at war with Iran for 47 years yet Ollie North and his co-conspirators provided arms to the enemy.
Please do not rely on ad hominem attacks to support your position. But it doesn't bother me. In fact I prefer the phrase "Get yee behind me, Satan!". Much more poetic ring to it. But the we've always been at war with Iran is very entertaining - reminiscent of 1984. We've always been at war with Eastasia!
I shop at CVS. I wear a STETSON sometimes. And I DONT OWN OR RIDE A HORSE OR PONY OR DONKEY. I DRIVE A CHEVY. I make NO CLAIM TO HEROISM. BUT... for your information Mr. Roberts, I had the HIGH PRIVILEGE of serving some of our nations most respected and highest ranking HEROES in uniform and in the SIS.
The trump administration is all about shock & awe! And our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will pay for it for the rest of their lives. Thank you Bill for your honest analysis!
The collective, feckless incompetence of those in charge the last 60 years is what produced circumstances so dire and made many so desperate as to produce the phenomenon of Donald Trump. This is something nobody seems to want to get. Best always. PM
But it appears you are missing one critical point Mr European. Trump asked NATO for help and their response was "its not our war." So the US is asking for help to guarantee supply of their need for oil / energy, coming from their strait and their economy on the line, German gas costs 7.85 per gallon, and "its not their war"! The US has a meager amount of oil coming thru Hormuz. But the Europeans kinda like it when we spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on their security, fighting their wars, like have you forgotten about the Ukrainian war. Personally I think we need to leave NATO for good and let these socialists (dictators really since they've been voted out of office but won't leave while they jail their competitors and censor and jail their people) fend for themselves. It's pretty obvious when they say they must defeat Russia (so they can steal Russia's resources and constantly tell Zelensky he must stay in the war) that these imbeciles need to pay their own way and see how well their constituents like to wait till 2029 for new elections. That is the case for Merz, Macron and Starmer! New elections in 2029 after they pull about 10% poiltical support from their own people. They aren't leaders, they are corrupt politicians that want power to impose nonsense on their people so they can stay in power and milk their constituents while taking away their freedom.
I suggest you start reading something other than Politico or the NEW York Times. You might wake up to reality.
Shouldn't Trump have consulted with NATO countries before the sneak attack to see if they were willing to help? Actually the Europeans have been our lackeys for years. They stopped buying cheap Russian energy because of an invasion of Ukraine but instead started buyingore expensive LNG from the US despite the fact that the US has invaded or bombed a plethora of countries.
I am not young either and have some issues. BUT I am doing this for posterity, my kids and grands and ALL OTHERS WHO FOLLOW BEHIND ME and my generation and ALL THOSE IN UNIFORM NOW. ONE THING I KNOW IS THE TROOPS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE SAY AND DO AT HOME. I came home from OVERSEAS in the 70s and wore my uniform...and remember the SCOWLS and BEING IN CHURCH AND BEING CRITICIZED. I NEVER FORGOT IT. EVER. I SUPPORT OUR BELOVED TROOPS. I support TRUMP MOST of the time but not all. I TELL HIM (back channels) what I think and why and let it out. SO HE KNOWS. HE DECIDES, I JUST TELL HIM MY PEANUT GALLERY THOUGHTS. I pray for him DAILY.
What did the eternal optimist say when he fell off a 1,000-foot cliff? "I'm not dead yet."
I've been waiting for the primary trends to bring about the collapse for 45 years, so very convinced and self-assured in my propriety, judgment, and rectitude that I missed God only knows how many opportunities and tied myself down with God only knows how many cords and chains in the process. I got out of "investing" (meaning: making others rich) in the Dot-Com run-up. I have actually "nothing" to lose in the Crash, because I have "nothing" now, and I should be rooting like Hell for it (The Crash), but I have learned, none of it is up to me. It would seem we're in a pickle, but what, when, and how it plays out will make a male donkey out of many. At 73, I'm through worrying about it. I came into this world with nothing, and I'll be going out the same way. In between it's been a helluva ride. Best always. PM
I love Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and TRUST IN GOD. I HATE WAR. BUT its been with us from Cain and Able and wont be going away anytime soon. I am like you in my 70s. I am not self righteous or always right. I do my best, left hand on Bible and RIGHT HAND UP. And have taken an OATH to defend my country 5 times and I KEEP ALL MY OATHS. TO GOD. SPOUSE. COUNTRY. CORPS. UNIT AND OTHERS IN PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES SOME OF WHICH I CANT DISCUSS including a BLOOD OATH TO MY FRIEND MENTOR AND BOSS AND LATER CLIENT who is now deceased who was a 40+ year LEGEND at CIA (SIS).
I have begun to really question your judgment about the economic and world perspective we (the US) finds ourselves in as the Iran war continues and we add more debt each day. Your continual reference of left wing biased media such as CNN and CNBC to support your assertions is ridiculous and at a minimum causes your readers to highly question your daily missives. If it wasn't for the invaluable financial advice of Tom Dyson I would have canceled long ago.
But blinded Trumpsters like yourself aren't obligated to provide a scintilla of actual facts or logical argument: just call out names and assertions that defy the realities taking place.
Bill, Your assertion that illegal immigrants have a lower crime rate than Americans is very misleading, if not outright propaganda. You know full well that there are two Americas: Third World America, comprised of about four dozen or so U.S. third-world cities (one of them the city of Baltimore); and, First World America, comprised of the suburbs and rural/small towns. Yes, the illegals are probably less violent and steal less than those in Third World America, which is as violent as any place on earth, and almost totally run by Democrats you seem to have championed for the last few years. But that is not remotely the case for First World America.
You sound like these hypocritical women in the safe, cocooned suburbs who “virtue signal” about how they love all the little black and brown people, as well as the illegal aliens, in the third-world cities---as long as they keep their distance, of course. I wish Pres. Trump would propose putting public housing in their suburban neighborhoods (or near your luxurious farm in rural Maryland) and see how they (and you) respond.
Also, I notice your properties in Ireland and France are located far away from the large Muslim populations you seem to virtue signal about. And Muslims in Argentina make up only one to two percent, and live almost exclusively in Buenos Aires. Virtually none near the Argentinian lands you own.
Bill you wage your literary war on Trump and his spending. You fault his use of weapons on two fronts i.e
their costs and the damage they do to the world's economies. Moreover, you include Israel as a player in this same debacle. Do you ever perceive that this war against terrorism might just be a good thing for the world's economies? Have you ever considered the extent to which an economic synergy between and among the East, Middle East and Far East countries would contribute to the world's economies? Just maybe Trump's war on Iran and their their terrorists proxies is an economic policy disguised as a war?
Supposedly, we have the greatest intelligence in the world, satellites circling the globe. Yet, we made the stupid decision to bomb Iran.
A physicist who worked for the defense department said the Golden Dome does not work, if everything is perfectly operational it is effective 30%; four-million-dollar rockets trying to intercept one 100k rocket. In the first two days Iran hit every US base in the Middle East. They knocked out 3 of 5-billion-dollar radar installations. The system is blind.
Murban oil went from $63. To $144. A barrel. Now Israel escalated bombing Iran gas fields. The Iranians went for oil and gas infrastructure in various countries. Funny Iran was still exporting 2 million barrels a day. Trump eliminated sanctions on Russia; they are making $80. More a barrel. Oil, gas and fertilizer could be offline for 5 years.
Lord knows the damage Israel is receiving. If their refinery and desalination plants are put out of commission, life comes to a standstill in a week. If no oil exits or food enters the Gulf States and desalination plants are destroyed a million people will need a new place to live.
The stock market is tanking; job creation is negative and Humpty Dumpty seems to be in pieces, and you know… all the king's men and horses cannot put him back together again.
The US is a technological military wonder money machine that cannot fight or win a war, and we paid 100’s of trillions for it, money that could have transformed the world.
America will never be great again. That would take sane, reasonable, intelligent people. They are dead and we spit in their legacy.
Agreed! Perhaps if Hope and Change Obama had prosecuted the Banksters behind the financial crisis and let them go bankrupt if necessary Trump never would have even run. Plus, he installed a cabinet picked by Citi Bank and dropped more bombs than Bush. He set the table for Trump.
This is a pretty damning editorial on America and Trump. While some statements are accurate, it is devoid of context and filled with the vitriol we have come to expect of American news media. Such language further polarizes us and does nothing to effect change.
Discussion is healthy and NEEDED. I try to respect opposing views but there are limits and personal ad hominem attacks or attacks on INTEGRITY or Gen. Keanes record get my hairs up on my neck.
Totally agree with you. Discussion is what there is too little of, especially in Congress, but also mainly in the media. Personal attacks just further the rampant polarization in our Country.
I wonder why so many of these comments assume that if Iran had a nuke, it would immediately use it on the USA. Yes, I get it, that Iran has a 47-year history of being messed about by the USA (and UK), so there is motive, and a reason for the USA to fear retribution.
However, the USSR had more motive, nukes and opportunity, and was also run by nutcases, but didn't shoot. (MAD).
India and Pakistan both have nukes, motives against each other, but don't shoot (mini-MAD).
North Korea has nukes, and ICBM missiles, and a great deal of motive. But it's not under active attack. (I wonder if those nukes deter active attack? Hmm).
Israel has nukes, and F-35's to deliver them regionally, and so need not fear invasion.
Maybe, just maybe, Iran wants nukes for defense, not attack? Another mini-MAD, directed not against the USA, but the nutcases in Israel?
Maybe the Iranian leaders are just as fearful as the Americans always are?
Anyhow, BB's article was actually about the perilous financial state of the USA and USD, with the latest war just a further example of wasting treasure, so I think I've been led off-subject. Sorry about that.
Oh, and to answer another off-subject comment - no, the USA no longer has any friends.
The USA doesn't need them. That's been made clear, so why complain about it?
Mutually Assured Destruction is a godsend to the Iranian radical islamists, they will be quickly in heaven to meet the virgins. Not so for the other nuclear armed countries.
Strange how the Pakistani Islamists haven't followed your beliefs; nor have the Indian Hindus, who I dimly understand, can expect re-incarnation.
They each seem to be intelligent, led intelligently, and to rely more on common sense, to deter a perceived threat, and remain on the present plane of existence.
Of course, they might not have your knowledge, or leadership by a very stable genius, who is rapidly spending the USA's treasure, and what remains of its international standing.
Right on Bill! Heard today the Administration is thinking of lifting the oil embargo on Iran’s oil, to help ease prices here at home?! Wow, there ya go! WTF! I’ll bet you a Trillion, 50 Trillion by the end of Trump’s term? That will get the next goofball in office all emboldened to really get going on the borrowing.
From former Congressman David Stockman: "...we are dealing with what amounts to a war with 21st century technology of destruction based on religious fanaticism. And we do not mean that of the Shiite clerics who misrule the Iranian people.
The real fanatics are Bibi Netanyahu and the neocon warmongers domiciled in the banks of the Potomac. They have created a “47-Year War on America” narrative which is an utter, complete and unmitigated Big Lie.
This horrific Big Lie has become embodied in the most senseless war by far that the American Warfare State has yet launched.
And it is not only jeopardizing upwards of one-fourth of of globally consumed petroleum and LNG-based hydrocarbons, but the global food supply, too."
Here come the parade of Knowitall elitist academics and do nothing but complain blame and spew horse manure at those of us who either voted Trump or support the effort to rid the world of one of the most repressive evil satanic regimes in world history right up there with YOU KNOW WHO in Nazi Germany, Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse Tung. But here at BPR its all about skewed historical references, half baked ideas and getting click bait with molotov cocktail postings like this. Nonsense. Ignore it. or deplore it and push back like me. TRUE human rights activists should be up in arms about Iran...that REGIME, who yesterday hung a 19year old protestor, a world class wrestler and others, who did nothing but protest the killings of 30,000 BEFORE TRUMP EVEN STARTED BOMBING WITH BIBI. Getting a nuke categorically unacceptable to the world for Iran but they were defiant belligerent and adamant to do so. And ENDING 47 years of TERROR including over 2,000 american deaths, mayhem, meddling, assassination plots against Israel and TRUMP and treating women like chattle and cattle and taking all the money they earned on oil revenues for their MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX and NUKES in Iran and NOT the people to feed clothe and house them or normalize relations and trade, is a worthwhile wager and while War is HELL, it is often necessary for SELF DEFENSE (ample reasons here people) and to END A THREAT AND FIX THE MIDDLE EAST ONCE AND FOR ALL. The Saudis, Jordanians, Kuwaitis and Emirates quietly were SUPPORTING US. True, Iran has been firing off every missile in their arsenal in Armeggedon style, a state of being they DESIRE frankly in their SICK VIEW they go to Heaven, when they wont and DONT, and I am also disgusted at our NATO EURO feckless friends and cowards. I criticize Trump often when he deserves it. HERE IN IRAN HE DESERVES OUR GRATITUDE. LISTEN TO GEN JACK KEANE, retired Four Star, who is a FINE FINE MAN, and OUTSTANDING GENERAL who GETS IT AND IS TAPPED INTO IC and whats going on, BUT NOT BILL BONNER. And the people here who are isolationist, libertarian lunatics elected to NOTHING. Thank God.
and its easy to throw rocks at those in elected office and in the White House. Ever been in front of klieg lights people (I have...dont ask) and its scary as hell and we should be glad we have a leader who is decisive and doing what he thinks best for our nation and the world and Israel. THIS WILL RESOLVE SOON. WEEKS. 2-3 weeks and then oil will come down and good things start to happen and rebuilding Iran into a nation of civilized manners and who actually like AMERICA will start. You watch. BE PATIENT. Trump is imperfect. Anyone here a perfect human being? Thought so.
Will we rebuild Iran just like we have rebuilt Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya? Maybe we should focus on rebuilding the US?
Imagine what we could do if we got rid of all the grifters, fraudsters and pedos in this country and turned all that money into paying off debt, building homes and businesses and yes a military 2nd to none but staying out of other peoples business while uniting only with countries demonstrating like minded morality and commitment? That would be neither isolationist nor interventionist.
We can walk and chew gum at same time and ISOLATIONISM IS SUICIDE. TRUST ME.
What about the theory that interventionism is suicide? Begin with the war in Vietnam. The Viet Minh fought alongside the OSS against the Japanese. When Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence in September 1945 he quoted the Declaration of Independence and OSS officers were present at the event. Unfortunately, Truman provided assistance to France in their efforts to reclaim their colonies. Now, the what if moment - what if the French were not allowed to return,then no defeat of the French and no American intervention after that. Thus, no excessive spending for the war and no nessecity to take us off the Gold Standard. No requirement for a Petro Dollar and the need to support the dictators in Saudi Arabia. No rampant inflation from printing money. No social unrest from tbe protests against a war which required drafting young poor and working men while the connected like Biden, Bush, Bolton, Cheney, Trump dodged the draft.
You know you better be careful. You were making way too much sense for this thread.
Thanks for the warning! But I do enjoy a good natured discussion about politics and current events.
Patrick, just wondering, what "successful wars" has "Outstanding Four-Star General Jack Keane" lead this nation. I wonder how many young American lives he went to Dover and saluted.
It appears to me that the Iranian engineers are a pretty smart bunch. If we keep poking, we just might find out if they have a NUKE. I would think if they were going to get wiped off the face of the earth, they just might press the button. "Desperate people do desperate things"
I have to take a breath and think before emoting a response to garbage like that. Your perspective is 180 from me and we wont likely agree on ANY history. Or Presidents good bad indifferent ugly or treasonous. Democracy is messy but best system to date in the world and a REPUBLIC better still....but we know humans are full of folly and foolishness and eventually all governments fail and fall, GIVEAWAYS being a huge part of it and other causes (some of which Bonner points out and I concur on). BUT you google Jack Keane and read up. I am a Fordham alumnus like Gen. Keane (also a Trustee at Fordham) and several people from Fordham made it into the ranks....high ranks of military, FBI and CIA and NSA. One DCI I despise is now teaching at Fordham, which irks me badly. Another was a LEGEND at CIA and WallStreet Lawyer, who died of brain tumor in office. Some others had Watergate ties and in fact my kid was classmates with his grandson. Jack Keane is a fine fine man, superb General who TWICE declined to be named SECDEF and TWICE declined EXEC positions inside WH. He prefers his role now as an advisor on the side, heading up Center for Study of Wars and commenting on FOXNews. I trust his judgment implicitly and he is careful with his words. BUT he is human and not perfect. HE PERSONALLY SAVED GEN. PETRAEUS life.....fact. Jack Keane is a warrior and a soldier (101st Airborne and 10th Mtn Division) and DECORATED.
Before you go off about Vietnam, tread carefully.. I know a LOT about VIetnam and what happened and where and worked with LEGENDS In Vietnam, both DanNang 1965 and FALL OF EMBASSY April 30, 1975 (I was in uniform then too but in Sardinia). DONT GO THERE. So just watch the 10 part series on PBS by Ken Burns, who is LIBERAL, but did a DECENT (not perfect) job of discussing and reporting on VIETNAM and how it ended as it did AT HOME (KGB infiltrated our COLLEGES...its in the Mitrokhin Archives for Gods' SAKE!) WE LOST NO BATTLES IN VIETNAM. NONE. ZIP. ZILCH. WE lost it at home. And I could and have been asked to write a book about that but declined.
I DESPISE THE SCUMOCRATS responsible for what happened in Vietnam, running off Nixon, allowing Congress to pull the plug on funding and Ford being trapped and then the NVA rolled down HIWAY 1 STRAIGHT INTO SAIGON. The end.
SIC SEMPER FIDELES. DUTY HONOR COUNTRY. UNIT CORPS GOD COUNTRY.
GOT IT?
"GOT IT?" " YOU BET!" I'll just sit quietly and keep reading your forthcoming diatribes. I don't want to miss out on keeping enlightened on how wonderful things are turning out.
😂😂😂😂😂
Since you mentioned Vietnam I'd like to know what you believe to be the purpose of that war and if funding hadn't been stopped when would it have ended? Also, do you harbor any ill feelings for the elites that dodged the draft, such as Biden, Bolton, Bush, Cheney, Clinton, and Trump? Finally do you detest the politicians who supported the war in the name of stopping communism but later decided it was financially beneficial to ship our factories to a Communist China? That almost qualifies as treason - drafting poor and working class young men to "Stop Communism" but then sending their jobs to a communist country.
Thanks Pat, for the refreshing perspective. However, knowing this board of bullshit you are wasting your time. They see thinks with blinders, TDS and have convinced themselves taht any other view is bogus.
Best of luck.
A good big picture summary. Cleaning up a 50 year problem was never going to be easy. The world is full of TALKERS, but very few doers. Yes this is painful. What have the TALKERS accomplished in the last 50 years? NOTHING!
We clearly see now who our real friends are .....no one!
You treat friends with respect not tariffs ,threatening their territory with military action, derisions and telling them they are on their own…we are surprised at their lack of enthusiasm for the war
You are so correct. People like Bill and the rest of his groupies would complain right up till Iran had the bomb and dropped one in NYC.
Thank you. Classified Information indicates they were well on their way and may in fact have help NOW from Russia and China who are eerily silent.....so we are focusing on their MISSILES so they cant shoot one off...their own or borrowed from Putin or Xi or nutjob in Pyongyang.
then it would Trumps fault for allowing it too happen
Patrick, Greatest bloviation I've ever seen. U got a job?
See above my response to Cartero. CLOWN CAR. DONE HERE.
MY RESUME WOULD BLOW YOU AWAY. I AM IN MY 70s and RETIRED. FOOL.
Damn. Personal attacks without addressing the issue. Why is Ollie North not rotting in jail for treason if we've been at war with Iran since 1979? Eliot Abrams was also involved and served in the first Trump administration.
Oh! Please tell me about it
Don't bother, you're offering pearls to swine.
The man does love to hear himself talk.
NO. WRONG. I SAY LITTLE AND ONLY WHEN NECESSARY AND PROVOKED MOST OFTEN BY BILL BLOVIATOR GENERAL BONNER. I HAVE BEEN READING BONNER (AND AGORA) FOR 30 YEARS SO YOU KNOW. SOMETIMES I AGREE WITH HIM SOMETIMES I DONT AND SOMETIMES HE DESERVES TO BE BLASTED. HE ADMITS TO SAYING STUFF TO IRK PEOPLE BY THE WAY. HE ENJOYS IT.
I am a HUMBLE MAN. COMFY NOT WEALTHY. AND I DONT OWN PROPERTY OVERSEAS OR 4 HOUSES. OR DRIVE A BMW OR PORSCHE. I AM A CHEVY MAN. AND SPEECH INVOLVES TALKING AND ON THE INTERNET POSTING. GOT IT? I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND CONSTITUTION AND SUPPORT IT AND USE IT. Thank you.
Nice rationalization for having voting for the "poetic dumbass"
I think people who voted for Carter, Clinton, Hillary, Barack Hussein Obama, Biden are the poetic dumbasses. IN SPADES. But Democracy is messy and we must be tolerant of opposing views and allow for the FREEDOM TO BE STUPID.
Yes I agree with you on the Democrats, unfortunately I did vote for Obama, sorry.
Bush Sr was fine.
Bush Jr and J Paul Bremer and Rummy and Cheney et. al. ignited the Middle East and it may never stop burning. My opinion…
thanks for sharing.
If you are accurate about the 47 years of terror why are Ollie North and his Iran-Contra buddies not rotting in jail for aiding and abetting the enemy?
CLOWN CAR ARRIVES RIGHT ON TIME. Geeesh. BE GONE SATAN.
Clown car? I asked a serious question. The current talking point is we have been at war with Iran for 47 years yet Ollie North and his co-conspirators provided arms to the enemy.
Please do not rely on ad hominem attacks to support your position. But it doesn't bother me. In fact I prefer the phrase "Get yee behind me, Satan!". Much more poetic ring to it. But the we've always been at war with Iran is very entertaining - reminiscent of 1984. We've always been at war with Eastasia!
You've crafted a wonderful drug store cowboy diatribe
I shop at CVS. I wear a STETSON sometimes. And I DONT OWN OR RIDE A HORSE OR PONY OR DONKEY. I DRIVE A CHEVY. I make NO CLAIM TO HEROISM. BUT... for your information Mr. Roberts, I had the HIGH PRIVILEGE of serving some of our nations most respected and highest ranking HEROES in uniform and in the SIS.
The trump administration is all about shock & awe! And our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will pay for it for the rest of their lives. Thank you Bill for your honest analysis!
The collective, feckless incompetence of those in charge the last 60 years is what produced circumstances so dire and made many so desperate as to produce the phenomenon of Donald Trump. This is something nobody seems to want to get. Best always. PM
Very well said Paul.
Agreed!!
Shock and awe began in 1913 and a stupid populace has simply loved it. We should have been concerned about our children's future 120 years ago.
Yes, but it's sadly not the way of the world. Best always. PM
But it appears you are missing one critical point Mr European. Trump asked NATO for help and their response was "its not our war." So the US is asking for help to guarantee supply of their need for oil / energy, coming from their strait and their economy on the line, German gas costs 7.85 per gallon, and "its not their war"! The US has a meager amount of oil coming thru Hormuz. But the Europeans kinda like it when we spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on their security, fighting their wars, like have you forgotten about the Ukrainian war. Personally I think we need to leave NATO for good and let these socialists (dictators really since they've been voted out of office but won't leave while they jail their competitors and censor and jail their people) fend for themselves. It's pretty obvious when they say they must defeat Russia (so they can steal Russia's resources and constantly tell Zelensky he must stay in the war) that these imbeciles need to pay their own way and see how well their constituents like to wait till 2029 for new elections. That is the case for Merz, Macron and Starmer! New elections in 2029 after they pull about 10% poiltical support from their own people. They aren't leaders, they are corrupt politicians that want power to impose nonsense on their people so they can stay in power and milk their constituents while taking away their freedom.
I suggest you start reading something other than Politico or the NEW York Times. You might wake up to reality.
Mr. Mackinac, Excellent comments.
Shouldn't Trump have consulted with NATO countries before the sneak attack to see if they were willing to help? Actually the Europeans have been our lackeys for years. They stopped buying cheap Russian energy because of an invasion of Ukraine but instead started buyingore expensive LNG from the US despite the fact that the US has invaded or bombed a plethora of countries.
Bonner is beyond help
We all are. We are all headed for the scrap heap, and I sooner than later. It's OK; I had my shot. Best always. PM
I am not young either and have some issues. BUT I am doing this for posterity, my kids and grands and ALL OTHERS WHO FOLLOW BEHIND ME and my generation and ALL THOSE IN UNIFORM NOW. ONE THING I KNOW IS THE TROOPS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE SAY AND DO AT HOME. I came home from OVERSEAS in the 70s and wore my uniform...and remember the SCOWLS and BEING IN CHURCH AND BEING CRITICIZED. I NEVER FORGOT IT. EVER. I SUPPORT OUR BELOVED TROOPS. I support TRUMP MOST of the time but not all. I TELL HIM (back channels) what I think and why and let it out. SO HE KNOWS. HE DECIDES, I JUST TELL HIM MY PEANUT GALLERY THOUGHTS. I pray for him DAILY.
Im on vacation in se Asia and they now love Americans because of real people like you. Cheers sir
What did the eternal optimist say when he fell off a 1,000-foot cliff? "I'm not dead yet."
I've been waiting for the primary trends to bring about the collapse for 45 years, so very convinced and self-assured in my propriety, judgment, and rectitude that I missed God only knows how many opportunities and tied myself down with God only knows how many cords and chains in the process. I got out of "investing" (meaning: making others rich) in the Dot-Com run-up. I have actually "nothing" to lose in the Crash, because I have "nothing" now, and I should be rooting like Hell for it (The Crash), but I have learned, none of it is up to me. It would seem we're in a pickle, but what, when, and how it plays out will make a male donkey out of many. At 73, I'm through worrying about it. I came into this world with nothing, and I'll be going out the same way. In between it's been a helluva ride. Best always. PM
I love Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and TRUST IN GOD. I HATE WAR. BUT its been with us from Cain and Able and wont be going away anytime soon. I am like you in my 70s. I am not self righteous or always right. I do my best, left hand on Bible and RIGHT HAND UP. And have taken an OATH to defend my country 5 times and I KEEP ALL MY OATHS. TO GOD. SPOUSE. COUNTRY. CORPS. UNIT AND OTHERS IN PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES SOME OF WHICH I CANT DISCUSS including a BLOOD OATH TO MY FRIEND MENTOR AND BOSS AND LATER CLIENT who is now deceased who was a 40+ year LEGEND at CIA (SIS).
I have begun to really question your judgment about the economic and world perspective we (the US) finds ourselves in as the Iran war continues and we add more debt each day. Your continual reference of left wing biased media such as CNN and CNBC to support your assertions is ridiculous and at a minimum causes your readers to highly question your daily missives. If it wasn't for the invaluable financial advice of Tom Dyson I would have canceled long ago.
But blinded Trumpsters like yourself aren't obligated to provide a scintilla of actual facts or logical argument: just call out names and assertions that defy the realities taking place.
Be nice now as you have no idea what you are talking about.
Bill, Your assertion that illegal immigrants have a lower crime rate than Americans is very misleading, if not outright propaganda. You know full well that there are two Americas: Third World America, comprised of about four dozen or so U.S. third-world cities (one of them the city of Baltimore); and, First World America, comprised of the suburbs and rural/small towns. Yes, the illegals are probably less violent and steal less than those in Third World America, which is as violent as any place on earth, and almost totally run by Democrats you seem to have championed for the last few years. But that is not remotely the case for First World America.
You sound like these hypocritical women in the safe, cocooned suburbs who “virtue signal” about how they love all the little black and brown people, as well as the illegal aliens, in the third-world cities---as long as they keep their distance, of course. I wish Pres. Trump would propose putting public housing in their suburban neighborhoods (or near your luxurious farm in rural Maryland) and see how they (and you) respond.
Also, I notice your properties in Ireland and France are located far away from the large Muslim populations you seem to virtue signal about. And Muslims in Argentina make up only one to two percent, and live almost exclusively in Buenos Aires. Virtually none near the Argentinian lands you own.
Frank - please stop talking sense to bonner, he don't get it :-)
Bill you wage your literary war on Trump and his spending. You fault his use of weapons on two fronts i.e
their costs and the damage they do to the world's economies. Moreover, you include Israel as a player in this same debacle. Do you ever perceive that this war against terrorism might just be a good thing for the world's economies? Have you ever considered the extent to which an economic synergy between and among the East, Middle East and Far East countries would contribute to the world's economies? Just maybe Trump's war on Iran and their their terrorists proxies is an economic policy disguised as a war?
Just consider what a wonderful world this would be if Iran gets a NUKE.
Bush, Clinton, Obama. and Biden (brain dead) did nothing but talk and give them money. How did that work out?
Jim Marsahall
Supposedly, we have the greatest intelligence in the world, satellites circling the globe. Yet, we made the stupid decision to bomb Iran.
A physicist who worked for the defense department said the Golden Dome does not work, if everything is perfectly operational it is effective 30%; four-million-dollar rockets trying to intercept one 100k rocket. In the first two days Iran hit every US base in the Middle East. They knocked out 3 of 5-billion-dollar radar installations. The system is blind.
Murban oil went from $63. To $144. A barrel. Now Israel escalated bombing Iran gas fields. The Iranians went for oil and gas infrastructure in various countries. Funny Iran was still exporting 2 million barrels a day. Trump eliminated sanctions on Russia; they are making $80. More a barrel. Oil, gas and fertilizer could be offline for 5 years.
Lord knows the damage Israel is receiving. If their refinery and desalination plants are put out of commission, life comes to a standstill in a week. If no oil exits or food enters the Gulf States and desalination plants are destroyed a million people will need a new place to live.
The stock market is tanking; job creation is negative and Humpty Dumpty seems to be in pieces, and you know… all the king's men and horses cannot put him back together again.
The US is a technological military wonder money machine that cannot fight or win a war, and we paid 100’s of trillions for it, money that could have transformed the world.
America will never be great again. That would take sane, reasonable, intelligent people. They are dead and we spit in their legacy.
Your opinions, not facts. your right to share your opinion. we dont agree. on anything. sorry.
Agreed! Perhaps if Hope and Change Obama had prosecuted the Banksters behind the financial crisis and let them go bankrupt if necessary Trump never would have even run. Plus, he installed a cabinet picked by Citi Bank and dropped more bombs than Bush. He set the table for Trump.
The dems way to eliminate the National debt. Let Iran have nuclear bombs to drop on us. No more us no more debt.
This is a pretty damning editorial on America and Trump. While some statements are accurate, it is devoid of context and filled with the vitriol we have come to expect of American news media. Such language further polarizes us and does nothing to effect change.
Discussion is healthy and NEEDED. I try to respect opposing views but there are limits and personal ad hominem attacks or attacks on INTEGRITY or Gen. Keanes record get my hairs up on my neck.
Totally agree with you. Discussion is what there is too little of, especially in Congress, but also mainly in the media. Personal attacks just further the rampant polarization in our Country.
I wonder why so many of these comments assume that if Iran had a nuke, it would immediately use it on the USA. Yes, I get it, that Iran has a 47-year history of being messed about by the USA (and UK), so there is motive, and a reason for the USA to fear retribution.
However, the USSR had more motive, nukes and opportunity, and was also run by nutcases, but didn't shoot. (MAD).
India and Pakistan both have nukes, motives against each other, but don't shoot (mini-MAD).
North Korea has nukes, and ICBM missiles, and a great deal of motive. But it's not under active attack. (I wonder if those nukes deter active attack? Hmm).
Israel has nukes, and F-35's to deliver them regionally, and so need not fear invasion.
Maybe, just maybe, Iran wants nukes for defense, not attack? Another mini-MAD, directed not against the USA, but the nutcases in Israel?
Maybe the Iranian leaders are just as fearful as the Americans always are?
Anyhow, BB's article was actually about the perilous financial state of the USA and USD, with the latest war just a further example of wasting treasure, so I think I've been led off-subject. Sorry about that.
Oh, and to answer another off-subject comment - no, the USA no longer has any friends.
The USA doesn't need them. That's been made clear, so why complain about it?
Mutually Assured Destruction is a godsend to the Iranian radical islamists, they will be quickly in heaven to meet the virgins. Not so for the other nuclear armed countries.
You must be a theologian, Clem? I admit I'm not.
Strange how the Pakistani Islamists haven't followed your beliefs; nor have the Indian Hindus, who I dimly understand, can expect re-incarnation.
They each seem to be intelligent, led intelligently, and to rely more on common sense, to deter a perceived threat, and remain on the present plane of existence.
Of course, they might not have your knowledge, or leadership by a very stable genius, who is rapidly spending the USA's treasure, and what remains of its international standing.
OH puhleeeze. Sigh.
Right on Bill! Heard today the Administration is thinking of lifting the oil embargo on Iran’s oil, to help ease prices here at home?! Wow, there ya go! WTF! I’ll bet you a Trillion, 50 Trillion by the end of Trump’s term? That will get the next goofball in office all emboldened to really get going on the borrowing.