The first order effects are those we see in the news...misery, suffering, death, and destruction. The victors offer no apologies, no excuses and no quarter. Might makes right.
Unfortunately, Trump and the rest of the gang in Washington are completely delusional. They can constantly spew propaganda - we are great, we are wonder, everything is fine - but it is all nonsense. China's economy is in ruins and the U.S. economy is the best it has ever been. How can anyone actually believe all their bullsh!t. Seriously, folks, there is a huge financial and economy crisis coming shortly. The World has turned against the U.S. - no one believes and more importantly trusts the U.S. including Canada and Mexico. I know, I know - this will blow over just like it always has until it doesn't. Time to wake-up and smell the roses - Trump isn't making anything great again. It is going to horrific for us peons. And, of course, when it does it won't be Trump's fault - maybe he'll blame Biden or Obama or Iran or China or Russia - anybody but himself. Not his fault he is GREAT! The best there has ever been. America needs to get a gripe.
I disagree entirely. Half of America has plenty of gripes. Plenty of gripers and plenty of grifters as well.
Many of them swore allegiance to a demented grifting husk in the WH, his Pretorian Intel agencies and even his vapid, giggling DEI replacement - not too long ago.
Now, since history has recorded their victories, namely the Afghanistan victory (only a few fell off the departing plane's wings...) and their slaying of the Inflation monster.
Of course, they're entitled to continue to gripe - lest they get a grip,
Witness the Euros as well as most of the ME - a bit late to the party - but now fully cooperating with "King Trump" and those dastardly Jews. It's just awful, isn't it?
Where's the democrats Hamas heroes when you need them?
Looks like King Trump has shut down the border too early - that racist. Perhaps the Democrats can arrange for Hamas and Hezbollah to vote from the comfort of their caves using absentee ballots this November.
Send those ballots to Ilhan Omar and she'll see that they get counted, I'm sure of it!
Goobenor Walz will surely come through for us! He's got legal bills to pay.
You gotta admire the poetry of power in the US. They say they’re bringing freedom. You hear that word a lot when bombs are involved. Freedom seems to arrive mostly by air. It comes screaming out of the sky with a guidance system and a press release.
Now Trump and Hegseth say they’ll fly day and night over the land of the distant desert folks until those people are completely free. That’s interesting because when a neighbor flies a drone over my backyard for fifteen minutes I call the police.
Let me see if I’ve got the Trump/Hegseth strategy right.
Step one: bomb the place.
Step two: sink their ships.
Step three: tell the survivors they’re lucky to be free.
Then they can choose their destiny, but Trump says he has to approve the next leader. That’s incredible, a mob shakedown with a fighter jet.
That’s like robbing a bank and then volunteering to run the employee-of-the-month committee. Imagine invading somebody’s house and then saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll help you pick a new homeowner.”
The best part is the historical comparisons. Caesar, Napoleon, the big boys of the empire hall of fame. Every ambitious leader wants to sit at that table. What they forget is that history doesn’t just hand out crowns. It also hands out knives and winter.
Caesar got stabbed by people he knew, he got a senate meeting with extra ventilation. Napoleon got a snowstorm that ate his army like a pack of wolves.
This whole system is a giant theater production. Empire: The Musical. Same script every century, different costumes, same ending.
Not to mention Patton's WWII surprise crossing of the Rhine and completely over-whelming the Nazis. Even Ike didn't know whether to upbraid him or congratulate him.
Bryon King has written an interesting essay on military operational readiness. He is a geologist who once was a navel pilot and has kept current on military matters. His analysis clearly puts forth the lack of depth in the US military’s capabilities to wage a large-scale and long-duration war. There is little interest and support from the American public in doing such, but sometimes the US citizenry has little choice in the matter [although I doubt we will ever see a Pearl Harbor event in the world]. However, one aspect that is more likely is China’s decision to take back Taiwan, something they have repeatedly said over the past half century.
There is much talk about how DJT’s stymying China by his “takeover” of Venezuela’s oil production and the anticipated takeover of Iran’s oil production and how this will cause great angst in China. Probably so, although Russia seems more than willing to supply China and are currently increasing pipeline supply routes into China. An interesting thought comes out of Bryon King’s essay in that should the US deplete our military arsenal between Ukraine's War and now Iran’s War, China may see an opportunity to move on Taiwan and thumb their nose at the US’s threatened response. I suspect the US military’s response would be substantially muted no matter what DJT says or does.
I have been against the military action in Iran but have held my tongue because it is happening, nobody asked me, and now that it’s here we should support it. My reasons against are the obvious ones, but additionally include the lack of capability in the US military to sustain a large-scale war with China [our most-likely opponent], without the combat going nuclear. From what I hear, China is a mess right now with the Premier having an economy that is questionable, and not having a solid base of support in his military. I see that lack of stability meaning the present leadership could end up changing overnight and a military leader becoming the new guy in charge. I see that as a threat to a conflict going nuclear.
DJT has said both personally and through his minions that he is not going to wage a prolonged war. I can only hope so. We seem to be waging a war where Israel is the only winner in whatever outcome happens. Nothing wrong with this, except for when the US begins to pay the piper for our involvement. Israel will have its consequences, but they have faced these for generations and is used to it. In the US’s case, our consequences will be larger, more numerous, possibly more disastrous, and clearly more expensive. I hope DJT honors his assurances and gets us out of this quagmire as soon as possible.
Now, could I expect an in-depth discussion from Bill on this topic? Nooo! He will spend his time bitching about what an idiot DJT is and how he isn’t getting any smarter. Could we get suggestions on how we could invest in this “windfall opportunity” to profit at Iran’s expense and possibly get something positive from this unnecessary war? Nooo! Bill feels he needs to continue his diatribes against Trump which only causes his subscribers to rail against each other, call each other vile names, and unscribe from his publication. Is DJT an idiot? Certainly in some capacity he is. Is Bill an idiot? It seems in every capacity he is. Thank God for Dan and Tom, or I’d quit calling myself an idiot for listening to Bill’s tripe.
But DJT is an idiot and he isn't getting any smarter.
What do you expect from a pussy grabbing philandering draft dodger who declared bankruptcy six times then, in his mature years, became a convicted felon?
JImm, what did Lincoln say when others pointed out Grant's faults? "He fights!" I guess 46 years of funding and underwriting murder, mayhem, and terrorism, at untold cost, are not enough provocation? A rogue regime with an explicitly stated goal of destroying Israel AND the USA self-admittedly verging on possession of 11 nuclear weapons is not enough to justify action? Facing that, I don't care about the President's personal shortcomings. Best always. PM
Paul, You insult Grant by comparing him to our current president, a draft dodger.
More: At no time has US intelligence -- including Trump's as recently as several weeks ago -- never, ever declared Iran has nuclear weapons.
Focus on this fact: Iran is not now and never has been a threat to the USA.
Our Meddlesome Ways: The current intolerant theocracy murdering -- as recently as last month -- thousands of Iran citizens seeking a regime change would likely still be relegated to their mosques had not the US deposed Iran's elected prime minister during the Eisenhower Administration
I have read reports where the Irani negotiators bragged of having 460 tons of 60% enriched uranium, which they themselves estimated that were sufficient to make 11 bombs. The US negotiator, Special Envoy Witkoff, reported this himself. I read it in several media sources. Thanks for your feedback here. Best always. PM
It's interesting how quiet China and Russia have remained this week. Chino has been able to purchase oil and gas at deeply discounted prices from Iran, Venezuela, and of course, Russia. Maybe the strategists in the Trump Administration might be putting China in a box and they aren't such idiots after all.
China re-opened a previously closed oil pipeline between it and Russia.
They also have a substantial amount of reserves in storage for the eventuality that the Straits of Hormuz might be closed for an indeterminate period of time.
I read a news article recently corroborating that China indeed has plenty of on-demand reserves from prior global purchases. Why is this significant? I would be shocked if they didn't have more reserves available than what is known. I was unaware of the pipeline (thank you), but it only makes sense. Pipeline is better than open-ocean transit, anyway. Any country can buy anything anywhere on the globe for a price. There may be some attendant inconvenience. If the Strait of Hormuz dries up and turns into desert, which I do not anticipate, but I use the turn of phrase for the sake of hyperbole, the world loses only 20% of total oil commerce on the planet. This is hardly a strategic benefit to either side. Every time Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, they are only bottling up their own produce and inconveniencing the world market. "Boo Hoo", as Guy Lombardo (#1 record in 1934) would say... Best always. PM
The quantity of information published is voluminous about how what happened in Venezuela and is happening in Iran is putting a serious squeeze on China.
Not just Pussy, now we see he also grabs Mullahs and terrorists. He's just a multi-tasking alpha dog. One of the boys.
Of course, the Mullah's and terrorists don't "let them grab them", like the theoretical "Gold diggers" of the "world's oldest profession", selling their honor for money that Trump was referring to in his Billy Bush interview. Those of similar nature to the dimwitted Biden's sellout of access to the office of VP in their heady Burisma days.
What is nonsense is the idea that MT Green matters. Like many in the professional politician class, she is all about herself. The Cheney woman is in the same camp. Candidate Donald Trump gave us the catchphrase "Make America Great Again" which became shortened to "MAGA", but the mindset, ideology, and beliefs of those others like to put in the MAGA corral existed generations prior to the political scene of 2015 forward and will be there long thereafter. What Mr. Trump did was give voice and advocacy to these individuals that the political establishment, including the formerly great Grand Old Party, was not doing. It has nothing to do with liking Donald Trump personally. Best always. PM
Jimm, MTG as well as Rand Paul are absolutists when it comes to refraining from projecting military power. Fine. I don’t agree with either of them. I know that history has produced a steady stream of horrendous and murderous tyrants - and I am a firm believer in preemptively neutralizing them, if only to save the lives of innocents.
I read this one right after reading Byron King's assessment in the Rude Awakening of how our industrial might has faded, and our ability to support a powerful military along with it. We are still running on the military might we built decades ago, and it is still powerful, but our ability to replenish it is much less than it used to be. I wish I were more confident that our leaders, and those advising Trump, were fully aware of this.
"We are still running on the military might we built decades ago"
Not entirely true.
The technology in war fighting has is rapidly changing. I suggest readings on Laser weaponry and drone deployed weaponry and its current effect on shaping the battle space. Both in terms of efficacy and cost.
Understand that the only constraint on Laser weaponry is electricity and intermittent weather conditions. Used in combination with bullets, as needed, works to preserve your bullets.
Puts a whole new light on Trumps establishment of our Space Force, as well as our defense jamming technology so recently revealed in both Venezuela as well as Iran. This is probably one of the most relevant reasons for the current silence from both Russia and China. Vapor-lock...as they see the value of their sponsorship reduced, literally, to ashes.
Maybe he can pay for these “policing actions” with the tariffs he’s collected. Or oil sales… just looking at US fracking and Venezuelan & Iranian oil supply, they’ll be a lot of it to sell.
I mean, getting serious for a moment, since when did Democrats become fiscal Hawks? I’m a fiscal Hawk who’s looking for a strategy that maintains a level of control over our security but within sustainable levels of economic and therefore, political support.
1. Our appalling CinC's "tariffs" have been declared unconstitutional. He bullied his Administration to create them despite the Constitution clearly stating he has no authority to do so. Another self imposed mess thanks to his penchant for Ready-Fire-Aim decision making.
2. Democrats are intrinsically wealth-takers. We need wealth-makers. The very successful ones in wealth-taking California are moving to states that value their entrepreneurial skills and job creations.
Since the advent of a tax on income, there's has long been a war between the wealth makers and the wealth takers.
Since the latter far outnumber the former, politicians will always pander to the takers.
But our presidents -- regardless of what political philosophy they espouse -- are in a special class of societal destroyers.
Unhindered by our Constitution, they can spend ad infinitum.
And they do, including our current one who is well on his way to being the single person in humanity to have burdened future generations with more debt than anyone living or dead.
The future for the US of A could very well become seriously sullied, perhaps unravel, if a wealth-taker is elected to replace this enigmatic man who is always craving adulation, always indebting the nation, now our current president.
Seems the less you know, the more surety in your comments. Washington crossed the Delaware, US and Allies crossed the English Channel, US liberated Japanese strongholds in the Pacific; none ended in oblivion. How about options instead of constant criticisms? Provide an option to Trump's actions. Were you willing to trust a fanatic religious zealot with atomic weapons and the developing ability to deliver them? Take a hint from Iran's current actions. They've lost; they know they've lost, so what are they doing? Shooting missiles randomly at everyone in the area. They're on the path to fanatic heaven. I think helping them along is a marvelous idea.
Shooting missiles randomly at US bases in the area. Let's not have another Mission Accomplished moment. Remember we just spent 20 years and trillions of dollars to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. But speaking of religious zealots Netanyahu recently told a press conference the Amaleks again, a symbolic enemy from the book they wrote with no historical proof of existence. Israel has nukes and the Samson Option.
Dear Mr. Bonner: I wonder, is it about the right time for you (whose writings and thoughts I so fully respect and enjoy) to possibly consider laying-out how you interpret the past 100+ years of "taking Israel, establishing influence through first the Democrats and then Republicans of America, the Epstein sexual influences over the immoral Goyim. the Mossad(?) influences at the Pentagon, the US-financed build-up of Israel's military, Trump's 'kingship' behaviors, etc." all seem to tie-in so perfectly with the intensions and strategies outlined in the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion which became public knowledge just over 100 years ago?
1953 Operation Ajax ultimately opened the door to the Iranian hostage crises. Different time, same culprits new patsies. I feel sorry for the Donald a staked goat who held promise and delivered the worse possible outcome.
Now, everyone will be defending themselves by the deranged socialists. WTFN.
Well Bill, your morning missive is one I can get behind. ( tounge in cheek) I hope they pound those rag head sob’s until every last one of them is gone or surrenders. 47 years of their death and destruction is enough. You always want to put a dollar value on everything. Well Bill, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.
Do you have some links for the 47 years of death and destruction? How do you categorize the death and destruction of the Iraq-Iran war from 1980-1988? Since we supported Iraq during that war should the Iranians also wish for revenge against the US - remember the smiling Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam in 1983 before Saddam become another "Hitler"?
CA: I'm surprised at this response. It pains me to take issue. I respect your voice, presence, responses and contributions here, but the idea that Iran has not been a political and cultural enemy of the USA since the Revolution of 1979, doing no harm, is not credible. You may not think their generations-long antagonism, rhetoric, hostility, and actions are worthy of a response like what is currently going on, but asking for an inventory/litany of their hostility and actions is, well, sophomoric. Best always. PM
I would like to see the links or evidence of all the damage they done to us. And if they have been a threat you better tell Fox to get rid of Ollie North of Iran/Contra fame for trading with the enemy. Even Eliot Abrams is still involved in our government. Speaking of harm and revenge would you be opposed to the victims of the plethora of CIA coups to exact revenge on our government? What about all the damage Iran/Contra did to out inner cities pumping them with crack to fund our terrorists in the Contra.
Cartero, are you trying to tell us the killers in Iran who just apologized for hanging a 16 year old girl because one of their thugs raped her, are not guilty? They just gunned down over 30000 of their own citizens for demonstating against them. Sorr but they are receiving what they deserve.
Speaking of killings- what about the school girls we killed. They had no say in who runs their country. But my problem is the blatant hypocrisy of crying coming from the US that Iran killed demonstrators or they are evil when we just got finished killing thousands of Iraqis during the Bush/Cheney illegal invasion.
Bob, if you are so concerned about human rights you probably oppose our relationship with Bahrein since they have more political prisoners per capita than Iran. I'm not rooting for Iran, but where did you get the 30,000 deaths. Have you seen that Mossad was involved arming demonstrators? Give me sources for all the Americans that they have killed. Speaking of murdering their own citizens did you know Monsanto with their Agent Orange killed more soldiers than the Viet Cong? Let's go bomb their facilities in the US.
"Speaking of harm and revenge would you be opposed to the victims of the plethora of CIA coups to exact revenge on our government?"
NO. I would welcome punishing those CIA (and related establishment insiders) who killed Kennedy in 1963, but they all got away with it, and they're already dead. Even now, with all the evidence, people still cling to the Oswald scam.
I have nothing to say to FOX; I don't watch them and haven't for 20 years, and I don't intend to restart. Hard to generalize, isn't it? Best always. PM
Not generalizing at all. I actually would like to see independent sources of all the harm Iran has done to us during the 47 year war Hegseth talks about. Do you have them? But the entire Iranian population is suffering from this war, shouldn't we all also suffer for all the deaths our government including the CIA has caused especially during this century with their War of Terror?
What happened when Caesar crossed the Rubicon? He kicked his old buddy, Pompey, in the behind. He founded an empire that lasted 400 years. Best always. PM
Do you think that the Trump administration has taken into consideration the damage being done to the Gulf States economies? A UAE billionaire wrote an open letter to Trump criticizing his attack on Iran Here's a quote from the letter: Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision?
What if the collateral damages from this war causes the Gulf States to switch teams and join forces with Russia and China?
Bill Bonner has put out an articles that shows of very sloppy journalism on his part, and thats being generous. Prob because he keeps referencing the gutter western press, who lie for a living. The kurds have wisened up to your pedo president and havent invaded Iran. No body in their right mind would trust that pedo president and his epstein empire. For most people, except Bill and MAGA, that boat has sailed.
Aren't Americans in general sophomoric when it comes to foreign policies. We cry when someone attacks us but aren't concern about the devastation our policies have caused in other countries. For example, Baby Bush's illegal invasion of Iraq resulted in over 500,000 deaths. Maybe you would support the Iraqis exacting revenge on the US? How about the deaths of over 200,000 Guatemalans at the hands of the military dictatorship we installed after another CIA coup?
Unfortunately, Trump and the rest of the gang in Washington are completely delusional. They can constantly spew propaganda - we are great, we are wonder, everything is fine - but it is all nonsense. China's economy is in ruins and the U.S. economy is the best it has ever been. How can anyone actually believe all their bullsh!t. Seriously, folks, there is a huge financial and economy crisis coming shortly. The World has turned against the U.S. - no one believes and more importantly trusts the U.S. including Canada and Mexico. I know, I know - this will blow over just like it always has until it doesn't. Time to wake-up and smell the roses - Trump isn't making anything great again. It is going to horrific for us peons. And, of course, when it does it won't be Trump's fault - maybe he'll blame Biden or Obama or Iran or China or Russia - anybody but himself. Not his fault he is GREAT! The best there has ever been. America needs to get a gripe.
I disagree entirely. Half of America has plenty of gripes. Plenty of gripers and plenty of grifters as well.
Many of them swore allegiance to a demented grifting husk in the WH, his Pretorian Intel agencies and even his vapid, giggling DEI replacement - not too long ago.
Now, since history has recorded their victories, namely the Afghanistan victory (only a few fell off the departing plane's wings...) and their slaying of the Inflation monster.
Of course, they're entitled to continue to gripe - lest they get a grip,
Witness the Euros as well as most of the ME - a bit late to the party - but now fully cooperating with "King Trump" and those dastardly Jews. It's just awful, isn't it?
Where's the democrats Hamas heroes when you need them?
Looks like King Trump has shut down the border too early - that racist. Perhaps the Democrats can arrange for Hamas and Hezbollah to vote from the comfort of their caves using absentee ballots this November.
Send those ballots to Ilhan Omar and she'll see that they get counted, I'm sure of it!
Goobenor Walz will surely come through for us! He's got legal bills to pay.
Now a ticket of Newsome and Walz (or Walz and Newsome - your pick) America could get behind. Wouldn't that be awesome!
https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2026/03/05/maga-without-the-jews/
Sounds like you, Ol’ Man, have corned the market on “gripe”…but leave a LOT to be desired when it comes to “grip.”
You gotta admire the poetry of power in the US. They say they’re bringing freedom. You hear that word a lot when bombs are involved. Freedom seems to arrive mostly by air. It comes screaming out of the sky with a guidance system and a press release.
Now Trump and Hegseth say they’ll fly day and night over the land of the distant desert folks until those people are completely free. That’s interesting because when a neighbor flies a drone over my backyard for fifteen minutes I call the police.
Let me see if I’ve got the Trump/Hegseth strategy right.
Step one: bomb the place.
Step two: sink their ships.
Step three: tell the survivors they’re lucky to be free.
Then they can choose their destiny, but Trump says he has to approve the next leader. That’s incredible, a mob shakedown with a fighter jet.
That’s like robbing a bank and then volunteering to run the employee-of-the-month committee. Imagine invading somebody’s house and then saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll help you pick a new homeowner.”
The best part is the historical comparisons. Caesar, Napoleon, the big boys of the empire hall of fame. Every ambitious leader wants to sit at that table. What they forget is that history doesn’t just hand out crowns. It also hands out knives and winter.
Caesar got stabbed by people he knew, he got a senate meeting with extra ventilation. Napoleon got a snowstorm that ate his army like a pack of wolves.
This whole system is a giant theater production. Empire: The Musical. Same script every century, different costumes, same ending.
One of my favorite quotes by Mark Twain: "“The report of my death was an exaggeration,”
Also: "I never let my schooling interfere with my education." Best always. PM
‘The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.’
Relax. It's all in failure mode, remember? Just give it a little more time, and you'll have it all to your liking. Best always. PM
... forget about all the successful generals, right?
At best your logic and your facts are a bit flawed but interesting nevertheless .
Caeser and Bonaparte... cited all the time here at BPR as warriors crossing the threshold to oblivion.
Washington crossed the Delaware... no mention of him.
Not to mention Patton's WWII surprise crossing of the Rhine and completely over-whelming the Nazis. Even Ike didn't know whether to upbraid him or congratulate him.
True, many a leader trod too far...
But not all share the same ill fate in which Bill seems to revel.
Alexander the Great
Genghis Kahn
Hannibal
Charlemagne
SunTzu
oh, and let us not forget Mr. Bonners favorite: King David of Israel.
Washington smartly snuck across the Delaware to fight another day. He entered greatness rather than oblivion.
... I believe that is the point.
Mr. Bonner emphasizes only those that failed.
Bryon King has written an interesting essay on military operational readiness. He is a geologist who once was a navel pilot and has kept current on military matters. His analysis clearly puts forth the lack of depth in the US military’s capabilities to wage a large-scale and long-duration war. There is little interest and support from the American public in doing such, but sometimes the US citizenry has little choice in the matter [although I doubt we will ever see a Pearl Harbor event in the world]. However, one aspect that is more likely is China’s decision to take back Taiwan, something they have repeatedly said over the past half century.
There is much talk about how DJT’s stymying China by his “takeover” of Venezuela’s oil production and the anticipated takeover of Iran’s oil production and how this will cause great angst in China. Probably so, although Russia seems more than willing to supply China and are currently increasing pipeline supply routes into China. An interesting thought comes out of Bryon King’s essay in that should the US deplete our military arsenal between Ukraine's War and now Iran’s War, China may see an opportunity to move on Taiwan and thumb their nose at the US’s threatened response. I suspect the US military’s response would be substantially muted no matter what DJT says or does.
I have been against the military action in Iran but have held my tongue because it is happening, nobody asked me, and now that it’s here we should support it. My reasons against are the obvious ones, but additionally include the lack of capability in the US military to sustain a large-scale war with China [our most-likely opponent], without the combat going nuclear. From what I hear, China is a mess right now with the Premier having an economy that is questionable, and not having a solid base of support in his military. I see that lack of stability meaning the present leadership could end up changing overnight and a military leader becoming the new guy in charge. I see that as a threat to a conflict going nuclear.
DJT has said both personally and through his minions that he is not going to wage a prolonged war. I can only hope so. We seem to be waging a war where Israel is the only winner in whatever outcome happens. Nothing wrong with this, except for when the US begins to pay the piper for our involvement. Israel will have its consequences, but they have faced these for generations and is used to it. In the US’s case, our consequences will be larger, more numerous, possibly more disastrous, and clearly more expensive. I hope DJT honors his assurances and gets us out of this quagmire as soon as possible.
Now, could I expect an in-depth discussion from Bill on this topic? Nooo! He will spend his time bitching about what an idiot DJT is and how he isn’t getting any smarter. Could we get suggestions on how we could invest in this “windfall opportunity” to profit at Iran’s expense and possibly get something positive from this unnecessary war? Nooo! Bill feels he needs to continue his diatribes against Trump which only causes his subscribers to rail against each other, call each other vile names, and unscribe from his publication. Is DJT an idiot? Certainly in some capacity he is. Is Bill an idiot? It seems in every capacity he is. Thank God for Dan and Tom, or I’d quit calling myself an idiot for listening to Bill’s tripe.
But DJT is an idiot and he isn't getting any smarter.
What do you expect from a pussy grabbing philandering draft dodger who declared bankruptcy six times then, in his mature years, became a convicted felon?
JImm, what did Lincoln say when others pointed out Grant's faults? "He fights!" I guess 46 years of funding and underwriting murder, mayhem, and terrorism, at untold cost, are not enough provocation? A rogue regime with an explicitly stated goal of destroying Israel AND the USA self-admittedly verging on possession of 11 nuclear weapons is not enough to justify action? Facing that, I don't care about the President's personal shortcomings. Best always. PM
Paul, You insult Grant by comparing him to our current president, a draft dodger.
More: At no time has US intelligence -- including Trump's as recently as several weeks ago -- never, ever declared Iran has nuclear weapons.
Focus on this fact: Iran is not now and never has been a threat to the USA.
Our Meddlesome Ways: The current intolerant theocracy murdering -- as recently as last month -- thousands of Iran citizens seeking a regime change would likely still be relegated to their mosques had not the US deposed Iran's elected prime minister during the Eisenhower Administration
I have read reports where the Irani negotiators bragged of having 460 tons of 60% enriched uranium, which they themselves estimated that were sufficient to make 11 bombs. The US negotiator, Special Envoy Witkoff, reported this himself. I read it in several media sources. Thanks for your feedback here. Best always. PM
I’d rather have my male president grabbing pussy, than him grabbing cock. Although, that would be right in the Democrat wheelhouse.
💯🎯
It's interesting how quiet China and Russia have remained this week. Chino has been able to purchase oil and gas at deeply discounted prices from Iran, Venezuela, and of course, Russia. Maybe the strategists in the Trump Administration might be putting China in a box and they aren't such idiots after all.
Definition of "idiot": someone who doesn't do what I want and what I think best. Best always. PM
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
-George Carlin
Perspective is everything. Best always. PM
China re-opened a previously closed oil pipeline between it and Russia.
They also have a substantial amount of reserves in storage for the eventuality that the Straits of Hormuz might be closed for an indeterminate period of time.
I read a news article recently corroborating that China indeed has plenty of on-demand reserves from prior global purchases. Why is this significant? I would be shocked if they didn't have more reserves available than what is known. I was unaware of the pipeline (thank you), but it only makes sense. Pipeline is better than open-ocean transit, anyway. Any country can buy anything anywhere on the globe for a price. There may be some attendant inconvenience. If the Strait of Hormuz dries up and turns into desert, which I do not anticipate, but I use the turn of phrase for the sake of hyperbole, the world loses only 20% of total oil commerce on the planet. This is hardly a strategic benefit to either side. Every time Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, they are only bottling up their own produce and inconveniencing the world market. "Boo Hoo", as Guy Lombardo (#1 record in 1934) would say... Best always. PM
The quantity of information published is voluminous about how what happened in Venezuela and is happening in Iran is putting a serious squeeze on China.
Not just Pussy, now we see he also grabs Mullahs and terrorists. He's just a multi-tasking alpha dog. One of the boys.
Of course, the Mullah's and terrorists don't "let them grab them", like the theoretical "Gold diggers" of the "world's oldest profession", selling their honor for money that Trump was referring to in his Billy Bush interview. Those of similar nature to the dimwitted Biden's sellout of access to the office of VP in their heady Burisma days.
MAGA nonsense.
MTG saw through DJT. As bright as you are, it's a matter of time until you will too
What is nonsense is the idea that MT Green matters. Like many in the professional politician class, she is all about herself. The Cheney woman is in the same camp. Candidate Donald Trump gave us the catchphrase "Make America Great Again" which became shortened to "MAGA", but the mindset, ideology, and beliefs of those others like to put in the MAGA corral existed generations prior to the political scene of 2015 forward and will be there long thereafter. What Mr. Trump did was give voice and advocacy to these individuals that the political establishment, including the formerly great Grand Old Party, was not doing. It has nothing to do with liking Donald Trump personally. Best always. PM
Jimm, MTG as well as Rand Paul are absolutists when it comes to refraining from projecting military power. Fine. I don’t agree with either of them. I know that history has produced a steady stream of horrendous and murderous tyrants - and I am a firm believer in preemptively neutralizing them, if only to save the lives of innocents.
A well measured response, Dan.
Thanks.
Very interesting, thank you
I read this one right after reading Byron King's assessment in the Rude Awakening of how our industrial might has faded, and our ability to support a powerful military along with it. We are still running on the military might we built decades ago, and it is still powerful, but our ability to replenish it is much less than it used to be. I wish I were more confident that our leaders, and those advising Trump, were fully aware of this.
"We are still running on the military might we built decades ago"
Not entirely true.
The technology in war fighting has is rapidly changing. I suggest readings on Laser weaponry and drone deployed weaponry and its current effect on shaping the battle space. Both in terms of efficacy and cost.
Understand that the only constraint on Laser weaponry is electricity and intermittent weather conditions. Used in combination with bullets, as needed, works to preserve your bullets.
Puts a whole new light on Trumps establishment of our Space Force, as well as our defense jamming technology so recently revealed in both Venezuela as well as Iran. This is probably one of the most relevant reasons for the current silence from both Russia and China. Vapor-lock...as they see the value of their sponsorship reduced, literally, to ashes.
... I believe your thesis is the crux of the Trump campaign.
Make America Great Again...
The thesis; not the reality
One indisputable achievement: he's creating evermore debt for John Q Public
So true, Trump policies are the good, the bad and the ugly...
Maybe he can pay for these “policing actions” with the tariffs he’s collected. Or oil sales… just looking at US fracking and Venezuelan & Iranian oil supply, they’ll be a lot of it to sell.
I mean, getting serious for a moment, since when did Democrats become fiscal Hawks? I’m a fiscal Hawk who’s looking for a strategy that maintains a level of control over our security but within sustainable levels of economic and therefore, political support.
Ed -- Some quick rejoinders
1. Our appalling CinC's "tariffs" have been declared unconstitutional. He bullied his Administration to create them despite the Constitution clearly stating he has no authority to do so. Another self imposed mess thanks to his penchant for Ready-Fire-Aim decision making.
2. Democrats are intrinsically wealth-takers. We need wealth-makers. The very successful ones in wealth-taking California are moving to states that value their entrepreneurial skills and job creations.
Ed --
More just for your edification
Since the advent of a tax on income, there's has long been a war between the wealth makers and the wealth takers.
Since the latter far outnumber the former, politicians will always pander to the takers.
But our presidents -- regardless of what political philosophy they espouse -- are in a special class of societal destroyers.
Unhindered by our Constitution, they can spend ad infinitum.
And they do, including our current one who is well on his way to being the single person in humanity to have burdened future generations with more debt than anyone living or dead.
The future for the US of A could very well become seriously sullied, perhaps unravel, if a wealth-taker is elected to replace this enigmatic man who is always craving adulation, always indebting the nation, now our current president.
Jimm
I believe you’re correct1
Seems the less you know, the more surety in your comments. Washington crossed the Delaware, US and Allies crossed the English Channel, US liberated Japanese strongholds in the Pacific; none ended in oblivion. How about options instead of constant criticisms? Provide an option to Trump's actions. Were you willing to trust a fanatic religious zealot with atomic weapons and the developing ability to deliver them? Take a hint from Iran's current actions. They've lost; they know they've lost, so what are they doing? Shooting missiles randomly at everyone in the area. They're on the path to fanatic heaven. I think helping them along is a marvelous idea.
Shooting missiles randomly at US bases in the area. Let's not have another Mission Accomplished moment. Remember we just spent 20 years and trillions of dollars to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. But speaking of religious zealots Netanyahu recently told a press conference the Amaleks again, a symbolic enemy from the book they wrote with no historical proof of existence. Israel has nukes and the Samson Option.
Sounds kind of familiar- "Smite thine enemies. Kill the men, women and children. Show no mercy." Where have I heard that before?
I can't help much with that. Pretty sure though, that it wasn't the New Testament.
Powerful, Prescient and with a view of History that has been lost.
Even on the 0.01%….
Forget the Past & One is Doomed to Repeat It
Dear Mr. Bonner: I wonder, is it about the right time for you (whose writings and thoughts I so fully respect and enjoy) to possibly consider laying-out how you interpret the past 100+ years of "taking Israel, establishing influence through first the Democrats and then Republicans of America, the Epstein sexual influences over the immoral Goyim. the Mossad(?) influences at the Pentagon, the US-financed build-up of Israel's military, Trump's 'kingship' behaviors, etc." all seem to tie-in so perfectly with the intensions and strategies outlined in the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion which became public knowledge just over 100 years ago?
"And Iran will be able to do nothing about it.”
Perhaps. We'll see.
As for God sending the earthquake to Iran, I can only say again--perhaps.
1953 Operation Ajax ultimately opened the door to the Iranian hostage crises. Different time, same culprits new patsies. I feel sorry for the Donald a staked goat who held promise and delivered the worse possible outcome.
Now, everyone will be defending themselves by the deranged socialists. WTFN.
Well Bill, your morning missive is one I can get behind. ( tounge in cheek) I hope they pound those rag head sob’s until every last one of them is gone or surrenders. 47 years of their death and destruction is enough. You always want to put a dollar value on everything. Well Bill, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.
Do you have some links for the 47 years of death and destruction? How do you categorize the death and destruction of the Iraq-Iran war from 1980-1988? Since we supported Iraq during that war should the Iranians also wish for revenge against the US - remember the smiling Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam in 1983 before Saddam become another "Hitler"?
CA: I'm surprised at this response. It pains me to take issue. I respect your voice, presence, responses and contributions here, but the idea that Iran has not been a political and cultural enemy of the USA since the Revolution of 1979, doing no harm, is not credible. You may not think their generations-long antagonism, rhetoric, hostility, and actions are worthy of a response like what is currently going on, but asking for an inventory/litany of their hostility and actions is, well, sophomoric. Best always. PM
I would like to see the links or evidence of all the damage they done to us. And if they have been a threat you better tell Fox to get rid of Ollie North of Iran/Contra fame for trading with the enemy. Even Eliot Abrams is still involved in our government. Speaking of harm and revenge would you be opposed to the victims of the plethora of CIA coups to exact revenge on our government? What about all the damage Iran/Contra did to out inner cities pumping them with crack to fund our terrorists in the Contra.
Cartero, are you trying to tell us the killers in Iran who just apologized for hanging a 16 year old girl because one of their thugs raped her, are not guilty? They just gunned down over 30000 of their own citizens for demonstating against them. Sorr but they are receiving what they deserve.
Speaking of killings- what about the school girls we killed. They had no say in who runs their country. But my problem is the blatant hypocrisy of crying coming from the US that Iran killed demonstrators or they are evil when we just got finished killing thousands of Iraqis during the Bush/Cheney illegal invasion.
Bob, if you are so concerned about human rights you probably oppose our relationship with Bahrein since they have more political prisoners per capita than Iran. I'm not rooting for Iran, but where did you get the 30,000 deaths. Have you seen that Mossad was involved arming demonstrators? Give me sources for all the Americans that they have killed. Speaking of murdering their own citizens did you know Monsanto with their Agent Orange killed more soldiers than the Viet Cong? Let's go bomb their facilities in the US.
Iran kills their political prisoners
"Speaking of harm and revenge would you be opposed to the victims of the plethora of CIA coups to exact revenge on our government?"
NO. I would welcome punishing those CIA (and related establishment insiders) who killed Kennedy in 1963, but they all got away with it, and they're already dead. Even now, with all the evidence, people still cling to the Oswald scam.
I have nothing to say to FOX; I don't watch them and haven't for 20 years, and I don't intend to restart. Hard to generalize, isn't it? Best always. PM
Not generalizing at all. I actually would like to see independent sources of all the harm Iran has done to us during the 47 year war Hegseth talks about. Do you have them? But the entire Iranian population is suffering from this war, shouldn't we all also suffer for all the deaths our government including the CIA has caused especially during this century with their War of Terror?
Caesar, Bonaparte and Bonner all have crossed the same Rubicon... what a dreadful. pathetic mindset.
What happened when Caesar crossed the Rubicon? He kicked his old buddy, Pompey, in the behind. He founded an empire that lasted 400 years. Best always. PM
Pete Hegseth is not the Secretary of Defense. There is no such department. It is the Department of War.
Do you think that the Trump administration has taken into consideration the damage being done to the Gulf States economies? A UAE billionaire wrote an open letter to Trump criticizing his attack on Iran Here's a quote from the letter: Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision?
What if the collateral damages from this war causes the Gulf States to switch teams and join forces with Russia and China?
Bill Bonner has put out an articles that shows of very sloppy journalism on his part, and thats being generous. Prob because he keeps referencing the gutter western press, who lie for a living. The kurds have wisened up to your pedo president and havent invaded Iran. No body in their right mind would trust that pedo president and his epstein empire. For most people, except Bill and MAGA, that boat has sailed.
Aren't Americans in general sophomoric when it comes to foreign policies. We cry when someone attacks us but aren't concern about the devastation our policies have caused in other countries. For example, Baby Bush's illegal invasion of Iraq resulted in over 500,000 deaths. Maybe you would support the Iraqis exacting revenge on the US? How about the deaths of over 200,000 Guatemalans at the hands of the military dictatorship we installed after another CIA coup?