The US war strategy is still cloaked in confusion. But we think we know what Iran had up its sleeve. With only a tiny, largely dysfunctional military the country had almost no way to protect itself..
I hate to admit it but I think Bill is right on his point today. Bombing Iran into submission will not work. Nothing short of ground troops will “win” this war and achieve the victory that would “end” the war. Byron King has written an excellent essay this morning discussing the war and his observations are accurate IMO. He mentions something that isn’t discusses in the MSM: Iran declared to Steve Witcoff that they have sufficient fuel to make 11 nuclear bombs! Assuming this is true, there may have been little reason to delay this conflict. However, I see an eerily familiar discussion coming out of the fog of this war. That is the nuclear bomb threat from Iran sounds like the WMD “threat” of the Iraq war.
It is interesting that Iran did NOT have near weapons grade nuclear material (60%) under the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal) from 2016-2018 and only obtained these threatening levels of refinement AFTER Trump withdrew us from the treaty in 2019, and particularly after we assassinated General Soleimani in 2020. Instead of addressing the flaws in the JCPOA treaty, Trump abandoned the efforts that were working, and replaced these restraints with…nothing. Destroy shit first, then come up with a half-ass plan that never reaches completion, the Trump Way. You could see this war coming from a mile away.
BS: The Iranians had prevented UN Inspectors from full access for many years during Bush II, Obama and Biden. We were all flying blind although we also knew that the Pakistani scientist Khan had been heavily involved for years assisting their nuclear weapons development. Hope is never a strategy.
Having said that, I don't disagree that ground troops on Iranian soil will be required to secure Hormuz. If so, Trump would be wise to enlist other ME nations (Sunni or Shiite or both), such as is been negotiated with our ME partners in Gaza, to man this force. Minimize visible American and Israeli forces.
Shah Pahlavi, as the inheritor of the Iranian monarchy, has indicated that his return to the throne would presage free elections for civilian government control. He would need to be held to that commitment.
The Americans and the Israeli's need to provide arms and organization to Iranians that want to wrest control away from their nihilist religious leadership. and then stand back as the Iranian people handle their own affairs - as long as it doesn't threaten the rest of us.in doing so.
This certainly won't be a cakewalk, but neither is having a bunch of religious nuts of what is essentially a 7th century death cult, armed with nuclear weapons in 2026, blackmailing you with threats of annihilation.
I suggest that if boots on the ground are necessary Barron Von Trump and his brothers be first in line. But speaking of religious zealots Netanyahu recently told a press conference that they must remember the Amaleks a mythical tribe from their book. "Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Pure genocide. This gives the Zionist the authority to kill women and children and animals which they do in Gaza.
Wouldn't we be better off listening to Washington's advice to avoid foreign entanglements? Let Israel and Iran fight it out.
Washingtons advice only worked in Washington day. A day when an invading force might take many weeks to sail to our shores. These days, a hypersonic missile covers that same distance in less than twenty minutes - so, why don't we just agree that our CIC of the 18th century would probably agree that these sorts of decisions are the sole domain of the CIC of today?
I've also had Progressive insist that the second amendment only pertained to flintlock long guns. All of it is simply preposterous.
I do enjoy comparing notes with Progressives however as it will probably get a few voters off the fence, if only to support common sense decisions.
Steve Witkoff is a NYC real estate speculator who strongly supports Israel.Plus, his partner Jared Kushner already has business interests in Gaza. . Don't believe anything these guys say about the negotiations.
Ah... more slurs from Bill as he seeks to raw conflate war casualty statistics with American strategy and tactics - and somehow finds the Americans wanting - in spite of the positive end of WWII for the allies. In spite of the casualties and risks underwritten by those WWII Bombardiers like my own father in order to minimize collateral civilian casualties - as though it never happened.
For everyone reading this, know that the American Heavy Bomber forces, targeted only industrial sites. Full stop. Were their casualties, regardless? Surely. Munitions factories, Refineries & Chemical plants and Railyards had military defenses if not simply night watchmen.
My father was repeatedly returning to the Rumanian Refineries in Ploesti. I encourage everyone to read about that particular campaign. That was where the Nazi's were converting coal into jet fuel using what is known (and being contemplated with a new facility in Arizona today) as the Fisher-Tropshe process.
Now, imagine having to fly your lumbering B24 Liberator heavy Bomber straight thorough a "black rectangular cloud" of blinding smoke and Flak, coming up from the ground directly over these facilities, on a clear blue day, simply to target correctly. You can read first-hand accounts in the book "The Wild Blue Yonder".
The Bombardiers using the Norden bombsight had to simultaneously fly the plane while delivering their bombs and ignore all the chaos occurring around them. These men were obviously made of tougher stuff than is often found today. They knew the odds of their survival spanned a period of time of approximately three weeks yet did it anyway, and repeatedly as well.
The movie "Catch 22"attempted to capture the psychodrama involved. Joseph Heller, the author actually completed this novel in my Uncle Don Clark's NYC illustrator studio. I remember Don relating the story to my father as they both reminisced sharing the own WWII Army Air Corp. stories (a quick aside: both Heller and Don served in the same unit yet were never deployed in theater).
But also understand what Bill seems to be unaware of or is purposely papering over - it was the British, after having absorbed the merciless Nazi V2 rocket campaign, aimed at its own citizens, that chose to respond in kind. I have no criticism of the Brits for this. Fire with Fire and Goose & Gander... But I will always challenge those that seek to misrepresent truth and seek to misrepresent the historic heroism of "better men than themselves" the American Heavy Bomber forces- whether out of their own ignorance or abject malice.
Bill once again you have distorted the facts in an effort mislead your readers. This kind of legacy media misdirection is akin to the misleading CNN and New York Times. You state "And Iran has its hands on the main valve". The suggestion here is that Iran has the power, by virtue of it's vast vast oil production, to control the price of oil on the world stage. Bill, Iran only produces only 3 to 5 percent of the world's oil production. The US, Saudi Arabia and Russia, in that order, produce most of the world's oil. Moreover, the US will be escorting oil tankers through the Straights of Hormuz, if not now, very soon. Your readers are old, educated and wise. They expect you to honor the faith they have put in you to provide accurate and honest commentary. You would do well to put your ideological lens aside and reports facts and then report your perspective on such facts and let your readers come to their own conclusions.
Escorting tankers very soon? Then why did Scott Bessent just say this: My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through."
Why is an international coalition needed to escort tankers when Whiskey Pete Hegseth just bragged about the strength of the US military?
"Dear Readers certainly shouldn’t put too much faith in our geo-political insights. But we will give them to you anyway. " On second thought don't, and go back to telling us about that old building that you are restoring on your property in Ireland.
Bill, you're right about one thing. "Dear Readers, certainly shouldn’t put too much faith in our geo-political insights. " I couldn't agree more. Hopefully, sometime soon, you will pivot back to BPR's mission.
For all those still on the Trump bandwagon you can be happy with this news. Eric and Don Jr aren't enlisting in the military but they are investing in a drone company that will be seeking Pentagon contacts. Like General Smedley Butler said "War is a Racket". Or George Carlin -It's a big club and you ain't in it.
So Washington only said it because it was difficult to maintain foreign entanglements! He actually said "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world".
Imagine all the money we would have saved if we avoided all the Mideast wars.
But, Ed, you decry the religious nuts in Iran but no response to Netanyahu and the Amaleks? Remember the genocide we did to them!
But if you and Trump back this war would you like to see Baron Von Trump's enlistment in the military?
Concerning the image at the top of this piece. I have already run into more than one case of people posting still images and video from previous conflicts and even severe industrial accidents and attributing them to the recent events in the gulf. There is an old saying that truth is the first victim of war. People need to be aware that they know virtually nothing as to what is really going on. There are people on both sides with a vested interest in confusing, gaslighting, misinforming, BSing and downright lying to you. Anything you can't verify should be taken with a bulk shipper's load of salt...
The "Air Wars" always ended when "Boots on the ground" were needed. Invasions in "the Middle East" should always remember the fiasco of "Gallipoli" !-Walter Oakes-annoakes4@aol.com
Yesterday I was asked by a reader if I thought everyone whom criticizes the government should leave the U.S. My answer, no, absolutely not. If only it were the case that these jackasses with TDS would open their minds and eyes to criticizing the government.
They won't.
They have an irreconcilable hard on for our President Donald Trump. It is as if they have consumed a bottle of viagra and DJT is their mistress. They talk as if he should be taken out, they don't like him. period. Starting with the inconsolable Billy Bonner who daily writes his diatribes, as Trump lives rent free in his brain.
If for example they would widen their scope to include the government it would lend creditability to their TDS inspired stance. What am I talking about? How about the (D)'s inability to look beyond the body politic and fund everyday Americans standing on the front lines of airport security for example. They (the (D's)) got 80% of their asks (Noem gone, body cameras in etc) yet they persist. Where is the criticism? Even if you do not agree with the assessment that 80% of the ask has been fulfilled, when do you put (as Fetterman has) country over party.
How about passing the Save America act which requires citizenship and a photo ID to vote. After all only 87% of the American population (including Democrats) are in favor of this but no, the (D)'s whom are apparently there as our representatives say no, F the voting public.
But not a word from Billy and those that bend a knee to him. He claims it is imperative to speculate on the President in order to understand stock market moves, but never ties the two together
What about the asshat schumer, who gives two shits only about political power and his ability to milk it for all the money he can get? Or Thune who flip flops like a fish on a beach? There are so many targets to be critical of, but no, in BB's and those who bend a knee on this board, it is all DJT's fault, full stop.
No they are not critical of the government, they are obsessed with the down fall of the US and putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of DJT, despite all the BS that has been performed by past Presidents. They offer no solutions, no financial impacts nor suggestions despite this "supposedly" being a financial newsletter.
AS for me, I think DJT in his 2nd term has made some good decisions and he has also made some bad. Personally, I (as almost all of you, including you Billy) only see his public persona and knowing what we know of that I would not want to have dinner with that buffoon.
However, insiders have said the public persona is nothing like the real DJT. Which apparently is quite a sociable, well spoken man. Just ask Bill Maher. So where does this leave us? Well as a paid up subscriber you are in until your renewal. No prorating, it is as if Billy knew he would be losing readers, so either continue reading his dribble and get caught up in the sometimes heated bs in response to his garbage or simply stay in the shadows. The choice is yours.
Bill is right about the US wars/invasions. How many has Iran done or any other country for that matter? US-800 or so military bases/facilities globally. Next closest? Russia-13 or so. Who's the problem?
I hate to admit it but I think Bill is right on his point today. Bombing Iran into submission will not work. Nothing short of ground troops will “win” this war and achieve the victory that would “end” the war. Byron King has written an excellent essay this morning discussing the war and his observations are accurate IMO. He mentions something that isn’t discusses in the MSM: Iran declared to Steve Witcoff that they have sufficient fuel to make 11 nuclear bombs! Assuming this is true, there may have been little reason to delay this conflict. However, I see an eerily familiar discussion coming out of the fog of this war. That is the nuclear bomb threat from Iran sounds like the WMD “threat” of the Iraq war.
It is interesting that Iran did NOT have near weapons grade nuclear material (60%) under the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal) from 2016-2018 and only obtained these threatening levels of refinement AFTER Trump withdrew us from the treaty in 2019, and particularly after we assassinated General Soleimani in 2020. Instead of addressing the flaws in the JCPOA treaty, Trump abandoned the efforts that were working, and replaced these restraints with…nothing. Destroy shit first, then come up with a half-ass plan that never reaches completion, the Trump Way. You could see this war coming from a mile away.
BS: The Iranians had prevented UN Inspectors from full access for many years during Bush II, Obama and Biden. We were all flying blind although we also knew that the Pakistani scientist Khan had been heavily involved for years assisting their nuclear weapons development. Hope is never a strategy.
Having said that, I don't disagree that ground troops on Iranian soil will be required to secure Hormuz. If so, Trump would be wise to enlist other ME nations (Sunni or Shiite or both), such as is been negotiated with our ME partners in Gaza, to man this force. Minimize visible American and Israeli forces.
Shah Pahlavi, as the inheritor of the Iranian monarchy, has indicated that his return to the throne would presage free elections for civilian government control. He would need to be held to that commitment.
The Americans and the Israeli's need to provide arms and organization to Iranians that want to wrest control away from their nihilist religious leadership. and then stand back as the Iranian people handle their own affairs - as long as it doesn't threaten the rest of us.in doing so.
This certainly won't be a cakewalk, but neither is having a bunch of religious nuts of what is essentially a 7th century death cult, armed with nuclear weapons in 2026, blackmailing you with threats of annihilation.
They had to be dealt with and they had to go.
I suggest that if boots on the ground are necessary Barron Von Trump and his brothers be first in line. But speaking of religious zealots Netanyahu recently told a press conference that they must remember the Amaleks a mythical tribe from their book. "Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Pure genocide. This gives the Zionist the authority to kill women and children and animals which they do in Gaza.
Wouldn't we be better off listening to Washington's advice to avoid foreign entanglements? Let Israel and Iran fight it out.
Washingtons advice only worked in Washington day. A day when an invading force might take many weeks to sail to our shores. These days, a hypersonic missile covers that same distance in less than twenty minutes - so, why don't we just agree that our CIC of the 18th century would probably agree that these sorts of decisions are the sole domain of the CIC of today?
I've also had Progressive insist that the second amendment only pertained to flintlock long guns. All of it is simply preposterous.
I do enjoy comparing notes with Progressives however as it will probably get a few voters off the fence, if only to support common sense decisions.
Steve Witkoff is a NYC real estate speculator who strongly supports Israel.Plus, his partner Jared Kushner already has business interests in Gaza. . Don't believe anything these guys say about the negotiations.
Ah... more slurs from Bill as he seeks to raw conflate war casualty statistics with American strategy and tactics - and somehow finds the Americans wanting - in spite of the positive end of WWII for the allies. In spite of the casualties and risks underwritten by those WWII Bombardiers like my own father in order to minimize collateral civilian casualties - as though it never happened.
For everyone reading this, know that the American Heavy Bomber forces, targeted only industrial sites. Full stop. Were their casualties, regardless? Surely. Munitions factories, Refineries & Chemical plants and Railyards had military defenses if not simply night watchmen.
My father was repeatedly returning to the Rumanian Refineries in Ploesti. I encourage everyone to read about that particular campaign. That was where the Nazi's were converting coal into jet fuel using what is known (and being contemplated with a new facility in Arizona today) as the Fisher-Tropshe process.
Now, imagine having to fly your lumbering B24 Liberator heavy Bomber straight thorough a "black rectangular cloud" of blinding smoke and Flak, coming up from the ground directly over these facilities, on a clear blue day, simply to target correctly. You can read first-hand accounts in the book "The Wild Blue Yonder".
The Bombardiers using the Norden bombsight had to simultaneously fly the plane while delivering their bombs and ignore all the chaos occurring around them. These men were obviously made of tougher stuff than is often found today. They knew the odds of their survival spanned a period of time of approximately three weeks yet did it anyway, and repeatedly as well.
The movie "Catch 22"attempted to capture the psychodrama involved. Joseph Heller, the author actually completed this novel in my Uncle Don Clark's NYC illustrator studio. I remember Don relating the story to my father as they both reminisced sharing the own WWII Army Air Corp. stories (a quick aside: both Heller and Don served in the same unit yet were never deployed in theater).
But also understand what Bill seems to be unaware of or is purposely papering over - it was the British, after having absorbed the merciless Nazi V2 rocket campaign, aimed at its own citizens, that chose to respond in kind. I have no criticism of the Brits for this. Fire with Fire and Goose & Gander... But I will always challenge those that seek to misrepresent truth and seek to misrepresent the historic heroism of "better men than themselves" the American Heavy Bomber forces- whether out of their own ignorance or abject malice.
Bill once again you have distorted the facts in an effort mislead your readers. This kind of legacy media misdirection is akin to the misleading CNN and New York Times. You state "And Iran has its hands on the main valve". The suggestion here is that Iran has the power, by virtue of it's vast vast oil production, to control the price of oil on the world stage. Bill, Iran only produces only 3 to 5 percent of the world's oil production. The US, Saudi Arabia and Russia, in that order, produce most of the world's oil. Moreover, the US will be escorting oil tankers through the Straights of Hormuz, if not now, very soon. Your readers are old, educated and wise. They expect you to honor the faith they have put in you to provide accurate and honest commentary. You would do well to put your ideological lens aside and reports facts and then report your perspective on such facts and let your readers come to their own conclusions.
Escorting tankers very soon? Then why did Scott Bessent just say this: My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through."
Why is an international coalition needed to escort tankers when Whiskey Pete Hegseth just bragged about the strength of the US military?
"Dear Readers certainly shouldn’t put too much faith in our geo-political insights. But we will give them to you anyway. " On second thought don't, and go back to telling us about that old building that you are restoring on your property in Ireland.
Too cleaver
I like your response better than my own. I hadn't seen yours when I wrote something similar. gRichard
Bill, you're right about one thing. "Dear Readers, certainly shouldn’t put too much faith in our geo-political insights. " I couldn't agree more. Hopefully, sometime soon, you will pivot back to BPR's mission.
For all those still on the Trump bandwagon you can be happy with this news. Eric and Don Jr aren't enlisting in the military but they are investing in a drone company that will be seeking Pentagon contacts. Like General Smedley Butler said "War is a Racket". Or George Carlin -It's a big club and you ain't in it.
So Washington only said it because it was difficult to maintain foreign entanglements! He actually said "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world".
Imagine all the money we would have saved if we avoided all the Mideast wars.
But, Ed, you decry the religious nuts in Iran but no response to Netanyahu and the Amaleks? Remember the genocide we did to them!
But if you and Trump back this war would you like to see Baron Von Trump's enlistment in the military?
Concerning the image at the top of this piece. I have already run into more than one case of people posting still images and video from previous conflicts and even severe industrial accidents and attributing them to the recent events in the gulf. There is an old saying that truth is the first victim of war. People need to be aware that they know virtually nothing as to what is really going on. There are people on both sides with a vested interest in confusing, gaslighting, misinforming, BSing and downright lying to you. Anything you can't verify should be taken with a bulk shipper's load of salt...
excellent.
Bombing Iran may increase the price of oil. It probably won’t cause Iran to surrender
We'll soon know if you are right
The "Air Wars" always ended when "Boots on the ground" were needed. Invasions in "the Middle East" should always remember the fiasco of "Gallipoli" !-Walter Oakes-annoakes4@aol.com
Yesterday I was asked by a reader if I thought everyone whom criticizes the government should leave the U.S. My answer, no, absolutely not. If only it were the case that these jackasses with TDS would open their minds and eyes to criticizing the government.
They won't.
They have an irreconcilable hard on for our President Donald Trump. It is as if they have consumed a bottle of viagra and DJT is their mistress. They talk as if he should be taken out, they don't like him. period. Starting with the inconsolable Billy Bonner who daily writes his diatribes, as Trump lives rent free in his brain.
If for example they would widen their scope to include the government it would lend creditability to their TDS inspired stance. What am I talking about? How about the (D)'s inability to look beyond the body politic and fund everyday Americans standing on the front lines of airport security for example. They (the (D's)) got 80% of their asks (Noem gone, body cameras in etc) yet they persist. Where is the criticism? Even if you do not agree with the assessment that 80% of the ask has been fulfilled, when do you put (as Fetterman has) country over party.
How about passing the Save America act which requires citizenship and a photo ID to vote. After all only 87% of the American population (including Democrats) are in favor of this but no, the (D)'s whom are apparently there as our representatives say no, F the voting public.
But not a word from Billy and those that bend a knee to him. He claims it is imperative to speculate on the President in order to understand stock market moves, but never ties the two together
What about the asshat schumer, who gives two shits only about political power and his ability to milk it for all the money he can get? Or Thune who flip flops like a fish on a beach? There are so many targets to be critical of, but no, in BB's and those who bend a knee on this board, it is all DJT's fault, full stop.
No they are not critical of the government, they are obsessed with the down fall of the US and putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of DJT, despite all the BS that has been performed by past Presidents. They offer no solutions, no financial impacts nor suggestions despite this "supposedly" being a financial newsletter.
AS for me, I think DJT in his 2nd term has made some good decisions and he has also made some bad. Personally, I (as almost all of you, including you Billy) only see his public persona and knowing what we know of that I would not want to have dinner with that buffoon.
However, insiders have said the public persona is nothing like the real DJT. Which apparently is quite a sociable, well spoken man. Just ask Bill Maher. So where does this leave us? Well as a paid up subscriber you are in until your renewal. No prorating, it is as if Billy knew he would be losing readers, so either continue reading his dribble and get caught up in the sometimes heated bs in response to his garbage or simply stay in the shadows. The choice is yours.
Bill is right about the US wars/invasions. How many has Iran done or any other country for that matter? US-800 or so military bases/facilities globally. Next closest? Russia-13 or so. Who's the problem?
Lay siege to Israel, arrest Bibi, his henchmen, and the Mossad apparatchiks, and let the healing of the world begin.
In other words, Tikkun olam!