Support NeoGAF

[Biff]

Ok, but why are republicans not doing much about Trump maybe sending boots when its so close to midterms?

Wondering the same myself. I assume Trump is promising a quick victory similar to Venezuela, so if you stick your neck out as a Republican and oppose the mission only for it to be a huge success, you will be branded as an anti-US closet dem who didn't believe in the troops and will be blown out in the midterms.

To an outside observer, the odds look really low of this being a quick mission. But I'm also a member of the general public who doesn't get to attend classified briefings for the house and senate so what do I know!

 

[Ipsi]

Wondering the same myself. I assume Trump is promising a quick victory similar to Venezuela, so if you stick your neck out as a Republican and oppose the mission only for it to be a huge success, you will be branded as an anti-US closet dem who didn't believe in the troops and will be blown out in the midterms.

To an outside observer, the odds look really low of this being a quick mission. But I'm also a member of the general public who doesn't get to attend classified briefings for the house and senate so what do I know!

Iran isn't Venezuela. Iran has a "capable" military unlike Venezuela.

 

[EviLore]

 

[lachesis]

Why would a capable military be recruiting 12yr olds, or only giving 10 bullets to person, not pay their soldiers, no food and be refused to be transported to hospital when he's wounded?

Only IRGC, not Iranian army, are getting some sort of support and their only loyalty is to the Khomenei regime, not the Iranian people...

 

[Gp1]

We're going for a couple of rough years...

Business - France confirms oil crisis, says 30-40 percent of Gulf energy infrastructure destroyed

France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure revealed on Wednesday that between 30 and 40 per cent of Gulf refining capacity has been damaged or destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes, leaving a shortage…

www.france24.com

France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure revealed on Wednesday that between 30 and 40 per cent of Gulf refining capacity has been damaged or destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes, leaving a shortage of 11 million barrels a day on global oil markets. Lescure warned it could take up to three years to restore damaged facilities, and several months to restart those that were urgently shut down.

 

[IDKFA]

This is what I heard being discussed earlier - that Iran don't need to negotiate because they can afford to wait this out, they have the potential for an economic victory. Trump, meanwhile, needs a way out.

Makes sense. Trump likely imagined, or was advised, that this would be over quickly.

Every day this continues does more damage to the global economy. Trump needs a way out fast.

We're going for a couple of rough years...

Business - France confirms oil crisis, says 30-40 percent of Gulf energy infrastructure destroyed

France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure revealed on Wednesday that between 30 and 40 per cent of Gulf refining capacity has been damaged or destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes, leaving a shortage…

www.france24.com

It's very rough here. The UK economy has taken a beating. The OECD recently warned that the UK will suffer the largest economic hit among major industrialised nations. This is because of our high dependence on imported energy, which makes our economy very vulnerable to global supply chain shocks.

As well as fuel being more expensive, it has also led to a rise in mortgage interest rates, further squeezing household disposable income for many people who were already financially struggling.

The UK also is praying this war is over quickly.

 

[Ozriel]

So what do you expect them to do even if Russia provides the intelligence (that does not do much)? lol Well it is time for Europe to step in Ukraine. They told that Iran was not their war, then I guess Ukraine is. Send troops there, more equipment, intelligence etc. etc.

Maybe not deny it and pretend Putin's a friend? Reports over the week say US negotiators are still trying to cajole Ukraine to give up territory while providing no guarantees.

European countries have stepped up significantly since Trump won. Including buying weapons from the US for Ukraine.

Where is Europe's blowback against Iran which has been directly helping Russia in Ukraine with drones the entire time.

I'm sure Russia would really love it if the EU diverted their attention from supporting Ukraine to spend their budget on bombing Iran

 

[MarV0]

It's very rough here. The UK economy has taken a beating. The OECD recently warned that the UK will suffer the largest economic hit among major industrialised nations. This is because of our high dependence on imported energy, which makes our economy very vulnerable to global supply chain shocks.

As well as fuel being more expensive, it has also led to a rise in mortgage interest rates, further squeezing household disposable income for many people who were already financially struggling.

The UK also is praying this war is over quickly.

The UK government is praying for that. The UK people are hoping this horrendous and most unpopular government in history collapses due to a fiscal event.

 

[Wildebeest]

The UK government is praying for that. The UK people are hoping this horrendous and most unpopular government in history collapses due to a fiscal event.

Yes the UK people all want to go bankrupt, be cold and go hungry its fun for them.

 

[MarV0]

Yes the UK people all want to go bankrupt, be cold and go hungry its fun for them.

We are not that poor... But I'll happily endure some strife in order to fix this country.

 

[Wildebeest]

We are not that poor... But I'll happily endure some strife in order to fix this country.

Seems like you have the attitude to fix the country really quickly.

 

[DenchDeckard]

I saw someone saying America is attempting to pull the rest of the world down to their level. I found that an interesting statement.

Seeing trump say things like the straight doesn't affect us, after starting a war with Iran seems fucking wild to me.

I didnt mind, when he was playing golf and being a businessman but holy shit.

The UK is in trouble too, but it is still an amazing country to live in. Apart from the weather. haha

 

[BattleScar]

It's very rough here. The UK economy has taken a beating. The OECD recently warned that the UK will suffer the largest economic hit among major industrialised nations. This is because of our high dependence on imported energy, which makes our economy very vulnerable to global supply chain shocks.

As well as fuel being more expensive, it has also led to a rise in mortgage interest rates, further squeezing household disposable income for many people who were already financially struggling.

The UK also is praying this war is over quickly.

Well its a good job, the UK didn't listen to all of the fucking idiots who claimed Net Zero was bad. Else they'd be even more exposed to energy price shocks.
There's still a lot that needs to be done still, but hopefully this conflict has finally put the idea that renewable and nuclear energy focus to reduce carbon dependency is in any way a bad idea.

We are not that poor... But I'll happily endure some strife in order to fix this country.

Who's gonna do the fixing?
Reform???
lol

 

[FUBARx89]

The UK government is praying for that. The UK people are hoping this horrendous and most unpopular government in history collapses due to a fiscal event.

What? And we get Reform in? The home for unwanted Tories lmao. Ran by a rich wanker who pretends to be working class with his immigrant girlfriend lmao. One rule for thee another for me.

We are not that poor... But I'll happily endure some strife in order to fix this country.

You say we're not that poor. But consumer spending is weakening. Again. Everything is ridiculously expensive. Fuel has shot up 20p per litre up here in the NE. Food will be going up cause of it. Cost to heat and power your house is going up. Mortages have gone up.

I worry about the future my kid will have, because of people like you who will happily let everything burn to get what they want. Just like our parents generation have done to us.

Anyway

I see Saudi Arabia sources have confirmed they're pushing Trump to continue with Iran. Funny how they don't want any of their own skin in the game and happy to let America do it all.

 

[MarV0]

What? And we get Reform in? The home for unwanted Tories lmao. Ran by a rich wanker who pretends to be working class with his immigrant girlfriend lmao. One rule for thee another for me.



You say we're not that poor. But consumer spending is weakening. Again. Everything is ridiculously expensive. Fuel has shot up 20p per litre up here in the NE. Food will be going up cause of it. Cost to heat and power your house is going up. Mortages have gone up.

I worry about the future my kid will have, because of people like you who will happily let everything burn to get what they want. Just like our parents generation have done to us.

Anyway

I see Saudi Arabia sources have confirmed they're pushing Trump to continue with Iran. Funny how they don't want any of their own skin in the game and happy to let America do it all.

This is the result of thinking you can outsource everything from food to energy to basic materials to production while importing endless cheap labour subservient to the state. The country holds zero leverage or power and your kid and my kid has no future in the UK as it stands.

The latest events including the Iran war is just a long overdue reality check.

 

[Tams]

Makes sense. Trump likely imagined, or was advised, that this would be over quickly.

Every day this continues does more damage to the global economy. Trump needs a way out fast.



It's very rough here. The UK economy has taken a beating. The OECD recently warned that the UK will suffer the largest economic hit among major industrialised nations. This is because of our high dependence on imported energy, which makes our economy very vulnerable to global supply chain shocks.

As well as fuel being more expensive, it has also led to a rise in mortgage interest rates, further squeezing household disposable income for many people who were already financially struggling.

The UK also is praying this war is over quickly.

While I'm sure Trump has been told and believes this will be quick, the inability of people like you to comprehend the bigger picture on this is mind-boggling.

Iran have been and still are a persistent threat. The theocratic regime is a death cult. From the US and Israeli perspectives, they need to be removed at some point eventually as Iran want to destroy both of them at any cost.

Hamas, and ultimately Iran's choice to attack on the 7th October has led to the Iranian regime being the weakest it probably ever has been and ever will be.

If the regime is taken out now, then the cancer will just grow back again. They'll close the Strait or Hormuz whenever they want, and if they get nuclear weapons, use them for the same thing.

But you've taken, the these days typical, European approach of strongly worded letters and statements. They mean jack shit. Doing that just enables the likes of the Iranian regime. All while selfishly complaining about bad it is for you.

I'm from the UK. I'm certainly not wanting this war to be over until the theocratic regime in Iran are eliminated.

If we, the UK, hadn't been governed by morons for the last 30 years, we'd have some self-suficiency and a functioning navy to help expedite this.

 

[Tams]

You say we're not that poor. But consumer spending is weakening. Again. Everything is ridiculously expensive. Fuel has shot up 20p per litre up here in the NE. Food will be going up cause of it. Cost to heat and power your house is going up. Mortages have gone up.

So essentially, you're saying we should just let the school bully take our lunch money, which they can also go and buy a knife with the threaten us some more.

All while, somehow despite cuts and mismanagement, we have a more powerful military than them.

 

[Ozriel]

While I'm sure Trump has been told and believes this will be quick, the inability of people like you to comprehend the bigger picture on this is mind-boggling.

Iran have and still are a persistent threat. The theocratic regime is a death cult. From the US and Israeli perspectives, they need to be removed at some point eventually as Iran want to destroy both of them at any cost.

Hamas, and ultimately Iran's choice to attack on the 7th October has led to the Iranian regime being the weakest it probably ever has been and ever will be.

If the regime is taken out now, then the cancer will just grow back again. They'll close the Strait or Hormuz whenever they want, and if they get nuclear weapons, use them for the same thing.

But you've taken, the these days typical, European approach of strongly worded letters and statements. They mean jack shit. Doing that just enables the likes of the Iranian regime. All while selfishly complaining about bad it is for you.

I'm from the UK. I'm certainly not wanting this war to be over until the theocratic regime in Iran are eliminated.

If we, the UK, hadn't been governed by morons for the last 30 years, we'd have some self-suficiency and a functioning navy to help expedite this.

But that's the point. Bombs from the skies won't change the regime. You're going to need a ground war and/or a mass uprising to achieve this.

The 'functioning navy' you cite won't be of much help if even the U.S. Navy isn't keen to enter the strait and missile range.

I'm going to need more of you to speak realistically. Regime change will take all out war to achieve.

 

[Wildebeest]

This is the result of thinking you can outsource everything from food to energy to basic materials to production while importing endless cheap labour subservient to the state. The country holds zero leverage or power and your kid and my kid has no future in the UK as it stands.

The latest events including the Iran war is just a long overdue reality check.

You want your kids to work on a farm without any diesel or nitrate fertilizers to toughen them up? That should be your personal choice not foisted on everyone.

 

[Ecotic]

Trump has just simply run out of time. There's fuel shortages in Southeast Asia and spreading, the OECD is forecasting inflation in the U.S. at 4.2%, the bond market began breaking yesterday, and a ground invasion that drags this war out for months will nearly guarantee a severe global recession.

Trump should have included substantial expeditionary forces in the military build-up before the first bombs dropped. They should have been available to take the islands as needed from the beginning. Now we have nothing but bad options because there was no contingency plan in place if Iran didn't show its belly on the first day.

 

[coinhook]

my cousin works in a commercial navy as a mechanic for years and has had contact with colleagues around the world.

He basically told me that Chevron buys cheaply both Russian and Iranian oil and on Gibraltar transports it to ships of American interests and sells it as American

This whole deal happens so that the USA comes on top of the oil business at the expense of Europe and China and so far they are succeeding.

 

[MarV0]

You want your kids to work on a farm without any diesel or nitrate fertilizers to toughen them up? That should be your personal choice not foisted on everyone.

The UK has ample of resources to produce it's own diesel and fertilizers but we choose to import it so we can in theory only achieve net zero. Pure lunacy.

 

[Wildebeest]

The UK has ample of resources to produce it's own diesel and fertilizers but we choose to import it so we can in theory only achieve net zero. Pure lunacy.

Not true. There are very limited known reserves left off the coast and a lot of is the wrong type. If someone led you to believe otherwise you should mark them down as a liar who wants to keep you in the dark and feed you BS. The old mushroom policy. The reason they do this is they want "one last hurrah" of being paid to exploit "new resources" that will never pay for themselves in a tax free and govt subsidized environment. It is decadence and corruption not sound policy.

 

[Madserb2023]

Maybe not deny it and pretend Putin's a friend? Reports over the week say US negotiators are still trying to cajole Ukraine to give up territory while providing no guarantees.

European countries have stepped up significantly since Trump won. Including buying weapons from the US for Ukraine.



I'm sure Russia would really love it if the EU diverted their attention from supporting Ukraine to spend their budget on bombing Iran

Maybe not deny it and pretend Putin's a friend? Reports over the week say US negotiators are still trying to cajole Ukraine to give up territory while providing no guarantees.

European countries have stepped up significantly since Trump won. Including buying weapons from the US for Ukraine.



I'm sure Russia would really love it if the EU diverted their attention from supporting Ukraine to spend their budget on bombing Iran

I would be happy if Europe just stopped buying Russian imports and its not just Hungary. It was still over 50 billion last year. Since the war Europe has spent double on imports from Russia than aid to Ukraine. More than 500 billion. That would have gone to recruiting soldiers and building drones. Their budget is already going to Russia.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Makes sense. Trump likely imagined, or was advised, that this would be over quickly.

It'd be interesting to know how the decisions went down. I always imagine those scenes from movies where there's a board room table with the military pushing to drop their bombs while others are pushing for diplomacy or arguing that the consequences could be far reaching, but in reality I have no idea. Tbh, I don't think anyone has any clue who's running America at the moment.

If Trump had a lot of say in this decision, I wonder what the end of the operation/war looked like. It feels a bit like:

Drop bombs
??????
We win!

It seems unlikely that the ???????? Part of the equation was "beg allies to join war effort then insult them in the media" or "oh shit, we need to deploy troops?" Certainly if they were on the cards, you'd think the president would have wanted to speak to the allies before kicking off. Safe to say, amid the bluster, this isn't going to whatever plan there was.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Iran getting in on the AI propaganda videos:

 

[Jaybe]

Iran getting in on the AI propaganda videos:

I'm sure it's "going viral" when the country has no internet

 

[Tams]

Trump has just simply run out of time. There's fuel shortages in Southeast Asia and spreading, the OECD is forecasting inflation in the U.S. at 4.2%, the bond market began breaking yesterday, and a ground invasion that drags this war out for months will nearly guarantee a severe global recession.

Trump should have included substantial expeditionary forces in the military build-up before the first bombs dropped. They should have been available to take the islands as needed from the beginning. Now we have nothing but bad options because there was no contingency plan in place if Iran didn't show its belly on the first day.

How about those countries do something about the country actually threatening to and attacking shipping?

Notice how many aren't complaining about the US.

 

[YCoCg]

What if this is all apart of the 4D chess? What if Trump is doing this on purpose to prove that we all need to get away from oil and gas? What if Trump is actually the saviour for renewables and this war will prove it? What if it's a huge success and many countries switch to high renewables and self storage? That would make Trump one of the greatest leaders to ever exist in modern times!

 

[winjer]

Iran getting in on the AI propaganda videos:

It's obvious this is made for internal use, for the Iranian population.
But it does make the IRGC look silly and stupid to the rest of the world.

 

[poppabk]

I know it's not but that looks like CGI of a UFO.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

It's obvious this is made for internal use, for the Iranian population.
But it does make the IRGC look silly and stupid to the rest of the world.

That's one take, but I would also say that it rather undermines Trump's claim that negotiations are going well. As Jaybe says, if the video is for an audience that has no internet, why bother?

 

[winjer]

That's one take, but I would also say that it rather undermines Trump's claim that negotiations are going well. As Jaybe says, if the video is for an audience that has no internet, why bother?

Could be. They know Trump is a narcissist and this video would affect him and make him delay negotiations. Then Iran can claim it's the USA that doesn't want to negotiate.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Could be. They know Trump is a narcissist and this video would affect him and make him delay negotiations. Then Iran can claim it's the USA that doesn't want to negotiate.

I think it's more likely that Iran knows it can wait it out more ably than Trump can. In statements Trump is trying to calm things down and Iran are repeatedly putting the message out that they are not negotiating.

 

[DrFigs]

Trump has just simply run out of time. There's fuel shortages in Southeast Asia and spreading, the OECD is forecasting inflation in the U.S. at 4.2%, the bond market began breaking yesterday, and a ground invasion that drags this war out for months will nearly guarantee a severe global recession.

Trump should have included substantial expeditionary forces in the military build-up before the first bombs dropped. They should have been available to take the islands as needed from the beginning. Now we have nothing but bad options because there was no contingency plan in place if Iran didn't show its belly on the first day.

Alternatively he could have simply not attacked Iran.

It's obvious this is made for internal use, for the Iranian population.
But it does make the IRGC look silly and stupid to the rest of the world.

A lot of people in the U.S. don't seem to get this when Trump is posting AI slop.

 

[daffyduck]

What if this is all apart of the 4D chess? What if Trump is doing this on purpose to prove that we all need to get away from oil and gas? What if Trump is actually the saviour for renewables and this war will prove it? What if it's a huge success and many countries switch to high renewables and self storage? That would make Trump one of the greatest leaders to ever exist in modern times!

It's going to take a while still to get away from oil and gas. What the west needs to do is separate themselves from the world price of oil. Even that is easier said than done, Canada has tried it before.

 

[Ozriel]

I would be happy if Europe just stopped buying Russian imports and its not just Hungary. It was still over 50 billion last year. Since the war Europe has spent double on imports from Russia than aid to Ukraine. More than 500 billion. That would have gone to recruiting soldiers and building drones. Their budget is already going to Russia.

That's not how it works, though. Hands are tied, and all that. There's nothing else available to take up the slack. They were also buying it discounted, as Russian energy was partly sanctioned.

Ukraine already has a robust and thriving FPV industry. What they sorely need now is interceptors to stop Russian missiles, as well as funding support for their wartime economy.

With the age of the FPV drone, the days of mechanized columns counter attacking are long gone.

Russia's economy was already beginning to struggle with funding their war. Which is pretty much why they've been leaning on clowns like Witkoff to get them a deal that screws Ukraine over.

 

[Madserb2023]

That's not how it works, though. Hands are tied, and all that. There's nothing else available to take up the slack. They were also buying it discounted, as Russian energy was partly sanctioned.

Ukraine already has a robust and thriving FPV industry. What they sorely need now is interceptors to stop Russian missiles, as well as funding support for their wartime economy.

With the age of the FPV drone, the days of mechanized columns counter attacking are long gone.

Russia's economy was already beginning to struggle with funding their war. Which is pretty much why they've been leaning on clowns like Witkoff to get them a deal that screws Ukraine over.

It is how it works and it's the strangest part of this war. Yes, France has announced they are going to release 2.6 billion of funding to Ukraine but they spent more on Russian LNG last year, let alone fertilizer. Thing is, they could get all their LNG from the US. It's a choice. If I as an individual said I supported Ukraine and I gave $30 dollars in aid to Ukraine but bought $70 worth from Russia which is about the ratio in Europe,you would question my intentions. China produces fertilizer. No need to get it from Russia but its cheap.

 

[LQX]

It's obvious this is made for internal use, for the Iranian population.
But it does make the IRGC look silly and stupid to the rest of the world.

What's really funny about the "propaganda" the IRGC social media accounts have been putting out, is that they're pretty much just mimicking what Trump and other official US governments accounts have been doing for months. The Trump administration has shown this is an effective way to not only garner laughs, but also support in spite of some terrible shit going on. Also it spreads the message faster than just a bunch of words on a paper background.

 

[Brucey]

We're going for a couple of rough years...

Business - France confirms oil crisis, says 30-40 percent of Gulf energy infrastructure destroyed

France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure revealed on Wednesday that between 30 and 40 per cent of Gulf refining capacity has been damaged or destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes, leaving a shortage…

www.france24.com

Damn they've definitely been playing down the damage in media if those numbers are true. Usually its like "small fire, put out quick", or "drones were intercepted only light damage from falling debris" etc. I guess witht the arab states strict media control is guaranteed.

 

[Critical Hit]

The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional U.S. troops to the Middle East during Operation Epic Fury, a senior defense official said, according to The Wall Street Journal.

 

[Durien]

Then why the fuck has gas gone up more than $1 per gallon in a month's span?

Fear. From what I understand we only get 3% of oil from here. The rest of Asia however...

 

[MisterFalcon]

The invisible hand of the market. Why would an American oil company sell in America for 50 bucks a barrel if they can get 100 selling to Asia?
Controlling that with price controls sound like commie politics.

 

[RoboFu]

Then why the fuck has gas gone up more than $1 per gallon in a month's span?

its all market related.. news pushes fear which pushes stock prices.





Also: They are sending troops as scare tactic. They are not needed. We are literally just cruising the skies anywhere we please. Destroying whatever needs to be destroyed.


The news wants to make sound it dire when it is really that there is no sense on wiping everyone out. The leaders are hit and then we give them a chance to comply. They try something else and we take that out and wait again.

 

[delirium trigger]

They'll bomb the power grid and then send troops in. They passed the point of no return.

 

[jason10mm]

I kind of wonder at what point Trump will say "we are using the strait. For every tanker hit, we level one of your cities." That's the old school way of dealing with pirates and terrorists and I suspect, if the world had the nutsack to do it, it would resolve the issue after just one....demonstration.

 

[delirium trigger]

I kind of wonder at what point Trump will say "we are using the strait. For every tanker hit, we level one of your cities." That's the old school way of dealing with pirates and terrorists and I suspect, if the world had the nutsack to do it, it would resolve the issue after just one....demonstration.

They're professional victims. Being bombed is a badge of honor. It's no help that certain media organizations are going along with their way of thinking.

I do think the US's main goal has been to undermine their nuclear capabilities but they probably can't secure the strait without a regime change.

 

[adamsapple]

I kind of wonder at what point Trump will say "we are using the strait. For every tanker hit, we level one of your cities." That's the old school way of dealing with pirates and terrorists and I suspect, if the world had the nutsack to do it, it would resolve the issue after just one....demonstration.

Level an entire city full of civilians and possibly kill / displace a lot of them for every oil tanker?

I sincerely hope these kind of decisions are made by more cooler heads.

 

[jason10mm]

Level an entire city full of civilians and possibly kill / displace a lot of them for every oil tanker?

I sincerely hope these kind of decisions are made by more cooler heads.

Well, Iran could, like, NOT mine open international waters or missile/drone strike tankers leading to a global oil crash putting MILLIONS at risk of starvation, you know?

It's not as if they weren't using horrific means to suppress their own population to spark these strikes int the first place. They COULD get with the international program. I don't see why everyone wants the US to hold back on it's BEST card, strategic level mass destruction, and have to play a gimped game that favors the bad actor causing all this ruckus in the first place. These guys making the strikes have family in cities, as do the military forces enforcing the will of the religious zealots. Speak truth to power and make them have to decide which side of history they wanna come down on. Every kid that starves to death for lack of food is a death on their hands. What say thee, adamsapple ?

 

[Stitch]

It's obvious this is made for internal use, for the Iranian population.
But it does make the IRGC look silly and stupid to the rest of the world.

This was probably made by pakistanis Blocking them + Indians on X made the site a lot better for me
edit: haha this user is actually from Pakistan

---

Kurdish troops, maybe?