War in the Middle East

@UNIMAN

 After we had the scumbag neighbor rob us up there we put up security cameras & were watching the geese on the lake while the snow was coming down. Absolutely beautiful!

Stay safe & stay warm.

@Midnight1

I am on the side of stopping international terrorists funded by IRAN who attacks precious oil tankers and Americans.

It's always a freaking neighbor. Sorry to hear that. 

Remote cameras are a nice peace of mind. Use them when we go on vacations. But I heard Detroit has a problem with burglars jamming wi-fi camera signals. Soon wi-fi cameras will be worthless!

Enjoy your great weather.

Houthi ballistic missile strikes US-owned and operated cargo ship, US Central Command says

CNN -

The M/V Gibraltar Eagle sustained minor damage and did not report any injuries.

Earlier in the day, the Houthis - a known proxy aggressor of IRAN - attempted to launch an anti-ship ballistic missile that failed in flight and crashed in Yemen, Central Command said.

On Friday, Yahya Sare’e, the Houthi rebels’ military spokesperson said they would continue their aggression against commercial ships in the Red Sea.

The biggest container shipping companies have been forced to divert vessels around Africa, hitting trade and pushing up freight costs.

Oil executives worry that the Israel-Hamas war may escalate into a regional conflict and disrupt exports of crude.

The Strait of Hormuz at the northern end of the Gulf of Oman is the biggest oil chokepoint in the world.

On Thursday, the US and UK struck 28 separate Houthi sites in an attempt to disrupt the group’s ability to fire upon international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The two countries were also backed by Canada, Australia, Bahrain and the Netherlands.

The US carried out additional strikes on Friday night which were much smaller in scope and targeted a radar facility used by the Houthis, a US official said.

The escalation continues.... Inevitably, in addition to the US proxy war in Ukraine and the "hot conflict" in Israel, the US will be involved in a hot war with Iran.  Question is, who will come to the support of Iran??  Not good...not good...  

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/15/irans-revolutionary-guard-attack-anti-iranian-groups-in-iraqs-erbil

Biden administration redesignates Houthis
        as a global terrorist group
         in wake of Red Sea attacks

USA TODAY - Jan 17

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration Wednesday relisted Iranian-backed Houthis as a “specially designated global terrorist” group following U.S.-led attacks on the Yemen-based militants who have launched waves of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Since Thursday, the Pentagon, with initial military support from Great Britain, has launched three attacks with missiles and warplanes on sites used by the Houthis to target and launch missiles at commercial and naval ships transiting the Red Sea.

esteemed, "much smarter person than 99% of covers users", Nassim Nicholas Taleb on current events and the realty behind this specific conflict.... 

Hint;  If you are easily triggered by real world reality Trump comments you may want to turn away now....cough, cough, Wally.... 

"Trump is not easily fooled, gets the Palestinian problem >>>better than Biden, that Netanyahu was NOT interested in making a deal, just buying time, that Abbas was "like a father", that he was erroneously led to believe that Palestinians didn't want peace, etc."

"By the end of his presidency, Trump had concluded that Netanyahu didn’t really want peace with the Palestinians & was using him on Iran"

https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1749167541358928104

@kcblitzkrieg

 Nothing like a grade school call out from you huh?

Is that even the point though? Does it mean Biden does not get it because Trump allegedly does? I dont think Trump gets much outside of playing golf personally but does it even matter?

So what if Trump proclaims what Biden does not, it might actually mean that Biden is not tweeting every single thought and opinion, it might come off as combative and antagonistic if Biden were to blast an alleged ally in the open as Trump CAN while not in the office.

Why I say "does it matter" is that when the rubber hits the road and he is in charge I think the brash attitude declines versus when he is just blasting the world on social media and has no recourse outside of his usual offensive demeanor. It isnt like the POTUS makes all decisions exclusively or independently because if that were the case we would have the wall already, we would have annexed North Korea and Russia would have NBA teams by now. There is a huge difference between Trump smack talk and reality.

@wallstreetcappers

I use Covers for entertainment as this website's main purpose is gambling entertainment.  If one cannot discern playful entertainment and some back and forth locker room banter amongst the forum then what in the Sam hell are we doing here to begin with huh??  

You think because this sub is labeled "politics" we all must be buttoned up and straight forward like we are sitting on Sunday's "Meet the Press" panel ??  

Everything is taken so personally here when this sub is NO DIFFERENT from the mains where we banter back and forth daily and no ones panties gets ruffled.  

I've said my peace with you many times, I have no quarrel with you and enjoy discussing a variety of topics as you have intelligent and thought provoking things to share.  

Recently when I have shared thoughts posed by certain people you have met me with the "that person is a POS SOB for X reason", completely ignoring the content or purpose of said message.  I thought you would maybe have a different tune with Mr. Taleb so I gave you a shout out.... are you offended because I used the phrase "easily triggered by Trump associated discussion" ???  I thought that was funny, ya know because true things are usually funnier than fake things.  Tongue in cheek, haha you'll like this one bud.  Guess not.  Guess we all just have to play the bump on the log, "get off my lawn" BOOMER old man around here.  

I'd hate to live my life so easily triggered by the mention of one single person because I am so filled with emotion and hate for someone I've never met nor will meet who in the grand scheme of things, really has played no part in how my life has been affected....

"MOCGA" 

Make Our Covers Great Again.  

@kcblitzkrieg

 That really isnt accurate and you know it. There is always an underlying theme here of Trump fans vs everyone else and that group pokes a stick in the face of the other as a means of getting the point across. Too much is negative put down insults antagonistic partisan throw up and it creates an environment of combativeness and divide. Its what Trump wants, he knows that the more he divides us against each other the more he gets the glorious attention he seeks and the more people will not unify and come together. This forum is a replica of society, people are not seeking out differences in positive ways as much as in the past, now it is personal it is petty it is in your face and extreme and the same goes here. 

There is little non-partisan discussion and exchange of ideas and with that backdrop its easy to see which sides people are on and what the intention of most every post is. When you make the comment that I am going to be insulted or you imply that me personally will react a certain way, you generalize and remove the opportunity to discuss. That topic you mentioned is a big deal it is not some laugher and move on, Taleb is not a unifier either he is a divider, he has a massive agenda and I dont like much of what he says or thinks. It would be cool if this forum were more positive and accepting that people would want to drop the partisan junk and just talk about how things can be better and what we can do to improve society. Instead most every single thread is one party against another, one candidate stomping on everyone else, insulting and attacking the guy in office and elevating our zero egos by siding with crummy lousy politicians.

I like good debate and content but it is rare without the subject turning partisan or a member making attacks on the other and that goes for both sides. There are lame bumping tactics going on, digs being thrown around, members stalk their partisan hated enemies in other forums and then we wonder why this area is such a mess, the members make it a mess and that has never changed over the 20 years Ive been here.

Your personal disdain for Trump has made you more biased in your moderating of this forum than any of the members that you have railed against for being biased ……

you should be held to a higher standard because you are in a position of authority but unfortunately your passionate and emotional beliefs towards Trump make calling things even steven around here impossible …..

you are human and this is understandable …..

but the casual reader suffers due to this conflict of interests because some conversations are permitted to grow and flourish while others are tied to cement blocks and thrown overboard into the sea , and they’re never to be seen or heard from again .

and I’m not a big pusssy , this is just my opinion , and my consciousness says that I’m entitled to it 

maybe we can get Flynt or ColinMac in here to moderate and you can just be a regular poster in here , you know , like a regular old Clark Kent .

I will submit this to them in a PM for further review . And this is nothing against you wall . I respect you , and loved talking St.Louis Cardinals baseball with you , but brother you’re just not built for this job .

I dislike watching men of integrity soil themselves over and over again when facing the insurmountable pressure of fighting off their own demons .

it’ll be for the best 

@spockgato

 You have no perspective and you see things partisan in your own way not knowing full context and so you judge frequently but are completely inaccurate with your observations.

Its ok that you have your biases and leanings, it is obvious and you spell it out quite regularly. I am not in need of you stepping in to give perspective on things you really have no reason to and are seeing only a small piece of the total picture and that is why I usually ignore your commentary.

You can like Trump (or any politician) all you like, no issue at all and as long as your messages and content keep the rules I dont have an reason to be involved, but when you attack others or stalk or break the rules then it becomes a problem.

@wallstreetcappers

 Who are "unifiers" you speak of ??   You mention this often but I have never seen an example of one of these people ??  

 I understand the message of your previous post and respect that message. 

I have previously written on the fascinating machinations of why & how Trump was first elected and the roots of said election going back to how Obama won in 2008.  What transpired over the next 8 years leading up to the 2016 election is part of the "revolutionary cycle". 

A coy comment I've heard thrown about in the discussion of history and politics is "we have a revolution every 4 years" (with POTUS election).  On the micro level yes, a mini-revolution but it is really not as the "uni-party" system we have in place accomplishes exactly what you are describing in creating the divide.  Give the peasants something to bicker about while we, the global elites, do what we want for the power (money) players that get their politicians elected.  That is the name of the game and the majority of the population is too ignorant and/or just doesn't give a shiit.  Nothing will change the fact that the majority of American care more about their local sports team or the Kardashians than actually doing anything to fix the system or change status quo.  

"bring people together" ??  Really ??  The progressive left started the divide post 2008, gave 8 years of progressive policy that had societal impacts greater than ever imagined (this is what got Trump elected).  Trump takes over and he fed off the same divide that got him elected and people want to bitch & complain and blame it on him.  Did he help?  Hell no he didn't, he played to his position of power and his MAGA base, no surprise there.....now, another 8 years later and here we are 2024 and the pendulum is now swinging back to the center socially, populous wise.  These things are cyclical in history and the level the pendulum swings depends on how far and in which direction it is coming from.....in today's case, it's swinging pretty far back to the right.  

Anyway, end of rant....  I am genuinely interested though in hearing your thoughts on who some of these "unifiers" are who could help "heal the divide" we currently are witnessing today.  

Last comment.  People who you say are "dividers" may be looked at "dividers" for one group but "unifiers" for another group.  The truth is not always clean and pretty.  Truth can be messy and ugly, but it can still be the truth.  I'm not interested in "story time" for adults.  I don't want someone to piss down my leg and tell me it's raining because they don't want to "upset and divide" anyone.  I'm a big boy, tell me like it is and let me deal with the consequences.  That is a problem in today's world.  

@kcblitzkrieg

 The unifiers I speak of is a concept, a theory an ideal a goal and so maybe that answers the questions you have asked about who I think meets the mark with regard to what I consider high value or deserving of my vote...well none currently. So my comments and conclusions posted here are 100% base on the concept that partisan garbage is of no value and that dividers are not to be admired. My strong commentary is always about the quality or lack of qualities of the person, not the party so when I  am strong against most of what Trump stands for it is because he is a very poor person and divides the simple voter in a very destructive way and that has large impact and is very damaging. Biden is just a DNC suit he is not a pied piper antagonist so what is there much to say about him, he is as vanilla as it comes and he is not out attacking people personally or slandering others as a narrative, he follows what the party says and there isnt all that much to complain about the guy. Biden is a lifer taker and his son has done stuff no question but he is not a destroyer of people so I dont really have tons to say about him.

It is interesting seeing your perspective about Obama, I dont see his 8 years the same way you do or that others have said and maybe I hold higher regard towards him as he has more class for the position than the next two guys did and he was as close to a unifier that I can recall, maybe Clinton his first presidency he was a unifier and crossed the aisle for a time before the GOP went after him for the Lewinsky situation. I have to think that there are better options out there, that is what we are lacking and what I hope evolves in the next 20 years, the current politicians in the queue are horrible there has to be better out there.

Oh and on your other Jamie comment in the other thread...what do you think he would do if Texas started setting up camps around Jamie's branch offices and his corporate office and his home town and residence? That comment you posted him saying is so exactly like him...as long as he has no impact then the  other liberals he insults are fair game to target. I'd love it to have the busses drop people off at Chase branch offices and have them set up home there, I think his tune would change pretty quickly.

To say that I have no perspective is silly and it’s hogwash , and frankly I’m offended .

And you can have your opinion that I’m inaccurate . That’s fine . But your opinion is no better than mine . And I believe a lot of my opinions are dead center nipple accurate .

If you say that I have my biases and leanings , which you did , then I think it’s perfectly normal in the realm of “ having my own thoughts as a human “ to say that you have your own as well

and in my opinion what I said to you previously has merit .

I fully comprehend that you have no need for me to step in and give my perspective although earlier you said that I didn’t have any .

and I do have reasons , for you to say I have no reason to give my perspective is downright unjust and immoral .

you see you have it misconstrued , as most people do about me , I see the ENTIRE picture , and THAT’S why people usually ignore me . Both Left AND Right . Because I see things that most people’s vision is incapable of pixelating let alone concentrating on into a precise focus .

I give them a multitude of angles with which they can gain different perspectives . Sometimes it can be TOO MUCH for them 

and you can give me all the disclaimers that you wish about proper posting methods , I appreciate it , but I’ve “ called off the dogs “ on that which you so unceremoniously decided to label as “ attacks “ and “ stalking “….

But going with the labeling ? Really ? That’s so archaic .

I understand everything is political . I’ve known this fact for most of my life . The people here in this forum have further solidified that belief for me . Yourself included . I’m sorry that everything can’t be candy canes and sugar plums . I really am . Sometimes people can disagree without the other person claiming it’s “ an attack “ . It’s how things evolve . And it’s how things get done . When they get done FOR REAL .

Do you really feel that I don’t have the right to express all of these opinions that I just posted because you don’t like them ? or because some of them were about you ? With leadership comes a greater responsibility to uphold values . Please uphold the value of my opinions just as you would anyone else’s . 

@spockgato

 To clarify..not sure why I need to but here goes again.

You are entitled to any perspective you have, i dont care who you follow or the politician you like, not sure where you get this from but go ahead and like whatever and good for you in being happier for it. 

I said and keep saying that you do not have full information on perspective regarding other members and that some break the rules and with that comes consequence. We let tons go down and often times take no action, you especially get the pass on a very very very regular basis. Your way of communicating is regularly abrasive and foul and yet you chalk it up to rapping and to just who you are, as you stated in the message above. It does not matter that you are as you are and nobody can change it, that is true but not the point. Other members might not appreciate your combative abrasive insults and your ways to try and FORCE them to engage with you, it it stalking and you know it. Yet you have not really been in trouble for it but it happens quite regularly. You cant make another group do what you want, you cant force your way into conversation and provoke to try and force dialogue. That approach is combative and annoying to those who are not seeking out conversation with you and that has been an issue so many times. So when I say you lack perspective it is that you only see your agenda and perspective and what you think is best for others and the situation, you try and force your narrative on many if not most of your messages. At some point you have to stop forcing it, I've asked you so many times to just stop forcing yourself where it is not welcome and stop poking and insulting people and just let them be in their own group and you steer clear. 

Then you go and generalize why actions are taken with zero understanding of what your actions are impacting others and that it is in their minds harassment. You were dual boxed the other day because what you posted was way out of line and unacceptable but you could have been boxed many other times and werent. When you are asked to just stay out and leave alone and then you refuse, what do you think will happen? The rules of the site are to make for a positive experience for all members and if the purpose of making a message is to antagonize or annoy then it is not what this site is about and that goes even  more so in this part of the forum where you guys knock each other and provoke each other more than anywhere else. If you are asked to be respectful and not provoke and stay out, just do that and you will see the issues are no longer there. Actions are taken only from the site rules and when you are asked to do certain things to try and do it. I dont see why you keep forcing your way into other groups, it isnt working and it wont work and it only causes you to be annoyed and to bother others, just stay out and let others have their views and their groups without you involved. 

Yo I’m gonna let you have all that 

because I know what time it is ….

but also because we’re really rapping now 

don’t think I didn’t catch that in there .
I saw it …

” you get the pass on a very very very regular basis , your way of communicating is regularly abrasive ….. “

that’s poetry right there and I appreciate it .

It’s all good brother . All your peeps will be safe from now on , as they have been , but I will always speak my mind and attempt to gather new information in order to understand this life journey just a little bit better because in my opinion that’s the reason why we’re all here . One .

@wallstreetcappers

 It is interesting seeing your perspective about Obama, I dont see his 8 years the same way you do or that others have said and maybe I hold higher regard towards him as he has more class for the position than the next two guys did and he was as close to a unifier that I can recall, maybe Clinton his first presidency he was a unifier.

I never said Obama was at fault for what I described.  I'm talking historical periods, the cycles.  You had GWB for 8 years....what happened the next 8 years was the pendulum swinging back the other way....it happened under Obama due to his administration's policies and those people put in charge at all levels of bureaucracy.  I'm not saying he was 100% responsible for the social & political schism that began during his time but by the time 2016 rolled around the political & social tide had changed so much, that pendulum swung back so far, that it enabled Trump to get the WH.  Yes, part of this was on Hillary too but that is side factor in the overall big picture.  

Then what happened in 2020 ??  Many voted for Biden to spite Trump, not because they thought Biden would be good.  Trump = Bad / Biden = tolerable.  

What has happened since 2020 ??  Big pendulum shift.... will a new Trump Admin accomplish anything different than the first one ??  IDK, probably not a whole lot but compared to what people have witnessed over the past 4 years ??  Yes, that's the current line of thinking....similar to 2020, those previously on the fence are now saying "well hell anybody is better than what we have".  

This summer is gonna tell us all a whole lot..... a summer of pandemic shut down complemented by "mostly peaceful" protests is what we got in 2020.  What is 2024 going to hold 

Exactly....   In the 2020 Election, too many people paid attention to their personal feelings about Trump (i.e. they didn't like him, and probably still don't), but realized they should have paid attention to his polices (i.e. they were good for most people). 

Dare I say "The people are growing up" and paying attention to what really matters in 2024 ?        This helps explain why Trump is polling much better in 2024  from groups that typically vote DEM ... Young people &  minorities , particularly. 

Three American soldiers dead, 25 wounded by Iran backed terrorists.

Apparently the 8 billion released to Iran, funding Houthis, funding Hamas is coming in handy.

Guess our president sees our troops as "suckers and losers" as he checks his watch again. Or maybe Iran does. 

Peace through strength is something lefties don't get.... never will, apparently.  

Article written Nov. 10th; On November 7, President Biden spoke of the "truly sacred obligation" Americans have to take care of our troops. He's right about that obligation, but his policy in Iraq and Syria is violating his most sacred duty as their commander in chief: to give his troops a clear, attainable mission and not to leave them as sitting ducks.

So why does the Biden administration, which solemnly intones about sacred obligations to servicemembers, have these troops tied down as bait for regional militias?

The greatest duty a commander in chief has is to give his troops a lawful mission, clearly defined, with the escalatory potential clearly bounded. Biden has failed these troops miserably in that regard. He should bring them home.

https://reason.com/2023/11/10/why-are-american-troops-still-in-iraq-and-syria/