Politics

[Boyd Brooks]

To change gears just a bit, am on my return leg from God’s Lake Manitoba after a few days of battling hypothermia and still catching a few fish - about eighty walleye, a couple of dozen or so northerns, and my first lake trout. Everyone we met from Canadian security and customs, outfitter and guides, hotels and restaurants, and even uber drivers could not have been more courteous or helpful. In spite of what theirs have posted here, I was delighted to find Canadians remain some of the finest hosts on the planet.

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I hope you got a chance for a few shore lunches, fresh pickerel (walleye) over an open fire, nothing better. Pike can be every bit as good, just harder to fillet. Lake trout poached with lemon and dill is also yum yum!

 

[spike.t]

Mmmm.....

Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans diverge over attack

A US president who vowed to be a peacemaker has to handle a new Middle East crisis that strikes a blow to his diplomatic efforts.

bbc.com

 

[Tundra Tiger]

To change gears just a bit, am on my return leg from God’s Lake Manitoba after a few days of battling hypothermia and still catching a few fish - about eighty walleye, a couple of dozen or so northerns, and my first lake trout. Everyone we met from Canadian security and customs, outfitter and guides, hotels and restaurants, and even uber drivers could not have been more courteous or helpful. In spite of what theirs have posted here, I was delighted to find Canadians remain some of the finest hosts on the planet.

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That'd look good on a wall Joe... said the former fish taxidermist.

 

[Pheroze]

To change gears just a bit, am on my return leg from God’s Lake Manitoba after a few days of battling hypothermia and still catching a few fish - about eighty walleye, a couple of dozen or so northerns, and my first lake trout. Everyone we met from Canadian security and customs, outfitter and guides, hotels and restaurants, and even uber drivers could not have been more courteous or helpful. In spite of what theirs have posted here, I was delighted to find Canadians remain some of the finest hosts on the planet.

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80 walleyes! Pffftttt we may not have been so welcoming if we had known you were going to catch all the fish Congratulations on what must have been a great trip

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Mmmm.....

Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans diverge over attack

A US president who vowed to be a peacemaker has to handle a new Middle East crisis that strikes a blow to his diplomatic efforts.

bbc.com

A quote from that article:

“I think that Netanyahu just torpedoed the nuclear talks for the time being," said Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East Politics in George Washington University's School of International Affairs. "You cannot beat up a guy and then say come and negotiate with me."

Other than being patently obvious, that statement is kind of dumb. We’re talking about nation states here. You can whip someone so bad they have no choice other than to do what they’re told. Hopefully what has happened and what’s still in store will be the whipping they need and this era of saber rattling and bad behavior by Iran (putting it mildly) will largely be ended. You can also always do more than beat someone up if the situation calls for it.. This is long overdue, I just hope they hit them hard enough.

 

[Brent in Az]

The lone survivor of the Air India flight stated that shortly after takeoff, he heard a loud bang, and the lights flickered in the cabin.
Experts saying that could be an indication of an engine failure.
If the flaps were deployed and providing the required lift, one engine would have provided enough power to climb out, circle around, and make an emergency landing.

 

[Aaron N]

A quote from that article:

“I think that Netanyahu just torpedoed the nuclear talks for the time being," said Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East Politics in George Washington University's School of International Affairs. "You cannot beat up a guy and then say come and negotiate with me."

Other than being patently obvious, that statement is kind of dumb. We’re talking about nation states here. You can whip someone so bad they have no choice other than to do what they’re told. Hopefully what has happened and what’s still in store will be the whipping they need and this era of saber rattling and bad behavior by Iran (putting it mildly) will largely be ended. You can also always do more than beat someone up if the situation calls for it.. This is long overdue, I just hope they hit them hard enough.

You can always start a 20 year war and then give the country back to the bad guys

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

You can always start a 20 year war and then give the country back to the bad guys

Such is life. JD Vance ovah heah… Anyway, the dems gave the stan back. Should’ve kept troops there. No different than having troops in Korea or Germany or Japan. Or wherever else

 

[Aaron N]

For all the geopolitical experts here, what sort of regional backing does Iran have? Is there a chance of all the arab states banding together in retaliation?

 

[RLD]

For all the geopolitical experts here, what sort of regional backing does Iran have? Is there a chance of all the arab states banding together in retaliation?

No. None at all. They have some small time allies in the region, but nobody serious. All the bigger players have no interest in supporting Iran (Saudi, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, UAE etc).

 

[spike.t]

A quote from that article:

“I think that Netanyahu just torpedoed the nuclear talks for the time being," said Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East Politics in George Washington University's School of International Affairs. "You cannot beat up a guy and then say come and negotiate with me."

Other than being patently obvious, that statement is kind of dumb. We’re talking about nation states here. You can whip someone so bad they have no choice other than to do what they’re told. Hopefully what has happened and what’s still in store will be the whipping they need and this era of saber rattling and bad behavior by Iran (putting it mildly) will largely be ended. You can also always do more than beat someone up if the situation calls for it.. This is long overdue, I just hope they hit them hard enough.

Can't find it ..but read an article today that said basically Israel has changed Warfare tactics and gone back to a previous time of Warfare.....not how it's been where governments pussyfoot around and try not to be seen basically going all in ....Israel is going back to basics and using everything to destroy their opponents totally...from hamas..hezbollah.....now Iran.....no quarter just destroy then properly.....back to old fashioned Warfare

 

[mdwest]

For all the geopolitical experts here, what sort of regional backing does Iran have? Is there a chance of all the arab states banding together in retaliation?

I think the threat is minimal..

the first issue is there isn't an arab connection.. the Iranians are Persians.. Arabs (both Levant and Gulf State Arabs) see them as a dramatically different people.. their only connection is Islam..

the second issue is Arab states with influence, power, and military capability (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, etc) are all Sunni majority populations with Sunni governments in power/control.. Iran is a Shia country.. While relationships between many of the Arab states and Israel have improved over the past couple of decades, relationships between many Arab states and Iran have deteriorated dramatically (the Iranians sponsor the Houthis in Yeman for example, who routinely attack Saudi military and civilian targets)...

the third issue is the US.. while a percentage of the population of most of the arab countries undisputedly hate the US, the governments of all of those countries significantly favor trading with, working militarily with, etc the US and its allies as opposed to the countries that align themselves with the Iranians (Russia, NORK, China, etc)... While US relationships with several gulf state countries deteriorated quite a bit during the Biden administration, they are already healing and improving now that Trump is in office.. the Qatari, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Egyptians, Jordanians, etc really don't want to find themselves on the opposite side of the field militarily or economically to the US and its allies.. While politically I don't see any of those countries openly supporting Israel.. I also don't see them actively participating in any way that even remotely harms Israel.. Israel is actually the more stable and more reliable neighbor... and Israels friends could make things very difficult for them if they stepped into the breach in any way...

 

[Ray B]

The courtesy of Canadians to Americans is reciprocated. In Washington state hundreds of Canadians are here either as vacationers or snowbirds on their way to and from the southland. All are treated as friends.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Qatar is the only nation in that area that has helped Iran and their proxies. (Thinking it’s a secret) But as Mdwest said they do not want to get between the US and Iran.

 

[Tanks]

“I think that Netanyahu just torpedoed the nuclear talks for the time being," said Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East Politics in George Washington University's School of International Affairs. "You cannot beat up a guy and then say come and negotiate with me."

Worked pretty well with the Japanese after Hiroshima etc..

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Worked pretty well with the Japanese after Hiroshima etc..

Exactly.

 

[Tanks]

I have to go to LA tomorrow and work as security for my partner. Moved it to 6AM due to planned "No King..." demonstrations. Area marked in blue is where I am going, and areas in red are the demonstration areas. Not pleased, as I was planning on doing other stuff instead of being an armed guard. She has to drop a package and leave.

 

[Ray B]

The professor is incorrect. A person could be "beaten-up" and then negotiate- in fact it may show the benefits of negotiation rather than risk further beatings.

 

[Aaron N]

I think the threat is minimal..

the first issue is there isn't an arab connection.. the Iranians are Persians.. Arabs (both Levant and Gulf State Arabs) see them as a dramatically different people.. their only connection is Islam..

the second issue is Arab states with influence, power, and military capability (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, etc) are all Sunni majority populations with Sunni governments in power/control.. Iran is a Shia country.. While relationships between many of the Arab states and Israel have improved over the past couple of decades, relationships between many Arab states and Iran have deteriorated dramatically (the Iranians sponsor the Houthis in Yeman for example, who routinely attack Saudi military and civilian targets)...

the third issue is the US.. while a percentage of the population of most of the arab countries undisputedly hate the US, the governments of all of those countries significantly favor trading with, working militarily with, etc the US and its allies as opposed to the countries that align themselves with the Iranians (Russia, NORK, China, etc)... While US relationships with several gulf state countries deteriorated quite a bit during the Biden administration, they are already healing and improving now that Trump is in office.. the Qatari, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Egyptians, Jordanians, etc really don't want to find themselves on the opposite side of the field militarily or economically to the US and its allies.. While politically I don't see any of those countries openly supporting Israel.. I also don't see them actively participating in any way that even remotely harms Israel.. Israel is actually the more stable and more reliable neighbor... and Israels friends could make things very difficult for them if they stepped into the breach in any way...

Thank you sir, that’s pretty much what I expected to read.

 

[mdwest]

The professor is incorrect. A person could be "beaten-up" and then negotiate- in fact it may show the benefits of negotiation rather than risk further beatings.

Completely concur...

The professor has obviously never had his ass whipped before..

Normally once an ass has been suitably whipped, the whipped party is very eager to negotiate..

Its just a question of how much of an ass whipping Israel has to deliver before Iran desires negotiation..