BREAKING: President Trump says the US Navy has struck an Iranian ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz and US Marines have taken “full custody” of the vessel. pic.twitter.com/oAkdfzmXpJ
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 19, 2026
President Trump announces military strikes on Iran: Operation Epic Fury
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Last: 4 hrs ago by J.R.
FLBear5630 said:
And you think we will be the leader, allied with Israel?
I disagree. I see these actions actually cutting us out going forward. We will get short term lip service (like the tariffs) and they will look for new partners because when does Trump turn on them like he did with NATO. When does he undertake the next escapade without regard for anyone else's impacts? The "you have no choice" diplomacy only works until they find a choice.
Keep living 1970's CIA playbook. It was a failure in 3rd World Nations then and it will continue to be one. Iran is not giving in no matter how much you bomb them and no one is uprising to overthrow the Mullah's.
Trump has basically destroyed the modern world, not just the US. US citizens are worried to even go to Europe now. Gas is $5 a gallon. Groceries are through the roof. And our military is being used as extorsion muscle. You have people that worked their whole lives and it is now going up in Donald's narcissism, although his kids are doing well... Good job...
Clueless. Playing out like I have suggested it could….our actions dividing the regime, setting up for internal conflict. . The IRGC has effectively seized control from civil administration. For them, living in bunkers and caves dispersed all about the country, the war is an ideological Armageddon they are destined to win. The civil leadership, however, is bunkered up in the major metro areas. They have to pay the bills. If the don't, the crowds will come for them. How will they defend themselves? Note the lack of Artesh commanders on this kill list below dated 7th April. I've seen bigger ones that also show Artesh leadership. almost completely spared from attack. If you can't see the significance of how carefully our targeting has avoided Artesh, then perhaps you could ask who might have an incentive to go about fight the IRGC for you…….
" Trump has basically destroyed the modern world, not just the US"
This is the kind of thing someone says when they wet their pants over ordinary news and have no discernment at all.
This is the kind of thing someone says when they wet their pants over ordinary news and have no discernment at all.
We cornered Iran. It must be the end of the world right?
Realitybites said:Oldbear83 said:
For anyone considering this latest propaganda piece from Iran, just why would a nation at war hold back a significant portion of its munitions and weapons while it loses men and face?
There are two rational possibilities:
1) Iran is selling this claim to garner some credibility in its negotiations; or
2) Iran is receiving drones and missiles from China, and wants to disguise the relationship as much as possible.
There is a third possibility…and that is Iran is fighting a war of attrition. It's target may not be our soldiers, sailors, and airmen but rather our economy.
The U.S. economy is not nearly as desperate as the Iranian economy, especially if we maintain a blockade on their ports. With no ships going in either direction, they will become more desperate every day.
whiterock said:FLBear5630 said:EatMoreSalmon said:
Hardliners still in charge. At least a couple more weeks of blockade it appears.
You really think it will change?
If they closed the Strait, there was a deal cut with Russia or China by Iran.
They are playing for Europe and China to get involved. Europe and Asia are the ones hurting by this. Trump going to cave when Xi talks to him, like last time?
Nobody's in charge.
Iran's survival strategy was to decentralize, to silo forces around the country into semi-autonomous units with an action plan that did not require constant command & control from central authority. Our bombing then removed much of the central authority, who had no role except to emerge from a hole and say "coast is clear now, resume normal operations." But there is no credible central authority at the moment. So now you've got generals on the periphery who've never met the people operating the political apparatus. The analogy would be....State, DOD, CIA, NSC, DHS all exist in tension with one another, each with its own mission, own needs, own perspectives. Rarely do they all line up seamlessly, particularly so with State whose perspectives are shaped by a total lack of means to force anything to resolution. So what happens when you remove the Head of State, the entire cabinet plus all the Deputies, plus all the Deputy Assistants, plus all the Congressional leadership? The answer is....chaos. Not one of them has authority to issue orders to the others, so they tend to function on their best interpretation of last orders, the interpretation being shaped by their own real but parochial interests. Dr. Strangelove-esque......
The main thing holding Iran together right now is the external threat. The moment they withdraw, Iran would likely collapse into a power struggle, which of course occurs within context of a populace which has very limited money or food.
Our play is to pick a winner and help them restore order.....in exchange
This is also the biggest danger. This means it's far more difficult to negotiate a meaningful and enforceable settlement, even if they can be trusted.
historian said:
The U.S. economy is not nearly as desperate as the Iranian economy, especially if we maintain a blockade on their ports. With no ships going in either direction, they will become more desperate every day.
You're missing the point.
Iran has survived under a sanctions regime. We have not.
We're going to eventually get to the point where Trump isn't able to jawbone markets.
Then look out.
It really sucks that we have people on here to want all of this to go to **** just to say "I tOLd yOu sO" on an anonymous forum
Danielsjackson114 said:
It really sucks that we have people on here to want all of this to go to **** just to say "I tOLd yOu sO" on an anonymous forum
Sadly, they were that way 2017-2020 as well.
An evil mindset, that.
Anyone not MAGA believe him? Or is Donald Jr going long on oil?
boognish_bear said:POTUS is laying out two courses of action—a negotiated settlement, or a major escalation.
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) April 19, 2026
There is a third option, and he should take it: recognize there is no way to force a positive outcome and simply leave.
The region is not ours to fix. President Reagan chose this path in… pic.twitter.com/5ovi05FdwE
He's making a lot of sense. No wonder he had to quit.
BearFan33 said:
We cornered Iran. It must be the end of the world right?
We cornered them but there is no way we go into their corner. And they have been cornered the whole time, since millenia ago. Not like we had to go hunting for the country.
For all the rhetoric, little has been accomplished that serves America. Huge blow to their ballistic missile program, top brass, but their missiles don't reach the USA, do they? So far, Israel, Europe, and the Middle East have benefitted directly, not America.
Of course, those benefits may yet be leveraged. I am sure Trump is selling our military in any way he can.
Remains to be seen if we can accomplish the big 2 things that would directly benefit us, and many would agree, are worth going to war for: regime change, and the removal of Iran as a nuclear threat.
I think the reason America is not behind this war, is because we have seen this movie before, and leaving lasting change behind is nearly impossible over there. If Trump accomplishes one of those 2 things, it will be an incredible feat. Anything less will be total failure and a massive new debt to our children, both in dollars and wasted political capital.
historian said:Realitybites said:Oldbear83 said:
For anyone considering this latest propaganda piece from Iran, just why would a nation at war hold back a significant portion of its munitions and weapons while it loses men and face?
There are two rational possibilities:
1) Iran is selling this claim to garner some credibility in its negotiations; or
2) Iran is receiving drones and missiles from China, and wants to disguise the relationship as much as possible.
There is a third possibility…and that is Iran is fighting a war of attrition. It's target may not be our soldiers, sailors, and airmen but rather our economy.
The U.S. economy is not nearly as desperate as the Iranian economy
Don't be too sure. Trump is working on that one as we speak.
Danielsjackson114 said:
It really sucks that we have people on here to want all of this to go to **** just to say "I tOLd yOu sO" on an anonymous forum
Go look at Trump's tweets about prior Middle East wars. He himself said "I told you so" over and over. When you act a certain way, you have to expect it to be reciprocated.
Hoping for the best, but since I wasn't born yesterday, expecting total failure.
Realitybites said:historian said:
The U.S. economy is not nearly as desperate as the Iranian economy, especially if we maintain a blockade on their ports. With no ships going in either direction, they will become more desperate every day.
You're missing the point.
Iran has survived under a sanctions regime. We have not.
We're going to eventually get to the point where Trump isn't able to jawbone markets.
Then look out.
It's amazing that no one sees this.
BREAKING: Iran says it has attacked US military ships with drones in retaliation for the US striking and seizing an Iranian cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, per Tasnim.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 19, 2026
Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 19, 2026
The IDF views the incident with great… https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb
Danielsjackson114 said:
It really sucks that we have people on here to want all of this to go to **** just to say "I tOLd yOu sO" on an anonymous forum
You might not know this, but being right about our country's military misadventures really isn't that much fun. Besides suffering the same national humiliations, economic setbacks, and escalation risks that the rest of you folks do, we invariably end up getting blamed for the very consequences that we predicted. As we are already beginning to see with posts like the above.
Attaboy Gen Donny!!
- UF
{ sipping black war coffee }
{ eating War cakes }
D!
- UF
{ sipping black war coffee }
{ eating War cakes }
D!
pro ecclesia, pro javelina
UAE to Trump Administration: "You started this war; if we run short of USDs as a result of it, either you will give us USD swap lines, or we will be forced to start transacting oil and gas in CNY and other currencies."
— Luke Gromen (@LukeGromen) April 19, 2026
-WSJ, just now
Via @ces921 pic.twitter.com/gVangH8FGF
Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward says an operation to seize Iran’s highly enriched uranium could take time and would require a large footprint involving all the branches of the military.
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 19, 2026
“It's high-risk,” the former Navy SEAL says. “But we can do it.” https://t.co/ps0UxnCpcW pic.twitter.com/Vjgrzq0Kf5
No, Sam.
Trump is sometimes wrong in his choice of words and his ego.
You and Porteroso, you are always wrong in your hatred of the United States and our interests.
You are not fooling anyone.
Trump is sometimes wrong in his choice of words and his ego.
You and Porteroso, you are always wrong in your hatred of the United States and our interests.
You are not fooling anyone.
boognish_bear said:UAE to Trump Administration: "You started this war; if we run short of USDs as a result of it, either you will give us USD swap lines, or we will be forced to start transacting oil and gas in CNY and other currencies."
— Luke Gromen (@LukeGromen) April 19, 2026
-WSJ, just now
Via @ces921 pic.twitter.com/gVangH8FGF
No that could never happen. The MAGA crowd said so. 80;years of International leadership coming to an end and MAGA is cheering ...
Horrific https://t.co/Igc0h1r3r3
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) April 19, 2026
Oldbear83 said:
No, Sam.
Trump is sometimes wrong in his choice of words and his ego.
You and Porteroso, you are always wrong in your hatred of the United States and our interests.
You are not fooling anyone.
You are a dumb old bear. Everyone who disagrees with you hates America. Or..... B-b-bbbut Obama! You are incapable of interacting in a meaningful way about politics.
You are clearly here to echo around with yourself and likeminded zealots, and it's just sad to see someone so insecure that instead of using the internet for learning or keeping up, you use it to reinforce your opinions as is. When people agree, they are great Americans. When they don't, evil America haters.
I feel bad for you.
“Iran has been lying about its nuclear weapons effort for over 20 years now,” says Matthew Bunn, a former White House nuclear advisor who works at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. https://t.co/7AyazUqpuv pic.twitter.com/e9puf8Gxou
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 19, 2026
International nuclear inspectors haven’t been able to verify Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium since June 2025. Most of Iran’s stockpile is believed to be stored in scuba tank shaped containers, in tunnels so far below ground that U.S. bunker buster bombs may not be… pic.twitter.com/0esxZT3pQl
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 19, 2026
< chuckle >
No, Porteroso, you are lying again. For example, FLBear and I disagree and he does not hate America. Oso and I disagree often and he does not hate America.
But you and Sam, hoo boy you are anti-American. Have been for years.
Maybe you just don't realize it.
Now that's sad.
No, Porteroso, you are lying again. For example, FLBear and I disagree and he does not hate America. Oso and I disagree often and he does not hate America.
But you and Sam, hoo boy you are anti-American. Have been for years.
Maybe you just don't realize it.
Now that's sad.
Sam Lowry said:boognish_bear said:POTUS is laying out two courses of action—a negotiated settlement, or a major escalation.
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) April 19, 2026
There is a third option, and he should take it: recognize there is no way to force a positive outcome and simply leave.
The region is not ours to fix. President Reagan chose this path in… pic.twitter.com/5ovi05FdwE
He's making a lot of sense. No wonder he had to quit.
He thinks the Jews killed Charlie Kirk, or something along those lines. He might have been fine if nothing happened on his watch, but he probably shouldn't have been in that position to begin with.
D. C. Bear said:Sam Lowry said:boognish_bear said:POTUS is laying out two courses of action—a negotiated settlement, or a major escalation.
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) April 19, 2026
There is a third option, and he should take it: recognize there is no way to force a positive outcome and simply leave.
The region is not ours to fix. President Reagan chose this path in… pic.twitter.com/5ovi05FdwE
He's making a lot of sense. No wonder he had to quit.
He thinks the Jews killed Charlie Kirk, or something along those lines. He might have been fine if nothing happened on his watch, but he probably shouldn't have been in that position to begin with.
There's no such thing as "The Jews."
Realitybites said:historian said:
The U.S. economy is not nearly as desperate as the Iranian economy, especially if we maintain a blockade on their ports. With no ships going in either direction, they will become more desperate every day.
You're missing the point.
Iran has survived under a sanctions regime. We have not.
We're going to eventually get to the point where Trump isn't able to jawbone markets.
Then look out.
LOL so you think the whole world is going to join up with China to freeze out the largest and wealthiest and free-est country in the world?
Realitybites said:historian said:
The U.S. economy is not nearly as desperate as the Iranian economy, especially if we maintain a blockade on their ports. With no ships going in either direction, they will become more desperate every day.
You're missing the point.
Iran has survived under a sanctions regime. We have not.
We're going to eventually get to the point where Trump isn't able to jawbone markets.
Then look out.
Maybe you are missing the point. Iran has not faced anything like this before. They are on the verge of economic collapse. In a week or so they will be unable to pay soldiers or others in the govt. That could make the situation more desperate for them.
The real problem is that no one really knows what is going to happen. There are far too many variables at play and in many ways the situation is unprecedented. Trump is gambling on a huge scale but he also has had amazing levels of success over the past 16 months.
boognish_bear said:Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 19, 2026
The IDF views the incident with great… https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb
this portion of the IDF tweet is worth highlighting:
"The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier's conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.
The incident is being investigated by the Northern Command and is currently being addressed through the chain of command. Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings.
Furthermore, the IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place."
Soldiers in every army does stuff they shouldn't. How command reacts to it is what matters.
IDF now claiming "Jesus" was a Palestinian baby in disguise.
Fundies across the USA breathe a sigh of relief.
Fundies across the USA breathe a sigh of relief.
FLBear5630 said:boognish_bear said:UAE to Trump Administration: "You started this war; if we run short of USDs as a result of it, either you will give us USD swap lines, or we will be forced to start transacting oil and gas in CNY and other currencies."
— Luke Gromen (@LukeGromen) April 19, 2026
-WSJ, just now
Via @ces921 pic.twitter.com/gVangH8FGF
No that could never happen. The MAGA crowd said so. 80;years of International leadership coming to an end and MAGA is cheering ...
Calling BS on that story. Completely at odds with other reporting on Gulf state support for the war.