historian said:

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That's very subjective and depends on too many variables. For pacifists, traitors, & surrender monkeys it was too expensive as soon as it began. They downgrade the threat Iran poses, despite 47 years of history, and are not concerned about the possibility of them getting nukes (or don't care). For those who see how dangerous Iran really is and recognize that they can never be allowed to have nukes.

Because of their fanatical ideology, we can be reasonably certain that they would use them if they had them, targeting the US ("Great Satan"), Israel ("Small Satan"), and others in their megalomaniacal fantasies of a new caliphate. It sounds crazy because it is. Fanatics don't think the same way as the rest of us and don't care about nuances.

There are lots of variations in between.

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My line is different that yours. Mine starts in 1953.

Regardless, they are asking for $1.5T for military. I'm way way opposed to that number. Feel free to call me any of those names (but monkey) and I'll accept them all.

I think $1.5T is where they will hide the next wave of grift. (Defense contracts to Trump children)

Massie: Still, there’s a base—there’s Fox News that’s on TV every day trying to glorify this war. Eventually, I think people’s pocketbooks are going to impose reality on them, and they’re going to quit watching Fox and pay more attention to gas prices. We’re already seeing that… pic.twitter.com/2u2or9stej

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2026

Massie: Still, there's a basethere's Fox News that's on TV every day trying to glorify this war. Eventually, I think people's pocketbooks are going to impose reality on them, and they're going to quit watching Fox and pay more attention to gas prices. We're already seeing that with farmers, and that's why you got this $12 billion bailout. This is essentially trying to buy the farmers off in time for the election, saying, "We're sorry. We know we wrecked your farm with high fertilizer and high diesel prices, so please don't punish us."

Rand Paul slams Pete Hegseth for asking for $1.5 trillion.

"We currently spend a trillion. He wants $1.5 T. That's $500B increase. The biggest threat we have right now is our debt. We are more in danger of devaluing our currency than Iran invading the United States."

"The… pic.twitter.com/mzUFLcVjhC

— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) July 22, 2026

Rand Paul slams Pete Hegseth for asking for $1.5 trillion.

"We currently spend a trillion. He wants $1.5 T. That's $500B increase. The biggest threat we have right now is our debt. We are more in danger of devaluing our currency than Iran invading the United States."

"The greatest threat to our national security is our debt. It is completely and utterly fiscally irresponsible for someone to ask for a 50% increase in the military. They are not asking for the approval of Congress. We have a war that we have not voted upon. No congressional vote. George Bush at the very least came to Congress."

boognish_bear said:

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Rand Paul slams Pete Hegseth for asking for $1.5 trillion.

"We currently spend a trillion. He wants $1.5 T. That's $500B increase. The biggest threat we have right now is our debt. We are more in danger of devaluing our currency than Iran invading the United States."

"The… pic.twitter.com/mzUFLcVjhC

— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) July 22, 2026

Rand Paul slams Pete Hegseth for asking for $1.5 trillion.

"We currently spend a trillion. He wants $1.5 T. That's $500B increase. The biggest threat we have right now is our debt. We are more in danger of devaluing our currency than Iran invading the United States."

"The greatest threat to our national security is our debt. It is completely and utterly fiscally irresponsible for someone to ask for a 50% increase in the military. They are not asking for the approval of Congress. We have a war that we have not voted upon. No congressional vote. George Bush at the very least came to Congress."

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The scary thing to me is that without Rand Paul there is nobody to say the obvious.

Guess I missed the part where the SOH stayed open

Trump outmaneuvered the best thinkers at the Pentagon. They told him that starting this conflict with Iran would send oil skyrocketing to $150 to $350 a barrel, which would collapse the global economy. Their advice? Keep kicking the can down the road like every administration… pic.twitter.com/OFwWZ3BWOf

— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) July 22, 2026

Trump outmaneuvered the best thinkers at the Pentagon. They told him that starting this conflict with Iran would send oil skyrocketing to $150 to $350 a barrel, which would collapse the global economy. Their advice? Keep kicking the can down the road like every administration before him.

Trump's response? "Watch me."

Instead of following their traditional playbook, he fought it differently, outmaneuvered the regime, and kept the Strait of Hormuz open, defying every expert prediction. He proved the establishment dead wrong on keeping the choke point open... but why didn't he do this during his last term?

What did Trump 47 see that 45, and everyone else in Washington, was blind to?

Oil Soars As Trump Warns Iran Will Pay For Future Houthi Shipping Attacks, Rubio Rules Out Deal

IRGC To Trump: Strike Iran's Infrastructure, We'll Shut Off The Gulf's Power

Crude Oil Sep 26 (CL=F) 91.28 +4.45 (+5.12%)

39 days till tank bottoms. Winning!

D. C. Bear said:

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The_barBEARian said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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The_barBEARian said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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Sam Lowry said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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Realitybites said:

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boognish_bear said:

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President Trump has formally approved a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabia that will provide the country with a civilian nuclear program and potentially open the door to uranium enrichment in the kingdom’s territory, according to U.S. officials. https://t.co/B6QUmxVVpw

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 22, 2026

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Number of Iranians involved in 9-11: Zero.

Number of Saudis involved in 9-11: 15.

That's just the number of actual hijackers. That doesn't count people like Omar al-Bayoumi in California who posed as a foreign student and gave logistical support to the 9-11 hijackers, or the strategic planners.

But by all means, lets give the House of Wahab nuclear technology.

Trump is an idiot.

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Trump may be an idiot, but I seem to recall the sentiment that we should have been invading Iran rather than Iraq after 9/11. Historically, they had a complicated but often cooperative relationship, including AQ terrorist attacks against the United States.

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2002 just called. They need their debunked propaganda back ASAP.

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1998 called. They need the president to treat an act of war as an act of war and take care of the problem.

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I think we should allow Boomers to sign liability waivers that let them fight on the front line of a ground invasion of Iran since they seem to be the only group that supports it.

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1. Not a boomer.
2. Don't think a ground invasion of Iran was a good idea.

Iran was at war with us, we were not at war with them.
We paid for it dearly.

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You will never control the strait without regime change. Regime change requires one of two things:

1) A ground invasion
2) Using unconventional weapons and allowing the demonic possession to take the wheel

Trump has already lost because 6 months from now Congress is going to be controlled by Democrats... they may even rack up a supermajority given how ****ed this all is, in which case there is a decent chance he gets impeached

I mean just when I think this admin could get any more corrupt and ******ed they go and give enriched uranium to the Saudis, the largest sponsors of Islamic terrorism in the West

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You are missing a third option.

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Let me guess. Regime change unicorns soaring over the skies of Tehran and farting freedom rainbows in their wake?

This just continues to become a bigger mess each passing day

A year ago, we were unable to militarily defeat the Houthis. Two major factors came into play here. Issue #1 is finite, and is the reason no one has been able to beat the Houthis. Issue #2 has has now worsened and is the result of our lack of strategy in Iran.

Issue #1:… pic.twitter.com/CfimiFv67D

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) July 23, 2026

A year ago, we were unable to militarily defeat the Houthis. Two major factors came into play here. Issue #1 is finite, and is the reason no one has been able to beat the Houthis. Issue #2 has has now worsened and is the result of our lack of strategy in Iran.

Issue #1: Geography/Terrain

Northwestern Yemen is incredibly mountainous terrain, with peaks and valleys that run parallel to the Bab Al-Mandeb & Red Seaa critical but very narrow passageway.

This combination gives the Houthis a tactical advantageby positioning themselves on higher ground, they're able to easily fire down into the Red Sea and monitor & defend their airspace. In the valleys, they're able to disperse their missiles/drones & other critical military equipment, hiding it in caves and tunnel systems capable of withstanding our bombs.

Issue #2: The Houthis willingness to negotiate

Our military campaign in 2025 ended with the Houthis agreeing to reopen the BAM to U.S. shipping only once we stopped military action.

The Houthis proved to be durable under the weight of both U.S. & Israeli bombardment, at that was when they were the U.S.'s only target.

Now, the Houthis know we are spread thin and will use this as leveragethis time around, they've got the energy crisis working in their favor and they can use it to double the pressure on us via the BAM.

It should not be ignored that, like the Iranians & the rest of the "Axis of Resistance", the Houthis have been galvanized by the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader due to his religious & cultural significance. This galvanization makes a pragmatic deal like the one we cut in 2025 far less likely now.

I will keep saying it: pull out our troops, walk away, & use economic diplomacy to reopen the SOH & BAM.

boognish_bear said:

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Rand Paul slams Pete Hegseth for asking for $1.5 trillion.

"We currently spend a trillion. He wants $1.5 T. That's $500B increase. The biggest threat we have right now is our debt. We are more in danger of devaluing our currency than Iran invading the United States."

"The… pic.twitter.com/mzUFLcVjhC

— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) July 22, 2026

Rand Paul slams Pete Hegseth for asking for $1.5 trillion.

"We currently spend a trillion. He wants $1.5 T. That's $500B increase. The biggest threat we have right now is our debt. We are more in danger of devaluing our currency than Iran invading the United States."

"The greatest threat to our national security is our debt. It is completely and utterly fiscally irresponsible for someone to ask for a 50% increase in the military. They are not asking for the approval of Congress. We have a war that we have not voted upon. No congressional vote. George Bush at the very least came to Congress."

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Pete needs a nicer room in which to apply his makeup and hair products.

Such the "High T" guy!