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I’ll rather aptly steal the song lyrics and appropriate them for my introduction to our a.i overlords, remember and sing along
….war…...what is it good for…huhhh….absolutely everything and we’ll line our bloodstained pockets with the profits “
https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/05/palantirs-double-conflict-of-interest-in-the-war-against-iran/
A really good piece, as always, by Ian Dunt....
https://iandunt.substack.com/p/this-is-the-most-nihilistic-war-weve-43e
What’s happening today makes the Iraq war look like a masterpiece of honesty and the consistent application of strategy. It is a war that is so insane its own perpetrators seemingly do not know why they started it.
In the years to come, historians will look back on the origins of this dispute and there will be nothing there for them: no relevant context, no coherent thought process, no series of motivations, no matter how contorted, with which to explain it. No Versailles treaty. No hyperinflation. They will just find a black howling vortex of nothing.
Trump lifting restrictions on Russian oil for Modi, under cover of this not-a-war.
Reform and the Tories have seriously failed to read the room on this.
They probably read it, but couldn't bring themselves to agree to it publicly as everything has to be a disaster. The narrative overriding what the room is.
I think they read the Daily Express rather than listen to mood music in the country! She’s so obsessed with opposition to Starmer that she believes everything he says must be portrayed as bad, even if he said she should be the next PM, she’d probably stand up and say “that’s a sign of weak leadership, this Tory opposition will continue working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen”!
We can only hope that the public take a moment to think when they next place an X if they want to endorse that shit - every question time involves someone in the audience rationally pointing out we don’t want our politicians squabbling like petulant school kids we want them to work together to find actual solutions, it gets the biggest applause of the show. Political attention spans can’t event remember this to the end of the show.
Listening to Lammy on Radio4 on the way in.
Why can our UK politicians just not have an opinion on this war? He was dancing round every question. I wish that our government just told us what they think. Trump and MAGA will. There is no 'special relationship' any more.
At some point there will be enough world leaders who thing f*ck Trump and the US, and we need to walk away from them as best we can.
Considering that Iran are Twelver Shia and believe that they need the end of times to happen so the 12th iman can return and save them all, and that they were developing nuclear weapons, and considering what's currently happening in this war, it is probably best that it happens now rather than later when the consequences could have been a lot worse.
Also considering that everything that happens is by the will of Allah, and believers (such as them) are "encouraged to trust in Allah's wisdom and plan, knowing that even challenging situations are part of a divine decree, fostering patience and acceptance", then they have nothing to complain about and should accept any ass-whipping that occurs.
I keep wondering if you keep your human age when you are martyred and go to receive your perpetual pool of 72 virgins in paradise, because if that is so then Ali the Mouse has left it a bit late I would have thought. 72 virgins is also the minimum reward, so would someone in that position actually receive more? (ok, 72 virgins is a Sunni belief, so maybe not applicable here...)
And yet it's the Septics who have been using the bible to justify this war against Iran....
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric
Why can our UK politicians just not have an opinion on this war? He was dancing round every question. I wish that our government just told us what they think. Trump and MAGA will. There is no 'special relationship' any more.
At some point there will be enough world leaders who thing f*ck Trump and the US, and we need to walk away from them as best we can.
Ukraine.
I agree - the war is illegal, we don't support the US and Isreali action, it's implied in the government comments, just say it clearly.
Trump lifting restrictions on Russian oil for Modi, under cover of this not-a-war.
Given how fresh that restriction was and it being linked to preferential tariffs that have since been ripped up one would imagine that India never stopped buying Russian oil.
This has the whiff of yet more PR designed to sooth stock markets.
the war is illegal, we don't support the US and Isreali action, it's implied in the government comments, just say it clearly.
There was a senior Spanish government minister interviewed on channel 4 news last night and he was totally unambiguous. No wonder Trump is so pissed off with them, petulant toddler that he is. He said they basically told him to jog on when he requested using Spanish bases. He then went on to give his reasons... that everyone has flattered and appeased Trump, and gone along with him for long enough, through fear of Tariffs or whatever, but there comes a time when somebody has to stand up and say 'enough! Stop this madness!'. So they did.
He then went on to describe why Trump couldn't carry out his threat to cut off all trade with Spain as it is part of the EU so any punitive tariffs would have to apply to the whole EU. Obviously that doesn't apply to us because Brexit, the gift that keeps on giving
Reform and the Tories have seriously failed to read the room on this.
They probably read it, but couldn't bring themselves to agree to it publicly as everything has to be a disaster. The narrative overriding what the room is.
Which room is Badenoch trying to speak to? Voters? Party members? Donors - to stop them funding Reform? MPs? Is she succeeding?
Badenoch is the inverse Corbyn - with a government as underwater as this, how come she's not pummelling them in the polls?
Apparently Ukraine holds the cards.
I wonder how widely reported that is in the US
It's in a couple of individual state media outlets, the Pentagon hadn't officially commented the last time that I looked.
President Trump and MAGA-favourite Fox news showed a piece with military commentator Brett Velicovich, described by Fox as a "drone expert", with the somewhat disingenuous banners, "US Deploys High-Tech Arsenal" and "US Forces Use AI in Iran Operation"
The background video is Ukrainian showing the Wild Hornet's Sting interceptor drone at work over Ukraine on Shahed analogues. The Fox video is watchable within the KP link below
The Sting has downed more than 3000 Russian drones and is cheaper than a Shahed.
"The American broadcaster Fox News used footage of a Ukrainian interceptor drone while discussing alleged US “AI-powered superweapons” used in strikes on targets in Iran.
During the broadcast, host Jesse Watters and military commentator Brett Velicovich spoke about what they described as the superiority of American artificial intelligence technologies."
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71361
Simultaneous tone-deaf acts by the US included:
President Trump removed sanctions on Russian oil intended for India for one month https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71351
The United States joined Russia, China, and Niger on Thursday in opposing a resolution adopted by the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board denouncing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as a threat to nuclear safety, diplomats said https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-opposes-iaea-board-resolution-condemning-attacks-ukraines-power-grid-2026-03-05/
The only thing that supprises me so far about this war is that we havent had a major terror attack in the USA as Iranian reprisal yet.
it's implied in the government comments, just say it clearly
While I'm no fan of politicians dodging questions, the reality is they're dealing with a psychopath in the whitehouse, who's surrounded by even bigger psychopaths who will unleash ridiculous unhinged carnage on their allies at the drop of a hat if they feel aggrieved. It's a diplomatic minefield. I imagine a direct statement of no support for the US action would likely result in 50%+ tariffs on the UK the next day
A couple of bits that I didn't get around to publishing yesterday. Life!
This tends to suggest that Iran's ballistic missile launchers are being destroyed as they're wheeled out.
The campaign against Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TELs) echoes western Special Forces Scud hunting in Iraq in 1991. The book Bravo Two Zero is possibly the best known account.
This will reduce strain on AD missile stocks
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on March 4 that the number of ballistic missiles Iran has fired regionally has decreased 86 percent since the start of the combined force’s campaign on February 28, with a 23 percent decrease in the past 24 hours. The combined force has designed its campaign to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities before the force depletes its interceptor stockpiles.
https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-morning-special-report-march-4-2026/
Life!
According to Joshua Tallis, naval analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, escorts are more likely to start after more damage is done to Iran’s capabilities to attack ships. This “is not currently being factored into the market”.
US President Donald Trump signalled that the US navy was ready to offer security escorts for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday evening – less than 24 hours after Navy officials told shipping industry representatives that there was “no chance” of escorts happening any time soon.
In a social media post, Trump announced that he had ordered the US Development Finance Corporation to provide, “at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade”.
He added that “if necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible”. https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1156505/US-signals-U-turn-on-naval-convoys-to-restart-Hormuz-transits
And
The prospect of US naval escorts and state-backed war risk insurance has been greeted across the shipping and insurance sectors with scepticism and confusion as traders await further details of US President Donald Trump’s plan to guarantee the free flow of energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1156518/Trump%E2%80%99s-escort-announcement-met-with-scepticism-as-traffic-trickles-through-Strait-of-Hormuz
Life!
The Trump Organisation announced property deals across the Gulf states, including Dubai, UAE, in April 2025. It already had plans in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Property supply was already ahead of population growth and war has weakened real estate investment there, particularly now that the US is planning for a months-long conflict
"Real estate investment typically relies on stability, visibility and sustained investor confidence, all of which tend to weaken during prolonged geopolitical uncertainty," said Ryan Lemand, co-founder and CEO of Neovision Wealth Management in Abu Dhabi. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uaes-property-sector-faces-reckoning-after-iran-strikes-2026-03-05/
it's implied in the government comments, just say it clearly
While I'm no fan of politicians dodging questions, the reality is they're dealing with a psychopath in the whitehouse, who's surrounded by even bigger psychopaths who will unleash ridiculous unhinged carnage on their allies at the drop of a hat if they feel aggrieved. It's a diplomatic minefield. I imagine a direct statement of no support for the US action would likely result in 50%+ tariffs on the UK the next day
I understand that view, but as Spain have very clearly pointed out, eventually a line gets crossed and you have to get on the right side of history. The US may be able to damage the UK, but not as much as an unchecked illegal war will damage the whole world
Trump couldn't carry out his threat to cut off all trade with Spain as it is part of the EU so any punitive tariffs would have to apply to the whole EU.
Imposing tariffs on your closest allies and then getting hufty with them when they won't support your illegal middle east war just shouts "joined-up thinking". But then so does doing property deals and then launching an illegal war in the same region.
I mean, to the casual observer, this seems to be the actions of a man suffering the late stages of brain disease...
the war is illegal, we don't support the US and Isreali action, it's implied in the government comments, just say it clearly.
In the HoC Starmer said the UK did not believe in “regime change from the skies”. It was clear enough to me.
I saw somewhere that the Cyprus drone attack is suspected to be an Israeli false flag operation
Had anyone else seen this?
Nope
The Guardian has reported that the likely target was an American facility.
Surprised we haven't done this yet. Surely now Starmer, Lammy et al will feel a little more able to speak their - and the country's - mind that this is f***ing stupid.
https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2029741548791853331?s=20
The Supreme Court has curtailed Trumps ability to impose ad hoc tariffs.
Jesus h Christ
A political commentator (didn't catch his name but seemed very clued up on US politics) just said on the radio that if somebody asked Trump what was his vision of Iran if this regime was deposed, what he would want that ideally to look like, he wouldn't have a clue and more importantly he doesn't even care.
He reckons the only thing Trump cares about - hence him saying he wants a hand in choosing any future leader - would be a regime that would be pro-US and pro-Trump enough to welcome in US oil companies and give them access to Irans oil. He wouldn't give a shit if it was a democracy (highly unlikely) or just another tyrannical military dictatorship (very likely).
So, as with everything else he does, its just about resources or at least the money those resources would deliver him and his billionaire backers
Surprised we haven't done this yet.
It's an Adam Curtis film in 42 seconds.
And still the UK press and many of its politicians are pushing for us to do as this USA government say without qualification.
Justice the American way?
WOW! Just WOW! 😳 That really is quite something. Truly the product of a deranged mind. Or a number of deranged minds.
They honestly seem to think this is a movie or a video game
I wonder if a few of the actors featured in that little montage might be publicly dissociating themselves with it or consulting their lawyers? Under normal circumstances, if anyone else had done it, the owners of the copyright might well be having a word with their legal teams too, but we all know how scared or sycophantic they are.
Part of me wonders if the reason they removed the Venezuelan leader was stage 1 of this, as they knew they would need access to their oil once the shit hit the fan in this region.
Short term. Maybe. It would make sense.
Long term.. they've said it out loud... they want full control over all resources in the Americas, from North to South... which they think means they can then inflict anything they want on the rest of the world without economic shocks and social kickback back home. That includes "regime change" in Europe. We should be listening to them, not assisting them.
WOW! Just WOW!
There are others...
https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2029657893155311927?s=20
https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2029307088808055083?s=20
https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2029601386984259671?s=20
Strong propaganda aimed at winning more peace prizes there... 😒
So glad Starmer is occupying the higher ground on all this and maintaining his grown up, serious stance on the issue of war. Oh...
https://twitter.com/peterrhague/status/2029840799924400489?s=20
Youve got to wonder who their target audience is
Made me check, and it is real, including the use of the Dire Straits music. Awful.
A much more relevant song from that album....
start stockpiling petrol like theres no tomorrow
I wonder if, one of these days, an international shock like this will prove to be the tipping point that shoves everyone over to EVs
Going back a bit here. But I was looking at used EVs and although this is likely about to change for the worse. Used EVs with decent real world range are now in my cash purchase price range. That wasn't the case when I looked 2 or 3 years ago.
So it might well tip me into buying an EV. But if demand spikes and prices go up and the cash price moves out of reach.
Justice the American way
What. The. Actual. F.
Surely this is becoming time for UN and rest of the world to somehow hold a mirror up to these lunatics in power in the USA?
A much more relevant song from that album....
Indeed.
Used EVs with decent real world range are now in my cash purchase price range.
Looking out the window at our second hand Polestar - which was about same price or less than other options. You can get a decent electric Kona or eNiro for less than most of the petrol/diesel options at present - and they 150+mile real world range.
I’m struggling to understand what is actually happening in this war for the simple reason I don’t believe a word from any of the 3 main protagonists. None of them are trust worthy
None of them are trust worthy
Absolutely. But only two set out to escalate this, at this scale, right now. As full of lies as the Iranian regime is, we can all see who has blown this up... and expects the rest of the world to take the hit and step up.
When I bought my 'van' (people carrier version) the one year old EV version was the same price as I bought a 3 year old diesel version. Might have gone for an EV if the vans had a decent range, they didn't.
Local Esso has just whacked 25p per litre on diesel/petrol. Morrisons round the corner, just 5p.
What. The. Actual. F.
Surely this is becoming time for UN and rest of the world to somehow hold a mirror up to these lunatics in power in the USA?
I guess the world of international diplomacy is hard enough when you are dealing with grown ups but must be harder still when you have to deal with the man baby and his followers.
He already doesn't like the UN so not sure what their intervention could be.
Surely this is becoming time for UN and rest of the world to somehow hold a mirror up to these lunatics in power in the USA?
If the latest polling is to be believed, there is very, very little approval for this even in the States, not even with the MAGA lot. They feel betrayed (somewhat unsurprisingly) as part of Trumps election campaign was the promise to put an end to disastrous foreign adventures like Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he's embarked on something so profoundly stupid that it makes those two campaigns look sensible and well planned.
It goes without saying that there's even less support outside the states (with the exception of Israel obviously)
It does seem that the world has collectively decided that there's nothing anyone can do to reign these headbangers in, so we'll just have to put up with it until he's gone and hope he hasn't already started world war 3. The Vegas-Era-Elvis-style coke and burgers diet must surely do its thing before too long? Surely?
He already doesn't like the UN so not sure what their intervention could be.
The un can’t do anything as the USA will just use it veto
MAGA support is going to be severely tested if the predicted rises in oil prices arrive. This bunch of lunatics will kill thousands of innocents and crash the world economy as a bonus.
But hey, as long as Netanyahu is happy.