Trump has now said that the tanker captains should 'show some guts'
No one has the balls to say that if the USS Gerald Ford was incapacitated by a mine, it would be a very bad day for the entire US military; the effect would last for decades. The US as the global force would be completely ruined.
We can only hope that they believe it will
I've found trumps military planning on Instagram 
No one has the balls to say that if the USS Gerald Ford was incapacitated by a mine, it would be a very bad day for the entire US military; the effect would last for decades. The US as the global force would be completely ruined.
The orange ****s tantrum over Europe not sending minesweepers, because the greatest military in the world doesn't have any , i wonder how close we are to him having a flipout and forcing the US navy to send ships through?
oh it seems we are closer than i realised
https://bsky.app/profile/shipwreck75.bsky.social/post/3mhboza75jk2s
he's not going to back down, my armchair prediction, those marines take kharg island easily, but logistically its very expensive to keep them there, at least 1 US or Israeli ship gets incapacitated by a drone, America bombs the shit out of the iranian coast , but even as the Iranian leadership collapses, its impossible to stop drone launches.
Sweet baby Jesus and the orphans, we’ve reached the point where even someone as dense as Kemi Badanoch has realised she’s been on the wrong side of history on this one.
Anyone heard from the man-frog recently. He seems to have gone awfully quiet of late. Maybe he’s on holiday in Clacton? Or Mar-a-Lago
As zelensky said today, their sea drones have managed to keep the Russian black sea fleet either sunk or a long way away.
The Iranians only need to get lucky a few times to have a massive effect. With only 6 miles of maneuver room, there is not a chance in hell that the us navy commanders will take anything big through there
This from the Guardian just now. He is literally like a toddler who’s just shit himself and nobody has run to change his nappy. He’s absolutely pathetic! If the MAGA faithful were capable of embarrassment, they surely must be feeling it now?
In an earlier post on his Truth Social network, Trump also called out Japan, Australia and South Korea for saying they would not be sending warships. “Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the Nato Countries’ assistance _ WE NEVER DID!” he wrote.
“Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea.”
So that’s prettt much everyone now who’s told him he’s on his own. Payback time for being such an utter ****!
No one has the balls to say that if the USS Gerald Ford was incapacitated by a mine
Who needs mines when you can have a laundry room fire.
Its off for repairs in Crete which I am sure will make the locals happy since I assume a few drones will be inbound shortly afterwards.
wow a non accidental laundry fire!?
https://bsky.app/profile/blackballer.bsky.social/post/3mhbxiqyirc2j
Beer is still under £4 a pint in my local so it's not all bad!!
When I was in the UK start of Jan a pint of Essex Boys was £3.90. a few weeks later that was put up to £4.10.
Landlady came in and she got boooed by the locals.
Surely it takes more than a laundry fire to incapacitate an aircraft carrier. They do have their own fire systems so they can put it out and continue
He’s absolutely pathetic! If the MAGA faithful were capable of embarrassment, they surely must be feeling it now?
Many of those seem to be clutching desperately to the concept that the war strategy Iran is fighting is the same as the war strategy the US is fighting.
Listening to Trump talking shit right now. How the Irish PM has not walked out of the room I do not know
The Taoiseach did interject a couple of times.
https://youtube.com/shorts/pOwPyvbIl9E?si=RurlUPpDEN52TCQK
https://youtube.com/shorts/Csi2xFC29FQ?si=dheyB_5wf8zQwA_M
Surely it takes more than a laundry fire to incapacitate an aircraft carrier. They do have their own fire systems so they can put it out and continue
It sounds like it was a significant fire that took 30 hours to extinguish - taking out sleeping quarters for 600 sailors through smoke damage. Maybe the designers of the fire suppression systems didn't account for them being started on purpose and allowed to get out of hand.
But that and the toilets point to a boat that's desperate for a refit, or the crew has had enough.
When the next fire is in the engine room it'll need a substantial tug to pull it back to the US
Sounds like it was a pretty major fire.
To give you an idea of what can happen on ships in situations like this (and give credence to the mutinous crew rumours), my best mate has just retired from the navy and was telling me a story of a similar situation.
They'd already been out at sea for six months (in somewhere far from pleasant, you really wouldn’t want to be) when as senior NCO he got wind that their deployment was possibly to be extended by a further few months.
On hearing this, he went to see the commanding officer and requested a sidearm if be this was the case, and recommended he did the same. It didn’t happen in the end, but that shows you his attitude to towards telling his crew they weren’t going home.
That carrier crew have been at sea for nearly a year. How happy would you be?
Sounds like it was a pretty major fire.
To give you an idea of what can happen on ships in situations like this (and give credence to the mutinous crew rumours), my best mate has just retired from the navy and was telling me a story of a similar situation.
They'd already been out at sea for six months (in somewhere far from pleasant, you really wouldn’t want to be) when as senior NCO he got wind that their deployment was possibly to be extended by a further few months.
On hearing this, he went to see the commanding officer and requested a sidearm if be this was the case, and recommended he did the same. It didn’t happen in the end, but that shows you his attitude to towards telling his crew they weren’t going home.
That carrier crew have been at sea for nearly a year. How happy would you be?
I would hate it which is why I respect those who do sign up and join
Had a similar (well, not so serious) story from an ex-navy security guard at my last job. I'd got back from a course down at HMS Raleigh and was bitching about the food (Sodexo), specifically about the cottage pie that looked delicious but, when touched with the serving spoon, showed a thin crust of cheesy potato floating on about half an inch of grease over grey mince.
His comment was that it must have changed a lot since he was in because anyone that cooked food that bad (on a ship) would have been lynched.
Sure, Raleigh is an on-shore ship, but it's where all the newbies go for training and they were eating the same food as us.
Trumps declared purpose was to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons. Nothing that's been done so far will do that. It would need boots on the ground to go into the tunnels and take the uranium. North Korea has shown that having a wrecked economy doesn't stop you building nukes. Likewise, the only way to make the Strait of Hormuz safe from seaborne attacks is to take control of the coast.
But Trump's not going to put boots on the ground, so he's created a lasting problem in the Strait, and not stopped them making a bomb, and unless the regime changes they will now be even more determined to get nukes.
Nothing that's been done so far will do that. It would need boots on the ground to go into the tunnels and take the uranium.
Which given their previous and, I think, part of their current wave of attacks was basically "destroy the entrances so people cant get stuff out" will be rather tricky. Those boots are going to need to hang around for a while to protect the engineers doing the digging.
Thats assuming half the uranium isnt hidden in various random places.
On one illegal fools errand after another.
It’s just yet another illustration of the fact that all those like Trump and Hegseth who claim to be patriots and wrap themselves in flags, don’t actually give a shit about those at the pointy end being asked to deliver on their stupidity
Trumps declared purpose was to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons.
I think everyone 'understands' that the principle aim here is regime change, don't they?
But that and the toilets point to a boat that's desperate for a refit, or the crew has had enough.
When the next fire is in the engine room it'll need a substantial tug to pull it back to the US
It was reported on SM that the toilet pipes were clogged with navy issue T-shirts. That isn't verified, of course, but it might support the reasoning behind the fire investigation.
PS "boomer" a US ballistic-missile submarine 🤔
His comment was that it must have changed a lot since he was in because anyone that cooked food that bad (on a ship) would have been lynched.
Osbourne's austerity has ripped through the armed services like a dose. I've long time-served friends in all 3 services and all of them have these sorts of stories. Particularly one in the RAF who is literally counting the days, and she's a pretty senior helo pilot who used to love her job.
Trumps declared purpose was to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons. Nothing that's been done so far will do that. It would need boots on the ground to go into the tunnels and take the uranium. North Korea has shown that having a wrecked economy doesn't stop you building nukes. Likewise, the only way to make the Strait of Hormuz safe from seaborne attacks is to take control of the coast.
But Trump's not going to put boots on the ground, so he's created a lasting problem in the Strait, and not stopped them making a bomb, and unless the regime changes they will now be even more determined to get nukes.
I was just listening to TRIP and they pointed out he's screwed either way now. All he's managed to do is show all the Middle Eastern countries that Iran can cause chaos for the region with very little effort. It was always feared they could, now he's proved they can so it actually strengthens their position. The only way out would be regime change but that's not happening without boots on the ground and the 1000's of dead soldiers that would bring follow.
I think everyone 'understands' that the principle aim here is regime change, don't they?
If we're guessing intentions...
The aim for Trump is to use the power of his country, and be seen to use that power as if it were his own. Power without restraint, wielded at his own personal whim.
The aim for Netanyahu is to weaken those seen as a threat to Israel, and force neighbours to choose to align with him against a common enemy. As always it looks like the timing is to maintain his position as PM, and stay out of jail.
Both also seem to want to build a personal legacy of expanding their country's territory and direct control.
Regime change? Destruction of infrastructure (in Iran and elsewhere)? Ongoing disruption? Side effects, not aims.
All he's managed to do is show all the Middle Eastern countries that Iran can cause chaos for the region with very little effort.
TBF I think everyone is the region was already clear that Iran's long held intention is to be be disruptive - because 'they can'. The entire history of Iran's clerical regime is one of distablement (a word I've just invented). All the US has achieved is the further en-shitification of an already economically and diplomatically isolated regime. It's normal Iranian citizens who'll suffer for this, of course.
Many of those seem to be clutching desperately to the concept that the war strategy Iran is fighting is the same as the war strategy the US is fighting.
The stupid thing is that a, 25 years ago, the US ran a War Games scenario called Millennium Challenge with some general playing the Red Team who immediately adopted these asymmetric warfare tactics. Drones, fast boats, radio silence via use of motorbike messengers...
Red basically "killed" everything the Blue team had by the end of Day 1. So the exercise was restarted with Red told to play nicely and allow themselves to be defeated.
This is what's happening in Iran. The US haven't learnt anything at all.
I was just listening to TRIP and they pointed out he's screwed either way now. All he's managed to do is show all the Middle Eastern countries that Iran can cause chaos for the region with very little effort. It was always feared they could, now he's proved they can so it actually strengthens their position. The only way out would be regime change but that's not happening without boots on the ground and the 1000's of dead soldiers that would bring follow.
Asymmetric warfare is a bitch.
Iran has no aircraft carriers, no heavy bombers, it can't even secure its own airspace. But one of its $5,000 dollar mines can cripple a $1billion dollar Arleigh Burke destroyer and the threat of a bunch of $20,000 drones can stop tankers carrying $200 million dollars worth of oil out of the Gulf.
It doesn't even have to fire the drones, the threat of using them is enough to stop all shipping passing through the Strait. And Iran has literally thousands of them and they can be dispersed and deployed from trucks and shipping containers anywhere along more than 200 miles of coastline.
The Strait of Hormuz is closed as long as Iran wants it closed. There is no conceivable naval operation that will guarantee the 100% safety that oil and LNG tankers need to sail.
The orange toddler can throw as many toys as he likes, but that's the reality.
The US haven't learnt anything at all.
If I'm being generous to the Trump Govt (and it's very generous) Nothing the U.S. has done either alone, with Europe, or regional states since '79 has had any meaningful impact to bring Iran's governing regime to anything like normality. I can see that from their perspective, they've just seen the over-throw of Maduro pretty bloodlessly, and "surely" they must have thought, Iran can read the tea-leaves...
Apparently not.
All the US has achieved is the further en-shitification of an already economically and diplomatically isolated regime. It's normal Iranian citizens who'll suffer for this, of course.
It's almost as though the CIA overthrowing the democratically elected government was a bad idea ?
It's almost as though the CIA overthrowing the democratically elected government was a bad idea ?
That the Islamic clerics who took over in '79 supported at the time? that overthrow? I'm against the attempted overthrow of any regime by anyone, but for the current Iranian govt to use this as propaganda is just disingenuous, and works largely I think because of western guilt over the region. I think the enmity between the two is more likely to be - the killing of over 250 US marines in Beirut, the hostage taking of US diplomatic staff and the kidnap and torture of the CIA station chief in Lebanon.
Neither the US or Iran have a monopoly on ignoring international norms here.
It's almost as though the CIA overthrowing the democratically elected government was a bad idea ?
The CIA does seem to have a habit of installing paper dictators then getting upset when it doesn't turn out the way they thought or when their man gets uppity so they have to go in and do the same again.
There's a Yes, Prime Minister scene where Sir Humphrey talks about partitioning as the standard British solution to geopolitical crises.
"Normally we partition the place, it's what we did in Ireland, Cyprus, India and Palestine, it always worked"
"Doesn't partitioning always lead to civil war?
"Well it did in Ireland, Cyprus, India and Palestine, but it kept them busy"
for the current Iranian govt to use this as propaganda is just disingenuous, and works largely I think because of western guilt over the region.
It's not propaganda, it's something that happened, and I haven't heard it referred to by any Iranian leader lately.
the killing of over 250 US marines in Beirut, the hostage taking of US diplomatic staff and the kidnap and torture of the CIA station chief in Lebanon
I'm guessing that the US support of Saddam in his war that killed 200,000 Iranians might have something to do with it.
The Strait of Hormuz is closed as long as Iran wants it closed. There is no conceivable naval operation that will guarantee the 100% safety that oil and LNG tankers need to sail.
Closely related to this...
In which is this...
France and Italy
The two European nations are understood to have requested talks with Iran about allowing their ships to pass through the strait, the UK’s Financial Times has reported, citing unnamed officials.
Which honestly, would be quite interesting if they pulled it off and others in Europe followed. Feels like quite a long shot.
and I haven't heard it referred to by any Iranian leader lately.
You don't think that they've consistently used the '53 coup as the US' 'original sin' and reason they can never be trusted, and have consistently blamed both the CIA and MI5 while obfuscating their own complicity and manipulation at the time, and is the cornerstone of their 'neither East nor West' policy which places the US and the UK at the centre of efforts to constantly overthrow them?
their propaganda clearly working better than they could've imagined.
I'm guessing that the US support of Saddam in his war that killed 200,000 Iranians might have something to do with it.
have you heard at all about this wee thing called the Iran-Contra Affair?
You don't think that they've consistently used the '53 coup as the US' 'original sin' and reason they can never be trusted,
I'm sure they have, and for good reason, but I refer you to the meaning of the word "lately".
have you heard at all about this wee thing called the Iran-Contra Affair?
Yes, I was living in the US at the time and news did filter through, even to Texas, so your patronising comment looks a bit silly as well as irrelevant.
The Strait of Hormuz is closed as long as Iran wants it closed. There is no conceivable naval operation that will guarantee the 100% safety that oil and LNG tankers need to sail.
Closely related to this...
Which honestly, would be quite interesting if they pulled it off and others in Europe followed. Feels like quite a long shot.
Definitely a long shot. Insurance is likely to be a problem because mines are a possibility and at least one tanker has been hit by missile debris causing a fire, despite not being directly targetted.
Europe doesn't rely on the Strait of Hormuz massively, Asia is far more impacted.
Having said that, jet fuel and fertiliser represent products that Europe is more reliant on, not helped by sanctions on Russia. This might be a less bad option
Iran could change its mind if defensive measures on behalf of other Gulf States cross a line and France has been involved there quite heavily.
It could be a tactic to open more general talks though.
It could be a tactic to open more general talks though.
Thanks to the actions of Trump, I don't think there's ever been a time recently where "general talks" seems as remote a possibility as it is now.
