re: Official US/Israel vs Iran war thread

quote:

---

So the UK was fine with Iran halting all traffic through the Strait but not OK with it now?

---

Reading the statements carefully, it's not clear if there's any contradiction. Trump said allies, including the UK, were sending minesweepers. He also said the US would blockade the SOH. The UK said they wouldn't participate in the blockade, which I don't believe anyone said they were expected to do. We'll see if they actually do send minesweepers as part of the "coalition".

The UK is a complete wildcard now because it's not clear who makes the decisions. By all appearances they're steering hard left. It wouldn't even be surprising if they formed an alliance with China, which would eventually end badly for them but that may be the plan.

quote:

---

The UK is a complete wildcard now because it's not clear who makes the decisions. By all appearances they're steering hard left. It wouldn't even be surprising if they formed an alliance with China, which would eventually end badly for them but that may be the plan.

---

This is absolutely retarded. The fricking United Kingdom is not forming any 'alliance' with China.

The UK's defense goals were made clear in their defense review, as they are changing focus from 'Non-European' theaters to North Atlantic specifically. It also comes with a massive overhaul of spending, procurement and logistics systems. A decade of austerity in response to the 2008 crash as well as to the Eurozone crisis did not actually end up saving money, as the lack of investment led to a decaying navy and naval infrastructure. They are pretty explicit that they are focusing on the 'Euro-Atlantic,' which represents a departure from previous reviews where they made Indo-Pacific engagement a priority. They don't have the means, ability, nor funding to really do anything else at the moment.

quote:

---

if they formed an alliance with China, which would eventually end badly for them but that may be the plan.

---

Greenland would be taken by us tomorrow if that happens

quote:

---

I consider most of your opinions to be nonsensical too.

---

Lol what?

quote:

---

Words are easy. The UK talks a good game

---

Well they aren't talking a good game. That whitepaper I referenced represents a point of departure from the UK's traditional stance. They are talking about effectively reorganizing their industrial and logistical capacity to protect a region which they effectively dominated for centuries. Maybe you just started following geopolitics, but this is a massive admission on the part of the British.

And yes, the suggestion that the UK would 'ally' with China is idiotic. They have a whole Commonwealth they could potentially tap for extremely close relations (which they have) rather than 'ally' with China.

Just say the edits and I want to address them.

quote:

---

they are apparently steering hard left, as I said. In the post-rev war period nobody would've predicted Britain ever aligning with the US, but it happened.

---

Bud, within the lifetime of the Anglo-American alliance, they had Clement Atlee and Harold Wilson as their PM. Starmer is possibly even to the right of Tony Blair, that is how milquetoast his approach is.

Secondly, the Anglo-American alliance was formed after a nearly 140 years of direct competition with one another in North America itself. The reason it changed was that the unification and formation of a German state threatened British interests, and thus they began a 'Great Rapprochement' approach, along with the Canadians, which saw the British effectively cede the Western Hemisphere in exchange for closer relations with the US. Things change, but they change by actual geopolitical realities, not some fanciful version of the world you make up in your head.

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

quote:

---

An urgent phone call from Saudi Crown Prince MBS changed Trump’s decision at the last minute:

President Trump had intended to declare a complete ceasefire and end the fighting against Iran in exchange for the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, a tense phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman dramatically changed the plan.

According to White House sources, bin Salman begged Trump not to stop the war:
“This is a historic opportunity – we must finish the job and weaken the Iranian regime once and for all.”

In exchange for continuing the fighting, Saudi Arabia offered an unprecedented package of economic and strategic incentives.

Key points in the offer:
• $100 billion transferred directly to finance American war costs
• Full and immediate normalization with Israel after the fall of the regime
• Direct oil pipeline from Saudi Arabia to the port of Ashdod, turning Israel into a major energy hub
• Investment of approximately $1 trillion in the U.S. economy + purchase of $500 billion in American weapons
• Establishment of a new regional defense alliance, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other moderate countries under an American umbrella
• Joint naval force to control the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb
• Funding of strategic U.S. bases in Israel
• Joint reconstruction fund for a post-regime “secular and moderate” Iran

In the end, Trump announced a temporary ceasefire, not an end to the war as was expected.

Senior diplomatic sources describe the move as “a historic turning point” marking the beginning of a new regional order.

- @jess_ih_ka

---

Dubious sauce. Grain of salt

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

quote:

---

The president is spot on. The regime has increasingly miscalculated, led w/ its chin, and moved into the realm of a desperate actor which could have actually entertained this use. Below is a list of thresholds it has crossed. As a reminder, the IRI:

- Is the only country to develop a 2000 km missile w/out first getting nukes

- Has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the ME

- Has directly, on 5 occasions, fired ballistic missiles at the territory of 2 nuclear weapons states: Israel (April 2024, Oct 2024, June 2025, Feb-April 2026) & Pakistan (Jan 2024)

- Has directly, on 3 occasions, fired ballistic missiles at US bases (Jan 2020, June 2025, Feb-April 2026)

- Has been willing to “shut” an international waterway for weeks amid this conflict. This asymmetric maritime capability builds on years of threats to close the Strait (2010-2012) and years of harassment of US military and commercial shipping (2015-2017), tanker seizures, and more.

---

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

quote:

---

Vice President Vance’s final offer delivered to the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, which represent ‘red lines,’ according to two U.S. officials:

1. End all uranium enrichment
2. Dismantle all major nuclear enrichment facilities
3. Retrieve highly enriched uranium
4. Accept a broader peace, security and de-escalation framework that includes regional allies
5. End funding for terrorist proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis
6. Fully open the Strait of Hormuz, charging no tolls for passage

---

- Fox correspondent

quote:

---

Things change, but they change by actual geopolitical realities, not some fanciful version of the world you make up in your head.

---

Okay now I understand. The real version of the future is the one you've made up in your head. I understand that you're quite convinced that you have the future figured out. I'm quite convinced that you do not.

What's the deal with things like calling someone "Bud". Is this an internet affectation, or slang from the neighborhood. Does it confer a sense of superiority? Just wondering.