cubsfan

When the Iranian Mullahs say over and over again "Iran is dedicated to the destruction of Israel" - I think they mean it. Period. It's not a joke and not bluster. And, of course, all Israel wants is for Hezbollah & their proxies to stop lobbying missiles into Israel. Doesn't seem too much to ask. Iraq attacked Iran 40 years ago. Sadaam is long gone. Iranian mullahs are terrorists and trouble makers. They hate the Arabs - and will do everything they can to expand the Persian empire. So far, they've done a great job in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The Saudi's are terrified of these guys - hence - their new best friend is Israel. There is not a country in the Middle East more expansionist minded than Iran. No one wants to threaten Iran unless they decide to behave. The Israelis' want peace more than anyone. I feel sorry for the Iranian people. I've met plenty of Persians - but the religious idiots running the country have been out of control for years.

^ Huh - Iran not expansionist?? Tell that to Lebanon and Iraq. Iran's playbook for years is to control their neighbors. Russia obliterates Chechnya, then Crimea, now Ukraine - yeah - sure they're not expansionist...

^^^ The US does not want to be the police dog of the world. The US would vastly prefer strong alliances that keep other countries safe. It's an ugly world full of bad actors and despots. If you are South Korea, Taiwan, Phillipines, Japan, Australia, etc - you're likely pretty happy to have someone you MIGHT be able to rely on. If you don't - you're an idiot not to nuke up. What you are missing: The USA is NOT an expansionist power - China, Russia and Iran are.

^^ There is no doubt about that - it's not at all inviting. That's the purpose of strong alliances and deterrence. Something Obama and Biden failed to understand. You embolden your enemies by displaying your weakness, when you indeed, possess the strongest military in the world. You show them magnanimity and they spit in your face. But you do get a Nobel Prize and the Party of Davos just loves you.

^ Imagine being the Saudis right now with the prospect of a nuclear Iran. Their best friends will be Israel.

^ You have to expect rearmament if you let dictators run wild. IF you are Japan, Philippines, etc - and the US and allies can't be counted on to deter the bad guys - it's time to get your own nukes unfortunately.

^^ It's an interesting idea thinking you can recreate BRK just buy picking a bunch of low NAV stocks. Just think, Buffett's whole career reduced to that!

^^ Ok Greg - I'm done. Apologies.

Wrong again Eric - Trump made no secret about his objectives in Syria: 1- Protect US troops 2- Defeat ISIS 3- Get out of Syria He accomplished all three - and whenever threatened by Putin, Assad or the Iranians - he just kicked their asses. Of course, Obama couldn't afford to do that, as he wanted his lasting legacy to be the Iranian Nuclear deal, so he could get another Nobel Prize. He couldn't piss off the Mullahs. Obama got his deal, but it blew up in his face. But hey, at least the Iranians were happy!

Nice try Eric. You certainly missed the big picture. Trump there to clean up Obama's mess - paper tiger that he was. Obama couldn't bring himself to upset Assad and the Iranians. I mean, how was Barrack ever gonna please the Iranian Mullahs???, if he bombed them? So the empty suit President just turned it over to Russia. But when Putin messed with Trump - he got clobbered and stayed in his lane. Score 200 Dead Russians/Iranians - US losses = 0 But hey, Obama did get his historic Iran Nuclear Deal done , now didn't he?

^^ Nice revisionist history there Eric. Your even stronger message to Putin - when your hero Obama handed Syria to Putin on a silver platter. Instead of hitting the Syrians after inhumane civilian nerve gas attacks, Obama drew the famous "red line in the sand". Then your buddy chickened out - and HANDED the Syrian security issue over to the Russians! Obama, the coward, took his lesson from Chamberlin - when he appeased Hitler and gave him Czechoslovakia. History repeats itself.

The point is - once Trump hit the Russians - they stopped screwing with US forces period. Done. Putin knew he fucked with the wrong guy. Now of course, Biden is Putin's dream President. THAT is what has emboldened Putin. Feckless/worthless US Foreign Policy. President Xi can't wait to see what happens so he can roll into Taipei. Our Commander in Chief is more interested in White Rage and his DEI agenda in his Military than in deterring and protecting against bad actors.

Listen to you -- talk about adding no value.

You don't have a clue Viking. When Putin tried to push the envelope with Trump in Syria - Trump smoked 200 Russian mercenaries in 1 day - and all of Putin's aggressive nonsense stopped. Same when Trump flatten ISIS. Same with the Taliban when they got a taste of the MOAB. The fat little dictator in N. Korea took notice, as did the Chinese. "Speak softly and carry a big stick". And now, of course, Biden has destroyed deterrence, which will be terrifically hard to regain.

Holy shit Viking - you're delusional! Biden is a total disaster with foreign policy. Putin feared Trump, as did the Iranians, Chinese and North Koreans. Deterrence is what these tyrants understand. And the loss of deterrence under Biden is train wreck. Idiots like Obama and Biden use their therapeutic approach to tyrants and these assholes laugh at them like Hitler laughed at Chamberlin. Only a fool thinks US foreign policy is anything but a travesty.

^^^ Insanity! What city are you in?

^^Dinar - don't waste your time trying to explain to a socialist why socialism is bad. Big Government is always their answer.

^ Haven't you learned - Big Government fixes everything!

^ Thanks for the help guys - I blew the share count. So your P/S of 4.74 is accurate. So not so cheap.. PTLO will grow. The average Portillo does around $7.5M in sales vs MCD average around $2.5+. Footprint is larger. Catering business is significant and drive through business is spectacular and very well run. One to keep an eye on. Company has talked about 10% new openings per year.

ValueADD - thanks for comments on share count. Seemed way too cheap in my quick ratios. I'm confused as well. My quick scan gave me this result, so I may have sharecount botched. I showed Yum @ 6X sales, MCD @ 9X sales, CMG @ 7X sales, SHAK @ 5X sales - with PTLO @ 2X sales

^ PTLO has a strong cult following in Chicago area. I think it will grow nicely throughout the Midwest and Sunbelt.

^^ HA, HA - I'm with you there!

^ The middle class and poor in the Central Valley of CA get killed by this stuff. It's not so bad when you live in the Bay Area or Coastal corridor where you hardly need an air conditioner. So yeah, the elites on the Coast don't suffer much - but the poor get dump on. No problem for the policy makers like Newsome, etc if the rest of the folks are forced to pay the highest electricity rates in the country while they push their green new deal BS.

^ Jeez, nice character assassination on Jordan Peterson. What a crock of shit! His lectures on the Gulag and cancel culture are first rate. You sound like the great know-it-all Dr. Fauci.

^ Love that Christmas sweater!!! Merry Christmas guys.