John Hjorth Posted March 15 Posted March 15 (edited) 57 minutes ago, 73 Reds said: Indeed John, it is always about priorities. And long-term thinking. I don't blame you one bit for thinking the way you do about Greenland. But you have to admit, it's got you to thinking about Greenland. Hereby admitted, @73 Reds, It's about loyalty among allies. And mutuality also. Add to that proportions. In the years to come Danish elementary school kiddos will in history classes be taught the 47th President of United States of America threatned to break up the Danish Realm. In USA it will be lost in the countrys memory as a nothing burger. When the Greenland fuzz was at it's highest, I remember in Danish TV seeing a Danish reporter on the street in central NYC asking bypassers on the walkway, what their opinion was about POTUS' then 'Greenland work in progress'. Nobody answered, all asked refused, declined to answer for the mic and in front of a camera lens, where on the mic there was a label 'TV2'. And honestly, why not? I understand the angle, honestly. Why the heck relate in public to a situation about 56 K people, when you're a citizen in a country of 345 million? The perception of 'the thingy' simply depends on who you are! - As always! Edited March 15 by John Hjorth
John Hjorth Posted March 15 Posted March 15 48 minutes ago, Xerxes said: shushhhhh Don’t say Greenland. The Church of MAGA is distracted. Don’t put is back in spotlight. HaHa! @Xerxes, Consider it done! <John, the naughty boy!>
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 50 minutes ago, 73 Reds said: You are looking at the issue too narrowly. Israel was going to act with or without us. We protected our ally and ourselves (and you) in the process. Try to hold your disdain for the US and Trump in check for just once. What, you think waiting for crazy people to actually carry out crazy acts is the time to act? Maybe in Canada, not here. Disdain for Trump...yes. Disdain for the U.S...no. My point was that the U.S. acts in self-interest like any other nation...including Iran. Virtue never comes into the equation...and if it does somehow, it's the least important, but the U.S. likes to signal it to their audience to gain approval. Cheers!
John Hjorth Posted March 15 Posted March 15 (edited) Man, 900 pages...! - We're all crazy! - Even @Vikings Fairfax book can't keep up! Edited March 15 by John Hjorth
changegonnacome Posted March 15 Posted March 15 58 minutes ago, 73 Reds said: You are looking at the issue too narrowly. Israel was going to act with or without us. That, I'm afraid, is a distinction without a difference @73 Reds. But you know that already. You cant untangle Israel from the US.....sure Israel has some agency but it is structurally dependent on the United States for its security. The US underwrites substantially all Israel's actions in the Middle East - we provide the security umbrella under which they get to make deeply aggressive strategic choices - say like a country of 10m people (Israel) preemptively attacking Iran a country of 93m people (Iran). The financial aid, diplomatic cover (like UN Security Council vetoes*), and material support (weapons and munitions) from the US significantly reduce the risks Israel faces when engaging regional adversaries. If we removed or threatened to remove that security umbrella the algebra that underpins their military choices would invert 180 degrees to reflect the relative size and vulnerability of their position relative to Iran and other stakeholders in middle East. The US makes Israel's current strategic posture possible. We don't just have a seat at the table, we underwrite the building it sits in. Pretending otherwise is just political theater. When administration officials, like Rubio, argue that they we're going to act with or without us they are insulting the intelligence of their constituency. * the US has used its UN Security Council veto FIFTY plus times, FIVE-ZERO to block resolutions critical of Israel
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 13 minutes ago, changegonnacome said: That, I'm afraid, is a distinction without a difference @73 Reds. But you know that already. You cant untangle Israel from the US.....sure Israel has some agency but it is structurally dependent on the United States for its security. The US underwrites substantially all Israel's actions in the Middle East - we provide the security umbrella under which they get to make deeply aggressive strategic choices - say like a country of 10m people (Israel) preemptively attacking Iran a country of 93m people (Iran). The financial aid, diplomatic cover (like UN Security Council vetoes*), and material support (weapons and munitions) from the US significantly reduce the risks Israel faces when engaging regional adversaries. If we removed or threatened to remove that security umbrella the algebra that underpins their military choices would invert 180 degrees to reflect the relative size and vulnerability of their position relative to Iran and other stakeholders in middle East. The US makes Israel's current strategic posture possible. We don't just have a seat at the table, we underwrite the building it sits in. Pretending otherwise is just political theater. When administration officials, like Rubio, argue that they we're going to act with or without us they are insulting the intelligence of their constituency. * the US has used its UN Security Council veto FIFTY plus times, FIVE-ZERO to block resolutions critical of Israel 100%! Israel would not be able to do anything it does without U.S. support. That's not Israel's fault...just reality. Cheers!
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/trump-wants-countries-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-rcna263537 Trump wants "team effort" now to keep Hormuz open! First you do this without any Congressional approval, ally approval, national approval...then you blow everything to hell and realize you are choking on your hot dog after the second bite! Now you need the "team effort" Heimlich to give you back the breath of life and prevent a major recession. That tiny, little, evil hot dog bite got the better of you after you thought you would plow through it like you do your Big Macs and KFC! And it was a bloody little beef hot dog on top of that, since the Iranians don't eat pork! Cheers!
ourkid8 Posted March 15 Posted March 15 (edited) 1 hour ago, Parsad said: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/trump-wants-countries-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-rcna263537 Trump wants "team effort" now to keep Hormuz open! The next choke point for Iran to close is the Bab Al-Mandab Straight - the Red sea’s gateway for Saudia. Their other Shia ally the Houthis haven’t joined the party yet - they will! This is a train wreck which is slowly approaching and US /Israel don't know how to get out of it. what is everyone’s guess where oil hits? Edited March 15 by ourkid8
NnnnotSoSmart Posted March 15 Posted March 15 20 minutes ago, ourkid8 said: The next choke point for Iran to close is the Bab Al-Mandab Straight - the Red sea’s gateway for Saudia. Their other Shia ally the Houthis haven’t joined the party yet - they will! This is a train wreck which is slowly approaching and US /Israel don't know how to get out of it. what is everyone’s guess where oil hits? The war in Iran is currently in a phase in which the military trajectory is relatively positive: the United States is steadily destroying Iran’s ability to use its most essential tool in the war — drone and missile attacks — which in turn underpin the entire Iranian strategy. Iran has still done some damage to US forces, and it is still firing drones and missiles, though the overall attack rate is slowly decreasing. These attacks still pale in comparison to the major attacks Iran sought to conduct in an existential war and have caused neither operationally significant damage nor widespread casualties. The US-Israeli combined force will need time to achieve its military objectives and prevent Iran from inflicting further political and economic pain upon the United States and its allies in the region, but the campaign remains incomplete, and it is too soon to forecast its outcome. Declaring it an operational failure is unquestionably premature. https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/the-war-in-iran-operational-progress-but-challenges-remain/?utm_source=X&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=iranwarmarch15
Gregmal Posted March 15 Posted March 15 Every single oil spike in history has been a great short opp. They’re all, this included, clear short term disruptions where supply is artificially reduced. Medium to long term it is virtually impossible for the ME to exist without regular flowing output. So I kinda think all this short term doomerism or the “what if oil hits….” Is just kinda sensationalism bullshit….i mean so what? What if egg prices hit $8 a dozen? Omg well, so what, if they do, in the not too distant future the markets will correct. This ain’t no different. Oil people are the ultimate drama queens.
John Hjorth Posted March 15 Posted March 15 1 hour ago, Parsad said: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/trump-wants-countries-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-rcna263537 Trump wants "team effort" now to keep Hormuz open! First you do this without any Congressional approval, ally approval, national approval...then you blow everything to hell and realize you are choking on your hot dog after the second bite! Now you need the "team effort" Heimlich to give you back the breath of life and prevent a major recession. That tiny, little, evil hot dog bite got the better of you after you thought you would plow through it like you do your Big Macs and KFC! And it was a bloody little beef hot dog on top of that, since the Iranians don't eat pork! Cheers! I personally think speculate the majority of Western European countries will reply, politely 'No, thank you', this is your own cooking, please eat it, plus we haven't forgotten your stance on the 'Ukraine thingy'.
SharperDingaan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 1 hour ago, Parsad said: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/trump-wants-countries-help-reopen-strait-hormuz-rcna263537 Trump wants "team effort" now to keep Hormuz open! Sure ... take the tariffs off, and we'll talk about it All I see is a drowning man. SD
SharperDingaan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 19 minutes ago, Gregmal said: Every single oil spike in history has been a great short opp. They’re all, this included, clear short term disruptions where supply is artificially reduced. Medium to long term it is virtually impossible for the ME to exist without regular flowing output. So I kinda think all this short term doomerism or the “what if oil hits….” Is just kinda sensationalism bullshit….i mean so what? What if egg prices hit $8 a dozen? Omg well, so what, if they do, in the not too distant future the markets will correct. This ain’t no different. Oil people are the ultimate drama queens. Shush The beaters are flushing birds through the trap. SD
cubsfan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 3 hours ago, 73 Reds said: You are looking at the issue too narrowly. Israel was going to act with or without us. We protected our ally and ourselves (and you) in the process. Try to hold your disdain for the US and Trump in check for just once. What, you think waiting for crazy people to actually carry out crazy acts is the time to act? Maybe in Canada, not here. I'd have to agree with this. We don't have access to Mossad or CIA intelligence. Trump attacking Iran is a big detour and potential devastating for the midterm elections and the 2028 Presidential election. He/They saw something that had to be taken care of - because it's totally against the core MAGA movement and very damaging politically. There was absolutely no benefit politically for him doing this - in spite of being the right thing for the country and the world.
UK Posted March 15 Posted March 15 27 minutes ago, John Hjorth said: I personally think speculate the majority of Western European countries will reply, politely 'No, thank you', this is your own cooking, please eat it, plus we haven't forgotten your stance on the 'Ukraine thingy'. https://archive.is/FgFMx Severe, but uneven. Look at America’s financial markets and you would not conclude economic Armageddon was nigh. The S&P 500 index of stocks is down by a modest 1.5% in March. The yield on ten-year Treasury bonds has risen, but not yet exceeded its high over the past three months. Look at Europe and things seem a little worse: European stocks are down 5-6% on the month. In Asia things look even more troubling: Japanese stocks are off 7.3%; South Korean ones by over 10%. In other words, financial markets are expecting some regions to suffer more than others. Since 2019 America has been a net energy exporter, owing to its fracking boom, meaning that parts of its economy benefit from higher oil prices. Its economy is also far less oil-intensive than it once was. Since the 1970s the ratio of oil consumption to real GDP has fallen by more than 70%, as vehicles have become more efficient and cheap natural gas has replaced oil in heating and power generation. Although America’s exports of LNG have grown in recent years, they have not done so to the degree that would be necessary to equalise gas prices with Europe, where they are now more than five times as high.
cubsfan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 2 hours ago, Parsad said: 100%! Israel would not be able to do anything it does without U.S. support. That's not Israel's fault...just reality. Cheers! Well, not exactly. Israel punches way, way above their weight class. Who can't admire that? You get your 6 day war where Egypt, Syria, Jordan all attack Israel and get destroyed. How many times has the cycle repeated itself? The smart guys like the Saudis, Jordanians, and Egypt learned well and decide - ok - let's live in peace. But the idiot Iranian Mullahs? Nope.. So many of those Muslim extremists just never learn their lesson. Now Iran is learning and totally humiliated. Such fools - all this destruction for nothing.
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 32 minutes ago, Gregmal said: Every single oil spike in history has been a great short opp. They’re all, this included, clear short term disruptions where supply is artificially reduced. Medium to long term it is virtually impossible for the ME to exist without regular flowing output. So I kinda think all this short term doomerism or the “what if oil hits….” Is just kinda sensationalism bullshit….i mean so what? What if egg prices hit $8 a dozen? Omg well, so what, if they do, in the not too distant future the markets will correct. This ain’t no different. Oil people are the ultimate drama queens. Agree. The only issue is normally everyone wants to avoid mutual destruction. In this case, how far will the regime go to preserve themselves? It all comes down to suicide or self-preservation. History has showed self-interest usually wins, but there have been outliers. I had a ton of cash for the last five months in my trading accounts...they are now about 85% invested in ideas that suddenly became cheap enough. So that shows what I'm betting on. If I'm wrong, then I'll have to do what I did during other very deep recessions...sell higher valued stuff for really cheap stuff. If I'm right, then within 12 months I'll make a healthy 20-40% on my investments! Cheers!
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 19 minutes ago, SharperDingaan said: Sure ... take the tariffs off, and we'll talk about it All I see is a drowning man. SD Yup...I think that is damn fair! Take the tariffs off, sign new trade agreements, and we'll help with the mess you made. They aren't going to get involved in any battle, but they'll bring negotiations forward, send peacekeeping teams to allow the ships, and help end this thing. Trump gets to call it a win, Israel is safe, the Middle East gets peace and the allies/non-allies help and get the tariffs removed. Time to play this "trump" card! Cheers!
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 Just now, Parsad said: Yup...I think that is damn fair! Take the tariffs off, sign new trade agreements, and we'll help with the mess you made. They aren't going to get involved in any battle, but they'll bring negotiations forward, send peacekeeping teams to allow the ships, and help end this thing. Trump gets to call it a win, Israel is safe, the Middle East gets peace and the allies/non-allies help and get the tariffs removed. Time to play this "trump" card! Cheers! Plus Democrats can then go back to talking about the Trump-Epstein files! Cheers!
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 15 minutes ago, cubsfan said: I'd have to agree with this. We don't have access to Mossad or CIA intelligence. Trump attacking Iran is a big detour and potential devastating for the midterm elections and the 2028 Presidential election. He/They saw something that had to be taken care of - because it's totally against the core MAGA movement and very damaging politically. There was absolutely no benefit politically for him doing this - in spite of being the right thing for the country and the world. Trump-Epstein files. Like halitosis, it just keeps coming back for him! Cheers!
cubsfan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 37 minutes ago, John Hjorth said: I personally think speculate the majority of Western European countries will reply, politely 'No, thank you', this is your own cooking, please eat it, plus we haven't forgotten your stance on the 'Ukraine thingy'. Better idea to re-think this... the USA is energy self-sufficient. France, Germany, S. Korea, China - not so much. This is totally within their self-interest, as is keeping the Suez Canal open for Europe. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face: Ukraine means very, very little to the United States. There is a reason the Europeans are not running to Ukraine to get involved in the quagmire, as much as Europe will not admit it.
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 2 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Better idea to re-think this... the USA is energy self-sufficient. France, Germany, S. Korea, China - not so much. This is totally within their self-interest, as is keeping the Suez Canal open for Europe. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face: Ukraine means very, very little to the United States. There is a reason the Europeans are not running to Ukraine to get involved in the quagmire, as much as Europe will not admit it. Not entirely true. You keep slapping your little brother around, but most of your energy imports to keep your lights on and Dodge Rams running come from Canada! The Northeast and Washington state alone would be in the dark without us. You still don't produce enough to be truly self-sufficient. Drill baby, drill! Cheers! https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2025/market-snapshot-overview-of-canada-us-energy-trade.html
cubsfan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 Just now, Parsad said: Not entirely true. You keep slapping your little brother around, but most of your energy imports to keep your lights on and Dodge Rams running come from Canada! The Northeast and Washington state alone would be in the dark without us. You still don't produce enough to be truly self-sufficient. Drill baby, drill! Cheers! https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2025/market-snapshot-overview-of-canada-us-energy-trade.html We will drill for sure. And when we trade you Alberta for the wing-nuts in Minnesota - our transition to MAGA and energy independence will be completed! Ha.
Parsad Posted March 15 Posted March 15 2 minutes ago, cubsfan said: We will drill for sure. And when we trade you Alberta for the wing-nuts in Minnesota - our transition to MAGA and energy independence will be completed! Ha. Give us California...I love pistachios and olives! Plus California wines are terrific! Keep Newsom. Cheers!
John Hjorth Posted March 15 Posted March 15 6 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Well, not exactly. Israel punches way, way above their weight class. Who can't admire that? You get your 6 day war where Egypt, Syria, Jordan all attack Israel and get destroyed. How many times has the cycle repeated itself? The smart guys like the Saudis, Jordanians, and Egypt learned well and decide - ok - let's live in peace. But the idiot Iranian Mullahs? Nope.. So many of those Muslim extremists just never learn their lesson. Now Iran is learning and totally humiliated. Such fools - all this destruction for nothing. Mike [ @cubsfan ], You said it. There we have it. Old, fixated, frozen, for long locked in, hatred and hard feelings and urge for vengeance. Clouding every mind subject to it with black clouds and negative feeling and wawes. It's plain stupid, think of it like thinking i.e. @Marco Van Basten, @Spekulatius, @Hamburg Investor, @Xerxes, @ourkid8 and @Loss Horizon being mean morons because of their geografic and national backgrounds and origins.
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