Super Tuesday
Two dozen Iranian ships have been forced to turn around under the new US Naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Recently the US Navy seized a ship trying to run the blockade. The ship was seized by Naval & Marine forces operating in the sea of Oman. The ship was an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on April 19.
According to Cencom: The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade. After Touska's crew failed to comply with the warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance disabled Touska's propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska's engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.
What Iran’s Touska cargo ship, captured by the US Navy, is carrying and where it departed from- The Week
Later it was determined that:
"Data from Kpler, meanwhile said that the ship was travelling back from Gaolan port in Zhuhai, a southern port in Southeast of China, The Washington Post reported. Experts say that the Gaolan port is known for loading sodium perchlorate, which is used in making solid rocket fuel. Before its current journey it had been going back and forth between China's Zhuhai and Iranian ports according to AIS data at Gaolan. It reportedly left China on March 29 and departed Port Klang around April 12."
What Iran’s Touska cargo ship, captured by the US Navy, is carrying and where it departed from- The Week
So, China got caught helping Iran. The ship itself was classified as a ghost ship that had long been part of efforts to undermine sanctions.
In the meantime, Iran's leadership is fragmented. They are losing millions a day because they can't ship their oil and eventually, they'll have to stop pumping. Once that happens it isn't easy to start up again. Recently one group announced they were again shutting down the strait and apparently are not going to return to negotiations.
But here is the thing, there are rumblings among US sailors. The term being used is "Super Tuesday," meaning tomorrow.
I don't know what that means, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
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There is a power struggle going on in Iran.
Time is running out.
There is a power struggle going on in the white house; another Cabinet secretary resigned today to avoid the inspector general interview; 5 of her staff resigned or fired in the past month.
Two other highly visible female cabinet secretaries were recently demoted or fired.
One of the boys is very unstable and now fighting charges that he abuses alcohol as well as his travel privileges to Las Vegas and Europe.
One of the other boys now apparently trying to get into the roadkill hall of fame while musing of the good old days when he snorted cocaine off of toilet seats which is apparently ok
but suggesting a sort of BIA Indian Reform School system for black kids to be re-parented? Which one incident will kick little Robert to histories dust bin?
Time is running out.
I think you should worry more about the inspector general who lied.
Progressives act offended when you point out they seem to hate America.
here’s a us senator cheering for Iran. Will that hurt him, at all, politically, with his base?
Nope. All we can do is to stop federal funding of the universities.
And the cherry on top is Iran's chosen news organization: CNN.
No.
Trump taco-ed again. The Iranians have read his book.
No, the left still sucks. And you'll lose in 2028 as well.
Kamala is leading the democrats' polls.
I guess that because of what the cargo might have been there was no mention of the cargo on the TV news here in China, only about the "piracy" of the American capture of it. .
It might be in the best interest of China to act as a peace broker.
It would not be in my best interests to get into a discussion about it but I've noted more than once where they have said one thing and done the opposite.
Understood.
The Touska is part of the fleet that China uses to arm it's ally, Iran and evade international sanctions. The Touska was transporting duel use chemicals made to manufacture missiles. That's at least a few missiles that won't kills Israelis. Interesting to see who is happy, and who is mad about that.
The New York Times Thomas Friedman said it out loud for the American left, didn't he:
"I find myself, Michael, in a situation where I really want to see Iran defeated militarily," Friedman told CNN host Michael Smerconish on Saturday. "Because this regime is a terrible regime for its people in the region."
"And nothing would improve the region more than the replacement of this regime with the regime in Iran that was focused on enabling its people to realize their full potential and integrating peacefully with other countries and stop occupying Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. So, I'm all for that," Friedman continued.
Friedman then turned to what he calls the "problem" of a successful regime change in Tehran.
"The problem is I really don‘t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war, because they are two awful human beings," the Times columnist said. "They are both engaged in anti-democratic projects in their own countries. They‘re both alleged crooks. They are terrible, terrible people doing terrible things to America's standing in the world and Israel's standing in the world."
"And so I really find myself torn. I want to see Iran militarily defeated, but I do not want to see these two terrible people strengthened," he added.
NYT's Thomas Friedman says he's torn that Iran's defeat helps Trump, Netanyahu | Fox News
A mess created by an incompetent fool in charge of the US military.
The sequence of events indicates a reasonable strategy.
Failed negotiations led to widespread destruction of Iranian defenses, air & naval forces and the top three layers of the Iranian hierarchy. Then there was another attempt at negotiation. That has broken down because there are three or more paranoid cliques simultaneously trying to run the country. They played the "shut down the strait card" and Trump took the advice of both the US military and American businessmen and said that's a good idea and he blockaded the Strait which is costing Iran about $400 million per day. And now the negotiations have become a list of US demands.
It is hard to frame that as "a mess."
Trump started an unnecessary (and illegal) war. We are now dealing with the consequences (including $50 billion cost thus far) of his inappropriate action and incompetence.
The Strait was open before Trump's decision to gratuitously bomb Iran after having 'obliterated' their nuclear potential last year.
You continue attempting to defend an incompetent buffoon.
Patently untrue.
e Strait was open before Trump's decision to gratuitously bomb Iran after having 'obliterated' their nuclear potential last year.
Right, the preferred outcome is Iran with a nuke free to terrorize it's neighbors with the straight open upon Iran's whim. .
Your continued attempts to defend Trump are ridiculous.
And yet again you totally misrepresent what people write.
Given you have no defense for Trump, it would be well advised to stay silent rather than resort to blatant dishonesty.
What makes it so? Obama went to war with Libya for 7 months. Clinton bombed every bridge south of the Danube in the undeclared Serbia campaign. I never heard anything back then about an illegal war and those regimes hadn't been killing Americans for 47 years.
The Strait was open before Trump's decision to gratuitously bomb Iran after having 'obliterated' their nuclear potential last year.
So, we should get down on our knees to Iran. The Navy has contingency plans for just such an event.
The Iran regime is hanging onto dear life. They are hoping that political pressure will force Trump to let go. All Trump has to do is persevere. It won't last much longer.
Only Congress can declare war. Trump is labeling the Iran hostilities as a war. (It is also commonly labeled a war in public discourse.) Thus if Trump, et.al. view this as a war, it is an illegal war.
Further the 60 days for the War Powers Resolution to kick in is May 1. If Congress has not authorized Trump's actions, he will have another violation.
And of course, you present a ridiculous scenario because you cannot properly defend Trump's incompetence. My point is that Trump stupidly painted us into this corner. All this time, effort, blood, and money spent for an ill-conceived military action (that likely was done to deflect from the Epstein files).
Trump claimed he had 'obliterated' their nuclear capabilities in 2025. So what then is the point of bombing them in 2026? Looked like he was trying to stupidly attempt a regime change by bombing and killing their top leaders. As if the next tier would not step in. Just idiotic.
That is so naive. Iran is never going to stop as long as the theocracy continues. There is no reasoning with these people. There is no forcing them to back down from their religious quests. They believe they will be rewarded by Allah for their efforts, and the prospect of death is not a deterrent.
Well again, though you consistently choose to ignore it, that would mean all the wars since WWII were illegal. What you are really saying is ONLY Trump can't do it.
My point is that Trump stupidly painted us into this corner.
But we are not in a corner. We are in the driver's seat. Passage through the Strait means more to Iran than any other country and right now they are losing $400 million per day as 50% of their country is unemployed and their money is practically worthless.
Looked like he was trying to stupidly attempt a regime change by bombing and killing their top leaders.
Right now, the "regime" is 3 or 4 warring factions, which releases 3 or 4 contradictory statements each day.
That is so naive. Iran is never going to stop as long as the theocracy continues. There is no reasoning with these people. There is no forcing them to back down from their religious quests. They believe they will be rewarded by Allah for their efforts, and the prospect of death is not a deterrent.
We shall see how long the theocrats can hang on and btw the Strait does not belong to Iran. Those are international waters. They have tried closing the Strait down before. This time it will hurt them more than anyone else.
There is a lot that ONLY Trump can't do. For them to claim otherwise goes against everything that we've seen from them for the past last decade.
And the left supports each one of those contradicting statements over their own country.
Congress did not authorize the Korean war. But we are going back to the 1950s with very different rules. By today's standards, it would be an illegal war.
Congress did authorize the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and Afghanistan War. There is a difference between the use of force (e.g. Libya) and a war. Note that I have made it quite clear that Trump (and most everyone now) has labeled this a war. Congress has not even authorized this war (much less declared it), so it is illegal.
Trump should have (stupidly) stuck with his "excursion" label.
You are denying reality to try to defend Trump. His stupid moves put us into a situation where we must continue to spend billions of dollars dealing with the Strait and festering more potential conflict and involving others like China. This was not necessary before this war.
Does not change the fact that the moron tried to change the regime by bombing its leaders.
Another underreported story:
Tim Walz and Chris Murphy with Alex Soros in Barcelona attending the inaugural Global Progressive Summit together.
All pf whom are cheering for Iran to defeat the US.
Yet again you make up outrageous partisan claims.
Tom Friedman was up front about it.
They just want Trump to lose.
We definitely want Trump to lose, in general. He is a piece of human garbage. In specifics though it is a case by case basis.
Trump just extended the cease fire. What a surprise.
And we have wishes for your kind as well.
Time is on Trump's side. Denying Iran $400 million a day changed the whole calculus for delaying negotiations.
And with that the US will lose. All for what? Your hurt feelings?
Wait, you're crying about something you wanted in the first place?
Marxists agree with you ... go figure.
Not really.
BTW Sanchez is running one of the world's most corrupt governments and he will not be reelected. You heard it here first.
Jared Kushner got a couple billion dollars of investments from the UAE. His personal profit from these investments was over 100 million dollars. Now Trump says he may help UAE financially because of how they are "suffering" from this war.
What was that about corruption again?
Good news for the American people.
Two dozen Iranian commercial vessels attempting to run past warships is pretty impressive. Commercial ships cannot defend themselves and are easy targets. Those ship captains are free to run but they chose a more dangerous path. Got to give 'em credit for being gutsy.
Apparently the Iranian flagged Touska was carrying a mixed cargo, some of which could be considered dual use. If the vessel was shipping weapons or military goods we would have heard about it by now. So, this is really just another 'big balls' display of military capacity to kill and destroy undefended, civilian property.
Israel proved last June that Iran could not defend its airspace. The US may have dropped the 'big ones' but Israel had been running bombing sorties for a week before the humongous, 'never seen before', most precise bombing campaign in human history ordered by The President Trump. So Super Tuesday will really be impressive. Not sure what it's supposed to achieve but it'll make great TV. Pete Hegseth can piss his pants prancing around the stage and sounding like a WWE maniac.
Meanwhile, April 19 was the unofficial start for the America 250 celebration. And the FIFA kickoff is in seven weeks. Didn't everyone get the memo?
With tickets ranging in the $10,000s for the final, FIFA has merged with the grifter class.
Aren't the games available on pay-per-view? Got to protect the couth from the uncouth lower classes.
Is that really a sport?
I don't know how you can downplay the expertise shown by the US Navy.
Yes, Israel showed courage and they are a true ally, but Iran did have a very strong military. All of the middle east and Europe feared them and so did US Presidents. Obama made them a strong and it was Trump who finally did what the others should have done.
Pete Hegseth can piss his pants prancing around the stage and sounding like a WWE maniac.
He more than proved himself. Another thing he did was restore recruitment for the military after Biden tried to sissify and emasculate it.
And the best part is that the world has been reordered by President Trump. Tell the Brits not to bother coming to us again if they need logistical support should they go to war over the Falkland's again. As a matter of fact, I don't think they are capable of sending a naval force there again. Tell the French not to bother us again if they have problems in Chad or elsewhere. Tell the Germans that wherever they want us, that "it ain't our war."
Please. If not for the fact that Israel showed last summer that Iran's air defense was almost non existent Trump would never have greenlighted the "obliteration" bombing last July , or this current war. Trump rode in on Israel's coattails , saw no harm from getting his beak wet, and then went all in.
No John, they had to destroy it.
Fucking Obama John, he made them powerful.
2026 Iran Conflict — Military Losses Tracker (102+)
The only reason Trump bombed Iran last July, or in this war, is that Israel proved previously that Iran had little ability to fight back in an air war. You may not like the truth, but that is the truth.
Bull Shit!
Iran was stronger than all the countries we fought in the middle east and that includes Obama's 7-month war with Libya or Desert Storm. They even had ballistic missiles that could hit Europe. Obama and Biden feared them.
Where have I downplayed the expertise of the US Navy? You'll have to back up that claim.
I suppose. Israel did do the dirty work on the ground that Trump wouldn't do. But the IDF are proven killers, aren't they?
Obama made a deal. Trump hasn't. Obama delivered something Trump has not been able to deliver well into his 2nd term. I doubt Trump can now get a deal that is a good as the JCPOA was.
I supposed 'reordered' is one way to look at it. But how does any of this strengthen the United States? If the United States is going to dump its alliances (as Trump has promised) then it's a bad idea to be starting wars.
So, what does the United States get out of the war with Iran? How does the war with Iran differ from the Ukrainian war? Europe is not falling apart without the United States. Japan has been moved to abandon its pacifist stance and has now approved export of military goods (to compete with the United States). China seems to be adjusting to President Trump's reordered world in ways that strengthen China. Russia hasn't been subdued by a display of American strength.
It's beginning to look like President Trump has divided the world into two blocs: a financialized service economy bloc and an industrialized producer bloc. As we've seen, service economies simply cannot compete with industrial economies. Presidents Biden and Trump have successfully transformed American strengths into weaknesses in the emerging reordered world.
The JCPOA was the worst deal in human history. Supposedly it would slow Iran down, if only Iran was honest. It guaranteed that Iran would one day have nuclear weapons and helped arm the country to the teeth.
I supposed 'reordered' is one way to look at it. But how does any of this strengthen the United States? If the United States is going to dump its alliances (as Trump has promised) then it's a bad idea to be starting wars.
First Iran has been defanged and that is the best thing that could happen. Second the US has now emerged with real allies such as Israel, eastern Europe and the Arab Gulf States.
It's beginning to look like President Trump has divided the world into two blocs: a financialized service economy bloc and an industrialized producer bloc. As we've seen, service economies simply cannot compete with industrial economies. Presidents Biden and Trump have successfully transformed American strengths into weaknesses in the emerging reordered world.
It is Trump who has reenergized America.
Why? Iran had paused high enrichment according to intelligence information. Iran was using enrichment as leverage to obtain sanctions relief.
The bottom line is Obama got a deal that Trump cannot get. Granted the JCPOA was not perfect but it was a better deal obtained at much less cost than anything Trump has obtained.
Defanged? Did Iran have fangs? Iran's air and naval assets weren't used to attack or threaten anyone. Iran only used drones and missiles. The threat of Iran's missiles and drones is still present. Before Trump's war, Iran really only threatened Israel. Now Iran is using its drones and missiles to threaten the world economy.
What has Trump really accomplished? How does this benefit the United States?
Trump has inadvertently convinced the world to speed adoption of green energy because the oil supply chain is too fragile. There are now viable alternatives to oil that liberate economies from US hegemony. Trump has proven that a financialized services economy (like the US) simply cannot compete with industrial producer economies.
Trump cannot reenergize America with tax cuts, tariffs, and financial gimmicks. The only way to reenergize America is with a true industrial policy that pursues vertical integration, investment in industrial entrepreneurship, leverages capital with collateral, and prioritizes labor over consumption. The United States cannot be reenergized by devaluing our currency, inflating away our debt, and gaming the system with stablecoin and worthless cryptocurrency.
Trump is pushing the FED to lower interest rates because he thinks that will spur borrowing (printing money) that will lower Treasury yields and inflate away the debt. Trump is planning to double down on deenergizing America by flooding the economy with worthless paper. That's just another scam that deepens the hole we're digging.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has never certified that Iran is in “compliance” with the deal. Moreover, each quarter since January 2016, the IAEA has reported that it still has not been able to determine that Iran has no undeclared nuclear facilities and materials and thus cannot conclude that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.
Known or Possible Iranian Violations of the JCPOA Fact Sheet - EMET | Endowment for Middle East Truth
Defanged? Did Iran have fangs? Iran's air and naval assets weren't used to attack or threaten anyone. Iran only used drones and missiles. The threat of Iran's missiles and drones is still present. Before Trump's war, Iran really only threatened Israel. Now Iran is using its drones and missiles to threaten the world economy.
What has Trump really accomplished? How does this benefit the United States?
Iran killed and maimed thousands of Americans over the past 47 years. It has funded terror groups throughout the middle east and has been a threat to the mideast, the west and the US. Anyone who thinks we can live in peace with Iran is living in a fantasy world.
Trump has inadvertently convinced the world to speed adoption of green energy because the oil supply chain is too fragile. There are now viable alternatives to oil that liberate economies from US hegemony. Trump has proven that a financialized services economy (like the US) simply cannot compete with industrial producer economies.
Electric cars are still IMPRACTICLE.
Trump cannot reenergize America with tax cuts, tariffs, and financial gimmicks. The only way to reenergize America is with a true industrial policy that pursues vertical integration, investment in industrial entrepreneurship, leverages capital with collateral, and prioritizes labor over consumption. The United States cannot be reenergized by devaluing our currency, inflating away our debt, and gaming the system with stablecoin and worthless cryptocurrency.
It is a tall order. I long for the day when I can look at something I ordered from Amazon that does not say "Made in China."
Trump is pushing the FED to lower interest rates because he thinks that will spur borrowing (printing money) that will lower Treasury yields and inflate away the debt. Trump is planning to double down on deenergizing America by flooding the economy with worthless paper. That's just another scam that deepens the hole we're digging.
No, Trump, unlike his predecessors, is not pushing Keynesian economics.
What is it about using enrichment to leverage easing of sanctions is difficult to understand?
What has the United States been doing?
1981: Libya (Gulf of Sidra) – US Navy jets shot down two Libyan fighters after Libya declared a "Line of Death" over international waters.
1982–1984: Lebanon – US Marines participated in a multinational peacekeeping force during the Lebanese Civil War; withdrawn following the 1983 barracks bombing.
1983: Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury) – A full-scale invasion to depose a revolutionary Marxist government and ensure the safety of American medical students.
1986: Libya (Operation El Dorado Canyon) – A series of airstrikes launched in response to the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque.
1987–1988: Iran (Operation Earnest Will / Praying Mantis) – The protection of Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War, leading to the largest US naval surface engagement since WWII.
1989: Panama (Operation Just Cause) – An invasion to overthrow and capture military dictator Manuel Noriega on drug-trafficking charges.
1991: Iraq/Kuwait (Operation Desert Storm) – A major multi-nation conflict to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
1991–2003: Iraq (No-Fly Zones) – Operations Northern and Southern Watch enforced flight restrictions over parts of Iraq for over a decade.
1992–1995: Somalia (Operation Restore Hope) – A humanitarian intervention that shifted into armed conflict against local warlords.
1994: Haiti (Operation Uphold Democracy) – An intervention to remove the military regime and restore the elected president.
1995: Bosnia (Operation Deliberate Force) – A NATO bombing campaign against Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian War.
1998: Sudan & Afghanistan (Operation Infinite Reach) – Cruise missile strikes against Al-Qaeda bases in response to embassy bombings in East Africa.
1999: Serbia/Kosovo (Operation Allied Force) – An 11-week NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War.
2001–2021: Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) – An invasion following the 9/11 attacks to dismantle Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power.
2003–2011: Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) – An invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein’s government, followed by a multi-year insurgency and reconstruction effort.
2011: Libya (Operation Odyssey Dawn) – US and NATO airstrikes and a no-fly zone to protect civilians during the Libyan Civil War.
2014–Present: Iraq & Syria (Operation Inherent Resolve) – An ongoing air and ground campaign to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS).
2017–Present: Yemen & Somalia – Continued periodic drone strikes and special operations targeting Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Al-Shabaab.
2024–Present: Yemen (Operation Prosperity Guardian) – Ongoing airstrikes against Houthi rebel targets in response to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
2025–2026: Regional Conflicts – Recent operations have included the expansion of Operation Southern Spear (targeting international cartel logistics) and heightened naval engagements in the Middle East.
Nuclear energy doesn't require oil. Neither does solar and wind electricity generation.
Keynesian economic policy allowed the United States to harness the industrial might of America and win a two-front global war. Keynesian economic policy provided the prosperity of the 1950s.
The proven success of Keynesian economics for a strong, secure America is indisputable.
Nicely done
but more than half of the "aircraft" were Reaper drones (still very expensive) and 4 or 5 of the KC-135s will be repaired and back in service if they aren't already.
Gas and oil cars were impractical when they were first introduced and it took decades until WW1 to overcome.
Ironically this is also true of the switch from gas and oil to electric ars.
They have lower costs, cleaner emissions, less smelly and toxic, famous people like Elon Musk normalized them, now China will beat everyone else with affordability
and American manufacturers who reacted to Trump's interference with the natural market place will be fucked again. Flat footed and over priced for less efficient designs.
Thanks Trump.