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Given the mixed messages out of Iran overnight re cessefire, its not entirely impossible a coup is occuring or that Khomeini is dead

My guess is that any coup would be precipitated by protests on the streets of Tehran and other major cities. I just don't see the alternative power center in Iran for an insider coup.

Jack Straw was on with Marr on LBC last night and a putsch (as an option) was hinted at.

Yeh, but that's enough on Labour's internal politics what about Iran?

Hard to get a word in edgeways with all the people who object to 'populism' clamouring to insist we disregard this polling as populism is a bad thing.

Impressive tumbleweed display though, that's another irregular verb, isn't it?

If there’s one person on PB who invariably elbows their way to the head of the queue to get their word in edgeways..

About that ceasefire.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz: "I have instructed the IDF to continue intensive operations targeting regime assets and terrorist infrastructure in Tehran"
https://x.com/AmichaiStein1/status/1937419217684562223

Functionary of Likud on R4 suggesting that now is the time to end the SMO in Gaza, demilitarise, get in Arab administration and initiate democratic elections (no word on the apocalyptic hellscape that Gaza has become). This sounds most unBibiesque and therefore bloody unlikely.

Yep democratic elections in Gaza are unlikely because Israel.

@Papapishu

Rewatched Terminator 2 last night. Fun movie about AI leading to nuclear war and how the easiest way to kill someone is to dress up like a cop. Can't say its themes resonate today.

https://x.com/Papapishu/status/1936906193735217376

We've rather lost track of him lately, but the writer of Terminator 2, Bill Wisher, used to come over from LA and stay with us when we were up in Oxfordshire. Interesting guy.

I hope, every time he left, he turned to you and said, "I'll be back"?

Or if he was driving him to the airport "Come with me if you want to leave"

Who to believe ?
It's not as though either are particularly reliable sources, and it sounds like motivated reasoning on both sides.

Competing claims now about the status of Iran’s HEU. Senator Markwayne Mullin, on the Armed Services Committee, says U.S. intel determined Iran hadn’t moved it from Fordow before the American strike; two Israeli officials told NYT they likely did.
https://x.com/michaeldweiss/status/1937398505611636908

That suggests to me that no one is really sure.

Also: it's the tendency of politicians to take an optimistic spin, and security officials to take a pessimistic one.

...

I'd be a DK, DK, and stay out of it.

Not to say the rationale for action isn't there, but we're a small country with few resources, little influence and huge debt. Countries like that need to sing small and it doesn't necessarily rule out an 'honest broker' role at some point.

Good morning, everybody.

@Papapishu

Rewatched Terminator 2 last night. Fun movie about AI leading to nuclear war and how the easiest way to kill someone is to dress up like a cop. Can't say its themes resonate today.

https://x.com/Papapishu/status/1936906193735217376

We've rather lost track of him lately, but the writer of Terminator 2, Bill Wisher, used to come over from LA and stay with us when we were up in Oxfordshire. Interesting guy.

I hope, every time he left, he turned to you and said, "I'll be back"?