Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
'Dubai is finished': Expats say they will leave and never come back as tax-free dream is shattered by war and officials begin prosecuting people for posting videos of missiles
My wife has a friend from years ago, in contact in FB, who is very happy clappy in posts about how great the authorities are for keeping people safe.
'Dubai is finished': Expats say they will leave and never come back as tax-free dream is shattered by war and officials begin prosecuting people for posting videos of missiles
My wife has a friend from years ago, in contact in FB, who is very happy clappy in posts about how great the authorities are for keeping people safe.
"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
Yes, almost certainly a collision. Air to air refuelling is inherently risky, more so when people are tired and stressed.
Apparently two tankers, which is a bit odd. We'd need to invoke Dura_Ace to find out why they were cosplaying as the Red Arrows.
It's not uncommon for tankers to fuel each other. The rigid boom refuelling system used by the Americans is unforgiving of mistakes, so I suspect one crew has made an error and the boom has hit the receiving tanker and fatally damaged it.
Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
Tax evaders, people who like to be with tax evaders, and people who just love money. A state built on the Petro dollar. If that's your thing.
"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
Yes, almost certainly a collision. Air to air refuelling is inherently risky, more so when people are tired and stressed.
Apparently two tankers, which is a bit odd. We'd need to invoke Dura_Ace to find out why they were cosplaying as the Red Arrows.
It's not uncommon for tankers to fuel each other. The rigid boom refuelling system used by the Americans is unforgiving of mistakes, so I suspect one crew has made an error and the boom has hit the receiving tanker and fatally damaged it.
Weirdly, the USAF uses boom refuelling, but the USN and USMC use probe-and-drogue, the same system the RAF uses.
Actually it's quite reassuring that, having travelled the world, been to 100 countries, fucked 10000000 women, done everything legal and most things illegal, a grizzled and raddled old libertine like me can still find a remarkable new vegetable, quietly hanging out in every supermarket. Celeriac
I wouldn’t worry, I’m guessing I will work out how fun AI is in about 15 years. Things come to us at different times, but when we are ready.
My obsession with AI - which has bored all my friends and family titless these past four years, even more than it has bored PB - is now turning into serious wonga
Turns out that being obsessive about technology at an early stage can be rather beneficial when that tech turns into the Next Big Thing
But I am not allowed to talk about it, so you'll just have to guess how I used it
It's not your obsession with AI, it is your constant need for pbCOM to feed your narcissistic supply over the years. That is boring and tedious comrade.
Another day, another, well, we'll see, at Cheltenham.
I come on here and read we are going to deport immigrants - I thought we already deported those whose applications for asylum were unsuccessful but it seems instead as was the case once with tax and spend, we are embarking on a dutch auction to see who can be the "hardest" on immigration. A fine example of what happens when your have Government and Opposition positions determined by focus groups and tweets rather than what is good for the country.
It also seems we want to continue with one of our stupidest moves in the past 30-40 years - there's no problem with taking infrastructure out of public hands but we sell it to foreign companies. Fine, we get a nice little sum in the coffers but longer term you end up with the spectacle of British consumers having to pay more for their electricity and gas to foreign companies who use that to subsidise the costs their home customers pay.
Poor foreign people aren't welcome but rich foreign companies are - we begrudge any money going to the former but we are happy to pay more than we should to the latter - makes no sense at all.
How do you explain so many favourites turned over by winners so far out in the betting at this Cheltenham Stodge?
Correct me where I have the science wrong, Punters back horses down to shorter odds - a few antepost fancied runners have drifted, and won, whilst some horses have come in on the betting in the last week to go off favourites and come nowhere - I should know, I was on them and watched them go backwards as 40-1 outsiders glided passed them.
It’s got to be something to do with where punters are getting their guidance? It should be based on what we have seen, evidence based? Course and distance hasn’t changed nor has the going.
Is mainstream media, alt and social media, pushing some runners without enough evidence, or journalism not previewing races objectively enough?
Might be all of that or none of that.
Mullins has had a right go at Jon Pullin and Cheltenham over the going but the problem is the course drains so well and so quickly you can have the wettest January and February for years and you are still having to water to stop the ground going too fast.
At Auteuil, they water constantly to provide Soft or Heavy ground all year round and Cheltenham could provide that on one of the courses I imagine but the truth is the course just doesn't hold the moisture as it once did.
Throw in the nonsense of the starts and you get a meeting which for me is getting too big for its own boots. I'd take it back to three days and move some of the championship races to other tracks.
I'd also look seriously at having the whole Festival in mid February with the National at the end of February IF you want a soft ground spectacle.
You can't have the three main staying chases (the Betfair, the King George and the Gold Cup) all run on Good ground - you need to guarantee one can be run on genuinely soft or even heavy turf.
I'm sure the Ed Chamberlins of this world will have you believe Cheltenham is an unqualified triumph which, to paraphrase Mary Poppins, is "practically perfect in every way". It isn't and pandering to the crowds to get 60,000 every day through the gates misses the point if the racing itself is the victim whether it's the starts or the surface.
Kemi going in boots on over Starmer having sent petrol prices through the roof with his war with Iran.
I wonder if she's thought about blockading Ebbsfleet and Fawley with trucks and tractors like Hague did in 2000.
Go on girl!
Surely Starmer just says: I never supported this war, but you did - you own these rises.
Some insane idiots actually believe her shit
They need sectioning.
Global oil price rises are all Starmer's fault
That what she is saying.
Well Ed Miliband thinks we can save the climate by setting an example to other countries so why wouldn't the same logic work here?
If we set an example by going to war with Iran and everyone else followed our lead, it would surely be over in no time, leading to a glut of oil on global markets.
You seriously think that. Your off your rocker
Thanks to 14 years and 22% cut in defence spending under Kemi Badenoch Tory Party our Armed Forces are hollowed out.
So let's assume we'd have gone all in, every available plane, ship
What difference would we have made
2% 3%??
Every citizen, city, town, village in this Country would be at risk to soothe the blinking idiots fucking vanity.
2% or 3% would be more than our share of global climate emissions.
It's more about our ability to lead by example and encourage others to step up. Is Keir Starmer not a globally respected figure to whom people around the world look for guidance on moral and political questions? If people saw him getting involved, it would be a signal to the likes of Xi and Modi to get on the right side of history.
What's global warming got to do with declaring war on Iran
What's petrol pump increases got to do with starmer
There's no skill in finding a favourite
Hours studying form can regularly find legitimate handicap winners at double figure prices with enough regularity to make a profit.
I've had an 18!1 winner and 25/1,, and 33/1 each way places horses this week
Problem is it takes me an hour to research a 20 runner race so 1 or 2 max a day
So many variables
Handicap mark Weigh Going Right or Left handed Undulating or Flat Trainer form Jockey form
Mares tend to win at certain points of their cycle
If you are claiming hormonal fluctuations do create barrier to horses winning, does that apply to all life on earth, including humans? Ladies cannot produce their best “whilst on heat?”
Do you wish to withdraw what you said about racing mares?
My latest prediction is, you are heading for a spell in “the toilets” or worse.
Mares in horse racing have decidedly better form at certain stages in there 6 month cycle.
I've studied it for profit.
Trainers are aware of it and specifically run in certain months.
I've recently made a tidy sum on an Irish mare called Milan away. She won and placed in a number of races in an 8 week window.
Back in the day the East German athletes were encouraged, sickeningly so in some cases to get pregnant 6 to 8 weeks before major Championships. The peak hormonal boost in the first trimester.
The bastards then made them have abortions.
Back to horses you'll often find a 6 or 7 year old mare on flat or jumps will have peak form in 8 week periods twice a year.
If feminists can't cope with an excellent way to profit in the sport if kings tough shit.
I'll find some examples in the coming weeks and post them for you to check out.
Another day, another, well, we'll see, at Cheltenham.
I come on here and read we are going to deport immigrants - I thought we already deported those whose applications for asylum were unsuccessful but it seems instead as was the case once with tax and spend, we are embarking on a dutch auction to see who can be the "hardest" on immigration. A fine example of what happens when your have Government and Opposition positions determined by focus groups and tweets rather than what is good for the country.
It also seems we want to continue with one of our stupidest moves in the past 30-40 years - there's no problem with taking infrastructure out of public hands but we sell it to foreign companies. Fine, we get a nice little sum in the coffers but longer term you end up with the spectacle of British consumers having to pay more for their electricity and gas to foreign companies who use that to subsidise the costs their home customers pay.
Poor foreign people aren't welcome but rich foreign companies are - we begrudge any money going to the former but we are happy to pay more than we should to the latter - makes no sense at all.
How do you explain so many favourites turned over by winners so far out in the betting at this Cheltenham Stodge?
Correct me where I have the science wrong, Punters back horses down to shorter odds - a few antepost fancied runners have drifted, and won, whilst some horses have come in on the betting in the last week to go off favourites and come nowhere - I should know, I was on them and watched them go backwards as 40-1 outsiders glided passed them.
It’s got to be something to do with where punters are getting their guidance? It should be based on what we have seen, evidence based? Course and distance hasn’t changed nor has the going.
Is mainstream media, alt and social media, pushing some runners without enough evidence, or journalism not previewing races objectively enough?
Might be all of that or none of that.
Mullins has had a right go at Jon Pullin and Cheltenham over the going but the problem is the course drains so well and so quickly you can have the wettest January and February for years and you are still having to water to stop the ground going too fast.
At Auteuil, they water constantly to provide Soft or Heavy ground all year round and Cheltenham could provide that on one of the courses I imagine but the truth is the course just doesn't hold the moisture as it once did.
Throw in the nonsense of the starts and you get a meeting which for me is getting too big for its own boots. I'd take it back to three days and move some of the championship races to other tracks.
I'd also look seriously at having the whole Festival in mid February with the National at the end of February IF you want a soft ground spectacle.
You can't have the three main staying chases (the Betfair, the King George and the Gold Cup) all run on Good ground - you need to guarantee one can be run on genuinely soft or even heavy turf.
I'm sure the Ed Chamberlins of this world will have you believe Cheltenham is an unqualified triumph which, to paraphrase Mary Poppins, is "practically perfect in every way". It isn't and pandering to the crowds to get 60,000 every day through the gates misses the point if the racing itself is the victim whether it's the starts or the surface.
Kemi going in boots on over Starmer having sent petrol prices through the roof with his war with Iran.
I wonder if she's thought about blockading Ebbsfleet and Fawley with trucks and tractors like Hague did in 2000.
Go on girl!
Surely Starmer just says: I never supported this war, but you did - you own these rises.
Some insane idiots actually believe her shit
They need sectioning.
Global oil price rises are all Starmer's fault
That what she is saying.
Well Ed Miliband thinks we can save the climate by setting an example to other countries so why wouldn't the same logic work here?
If we set an example by going to war with Iran and everyone else followed our lead, it would surely be over in no time, leading to a glut of oil on global markets.
You seriously think that. Your off your rocker
Thanks to 14 years and 22% cut in defence spending under Kemi Badenoch Tory Party our Armed Forces are hollowed out.
So let's assume we'd have gone all in, every available plane, ship
What difference would we have made
2% 3%??
Every citizen, city, town, village in this Country would be at risk to soothe the blinking idiots fucking vanity.
2% or 3% would be more than our share of global climate emissions.
It's more about our ability to lead by example and encourage others to step up. Is Keir Starmer not a globally respected figure to whom people around the world look for guidance on moral and political questions? If people saw him getting involved, it would be a signal to the likes of Xi and Modi to get on the right side of history.
What's global warming got to do with declaring war on Iran
What's petrol pump increases got to do with starmer
There's no skill in finding a favourite
Hours studying form can regularly find legitimate handicap winners at double figure prices with enough regularity to make a profit.
I've had an 18!1 winner and 25/1,, and 33/1 each way places horses this week
Problem is it takes me an hour to research a 20 runner race so 1 or 2 max a day
So many variables
Handicap mark Weigh Going Right or Left handed Undulating or Flat Trainer form Jockey form
Mares tend to win at certain points of their cycle
If you are claiming hormonal fluctuations do create barrier to horses winning, does that apply to all life on earth, including humans? Ladies cannot produce their best “whilst on heat?”
Do you wish to withdraw what you said about racing mares?
My latest prediction is, you are heading for a spell in “the toilets” or worse.
Mares in horse racing have decidedly better form at certain stages in there 6 month cycle.
I've studied it for profit.
Trainers are aware of it and specifically run in certain months.
I've recently made a tidy sum on an Irish mare called Milan away. She won and placed in a number of races in an 8 week window.
Back in the day the East German athletes were encouraged, sickeningly so in some cases to get pregnant 6 to 8 weeks before major Championships. The peak hormonal boost in the first trimester.
The bastards then made them have abortions.
Back to horses you'll often find a 6 or 7 year old mare on flat or jumps will have peak form in 8 week periods twice a year.
If feminists can't cope with an excellent way to profit in the sport if kings tough shit.
I'll find some examples in the coming weeks and post them for you to check out.
Dear Barty Bobbins - you are supporting this war, and all its consequences, for a specific outcome - that many of us don’t mind happening actually after the horrors of January, but we recognise that it has NEVER been serious part of the mission statement, planning or operations or any resolve in the way the war is being conducted. The Israeli security services don’t even believe it ever was. On this basis, is it fair of us shaking our heads at you? Is it time for you to stop holding out?
Define what you are shaking heads at first.
I don't support Trump. I don't support what America is doing.
I do support regime change. I have said repeatedly boots should go on the ground if required.
If Trump TACOs out then he has buggered this up royally.
I have said all along I would not be surprised to see Trump TACO out. Hell, I put a TACO in my avatar!
You did! Not just any TACO - DELIVEROO delivers to Pirates!
"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
Yes, almost certainly a collision. Air to air refuelling is inherently risky, more so when people are tired and stressed.
Apparently two tankers, which is a bit odd. We'd need to invoke Dura_Ace to find out why they were cosplaying as the Red Arrows.
It's not uncommon for tankers to fuel each other. The rigid boom refuelling system used by the Americans is unforgiving of mistakes, so I suspect one crew has made an error and the boom has hit the receiving tanker and fatally damaged it.
Weirdly, the USAF uses boom refuelling, but the USN and USMC use probe-and-drogue, the same system the RAF uses.
The boom system can handle higher fuel flow than probe and drogue, which is beneficial if you're refuelling large bombers. Anyone who doesn't have to do that uses probe and drogue because it's safer and the tanker can refuel multiple aircraft at a time.
.@POTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regime.
To increase the global reach of existing supply, @USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction.
Actually it's quite reassuring that, having travelled the world, been to 100 countries, fucked 10000000 women, done everything legal and most things illegal, a grizzled and raddled old libertine like me can still find a remarkable new vegetable, quietly hanging out in every supermarket. Celeriac
I wouldn’t worry, I’m guessing I will work out how fun AI is in about 15 years. Things come to us at different times, but when we are ready.
My obsession with AI - which has bored all my friends and family titless these past four years, even more than it has bored PB - is now turning into serious wonga
Turns out that being obsessive about technology at an early stage can be rather beneficial when that tech turns into the Next Big Thing
But I am not allowed to talk about it, so you'll just have to guess how I used it
If you're interested in AI, watch this BBC TV series presented by Hannah Fry.
An IT contractor copied in a foreign state to emails complaining about his treatment by MI5 bosses when he was fired because of his deteriorating mental health, a court heard. Juan Joseph, 43, also travelled to Latvia to go to the embassy of the same foreign state there and share confidential information He worked as an IT contractor for MI5 from 2009 to 2020 with access to highly classified information before he was sacked when he developed paranoid schizophrenia.
1. The Straits of Hormuz isnt closed by Iranian action. In fact the Iranians do not find it easy to hit moving vessels, even large tankers and have extremely restricted ability at night. The effective closure was by threat and as soon as the insurers wouldnt cover. that was it. A lot of the Iranian targeting capability is entirely visual
2. The Israelis, far from having Trump on a string, are finding him unreliable. Israeli objectives are clearer than anything the US has and its base objectives is destroy as much regime forces and military manufacture as they can. The Israelis hoped for but never really believed that regime change was probable. Once the strike that took out the top man and a number of others, it was either then or never, and it turned out to be never. The Israelis believe they might have a week before Trump calls a halt
3. The US may not do a tap about a surface escort corridor when it comes to the Straits of Hormuz, it may be left to the Gulf states and the Europeans, who, by the way are capable of managing an escort line. The blunt facts are the US Navy have kept their vessels out harms way and provided the most pessimistic assessments of all pre war, largely out of self preservation. They did not go to theater with the surface kit ready to force open the Straits.
4. The Iranian regime are suffering badly, but, when your strategy is simply to stick in there no matter what, then the damage willing to be taken is considered as whatever it takes. In that regard they can be seen as succeeding with this strategy but the cost will only get bigger. The facts are that as long as it maintains basic cohsesion, they dont need missiles, they just need small arms to keep te public in check. No one should pretend, however, that some branches of the state are not up for the extent of the damage
5. A lot of the top leadership, if not in hospital, are not in Tehran. A fair number of them are in the vicinity of Mashhad in the North East and close to two borders. Its as far away as they can get, and quick drive to cross a border
6. No plan to seize the Iranian stocks of uranium has executed because a) it would involve ground efforts and b) they dont know where about half the assumed stocks are and even if they did a multiple location effort, it multiplies the risks and so far the US at least, doesnt want to try. That might change.
I would just like to address one point: I am calling not just for more protection of mariners in wartime, but also in peacetime. Many of the sailors who have died, or been injured, or are trapped, in the Gulf will be on a thousand dollars or less a year - far, far, below the minimum wage for a job that is not exactly free of risk, even outside war.
Netanyahu: The war in Iran is turning Israel into a "global superpower."
So it’s not just Trump and Another Richard that are totally tonto.
Perhaps you would prefer it I would cheer along and wave the pompoms.
Okay then.
Joe Biden is fit for office. Hunter Biden is a victim of a political witch hunt. Even if Hunter Biden is guilty he will never be given a presidential pardon. The prosecutions of Trump are masterpieces of legal planning. Trump cannot win because his crowds are so small. Dems never gerrymander.
Alternatively I'll keep pointing out the occasional uncomfortable truth.
And you know why that's important ?
Because when groupthink become obligatory people stop thinking.
Merely repeating Trump’s lies sometimes mingled with half truths does not make them truths, uncomfortable or otherwise. And I might point out those were not what you have been saying above, so are essentially whataboutery.
And do you know why it’s important to call that out? Or am I justified in my comment on your mental state?
(The irony is one of the things you have written there is undoubtedly true!)
Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
A lot of people have no choice. Big companies move there and if you want to keep your job you go with them. For international companies the additional benefit on top of tax advantages is it is well positioned for the three non-US regions Africa, Europe and Southern Asia.
Lots of people will go there for the tax advantages but one of the driving factors is that that is where the work is.
Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
A lot of people have no choice. Big companies move there and if you want to keep your job you go with them. For international companies the additional benefit on top of tax advantages is it is well positioned for the three non-US regions Africa, Europe and Southern Asia.
Lots of people will go there for the tax advantages but one of the driving factors is that that is where the work is.
Any human rights abuses suffered by Westerners in the Gulf countries are as nothing compared to what happens to Pakistani construction workers or Sri Lankan maids out there. It's this stuff that is really contemptible.
F1: for those who care, sprint qualifying's at 7.30am. Was tempted by Hulkenberg at 2.2 and Bortoleto at 2.5 to reach Q3, but it's very knife-edge and we've only had one race so I decided against it, but worth a shot if you have a free bet.
Trump has given Israel roughly a week to show that it can bring home regime change in Iran. According to Kayhan London “Israeli micro-drones and UAVs began targeting IRGC, Basij, and Law Enforcement checkpoints in several cities including Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. “Under conditions where keeping streets under control is a key element for preserving the survival of the entire regime, targeting the suppressors at checkpoints is in fact a strike against the last protective shields of the Islamic Republic.” The death toll is likely to be high. This is Netanyahu’s best and probably last chance to fulfil a decades long plan to destroy the regime. He knows he is working against a clock and the oil price.
I don't get the sense that the Iranian regime will settle after a week (and that's assuming that have any semblance of control over the various IRGC units). But this kind of reporting suggests to me that Trump doesn't understand that at all.
I don't want to go all Barty but the Israelis/Americans need to prepare for a months/years long campaign of desperately trying to keep the strait open.
So Bessant has tipped his hand.
Sanctions on Russian oil “temporarily” lifted
But I guess that’s ok for Barty in his quest for setting the world to rights
.@POTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regime.
To increase the global reach of existing supply, @USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction.
How convenient for Russia, particularly since the US and Israelis actually knocking out the Ayatollahs would be a major strategic setback for them.
"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
Yes, almost certainly a collision. Air to air refuelling is inherently risky, more so when people are tired and stressed.
People who get stressed and/or tired in those situations wouldn't be flying tanker brackets over fucking Iraq in the middle of the night. The training pipeline is fairly effective at winnowing them out.
It's not as effective at eliminating idiots so almost certainly crew error with possible confounding factors from weather or technical failures.
This evening's Trump whine. He isn't getting enough credit for being in office when it hits 250 years of independence.
Acyn @Acyn · 53m Trump: We have the Olympics, the World Cup, and twenty—you know, the 250. I did all three all of them. I got the Olympics, the World Cup, and then I got 250 but I’ve never been given credit for it. They won’t give me credit for 250 years but I’m here for 250.
Trump has given Israel roughly a week to show that it can bring home regime change in Iran. According to Kayhan London “Israeli micro-drones and UAVs began targeting IRGC, Basij, and Law Enforcement checkpoints in several cities including Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. “Under conditions where keeping streets under control is a key element for preserving the survival of the entire regime, targeting the suppressors at checkpoints is in fact a strike against the last protective shields of the Islamic Republic.” The death toll is likely to be high. This is Netanyahu’s best and probably last chance to fulfil a decades long plan to destroy the regime. He knows he is working against a clock and the oil price.
I don't get the sense that the Iranian regime will settle after a week (and that's assuming that have any semblance of control over the various IRGC units). But this kind of reporting suggests to me that Trump doesn't understand that at all.
I don't want to go all Barty but the Israelis/Americans need to prepare for a months/years long campaign of desperately trying to keep the strait open.
So Bessant has tipped his hand.
Sanctions on Russian oil “temporarily” lifted
But I guess that’s ok for Barty in his quest for setting the world to rights
Some Indian companies are already openly buying Russian oil. So the 'suspension' is just recognising the reality that the US can't control events. They can only attempt to influence them to the point the influence is negated.
Another day, another episode in the Epstein Wars diaries.
Trump has given Israel roughly a week to show that it can bring home regime change in Iran. According to Kayhan London “Israeli micro-drones and UAVs began targeting IRGC, Basij, and Law Enforcement checkpoints in several cities including Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. “Under conditions where keeping streets under control is a key element for preserving the survival of the entire regime, targeting the suppressors at checkpoints is in fact a strike against the last protective shields of the Islamic Republic.” The death toll is likely to be high. This is Netanyahu’s best and probably last chance to fulfil a decades long plan to destroy the regime. He knows he is working against a clock and the oil price.
I don't get the sense that the Iranian regime will settle after a week (and that's assuming that have any semblance of control over the various IRGC units). But this kind of reporting suggests to me that Trump doesn't understand that at all.
I don't want to go all Barty but the Israelis/Americans need to prepare for a months/years long campaign of desperately trying to keep the strait open.
So Bessant has tipped his hand.
Sanctions on Russian oil “temporarily” lifted
But I guess that’s ok for Barty in his quest for setting the world to rights
Some Indian companies are already openly buying Russian oil. So the 'suspension' is just recognising the reality that the US can't control events. They can only attempt to influence them to the point the influence is negated.
Another day, another episode in the Epstein Wars diaries.
Nevertheless, openly 'suspending' sanctions on Russia is wonderful for the aggressive tyrant, all thanks to the cretins in the White House.
Given this poor start to the year and the war in Iran , consumer confidence falling and people likely pulling back on some spending then we’ll be lucky to avoid a recession .
Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
Agree a total shithole and only nutters would go there
Given this poor start to the year and the war in Iran , consumer confidence falling and people likely pulling back on some spending then we’ll be lucky to avoid a recession .
My growth forecast for the year was a slightly pessimistic 1.1%. That was, in part, because I was reasonably confident that after the tariff fiasco Trump would find other ways of screwing the world economy. But I never thought even he would be this stupid.
I fear that the reality is that the only way that Hormuz can be reopened would be to invade Iran and occupy all the land adjacent to the straits. Otherwise they are likely to be shut for months.
.@POTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regime.
To increase the global reach of existing supply, @USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction.
How convenient for Russia, particularly since the US and Israelis actually knocking out the Ayatollahs would be a major strategic setback for them.
I have to say, however much the Russians paid, their asset in the White House has certainly been worth the money.
This evening's Trump whine. He isn't getting enough credit for being in office when it hits 250 years of independence.
Acyn @Acyn · 53m Trump: We have the Olympics, the World Cup, and twenty—you know, the 250. I did all three all of them. I got the Olympics, the World Cup, and then I got 250 but I’ve never been given credit for it. They won’t give me credit for 250 years but I’m here for 250.
Given this poor start to the year and the war in Iran , consumer confidence falling and people likely pulling back on some spending then we’ll be lucky to avoid a recession .
My growth forecast for the year was a slightly pessimistic 1.1%. That was, in part, because I was reasonably confident that after the tariff fiasco Trump would find other ways of screwing the world economy. But I never thought even he would be this stupid.
I fear that the reality is that the only way that Hormuz can be reopened would be to invade Iran and occupy all the land adjacent to the straits. Otherwise they are likely to be shut for months.
Yes it’s looking that way. We’re now in a doom loop , consumers fearing higher energy prices start pulling back their spending , the economy dips , people become even more worried and it feeds itself .
Trump screwed everyone with tariffs and is now screwing everyone with this war .
Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
Tax evaders, people who like to be with tax evaders, and people who just love money. A state built on the Petro dollar. If that's your thing.
Some quite disturbing images emerging, of attacks on Dubai towers
Impossible to know if they are
1. Fake 2. Sort of faked 3. Real but from a different place or time 4. Real but seriously suppressed by the Dubai Government
The Dubai regime has made a grave error in jailing people for negative tweets, films of drones, etc. This is going to hugely boost mistrust of *everything Dubai*, and therefore increase hostility to the city in general, and, likewise, only amplify fears in the absence of accepted truth
There have been plenty of cases of westerners being locked up in Dubai for doing fuck all wrong.
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
Agree a total shithole and only nutters would go there
Half right. It's a place where they have slaves polish their pavements so that parasites don't notice what's going on
Netanyahu: The war in Iran is turning Israel into a "global superpower."
So it’s not just Trump and Another Richard that are totally tonto.
Perhaps you would prefer it I would cheer along and wave the pompoms.
Okay then.
Joe Biden is fit for office. Hunter Biden is a victim of a political witch hunt. Even if Hunter Biden is guilty he will never be given a presidential pardon. The prosecutions of Trump are masterpieces of legal planning. Trump cannot win because his crowds are so small. Dems never gerrymander.
Alternatively I'll keep pointing out the occasional uncomfortable truth.
And you know why that's important ?
Because when groupthink become obligatory people stop thinking.
Merely repeating Trump’s lies sometimes mingled with half truths does not make them truths, uncomfortable or otherwise. And I might point out those were not what you have been saying above, so are essentially whataboutery.
And do you know why it’s important to call that out? Or am I justified in my comment on your mental state?
(The irony is one of the things you have written there is undoubtedly true!)
Stop your bleating and open your mind.
Saying that Joe Biden was unfit for office or that Hunter Biden was a criminal who received a presidential pardon or that the Dems gerrymander are not Trump's lies nor are they half truths.
They are verifiable facts which you are now denying.
You need to accept that we are not in a Manichean world but one of multiple shades where there are inconvenient facts and open minded analysis is required to better understand it.
Given this poor start to the year and the war in Iran , consumer confidence falling and people likely pulling back on some spending then we’ll be lucky to avoid a recession .
My growth forecast for the year was a slightly pessimistic 1.1%. That was, in part, because I was reasonably confident that after the tariff fiasco Trump would find other ways of screwing the world economy. But I never thought even he would be this stupid.
I fear that the reality is that the only way that Hormuz can be reopened would be to invade Iran and occupy all the land adjacent to the straits. Otherwise they are likely to be shut for months.
Yes it’s looking that way. We’re now in a doom loop , consumers fearing higher energy prices start pulling back their spending , the economy dips , people become even more worried and it feeds itself .
Trump screwed everyone with tariffs and is now screwing everyone with this war .
There may be one very small crumb of comfort for UK Hospitality
Certainly those booked for Middle East, transitting through Middle East, Cyprus , Turkey, North Africa , Epypt etc, may well be considering bombs, terrorists , massive flight delays and decide that Devon and Cornwall (and other places of course) are infinitely safer and better option.
Netanyahu: The war in Iran is turning Israel into a "global superpower."
So it’s not just Trump and Another Richard that are totally tonto.
Perhaps you would prefer it I would cheer along and wave the pompoms.
Okay then.
Joe Biden is fit for office. Hunter Biden is a victim of a political witch hunt. Even if Hunter Biden is guilty he will never be given a presidential pardon. The prosecutions of Trump are masterpieces of legal planning. Trump cannot win because his crowds are so small. Dems never gerrymander.
Alternatively I'll keep pointing out the occasional uncomfortable truth.
And you know why that's important ?
Because when groupthink become obligatory people stop thinking.
Merely repeating Trump’s lies sometimes mingled with half truths does not make them truths, uncomfortable or otherwise. And I might point out those were not what you have been saying above, so are essentially whataboutery.
And do you know why it’s important to call that out? Or am I justified in my comment on your mental state?
(The irony is one of the things you have written there is undoubtedly true!)
Stop your bleating and open your mind.
Saying that Joe Biden was unfit for office or that Hunter Biden was a criminal who received a presidential pardon or that the Dems gerrymander are not Trump's lies nor are they half truths.
They are verifiable facts which you are now denying.
You need to accept that we are not in a Manichean world but one of multiple shades where there are inconvenient facts and open minded analysis is required to better understand it.
lol Hunter Biden, the only time in living memory the GOP has been interested in enforcing an gun control law.
Top Trump officials acknowledged to lawmakers during recent classified briefings that they did not plan for the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to strikes, according to three sources familiar with the closed-door session.
Netanyahu: The war in Iran is turning Israel into a "global superpower."
So it’s not just Trump and Another Richard that are totally tonto.
Perhaps you would prefer it I would cheer along and wave the pompoms.
Okay then.
Joe Biden is fit for office. Hunter Biden is a victim of a political witch hunt. Even if Hunter Biden is guilty he will never be given a presidential pardon. The prosecutions of Trump are masterpieces of legal planning. Trump cannot win because his crowds are so small. Dems never gerrymander.
Alternatively I'll keep pointing out the occasional uncomfortable truth.
And you know why that's important ?
Because when groupthink become obligatory people stop thinking.
Merely repeating Trump’s lies sometimes mingled with half truths does not make them truths, uncomfortable or otherwise. And I might point out those were not what you have been saying above, so are essentially whataboutery.
And do you know why it’s important to call that out? Or am I justified in my comment on your mental state?
(The irony is one of the things you have written there is undoubtedly true!)
Stop your bleating and open your mind.
Saying that Joe Biden was unfit for office or that Hunter Biden was a criminal who received a presidential pardon or that the Dems gerrymander are not Trump's lies nor are they half truths.
They are verifiable facts which you are now denying.
You need to accept that we are not in a Manichean world but one of multiple shades where there are inconvenient facts and open minded analysis is required to better understand it.
lol Hunter Biden, the only time in living memory the GOP has been interested in enforcing an gun control law.
That is most unfair. When discussing Alex Pretti's murder too.
Comments
The place is not a democracy. The authorities can do whatever they feel like.
Why people clamour to go there is baffling.
Give it a couple of weeks and there'll be a quiet pardon.
The raid of a single Vulcan on the Falklands involved (I believe) 21 tankers, mostly tankers refuelling tankers.
Celeriac is far tastier and has chewier consistency than turnip or swede.
As any fule kno, celeriac is also part of the standard flavour base in Germany, Poland, etc.
It's also great julienned as a non-carb replacement for carby staples.
gayLabourite family in the village.But it's the reverse, better performance during menstruation
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/celeriac_remoulade_65265
Like carrot salad, but good.
Is it Inherent Vice from the war… or part of the plan?
.@POTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regime.
To increase the global reach of existing supply, @USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction.
‘Definitive signs’ of Russian help as base in Iraq struck by Iranian drones"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/12/iranian-drones-attack-british-military-base-erbil-iraq/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002q76b
Ever?
https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2032254607695487354
https://courtnewsuk.co.uk/mi5-worker-sent-emails-to-foreign-power/
1. The Straits of Hormuz isnt closed by Iranian action. In fact the Iranians do not find it easy to hit moving vessels, even large tankers and have extremely restricted ability at night. The effective closure was by threat and as soon as the insurers wouldnt cover. that was it. A lot of the Iranian targeting capability is entirely visual
2. The Israelis, far from having Trump on a string, are finding him unreliable. Israeli objectives are clearer than anything the US has and its base objectives is destroy as much regime forces and military manufacture as they can. The Israelis hoped for but never really believed that regime change was probable. Once the strike that took out the top man and a number of others, it was either then or never, and it turned out to be never. The Israelis believe they might have a week before Trump calls a halt
3. The US may not do a tap about a surface escort corridor when it comes to the Straits of Hormuz, it may be left to the Gulf states and the Europeans, who, by the way are capable of managing an escort line. The blunt facts are the US Navy have kept their vessels out harms way and provided the most pessimistic assessments of all pre war, largely out of self preservation. They did not go to theater with the surface kit ready to force open the Straits.
4. The Iranian regime are suffering badly, but, when your strategy is simply to stick in there no matter what, then the damage willing to be taken is considered as whatever it takes. In that regard they can be seen as succeeding with this strategy but the cost will only get bigger. The facts are that as long as it maintains basic cohsesion, they dont need missiles, they just need small arms to keep te public in check. No one should pretend, however, that some branches of the state are not up for the extent of the damage
5. A lot of the top leadership, if not in hospital, are not in Tehran. A fair number of them are in the vicinity of Mashhad in the North East and close to two borders. Its as far away as they can get, and quick drive to cross a border
6. No plan to seize the Iranian stocks of uranium has executed because a) it would involve ground efforts and b) they dont know where about half the assumed stocks are and even if they did a multiple location effort, it multiplies the risks and so far the US at least, doesnt want to try. That might change.
I would just like to address one point: I am calling not just for more protection of mariners in wartime, but also in peacetime. Many of the sailors who have died, or been injured, or are trapped, in the Gulf will be on a thousand dollars or less a year - far, far, below the minimum wage for a job that is not exactly free of risk, even outside war.
And do you know why it’s important to call that out? Or am I justified in my comment on your mental state?
(The irony is one of the things you have written there is undoubtedly true!)
Lots of people will go there for the tax advantages but one of the driving factors is that that is where the work is.
Fantastic news.
Will be on Iplayer in time for Easter.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g7kwq1k11o
https://bsky.app/profile/urikikaski.bsky.social/post/3mgvjwru67u2u
They seem to have lots of these boats stored in tunnels:
https://bsky.app/profile/antongerashchenko.bsky.social/post/3mgssjn7so22f
It is almost as if they have a plan.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/real-houseswives-mel-peet-viljoen-arrested-in-us-for-shoplifting-food/
F1: for those who care, sprint qualifying's at 7.30am. Was tempted by Hulkenberg at 2.2 and Bortoleto at 2.5 to reach Q3, but it's very knife-edge and we've only had one race so I decided against it, but worth a shot if you have a free bet.
Sanctions on Russian oil “temporarily” lifted
But I guess that’s ok for Barty in his quest for setting the world to rights
It's not as effective at eliminating idiots so almost certainly crew error with possible confounding factors from weather or technical failures.
All those 4.99 prices being rounded up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCR6N2APdA0
Another day, another episode in the Epstein Wars diaries.
Given this poor start to the year and the war in Iran , consumer confidence falling and people likely pulling back on some spending then we’ll be lucky to avoid a recession .
Green Party - 45%
Lib Dems - 36%
Labour - 10%
Reform UK - 6%
Ind - 0.6%
Cons - 0.4%
Green Gain
LOL
I fear that the reality is that the only way that Hormuz can be reopened would be to invade Iran and occupy all the land adjacent to the straits. Otherwise they are likely to be shut for months.
Trump screwed everyone with tariffs and is now screwing everyone with this war .
NEW THREAD
Saying that Joe Biden was unfit for office or that Hunter Biden was a criminal who received a presidential pardon or that the Dems gerrymander are not Trump's lies nor are they half truths.
They are verifiable facts which you are now denying.
You need to accept that we are not in a Manichean world but one of multiple shades where there are inconvenient facts and open minded analysis is required to better understand it.
Certainly those booked for Middle East, transitting through Middle East, Cyprus , Turkey, North Africa , Epypt etc, may well be considering bombs, terrorists , massive flight delays and decide that Devon and Cornwall (and other places of course) are infinitely safer and better option.
What a bunch of morons .
Top Trump officials acknowledged to lawmakers during recent classified briefings that they did not plan for the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to strikes, according to three sources familiar with the closed-door session.