There are only 89 seats in Scotland and Wales combined. The greatest landslide for one party in either country since 1918 - including Labour in Wales - was 2015 in Scotland, when the SNP won 56 of 59 or around 96%.
That was an outlier, but let's say by some fluke the SNP win 50 of 56 despite their corruption and incompetence (which let's face it, has not usually been a barrier to Labour doing well in either Scotland or Wales) and Plaid win 25 of 32, which given they are still seen as quite a sectarian party would seem a generous estimate (if they can govern for the whole of Wales I'll change my views).
That's not 'nearly 100 seats.'
Morning
In the Welsh parliament, Wales will get significant extra representation after the election, in terms of population - 3.1million gives one member for every 33.5k Welsh residents. Meanwhile in Scotland, the parliament will still have 129 MSPs, which is around 1 for every 42.5k Scots.
Is there a reason given why Wales has been given so many extra MSs? To me 129 feels about right for the size Scotland is
The reason is because there needs to be actual critical mass before you can deal with legislation as required. In the last session, one thing that was blamed for the issues over 20mph speed limits was a lack of committee time, and that was because there simply were not enough members to serve on sufficient committees to look at everything.
I'd point out Wales is quite considerably larger than Northern Ireland which has always had 90 MLAs.
NI originally had 108, 6 per UK constituency.
One wonders why the UK needs so many. How many actually contribute on a regular basis?
We clearly don't. The US gets by with 435 representatives for 340 million people. We have 650 for 70 million, plus the Scotch and Welsh. Of course much of the action in America is at state level, but there's clearly room for a huge call. But we have a parasitic and entitled political class which fights to the death against any attempts to cut it down to size.
And that's before we even start on the indefensible bunch of hasbeens and hacks that is the House of Lords. Now that the hereditaries are going, there really is no point to it, other than as a disguised pension scheme for already overcompensated MPs at the end of their career ...
It works as an appointed revising chamber, and elected upper house would have a mandate to block laws
Russian milibloggers seem to be in a panic over Ukrainian drone capability extending to 80km behind the frontline, in mass, targeting logistics, etc. I wonder whether that also explains the large increase in Russian artillery that the Ukrainians have recently claimed to have destroyed?
Yes the latest Ukranian drones can carry a higher payload further than the previous versions, and further than today’s Russian drones. It’s causing a lot of problems for Russian logistics, and they’ve lost quite a few air defence radars and command posts in recent weeks.
If they can’t defend targets as strategic as Novorossiysk port, there’s clearly not a lot left of air defence capability close to the front line. What AD remains is mostly protecting the city of Moscow, and outside the capital is very thinly spread.
Another recent development seems to be a lot of Russian miliblogger complaints that are defence systems aren't being supplied with missiles. I thought it was the one thing that the Russians were least likely to run out of, but it seems to be happening.
The last several months have seen lots of agreements to build drone production facilities for Ukraine across Europe and it looks as though that could make a really important contribution to Ukraine's defence - and maybe eventually Russia's defeat.
We also need to learn that future wars will depend on superiority of drone technology, not big willy waving aircraft carriers, however much that upsets our 134 admirals.
That's not necessarily the lesson. Ukraine v Russia is primarily a land war. There are others where an aircraft carrier might be more useful.
With remembering that, when the Russi-Ukraine war is over it will become the last war, and the next war will be different. It would be a mistake to prepare for the next war as though it would be the same as the last.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
It’s said that there’s somewhere around $300bn of Iranian money in Dubai, mostly sitting there to avoid international sanctions on Iranian banks.
Now perhaps if they were to stop bombing Dubai, and reopen the shipping lanes…
That is the card to play. Gulf countries need to make it clear that any damage to water, power or hydrocarbons facilities will be fixed using money taken from Iran's accounts. Gold plated, with built-in defence systems to stop it happening again.
Is there a market on what efforts Orban will go to to overturn the result a la Trump or Bolosonaro if he loses, as seems eminently possible?
I am assuming, incidentally, that he is engaging in vote rigging but it doesn't look as though that will save him on its own.
That the question can reasonably be asked is a damning enough one in its own right.
He seems to have a false-flag operation going on the Turkstream pipeline ,but unhelpfully for him, Serbian intelligence have denied it is the Ukrainians
Just an Orban legend.
The name change from Viktor to Vankwished can't come too soon.
Over here in sunny Swansea I've just had someone knocking on the door for the Lib Dems. I think she could tell I didn't really want to talk. She seemed nice though. Said something about it being between them and Reform for the 6th seat (after I said Reform was the one party I wouldn't vote for). No idea if that's true?
OK, my guess would be on what I've seen that Labour, Plaid, Reform, the Greens would all be guaranteed one seat. One other would be a toss up between Plaid and Labour, and the other a toss up between Reform and the Tories.
I would be surprised if the Liberal Democrats came into the equation if I am honest, but it isn't insane to think they might on current polling by squeezing out that final seat somehow. I would have thought their best chance of a seat was further north, however.
Is there a market on what efforts Orban will go to to overturn the result a la Trump or Bolosonaro if he loses, as seems eminently possible?
I am assuming, incidentally, that he is engaging in vote rigging but it doesn't look as though that will save him on its own.
That the question can reasonably be asked is a damning enough one in its own right.
He seems to have a false-flag operation going on the Turkstream pipeline ,but unhelpfully for him, Serbian intelligence have denied it is the Ukrainians
Just an Orban legend.
The name change from Viktor to Vankwished can't come too soon.
If I lived in Wales I'd vote Plaid Cymru as the party most likely to stand up for my interests in Westminster, but that doesn't mean I share their goal of separatism. There's a difference between fighting your real-world corner and running away to Fantasyland.
Hey, since 2016 we've all run away to Fantasyland, even if it's somewhat dystopian. Some of us were forcibly deported there of course.
Of course. Brexit was also based on several competing fantasies. As it happens I think Scotland could be a viable separate state, but not Wales. The extent of economic and social assimilation is different.
People said Ireland wouldn’t be viable. It took a while, but now they’re more prosperous than the UK.
I think they said it would be impoverished and weak, rather than non-viable. And in that they were right, because it was disruptive to the main export market (England, 90% of all agricultural exports which was their main money earner).
However, straight off the top of my head, Ireland had a current account deficit of only 2% of spending in the immediate aftermath of independence (although that doesn't include the debt overhang from the loans they took out to fight the war). That wouldn't apply to Wales.
The other issue that Wales will need to resolve is that there is no practical way to travel between the populous north and the populous south without travelling through mid Wales, with it’s inadequate infrastructure, or via England.
Turn the A487 into a motorway from Fishguard to Bangor!
Friend of mine, who lived in Llanberis served for many years on various professional committees, all of which met in Cardiff. He kept a note of how long the drive took. Can't recall now what his record was, but I do recall it meant him driving at over 60 most of the way. Probably that would be illegal now.
How long would it have taken at the regulation 20 (where applicable)?
When the M4 was first built, there was an unofficial contest to record the fastest time from Marble Arch to Cardiff Castle. Target time was 1 hour.
I suspect Dura Ace was in some way involved.
You remind me that, when the first Severn bridge was built, my family lived in Bristol. One Sunday evening we took a little trip by car out to Severn Beach to see the new bridge, and owing to difficulty with correct lanes ended up with a trip to (IIRC) Newport.
Here's a photo of the first Severn Bridge when it was almost complete but not yet open. Bob Dylan and his minder are patiently waiting in their roller for the Aust Ferry to take them to a gig in Cardiff.
If I lived in Wales I'd vote Plaid Cymru as the party most likely to stand up for my interests in Westminster, but that doesn't mean I share their goal of separatism. There's a difference between fighting your real-world corner and running away to Fantasyland.
Hey, since 2016 we've all run away to Fantasyland, even if it's somewhat dystopian. Some of us were forcibly deported there of course.
Of course. Brexit was also based on several competing fantasies. As it happens I think Scotland could be a viable separate state, but not Wales. The extent of economic and social assimilation is different.
People said Ireland wouldn’t be viable. It took a while, but now they’re more prosperous than the UK.
The UK's GDP is about six times as large as the Republic of Ireland's. We're more prosperous than them. They're only doing better per capita.
Isn't that the one that would matter most to people*? We're like 10-12x their population, I'd sure hope our GDP was larger.
*even taking off a little for tax haven benefits?
GDP per capita doesn’t really make sense for Ireland because so much of their GDP is related to corporate tax dodging that just sits in bank accounts and doesn’t benefit normal people.
Over here in sunny Swansea I've just had someone knocking on the door for the Lib Dems. I think she could tell I didn't really want to talk. She seemed nice though. Said something about it being between them and Reform for the 6th seat (after I said Reform was the one party I wouldn't vote for). No idea if that's true?
OK, my guess would be on what I've seen that Labour, Plaid, Reform, the Greens would all be guaranteed one seat. One other would be a toss up between Plaid and Labour, and the other a toss up between Reform and the Tories.
I would be surprised if the Liberal Democrats came into the equation if I am honest, but it isn't insane to think they might on current polling by squeezing out that final seat somehow. I would have thought their best chance of a seat was further north, however.
Surely if the 5th seat is a toss up between Plaid and Labour, then whichever doesn't get it gets the 6th seat?
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that meanUnlikely,it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
On the other hand, Iran runs out of money as do Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,
I have a feeling we will run out of oil before they run out of money.
Unlikley
their economy is on he brink and we never really run out of oil, we just pay more for it.
You cannot suddenly cut supply of a product with highly inelastic demand by around 20% (more, given the chaos in Russia) and expect there not to be shortages.
Exactly where and how they will manifest themselves is a different question.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that meanUnlikely,it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
On the other hand, Iran runs out of money as do Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,
I have a feeling we will run out of oil before they run out of money.
Unlikley
their economy is on he brink and we never really run out of oil, we just pay more for it.
You cannot suddenly cut supply of a product with highly inelastic demand by around 20% (more, given the chaos in Russia) and expect there not to be shortages.
Exactly where and how they will manifest themselves is a different question.
Of course you can. It means we will get highly priced oil whereas poor countries in say Africa or Asia wont get any becuase they dont have enough money. It's not pretty but its what happens,
There’s plenty of oil in and around Africa. In time they’ll replace supply lost
I'm not very optimistic about the long term prospects of the Union. Ok, PC are not prioritising Independence this term when they win the election, and the SNP have been in power a long time and the needle has not moved a great deal, but when 25-50% of a country still has it as a goal (regardless of whether every single one of the voters for SNP and PC back that goal), and those supporting that goal are in (local) power, the issue is not going to go away.
Yes yes, the legalities require Westminster compliance, but so long as support is rising in Wales and steady in Scotland, the salience of the topic remains and it is at best a risky position for the Union.
Farage potentially becoming prime minister is a reason for being less optimistic again about the Union. Worse than Thatcher in the damage he's likely to do the Union.
Labour reviving in Scotland could have been a longer term cause for Unionist optimism, but that proved pretty darn shortlived!
Given their London based regional office has no care whatsoever for Scotland there is no chance of them reviving. Anybody voting for English parties in Scotland is a fool. The 86% of population will always take priority to politicians desperate to keep their jobs, it is a no brainer and yet proves how dumb a lot of people are. How shitty does it need to get before the light bulb switches on.
If you vote for a Scottish-only party in Westminster elections, your MP never gets a say in government. If you want influence in No. 10, vote for UK parties.
Russian milibloggers seem to be in a panic over Ukrainian drone capability extending to 80km behind the frontline, in mass, targeting logistics, etc. I wonder whether that also explains the large increase in Russian artillery that the Ukrainians have recently claimed to have destroyed?
Yes the latest Ukranian drones can carry a higher payload further than the previous versions, and further than today’s Russian drones. It’s causing a lot of problems for Russian logistics, and they’ve lost quite a few air defence radars and command posts in recent weeks.
If they can’t defend targets as strategic as Novorossiysk port, there’s clearly not a lot left of air defence capability close to the front line. What AD remains is mostly protecting the city of Moscow, and outside the capital is very thinly spread.
Russian artillery is now of shorter range than many of the Ukrainian drones. Partly a function of Russia not being able to manufacture enough artillery barrels, so they have to use raher knackered kit.
Plus, as soon as they open fire, they can now expect a drone dropping by imminently.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that meanUnlikely,it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
On the other hand, Iran runs out of money as do Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,
I have a feeling we will run out of oil before they run out of money.
Unlikley
their economy is on he brink and we never really run out of oil, we just pay more for it.
You cannot suddenly cut supply of a product with highly inelastic demand by around 20% (more, given the chaos in Russia) and expect there not to be shortages.
Exactly where and how they will manifest themselves is a different question.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that meanUnlikely,it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
On the other hand, Iran runs out of money as do Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,
I have a feeling we will run out of oil before they run out of money.
Unlikley
their economy is on he brink and we never really run out of oil, we just pay more for it.
You cannot suddenly cut supply of a product with highly inelastic demand by around 20% (more, given the chaos in Russia) and expect there not to be shortages.
Exactly where and how they will manifest themselves is a different question.
Of course you can. It means we will get highly priced oil whereas poor countries in say Africa or Asia wont get any becuase they dont have enough money. It's not pretty but its what happens,
The only stories on rerouted oil tankers I have heard have been about tankers that were heading to Europe being rerouted to Asia because the Asians offered more money. How confident are you that Britain can outbid enough places not to see a fair bit of the missing 20% in supply?
Anywhere really poor was never using that much oil in the first place.
And then, of course, Britain imports vast amounts from all over the world, so if those places experience shortages then the production of goods we consume may stop, and Britain will see shortages that way.
And *then* when you consider something like the food industry, it is heavily reliant on plastic for packaging to get food to market. So if there's a shortage of plastic, following a shortage of oil you might see the supply of some foodstuffs disrupted.
I heard somewhere that the pandemic only led to a 10% drop in demand for oil. 20% is going to have severe consequences.
Over here in sunny Swansea I've just had someone knocking on the door for the Lib Dems. I think she could tell I didn't really want to talk. She seemed nice though. Said something about it being between them and Reform for the 6th seat (after I said Reform was the one party I wouldn't vote for). No idea if that's true?
OK, my guess would be on what I've seen that Labour, Plaid, Reform, the Greens would all be guaranteed one seat. One other would be a toss up between Plaid and Labour, and the other a toss up between Reform and the Tories.
I would be surprised if the Liberal Democrats came into the equation if I am honest, but it isn't insane to think they might on current polling by squeezing out that final seat somehow. I would have thought their best chance of a seat was further north, however.
Surely if the 5th seat is a toss up between Plaid and Labour, then whichever doesn't get it gets the 6th seat?
I was thinking rather of the way the votes split on left and right. As in, I would guess that there will be four on the left and two on the right, and I was trying to work out how they will be divided by party.
But it is true there is considerable uncertainty about how the new voting system will play out.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
If I lived in Wales I'd vote Plaid Cymru as the party most likely to stand up for my interests in Westminster, but that doesn't mean I share their goal of separatism. There's a difference between fighting your real-world corner and running away to Fantasyland.
Hey, since 2016 we've all run away to Fantasyland, even if it's somewhat dystopian. Some of us were forcibly deported there of course.
Of course. Brexit was also based on several competing fantasies. As it happens I think Scotland could be a viable separate state, but not Wales. The extent of economic and social assimilation is different.
People said Ireland wouldn’t be viable. It took a while, but now they’re more prosperous than the UK.
The UK's GDP is about six times as large as the Republic of Ireland's. We're more prosperous than them. They're only doing better per capita.
Isn't that the one that would matter most to people*? We're like 10-12x their population, I'd sure hope our GDP was larger.
*even taking off a little for tax haven benefits?
GDP per capita doesn’t really make sense for Ireland because so much of their GDP is related to corporate tax dodging that just sits in bank accounts and doesn’t benefit normal people.
Does allow them to one up us though - value = priceless.
Russian milibloggers seem to be in a panic over Ukrainian drone capability extending to 80km behind the frontline, in mass, targeting logistics, etc. I wonder whether that also explains the large increase in Russian artillery that the Ukrainians have recently claimed to have destroyed?
Yes the latest Ukranian drones can carry a higher payload further than the previous versions, and further than today’s Russian drones. It’s causing a lot of problems for Russian logistics, and they’ve lost quite a few air defence radars and command posts in recent weeks.
If they can’t defend targets as strategic as Novorossiysk port, there’s clearly not a lot left of air defence capability close to the front line. What AD remains is mostly protecting the city of Moscow, and outside the capital is very thinly spread.
Another recent development seems to be a lot of Russian miliblogger complaints that are defence systems aren't being supplied with missiles. I thought it was the one thing that the Russians were least likely to run out of, but it seems to be happening.
The last several months have seen lots of agreements to build drone production facilities for Ukraine across Europe and it looks as though that could make a really important contribution to Ukraine's defence - and maybe eventually Russia's defeat.
We also need to learn that future wars will depend on superiority of drone technology, not big willy waving aircraft carriers, however much that upsets our 134 admirals.
That's not necessarily the lesson. Ukraine v Russia is primarily a land war. There are others where an aircraft carrier might be more useful.
With remembering that, when the Russi-Ukraine war is over it will become the last war, and the next war will be different. It would be a mistake to prepare for the next war as though it would be the same as the last.
It’s better to use the last war as the basis of procurement than the war before that.
Drones aren’t going to disappear and make a lot of previous assumptions irrelevant
Over here in sunny Swansea I've just had someone knocking on the door for the Lib Dems. I think she could tell I didn't really want to talk. She seemed nice though. Said something about it being between them and Reform for the 6th seat (after I said Reform was the one party I wouldn't vote for). No idea if that's true?
OK, my guess would be on what I've seen that Labour, Plaid, Reform, the Greens would all be guaranteed one seat. One other would be a toss up between Plaid and Labour, and the other a toss up between Reform and the Tories.
I would be surprised if the Liberal Democrats came into the equation if I am honest, but it isn't insane to think they might on current polling by squeezing out that final seat somehow. I would have thought their best chance of a seat was further north, however.
Surely if the 5th seat is a toss up between Plaid and Labour, then whichever doesn't get it gets the 6th seat?
I was thinking rather of the way the votes split on left and right. As in, I would guess that there will be four on the left and two on the right, and I was trying to work out how they will be divided by party.
But it is true there is considerable uncertainty about how the new voting system will play out.
There's a Senedd calculator here with projections from the latest polling.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
On the other hand, Iran runs out of money as do Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,
I have a feeling we will run out of oil before they run out of money.
They’ve proved remarkably resilient so far
I think you’re correct
I think the problem with the cureent situation is media demands for instant results and Trumps ramping of the same. Bringinf Iran to the table was always going to be a lengthy event, The Israelis have a more measured pace to the whole thing so I tend to take their view as more reliable than say Hegseth,
Iran was already at the table when the war started, and because of the unrest at home plus their economic headwinds (including an impending water crisis) were very keen to talk in exchange for sanctions being lifted. Whether the offer to hand over all fissile material was serious or not the fact it was even made suggests they were in dire straits (no pun intended).
They're actually less likely to negotiate than they were two months ago. The leadership has been eliminated and replaced by something more hardline. The closure of Hormuz has shown them they can be the biggest bullies in the room. America has looked totally helpless and hapless, while their president's descent into madness while his Vice President continues to give off massive small dick energy via rampaging xenophobia at all America's longstanding allies has severely weakened their international influence. To the extent the Gulf States are getting into bed with Ukraine for the resources they need.
Why would they give that up? Money, you say. Well, they're in the position where it's not just about money any more, and I'm sure China will drop them a few bob to keep afloat. Meanwhile, they can gain great amusement from watching the Great Satan self-immolate.
It will be a disaster for the Iranian people, but they never cared about them anyway as shown by their mass murders in the aftermath of the protests earlier this year.
I think you are unduly bullish. Iran right now holds a straight flush. Has anyone got any aces to play? At this moment, I don't see them.
They are inconveniencing the rest of the world via shutting the Straits but that does not make them the biggest bullies in the room. America and Israel can both withstand the damage that inflicts and everyone else has either opted out of the conflict so their opinions are moot, or the GRC states reportedly want to see the regime defeated too
Their leadership is getting nixed with impunity, another IRGC leader joined the ranks of the ex-parrots today.
Their enemies maintain air supremacy.
Their infrastructure is getting smashed. Another key piece hit today.
Their cash situation is going from bad to horrendous. They are suffering not just economic but kinetic sanctions that make it hard to make payroll.
As for your assumption China will bung them cash to tide them over so they can maintain the Straits closure, I am not sure that is in China's intetests at all.
I hope you don't play Poker as that is a strait flush down the sewers, not a Straight Flush.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
On the other hand, Iran runs out of money as do Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis,
I have a feeling we will run out of oil before they run out of money.
They’ve proved remarkably resilient so far
I think you’re correct
I think the problem with the cureent situation is media demands for instant results and Trumps ramping of the same. Bringinf Iran to the table was always going to be a lengthy event, The Israelis have a more measured pace to the whole thing so I tend to take their view as more reliable than say Hegseth,
Iran was already at the table when the war started, and because of the unrest at home plus their economic headwinds (including an impending water crisis) were very keen to talk in exchange for sanctions being lifted. Whether the offer to hand over all fissile material was serious or not the fact it was even made suggests they were in dire straits (no pun intended).
They're actually less likely to negotiate than they were two months ago. The leadership has been eliminated and replaced by something more hardline. The closure of Hormuz has shown them they can be the biggest bullies in the room. America has looked totally helpless and hapless, while their president's descent into madness while his Vice President continues to give off massive small dick energy via rampaging xenophobia at all America's longstanding allies has severely weakened their international influence. To the extent the Gulf States are getting into bed with Ukraine for the resources they need.
Why would they give that up? Money, you say. Well, they're in the position where it's not just about money any more, and I'm sure China will drop them a few bob to keep afloat. Meanwhile, they can gain great amusement from watching the Great Satan self-immolate.
It will be a disaster for the Iranian people, but they never cared about them anyway as shown by their mass murders in the aftermath of the protests earlier this year.
I think you are unduly bullish. Iran right now holds a straight flush. Has anyone got any aces to play? At this moment, I don't see them.
They are inconveniencing the rest of the world via shutting the Straits but that does not make them the biggest bullies in the room. America and Israel can both withstand the damage that inflicts and everyone else has either opted out of the conflict so their opinions are moot, or the GRC states reportedly want to see the regime defeated too
Their leadership is getting nixed with impunity, another IRGC leader joined the ranks of the ex-parrots today.
Their enemies maintain air supremacy.
Their infrastructure is getting smashed. Another key piece hit today.
Their cash situation is going from bad to horrendous. They are suffering not just economic but kinetic sanctions that make it hard to make payroll.
As for your assumption China will bung them cash to tide them over so they can maintain the Straits closure, I am not sure that is in China's intetests at all.
I hope you don't play Poker as that is a strait flush down the sewers, not a Straight Flush.
On the last point, just to take the most obvious issue China has potentially nine to ten months of reserves. Taiwan may have three.
From an interesting, and I think perceptive thread.
https://x.com/ksadjadpour/status/2040920995393847703 Over 47 years the Islamic Republic has made only two major compromises. The first was its 1988 decision to end the Iran-Iraq war--after eight years and an estimated 200K Iranian deaths--a concession Khomeini likened to drinking poison. The second was Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
It absolutely still could and should be the tactic. Just need to outlast the enemy. Gulf resources are far better protected than Iranian ones are.
The best way to secure the Strait and ensure no further conflicts disrupt it again is to secure regime change today.
Not cause all this disruption then walk away empty handed.
From an interesting, and I think perceptive thread.
https://x.com/ksadjadpour/status/2040920995393847703 Over 47 years the Islamic Republic has made only two major compromises. The first was its 1988 decision to end the Iran-Iraq war--after eight years and an estimated 200K Iranian deaths--a concession Khomeini likened to drinking poison. The second was Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
Which is why regime change is a better option than compromise.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
It absolutely still could and should be the tactic. Just need to outlast the enemy. Gulf resources are far better protected than Iranian ones are.
The best way to secure the Strait and ensure no further conflicts disrupt it again is to secure regime change today.
Not cause all this disruption then walk away empty handed.
There's more than 'simple' short-term politics here, though. There's the Islamic religious issue of Shia v Sunni, and there's Arab's v Persians/Iranians. At least. There could well be other issues, too. A temporary breakdown of the Iranian state might well lead to a resurgence of Kurdish nationalism, which would in turn lead to problems in Iraq and quite possibly Turkey.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
From an interesting, and I think perceptive thread.
https://x.com/ksadjadpour/status/2040920995393847703 Over 47 years the Islamic Republic has made only two major compromises. The first was its 1988 decision to end the Iran-Iraq war--after eight years and an estimated 200K Iranian deaths--a concession Khomeini likened to drinking poison. The second was Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
The first must have been especially bitter give it was the US backed Iraq who started the war by invading Iran.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Stop whining. You've had your regime change. They have gone from a hardline theocratic regime that was actively engaged in talks with the West to an even harder line military regime that has closed the Straits of Hormuz, has no interestin talks and has started attacking the rest of the Gulf. And all thanks to Netenyahu and Trump. You should be proud.
From an interesting, and I think perceptive thread.
https://x.com/ksadjadpour/status/2040920995393847703 Over 47 years the Islamic Republic has made only two major compromises. The first was its 1988 decision to end the Iran-Iraq war--after eight years and an estimated 200K Iranian deaths--a concession Khomeini likened to drinking poison. The second was Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
The first must have been especially bitter give it was the US backed Iraq who started the war by invading Iran.
As Emperor Kahless the Unforgettable said 'destroying an empire to win a war is no victory, and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat.'
‘’singapore shipping fuel market going off the chart—this is shipping fuel shortage live. at that price, shippers will defer orders, park their ships and either wait till the war is over or go out of business.’
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Over here in sunny Swansea I've just had someone knocking on the door for the Lib Dems. I think she could tell I didn't really want to talk. She seemed nice though. Said something about it being between them and Reform for the 6th seat (after I said Reform was the one party I wouldn't vote for). No idea if that's true?
OK, my guess would be on what I've seen that Labour, Plaid, Reform, the Greens would all be guaranteed one seat. One other would be a toss up between Plaid and Labour, and the other a toss up between Reform and the Tories.
I would be surprised if the Liberal Democrats came into the equation if I am honest, but it isn't insane to think they might on current polling by squeezing out that final seat somehow. I would have thought their best chance of a seat was further north, however.
Surely if the 5th seat is a toss up between Plaid and Labour, then whichever doesn't get it gets the 6th seat?
I was thinking rather of the way the votes split on left and right. As in, I would guess that there will be four on the left and two on the right, and I was trying to work out how they will be divided by party.
But it is true there is considerable uncertainty about how the new voting system will play out.
There's a Senedd calculator here with projections from the latest polling.
Based on this, Swansea will be 3 PC, 2 Reform and 1 Labour. Sixth seat to Plaid over the Greens. LD would only get 11th. Although it is very close.
Speaking as a political anorak - I love this election and the various prediction calculators -hours of fun modelling slight variations in polling predictions against seat predictions.... much more interesting than boring FPTP..
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
It absolutely still could and should be the tactic. Just need to outlast the enemy. Gulf resources are far better protected than Iranian ones are.
The best way to secure the Strait and ensure no further conflicts disrupt it again is to secure regime change today.
Not cause all this disruption then walk away empty handed.
There's more than 'simple' short-term politics here, though. There's the Islamic religious issue of Shia v Sunni, and there's Arab's v Persians/Iranians. At least. There could well be other issues, too. A temporary breakdown of the Iranian state might well lead to a resurgence of Kurdish nationalism, which would in turn lead to problems in Iraq and quite possibly Turkey.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Russian milibloggers seem to be in a panic over Ukrainian drone capability extending to 80km behind the frontline, in mass, targeting logistics, etc. I wonder whether that also explains the large increase in Russian artillery that the Ukrainians have recently claimed to have destroyed?
Yes the latest Ukranian drones can carry a higher payload further than the previous versions, and further than today’s Russian drones. It’s causing a lot of problems for Russian logistics, and they’ve lost quite a few air defence radars and command posts in recent weeks.
If they can’t defend targets as strategic as Novorossiysk port, there’s clearly not a lot left of air defence capability close to the front line. What AD remains is mostly protecting the city of Moscow, and outside the capital is very thinly spread.
Another recent development seems to be a lot of Russian miliblogger complaints that are defence systems aren't being supplied with missiles. I thought it was the one thing that the Russians were least likely to run out of, but it seems to be happening.
The last several months have seen lots of agreements to build drone production facilities for Ukraine across Europe and it looks as though that could make a really important contribution to Ukraine's defence - and maybe eventually Russia's defeat.
There have been a handful of Russian weapons and chemicals factories ‘sanctioned’ by Ukraine, which were the manufacturing facilities for the missiles that are now in short supply, and the content of their warheads and propellants. Unsurprisingly, said factories were utterly obliterated rather than victims of small fires.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Stop whining. You've had your regime change. They have gone from a hardline theocratic regime that was actively engaged in talks with the West to an even harder line military regime that has closed the Straits of Hormuz, has no interestin talks and has started attacking the rest of the Gulf. And all thanks to Netenyahu and Trump. You should be proud.
He’s disappointed they have not gone far enough. Clearly.
More bombings. Destroy more civilian infrastructure
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
If you are trying to make an omelette. But, say, you can't incubate eggs to see the chicks emerge if you smash up all the eggs.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
And you shouldn't make an omelette at all if it requires half the world's egg supply and still ends up inedible.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Stop whining. You've had your regime change. They have gone from a hardline theocratic regime that was actively engaged in talks with the West to an even harder line military regime that has closed the Straits of Hormuz, has no interestin talks and has started attacking the rest of the Gulf. And all thanks to Netenyahu and Trump. You should be proud.
He’s disappointed they have not gone far enough. Clearly.
More bombings. Destroy more civilian infrastructure
Commit more war crimes.
Needs must !!
I have consistently said from the start they have not gone far enough.
And what "alleged" crimes? Targeting military targets, which includes petrochemical and energy, is not a war crime.
As scientific achievements/research go, this is like splitting the atom.
Do men or women have worse farts? Science has the answer.
Added bonus: Here’s why air travel tends to make people gassy.
The following is an excerpt from “You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong,” by Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH, which will be published on Tuesday.
Science has finally settled the age-old debate of whose farts smell worse — men or women. But to appreciate the answer, you need to understand how researchers figured it out. The methodology alone deserves an award.
The man responsible is Dr. Michael Levitt, a gastroenterologist who joined the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital in 1978. An Air Force veteran himself, he would become known as the “King of Farts” to his colleagues for his interest — and eventually unparalleled expertise — in one very particular subject: the status of flatus.
Levitt didn’t ask for this honor. It was a life that was chosen for him. One day, while still a gastroenterology fellow, he was called into his adviser’s office and introduced to a new laboratory instrument: the gas chromatograph. The tool could be used for many applications — to analyze gas content in soil or even in crime scene investigations — but to these two gastroenterologists, it was clear that someone should use it to better understand the most pressing of scientific needs: farting.
And so, an illustrious career was born. Levitt eventually published over three hundred original scientific works, was honored with a Distinguished Achievement Award by the American Gastroenterological Association, and even consulted for NASA — developing spacesuits filtered with activated charcoal to prevent astronauts from having to inhale their own flatus during a spacewalk.
But it was one particular study that put the gender debate to rest — and it is a study I return to often, both in my clinic and at dinner parties where I have, on occasion, misjudged the room.
Levitt invited sixteen healthy men and women to consume items that boost gas production — pinto beans and a synthetic sugar called lactulose. Participants then showed up to the laboratory, where a rectal tube was inserted and made a gas-tight seal with their derrieres. The tube was connected to a gas-impermeable bag and, after farting, its contents were subsequently evaluated by chromatography.
It gets better.
The flatus collected in these bags was then sniffed and rated by two independent judges on a linear scale where zero was “no odor” and 8 was “very offensive.”
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
It absolutely still could and should be the tactic. Just need to outlast the enemy. Gulf resources are far better protected than Iranian ones are.
The best way to secure the Strait and ensure no further conflicts disrupt it again is to secure regime change today.
Not cause all this disruption then walk away empty handed.
There's more than 'simple' short-term politics here, though. There's the Islamic religious issue of Shia v Sunni, and there's Arab's v Persians/Iranians. At least. There could well be other issues, too. A temporary breakdown of the Iranian state might well lead to a resurgence of Kurdish nationalism, which would in turn lead to problems in Iraq and quite possibly Turkey.
Good.
Your output on this is like a little kid trying to irritate his parents.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
It absolutely still could and should be the tactic. Just need to outlast the enemy. Gulf resources are far better protected than Iranian ones are.
The best way to secure the Strait and ensure no further conflicts disrupt it again is to secure regime change today.
Not cause all this disruption then walk away empty handed.
There's more than 'simple' short-term politics here, though. There's the Islamic religious issue of Shia v Sunni, and there's Arab's v Persians/Iranians. At least. There could well be other issues, too. A temporary breakdown of the Iranian state might well lead to a resurgence of Kurdish nationalism, which would in turn lead to problems in Iraq and quite possibly Turkey.
Good.
Hasn't Iraq had enough problems? I'm by no means suggesting it's and ideal state, nor, come to that, is Turkey, but if there's to be a reordering of boundaries, can't it be done in a civilised fashion?
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Of course 4 words are too long for you to read. You just like pictures and bombing 😂
Whoosh. It was a question, was mine too long, since your retort had nothing to do with my calm and reasoned argument.
So since you ignored my post, I quoted your own words back at you instead. There have been no convictions of war crimes in this war.
Indeed western forces have attacked energy infrastructure in every major conflict of the past 80 years, except arguably 2003, and yet not one western leader has been convicted of a war crime in that time.
Funny that.
Won't stop lunatics alleging anything and everything is a war crime. Which utterly debases the words and makes them meaningless.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
If they Weren’t terirorists they’ve nothing to fear ?
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Of course 4 words are too long for you to read. You just like pictures and bombing 😂
Or the university which was a centre of student resistance to the regime. Or the schools
"Full scorched earth" on Iran's energy infrastructure is absolutely an attack on civilians.
Barty's logic is that taking an enormous gamble with the world's economy doesn't seem to be paying off, so let's double down and damn the possible consequences for .. just about everyone.
It's morally and practically absurd.
This is a war of choice, opposed by the vast majority of America's allies - and by a large majority of the US electorate.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Stop whining. You've had your regime change. They have gone from a hardline theocratic regime that was actively engaged in talks with the West to an even harder line military regime that has closed the Straits of Hormuz, has no interestin talks and has started attacking the rest of the Gulf. And all thanks to Netenyahu and Trump. You should be proud.
He’s disappointed they have not gone far enough. Clearly.
More bombings. Destroy more civilian infrastructure
Commit more war crimes.
Needs must !!
I have consistently said from the start they have not gone far enough.
And what "alleged" crimes? Targeting military targets, which includes petrochemical and energy, is not a war crime.
Yes, that school full of schoolgirls, now liberated from life by the US/Israel, or that university definitely military. Or the warehouses full of pistachio nuts. Perhaps they were going to use them to target soldiers with a nut allergy.
If you decide anything is a military target you justify it to yourself that way even if they’re not and they’re just trying to fuck the Iranian economy.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
Russian milibloggers seem to be in a panic over Ukrainian drone capability extending to 80km behind the frontline, in mass, targeting logistics, etc. I wonder whether that also explains the large increase in Russian artillery that the Ukrainians have recently claimed to have destroyed?
Yes the latest Ukranian drones can carry a higher payload further than the previous versions, and further than today’s Russian drones. It’s causing a lot of problems for Russian logistics, and they’ve lost quite a few air defence radars and command posts in recent weeks.
If they can’t defend targets as strategic as Novorossiysk port, there’s clearly not a lot left of air defence capability close to the front line. What AD remains is mostly protecting the city of Moscow, and outside the capital is very thinly spread.
Another recent development seems to be a lot of Russian miliblogger complaints that are defence systems aren't being supplied with missiles. I thought it was the one thing that the Russians were least likely to run out of, but it seems to be happening.
The last several months have seen lots of agreements to build drone production facilities for Ukraine across Europe and it looks as though that could make a really important contribution to Ukraine's defence - and maybe eventually Russia's defeat.
We also need to learn that future wars will depend on superiority of drone technology, not big willy waving aircraft carriers, however much that upsets our 134 admirals.
That will depend on what sort of war we fight. The US is very much using its aircraft carriers successfully at present.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Of course 4 words are too long for you to read. You just like pictures and bombing 😂
Or the university which was a centre of student resistance to the regime. Or the schools
"Full scorched earth" on Iran's energy infrastructure is absolutely an attack on civilians.
Barty's logic is that taking an enormous gamble with the world's economy doesn't seem to be paying off, so let's double down and damn the possible consequences for .. just about everyone.
It's morally and practically absurd.
This is a war of choice, opposed by the vast majority of America's allies - and by a large majority of the US electorate.
But he knows better.
Does he ?
For someone who opposes fascism and racism he’s happy to support two regimes fitting that bill.
Even the NYT admits they are committing war crimes attacking civilian infrastructure
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
The more war crimes the better, eh Bart.
Oh do piss off with this "war crimes" bullshit.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
Of course 4 words are too long for you to read. You just like pictures and bombing 😂
Or the university which was a centre of student resistance to the regime. Or the schools
"Full scorched earth" on Iran's energy infrastructure is absolutely an attack on civilians.
Barty's logic is that taking an enormous gamble with the world's economy doesn't seem to be paying off, so let's double down and damn the possible consequences for .. just about everyone.
It's morally and practically absurd.
This is a war of choice, opposed by the vast majority of America's allies - and by a large majority of the US electorate.
But he knows better.
Do you desire to extinguish minorities?
Are minorities not entitled to express opinions?
Yes its opposed by a majority. So what?
I think we should be going much harder and do "whatever it takes" to get regime change and oust the Mullahs once and for all. Just because a majority disagrees with me does not make my position illegitimate.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Never repeat that Israel is a democracy, a real democracy doesn’t pass laws like this.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Never repeat that Israel is a democracy, a real democracy doesn’t pass laws like this.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Your approach to making omelettes seems to involve blowing up the whole kitchen and then evicting the owners.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Your approach to making omelettes seems to involve blowing up the whole kitchen and then evicting the owners.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I am more forgiving of Israel than most, but this race-based death penalty is like an Adolf Hitler fever dream. Incredible. For once the Nazi/genocide comparisons are entirely justified
What saddens me is how Israel has let itself sink to this level of depraved bigotry. Didn't have to happen
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Your approach to making omelettes seems to involve blowing up the whole kitchen and then evicting the owners.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I am more forgiving of Israel than most, but this race-based death penalty is like an Adolf Hitler fever dream. Incredible. For once the Nazi/genocide comparisons are entirely justified
What saddens me is how Israel has let itself sink to this level of depraved bigotry. Didn't have to happen
It’s utterly horrific, as I mentioned upthread it’s sham trials.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Never repeat that Israel is a democracy, a real democracy doesn’t pass laws like this.
Bullshit.
Democracies can pass repugnant laws.
Hopefully it is democratically revoked.
I see you’re becoming abusive when wrong, I’ll no longer engage with you on this topic.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I am more forgiving of Israel than most, but this race-based death penalty is like an Adolf Hitler fever dream. Incredible. For once the Nazi/genocide comparisons are entirely justified
What saddens me is how Israel has let itself sink to this level of depraved bigotry. Didn't have to happen
They already had an implicit race based death penalty this just codifies it.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I am more forgiving of Israel than most, but this race-based death penalty is like an Adolf Hitler fever dream. Incredible. For once the Nazi/genocide comparisons are entirely justified
What saddens me is how Israel has let itself sink to this level of depraved bigotry. Didn't have to happen
It’s utterly horrific, as I mentioned upthread it’s sham trials.
It's literally like something you'd find in a history of the Third Reich
"In 1937, the Reichstag passed a law reintroducing the death penalty, but only for Jews. The special courts for Jews were administered by the SS, and almost everyone was briskly convicted, then hanged"
You'd wince and think "Jesus that's sick, but then again, it's the Nazis"
As you say, is this the behaviour of a "democracy"? Democracy literally means government by the people. But this law clearly means Palestinians are not classed as true people, they are something lesser. Sub-people
It occurs to me that one of things many in the West do seem to have lost confidence in is our ability to wage cold war or win the battle of ideas, even after doing so many times over.
Even without accounting for Trumpism and even acknowledging that cold wars were never entirely without their hot spots, that loss of confidence is one element of what has made the world a more dangerous place.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I am more forgiving of Israel than most, but this race-based death penalty is like an Adolf Hitler fever dream. Incredible. For once the Nazi/genocide comparisons are entirely justified
What saddens me is how Israel has let itself sink to this level of depraved bigotry. Didn't have to happen
There was so much to admire about Israel. It is horrific what has become of them. They have become the archetypal abusive husband, "Look what you made me do!"
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Never repeat that Israel is a democracy, a real democracy doesn’t pass laws like this.
Bullshit.
Democracies can pass repugnant laws.
Hopefully it is democratically revoked.
I see you’re becoming abusive when wrong, I’ll no longer engage with you on this topic.
Using the word bullshit is hardly being abusive. I apologise if you took it that way though.
But I am not wrong. Democracy does not prevent bad laws from being passed, all forms of government can pass bad laws.
The advantage of democracy is you can kick out the bastards who pass bad laws and then repeal the bad law.
I would like to see Netanyahu and his allies defeated at the ballot box, and this law repealed. Which could happen, because Israel is a democracy.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Never repeat that Israel is a democracy, a real democracy doesn’t pass laws like this.
Bullshit.
Democracies can pass repugnant laws.
Hopefully it is democratically revoked.
I see you’re becoming abusive when wrong, I’ll no longer engage with you on this topic.
It is an interesting question - I’ve encountered people who believe that you can’t be a democracy if have he death penalty.
Which seems to me to be a muddling up of democracy and being liberal.
The truth is that many hideous things could get 50%+ support, in many countries. And have, in the past
It occurs to me that one of things many in the West do seem to have lost confidence in is our ability to wage cold war or win the battle of ideas, even after doing so many times over.
Even without accounting for Trumpism and even acknowledging that cold wars were never entirely without their hot spots, that loss of confidence is one element of what has made the world a more dangerous place.
The loss of confidence follows from a loss of economic performance. China appears to be winning.
Israel has just attacked the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh.
According to the defense minister, two facilities responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports have been put out of operation.
Does that mean it’s no longer necessary to capture Kharg Island?
It means, alarmingly, that the Iranians have no reason at all to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they would not benefit from it (unless of course their toll systems can be put into operation).
It's also going to *seriously* piss off the Chinese.
The Iranians have no reason to open it anyway. It’s their leverage. If I was them I’d keep it closed and just allow some ships out after a tariff is paid.
Maximum leverage on trump
It has been said that the IRGC is missing payroll, though. Not surprising since Iranian banking has been cut off by their neighbours, and they are not receiving oil revenue.
Don't pay your troops (or don't feed them), and turns out even fanatics have limits.
Agreed.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
That might have been a tactic - if they could protect water, power, hydrocarbons across the Gulf.
But they can't.
A few weeks back, Barty was arguing gulf war in the basis of liberating Iran's populace. Now he's advocating for the deliberate wreaking of mass destruction on civilians.
For regime change, yes.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You'd have an aneurysm if anyone applied that logic to the October 7th attacks.
Absolutely, because they are completely different.
Nope, both are the deliberate targetting of civilians.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
I oppose the death penalty unconditionally. Always have, always will.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
So why have we not heard a peep out of you about the new Israeli law then?
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
I have barely been online the past couple of weeks, but for the record I oppose this law as I oppose all forms of the death penalty.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
You’re deliberately missing the point.
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
I oppose the law as I oppose all racism and death penalty.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Never repeat that Israel is a democracy, a real democracy doesn’t pass laws like this.
Bullshit.
Democracies can pass repugnant laws.
Hopefully it is democratically revoked.
I see you’re becoming abusive when wrong, I’ll no longer engage with you on this topic.
It is an interesting question - I’ve encountered people who believe that you can’t be a democracy if have he death penalty.
Which seems to me to be a muddling up of democracy and being liberal.
The truth is that many hideous things could get 50%+ support, in many countries. And have, in the past
You can be a democracy with the death penalty, you cannot be a democracy with such a once sided racist law like this.
Comments
With remembering that, when the Russi-Ukraine war is over it will become the last war, and the next war will be different. It would be a mistake to prepare for the next war as though it would be the same as the last.
They could soon use up $300 bn in Dubai alone...
I would be surprised if the Liberal Democrats came into the equation if I am honest, but it isn't insane to think they might on current polling by squeezing out that final seat somehow. I would have thought their best chance of a seat was further north, however.
He's a great Vanker, and we wish the rest on him.
Not quite as pathetic as Northants or Hampshire but still pretty underwhelming.
Plus, as soon as they open fire, they can now expect a drone dropping by imminently.
Anywhere really poor was never using that much oil in the first place.
And then, of course, Britain imports vast amounts from all over the world, so if those places experience shortages then the production of goods we consume may stop, and Britain will see shortages that way.
And *then* when you consider something like the food industry, it is heavily reliant on plastic for packaging to get food to market. So if there's a shortage of plastic, following a shortage of oil you might see the supply of some foodstuffs disrupted.
I heard somewhere that the pandemic only led to a 10% drop in demand for oil. 20% is going to have severe consequences.
But it is true there is considerable uncertainty about how the new voting system will play out.
👍
Drones aren’t going to disappear and make a lot of previous assumptions irrelevant
https://www.pollcheck.co.uk/welsh_polling/senedd_polling/senedd-2026-seat-calculator
Based on this, Swansea will be 3 PC, 2 Reform and 1 Labour.
Sixth seat to Plaid over the Greens. LD would only get 11th.
Although it is very close.
Israel and the US should go full scorched earth on Iranian petrochemicals and energy and IRGC and military until the Iranian soldiers cave and surrender and oust the regime.
But they can't.
If they just leave ordinary criminals to their own devices however...
Their leadership is getting nixed with impunity, another IRGC leader joined the ranks of the ex-parrots today.
Their enemies maintain air supremacy.
Their infrastructure is getting smashed. Another key piece hit today.
Their cash situation is going from bad to horrendous. They are suffering not just economic but kinetic sanctions that make it hard to make payroll.
As for your assumption China will bung them cash to tide them over so they can maintain the Straits closure, I am not sure that is in China's intetests at all.
I hope you don't play Poker as that is a strait flush down the sewers, not a Straight Flush.
https://x.com/ksadjadpour/status/2040920995393847703
Over 47 years the Islamic Republic has made only two major compromises. The first was its 1988 decision to end the Iran-Iraq war--after eight years and an estimated 200K Iranian deaths--a concession Khomeini likened to drinking poison. The second was Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
The best way to secure the Strait and ensure no further conflicts disrupt it again is to secure regime change today.
Not cause all this disruption then walk away empty handed.
But we can substitute the Met if you prefer.
If it liberates the civilians then it is a price worth paying.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
At least. There could well be other issues, too. A temporary breakdown of the Iranian state might well lead to a resurgence of Kurdish nationalism, which would in turn lead to problems in Iraq and quite possibly Turkey.
Not sure if this has aleady been mentioned, if so apologies.
Lincolshire County Councillor for Grantham East, Cain Parkinson, has defected from Reform to the Tories.
https://granthammatters.co.uk/reform-uk-lincolnshire-councillor-joins-the-conservative-party/
Crazy.
https://x.com/dailymail/status/2040918766725247115?s=46&t=d8CnRhyZJ-m4vy0k55W8XQ
‘’singapore shipping fuel market going off the chart—this is shipping fuel shortage live. at that price, shippers will defer orders, park their ships and either wait till the war is over or go out of business.’
https://x.com/ianbremmer/status/2041110757794832665?s=46&t=d8CnRhyZJ-m4vy0k55W8XQ
A price worth paying for him.
In what stupid parallel universe is targeting military, petrochemical and energy infrastructure a "war crime".
Those have been legitimate targets in every major conflict the west has fought in the past 80 years, with the exception of 2003 when the invading forces had a policy of not hitting petrochemical and energy infrastructure . . . Because they wanted to use it themselves afterwards, not because of any "law".
If you call everything a war crime then nothing is.
You're on the side of the country who will execute Palestinian terrorists but not Israeli terrorists, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
More bombings. Destroy more civilian infrastructure
Commit more war crimes.
Needs must !!
So yet another example of useless analogies.
Targeting military, petrochemicals or energy is not targeting civilians. It absolutely could have impacts upon civilians, which all wars can, but they are legitimate military targets.
It is completely different to the deliberate targeting of civilians.
And what "alleged" crimes? Targeting military targets, which includes petrochemical and energy, is not a war crime.
Do men or women have worse farts? Science has the answer.
Added bonus: Here’s why air travel tends to make people gassy.
The following is an excerpt from “You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong,” by Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH, which will be published on Tuesday.
Science has finally settled the age-old debate of whose farts smell worse — men or women. But to appreciate the answer, you need to understand how researchers figured it out. The methodology alone deserves an award.
The man responsible is Dr. Michael Levitt, a gastroenterologist who joined the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital in 1978. An Air Force veteran himself, he would become known as the “King of Farts” to his colleagues for his interest — and eventually unparalleled expertise — in one very particular subject: the status of flatus.
Levitt didn’t ask for this honor. It was a life that was chosen for him. One day, while still a gastroenterology fellow, he was called into his adviser’s office and introduced to a new laboratory instrument: the gas chromatograph. The tool could be used for many applications — to analyze gas content in soil or even in crime scene investigations — but to these two gastroenterologists, it was clear that someone should use it to better understand the most pressing of scientific needs: farting.
And so, an illustrious career was born. Levitt eventually published over three hundred original scientific works, was honored with a Distinguished Achievement Award by the American Gastroenterological Association, and even consulted for NASA — developing spacesuits filtered with activated charcoal to prevent astronauts from having to inhale their own flatus during a spacewalk.
But it was one particular study that put the gender debate to rest — and it is a study I return to often, both in my clinic and at dinner parties where I have, on occasion, misjudged the room.
Levitt invited sixteen healthy men and women to consume items that boost gas production — pinto beans and a synthetic sugar called lactulose. Participants then showed up to the laboratory, where a rectal tube was inserted and made a gas-tight seal with their derrieres. The tube was connected to a gas-impermeable bag and, after farting, its contents were subsequently evaluated by chromatography.
It gets better.
The flatus collected in these bags was then sniffed and rated by two independent judges on a linear scale where zero was “no odor” and 8 was “very offensive.”
Don’t you love gastroenterology?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/04/07/why-do-farts-smell/
https://x.com/mhmiranusa/status/2040997481874350292?s=46&t=d8CnRhyZJ-m4vy0k55W8XQ
Of course 4 words are too long for you to read. You just like pictures and bombing 😂
And it's working. Go to your room.
It negates Israel being a democracy when the state murders one group, fun fact these trials will be conducted by IDF military tribubals, who have a 96% conviction rate, and death penalty is carried out within 90 days.
Fun fact a lot of the defence lawyers are IDF personnel who have in the past described Palestinians as a plague to be wiped out.
The evidentiary rules are much more lax, the 'defence' aren't allowed to cross examine if the IDF says this relates to national security.
So since you ignored my post, I quoted your own words back at you instead. There have been no convictions of war crimes in this war.
Indeed western forces have attacked energy infrastructure in every major conflict of the past 80 years, except arguably 2003, and yet not one western leader has been convicted of a war crime in that time.
Funny that.
Won't stop lunatics alleging anything and everything is a war crime. Which utterly debases the words and makes them meaningless.
I always form my own opinions and never agree with anyone unconditionally. Israel and America each have plenty of flaws I dislike, and I have said (repeatedly) I want to see both of their leaders defeated democratically.
Indeed I supported the (now) opposition in both countries at the last election in each.
So I hope that makes my position clear. The death penalty should not be the law.
Or the schools
"Full scorched earth" on Iran's energy infrastructure is absolutely an attack on civilians.
Barty's logic is that taking an enormous gamble with the world's economy doesn't seem to be paying off, so let's double down and damn the possible consequences for .. just about everyone.
It's morally and practically absurd.
This is a war of choice, opposed by the vast majority of America's allies - and by a large majority of the US electorate.
But he knows better.
If you decide anything is a military target you justify it to yourself that way even if they’re not and they’re just trying to fuck the Iranian economy.
Keep on bombing .
It’s not about the death penalty it’s about the one sided nature.
It applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
This is a racist law, this is not the behaviour of a true democracy but a country that doesn’t value life.
For someone who opposes fascism and racism he’s happy to support two regimes fitting that bill.
Even the NYT admits they are committing war crimes attacking civilian infrastructure
https://x.com/auriandra/status/2041161559745946051?s=46&t=d8CnRhyZJ-m4vy0k55W8XQ
Are minorities not entitled to express opinions?
Yes its opposed by a majority. So what?
I think we should be going much harder and do "whatever it takes" to get regime change and oust the Mullahs once and for all. Just because a majority disagrees with me does not make my position illegitimate.
There is much they do I dislike. This is one. It is wrong. What more do you want me to say?
Democracies can pass repugnant laws.
Hopefully it is democratically revoked.
What saddens me is how Israel has let itself sink to this level of depraved bigotry. Didn't have to happen
"In 1937, the Reichstag passed a law reintroducing the death penalty, but only for Jews. The special courts for Jews were administered by the SS, and almost everyone was briskly convicted, then hanged"
You'd wince and think "Jesus that's sick, but then again, it's the Nazis"
As you say, is this the behaviour of a "democracy"? Democracy literally means government by the people. But this law clearly means Palestinians are not classed as true people, they are something lesser. Sub-people
Even without accounting for Trumpism and even acknowledging that cold wars were never entirely without their hot spots, that loss of confidence is one element of what has made the world a more dangerous place.
But I am not wrong. Democracy does not prevent bad laws from being passed, all forms of government can pass bad laws.
The advantage of democracy is you can kick out the bastards who pass bad laws and then repeal the bad law.
I would like to see Netanyahu and his allies defeated at the ballot box, and this law repealed. Which could happen, because Israel is a democracy.
Which seems to me to be a muddling up of democracy and being liberal.
The truth is that many hideous things could get 50%+ support, in many countries. And have, in the past