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True but if you read the book you will see they've been conquered far more times than they have conquered anyone and it now part of their identity to the point of paranoia. Likely why they have been able to stomach horrible ground and pound tactics seen during the Iran/Iraq war. The book was really an eye opener for me. I don't disregard everything he has done. The Abraham Accords were historic and the actions at the start of this term to bring manufacturing back to the 48 could payoff handsomely for our economy, although likely after he leaves office. The one issue is perhaps my biggest problem with the DNC aside from open borders. Under Clinton via things like NAFTA we gave away the store in the name of "globalism." You kind of just made my point for me....Hunter was not appointed or confirmed but was making deals left and right...

Thanks for the book recommendation. I'd also add Persia was once the one doing the conquering, with a vast empire. Everyone I've dealt with from a culture like that has a long memory. Chinese, Greek/Turks, and Persians. I'd say the only difference is the Brits, but I suppose since empires fell out of favor and they "gave up" the empire it's kinda different. Either way I've never thought Trump was a "good" negotiator. He's just had some form of "fuck you" money before and now is finding out the GDP isn't his fuck you money specifically. And Kash is the Dir of FBI, What appointed office was Hunter holding in the Obama Administration?

Wish I could help. Everyone I know is retired. I went to a Hercules Operators Conference, HOC, in 99. Five days. A tour was part of it. Search says Hercules Orion Conference now. Maybe you could score a five day TDY? Lockheed Aero puts it on. Maybe contact them?

From wikipedia here's her relevant Committee assignments as Congresswoman: Armed Services Committee for 8 years with 2 of those on the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations; Foreign Affairs for 6 years, & Homeland Security for 2 years. Her military career was as a medic, MP and Civil Affairs officer. Score that how you want, but there's at least some experience. She left the Democrats to be an independent in 2022 then joined the Republican Party in 2024.

Judging by Russian performance, I'd bet what Putin gets briefed is not how things actually are...which leads to decisions based on "it's all good Boss!" Those can appear pretty irrational.

Does anyone have intel on getting a tour of the C-130 plant at Marietta? I know it's closed to the public, but as a career C-130 driver, do they offer exceptions?

I feel confident saying Rubio has done his homework on Iran. By all accounts he's a squared away professional and understanding them and many others sits squarely in his wheelhouse as Sec State. Whether anyone actually listens to him, that's another story. I second Persian Puzzle. Excellent context about how they think. "Bad negotiating" (regardless of disgrunted's semantic argument...) is probably the best phrase to explain precisely how they think. To them, Politics and international relations are war by other means, not the other way around. But in the end, they are similar to China, though on a small scale. They may have big words and big rhetoric, but almost everything they do is centered around remaining in power and controlling their own population. The IRGC and current regime need to go. Persia is for Perisans, not Arabs and Islamists.

Upset about Kash drinking when Hunter was snorting coke off Ukrainian hookers while he helped make foreign policy and millions for the "big guy"....right...lol. 100! You say it was working despite reports of secret enrichment facilities...and even if that is not true...they still developed TBMs and gave hundreds of millions to terror organization that targeted Americans. I certainly don't want another forever war, I truly don't want my kid or your to go fight or endure the things I did. I also hope we don't invade and as much as I admire Razin, I think Pete's ability to provide outside the box solutions is questionable. If it were me, I would lock a bunch of senior Captains, Majors and Army/Marine E-6/7s in a room and let them come up with a plan to remove the IRGC and empower the people.

The War ZoneFour U-2S Spy Planes Would Be Restored In Bill That Would...Congress is also moving to again block the Air Force from retiring the entire U-2 fleet amid continued questions about capability gaps.

Boeing pulls out, sts The War ZoneBoeing Drops Out Of Navy's T-45 Jet Trainer Replacement C...The field of competitors to design and build the Navy's next jet trainer has narrowed to just two teams, and both are putting forward twin-engine designs.

You might be on to something here. Maybe send Ted Cruz a bottle too so he can learn the population of the country he wants other peoples kids to invade

lol now we bring up the NPT.. so would it matter at all that our BFF in this whole debacle has secret nukes and isn’t a signatory? Or do we just invoke international law when it’s convenient? Don’t bother answering that part, it’s a rhetorical question But yes, agreed Iran has done shady stuff and lied and violated agreements. I don’t really count random security council resolutions as agreements though.. they’re pee pee schwacks delivered from an external organization. But yes they have also violated things they agreed to. The reason we “hang our hat” on the JCPOA is that it was the most recent agreement and seemed to be somewhat working. IAEA said they were in compliance, and they only ramped up enrichment activities after we unilaterally pulled out of the deal in 2018. So yes Iran lies but we also randomly pull out of deals we made.. So where does that leave us? I guess if the argument is that Iran can never be trusted to adhere to anything, all this negotiating is a giant waste of time and we just need to sack up, invade the country, and topple the government.

I thought she is still a Dem and had little background in intel. That's my narrative. Check my work.

You think any appointee in this admin understands Iran, let alone ever read a book on em? Maybe print a label to read on Kash whiskey or Facts of Iran on beer cans for Pete. They're all Tards.

Or....agree to multiple deal and violate all of them - The lies began when Iran’s nuclear weapons program was first exposed. In 2002, an Iranian opposition group reported that Iran had built secret enrichment and heavy water production facilities in violation of treaty commitments. Following extensive diplomacy, Iran signed on to the Tehran Declaration in October 2003, agreeing to “suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.” However, in August 2005, Iran resumed its enrichment activities. This led to diplomatic action that resulted in a series of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions imposed on Iran starting with resolution 1696 in July 2006. Iran’s continued defiance of its pledge to halt enrichment led to a series of resolutions including 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, and 1929. The consequences included monetary sanctions, import and export weapons embargoes, a travel ban on Iranian officials for their support of terror and other proscribed activities, and a ban of the development of ballistic missiles. (Iran often defied these penalties.) Everyone wants to hang their hats on JCPOA and turn a blind eye to them violating Security Council Resolution 2231 which endorsed JCPOA but limited their ballistic missile program....clearly they violated that (see Ballistic missiles shot at Diego Garcia). If that is not enough how about all the continued funding to Hamas and Hezzbolah...How many Americans have to die from Irans actions before it matters? Do any of you guys actually spend time in the vault?

Putin's stupid because he thought he needed to do what he's doing. He's not irrational though. He felt it was necessary to keep a buffer between him and NATO, while also ensuring that Ukraine wouldn't become a major supplier of energy to Europe. It's a good rational. It just was completely unnecessary.

Idk if it’s “bad negotiating” as much as it’s just “negotiating.” They’re trying to come from a position of leverage like anyone would try to do. Bad negotiating would be something like.. tearing up a deal that was being followed, surprise attacking a country twice during subsequent talks, then launching a war, then floundering to get back to some semblance of the deal you already had. But back on the stalling tactic.. the IRGC sees every day that goes by as more leverage for them, because Trump clearly wants out, the economic pressures on us are also growing, and I don’t think the IRGC really cares how destitute and economically ruined their country ends up. So they wait… This concept that we were gonna wait them out was ass backwards from the very beginning. It’s funny to watch the neocons frame them on one hand as this suicidal death cult that wants to nuke everybody and then on the other hand say we’re gonna wait them out economically as if they’re responsible leaders who care what happens to their people… I’m not sure if both of those ideas jive with each other.

Cool quick story- I remember visiting the C-17 plant in Long Beach circa 2014 and there was a lady there whom had been an original Rosie the Riveter still building aircraft at 103.

Iranians are the masters of bad negotiating....delay delay delay then lie. Trump has a blind spot with the art of the deal and does not understand how good they are at this game. Beyond the lunatics in the IRGC if you want to understand some of the motivations of the Iranian people I highly recommend this book the "Persian Puzzle"...it was very eye opening. A group of people that have been conquered as a way of life.

I certainly wouldn't take Kharg Islang given it would leave our troops in a horribly exposed position. However, I would emphasize to Iran that if we feel we are being forced to take a deal we don't like Kharg and anything else related to oil transport or refining in Iran will be made a smoking pile of wreckage. On that note even when they try to rebuild, we'll keep hitting it so good luck with that. It doesn't take a lot to destroy refining capacity. Back to one of my earlier comments Israel is the perfect proxy as they are very capable, really don't care about US politics and give us all kinds of plausible deniabilty.

Bump The War ZoneBoeing "Encouraged" By C-17 Production Restart DiscussionsCongress recently asked the USAF for a briefing on the feasibility of buying new C-17s amid major strain on the existing fleet.

Yup https://theaviationist.com/2026/01/21/poland-to-arm-fa-50pl-aim-9x/ Brits also did with their Red Arrow Hawks to give them an operational mission if called upon T-birds can also be made ready for combat ops in 72 hours per their webpage, I’m sure there is an asterisk by that statement but some pew pew could be had On to the idea of acquiring more lighter iron (-50s in this case), the operational case is like the Poles, Gap Filler fighter and Defensive Fighter. Bought in sufficient numbers to give mass and coverage for homeland defense, second line defenses for contingency/combat ops, theaters with limited threats, etc… A fleet of 150-200 is not unreasonable if we believe the late 20s and 30s are going to be as risky as we say they will be.

Wonder if theres plans to slap AIM-9 rails on the wings like the Canadians did with their Hawks

Not an unreasonable idea and probably the only reason why you would announce it publicly before you did it. Problem is when you’ve threatened fire and brimstone 68 times already and not followed through, it isn’t convincing on the 69th time. If it was feasible to take and hold Kharg island without big losses or at the very least putting our marines in a super compromised position, we would’ve done it already. Iran knows that and after two months of bluffs and bluster I think they see it as an empty threat. Trump is now saying the war is over, as of like an hour ago, which Iran still has not confirmed. So you guys tell me which side wants out more… And if we believe Trump that there is a deal super close (I don’t) let’s not forget about the intransigent 3rd party here who can just light up Lebanon again and fuck the whole thing away