Herman Kaiser

@nfergus @carlquintanilla The overwhelming military victory you speak of was over a vintage 1970s airforce and navy yet somehow the Iranians still block the straits.

Let me walk you through the events of the war so far: 1. The United States and Israel tried regime change; it didn’t work. Or rather, they got regime change—Iran became an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–led military dictatorship. That was not an improvement. 2. The U.S. won an overwhelming military victory with air and naval power and scarcely a boot on the ground. But it destroyed less of Iran’s missile- and drone-launching capabilities than at first appeared. 3. Then there was a hostage crisis. Iran took both the Gulfies and the Strait of Hormuz hostage. The result was a massive economic shock for the world that required a rapid resolution. 4. The choice was between 1) military escalation (boots on the ground or strikes on Iranian infrastructure), and 2) a diplomatic deal. Trump chose 2. 5. In Islamabad, the U.S proposed big economic concessions in return for some kind of change in the status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, as well as the reopening of the strait. Contrary to the president’s social media feed, the Iranians did not accept. 6. In any case, the devil of any deal will be in the details, not the Truth headline. (When the small print finally comes out, every former Obama and Biden official will be ready to tell The New York Times that it’s worse than the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.) 7. Meanwhile, the Iranians have survived regime change and discovered that closing the strait is just as powerful a lever in economic warfare as they had always hoped. It’s not, despite the Russian quip, an “economic nuke,” because unlike a nuclear weapon you can use it. 8. Where we go from here is fairly predictable. I would be surprised if Trump now deploys ground forces. There will be more negotiation, so Islamabad, here we come. There may have to be more bombing, if the Iranians dust down the North Vietnamese playbook of stringing the U.S. negotiators along. And the final compromise will take longer to be agreed upon than Mr. Market currently believes. The consensus in prediction markets is this will be over by the end of May, but remember: It took Henry Kissinger more than four months to get the 1973–1974 oil embargo lifted.

@ThomasSowell Come on man,admit it.The colours you fly are not Democrat,they’re pure Likud.

John Fetterman: "I've been the only Democrat that has supported Epic Fury. And now, we're 48 days into it and none of this has been illegal."

@georgegalloway Once upon a time,not long ago this sort of verbal excrement was ridiculed.

Bye bye Huck you Shmuck

@AmitSegal This troublesome behaviour doesn’t occur in a vacuum.There is surely some prejudice imbedded in their culture.

The soldier that damaged a Christian statue in Debel, southern Lebanon, the other soldier that filmed it, as well as the six others present, did not intervene or report are facing consequences. The conduct was deemed a serious violation of IDF orders and values. Northern Command is assisting the village in replacing the statue. The soldier who vandalized the statue and the one who filmed it were removed from combat duty and given 30 days’ confinement. Other soldiers involved will face further disciplinary review.

@nicksortor Why does the IDF scorn Christians?

BREAKING: The Israeli military has sentenced two soldiers to 30 DAYS in jail for DESTROYING a statue in Jesus, per AP One of them was seen taking a SLEDGEHAMMER to the head of Jesus 30 days is WAY too light, but at least they’re being punished.

@smerconish @JohnFetterman Neither,he’s just irrelevant.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Is @JohnFetterman a Democratic Party asset or liability?" Michael unpacks the growing divide within the Democratic Party as Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) breaks ranks on key issues, including Iran and U.S. foreign policy. Download & listen to the podcast here: link.podtrac.com/smerconishpod

Netanyahu: "Iran planned another Holocaust. It plotted to destroy us with nuclear bombs." Iran has no nuclear bombs. Israel has 200+. The only "another Holocaust" happening is in Gaza, with Israeli bombs.

@GoodPoliticGuy Israel has few allies period. And for good reasons.

needs to be zero

Jeffery Sachs: “Israel's doctrine is kill its adversaries. Kill them in mass numbers, kill the civilians, kill the women, kill the children. They don't discriminate between civilians and military targets. They leveled Gaza... It is a rogue, brutal regime...”

@JonahPlatt A serious leader does not take orders from Netanyahu.

This for me is immediately disqualifying for Rahm as a serious candidate. Not bc he opposes Israel, but bc he demonstrates here either a complete lack of understanding of how this financial relationship actually works or a willingness to feign ignorance in order to spit out a popular anti-Israel talking point to gain votes. Neither option is what Americans deserve in a serious leader.

I can't think of anything better for the Democratic Party than Alan Dershowitz not being a part of it.

@PhilipProudfoot @Hazzreid Crimes against humanity.

Every one of these homes in Southern Lebanon meant the world to people, they were their spaces of safety and love, of families, celebrations, and mourning. Israel is monstrously evil; we cannot live on a planet where these crimes face no justice.

@coexist4better @smerconish True dat.

It might have started sooner than 1973. In 1953 our CIA and British MI6 engineered and pushed a coup that took out Iran's democratically elected president. As a result Britain regained BP that Iran had nationalized and America got some control of oil exports. The Sha, who had been the figure head Monarch in 1953, replaced the president and took absolute control. Although he modernized the country, in time he became a very repressive dictator, angered traditional clerics, which ultimately led to the 1979 revolution.

This Iran Crisis Didn't Start With Trump. It Started in 1973. Watch today's interview: youtu.be/fNzcAK--2eE

@smerconish @JohnFetterman I think people are well aware of Fetterman’s Zionist views.What surprises me is your neocon position.America took a wrong turn on this war and your view is keep on trucking into this quagmire.

Fetterman: Democrats Flipped on Iran Nukes. Watch my full interview with @johnfetterman > youtu.be/Q7w1YLLVAYM

@joeroganhq .They’re not mad.They’re laughing at you.

Bill Maher: "People are so mad because Kid Rock is my friend...F*ck you! I’ll be friends with whoever I want!"

@realstewpeters @DanBilzerian The man is a menace.

RANDY FINE: “In WWII we did not negotiate a surrender with the Nazis or Japanese. We NUKED the Japanese twice to get an unconditional surrender. That needs to be the same here [across the Muslim world]. Fine calls for NUKING the entire Muslim world. Vote for @DanBilzerian

I know I keep asking: but HOW did a sophisticated country like Argentina end up electing this complete lunatic? Yeltsin on speed!

NEW: The families of more than 100 school children killed in the U.S. bombing of an Iranian school have written a letter of gratitude to Pope Leo XIV. In it, they thank him for being a champion of peace and a voice for their deceased children. The White House has yet to apologize for the incident.

@21WIRE They’re eating the dogs….

Remember when Trump and Musk were constantly crowing about Milei’s alleged “Libertarian economy miracle” in Argentina?