News & views related to the war on Iran …
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April 26, 2026
Iran Open Thread 2026-086
Comments
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 8:43 utc | 196
On take off the throttle is usually opened (or pushed in) to full so the motor is unlikely to stop unless there is a fuel blockage. It’s rare that it is a an electrical fault because the each cylinder in the motor has two spark plugs just in case, and two magnetos that can be switched from one to another in the even of failure which is usually done in the preflight check.
Just found this but no time to read it thoroughly now, but I saw there may have been some difficulty in communication on take off:
https://adamreport.blogspot.com/2026/04/beechcraft-f33a-bonanza-n8032x-fatal.html
Motor:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_IO-520
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Apr 27 2026 9:02 utc | 201
@petergrfstrm | Apr 27 2026 8:16 utc | 192
cloud-seeding he says so some airplanes or drones are letting out silver nitrateif one is to believe him. If the attacks on the radars coincided with such a change one would have to assume the area where the drones are sent on missions were hit as well as the radars
I need more than hand waving to believe that the weather of a mountainous country as large as Iran would be affected (even short term) by airplanes letting out silver nitrate over the deserts of UAE.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 9:05 utc | 202
@petergrfstrm | Apr 27 2026 8:56 utc | 199
One may wonder what a new spare chassi would cost
More than a new car. The chassis is the car according to the promo video. The whole point is that the car is once piece. Assembling the old car on a new chassis would be more expensive than a new factory built car. So no more repairs.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 9:11 utc | 203
Car propaganda and hoping someday to party like it’s 1972 on the moon. That’s the “future” being promised by Chinese hype? We already have all that garbage in the West.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 27 2026 9:41 utc | 204
@Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 9:05 utc | 202
I assume the planes or drones would be active above Iraq if his hypothesis is correct. And I assume it is an american project if it is real. So there could be several US bases involved. It isnt unexpected that the US would be into climate war.
If so there could be some local remote control node in UAE
I have seen drones creating clouds in Swedish skies but I dont know what it means.
It looked like it was sipping out moisture. That would have nothing todo with cloud seeding but I have no idea why such things are happening at all. Secret drone operations worldwide?
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Apr 27 2026 9:51 utc | 205
@Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 9:11 utc | 203
Why would a spare chassi cost more than a new car?
Xiaomi must have thought of it and wouldn’t want the car to be rendered useless after a collision
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Apr 27 2026 9:59 utc | 206
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Apr 27 2026 9:51 utc | 205
Don’t think radar or any electromagnetic technology could have and impact on drying out weather. I found the article below a pretty good synopsis of what is around in terms of weather modification. Whatever it is it has to be between zero and 10,000 metres since that is the zone that affects weather. Its where conspiracy theorists get it wrong with systems that target the ionosphere (48 km and 965 km above sea level) like HAARP in Alaska, which is much much higher in the sky.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/weather-modification
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Apr 27 2026 10:03 utc | 207
had a look at the Xiaomi video. Marketing. AI marketing. Otherwise when it comes to materials science a lot of fancy words enriched with BS. Sure, as a newcomer they started with a clean sheet design, not with the concept how a car was used to be built. That allows for a lot of simpler approaches.
Any bigger crash or collision of a modern car is considered a total loss (repair more expensive than buying a used car of the same age) – so nothing new here. Not many crashes happen anyway.
Posted by: BG13 | Apr 27 2026 10:08 utc | 208
Here is my draft agreement to halt the war on Iran:
1) USA agrees to evacuate all military bases in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
2) USA agrees to limit its military expenditures to $350billion
3) USA agrees to destroy its Bioweapons research worldwide.
4) USA agrees to fully comply with war crimes trials to be held in Teheran.
5) Likud gov‘t fufills UNR 194, fully demililtarizes, agrees to 80 year military occupation by neutral military of PRC, UNR181, and fully complies with Teheran Trials.
6) Those complicit in Genocide and War Crimes will have their worldwide assets siezed which will be used to pay for damages caused since 1946. The Teheran Trials will use the precedence of the Yamashita Standard of Command Responsiblity and Joint-Criminal-Enterprise.
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 10:11 utc | 209
see the two photos at the first link.
see the 28-second video at the second link
https://x.com/IhabHassane/status/2048464362210243054
Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane
The Christian village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon, before and after it was destroyed by the Israeli army.
—————-
https://x.com/IhabHassane/status/2048581779800428767
Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane
Israeli settlers, alongside Israeli forces, uprooted more than 400 olive trees since this morning in the village of Turmus Ayya in the West Bank.
The uprooting is still ongoing as of 4 a.m. local time in Palestine.
—————–
https://x.com/ricwe123/status/2048658497634476123
Richard @ricwe123
Reports from IDF soldiers and commanders describe what they say is widespread, almost unchecked looting by Israel Defense Forces troops in southern Lebanon.
According to these accounts, as Israeli units pull out, stolen goods are piled onto vehicles in plain sight,no effort to hide it, no real consequences. One IDF soldier described it as happening on a “crazy scale,” with soldiers grabbing whatever they can,TVs, cigarettes, tools and either loading it up immediately or setting it aside to take later, all while everyone watches and no one stops it…..
Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 27 2026 10:15 utc | 210
Jordan and the UAE have signed a $2.3 billion agreement to build and operate a 360-km railway connecting Aqaba Port to industrial mining areas.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 27 2026 0:08 utc | 104
They can’t build or operate shit.
If anything is built it will be done by the Chinese.
With Chinese trained Indians to “operate” it …
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Apr 27 2026 10:28 utc | 211
India-guy 194
My answers aren’t to you, but to the fact that all your proposals have already been rejected by the Zionists, who are determined for Trump to wreck Iran.
This isn’t about my ego, its about the Jews who believe that Religious morality is an obstacles to their power.
As I said above, as a Muslim, we believe that All Power is in the hands of Allah , and defying Allah is not the way to get power at call.
We have no way of knowing who Allah , Glory be to Him and Praise, will use , or when, to destroy the Pagan Jews
We have no way of knowing what reward will be given to those who are resisting the Pagan Jews.
Neither Modi , nor Australia , nor Europe, are doing anything to resist these Pagans Jews because they are now Pagan worshippers of Mammon themselves.
In Islam , the people who don’t resist the oppressors will be finished first, which Putin could do with his little finger with a couple of well aimed Oreshniks.
Only then can Sufficient, overwhelming Moral or Religious Power defeat the oppressors.
This isn’t about egos, it’s about Faith.
At this moment, Turkey is able to turn Syria against USUKIS. Iran is able to turn the squabbling little princedoms of UAE, Bahrain, Sauds, Jordan etc back to desert.
And Western leaders are facing radical popular outrage.
Iran has released an Irresistable surge of outrage against USUKIS.
You seem to think that is going to be reversed by USUKIS doing more carpet bombing?
We have had 25 years of Greater Pagan Israel atrocities since 9/11.
It will be fought to the end.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 10:39 utc | 212
Posted by: General Factotum | Apr 27 2026 7:32 utc | 185
Once the forest is lost, it can never be regained
I spent a couple of years in Appalachia years ago, above the Shenandoa valley, near the WV border.
One day with some locals we hiked up into the mountains to forage porro selvatico, when, at a certain point, the forest started to transform and reveal its primeval ancestry. I distinctly remember being moved by deep feelings of reverence…and fear. Overwhelming wonder. The only traces of human disturbance were some enormous trunks here and there to attest to some fairly inconsequential pioneering. Otherwise, a pristine, old-growth ecosystem.
And yes, such powerful phenomena are considered rare, non-renewable resources.
So yes, very melancholic…leaving the woods.
Posted by: john | Apr 27 2026 10:46 utc | 213
Here is my draft agreement to halt the war on Iran: 1) USA agrees to evacuate all military bases in Asia, Africa, and Europe. 2) USA agrees to limit its military expenditures to $350billion 3) USA agrees to destroy its Bioweapons research worldwide. 4) USA agrees to fully comply with war crimes trials to be held in Teheran. 5) Likud gov‘t fufills UNR 194, fully demililtarizes, agrees to 80 year military occupation by neutral military of PRC, UNR181, and fully complies with Teheran Trials. 6) Those complicit in Genocide and War Crimes will have their worldwide assets siezed which will be used to pay for damages caused since 1946. The Teheran Trials will use the precedence of the Yamashita Standard of Command Responsiblity and Joint-Criminal-Enterprise.
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 10:11 utc | 209
Now that your maximalist stand is out, we all know where your loyalties lie. How about some practical suggestions now? No one will call you out to be a troll or a pansy. Your actual position is in 10.11 209, for all to read!
Posted by: India-Guy | Apr 27 2026 10:58 utc | 214
And Western leaders are facing radical popular outrage. Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 10:39 utc | 212
——————-
I’m afraid the only Western country manifesting popular outrage is Spain.
Posted by: scc | Apr 27 2026 11:01 utc | 215
georgewendell 117 – DJT not even close to being the worst President in US history – GW Bush, Obama, Wilson, LBJ are at the top of very bad list.
These folks were pathological liars of the first order. Wilson involved the US in a European War of the First Cousins due to pressure from the NYC and London bankers, an involvement which permanently altered US society, and triggered the imprisonment of the tens of thousands of anti war Irish and Germans.
His breakup of the Astro-Hungarian Empire was a disaster, as was the absurd territorial lines drawn in the ME.
The League of Nations was a complete failure in every way, and led to the One World Government movement, i.e.: deep state.
DJT has many accomplishments, never to be acknowledged by the anarchists on this board of course (he is far from perfect, which everyone who is balanced will admit – his tenancy to listen to Bibi the Butcher is number one), but his record in history is solid, and future historians will acknowledge this.
Included will be :
– Sealed the southern and northern borders and halted Obama’s replacement program, implemented by the certifiably insane Joey Boy Biden, and halted the influx of millions of illegal alien scum into the US.
– Revived the US heavy industrial economy.
– Placed and continues to place high tariffs on predatory trading nations
– Wants to withdraw from NATO, a truly parasite like organization, anti Russian, and pro deep state
– Has told Volo to get lost, Volo being the most corrupt national leader on earth, who incidentally conspired with the Vindman brothers to stage a coup against POTUS/DJT
– Is rebuilding the USN and our shipbuilding capacity
– Has rejected the crazed green agenda – burn coal, live better and warmer
– Has boosted the best DJ industrial average in US history, same with S and P.
– Has fought for low interest rates against the deep state fed !
– Had the best US economy in history before crazed Joey Boy Biden destroyed it
– Stopped the Biden war on Catholics and Christians who are pro life
– Stopped the FBI/CIA deep state coup attempts on the Republic – three times
– Restored the federal death penalty
– Survived three assassination attempts – truly amazing – thank God!
– Waged all out war on the drug cartels, cartels who were making billions per year, and killing 100,000 US citizens per year, (and the cartels in league with the insane Joey Boy Biden), controlled the US Southern Border
– Restored law and order in DC, and put down gang murder violence and senseless street crime
– Is building a US Triumphal Arch in the DC to honor our dead veterans
– Is rebuilding the East Wing of the WH into a glorious temple of the Republic
– Is deporting hundreds of thousands of illegal alien criminals and welfare bums (Ireland and the UK needs to do the same thing)
– Reduced individual federal income taxes on overtime wages and tips and social security, giving billions back to workers and retirees
– Detests Tel Aviv Chuck Schumer and Nancy Insider Trading Pelosi and company
Need I go on, this former Democrat, DJT has transformed the US for the better and wiser, and while I heartily disagree with our contorted policy in acting as a lap dog to the IDF war criminals, I do see the many positives out lasting the negatives with DJT, sorry left wing anarchists.
Have a good day, and burn coal live better and warmer.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 11:23 utc | 216
@ GeorgeWendell | Apr 27 2026 10:03 utc | 207
“I don’t always entertain unblessed conspiracy theories. But when I do, I fact-check them with Britannica.”
jk
Posted by: norice | Apr 27 2026 11:28 utc | 217
@petergrfstrm | Apr 27 2026 9:59 utc | 206
Why would a spare chassi cost more than a new car?
It is the prize of repair that matters, i.e. a new chassis + manual assembly of the repaired car, which amounts to a complete rebuild. That cost will be higher than a factory made car.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 11:35 utc | 219
@Exile | Apr 27 2026 10:11 utc | 209
That would make sense, but we live in a world where common sense does not apply among nations.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 11:38 utc | 220
Re: maximalist stand ?
LOL – thats a minimalist practical plan – 1) it offers Israelis‘ a lasting and secure peace conforming to the will of the international community. 2) it offers US citizens liberation from the Military-Industrial-Complex.
ask Arch for a maximal plan…..
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 12:13 utc | 223
The sheer chaos of the Trump regime has had a particular good effect, I think. It’s all gotten so crazy and conspiratorial ( at least in appearance) that I don’t think any False Flag plot would work. The credibility wouldn’t be there and it could all backfire.
In other News of The Stupid, Finland wants nukes. Why would you want to be a vital target for destruction – especially in a hairtrigger context? Finland did very well as a neutral state despite the Soviet Union. I can’t imagine why Russia would care about them as some sort of enemy to be invaded otherwise. Does Russia have enough frozen tundra? Do they vitally need herring fisheries or something?
And finally, I wonder about habitual, chronic liars who appear to be so lacking in self awareness that they believe other chronic liars. Like Stalin being shocked by Hitler’s invasion. Or Trump believing anything Netanyahu has to say about Iran – after 40 years of lying about them. What a surprize……..
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 27 2026 13:10 utc | 224
Eightman 224 – but of course the insane Joey Boy Biden or Hussein Replacement Obama, did not create chaos…right?
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 13:17 utc | 225
Eighthman | Apr 27 2026 13:10 utc | 224
“In other News of The Stupid, Finland wants nukes. Why would you want to be a vital target for destruction – especially in a hairtrigger context? Finland did very well as a neutral state despite the Soviet Union.”
All of Europe is slated to be used up and discarded like the Ukraine. The empire plans to keep occupying Russia with new “borderland” insurrections that need to be put down like with the kokhols.
I think the imperial plan is to wreak as much destruction in the eastern hemisphere as possible while keeping “resistance” retaliation within that hemisphere, while the western hemisphere remains off-limits.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 27 2026 13:28 utc | 227
reply to 225
It ain’t binary. All Presidents create some chaos – Joe was senile, Obama looked like something the CIA invented with a great ‘legend’ behind him. So, the lady who actually saw his birth records sleeps with the fishes?
Trump, OTOH, looks like a 4 year episode of professional wrestling transformed into politics. Trump uttered the most profound observation of the 21st century so far: “everything is fake”. As the leading expert on that topic, I must respect his opinion.
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 27 2026 13:35 utc | 228
@by: rosross | Apr 27 2026 1:08 utc | 118
Fire was not invented bye Israelis but Ukranians. Ask their Fuehrer or the Oracle of Lemberg (Liviv).
Posted by: El.Lissitzky | Apr 27 2026 13:38 utc | 229
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 11:23 utc | 216
—————————-
You forgot something.
He successfully ended 7 (?) wars and deserves the Peace Nobel Prize.
Grotesque.
Posted by: scc | Apr 27 2026 13:54 utc | 230
A@ 216.
Please add one more to the Trump accomplishment list.
2.25 Trillion Dollars added to the United States National debit in only 1 year. (Low estimate)
Now as the greatest “War President” continuing to spend even more taxpayer money even faster. Trump will go down as “The Greatest Spender of All Time”
The self proclaimed “King of Debt” rules!
He needs to put a “BUST” of himself in front of Fort Knox. To show the country what a great job he has done.
https://www.usdebtclock.org/
Posted by: golddigger | Apr 27 2026 14:06 utc | 231
#216 tobias cole…since G7 meeting in Ottawa June 2025..we do not see orig. PDJT 6’3″ tall ….but short one 5’8″-5’10” tall …explain to us why is it ????? no one but no one commented about it….yes he did (original) to try accomplish things…
Posted by: sejmon | Apr 27 2026 14:07 utc | 232
Al Jazeera English covered the Iranian diplomatic visit to Russia in some depth on their hourly news broadcast this morning, emphasizing once again that the Kremlin has supplied no weapons to Iran, Russia’s continuing connections to GCC states, including the banking and financial sectors apparently useful for its management of western sanctions, and official hopes for a return to peace in the region.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 27 2026 14:12 utc | 233
Good to see Araghchi in Russia today. The duplicitous Chinese wont back the Iranians so openly. They are more concerned with ensuring trade pipelines are opened even if the stuff that they give the west will one day be used to against.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Apr 27 2026 14:17 utc | 234
DJT: I survived 3 attempts !!!
Fidel : Hold my Cuba libre !
Kamenei : wait … they “attempted”, ask daddy if you wanna know what it’s like when they do the real thing.
Funny how everyone seems unphased… Thiel, Bezos or Gates would have made greater manifesto materials anyway.
Posted by: Captain Igloo | Apr 27 2026 14:37 utc | 235
The latest negotiations are close.
America has offered Iran a three step proposal to end the war.
,1. America withdraw from the ME and end it’s blockade.
2. A legal framework to manage Hormuz.
3. At a later stage agreement on Iran nuclear.
Iran came back and said Israel withdrawal from Lebanon or no deal.
This is what the latest negotiations in Pakistan achieved. America has made a significant back down. But they are unable to get Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
My view is that America needs to end the war and open Hormuz. This is getting critical for them. But Israel has its own ambitions to turn parts of Lebanon into Gaza. I see pressure on Israel to stand down but it seems they have no intention too.
The meetings in Islamabad have moved very much in Iran’s way with America wanting to concede what were its red lines. But Israel has some obvious control over what America will agree to.
The next step may be up to Russia to use its power to push through a settlement, but Russia will not stand against Israel in my view.
But between America and Iran it looks more like a negotiated settlement than a continuation of war.
But how to make Israel stand down is the sticking point.
Posted by: Bingo | Apr 27 2026 14:47 utc | 236
Bingo 236
Sorry my Pit Bull bit off your baby’s head.
No hard feelings , eh mate?
Dogs will be dogs, nothin we can do about it, is there mate?
Trump is pathetic.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 15:00 utc | 237
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 7:55 utc | 189
Response appreciated – yet again! I checked below to see if any ‘educational’ on this one – no
On Beidou integrated defence system – which worked well in Pakistan’s spat with India – what is presented here looks convincing. Any other recommendations …. you have engineering background …
Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 27 2026 15:07 utc | 238
re #207 “Don’t think radar or any electromagnetic technology could have and impact on drying out weather”
What if there was a receiving element in the air? I’m thinking something like a thin layer of metallic particles spread over a wide area. Could heating that layer could cause prolonged updrafts?
I think it’s possible those ground facilities aren’t operating in isolation.
Posted by: GreatLakesObserver | Apr 27 2026 15:08 utc | 239
A roundup via Suhaib Al-Masalma
– “Hebrew sources:
The aircraft carrier Eisenhower sailed today towards the Middle East, and it is scheduled that 4 aircraft carriers will arrive in the East soon.”
– “Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accuses Hezbollah of treason.
The Lebanese President:
What we are doing is not treason, but rather treason is committed by those who take their country to war to achieve foreign interests.”
Some claim that we went to the negotiations surrendering, and we tell them to wait for the negotiations to begin and judge the result.
Some say that we decided to negotiate without a national consensus. Did anyone who went to war go with a national consensus?”
– “The Israeli army begins a wave of raids deep into Lebanon.
Raids in the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon, for the first time since the temporary truce was announced.
The Israeli army in conversation with military journalists: We will be bombing deep inside Lebanon soon.
Maariv: The wave of Israeli raids in Lebanon today was carried out with American approval.”
– “Dozens of American refueling planes are at Pingrion Airport, and their number is larger than last time”
– “A statement issued by 261 deputies in the Iranian Shura Council: We confirm the deputies’ support for the Iranian negotiating delegation and its head, Mr. Qalibaf.”
Note raids, displacements, assassinations and similar continue in West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon:
– “Jerusalem Governorate: The occupation army threatens the people of Qalandia camp during the ongoing incursion and informs citizens: “Prepare the shinati, it will become like Jenin camp.””
UK taking position and siding:
“British Minister of State Stephen Doty: Maritime navigation must be safe without obstruction, fees or security risks
British Minister of State Stephen Doty: Our priority is opening the Strait of Hormuz, and this is important for the global economy, our economy, and our partners in the Gulf.”
Posted by: Ornot | Apr 27 2026 15:08 utc | 240
Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 8:32 utc | 195—
Yes, my wife watched it too and we discussed a few points over dinner. Agree about the proof. It’s rumored Ford’s CEO has one. But what amazed us is the entire approach taken to manufacture the product.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 11:23 utc | 216
So for you slogans are accomplishments? Your list appears to include a whole bunch of bullshit. Announcing youre going to rebuilt USN ‘ship making capacity’ isnt the same as actually doing it. The US is hardly capable of shitting out a boat a year.
It seems youre just a flag carrying partisan not realizing team blue and team red work for the same boss. Divide and rule baby. Whilst you tilt at windmills, the ruling class..the Clinton’s and the Trumps, the Epstein class.. will continue to rob the US blind while ensuring that the USD’s imminent precipitous decline hurts the little people the most.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Apr 27 2026 15:13 utc | 242
Nobody has commented so far on what Karl Marx said about Religion, that everybody , including Jews needed to emancipate themselves from religion.
This explains why Superpowers don’t do religion, except in a totemistic way, separating politics from ethics.
Israel is bound hand and foot by the 10 Commandments from becoming a superpower, because hypocrisy stinks.
In effect Trump, like Blair before him over Iraq, is taking responsibility for Israel’s barbarity.
The full weight of Israel’s excessive violence is being protected by Biden and Trump and their evil envoys.
We need to see some kind of medieval torture to match the evil of Trump. Hanging ,drawing and quartering , or death by firing squad.
Trump doesn’t care about recession or economic collapse. He only cares about his hair.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 15:17 utc | 243
Rats, forgot the dishonorable mention for Truman for sticky fingers.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Apr 27 2026 15:21 utc | 244
More rats, forgot McKinley’s crime against humanity, the Spanish-American war and the conquest of the Philippines. Of course, Teddy as assistant secretary of the navy did more than his part in pushing for the annexation of Hawaii.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Apr 27 2026 15:25 utc | 245
Araghchi met Putin and team in St. Petersburg. Escobar has an image of the plane they flew on named after Minab. The short readout in Russian is here, with Araghchi looking dapper. The words exchanged were the usual pleasantries with Putin acknowledging he received a private note from the Supreme Leader. The seventh image of the meeting shows who was present.
RT has a running report that contains very little information on the meeting but did provide this development from the EU:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has ruled out lifting sanctions on Iran despite the deepening economic crisis stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Previously, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed lifting the measures in exchange for reopening the waterway.
However, von der Leyen has slapped down the idea, stating that “the dropping of sanctions would be too early,” claiming that there must be a “fundamental change in Iran,” and accusing Iran of “suppression of human rights.” [Format Original]
Individual EU nations will likely do their own thing following Spain’s example.
Crooke’s SCF essay is the usual must read. I’ve yet to watch his chat with Judge Nap. An excerpt:
The bottom line is that no purpose is served in trying to convince those absorbed by a messianic vision that their solution consists of a two-state political structure in historic Palestine. The former actually welcome Armageddon and the defeat it would portend for non-Jews.
Nor can this be viewed as a passing phase, or a whim. Messianism has been a prominent, yet fluctuating, impulse in Judaism since Sabbatai Zevi (1660s) and Jacob Franks (18th century). (Some of its thinking filtered into European notions too, during the later Enlightenment period).
Jewish historian and scholar, Gershom Scholem, correctly predicted that religious Zionism — which in recent decades has aligned with Likud and the settler movement — operates as a “militant,” “apocalyptic,” and “radical” messianic movement that tries to “force the end” by demanding that the state engage in, for example, massive territorial control — i.e. they demand territorial conquest for end-of-times reasons.
@ 242 Re US Navy ejecting boats out of its rectum
Not only cant the USN build boats. The boats they do manage to squirt out are crap.
Constellation Class Frigate. CANCLED
Zumwalt Class “Stealth” Destroyer. CANCLED
LCS Also Known as “Little Crappy Ship”. CANCLED.
Article below sums up the junk the USN contracts, designs, builds, and excretes.
Trump’s proposed Battleship will fit right in with the rest of the USN Garbage Scows.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2026/03/the-u-s-navy-spent-22-billion-on-the-littoral-combat-ship-and-got-busted-warships-they-cant-use/
Posted by: golddigger | Apr 27 2026 15:48 utc | 248
@ karlof1 | Apr 27 2026 15:41 utc | 248
great quote! i will have to read the article.. thanks..
Posted by: james | Apr 27 2026 15:48 utc | 249
Iran came back and said Israel withdrawal from Lebanon or no deal.Posted by: Bingo | Apr 27 2026 14:47 utc | 236
——–
Requiring Israel to withdraw only from Lebanon doesn’t end the war. Israel must also be required to withdraw from Gaza and from the West Bank and close all the settler towns there. That would give West Asia a much better chance for peace. Otherwise Israel will be back attacking Iran again as soon as it can.
Posted by: Chas | Apr 27 2026 15:53 utc | 250
Re: Lifting Sanctions on Iran ?
Doesn‘t offer much these days. Why would Iranians consider re-linking their economy with the West desireable ?
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 16:08 utc | 251
🇷🇺🇮🇷 President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Special Representative of the President of Iran and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi (St Petersburg, April 27, 2026)
💬 Vladimir Putin: Allow me to extend a warm welcome to you – this time in St Petersburg.
At the beginning of our conversation, I would like to note that last week I received a message from the Supreme Leader of Iran.
I would ask you to convey my most sincere gratitude for it and to confirm that Russia, like Iran, intends to continue developing our strategic relations
Please convey my words of gratitude to the Supreme Leader for this message, as well as my best wishes, sound health and wellbeing.
We see how courageously and heroically the people of Iran are fighting for their independence and sovereignty. Of course, we very much hope that, relying on this courage and striving for independence, the Iranian people, under the leadership of their new Leader, will overcome this difficult period of trials and see peace prevail.
🤝 For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all peoples of the region to ensure that this peace is achieved as soon as possible. You know our position well.
https://t.me/rocknrollgeopolitics/18870
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 16:18 utc | 252
More videos from the meeting between Iran’s FM Araghchi and Russian President Putin in St. Petersburg.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 16:30 utc | 253
🇮🇷🇷🇺 During his meeting with the Russian president, Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi thanked Russia for its stances in support of Iran.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 16:33 utc | 254
Iran to charge ships passing Strait of Hormuz in rial: Lawmaker
A motion being prepared in the Iranian parliament to regulate future transit through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf stipulates that ships allowed to pass through the key waterway must pay tolls in Iranian rial currency.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 16:35 utc | 255
james | Apr 27 2026 15:48 utc | 249—
Thanks for your reply. Crooke’s chat with Judge Nap provides some further explanation, but IMO the article needs to be read first. I must note my disagreement with Michael Vlahos who Crooke cites in his essay, specifically this excerpt:
“Almost overnight, America ditched “international rules” and “civilized norms”—and instead built out an archipelago of torture and arbitrary incarceration, without oversight or appeal”. [Format Original]
The Outlaw US Empire “ditched international rules and civilized norms” when it embarked on its no-holds barred Empire building after WW2–those “values” were already long gone when 911 was performed. Otherwise, Vlahos’s points about American Messianism are quite correct and have worked to destroy America from within. Crooke was very correct to be emphatic that the Zionist’s aims are not at all compatible with the Empire’s aims, although American leaders are blind to that reality.
“‘American warplanes came to Isfahan, and they will stay in Isfahan.'”
American journalist Wyatt Reed visits the site of the failed US operation in Isfahan Province, where Iranian armed forces shot down multiple US aircraft.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 16:40 utc | 257
Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 16:30 utc | 253—
Thanks for your additional reports. In his chat, Crooke stated Iran will not negotiate on its nuclear capabilities at this time; all economic and territorial issues must be solved first. However, given Zionist eschatological thirst for the war against Iran to continue, they will likely go on ahead hoping to “draw Trump in” again.
Posted by: golddigger | Apr 27 2026 15:48 utc | 248
Its a sign of deep dysfunction that the building of new battleships was approved, gold plated toliets or not, they are obsolete. Groupings of smaller ships are what I would term now obviously preferable in military terms for the variety of advantages they offer – dispersal ability, less single target vulnerability, ability to leverage mobility. The only advantage of a single dreadnought would be the caliber of its guns, and given that ship combat will be missile and drone based almost enitrely..with smaller guns for sort of point defense on drones..it makes zero sense.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Apr 27 2026 16:46 utc | 259
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 11:23 utc | 216
What a Gish Gallop of nonsense. Here is my rebuttal. Please excuse any formatting problems
– Sealed the southern and northern borders and halted Obama’s replacement program, implemented by the certifiably insane Joey Boy Biden, and halted the influx of millions of illegal alien scum into the US.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THIS IF YOU HAD JUST NOT GONE FULL RETARD WITH “ILLEGAL ALIEN SCUM”
– Revived the US heavy industrial economy.
BULLSHIT. DEFINE “HEAVY”. SEMICONDUCTOR FAB CONSTRUCTION NEEDS PARTS AND WORKERS FROM EAST ASIA, AND IS STILL BEHIND SCHEDULE.
– Placed and continues to place high tariffs on predatory trading nations
ILLEGAL, ARBITRARY, INSIDER TRADING FAILURE. CHINA TOLD HIM TO POUND SAND
– Wants to withdraw from NATO, a truly parasite like organization, anti Russian, and pro deep state
SO THAT HE CAN SPEND EVEN MORE MONEY (12.5 T) ON US GARBAGE
– Has told Volo to get lost, Volo being the most corrupt national leader on earth, who incidentally conspired with the Vindman brothers to stage a coup against POTUS/DJT
RIGHT, THAT’S WHY WE ARE STILL PROVIDING ISR TO UKR
– Is rebuilding the USN and our shipbuilding capacity
MORE BULLSHIT. CHINA HAS 200 TIMES OUR CAPACITY. WE NEVER FREEZE DESIGNS, CHANGING DURING CONSTRUCTION, ADDING MORE $ TO THE MIC GRIFT AND PRODUCING INFERIOR SHIPS. (LCS, ZUMWAULT, FORD)
– Has rejected the crazed green agenda – burn coal, live better and warmer
BURN COAL AND KILL THE PLANET FASTER – BRAINDEAD PLAN
– Has boosted the best DJ industrial average in US history, same with S and P.
THE DJI IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE LEADERBOARD AT THE WALL ST CASINO. STOCKS ARE GAMBLING, NOT CAPITAL INVESTMENT
– Has fought for low interest rates against the deep state fed !
LOW INTEREST RATES WILL IGNITE INFLATION, WHICH HE WANTS TO WRIGGLE OUT OF THE NATIONAL DEBT HE IS EXPLODING.
– Had the best US economy in history before crazed Joey Boy Biden destroyed it
THE US ECONOMY IS A HOLLOW SHELL AFTER FORTY YEARS OF NEOLIBERAL OUTSOURCING BY BOTH PARTIES. DIFFERENT PARTY, SAME ECONOMIC NONSENSE.
– Stopped the Biden war on Catholics and Christians who are pro life
BY ATTACKING THER POPE? ARE YOU DELUSIONAL?
– Stopped the FBI/CIA deep state coup attempts on the Republic – three times
NAME THESE SO CALLED COUP ATTEMPTS. FAKE ASSASSINATIONS DON’T COUNT
– Restored the federal death penalty
RESTORE BARBARISM
– Survived three assassination attempts – truly amazing – thank God!
PROBABILITY OF FALSE FLAGS ARE HIGH, ALL THREE. THE PRESS DINNER ASSASSIN WAS ON A DIFFERENT FLOOR AT THE OTHER END OF THE BUILDING. CHANCE OF HITTING ANY ONE ATTENDING DINNER = ZERO
– Waged all out war on the drug cartels, cartels who were making billions per year, and killing 100,000 US citizens per year, (and the cartels in league with the insane Joey Boy Biden), controlled the US Southern Border
THE DRUG CARTELS HAVE OWNED THE GOVERNMENT SINCE THE 1980S. THE BANKS LAUNDER THEIR MONEY.
– Restored law and order in DC, and put down gang murder violence and senseless street crime
VAGUE BULLSHIT CLAIM? YOU GOT STATS? YOU GOT NAMES OF CONVICTED GANG MEMBERS?
– Is building a US Triumphal Arch in the DC to honor our dead veterans
VAINGLORIOUS, NARCISSISTIC, TASTELESS, EMBARRASSING WASTE OF MONEY
– Is rebuilding the East Wing of the WH into a glorious temple of the Republic
SEE LAST COMMENT
– Is deporting hundreds of thousands of illegal alien criminals and welfare bums (Ireland and the UK needs to do the same thing)
VIOLATED NUMEROUS COURT ORDERS. VIOLATES CONSTITUTION. ICE ARE BROWNSHIRT GOONS.
– Reduced individual federal income taxes on overtime wages and tips and social security, giving billions back to workers and retirees
AS USUAL THE RICH GET THE VAST MAJORITY OF BENEFITS. THESE CHANGES ARE CRUMBS, CHUMP CHANGE.
– Detests Tel Aviv Chuck Schumer and Nancy Insider Trading Pelosi and company
BECAUSE HE WANTS TO DESTROY THE LEGISLATURE AND RULE BY DECREE, AND THEY ARE IN HIS WAY
Posted by: john brewster | Apr 27 2026 16:52 utc | 260
@karlof1 | Apr 27 2026 16:46 utc | 258
However, given Zionist eschatological thirst for the war against Iran to continue, they will likely go on ahead hoping to “draw Trump in” again.
I agree, one of the main keys to ending this war is to disable the Zionist state’s capability to wage war against anyone. The Zionist state has no right to exist while committing genocide and attack peaceful countries like Iran.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 17:00 utc | 261
karlof1 247
As you know, my initial reaction to this kind of diplomatic treacle that oozes out of Alistair Crooke’s articles about the US, and their British Atlanticist groupies, made me think he was of these stinky hypocrites himself, which he obviously isn’t.
What Crooke calls Messianic US culture, a Euphemism for unlimited obsession with sex, to the point of idolatry. The Atlantacist parliaments of European nations worship their own phalluses and female equivalents with a Messianic excitement, and then boringly revert , exhaudted to interminable and irrelevant minutiae of legislation which is not followed.
Britain’s immigration protocols with Europe remain unchanged five years after Brexit.
Viktor Orban was overthrown on the fatuous mess of EU LGBT legislation.
There was no point in any of their interminable post-coital conversations, because , like in Gullivers Travels, which end to open the boiled egg, nothing has any relevance or meaning, except to earn their salaries between their Messianic bonking sessions.
Alistair Crooke is a great analyst, but when he refers to anything about Western politics as Messianic, he is being 100% , tongue in cheek, euphemistic, diplomatic, mocking, salacious , ironical
He lives in Italy which has learnt to accept its sexuality, unlike the Protestant nations who, up to 50 years ago, like the Japanese, thought sex was somehow connected to tummy buttons.
In Islamic terms, with four wives potential, this is not value Messianic self discovery.
It is simply incredibly self-centred , boring and non-civilisational.
Nice work if one could get it though.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 17:02 utc | 262
Watch August 12 Caspian Summit in Tehran where Putin is supposed to attend and meet the Ayatollah.
See if Israel decide to send 50 bunker busters on site as a greeting present.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kxWZTeawzRsEKGwUjXjw5w
Posted by: Surferket | Apr 27 2026 17:03 utc | 263
john brewster 260 – thanks for the many laughs……..strong TDS detected. Have a good day anyway !
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:09 utc | 264
@ 259
It seems Rail guns will replace the “Gold Plated Toilets”.
Everyone in the bar knows how well the Navy’s toilets work.
To go along with the USN’s high tech plumbing. Rail guns are the next logical step.
https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/why-the-u-s-navy-quietly-walked-away-from-railguns/
Yet. ” The president indicated that he will be personally involved in the design of the platforms.
If that is so……….
All that proposed New Fangled, Whizz Bang Gagetry will look great hauling garbage barges.
https://defensescoop.com/2025/12/23/trump-battleship-golden-fleet-navy-phelan/
Posted by: golddigger | Apr 27 2026 17:10 utc | 265
golddigger 248 – the Defiance class battleships will be huge missile launching platforms with conventional 127mm naval guns, CIWS systems, rail guns and chain guns, and more missile cells than any current or projected US navy ships. Basically they will replace the Ticonderoga class cruisers, now ending their service lives, but larger and better. I am completely in favor of this project.
As long as the design is set, and goes forward without change orders, this class could be a winner.
Agreed the Zumwalt destroyers were a colassel failure, as were the LCS ships, and the Constellation frigate, all wasteful failures. No longers.
US ship building needs to be expaned and revamped, and DJT is doing exactly that.
I give him high marks for this…..very high marks.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:17 utc | 266
Following Iran’s announcement that it has begun collecting transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthi-led government in Yemen is exploring the possibility of imposing similar duties on vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
British maritime magazine Lloyd’s List warned that success in the Strait of Hormuz could encourage the Houthis to transform military influence into a permanent economic and geopolitical tool, formalizing their control over shipping in the Red Sea.
Legal experts in Sana’a argue that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait lies between mainland Yemen and Perim Island, making it internal waters rather than an international strait, and that Yemen has the right to regulate passage through it under its maritime laws.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/162900
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 17:19 utc | 267
Surferket 263
Your name always reminds me of the Steve Bell cartoon in which Macron says to Theresa May ” ferk ouef “… ‘what can he mean?’.
https://share.google/79MkmY37o9qR6JDGD
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 17:22 utc | 268
Iranian F5 smashes US base in Kuwait
Danny Haiphong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg6yA2pgnAs
Posted by: ld | Apr 27 2026 17:30 utc | 269
“Alastair Crooke : Iran War Now a Global War for a New World Order”
Alastair Crooke talked to Glenn Diesen about this topic. I disagree. The US Empire clearly “om its way out” but I still won’t buy the idea that the BRIC countries are the “leaders of the new world order”. I think the new world order is going to be an order with several “regional powers” of which the US could/will be one of them.
The same (???) video from 2 sources:
Glenn Diesen: https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/alastair-crooke-iran-war-is-now-a
Conflicts Forum (Alastair Crooke) : https://conflictsforum.substack.com/p/iran-war-now-a-global-war-for-a-new
Posted by: WMG | Apr 27 2026 17:31 utc | 270
Message to the Irish and Uk governments – burn coal, and natural gas and open up your North Sea, South Cork and West Galway – Mayo off shore oil and gas fields – or freeze in blackouts next winter….your choice.
And face all out revolts, just like what occurred in Ireland two weeks…….stop the green energy madness scam……..
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:34 utc | 271
latest
4,34
inctedible – Federal Debt is no longer considered a safe haven. No amount of Market Manipulation shenanigans can hide this transformation
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 17:35 utc | 272
Song for Tobias:
the foggy dew – Chieftans plus
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yaS3vaNUYgs&list=RDyaS3vaNUYgs&start_radio=1&pp=ygUJRm9nZ3kgZGV3oAcB
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 17:37 utc | 273
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:17 utc | 266 “the Defiance class battleships”
My estimate there is a 20% chance that one of these get built in the next 5 years. 10% that more than one is ever built.
Basically the next guy will likely see it as a waste of money that he/she would rather spend on something else. And Congress may see that even sooner.
Posted by: ed4 | Apr 27 2026 17:38 utc | 274
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:34 utc | 271
Take a break. Your nonsense-speak is reaching manic cultish levels on this thread …
Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 27 2026 17:44 utc | 275
— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, confirms that Iran has received another request from the U.S. to hold a new round of talks
Iran is reviewing the possibility.
https://t.me/Middle_East_Spectator/31549
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 27 2026 17:50 utc | 276
France takes its position, roughly matches UK (impose unclos and rights of passage).
“French Foreign Minister: The straits are international property and no one has the right to close them, whether Iran or others” Via Sohaib Al-Masalma
The insinuation is maybe that US might be ‘relieved’ of blockade effort, switching over the matter to ‘international coalition’ to ‘free Hormuz’. Iirc Germany is on same page.
Posted by: Ornot | Apr 27 2026 18:09 utc | 277
“Global military spending has reached a new all-time high, exceeding $2,890 billion. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) annual report, the figure will grow by 2.9% in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of positive growth. The share of defense spending in global GDP reached 2.5%, the highest value since 2009.
Europe has become the main driver of the arms race, with total military budget growth reaching $864 billion, up 14%.
Ukraine has the highest level of militarization of the economy in the world. In 2025….”
Note US spends slightly more on military than europe, the europe figure is combined spending…but given most countries and most spending is ‘harmonised’ via and/or under EU…
Posted by: Ornot | Apr 27 2026 18:25 utc | 278
tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:17 utc | 266
*** the Defiance class battleships will be huge missile launching platforms with conventional 127mm naval guns, CIWS systems, rail guns and chain guns, and more missile cells than any current or projected US navy ships. Basically they will replace the Ticonderoga class cruisers, now ending their service lives, but larger and better. I am completely in favor of this project.***
But who do you and Trump want a war with?
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:09 utc | 264
—-
You are the Baghdad Bob of the Trump fluffer brigade. According to you, Trump can make zero mistakes; and anyone who differs suffers from “derangement”. You must be hasbara, because they run the exact same racket with criticism of Israel and “anti-semitism”.
I’m done feeding you, troll.
Posted by: john brewster | Apr 27 2026 18:31 utc | 280
latest
US 10-YR
4,34
incredible – Federal Debt is no longer considered a safe haven. No amount of Market Manipulation shenanigans can hide this transformation
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 17:35 utc | 272
I have to keep reminding myself that this is not the 30 year rate, but the 10 year rate. One of the numbers that our financial leaders can not fudge. Or at least not very much.
Posted by: Woke American | Apr 27 2026 18:48 utc | 281
Note: in post 281 I changed the post from exile from inctedible to incredible (changed the t to an r). Obvious typo in the original.
Posted by: Woke American | Apr 27 2026 18:50 utc | 282
inctedible – Federal Debt is no longer considered a safe haven. No amount of Market Manipulation shenanigans can hide this transformation
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 17:35 utc | 272
—————–
I wouldn’t read too much into that – the us government is basically generating liquidity for tech stock gamblers to keep the market levitated. Rates will get cut via fed policy and go down eventually if growth starts to turn over and we enter recession
There’s also a monopolization of capital since the top 10% own the overwhelming majority of the market. SO consider that there are major IPOs in the pipeline from spaceX, OpenAi, Anthropic.. once those bags are dumped on 401k holders the rug might be pulled since it will be closer to midterms which will probably end up with a majorly blue wave. Of course, the odds of a random meltdown are much higher right now but it’s being ignored. Political market
Posted by: aaaa | Apr 27 2026 19:01 utc | 283
Rates will get cut via fed policy and go down eventually…….
Every bond market signal says no.
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 19:17 utc | 284
Oil update from oilprice.com:
According to Bloomberg, the U.S. has so far released 79.7 million barrels to 12 companies, with nearly 50 million barrels going to UK’s Vortexa Ltd. Global trading houses and Big Oil companies have been the main recipients of the oil, with Trafigura receiving 21.4 million barrels; Shell Plc (NYSE: SHEL) has received 18.1 million while Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) and BP Plc (NYSE:BP) have purchased 9.7 million barrels and 6.0 million barrels, respectively.
So 20% of the SPR already gone. The crude is going to Europe. They can keep doing this for 2-3 more months. What CAN’T be replaced are the the refined products like jetfuel that the GCC produced with its refineries, helium from Qatar, LNG from Qatar, and urea fertilizer.
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Europe-Emerges-As-Key-Buyer-Of-US-Strategic-Petroleum-Reserve-Oil.html
Posted by: JackG | Apr 27 2026 19:27 utc | 285
Rates will get cut via fed policy and go down eventually……. Every bond market signal says no.
Posted by: Exile | Apr 27 2026 19:17 utc | 284
————–
well yes anything is possible but trends can change. USA for now is insulated from the gulf crisis due to our energy security. I say eventual deflation, ZIRP, QE.. not now but later. Almost everything I buy now is long US treasury bond – ZROZ, TLT, SCHQ.. the high coupons are helping drive the stock market if you consider the interest being reinvested in stocks.. Modern monetary theory
you might find this vid interesting – I like Mike Green’s takes on market stuff Quarterly Market & Strategy Update – April 2026 – YouTube
Posted by: aaaa | Apr 27 2026 19:34 utc | 286
Have a good day, and burn coal live better and warmer.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 11:23 utc | 216
________________
ROTFLMAO! Hat’s off! Anybody who knows parody will tell you the hardest thing is to sustain it for any length of time. You pulled it off. A real master class!
Posted by: Gene Poole | Apr 27 2026 19:53 utc | 287
@285
Last week report showed staregic petroleum reserve down 8 million barrels of stock to just below 400 million in SPR. Wait for Wednesday report!
Posted by: paddy | Apr 27 2026 20:06 utc | 288
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 17:17 utc | 266
Isn’t it a bit early to give Trump or anyone high marks for ship building until the first ship takes to sea and is proved to be successful.
Now ( would give Trump high marks for noticing that US ship building needs to be restored (if I were an American anyway).
However actually getting a ship built is the goal The idea is a great first step. Now in terms of delivery I think Trump is unlikely to succeed. He made bad choices in his initial appointments handing out jobs to the boys not to professionals. Now had Trump been wise like say the Russians or the Chinese, rather than some political appointment, as head of the Navy he might have appointed an Engineer, with strict instructions to keep his nose out of politics but build ships.
Now it is not really Trump as such that is the problem. It is the “generalist philosophy dominates managerial thinking in the west: the idea that a “manager” can switch between running a real estate business, to major construction, to health care or perhaps an an art gallery. It is absurd but it dominates thinking. Moreover it is not just in the top layer political heads of agencies. If that were the case then the high level boys and girls could simply shuffle paper, confident that the professionals in the agencies would manage the real work. This model worked quite well for centuries, despite problems . I have recently been reminded of the witty Gilbert and Sullivan song “Now I am the leader of the Queen’s Navy.” It is as relevant today so long as you switch a very few words. However in the past in the bowels of the public service were clever people who knew what they were doing. (Total bias here but in the UK the brainy people who did the work were in fact mostly Scottish, probably true of USA and Canada too).
So Tobias, yes full marks to Trump for noticing the navy was defunct, but he so far has showed no signs of getting to the core of the problem, which for such an anti socialist type like you will give coniptions. Basically if the West is ever to retrieve its status it is going to have to rebuild a competent public service which included recruiting (and actually educating) skilled engineers, architects, programmers etc who are paid a decent salary, have real career prospects and would happily serve their nation as a public duty rather than a get rich quick scheme. Sure you can outsource to private contractors but if your public service does not have professionals even MORE skilled than the private sector the outcome is inevitably higher cost and lower quality and there is no one impartial enough with the skills to say but hey you have forgotten about the toilets, or there are not enough bolts to keep that stable etc. i add of course that you also need supervisory skilled tradies who know how to build stuff.
The problem is that the agencies are JUST as much infected with the idea of mangerialism as are the politicians, This means that BELOW the political appointments of real agents there are NO experts. Instead consultants are hired who are out for profit, not results and they then hire the cheapest “experts” available (usually form India) and are focused on cost cutting rather than quality. Because there is no one at a senior enough level to check their copetence there is no way of managing the issues
Is an invasion of Iran at Kharg Island “off the table”?
Newly returned to MoA so I don’t know if Kharg Island has been discussed fully already.
I’ll quote something I found elsewhere:
Trump has a PLAN.
Actually it is Bibi’s PLAN, but so what.
The American People are dead set against Israel’s war of aggression for Greater Israel.However, Bibi has a PLAN:
Have US Marines die by the thousands invading Iran at Kharg Island.It is a sure bet that if thousands of American Marines are slaughtered by Iranthen the sentiment of the American People will turn on a dimeand Bibi can then count on total American support for Israel’s war.
Posted by: Otto Penn | Apr 27 2026 20:31 utc | 290
Zero Goliath cranes ordered, no slipways or graving docks permitted or even legislation proposed let alone passed to facilitate the process. Those are the long lead items required to expand capacity. So no like every president since Regan, who blew up the shipbuilding industry in the first place, only lip service has been done. You have zero clue how the maritime industry works.
Posted by: Badjoke | Apr 27 2026 20:39 utc | 291
Badjoke | Apr 27 2026 20:39 utc | 291—
You name some key elements but the most important is where to site these new shipyards as most that once existed are no longer available. And then there’s already a shortage of trained workers. So, no places to build and no workers to do the building.
Exile 273 – Love Sinead singing the ‘Foggy Dew”!
The newest Rebel song targeting the Martin-Harris coalition neo liberal mashup government, and their failed energy/green policies is Brother Ger’s ‘Leinster House Traitors’ available for free on You Tube!
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 21:43 utc | 293
292 – Closing the Brooklyn and Boston USN shipyards was a major disaster for the USN.
Time to reopen those yards and start training new steamfitters, carpenters and electricians.
DJT is on the right track here…………
The UK even allowed some RN ships to be built in SK, thus depriving jobs at Harland and Wolff in Belfast or example. Neo liberal nonsense. The Canadians Great Lakes commercial fleet is mostly Chinese built, instead at SSM. More nonsense.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 21:47 utc | 294
@290 Otto
“Is an invasion of Iran at Kharg Island “off the table”?”
Not really discussed recently, and all is on pause atm. Sure US would like to get its hands on it though, turn it into a base for reparations or similar etc.
@291 Badjoke
‘The Golden Fleece’ ?
I admit…it’s not funny.
– “Germany has received an official notification: from May 1st, Kazakh oil will no longer pass through the “Friendship” (Druzhba) pipeline to Schwedt (the same one that supplies Berlin and eastern Germany with petrol, diesel and heating). Russia is redirecting volumes to other routes…
In 2025, 2.146 million tons of Kazakh oil (about 43,000 barrels per day) were sent to Germany via this route…”
Coinciding with an zio visit to Kaz. today iirc.
Posted by: Ornot | Apr 27 2026 21:52 utc | 295
Otto Penn 290
Hi.
As with Gaza, morale is everything, because the destruction either of Iranian cities or Kharg Island are probably within the capabilities of the US, while invasion probably isn’t.
The morale of the walking dead zombies of Pagan Judaism might increase, even in Zombies, if US brought about these two types of destruction.
Even if it wrecked the economies of the Pacific Nations, and even if it completely united the differing sects of Islam.
Pagan zombies feed on Destruction and are galvanised by Opposition.
The Pagan Jews now know that the writing is on the wall for them. They have burned their chance of a Jewish Empire, so they have to pretend to enjoy the Catastrophic confusion of their self-inflicted Zombie status and mindless genociding.
Trump realised a long time ago that his role as Potus is to manage the horror movie to its cathartic , good triumphing over evil, conclusion , rather than usher in a Golden Age of Third Temple Hegemony.
Hence his confiscation of Gaza into his possession.
So imo Trump now knows that Netanyahu is insane, and that he himself is sane.
All Trump has to do now, is to humour Netanyahu long enough for RoW to work out how to destroy the. Pagan, chainsaw massacring, blood-soaked, NeoCon , Ukrainian Jewish NAZIS, for him.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 27 2026 21:52 utc | 296
watcher 292 – the RN really does not exist anymore. It had a real trouble even getting the HMS Diamond to Cyprus to protect the UK bases there. HMS Diamond was very late to the dance, and ill was equipped. Sir Keir is presiding over the non functionability of the RN.
The two UK CV’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are non functional………..
Later HMS Diamond, like the USS Ford, was hit by an Iranian anti ship missile to boot, and knocked out service for many months.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 21:54 utc | 297
Iran’s new three-phased negotiating plan was made public. Global Times provided this breakdown:
Iran has informed mediators of a proposed three-phase framework for negotiations and says talks could resume if the US agrees to the plan, Lebanese media outlet Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran reported on Monday.
The proposal, as described by the correspondent, outlines an initial phase focused on ending US-Israeli aggression and securing guarantees that fighting will not resume against Iran and Lebanon. During this stage, Iran would not discuss any other issues, the report said.
If agreement is reached on the first phase, discussions would move to a second stage centered on the management of the Strait of Hormuz. The plan reportedly envisions coordination with Oman to establish a new legal framework governing the strategic waterway, per the Lebanese media outlet.
The third phase would address Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran would only be prepared to discuss after agreements are reached on the first two phases, according to the report.
The main problem are the Zionists in Palestine as they will never obey any ceasefire that impedes their Greater Zionist project, which is as solid as any fact can be. IMO, the Zionists in Palestine must be militarily defeated–utterly and completely–for any genuine form of peace to appear in West Asia. Katz and those like him salivate at retuning to combat against Iran and seem to think they can coerce Trump to follow along as he did on 28 February. Given that reality, Iran showed deftness by making the cessation of combat on all fronts the number one condition for any further negotiations knowing the Zionists will never agree or obey. Few Iranians have publicly said the Zionist entity must be destroyed for peace to prevail. I’ll wager words to that affect were in the letter Mojtaba Khamenei sent to Putin.
@298 Karlof
No, the zionists are completely dependent on the US, and as such their decisions are subject to US decision. For the US to abandon “Israel” would be a strategic loss for US, would see the zionists turn to Russia, would see a lot of destructive blowback against the US.
So the zio continuation of hostility is part of the US plan, is woven into it. You only have to observe US strategy in the region to understand that.
The only independent threat zios hold is the nuclear threat. Without that, and lacking foreign intervention, they would be run out of Palestine. The population sizes, and modern balances of military technology would see to that.
One reason they are so caught up in the nuclear file, besides it making an excuse to attack; having to reason with opposing views is not their way. They really do think they would be obliterated, unsurprisingly.
In other words, are caught in the first use trap, which would see to their failure also.
So it is a very unbalanced reality in all, not good.
Posted by: Ornot | Apr 27 2026 22:45 utc | 299
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 27 2026 21:47 utc | 294
Tobias Cole – some housing is being built on part of the old Harland and Wolff site but the shipyard is being modernised and is building new ships. There is now quite an ambitious UK ship building programme. For all that I agree there’s been a heap of neo-liberal nonsense about procuring abroad. Partly because a smallish country can’t do it all by itself but mostly, I’d guess, because over the last many decades we’ve let our industry go to an extent it’d now be difficult to recover from.
So if we’re being charitable was can say that in shipbuilding HMG is doing the best it can in difficult circumstances. Which is largely true, if we ignore the fact that it spends most of its time making those circumstances worse.
As, if I may say so, does your man Trump. Unlike Starmer or Merz he came in with a perfectly viable programme and the mandate to carry it through. Now look at him. The hell’s he playing at?
Posted by: English Outsider | Apr 27 2026 23:05 utc | 300