Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
April 24, 2026
War On Iran: – Who To Blame?

Q: Why is the U.S. waging war on Iran?

Answer by the U.S. State Department:

As the United States has explained in multiple letters to the U.N. Security Council, including most recently on March 10, the United States is engaged in this conflict at the request of and in the collective self-defense of its Israeli ally, …

Q: Why is the Strait of Hormuz still closed?

Answer by the President of the U.S. of A.:

“They came to us and they said, ‘We will agree to open the strait.’ And all my people were happy, except me. I said, ‘Wait a minute, if we open the strait, that means they’re gonna make $500 million a day.’ I don’t want them to make $500 million a day until they settle this thing. So I’m the one who kept it closed.

Comments

Has the USA, been involved in “collective self-defense” in name, in anything more recent than 1991 Kuwait (which I guess falls under that label)?

Posted by: Call it what u will | Apr 24 2026 12:52 utc | 2

https://www.youtube.com/live/XNq8TjkMeSc
I follow Mercouris – while some consider him to be plodding, pedantic, slow and so forth ……BECAUSE he is those things!  I can trust him to be unemotional and to not hype things up. If he feels Trump now has dementia, that pretty much settles it for me.

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 24 2026 13:03 utc | 3

@2
 
US has claimed the duty (prerogative) to war for any reason anywhere in the world, first to stop Stalin, Mao, Ho, Ayatollah, Saddam……..
 
I works off the prop of “no more Pearl Harbors.  Now it is Israel the chaser maiden to be raped if U.S. doesn’t do genocide l

Posted by: paddy | Apr 24 2026 13:05 utc | 4

“they’re gonna make $500 million a day”
 
And what are they going to spend those $’s On ?
 
US goods and services sold in $’s ?
 
 
Nope, they are being paid in Chinese Yuan.
 
 
And what are they going to spend those Yuan on ?
 
 
Chinese goods and services sold in Yuan.
 
 
That’s what is annoying the fat fascist, war mongering, genocidal maniac, in the Whitehouse. He will do everything that Israel demands from him.

Posted by: Andrew | Apr 24 2026 13:07 utc | 5

And the Iranians create their own currency from thin air using an index finger and a computer keyboard in their treasury.
 
For domestic purposes.
 
 
It’s not the Eurozone we are talking about here. Where countries gave up that index finger, computer keyboard right and outsourced that right to the ECB and Brussels.
 
 

Posted by: Andrew | Apr 24 2026 13:12 utc | 6

Ho come on. Bibi was in dire need of “a new thing” to avoid a trial and Donnie was absolutely not against a quick adventure in Iran. They had converging objectives and just slightly different motives : can’t find a better combination to start “an operation.”
 
Now they are loosing that war bad and shit is hitting the fan hard ; let’s the blame game begin !
Clausewitz famously wrote that “War is the continuation of policies by other means” … those two had no policy , fewer and fewer means and started a shitstorm they refuses to call war … I mean ; we’re good, Karl’s citation is still valid ! 

Posted by: Savonarole | Apr 24 2026 13:14 utc | 7

Historians are going to shit on this culture that allowed Biden, then Trump.

Posted by: James j | Apr 24 2026 13:15 utc | 8

For sure there should be righteous mutiny aboard the fleet! They should sail it right back up the Potomac and take the WH from the Ziolords.
 
Or they will surely burn and sink and stink up the seas for decades.
 

Levan Gudadze
 
 
@GudadzeLevan
1h
The Pentagon boasts that for the first time in decades, three US aircraft carriers will be deployed to the Middle East, glossing over the fact that none of them meet military requirements and are facing catastrophic failures almost weekly, including fires, problems with water and sewage, ventilation, food, technical malfunctions of the air wing, and a shortage of long-range strike assets.
 
All this against the backdrop of extreme psychological fatigue among military personnel on board and a reluctance to be implicated in crimes against humanity.
 
Apr 24, 2026 · 10:46 AM UTC

Posted by: DunGroanin | Apr 24 2026 13:15 utc | 9

Iran War Summary: Week Eight, 24th April 2026: May be Useful to Some: The Iran War Summary: Week Eight – by Dr. Rob Campbell

Posted by: The Busker | Apr 24 2026 13:19 utc | 10

“So I’m the one who kept it closed.
 
This a perfect example of what Mary Trump said about Dementia Don’s delusional state of mind. When the facts don’t fit his preferred perspective, he merely gaslights himself and adopts some refreshed facts.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 24 2026 13:20 utc | 11

woke up, and then slept again during a press conference
someone wrote he was up all night posting on truth social. i wouldn’t know. 

Posted by: annie | Apr 24 2026 13:26 utc | 12

   Trump is only doing what Regan considered doing back in the 80’s.  Watch Victor Hanson’s take on you tube.  TRUMP IS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S SURVIVAL.  To keep the dollar strong and not have oil traded in yuan and rubies which would economically take down America.  The war in Iran is to TAKE DOWN THE GLOBALIST’S CONTROLLED BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE.  The Davos scum that want to make everyone but them OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY.  The only thing standing in their way is Trump.

Posted by: Fortuna | Apr 24 2026 13:26 utc | 13

Not only are China still getting their oil.
 
They’ll sell plenty of “stuff” to Iran. When the time comes  the Iranians need to spend all that Yuan. Create plenty of jobs in China.
 
 
Meanwhile back at the looney tune ranch, where all the ” crazies ” hang out. They think that Iran should just swap their Yuan for bricks of gold and just horde it. Like goldfinger from James bond.
 
As the ” sound money ” fantasists don’t understand trade. They’ve never understood trade. Think it is all about hoarding bits of metal. Because they are stupid. Dig it up and put it in a shed. 
 
When it’s all about getting ” stuff” you can’t produce yourself. Trading goods and services to do so.
 
 
Of course why the ” sound money ” loons never understood BRICS from the very start. What it was all about.

Posted by: Andrew | Apr 24 2026 13:28 utc | 14

‘I’m the one who kept it [the Strait of Hormuz] closed.’ — Donnie Fubar, quoted by b
 
When I first read of the proposal for a US blockade — made by a neocon blogger in the US Lügenpresse — I thought it was pure, off-the-wall, extremist flakery. After all, it’s what OPEC did to the US in the 1970s, causing great injury to the US economy … and torpedoing the presidencies of Nixon and Carter.
 
Yet within 48 hours, this absurd idea was announced as US policy by the Israeli agent Donnie Fubar.
 
Now that the State Department has admitted that Trump’s useless, criminal war was started at Israel’s request, let the capital trials for treason begin. Trump, Hegseth, Rubio, Waltz — all should hang for their crimes against the United States, and against humanity.
 

Posted by: Jim H | Apr 24 2026 13:33 utc | 15

This is insane.  If Russian ships were blockading Ukrainian ports, the Ukraine would be launching drone after drone attempting to sink them.  Meanwhile, Iran doesn’t dare attack any of the US ships blockading their ports.

Posted by: bored | Apr 24 2026 13:36 utc | 16

I encourage people to watch Promethian Updates.  They explain in detail how the British Empire has been behind the regime in Iran for decades.  Their goal is to have all the power and money for themselves while the bankrupt everybody else.  Trump know that and has a clear strategy to take down the Globalists and bring back the middle class to make America strong again.  There is a lot of fake news out there.  Victor Hanson breaks it down very well.  Look up his YouTube video on what Trump is doing in Iran.

Posted by: Fortuna | Apr 24 2026 13:39 utc | 17

Mea culpa! Try though I might, I could not refrain from ‘noticing’ that the smoking-gun State Department memo was written by ‘Reed Rubinstein,’ one of many dual-loyalty Israeli minders entrenched within the Trump quisling regime.
 
My bad! AIPAC tells me that ‘Reed Rubinstein’ is just a regular old American, doing normal American things. Maybe a stint in a re-education camp could rectify my deviant thinking.

Posted by: Jim H | Apr 24 2026 13:47 utc | 18

Jim H | Apr 24 2026 13:33 utc | 15
 
Like 9/11, the oil crisis of the 70’s had ‘Made in the USA” stamped all over it. It was required to drive through legislation for the trans Alaska pipeline.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 13:50 utc | 19

JUST IN! Iran’s delegation led by Foreign Minister Araghchi is allegedly arriving in Pakistan today for another round of talks with the US, according to Reuters citing a source.
The American logistics and security team is already in Islamabad.
 
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/182723#
 
 

Posted by: Newbie | Apr 24 2026 13:58 utc | 20

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 13:50 utc | 19
 
President Nixon’s ending of the US dollar’s redeemability in gold in 15th August 1971 certainly played a role.
 
OPEC oil producers realized that getting paid three lousy fiat dollars for every barrel of oil was a crappy deal. Thus was born the petrodollar.

Posted by: Jim H | Apr 24 2026 14:03 utc | 21

He Also Claimed That Lebanon & Israel ‘Like Each Other’ (& vid)
 
https://x.com/TheCradleMedia/status/2047431404007424208
 
“US President Trump claims the Israel-Lebanon ‘ceasefire’ which has been repeatedly violated by Israel, will be extended for 3 weeks. In the same breath he says Israel will ‘defend itself’ but will be careful by carrying out ‘surgical strikes’. He also claimed that Lebanon and Israel ‘like each other’ and that he looks forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.”
 
Bull in china shop makes big mess and more bullshit. Picadors prepare him for matador’s lance.

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 14:05 utc | 22

@14 Andrew

What is your unit of account, the unit that isn’t a “something” that people will accept in trade ?

Hint, even Yuan, btc etc. are “somethings”.

Barter maybe, but then we are looking at monetary metals, are we not ?

Posted by: Ornot | Apr 24 2026 14:10 utc | 23

“Why” is always the best question … so why is the USA really waging war on Iran? It seems to me there a couple of pretty obvious answers. The short answer is “Because Israel told America to do this. (Join us!)”
The better or most plausible answer to myself is because Iran is the one nation in the Mideast that is keeping Israel and the neocons in America from advancing their project for A Greater Israel. Or, America’s most important geopolitical objective is protecting the “Magic Printing Press” and keeping the “petro dollar” as the world’s reserve currency. Iran has abundant “oil collateral” stored in the earth, but Iran is also powerful and principled enough to persuade other Muslim Gulf Nations to quit being vassals of America.
Thus, Iran is a Threat to the current world order as well as the future world order. (Future agendas can not be brought to fruition unless this Magic Printing Press is still operational). The nuclear issue is just a canard or ruse to splinter Iran into factions, which would ensure that any threat Iran poses is eliminated.
I think almost all geopolitical trends are really “threat reduction” operations.  For example, the ominous growth of the Censorship Industrial Complex is an op to neutralize the threat of dissident voices who might stop future planned agendas.
Lastly, I think the key future agenda for the world’s real rulers is digital ID and central bank digital currency – which probably includes a Universal Basic Income.  The Powers that Be need even more control of the masses to finalize these plans – wars can help expedite this result just like pandemics can.
 
 
 
 

Posted by: GMST | Apr 24 2026 14:23 utc | 24

“The US military should win the Nobel Peace Prize every single year.” – Hegseth, while telling Europe to get in a boat, and help open Hormuz, because they need it more
 

Posted by: Call it what u will | Apr 24 2026 14:24 utc | 25

The war is about trade routes, petrodollar, hegemony, “Greater Israel”, genocide etc. The blame is on the instigators, i.e. USrael.
 
The price the instigators should pay is according to their own prescription: Terrorist states should not be able to exist. Occupied Palestine must be returned to the Palestinians, US must be removed from the region.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 14:27 utc | 26

Why further negotiations with the Americans?

Posted by: Perimetr | Apr 24 2026 14:30 utc | 27

Today we celebrate another group of Rebels – those who on April 24, 1916 rose up against the evil forces of the Crown and fought for Irish freedom – and who paid the ultimate price for the fight for Irish freedom.
Tom Clarke, Sean MacDiarmada, Willie Pearse, Patrick Pearse, Tom Kent, Sean Heuston, Con Colbert, Tom MacDonagh, Roger Casement, Joseph Plunkett, Eamon Ceannt, Michael O’Hanrahan, John McBride, Michael Mallin, Edward Daly, James Connolly.
 
Most were executed by firing squad after a military drum head court trial.  The IRA fought the Crown forces in Ireland from 1916 to 1998 and were never defeated.  A lesson for today!

Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 24 2026 14:30 utc | 28

So much for the ‘Nobel Peace Prize’ for Pete and company – the attack on Minah Girls Elementary School, that massacred 159 students and staff, was actually a triple tap Tomahawk missile strike courtesy of AI – Maven, Claude and Lavender programs !
 
Moral disintegration on display for all to see……………..

Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 24 2026 14:34 utc | 29

@paddy | Apr 24 2026 13:05 utc | 4

I works off the prop of “no more Pearl Harbors.  Now it is Israel the chaser maiden to be raped if U.S. doesn’t do genocide l

Actually, these people need more Pearl Harbors, and they say so explicitly:
 
In the document “Project for a new American Century” from September 2000, the PNAC group declared “the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor.”
 
They got it a year later, and other catastrophic and catalyzing events are to be expected on a regular basis from them.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 14:34 utc | 30

@bored | Apr 24 2026 13:36 utc | 16

This is insane.  If Russian ships were blockading Ukrainian ports, the Ukraine would be launching drone after drone attempting to sink them.  Meanwhile, Iran doesn’t dare attack any of the US ships blockading their ports.

The US ships are far from Iranian ports,  to stay out of range. The “blockade of the non-blockade” is a sieve.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 14:40 utc | 31

Victor David Hanson is a disgusting Zionist POS who spends most his time writing about why the Gaza genocide is a good thing.  His opinion on Trump’s multidimensional chess is worth less than zero.
 
Saw a comment on another board that today is FACO Friday.  A fake TACO that lasts until the market closes at 4pm Eastern time. 

Posted by: cc | Apr 24 2026 14:42 utc | 32

most people don’t want this war…. trumps response kind of sums up just how infantile he is…  
 
and yet, i too liked and agreed with what the poster on the previous thread said which i have shared again below… 
 
“What if the apparent deadlock IS the strategy. To drag things out, tank the world economy, provoke the reset that the WEF has been calling for so often, reduce population, reduce dependency on oil, enhance the green agenda, introduce rationing which will reduce individual freedoms, etc.  The way the war is evolving is starting to tick a lot of the boxes. It could usher in a number of goals that globalists did not know how to achieve, and that this war could achieve for them. Not that Trump is playing 5D chess or doing this deliberately. But he’s probably being played, like the rest of us. 
Posted by: Shahmaran | Apr 23 2026 15:03 utc | 5
 

Posted by: james | Apr 24 2026 14:43 utc | 33

Posted by: Ornot | Apr 24 2026 14:10 utc | 23
I guess the point is that the US has abused its power as the issuer of the global reserve currency.
China has an advantage in already having internal money (renminbi) and external money (yuan), thus avoiding some of the problems inherent in a world reserve.
So long as they don’t abuse the Yuan, or the users of the Yuan, there is no reason why it cannot be the future world reserve, or at least one of them. If people are already buying oil in Yuan then they will probably sell their other goods in Yuan in order to have them to buy more oil…too bad for the petrodollar.
The US killed its golden goose.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Apr 24 2026 14:43 utc | 34

Posted by: Fortuna | Apr 24 2026 13:26 utc | 13
 
TRUMP IS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S SURVIVAL. 
The war in Iran is to TAKE DOWN THE GLOBALIST’S CONTROLLED BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE.  
.
1. Bottom up America does not want a war. Trump promised a no war administration.
.
2. global-ism is a wall street and Epstein class thing. ..
 .
3. The USA is a globalist organization.  
.
4. Military activities in foreign lands is aggressive globalism.
.
5. the easiest way for bottom-up America to survive is to change the constitution so the bottom up can amend the constitution.
.
 6. The bottom-up should be able to propose, vote on, ratify and insert into the constitution those rules which can control the behaviors of government to conform to the will and wishes of the bottom-up.
.
7. Government and its leadership should answer to the bottom up. 
8. America is about life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
 

Posted by: snake | Apr 24 2026 14:44 utc | 35

It’s interesting to me that b posed this question today: “Q: Why is the U.S. waging war on Iran?”
 
For a couple of days at my Substack newsletter, I’ve been crafting an ambitious piece that asks the question “Why did the Covid Pandemic happen?”
 
It’s amazing to me that, six years after official Covid, nobody has come close to answering this question. In fact, it’s surreal to me that very few people and organizations (“who matter”) even seem to be interested in answering this question.
 
There has to have been a reason, right? I think many people know the official reason (the “authorized narrative”) must be bogus.
 
The official reason is that some Chinese bats caused an unprecedented global pandemic. In the world, we have “authorized narratives” – almost all produced to create mass fear, which makes it much easier to control the masses  – and then you have the REAL Reason(s).
 
It’s possible the real reason for Covid (or, more specifically the Response to Covid) and the reason for this war might be the same or at least overlap.
 
My hypothesis: The Powers that Be/Deep State – operating behind the curtains – identified an existential threat to the Status Quo that might end their reign of control – and then came up with a “solution” to ameliorate or neutralize this threat … and advance their real agenda.
 
I think one significant silver lining of Covid and the Iran War is that more citizens are now receptive to the possibility the world is really being run by shadowy and psychopathic forces. This cohort even has a new nickname – “The Epstein Class.”
 
IMO, the Real or Most Important War being waged on earth at moment  is an Effort to Expose and then defeat the rule of the Epstein Class. But these people and organizations won’t go down without one helluva fight – and they hold most of the key cards … but they don’t control the Straits of Hormuz!

Posted by: GMST | Apr 24 2026 14:45 utc | 36

Is DJT really dumb enough, and under the Zionist influence enough to trigger a world wide energy Armeggeddon by attempting to bomb Iran into the ‘stone age’?
 
Such a follow to the ceasefire would engender immediate destruction of all the Gulf state oil infrastructure (except Oman) and to the destruction all Zionist infrastructure in occupied Palestine.
 
Its time for a DJT stand down not for an escalation – stop the silly war rhetoric and get back to common ground – Israel out of Lebanon and Gaza and the West Bank and Syria, and an end of all sanctions against Iran.
 
The alternative advocated by Bibi, is total economic collapse and the impeachment of DJT – not a good outcome for anyone………

Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 24 2026 14:49 utc | 37

Jim H | Apr 24 2026 14:03 utc | 21
 
The petro dollar was a deal between the US and the Saudi’s. That deal was made in the early 70’s prior top the oil crisis. 
Plans for the petro-dollar began withe the discovery of oil in Alaska. To create demand for the petro-dollar (essentially the Saudis and Opec had agreed to sell all oil in US dollars) US had to drive up the price of oil so everyone would need lots of US dollars to buy oil. But first that oil had to be got to the bowser.
The 73 oil crisis was to drive through legislation blocking all legal challenges to the trans Alaska pipeline. The pipeline had been held up for several years due to enviromental legal challenges in the courts.
With quest at US bowsers, the legislation was easily rammed through and the 73 oil crisis ended. Several weeks after the first barrel of oil came through the Trans-Alaska pipe in, US triggered the Iranian revolution. The gulf was shut down and oil prices sky rocketed. Everyone require massive amounts of US petro dollars to buy oil. Once the trans Alaska pipeline was in full flow by 1980, US was virtually self sufficient in oil and not badly effected by the global oil prices that US machinations had driven through the roof.
 
US is trying to do something similar again now, but this time round they are more reliant on oil and petroleum products imports. Fuel price is going up in the US, fertilizer shortage ect.
US strategic oil reserve was depleted , trying to keep bowser prices down with the oil wars on Russia. What is left is now being used trying to keep bowser prices down with the oil wars on Iran.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 14:52 utc | 38

a key part of the bretton woods agreement was denominating trading of oil in us$… i think that was baked in prior to the petrodollar concept…

Posted by: james | Apr 24 2026 15:01 utc | 39

AI says i have it wrong –  here is AI
The Bretton Woods Agreement established the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency, and later, the 1974 agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia ensured that oil would be priced and invoiced in U.S. dollars, creating a constant demand for the dollar.

Posted by: james | Apr 24 2026 15:02 utc | 40

Posts Numbers 5 and 32 summarize the thoughts that are perculating in my mind;
 
“What if the apparent deadlock IS the strategy. To drag things out, tank the world economy, provoke the reset that the WEF has been calling for so often, reduce population, reduce dependency on oil, enhance the green agenda, introduce rationing which will reduce individual freedoms, etc.  The way the war is evolving is starting to tick a lot of the boxes. It could usher in a number of goals that globalists did not know how to achieve, and that this war could achieve for them. Not that Trump is playing 5D chess or doing this deliberately. But he’s probably being played, like the rest of us. Posted by: Shahmaran | Apr 23 2026 15:03 utc | 5 ”
I also agree Trump wouldn’t have known this might be the real reason. He was “played” just like he was played with the response to Covid that he eventually embraced enthusiastically. 
A theme I’m going to develop in future essays is that the “Deep State” isn’t really the government, but these real 3-D chess players know that they have to control the key players and institutions of government to bring all their agendas to fruition. The government – and presidents – are simply tools.
 
I will add that intentionally sinking the global economy – creating chaos on purpose – is a risky strategy. As we can see now and I noted above, more of the peons in the public are now railing against the “Epstein Class.”
 
However, maybe “dangerous times demand/call for risky solutions?” Also, these Masters of the Universe know they have captured “all important truth-seeking organizations.” Presumably, the Powers that Be went to all this trouble for a reason. That is, they knew that to implement their future plans, they first had to capture every institution or organization that might thwart them or expose them. In other words, I don’t think these people and organizations worry too much about being exposed – and maybe the people coming after them with their proverbial pitch forks. This threat has already been neutralized. In their minds, they can probably do whatever they want.
 
 
 
 
 

Posted by: GMST | Apr 24 2026 15:03 utc | 41

IMO, the Real or Most Important War being waged on earth at moment  is an Effort to Expose and then defeat the rule of the Epstein Class. But these people and organizations won’t go down without one helluva fight – and they hold most of the key cards … but they don’t control the Straits of Hormuz!
Posted by: GMST | Apr 24 2026 14:45 utc | 36
My guess is not very original but I think rather simple.
2020 was pulled off to eliminate as many useless eaters (as they see people) best known as retirees and make money on the damage that those that survive will pay for to survive. Operation was a complete success and none of their agents have anything to worry about for what they did. It was sad to see how easily people could be convinced that a piece of plastic could protect them from infection by a supposedly highly infections virus. The material masks exposed the lunacy that dwells dormant within a lot of people.
Sad state of the World.

Posted by: Tom_12 | Apr 24 2026 15:04 utc | 42

Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 14:52 utc | 38
It does appear to be that way. 
 
Australia  is now taking refined fuel from the U.S.  I am sure more nations in Asia and Europe will follow with increased refined fuel deliveries from the U. S. 
 

Posted by: circumspect | Apr 24 2026 15:05 utc | 43

@32 cc

We will soon be onto FUCO, whatever that means…

Posted by: Ornot | Apr 24 2026 15:06 utc | 44

Our host is letting his beloved Trump off the hook by pretending the State Department blaming the Zionist enterprise is the truth, told by honest and competent bureaucrats. But when he simultaneously quotes Trump as admitting responsibility for continuing the closure of the strait he implicitly expresses his disappointment in Trump’s actual behavior, so much at odds with the romantic fantasy so many (not just our host) seem to have. Of course, to top it off, even the semi-critical part does at least exalt Trump for his bottom-line acuity. Counter-attacking IRI at their greatest strongpoint, (partial) closure of the strait is not stupid. Risky, reckless, heedless of damage to the entire world, yes, but not simply stupid. 
 
To answer the questions, the war was started by the US government, which is not the American people. Hundreds of millions of dollars, many laws, a relentless corporate media system, have been spent to ensure that mere elections don’t change the policies that the bourgeoisie must have. The Duopoly of old has always been a class monopoly, the bourgeois class. Of late? Bourgeois democracy in the US has degenerated to the point where winning an election by a minority of the electorate nevertheless is winning a blank check. There are no parties, no public opinion, no free media and certainly no courts that can restrain the elective godhead politely called the presidency. Blaming Zionists is letting the imperialists who have created this system off the hook. And those who flirt with blaming Jews as a group are part of the problem, not the solution. Blaming the masses is merely misanthropy. 

Posted by: steven t johnson | Apr 24 2026 15:06 utc | 45

‘Fingers on Trigger, Target Bank Ready’: Iran Warns US of ‘Eye for Head’ Reprisal
 
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/04/24/767455/Tehran-warns-US-of-eye-for-head-reprisal
 
“Iranian officials have said that their fingers remain on the trigger with a designated bank of targets, warning the United States of a devastating ‘eye for a head’ reprisal if it resumes its military aggression. The warnings follow renewed threats from US President Donald Trump to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants if Tehran rejects his terms…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 15:06 utc | 46

@GMST | Apr 24 2026 14:45 utc | 36

For a couple of days at my Substack newsletter, I’ve been crafting an ambitious piece that asks the question “Why did the Covid Pandemic happen?” It’s amazing to me that, six years after official Covid, nobody has come close to answering this question. In fact, it’s surreal to me that very few people and organizations (“who matter”) even seem to be interested in answering this question.

I am a nobody and I came close to answering this question from day 1: It was an obedience training event.  It has worked fine to this day, western public has never been more obedient.  Anything goes, fake pandemics, genocide, insider trading, “climate change” etc.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 15:08 utc | 47

By the way, lots of rich people lost money in the Covid panic and its ensuing economic crisis. I think people ranting about Covid as giant conspiracy can’t even answer the question, cui bono? It is long past time to stop listening to them. 

Posted by: steven t johnson | Apr 24 2026 15:09 utc | 48

@30
 
I agree.
 
My associate with “no more Pearl Harbor “ people goes back to my military days right after US de-escalation from war for South Vietnam.

Posted by: paddy | Apr 24 2026 15:12 utc | 49

@34 Chat

I don’t mind what people trade in, especially if it is by free choice. That includes metallic currency also, and so when I see people misrepresenting that idea, it speaks of agenda, or otherwise just plain ignorance, or ‘fantasy’ as OP looned on about.

Posted by: Ornot | Apr 24 2026 15:14 utc | 50

Mahmood OD: ‘Final Move Before War’
 
https://www.youtube.com/@Mahmood_OD/videos
 
“New attack footage| Largest deployment since 2003| 12+ US fuel-tankers land in Israel|”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 15:15 utc | 51

Before heading back to my own newsletter, I’ll make one final post/point that I think might be germane to day’s subject and questions.
 
I’m a firm believer in the importance of “narratives” and firmly believe almost all “authorized narratives” (or conventional wisdom) is usually false/bogus.
 
It seems to me that with this current war the key narrative is that the leaders of Iran are champing at the bit to acquire nuclear weapons and, then, use them as fast as they can (at the very first opportunity).
 
Here’s the operative narrative: “These Iranians are all crazy and they all want to become martyrs” – which is exactly what would happen if Iran did launch a nuclear attack at Israel or America.
 
To b’s question, “Why must America wage war with Iran?” – the “authorized narrative” gives us the answer – If America didn’t do this, millions of Americans would be vaporized by an Iranian nuclear strike.
 
IMO, as always, this controlling narrative is bogus, non-sensical and wrong. But it doesn’t even matter if this belief is false – as long as enough people believe this narrative is true.
 
The irrational fear has been produced, which produces the reason for said actions. In the minds of an obtuse public, a war with Iran is absolutely necessary to save American lives.
 
He who creates the narrative controls the world. 
 
The main theme of almost every essay I’ve written is: Don’t trust the experts. The Narrative you have been fed is false … for nefarious and sinister reasons.

Posted by: GMST | Apr 24 2026 15:21 utc | 52

The Cradle, Ep 209: ‘Hormuz Shipping Collapses’
 
https://www.youtube.com/@thecradlemedia/streams
 
“Trump orders Lebanon ‘ceasefire’ extension while granting Israel freedom to keep firing.”
 
USraeli Ceasefire = you cease, we fire. 
 

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 15:23 utc | 53

Posted by: steven t johnson | Apr 24 2026 15:09 utc | 48
 

I think people ranting about Covid as giant conspiracy can’t even answer the question, cui bono?

 
Cui Bono? – everybody who needs to declare basic human rights null and void, etc those who have subjugated Gaza to ethnic cleansing if not genocide.

Posted by: js | Apr 24 2026 15:25 utc | 54

Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 15:08 utc | 47
 
Well put re “obedience training event” …
 
Re Trump and Iran, his denunciation of use of nukes yesterday was well done … truly, as can be seen here and re the Ukraine war, nukes are a useless waste of money and security. 

Posted by: Caliman | Apr 24 2026 15:34 utc | 55

Syriana Analysis: Prof Tarik Cyril Amar: ‘Iran = Vietnam’?
 
https://www.youtube.com/@SyrianaAnalysis/streams
 
“Trump compares Iran war to Vietnam – as Germany rearms.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 15:34 utc | 56

@24 GMST

That is somewhere near how I am perceiving the reality.

@36 GMST

With sars it set a global hierarchy as established, tested social pliability and the limits of state authority. It also reinforced sub-channels, verifying dedication or sidelining those not committed.

A more sinister note would be of in preparation for nuclear shutdown, not an overlap most would hope exists I think.

The current ‘class’ is a distraction imo. Not saying there is not a lot of misdeed there, or that it does not represent a hub of influence, but it is being used as distraction, as in nothing more of worth to be had from that setup. Maybe ‘the more virtuous’ will be satisfied with a few hangings eventually while having ignored the rest:

Billie Holiday – Strange fruit

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGY9HvChXk

Posted by: Ornot | Apr 24 2026 15:37 utc | 57

According to al-Mayadeen, Araghchi leads “a small delegation” which is quite different from the first attempt at talks where Iran had a delegation of almost 90 people. Given the ongoing actions by the Zionists and Americans that continually break the truce, I’m perplexed, which is probably shared by many others given what Iran stated as its objectives for this war back in early March–a permanent resolution which is now represented by its Ten Points. Perhaps the assumption by the troika–Russia, China, Iran–that since the Empire isn’t agreement capable nothing of substance will result from the meeting aside from Iran showing the world its willingness to talk to what’s clearly a fragmented delusional Empire. The third carrier will add nothing to the situation aside from providing another juicy target instead of the pressure the Empire assumes it represents. 
 
PressTV reports Araghchi’s trip isn’t specifically for talks:
 

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will embark on a three-leg regional tour to Pakistan, Oman and Russia in the continuation of diplomatic efforts to put a lasting end to the US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.
 
Heading a delegation, Araghchi will set off from Tehran late on Friday for Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. 
 
In a post on X ahead of his trip, the top diplomat said the purpose of the “timely tour” is to “closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments.”
 
“Our neighbors are our priority,” he said.
 
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the top Iranian diplomat’s visit aims to hold mutual consultations and talks about the ongoing developments in the region and the latest status regarding the US-Israeli imposed war on the Islamic Republic, which started late in February. [My Emphasis]

 
The itinerary is very curious and suggests many possibilities, too many to speculate upon IMO.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 24 2026 15:37 utc | 58

Looks like another US-Israel attack is coming soon: Monitor X reporting that Ben Gurion airport is full of KC-46 and KC-135 refueling aircraft.

Posted by: spudski | Apr 24 2026 15:39 utc | 59

Macho man Hegseth made me hum the old Beatles tune of Rocky Racoon, reading Gideon’s bible. Now they are talking about expelling Spain from NATO, what a bunch of clowns, they’ll never let the captive milking cows out of the range, NATO is the biggest racket ever and the fools are trying to convince themselves that they are protecting us, against whom? against our protector for sure, its only AlCapone 1.0

Posted by: Paco | Apr 24 2026 15:42 utc | 60

Bored at 16: why should iran do anything, they prefer to wait and see what trump may come up with. Presently a fraction of the oil regularly coming out of the gulf is coming out and the hurt is beginning to be felt in the most distant corners. You might say that the ball is on donnies half and he must do something – stupid pride stops him from doing the most sensible and go home, like pentagon recommends. On the other by hand the jews are pressing for more bombings which the poor fucker can’t do! It’s not a stalemate we’re watching but a slow realisation on trumps side that it’s over soon – that trump/US took the bait the jews used to lure them to take the lead. For the US it’s a catastrophe. And the jewish minnows will be left to face iran all by their lonely selves! They are doomed!

Posted by: nisses | Apr 24 2026 15:42 utc | 61

Also, China warning citizens to leave Iran.  Just like last time.

Posted by: spudski | Apr 24 2026 15:43 utc | 62

GSMT and others #36, #47, #48
The plandemic was obviously planned including the response (at least in the West). Was it a conspiracy (“two or more people are planning secretly to act or refrain from action to harm third parties”)? With the event 201 it wasn’t that secret. But let’s assume it was a conspiracy. Why should anybody assume all the conspirators had the same aim? So why did it happen – because a lot of people and entities expected to use it for their purposes: money, power, influence, playing God, weakening adversaries (bio warfare). Some countries acted following the “plan 201” others followed their own plan for emergency situations (suffering from an epidemic or being attacked with bio weapons), which, from afar may appear similar. The most crucial (and easy to spot) difference between the 2 approaches is “panic!” vs. “don’t panic!” in the latter. Iran, for example openly declared the mRNA jabs as bio weapon to be avoided at all costs, as for covid I am not aware of such declarations – but they acted like it was a bio weapon.

Posted by: BG13 | Apr 24 2026 15:45 utc | 63

JUST IN! Iran’s delegation led by Foreign Minister Araghchi is allegedly arriving in Pakistan today for another round of talks with the US, according to Reuters citing a source.The American logistics and security team is already in Islamabad. https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/182723# Posted by: Newbie | Apr 24 2026 13:58 utc | 20
—————————————————————-
Thank you Newbie. Always on top of things. This is a surprise.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 24 2026 15:45 utc | 64

Drop Site News: ‘The Narrative War’
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdHQ33mjeU4
 
“How Iran is navigating the Iran threat; Jeremy Scahill speaks to Iranian legal scholar Sahar Maranlou, an academic at the University of London, about latest developments.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 15:47 utc | 65

Perhaps the assumption by the troika–Russia, China, Iran–that since the Empire isn’t agreement capable nothing of substance will result from the meeting aside from Iran showing the world its willingness to talk to what’s clearly a fragmented delusional Empire.
Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 24 2026 15:37 utc | 58
———————————————————————–
That is hilarious. The Empire is peddling the line that the Iranians are divided, which they are not.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 24 2026 15:52 utc | 66

Acco Hengst | Apr 24 2026 15:45 utc | 64

🇮🇷🇵🇰🇴🇲🇷🇺 Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi will begin a regional tour visiting Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow for bilateral consultations, discussions on current regional developments.

https://t.me/RezistanceTrench/49783

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 15:52 utc | 67

Jedaal English: Dr Maryam Jamshidi
 
https://www.youtube.com/@JedaalEnglish/streams
 
“Who’s the real pirate in Hormuz – US or Iran?”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 15:55 utc | 68

🇺🇸 A FIRE with black smoke has broken out in the direction of the Washington Monument in DC and is increasingly covering the sky
 
The black smoke means they haven’t yet chosen a new Jeffrey Epstein.

https://t.me/RezistanceTrench/49792

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 16:10 utc | 69

circumspect | Apr 24 2026 15:05 utc | 43
 
US was stealing Venezuela oil tanker loaded with oil now it controls Venezuelan oil. US will also be importing Russian crude. US is now running bandit/pirate raids on Iranian shipping though to date they seem to have attacked mostly freighters.
Alberta is also another source of ‘American’ oil. Highly likely that before this is over, US will have annexed Alberta. I guess in that regard, much depends on how pliable Canada is. Carney is a London banker and London is having a spat with the Americans.
 
Australia is in the privileged position of being a forward US military base for the war on China. Our politicians obediently obey US diktat. The US looting of Australia in full swing.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 16:11 utc | 70

I am wondering about nationalism and religion. The question whether we are equal, or whether God exists is largely irrelevant. If two groups compete for the same resources, and one group is united by nationalism and religion, while the other group consists of individuals with no strong unifying identity or shared belief system, which group wins? What matters is that groups with nationalism and religion tend to survive and expand, while groups that don’t have these traits tend to be absorbed or eliminated. Seen this way, nationalism and religion are a logical result of human evolution.

Posted by: The Far Side | Apr 24 2026 16:13 utc | 71

I encourage people to watch Promethian Updates. They explain in detail how the British Empire has been behind the regime in Iran for decades. Their goal is to have all the power and money for themselves while the bankrupt everybody else. Trump know that and has a clear strategy to take down the Globalists and bring back the middle class to make America strong again. There is a lot of fake news out there. Victor Hanson breaks it down very well. Look up his YouTube video on what Trump is doing in Iran.
 
Posted by: Fortuna | Apr 24 2026 13:39 utc | 17
Yes this is a perfect example of all the “fake news out there. Everything the Orange Retard has done so far has been extremely detrimental to the working class. He has already added more debt than any other president in history and his retarded choices will bring us 35% inflation this year. The damage he has done will be generational. He is without question the absolute worst president in history and will do much more damage before his removal in 10 months. A very large percentage of former supporters of the Orange Retard are now actively campaigning for any dimocrat that will vote for impeachment. We will see the largest turnover in history in the midterm election. Dimocrat supermajority incoming. 

Posted by: Screwdriver | Apr 24 2026 16:14 utc | 72

@Paco | Apr 24 2026 15:42 utc | 60

Macho man Hegseth made me hum the old Beatles tune of Rocky Racoon, reading Gideon’s bible. Now they are talking about expelling Spain from NATO, what a bunch of clowns, …

I am not Spanish, but I agree with this view by a Spanish politician:

‘It’s HUMILIATING to wait for Trump to kick you out of NATO’ — leader of Spain’s ‘Podemos’ party Belarra
 
Spain should ‘leave NATO IMMEDIATELY’
 
‘Remaining in NATO makes Spain COMPLICIT in Trump and Netanyahu’s atrocities around the world’

https://t.me/rtnews/147329
 
There are no benefits in remaining in NATO for European countries.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 16:15 utc | 73

Thank you Newbie. Always on top of things. This is a surprise.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 24 2026 15:45 utc | 64
 
Not really, this has to end (maybe not now, but eventually) and some face saving will be in order.
 
Maybe now is just going through the motions, but it’s expected (lest iran be considered not peace oriented)
 
And even with current war iran keeps looking like the grownup in the room (compared to the west)
 
“Iran calls on SCO to develop cooperation in area of arms control”
 
https://tass.com/world/2122225

Posted by: Newbie | Apr 24 2026 16:15 utc | 74

US spending several weeks on a build up and resupply, US saying talks, Iran saying tour, and Trump regime modus operandi of attacking in the midst of negotiations. What could possibly go wrong?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 16:19 utc | 75

   Trump is only doing what Regan considered doing back in the 80’s. Watch Victor Hanson’s take on you tube. TRUMP IS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S SURVIVAL. To keep the dollar strong and not have oil traded in yuan and rubies which would economically take down America. The war in Iran is to TAKE DOWN THE GLOBALIST’S CONTROLLED BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE. The Davos scum that want to make everyone but them OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY. The only thing standing in their way is Trump.
 
Posted by: Fortuna | Apr 24 2026 13:26 utc | 13
Its obvious to anyone with an IQ above room temperature that the Orange Retard IS a globalist. Hanson is even dumber than you are and should be ignored. Seek help and escape the cult.

Posted by: Screwdriver | Apr 24 2026 16:20 utc | 76

https://www.youtube.com/live/XNq8TjkMeScI follow Mercouris – while some consider him to be plodding, pedantic, slow and so forth ……BECAUSE he is those things! I can trust him to be unemotional and to not hype things up. If he feels Trump now has dementia, that pretty much settles it for me.
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 24 2026 13:03 utc | 3

I appreciate his commentary and insights as well, but damn, he takes one hour to say what could be said in 10 minutes.
 

Posted by: ReinhardVonSiegfried | Apr 24 2026 16:26 utc | 77

I appreciate his commentary and insights as well, but damn, he takes one hour to say what could be said in 10 minutes.
 
Posted by: ReinhardVonSiegfried | Apr 24 2026 16:26 utc | 77

 
That’s the beauty of him. I don’t listen all the time, but when I’m in the mood for some mellow jazz, his accent, phraseology, and verbal tics are charming.

Posted by: frito | Apr 24 2026 16:32 utc | 78

@Norwegian | Apr 24 2026 16:15 utc
Sorry to sound like a broken record. Podemos is controlled opposition. (To whom? Sanchez)
Who would run under the „Yes we can“ slogan these days?
Llibertad

Posted by: steiniplatte | Apr 24 2026 16:33 utc | 79

Reuters
“Iran’s foreign minister heading to Islamabad for indirect talks with US”

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 16:36 utc | 80

   Trump is only doing what Regan considered doing back in the 80’s.  Watch Victor Hanson’s take on you tube.  TRUMP IS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S SURVIVAL.  To keep the dollar strong and not have oil traded in yuan and rubies which would economically take down America.  The war in Iran is to TAKE DOWN THE GLOBALIST’S CONTROLLED BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE.  The Davos scum that want to make everyone but them OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY.  The only thing standing in their way is Trump.
Posted by: Fortuna | Apr 24 2026 13:26 utc | 13

Quick analysis of that wonderful bit of cheap propaganda:
 

  • Trump is only doing what Regan considered doing back in the 80’s.
    • Invocation of the spirit of Ronald Reagan the president actor, who is still a popular figure for the US conservatives, to have some of his “glory” shine on Orangina. 
  • Watch Victor Hanson’s take on you tube
    • And read Catturd. And Gunther Eagleman. And watch Benny, or maybe Crowder. It’s not a proper source if it’s not a weather vane.
  • TRUMP IS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S SURVIVAL
    • caps lock mode on. This is serious, folks. 
  • To keep the dollar strong and not have oil traded in yuan and rubies which would economically take down America
    • Technique 1: gaslighting. The US will be taken down by their own parasitic rentier class who do not produce anything but suck the rest of the world dry through their petrodollar, which is now worthless paper propped by confidence in the United States. So basically this guy is saying that Orangetan should declare wars to make sure the US can keep not producing anything and living large buying increasingly cheap things produced by Bengladeshi kids. God forbid other nations start trading among themselves without involving the US!
  • The war in Iran is to TAKE DOWN THE GLOBALIST’S CONTROLLED BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE
    • Technique 2: redirection. Remember the enemy is never the US, always something from outside, the mighty Globalists (who can’t seem to agree on what to do to defeat Russia), the British Empire (what’s left of it). For some others, it’s Israel. It’s always someone else’s fault. The US of A is just a cuddly misguided golden retriever who plays with everybody.
  • Davos scum that want to make everyone but them OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY
    • Reinforce the Klaus Schwab slogan, put references to the WEF that only the ones “in the know” will understand.
  • The only thing standing in their way is Trump.
    • Conclusion of the above non-argumentation. Step 1: attack countries that can defend themselves, Step 2: …, Step 3: GLOBALISTS WANT TO TAKE US DOWN!
    • I can already see the caped Covfefe Warrior gently floating over the pavement, preparing himself for the big Third Act fight of the movie.

Sorry for the rant, but that felt good.

Posted by: Lemming | Apr 24 2026 16:37 utc | 81

Posted by: js | Apr 24 2026 15:25 utc | 54
 

Cui Bono? – everybody who needs to declare basic human rights null and void, etc those who have subjugated Gaza to ethnic cleansing if not genocide.

 
There is no obvious connection to Gaza genocide, given that Trump is one of the genociders and simultaneously one of the Covid deniers. It was he who first ranted about China flu, as well as Warp Speed. This is merely inflammatory, not an argument. 
 
As to the point hidden behind the toreador’s red flag? That the Covid conspiracy is an attack on freedom is the conclusion to be supported, not a premise that need only be asserted. I say again, lots and lots of rich people lost money. I say they don’t like that and that their primary motivation as a group is money. That is an insatiable want more or less by definition. Perhaps the world is less mysterious if you conclude that what seems to be madness is subterfuge, confusion spread deliberately, to cover an unbearably mundane thought: They do it just for money. You might as well claim these imaginary Covid conspirators did it to undermine masculinity or Christianity or tradition, all for fun. Not for real. 
 
But I will confirm for you that I do think that compulsory vaccination is not an infringement of human rights. I’m so far gone into statism or what have you,  I’m not convinced that conscription is tyranny. Make of that what you will. 

Posted by: steven t johnson | Apr 24 2026 16:37 utc | 82

That is hilarious. The Empire is peddling the line that the Iranians are divided, which they are not.
 
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Apr 24 2026 15:52 utc | 66

 
Can you honestly know they are not? Serious question, because I can well see the possibility in any organization under serious pressure of various factions vying for ascendency.

Posted by: frito | Apr 24 2026 16:37 utc | 83

frito | Apr 24 2026 16:37 utc | 83
 
I read earlier that Iran developed mechanisms for resolving internal disputes. It any society there will be disputes so what is important is that there are mechanisms for resolving them.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 24 2026 16:43 utc | 84

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch
 
 
 
https://x.com/DalrympleWill/status/2047546852745285950
William Dalrymple  @DalrympleWill 
 
This is no surprise, but it’s incredibly important to understand: the Trump administration is doing all it can to kill off any hope of a Palestinian state & is backing Netanyahu’s massive expansion of settlements on Palestinian land from which all Palestinians are banned
 
 
https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2047474411834409235
Drop Site  @DropSiteNews 
 
🚨 Smotrich: West Bank Settlement Expansion Has “Full Backing” of Trump Administration 
 
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told the Jerusalem Post that Israel’s accelerating settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is being carried out with full U.S. support, coordinated directly with President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ambassador Mike Huckabee  
 
▪️ Since the current government took office in 2022, over 51,000 housing units have been approved for the West Bank, according to Smotrich’s office. 
 
▪️ The Sa-Nur settlement in West Bank, evacuated 20 years ago under Israel’s Disengagement Plan, was reestablished Sunday, with over a dozen families already in residence. Smotrich said more settlements would follow “very soon.” 
 
▪️ Smotrich called on Netanyahu to order the IDF to prepare for the “full conquest” of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of Israeli settlements there as well. 
 
▪️ He said Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are “part of the Iranian axis of evil” and dismissed documented Jewish extremist violence against Palestinians as “one of the biggest false campaigns there is.” 
 
▪️ On international condemnation: “In the past, even building 50 housing units would lead to condemnation. Today it is very different.” 
 
Smotrich acknowledged Trump has not yet backed full West Bank annexation, but claimed “we will also succeed in that.”
 
—————-
 
https://x.com/ejmalrai/status/2047642139811545291
Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺  @ejmalrai 
 
Iran allows Russia, China and Spain to use the Strait of Hormuz without paying fees.  
 
That is a hard blow to Donald Trump, as the US’s allies yesterday are closer to Tehran than to Washington.
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 24 2026 16:49 utc | 85

In “The Bronze Book”
That didn’t burn when the library at Alexandria (Egypt) was burned down. (It was bronze)
The writer asked God something like: “Must there always be wars between men? Can there ever be a time when all humanity is at peace with one another?
God replied something like: for a million years there was peace between all mankind. And man was dosal like cattle with no ambition to do anything more than casually eat until he died. Then when the more evolved living beings devised a plan to hasten the evolution process of some of mankind to use them for labor I, God, told them that if they do this thing, manipulate the DNA of the dosal humans, then in time the Earth’s human would evolve even past the more evolved living beings. And now there is knowledge of competition amongst mankind that spurs ever more sophisticated tools and this competition will go on forever and mankind will master every atom to preform the most complicated technological magic, all in the name of war and conquest and competition amongst mankind (the way it was worded seemed like God was proud of the way he played it, to get humans to evolve in an unusual way)
 
So there’s a war against Iran, like has been throughout recorded history, more or less. Darwin Awards will be received and the most cunning and ruthless will pass those traits on to the survivors.

Posted by: Hot Carl | Apr 24 2026 16:53 utc | 86

Can you honestly know they are not? Serious question, because I can well see the possibility in any organization under serious pressure of various factions vying for ascendency.
Posted by: frito | Apr 24 2026 16:37 utc | 83
 
 I listened to Crooke today with Daniel Davis and he builds a very strong case for no division in the Iranian Hierarchy.  The Iranian constitution separates war from domestic politics. The supreme leader makes the war decisions and the elected take care of the Iranian economy and internal things.

Posted by: arby | Apr 24 2026 16:55 utc | 87

‘The Handler’ (&vid)
 
https://x.com/FurkanGozukara/status/2047129815476535644
 
“And you’re going to make me proud…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 16:57 utc | 88

Mahmood OD: ‘US Admits War For Israel!’
 
https://www.youtube.com/@Mahmood_OD/videos
 
‘US Department of State admits: ‘We went to war based on an Israeli request.’
 
The United States is engaged in this conflict at the request of and in the collective self-defense of its Israeli ally…’
 
See also 88
 
 

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 17:13 utc | 89

don’t rush me.
 
 
 
https://t.me/RezistanceTrench1/64334#
ResistanceTrench  
 
Reporter: “How long are you willing to wait for a response from Iran?” 
 
Trump: “Don’t rush me. We were in Vietnam for 18 years.”
 
———————
 
https://x.com/PhilipProudfoot/status/2047419109571211527 
 
Philip Proudfoot  @PhilipProudfoot 
 
I can’t think of any reason why the British government would cut funding to a unit of its own foreign office that’s monitoring violations of IHL by Israel, with whom they sell weapons, provide intelligence, and award diplomatic cover.
 
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/23/foreign-office-unit-israel-potential-breaches-international-law-closed
Foreign Office unit tracking Israel’s potential breaches of international law closes due to cuts 
 
Exclusive: Officials warn department will also lose access to database of 26,000 verified incidents due to cuts  
 
The Foreign Office unit tracking potential breaches of international law by Israel in Gaza and more recently Lebanon has been closed because of cuts within the department, the Guardian can reveal. 
 
The decision to shut the international humanitarian law cell follows a review by Olly Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office dismissed last week by the prime minister over the Peter Mandelson scandal. 
 
Only a fortnight ago, the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said respect and support for international law would be one of the linchpins of the department under her leadership in her major annual set piece foreign policy speech……..
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 24 2026 17:19 utc | 90

Witkoff + Kushner to Islamabad, Iran sends finance minister, not sure how much talk will occur

Posted by: Call it what u will | Apr 24 2026 17:27 utc | 91

Looks like another US-Israel attack is coming soon:
Markets close at 4pm, Friday, won’t happen before then

Posted by: Call it what u will | Apr 24 2026 17:28 utc | 92

Witkoff + Kushner to Islamabad, Iran sends finance minister, not sure how much talk will occur
Sorry for the error, actually, it seems “FM” meant foreign minister (Aragachi). Though with the US/Israel contingent, maybe a finance dude would in fact be better.

Posted by: Call it what u will | Apr 24 2026 17:31 utc | 93

Posted by: arby | Apr 24 2026 16:55 utc | 87
 
Crooke link
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x4pUiIJ3pI

Posted by: arby | Apr 24 2026 17:37 utc | 94

Alan Dershowitz tells Zev Brenner that he proposed to the Trump administration that they should blockade the Strait of Hormuz to counter Iran’s blockade:
 
“I can’t mention who, but some pretty high-ranking people in the administration have seen this article and have agreed with it.”
 
Can you guess who?
 
All Epstein’s toadies are in action.

Posted by: Sentience | Apr 24 2026 17:44 utc | 95

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 24 2026 15:37 utc | 58
 
I believe the Iranians wish to demonstrate to the non-Western world that they are not the problem – that they are willing to reach a reasonable solution. They know that DC/Tel Aviv are agreement incapable.

Posted by: Chris N | Apr 24 2026 17:50 utc | 96

‘We Cannot Rely on Countries Like Russia, China or Even Canada For Our Food & Fertilizer’ – USAGSEC (& vid)
 
https://x.com/scottlincicome/status/2047304196626518270
 
Canada is legally part of the US Defense Industrial Base and a major fertilizer producer. And buying Canadian fertilizer has never been a problem for American farmers…Until recently.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 18:03 utc | 97

@ John Gilberts | Apr 24 2026 18:03 utc | 97
 
has trump put his stupidity tax on that as well?? or was i sleeping thru that, mimicking the moron in chief…

Posted by: james | Apr 24 2026 18:07 utc | 98

The USA empire is the one to blame for everything. The USA empire is controlled by the oligarchy that owns Wall Street, Silicon Valley, the MIC (Military Industrial Complex).

The empire does not change because the people are ignorant idiots and generally bad people that tolerate all kinds of imperial aggression against other people.

This USA empire is a regime that is economically fascist, mass surveils everyone, constantly violates International Law and Human Rights, and systematically cooperates with, or uses, proxies and vassals, that are usually the worst scum in each country: corrupt traitors, other like-minded fascists, genocidal colonialists (in particular zionists), even nazis and islamic terrorists.

USA is an empire that knows the world is changing, and is afraid to lose its hegemony, a privilege it had aince its agents in Moscow dismantled (against the will of the people) the SUCCESSFUL Soviet Union, the only other superpower that challenged USA from 1945 to 1991.

Recently China, also a Communists country, because of its system and size, inevitably reached the status of USSR: the only other superpower challenging USA.
With a nuance: China learned with USSR mistakes, and China has a lot more people. Estimates say that China will inevitably have an economy that will be at least twice the one of USA.

Everything USA does is therefore aimed at trying to avoid the inevitable. Aimed at weakening China and its friends.
A way to do that is proxy wars against Russia (through Ukraine), against Iran (blaming israel), and against so many other middles powers or weaker countries: Venezuela, Syria, etc.
It’s either coups to place vassals in “power” that obey USA, or war.

In the advent of AI and with China having so much industrial capacity, a way to hinder China’s successful communist rise (that humiliates anything ever achieved by capitalism), USA empire’s strategy is to attack all energy sources of China.
Nazis in Ukraine attack Russian refineries.
Corrupt vassals in Europe attack Russian tankers.
USA attacked Venezuela.
USA attacked Congo via M23/Rwanda proxies, and made demands to Angola (oil producer), and has CIA/Mossad controlled Islamic State terrorist also making chaos in Mozambique (gas producer).
USA (blaming its vassal/proxy israel) is attacking Iran with the PURPOSE of closing ALL of the Middle East energy corridor to China.

USA also keeps demanding militarisation in Asian vassals/proxies: Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia – in preparation for the proxy war in the South China Sea, ideally taking place as soon as all energy is blocked from China, and corrupt vassal Europe is capable of alone supplying Ukrainian nazis that fight Russia.

Who is all this to blame. USA regime. USA imperialist pigs. USA fascist oligarchy. USA fake news. USA completely corrupt political class. AND ignorant USA citizens that tolerate all this. I’m not even going to talk how evil some of those citizens are, always supporting USA aggression, relating the USA version of the nazi salute: “thank you for your service”…

How can this be solved?
China, Russia, Iran, etc, have to resist.
BRICS+ have to keep de-dollarising, increasing the use of alternative payment systems (outside of the SWIFT), BRICS bank has to replace IMF/WorldBank, trade turnover among the Global South countries needs to keep increasing, and a new governance system has to replace western UN/RuleOfLaw.

Russia needs to keep getting stronger while Europe is sacrificed by USA, and inevitably Ukraine disappears.
Iran needs to resist. Mere survival is a victory that USA/israel cannot afford.
And China needs to prepare to destroy all of USA empire’s projection power means (aircraft carrier groups) when USA activates the proxy war in South China Sea, if not earlier.

We will know the point of no return has been reached when Turkey gets out of NATO and gets in the SCO.
Or, symbolically, when israeli genocidal pigs are arrested by a non-western international criminal court that replaces the circus called The Hague (ICC), and that very same court issues arrest warrants for USA imperialist pigs (all war criminals and human rights violators) and prevents, for example, the Clintons and Bush and Ombama, etc, from ever leaving USA soil.

Economically speakings, the point of no return will be reached when the dollar is no longer the main reserve currency.
This is slow, but is happening!

Energetically speaking, the point of no return will be reached when China is no longer threatened by any kind of USA blockade.
China is preparing for this, and that’s why USA is in a rush that forces mistakes as the one in Iran.
China and Russia are leading small modular nuclear reactors of the latest generation, and are also leading in joint efforts to control fusion power.

When all this is over, many decades from now, the UN headquarters will no longer be in New York.
The West will only keep the secondary headquarters in Switzerland.
UK and France will no longer have veto power in any Security Council and will be replaced by a single European representative, and Brazil and India and African Union and ASEAN will also be permanent members in such a council.

There will be no USA military bases all over the world, because there will be no point in spending so much money and resources to keep the aggression/oppression in the name of an empire that no longer exists, or whose remains are no longer capable of questioning the existence of the Multipolar World.

People in USA will riot, perhaps even revolt, as soon as the economical implications of all this hit their wallets. No more dollar hegemony means that thay huge debt (both national and foreign) will have to be finally paid, because it can no longer be recycled through the emission of more paper
-money, becuse that will caise hyperinflation.

USA will also lose the hegemony in the information field, and no longer be the sole authoritarian power behind social media algorithms of mass manipulation and control.

But, because the internal conflict remains (between the fake division of Progressives vs Conservatives that is being used to the extreme), this might cause the implosion of the USA empire not only abroad, but also at home.
Several secession movements will split USA territory, in the same way the UK will be split. Washington DC will no longer rule over California, New York will no longer impose valies on Texas, and vice versa. In the same way, England will no longer rule over Scotland, and Ireland will be unified.

For me, the wild card is India, and its relation with both China and Pakistan (two friends with close military cooperation).
Will India increasingly be in the BRICS block logic, or will the zionist lobby exacerbate the Hindu nationalism that hates muslims?
Will India leave the QUAD?
And how will Iran achieve nuclear deterrence? Alone, or with the help of one of the BRICS nuclear powers, or even following the steps of Saudi Arabia and getting together with Pakistan?
Will those regional alliances be better integrated in the SCO, or will there be a competition between blocks?

As for Turkey, the question is: since Turkey is a double agent, to which block is it really loyal? Or is that loyalty depending on the prospects of this USA/West vs China/GlobalSouth war?
Depending on the answer, Turkey might get out of NATO sooner, or it might never leave. It might prepare Syria to be a Suni resistance against israel later on, or it might just make a deal with israel to divide Syria between the New Ottoman empire and the Greater israel.

One thing is for sure, in the short term, the USA empire aggression against Iran/Russia/China will continue, the Houthis will join the party, the Bab el Mandeb straight will also be closed, that’s exactly what USA imperialist pigs want, and that’s also in the interest of the zionist lobby.

It remains to be seen what will happen first still during “Trump” administration: China using its new fleet to keep the Hormuz open for friendly Iran-Iraq-China-Pakistan trade and thus making it impossible for USA to keep the blockade, or USA also finding excuses (activating proxies) to also blockade the Malacca straight and thus further isolating China from its energy sources and Global South markets…

Final note: as part of the European sacrifice, sanctions against genocidal israel will never take place, but a very hurtful decoupling from China will also be imposed in the same manner it was done against Russia. Famine will be back in Europe… while USA agents/corrupt vassals drink champagne in all the “influencer” parties in USA embassies and multinational corporations and USA-controlled “NGO”s…
My only question here is how will USA get out of NATO’s Article 5 obligations when it issues the order for Europe to directly fight against Russia. And how many more countries will be sacrificed in that war: only the peripheral ones (Finland, Baltics, Poland, Romania, perhaps someone in the South Caucasus…) or also some countries of the European core?

Thanks to USA imperialis pigs in Washington DC, and their civilian supporters/voters, the world is closer to M.A.D. than ever!
Not even the Turkish Missile Crisis (that western propaganda calls “Cuban” Missile Crisis) put the world so close to global destruction!

Posted by: Carlos Marquez | Apr 24 2026 18:14 utc | 99

Tobias, Up the Dubs!

Posted by: Kansas | Apr 24 2026 18:16 utc | 100