War On Iran: – U.S. (Again) Blocks Strait Traffic

July 31, 2026

This ain’t gonna solve Trump’s problem …

A Qatari tanker passing taking the Iranian channel through the Strait of Hormuz was a quite hopeful development for energy markets.

Al Mayadeen English @MayadeenEnglish – 6:27 UTC · Jul 30, 2026

The first Qatari LNG shipment in three weeks has successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz along an Iranian-designated route with Tehran’s authorization, Fars news agency reported.

Three weeks ago, following a US violation of a memorandum of understanding, Tehran mandated that all maritime traffic through the Strait require Iranian approval.

Fars said that the Qatari tanker presented clear identification data and adhered to the Iranian-designated route, allowing it to sail smoothly through the waterway.

—The U.S. though, despite being an ‘ally’ of Qatar and Pakistan, did not like the precedence …

MenchOsint @MenchOsint – 9:40 UTC · Jul 31, 2026

⭕️ The U.S. has blocked a Qatari LNG tanker from continuing to Pakistan simply because it used the Iran-designated safe corridor, and not the US-backed one.

bigger—In consequence the Strait is again closed.

PGSA | نهاد مدیریت آبراه خلیج فارس @PGSA_IRAN – 13:07 UTC · Jul 31, 2026

In response to repeated inquiries, we would like to reiterate that due to continued aggressive actions of U.S. forces in the region, passage through the #Strait_of_Hormuz is not feasible. Once stability is restored, all requests will be reviewed and permits issued progressively.

Posted by b on July 31, 2026 at 14:26 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Being an enemy of USA can be dangerous
being a friend can be fatal .
Zionist lobby have the right idea : be USA master

Posted by: Brian | Aug 1 2026 6:00 utc | 201

Tom_Q_Collins 195

Thanks Tom.

Posted by: Dan Kelly | Aug 1 2026 6:02 utc | 202

About the Kissinger quote “being a friend (of the USA) is fatal”, here is what I find :

Kissinger is not the original author of the quote and was actually paraphrasing it. It was first quoted by by General-Major Aleksey Efimovich Vandam (Edrikhin), a scholar of strategic and geopolitical works of the Russian Empire. He was a participant in the Boer War opposing the Britain Empire. After the Russian-Soviet revolt he switched to the side of German and tried to rally support for an alliance between the Russians, Germans and the French, against Britain.
The quote is from the book “Наше положение” (Our Circumstance) chapter XXI, p. 123 (XXVI – wrong dating):

Наконец наступает очередь и Китая, который после своих разнообразных опытов с англичанами и американцами смело мог бы сказать теперь — «плохо иметь англосакса врагом, но не дай Бог иметь его другом!».
Finally, it is the turn of China, which, after its various experiences with the British and Americans, could safely say now — “it is bad to have an Anglo-Saxon as an enemy, but God forbid to have him as a friend!”.

Kissinger would have been aware of this, because it is a Russian perspective on Anglo-Saxons geopolitics.

Note : with google search, you get advertisement and useless crap, with AI you get plain invention. We have to go back to paper books and check by ourselves.

Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 6:36 utc | 203

Ukraine and World Affairs (includes Iran/ME): Weekly Update, 31st July 2026: May be Useful to Some: Ukraine and World Affairs (including Iran/ME): Weekly Update.

Posted by: The Busker | Aug 1 2026 6:38 utc | 204

This is the Iran thread, correct?
RE: Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 1 2026 5:15 utc | 197

lmao
yeah, by a certain stretch of the imagination

Posted by: michaelj72 | Aug 1 2026 6:51 utc | 205

@Strange Bedfellow | Jul 31 2026 20:54 utc | 102
The protection racket that I date to about the time when Germany began to be a too stiff competition for Britain around 1880 at the latest is one sided. The Jews were once handed their role in finance because Britain knew they couldnt defend themselves.

The understanding was that they could be made to lose everything if they didnt play ball. Today the Jews have adopted the role of insiders to the empire in line with Neocon Leo Strauss thinking. But they are still very vulnerable.

And the protection racket for the US/UK and EU is about not losing investments to the rival block. The Financiers cannot do magic. The war mongering of the west is a natural part of the end phase of that empire and their hope to prolong the end phase and maybe conjure a miracle.

Posted by: petergrfstrm | Aug 1 2026 6:57 utc | 206

From Iranintl showing something happening

Kuwait says air defenses engaging Iranian drone attacks

Kuwait’s military said on Saturday its air defenses were engaging hostile drone attacks following “Iranian aggression.”
“Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile drone attacks,” the military said on X.
It said any explosions heard were the result of air-defense systems intercepting the incoming attacks and urged residents to follow official safety instructions.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 1 2026 6:58 utc | 207

@ karlof1 | Aug 1 2026 5:46 utc | 201 with the link to the posting about finance in China…THANKS!!!

I have sent the link to a batch of folks already…..so well done!………..teach the children

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 1 2026 7:00 utc | 208

If Iran wins this war it would be a conventional military victory, not an asymmetric one.

Let that sink in.

A conventional military victory against a superpower and its allies.

Not a resistance war.

Not political victory.

Not a financial war.

A straight up, traditional conventional fight – a victory on a playing field that should (in principle) be level for both sides.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 1 2026 7:02 utc | 209

For what it’s worth this is the average IQ by country for 2026. Average IQ by Country 2026 (Map and Global Ranking)
Posted by: Siddhartha | Aug 1 2026 1:55 utc | 157

iran ranked #4
israel ranked #48

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 7:04 utc | 210

Re: Beaufort Castle ?

Shamelessly destroyed by Netanyahu‘s regime because it was built by Christians. Reflect on that.

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 7:06 utc | 211

“Communists and anarchists are working for the same eventual goal of a society without hierarchy.

Posted by: Dan Kelly | Aug 1 2026 3:46 utc | 179

As an anarchist, I disagree.

Communism never results in a decentralised society which holds the autonomy of the individual above all else.

The hierarchy communism aims for is not the hierarchy of man over man but something worse: the hierarchy of collective control, projected into a faceless, all pervasive control system exerting control over humanity.

That is not anarchy.

Communism will eternally enforce a matrix of control over the collective behaviour of societies.

Capitalism is no different, it eventually becomes communism with extra knobs and dials.

The two are not the same.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 1 2026 7:10 utc | 212

@Posted by: Dan Kelly | Aug 1 2026 3:46 utc | 179

Anarchism is utterly self defeating as it has no way of defending itself against concentrated state or private power, like wetting yourself in a dark suite – gives you a warm feeling but wider society hardly notices. Leninism accepts the need to control the state to be able to defend a communist revolution against internal destabilization and external attack (e.g. the capitalist nations). Can the state ever fade away? When I read this in my teens it always seemed like the Christian BS of “the meek shall inherit the earth”. Nations require states to organize effectively at scale, I find both socialist and capitalist anarchists to be utterly disconnected from reality, with the former condemning actually existing socialism again and again.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Aug 1 2026 7:39 utc | 213

@Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 1 2026 7:10 utc | 214

You are confusing modes of control with who gets served. Capitalism degrades into a monopoly capitalism that controls the state and utilizes it to optimize extraction from the general population; i.e. fascism. A central communist state generally serves the common good, even the Soviet state did that and the Chinese Party-state does the same while utilizing markets in a controlled fashion to help develop the productive forces. Your view of communism in no way matches actually existing communist, it is a propagandist straw man. Fascism and communism are opposites.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Aug 1 2026 7:46 utc | 214

@ Roger Boyd | Aug 1 2026 7:39 utc | 215
It illustrates the doublefaced character of Britains elites since they protected an anarchist conference during the Victorian era. The argument was that British liberalism couldnt interfeere with free speech as long as they didnt commit vilolence.

Posted by: petergrfstrm | Aug 1 2026 7:47 utc | 215

Anti-Spiegel

Trump’s Revenge?

The potential role of the USA in the Ceuta refugee crisisAmid the new refugee crisis in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, a report by the US Congress is causing a stir; in it, the US has shifted its stance on the enclaves, no longer referring to them as Spanish, but rather as “Spanish-administered cities.”The refugee crisis in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla is dominating headlines in Germany and the EU, with the media questioning how this situation arose—a situation in which an increasing number of EU states are even calling for Spain to be excluded from the Schengen Agreement on open borders until it brings the situation under control.
Read more

https://anti-spiegel.ru/2026/welche-rolle-die-usa-bei-der-fluechtlingskrise-in-ceuta-moeglicherweise-spielen/

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 7:51 utc | 216

Posted by: Perimetr | Jul 31 2026 19:44 utc | 77
“In the United States, 54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level, 20% are below 5th-grade level, and 21% are illiterate.”

Using MOA commentators that are US citizens as a microcosm of the adult US population (a proxy for the USA, if you will), those statistics appear reasonably accurate.

Add in the following traits – argumentative, intolerant of differing opinions, confidently incorrect, and totally agreement incapable, we get the perfect prototypical model of ‘The American’.

Posted by: Peachy Carnehan | Aug 1 2026 8:06 utc | 217

Roger Boyd 215
‘.. it always seemed like the Christian BS of “the meek shall inherit the earth”. ‘
Drifting on the high seas without a paddle.

How can Americans understand West Asian politics when they call the Muslim teachings of Jesus alaihi salam BS?

Sumyun bukmun ummyun
Blind deaf and dumb .

More than wept, probably had a nervous breakdown. Are these people really in charge of this planet. Could Fauci find a selective bug that could uniquely spread Ebola amongst ignorant Americans?

Posted by: Giyane | Aug 1 2026 8:43 utc | 218

a situation in which an increasing number of EU states are even calling for Spain to be excluded from the Schengen Agreement on open borders until it brings the situation under control.
Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 7:51 utc | 218

Meanwhile EU-Judeo funded NGOs continue operating as migrant taxi services across the Mediterranean.

That is not to say Spain is blameless, they have a radical left-wing prime minister who vowed to bring in a million more people, so most likely the resistance of Spanish forces won’t be high.

The net result is European citizens will keep getting screwed and f’d by globalists.

Posted by: unimperator | Aug 1 2026 8:58 utc | 219

The net result is European citizens will keep getting screwed and f’d by globalists.
Posted by: unimperator | Aug 1 2026 8:58 utc | 221

You’ll see this time is not that type of problem.
This is Trumpy’s revenge for Spain refusing to bomb Iran, like Bulgaria for example. These are not simple migrant barbarians from Africa, as the Clown of Baku preaches, these are pushed by the US puppet Morocco into Spain’s territory so the other puppets cut Spain from Schengen and create internal problems there. And guess what else Spain does? Spain is a top importer of lng and who knows what other resources from Russia. Bad bad Spain!
Hopefully Bulgaria gets visited by some missiles, maybe Ukr too. Iranian FM called Bulgarian FM last week and gave them a final warning, everything has consequences.

Posted by: rk | Aug 1 2026 9:26 utc | 220

Add in the following traits – argumentative, intolerant of differing opinions, confidently incorrect, and totally agreement incapable, we get the perfect prototypical model of ‘The American’.
Posted by: Peachy Carnehan | Aug 1 2026 8:06 utc | 219

Great analysis, and it holds 100% true here as well… Australians included…

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 9:28 utc | 221

Roger Boyd 216

‘You are confusing modes of control with who gets served. Capitalism degrades into a monopoly capitalism that controls the state and utilizes it to optimize extraction from the general population; i.e. fascism’

The way to optimise extraction from the general population is to allow freedom of political and religious speech and to regulate both trade and consumer equally, not deregulation.
In Germany the electrician is bound by strict standards of quality and craftsmanship and the consumer is punished with electricity being cut off until they bring their premises up to scratch.

In England’s Thatcherite liberalism, there is no penalty for property owners for leaving their premises in a dangerous condition.
This is Fascism, because it penalises workers i.e. craftsmen over property owners.
The interests of the state are always the happiness of its citizens.
Amazing that the first rule of economics is not understood by citizens of the hegemon.

Posted by: Giyane | Aug 1 2026 9:29 utc | 222

Posted by: Perimetr | Jul 31 2026 19:44 utc | 77“In the United States, 54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level, 20% are below 5th-grade level, and 21% are illiterate.”

Well, it seems logical that half of a given population is below median on something. My raised eyebrows is on the definition of “6th-grade level” (11-12yo I guess) and “5th-grade level” (10-11yo) on literacy, and how to compare to other countries (example East Asia).

In mathematics, an average Chinese 6th-grader would probably beat an average US 12-grader. But the shock is here : in English literacy, an average Chinese 12-grader would beat an average US 12-grader. Organised capitalist dumbing down.

Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 9:31 utc | 223

Tanker attacked in Hormuz sourhern route near Oman
https://x.com/SprinterPress/status/2083474913948557392
Israel says tankers attacked without US responce. Yanks have no bottle

Posted by: Monty | Aug 1 2026 9:34 utc | 224

Organised capitalist dumbing down.
Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 9:31 utc | 225

For once, I have to agree.

And this runs through the entire Western bubble… the standard is basically “cannon fodder”…For example: A high school graduate today wouldn’t have even passed the 10th-grade final exams back in the GDR days (pre-1989).Dropping subjects before the exams—ergo, excluding them from the testing process—would have been unthinkable… in a school system actually aiming to impart knowledge!

In our day, *all* subjects were tested, and you had to pass *all* of them with at least a grade of 4… two 4s meant repeating the year… a 5 meant you were out… (we didn’t have a grade 6; nobody was that stupid, and there was no need for it).

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 9:47 utc | 225

Did the Saudis payd Trump for the war? As I understand Trump’s plan was to use Saudi money for AI industry.
===
Just google search:
From 13 to 16 May 2025, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, undertook his first major international trip of his second term, visiting Saudi
…
President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman faced reporters in a high-stakes White House meeting, addressing the
…
the 2010:
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia repeatedly exhorted the United States to “cut off the head of the snake” by launching military strikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear
…
march 2026
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-claims-to-have-destroyed-irgc-headquarters-cutting-off-head-of-the-snake/3845612
US claims to have destroyed IRGC headquarters, cutting off ‘head of the snake’. ‘The IRGC no longer has a headquarters,” says Central Command.
…

WikiLeaks II: Saudi Arabia on Iran – “Cut off the head of the snake”

…
Trump tried to cut the head off the Iran snake but it keeps biting him. Rodger ShanahanMiddle East and security analyst.
…
Yesterday, a large-scale U.S. strike cut off the head of the snake. America has the most powerful military on earth, and the IRGC no longer has …
…
· Iran is not a snake. It is a hydra. Cut off one head and the body does not die. It grows new ones. The Islamic Republic learned from decades …

Posted by: Alef | Aug 1 2026 9:47 utc | 226

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 9:28 utc | 223

Great analysis, and it holds 100% true here as well… Australians included…

…for Australians we can add sensitivety to mild criticism.

Posted by: Peachy Carnehan | Aug 1 2026 9:48 utc | 227

…for Australians we can add sensitivety to mild criticism.
Posted by: Peachy Carnehan | Aug 1 2026 9:48 utc | 229

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 9:59 utc | 228

You are very arrogant to agree that Australians think the way you do.
You are troll of course.

Posted by: Bingo | Aug 1 2026 9:59 utc | 229

Add in the following traits – argumentative, intolerant of differing opinions, confidently incorrect, and totally agreement incapable, we get the perfect prototypical model of ‘The American’.
Posted by: Peachy Carnehan | Aug 1 2026 8:06 utc | 219

***********

And, if I were feeling particularly nasty, I would add in an abysmal knowledge of geography – even at a high level of government: Nigeria placed landlocked in the Sahara Desert, Mozambique moved to the Horn of Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) placed on the opposite side of the continent…

https://youtu.be/xyZKRkjmGWU

Posted by: General Factotum | Aug 1 2026 10:03 utc | 230

Israel Chanel 12 quoting a senior US official: Several US officials were taken aback by the level of escalation Iran was prepared to pursue
US don’t like it up’em
Mayadeen

Posted by: Monty | Aug 1 2026 10:12 utc | 231

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 10:15 utc | 232

@36 titmouse

Jordan doesn’t own f35 afaik, those would be US taxpayer write-offs, one in the US just now also. Metal birds aren’t very friendly, anyway.

Also US is pulling all AD from Erbil and surrounds… not that the air ever needed defending.

Popcorn mountain… made me smile.
Posted by: Ornot | Jul 31 2026 19:05 utc | 65

😮 You mean I could have had Popcorn Mountain closer to me if it wasn’t for these knitted metal birds?!

🙁 This is a travesty! I would have totally tried to make the bird pilgrimage to such a man-made wonder of fluffy carbohydrates. Grain piles are one thing, but that would have been magnificent.

😉 Oh well, Americans would have probably wanted something more human-centric than a mountain of starches that could easily blow away. (Do you know how mentally engaging and rewarding it is to chase after popcorn being skipped along in the breeze? Nevermind, perhaps that joy doesn’t translate across species…)

As for the US(raeli) air defenses being pulled out of Kurdish area of Iraq… smart move by Iran to apply pressure there. I wish the Kurds were not so easily manipulated by ‘revanchist dreams’ (was there ever a Kurdistan?) into serving any Johnny-come-lately who’ll whisper sweet nothings in their ear. You’d think there would be recognition over time of them being repeatedly — ahem, as your human soldiers oft say in more private company — “used hard and put away wet”. Too many Kurdish leaders do not seem to have their people’s best interests at heart, pointing to their current home rulers and the weaker scapegoats within their ruler’s land as the source of their ills. Too many wing tip feathers pointing outward, ignoring all the rest of the wing’s pinions pointing inward.

But wherever will these handcrafted, precious exploding jewels go, if not there in Iraq? Jordan, to keep the rest of the F-35s safe? I mean that would be logical, wherever the largest aggregation of US(raeli) materiel value is would be where air defense should go to protect what’s left. It would be revealing to find out to where these air defenses are moved, as that would reveal national priorities, right. 🙂 Right?

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 1 2026 10:18 utc | 233

Several US officials were taken aback by the level of escalation Iran was prepared to pursue

The Fools believed the racist narratives put forth by the Netanyahu regime.

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 10:19 utc | 234

– “The IRGC announces it targeted a convoy of tankers being escorted by the U.S. Navy through the Strait of Hormuz
Two of the violating tankers were struck, and four others turned around immediately. The convoy attempted to use the illegal route near Omani waters this morning.
Any reporting of what “escorted by the US Navy” means? Are physical US ships with these convoys? Have they been attacked? Have they tried to shoot down Iranian drones attacking the tankers? I get the sense (from Col Wilkerson) that the carriers and their escorts are 1000 miles offshore. Who is actually these tankers? I recall that the last time a couple of Navy ships tried to enter the strait they were chased out quite quickly.

Posted by: Migmaw | Aug 1 2026 10:22 utc | 235

Also Pentagon is pulling all AD from Erbil and surrounds

Irans grand strategy of eliminating the chain of defensive belts protecting Israel slowly bearing fruit. watch for signs Samsonite Option accelerating. Already, more than 10% of Jewish Israelis have voted with their feet in the last few years.

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 10:24 utc | 236

Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 6:36 utc | 205
re alleged misquote by Kissinger [enemy of US dangerous but as friend is ]fatal
Many thanks. Co-pilot AI confirms is likely a significantly twisted mis-quote of [Russian] Vandam [1867-19330]
“In Наше положение (1912), Vandam wrote about the fatal consequences for states that rely on Anglo‑American friendship, arguing that Britain (and by extension the U.S.) uses allies instrumentally and discards them when convenient.” His bio is available from AI…I used Co-pilot.

Posted by: Chu-Teh | Aug 1 2026 10:25 utc | 237

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 9:47 utc | 227

Let me stress out something foreigners may not be noticing about the average Chinese schooler :

even better mathematics level than 10-20 years ago, as the education gets harder, school children get fewer and after-school support (grand-parents) gets better
a phenomenal improvement in English proficiency compared to a decade ago

Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 10:25 utc | 238

The key question to ask is, When the third plane was unexpectedly taken out, Why was it still so important to implode Bld 7?
Posted by: Imagine | Aug 1 2026 1:52 utc | 155

Simple. A couple of months earlier a Jew bought the building and took out a big insurance policy on it. Follow the money.

Posted by: EoinW | Aug 1 2026 10:28 utc | 239

Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 6:36 utc | 205
You already covered well that data. Sorry somehow mis-read your post.

Posted by: Chu-Teh | Aug 1 2026 10:34 utc | 240

@EoinW

i love the explanation: WTC7 had the access to the controlled nuclear demolition of WTC1+2.

so there was a need to hide this…

Posted by: ClubOfRom | Aug 1 2026 10:59 utc | 241

reply to comment – Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 1 2026 5:46 utc | 201

Thank You for posting the link to this informative article.

ps. we read your substack, too.

Posted by: Fíréan | Aug 1 2026 11:15 utc | 242

That is not to say Spain is blameless, they have a radical left-wing prime minister who vowed to bring in a million more people, so most likely the resistance of Spanish forces won’t be high.

Posted by: unimperator | Aug 1 2026 8:58 utc | 221

I don’t know much about Spain but this sentence alone tells me with 98% certainty that the whole thing was an American provocation. Yes and of course Spain is not willing to dance to Trump’s pipe all the time, which amounts to a very good reason for the US to take down the whole of Spain.

Posted by: Avtonom | Aug 1 2026 11:42 utc | 243

Re: Avtonom | Aug 1 2026 11:42 utc | 245

… and the King of Morocco 🇲🇦 is eternally indebted to #Don and #Bibi for the gift of Western Sahara … simply for signing up for the Abraham “Backward” Accords … no morals just $$$$

Posted by: Oui | Aug 1 2026 12:15 utc | 244

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 7:06 utc | 213 .Re: Beaufort Castle ?
.
Where there tunnels under it? And is it still there?

Posted by: ed4 | Aug 1 2026 12:36 utc | 245

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 1 2026 10:18 utc | 235 “As for the US(raeli) air defenses being pulled out of Kurdish area of Iraq…”
.
What is the source for this?

Posted by: ed4 | Aug 1 2026 12:44 utc | 246

Anarchism is utterly self defeating as it has no way of defending itself against concentrated state or private power,

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Aug 1 2026 7:39 utc | 215

When Anarchism ‘ruled the world’ (so to speak) there was no concentrated state or private power. They did not exist. Anarchist copperative communal systems of governance ensured no Dark Triad dominating force ever arose among the tribal collectives. Psychological disordered people with narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism were permanently removed, sometimes the whole elected leadership would drive in the knife, so all shared the responsibility.

Dead psychopaths can’t accumulate State or Private wealth nor power or influence over others. This world is on it’s way back. The world will right itself once more. But first a small matter of an unfolding global civilization collapse to correct a few things, and it’s back to being normal healthy human beings again. Most won’t make it, but it only takes a village to raise a healthy well adjusted loving and caring child into an responsible mature wise adult using the old ways.

Posted by: Asian Tiger | Aug 1 2026 12:49 utc | 247

genesiss | Aug 1 2026 7:51 utc | 218
*** Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, a report by the US Congress is causing a stir; in it, the US has shifted its stance on the enclaves, no longer referring to them as Spanish, but rather as “Spanish-administered cities.***

So — US presence being of far less duration than that of the Spanish cities — when does the USA intend to return the US-administered states of New Mexico and Texas (plus more areas) to Mexico?

Posted by: Cynic | Aug 1 2026 13:10 utc | 248

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 1 2026 10:18 utc | 235 “As for the US(raeli) air defenses being pulled out of Kurdish area of Iraq…”.What is the source for this?
Posted by: ed4 | Aug 1 2026 12:44 utc | 248

Apparently the Middle East Observer, as per:

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jul 31 2026 19:11 utc | 67

And the latest commentary running through the indy media.
🙂 Hope that helps!
/cheep

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 1 2026 13:11 utc | 249

Sorry, ME Spectator, not Observer

Posted by: titmouse | Aug 1 2026 13:12 utc | 250

EoinW 241: Disagree. Besides the gold being taken out, I think there were two somethings in the building that were important enough to take down the entire building. One was probably the Pentagon financial records. I don’t know what the other one was, but wikipedia provides clues: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_World_Trade_Center_(1987%E2%80%932001)
and the fact that the cupola was collapsed first also seems relevant.

Posted by: Imagine | Aug 1 2026 13:13 utc | 251

Posted by: Asian Tiger | Aug 1 2026 12:49 utc | 249

Don’t know exactly why but ur comment made me pull this up. Guess that makes me a commie yrrist in Trump Rubio Netanyahu amurkkka.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BbbWzMGSUuE

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Aug 1 2026 13:16 utc | 252

Posted by: Asian Frog | Aug 1 2026 10:25 utc | 240
So they can help all the newly minted Chinese billionaires count their growing piles of money?

Education: where one learns to spout the values of the ruling class and is called “intelligent” because they promote the values of the ruling class and is rewarded with what the ruling class and its slaves honor: money.

This is what education is in every society that has ever existed.

Thus the wiseman says, “flee their classrooms. Go to the ant. Your teachers only have the knowledge of death and only ever use knowledge to promote conflict. It is all hot air and fire. Go to the ant. Your elders and their social order are already dead.”

What are your math skills worth when you think a BYD car is worth more than a beehive? Nothing. Wasted brain wattage.

But keep cheering how “smart” Chinese kids are cuz they count what their masters tell them to count and do it faster than the slaves in England or California.

When do the death star employees quit? When the death star blows up. Until that time, the death star employees cheer lustily other people being bombed and call it “resistance” when all the death star employees have to do to stop the Galactic Empire is

Stop working. But the slaves can’t.

Posted by: Duck n cover | Aug 1 2026 13:17 utc | 253

genesiss, its my experience that rigorous education standards were upheld in Eastern Europe during the socialist era. For example, I have met a number of Eastern Europeans who could routinely multiply (2) 3 digit numerals in their head.
Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 10:15 utc | 234

*******

Most people will try to do ‘long multiplication’ in their heads, the same as on paper; the units, the tens, the hundreds… and add up three three or four digit numbers. If you use a variation of the binomial expansion and choose the factors carefully it can be quite easy (or at least easier). For example 438 X 972 simplifies to (440 – 2) X ( 970 +2) … and then 970 X 440 is just (1,000 – 30) X (500 – 60) and so on… There are other tricks, but I find them more complicated than straightforward mental arithmetic.

Posted by: General Factotum | Aug 1 2026 13:30 utc | 254

Press Points: 8/1/2026

https://www.presstv.co.uk

Iran warns US allies: shield america and ‘you will burn’ in flames of war
Yemen turns away 8 Saudi oil tankers in continued ‘siege for siege’
Israel intensifies assaults on Lebanon, expands illegal incursions into Syria
US warmongers to tighten closure of Strait of Hormuz – Iran security chief
Trump admits Rubio’s anti-ICC campaign aimed to shield Netanyahu from prosecution

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 13:37 utc | 255

Tom_Q_Collins | Aug 1 2026 13:16 utc | 254

Oooooh, thanks for that, never heard it before … I was kind of out of the music loop mid-90s . pulled up the lyrics to try and understand it … then it ‘for some reason’ I was reminded of the 91 gulf war, a turning point period for me; when I did a meaning of search it said Gulf war likely was an inspiration for the song at the time, so yeah, excellent. Good call, but back then I never imagined I’d be saying what I just did above. the song does say it all. Much has shifted in and out. thx take it easy.

Posted by: Asian Tiger | Aug 1 2026 13:38 utc | 256

Posted by: General Factotum | Aug 1 2026 13:30 utc | 256

How is this simpler? You are just substituting multiplication with extra additions and subtractions.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Aug 1 2026 13:39 utc | 257

DW: Seyed M Marandi: ‘New Escalation’

https://www.youtube.com/@dialogueworks01/streams

“Iran and Yemen to unleash missiles on Gulf, Israel.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 13:43 utc | 258

What is the source for this?
Posted by: ed4 | Aug 1 2026 12:44 utc | 248

on ZH

US Withdraws Troops, Patriot Batteries From Northern Iraq Amid Iranian Attacks

Posted by: arby | Aug 1 2026 13:53 utc | 259

British oil assets struck in Iraqi Kurdistan
https://x.com/SprinterPress/status/2083523484303392786
Iran cutting oil supplies to US/UK supported groups

Posted by: Monty | Aug 1 2026 14:01 utc | 260

On interceptors
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 1 2026 2:32 utc | 168
Imagine:
If interceptor type xyz is effective 10% of the time. That is 1 out of 10. It means 10 had to be launched to intercept 1. I’m sure there some variability but that is what the average works out to, let say. So, to intercept X many missile you must fire 10x many interceptors. Is the importance of stockpile clearer now?

Posted by: Unsafe Data | Aug 1 2026 14:09 utc | 261

re: “Israel Chanel 12 quoting a senior US official: Several US officials were taken aback by the level of escalation Iran was prepared to pursue Mayadeen. Posted by: Monty | Aug 1 2026 10:12 utc | 233
The Fools believed the racist narratives put forth by the Netanyahu regime. Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 10:19 utc | 236“

Iran has repeatedly and explicitly warned that it will destroy all infrastructure across the Middle East, including energy and water systems in Gulf states, if its own domestic infrastructure is attacked by the United States. The fact that US senior officials “are taken aback” by this widely reported fact reveals their profound ignorance of the basic situation in Iran.
Perhaps, like Trump (and 54% of American adults), they don’t like to read reports and get their “news” from MSM.

p.s. I wasn’t trying to sidetrack the thread by posting a few sentences about the end result of the deliberate dumbing down of the US public.

Posted by: Perimetr | Aug 1 2026 14:12 utc | 262

re: “What is the source for this?Posted by: ed4 | Aug 1 2026 12:44 utc | 248 on ZH US Withdraws Troops, Patriot Batteries From Northern Iraq Amid Iranian Attacks
Posted by: arby | Aug 1 2026 13:53 utc | 261“

Note that ZH used Al-Monitor for its source, see:
US nears full withdrawal from Iraq as bases in Kurdistan Region face attacks from Iran, proxies
Patriot air-defense systems that detect and shoot down incoming missiles and drones have already been removed, sources told Al-Monitor

Posted by: Perimetr | Aug 1 2026 14:16 utc | 263

Full report from Mayadeen on situation in Iraqi Kurdistan (Northern Iraq)
PKK digs trenches along Iran border after redeployment: Exclusive
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pkk-digs-trenches-along-iran-border-after-redeployment
Looks like the Kurdish proxies are being brought into play

Posted by: Monty | Aug 1 2026 14:23 utc | 264

Iran has repeatedly and explicitly warned that it will destroy all infrastructure across the Middle East, including energy and water systems in Gulf states, if its own domestic infrastructure is attacked by the United States.
Posted by: Perimetr | Aug 1 2026 14:12 utc | 264

Cbs announced that Trump will cut off all power in Tehran region, including all civilian. So far Iran did not follow Russia’s suicide path, I doubt they will limit themselves to the puppet states if that happens. It would be as retarded as the smo, that is bombing Donbass and Kursk and not Ukr.
Speaking of smo, the heroic heroes of artillery duels have lost a Rosatom ship today.
tass.com/economy/2167979

Posted by: rk | Aug 1 2026 14:36 utc | 265

Imagine:

Is the importance of stockpile clearer now?

Posted by: Unsafe Data | Aug 1 2026 14:09 utc | 263

No Unsafe Data. I cannot imagine how such useless devices – even at 10% rate – can be put in service, other than making money for MIC.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 1 2026 14:38 utc | 266

Posted by: Duck n cover | Aug 1 2026 13:17 utc | 255

Honestly can’t disagree with any of that. But what happens ‘in-between’?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Aug 1 2026 14:40 utc | 267

I wonder what’s going on with the real-estate market in Dubai these days? It has been one of the most over priced luxury bubbles in the world. Seemingly one of the global hotspots for celebrities, drug dealers, money laundering, prostitution and general ostentatious displays of ill gotten wealth. I wonder if people are trying to sell their apartments? The whole GCC doesn’t seem safe anymore if there’s going to be a forever war against Iran. I remember some reports that at some point Iran threatened to hit Kushner owned properties in Qatar and Dubai…that would have been pretty catastrophic to the market if they told the people to leave and than flattened one his apartment buildings.

Posted by: James C | Aug 1 2026 14:44 utc | 268

You will absolutely hit a wall if you dare to ask about and seriously pursue the overwhelming degree of Jewish Establishment institutional power in relation to the miniscule population of Jewish people.

Posted by: Dan Kelly | Aug 1 2026 5:04 utc | 193

Yes it will not come out and say that but it will provide the evidence that proves that truth. No matter what you get it to say, no one will listen anyway due to inherent bias, but please continue as that questioning helps others “see” the truth.

You’re smarter than the average Bear, said Boo Boo Bear. Keep playing with it. Check your own shifting assumptions as you go along. Or the natural way you “adjust” as you go. First principles is you’re in the drivers seat.

Posted by: Asian Tiger | Aug 1 2026 5:44 utc | 200

Probably smarter than the average bear, but also more well read and perceptive. I would contend Ai is like democracy as it “weights” information based on the input it received i.e. confirmation bias. Unique ideas arise from one person that sees things others do not. Ai allows that person to test theories and then arrange a process to “test” these ideas further. I’ve learned great number of things about the 17th Amendment, to genetic predisposition to violence, to the leveraged buy out of the Ethyl Corporation by a paper company in 1962.

Posted by: Laradise | Aug 1 2026 14:56 utc | 269

its my experience that rigorous education standards were upheld in Eastern Europe during the socialist era. For example, I have met a number of Eastern Europeans who could routinely multiply (2) 3 digit numerals in their head.
Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 10:15 utc | 234

In the East—across the entire Eastern Bloc—

great emphasis was placed on education during the Warsaw Pact era. In East Germany, for instance, we had already finished covering matrix calculations in math by the 9th grade; it was a similar story with physics—anyone who couldn’t explain the theory of relativity (based on the knowledge available at the time) was pitied.

If I ask 25-year-olds today about history, they can explain the Napoleonic Wars quite confidently, but their knowledge becomes very thin starting with the Weimar Republic—there are gaps from 1936 onwards, and what knowledge they do have is often one-sided.
I just asked my grandson what he knew about World War II; his answer: “The Yanks liberated us and then chased the Russians to hell.” It leaves you speechless… to see such delusion. But he is one of only three Germans in his 10th-grade class; the rest—18 students—can barely speak German without using street slang. Their homeroom teacher is a career changer who came from an environmental lab… and so on, and so on.

By the way… Germany’s Chancellor Merkel—an East German from a pastor’s family that actually hailed from Lower Saxony (West Germany)—was a party official (FDJ) responsible for agitation at university… she studied in Kiev (Ukraine) and spoke fluent Russian (not Ukrainian; back in Soviet times, NO ONE in Kiev spoke that).In about 12 years in Russia—specifically in what is now Ukrainian territory—I didn’t hear that language even once… not a single time.

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 15:05 utc | 270

Posted by: James C | Aug 1 2026 14:44 utc | 271

Just try inquiring about a property in Dubai online…You’d be amazed at the offers you get…By the way, there’s a special offer for Russians there… did you know?

Posted by: genesiss | Aug 1 2026 15:08 utc | 271

@ genesiss | Aug 1 2026 15:05 utc | 274

disturbing example from your grandson.. i wonder how pervasive this is not just in germany, but world wide??

Posted by: james | Aug 1 2026 15:14 utc | 272

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Aug 1 2026 14:38 utc | 269

You seem to have missed the point again entirely. At least your heart is in the right place. Good day, sir.

Posted by: Unsafe Data | Aug 1 2026 15:20 utc | 273

Dr Basem Naim – Hamas: ‘Not What Our People Aspire To’

https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2083421735706132679

“Senior Hamas official defends weapons and withdrawal deal with Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as the best achievement amid international abandonment and collusion…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 15:30 utc | 274

Laugh of the week: “The Don of Dung”
Since every blog has direct/indirect US President involvement- This might be amusing to read on your wonderful Saturday morning! Enjoy.
—
It turns out horse manure can be worth $1,800—you just need a canvas, some charcoal and the right subject.

A portrait of US President Donald Trump created partly with horse manure was quickly snapped up at the Sooke Fine Arts Show, selling on Saturday, July 25, the exhibition’s first regular day.

The aptly named piece, “The Don of Dung,” was created by artist Wendy Chartrand and measures 28 by 22 inches.

Chartrand revealed that she concocted part of the painting medium herself using water and horse manure.

“Portrait of the current president of the United States,” Chartrand wrote in her artist’s statement.

“The medium used is one I have concocted from water and horse manure, which seemed appropriate considering the subject.”

https://victoriabuzz.com/2026/07/portrait-of-donald-trump-made-using-horse-manure-sells-for-1800-in-sooke/

Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Aug 1 2026 15:56 utc | 275

Even the “TDS” NY War Crimes can’t ignore it.

The United States struck a family home on Iran’s Qeshm Island overnight on Thursday with a large-scale bomb, according to an analysis of videos, photos and satellite imagery by weapons experts and The New York Times. Iranian officials said the strike had killed a husband and wife and their 2-year-old son. The couple’s two other children were pulled from the rubble alive, they said.
The size of the crater and munition fragments appear to show the weapon used was a 2,000-pound bomb called a Mark-84, one of the largest conventional bombs used by the U.S. military. The location and time of the strikes are consistent with where and when the United States was operating. The evidence raises questions about what the United States was targeting and why such a large munition was used.
The strike hit a densely populated neighborhood on the island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran, and appears to have been part of a flurry of attacks the United States said it had launched to retaliate against earlier strikes by Iran on a base used by American forces in Jordan.
The Times found no indication of a military site near the family’s home or any reports of military casualties from the strike, which the Iranian authorities typically announce.

https://archive.is/PGZkK

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Aug 1 2026 16:00 utc | 276

Col Wilkerson, either to Nima or Nawfal yesterday (iirc), stated that over the entire history of air warfare, the best ground-based intercept rate achievable was 20% (that was probably WWII, massed ranks of ack-ack versus large bomber streams).

Technology and tactics change over time but generally speaking the ‘bomber’ will always get through.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Aug 1 2026 16:00 utc | 277

Thanks John Gilberts @ 276
I can understand their reasoning. Considering what they have all gone through.

But it’s a very sad turn of events, and yes he is right, the palistinians have been let down by the rest of the world. But karma will deal with that.

None the less this is yet another sick monsterous trap by netinyhoo and trump.

And i wish them both dead as soon as possable.

On a more practical note,….
How dose this affect Irans long over due retaleation, retrabution against Israel directly ?

Posted by: Mark2 | Aug 1 2026 16:14 utc | 278

@225
“Organised capitalist dumbing down.”

They are afraid of an “educated proletariat” that would recognize that it is bad to sacrifice health and life to work as wage slaves for capitalists. They prefer “brain drain” because of that and also to save costs and weaken other countries.

“The Origin of Student Debt: Reagan Adviser Warned Free College Would Create a Dangerous “Educated Proletariat”
…
“We are in danger of producing an educated proletariat. … That’s dynamite! We have to be selective on who we allow [to go to college].””
https://theintercept.com/2022/08/25/student-loans-debt-reagan/

“An increase of population will of necessity increase the proportion of those who will labour under all the hardships of life, & secretly sigh for a more equal distribution of its blessings. These may in time outnumber those who are placed above the feelings of indigence. According to the equal laws of suffrage, the power will slide into the hands of the former. No agrarian attempts have yet been made in this Country, but symptoms of a leveling spirit, as we have understood, have sufficiently appeared in a certain quarters to give notice of the future danger. How is this danger to be guarded agst. on republican principles? How is the danger in all cases of interested coalitions to oppress the minority to be guarded agst.?”
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch15s35.html

Posted by: p3t3r | Aug 1 2026 16:19 utc | 279

re: Anarchy ?
% of GDP consumed by the State (rough numbers)

3% 1776

6% 1890

12% 1912

42% 2020

Posted by: Exile | Aug 1 2026 16:26 utc | 280

Does anyone think Trump & Netanyahu are both far too sensible to use nukes in Iran? No, me neither.

Posted by: Dave G | Aug 1 2026 17:10 utc | 281

48 Brennan –“Larry Johnson makes a reasonable case that it was the Israelis who “droned” the American Energos Winter at Egypt’s Port of Damietta on the Mediterranean.”

I had wondered if Nut came to DC and whispered in Trumps ear, We’ve fixed it for you –your gonna love this — it’s all set up. We know how to show the American shepple you’re really not Israel’s puppet masters, thus improving your chances at midterms, Or, since the war will expand since Iran will be blamed and become at loggerheads with Egypt, by Oct. when war will be going at good blast, like I am going to claim national emergency in Israel and cancel Oct elections, you can do similar in Nov. It can’t miss, it’s a winner!

Posted by: Lavieja | Aug 1 2026 18:02 utc | 282

The events that are happening in Ceuta were prophesied in the book The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

It is, more specifically, a Zionist (mossad) operation.

It is an indication that the capabilities claimed by the Elders of Zion were actual: The ability to throw rabble on the streets to cause riots at a moments notice.

You think Ceuta is the last?

The Protocols state that there will come a day when the entire western world will have such hordes thrown upon the streets to destroy the property of the Goyim.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Aug 1 2026 18:15 utc | 283

Re: Dave G | Aug 1 2026 17:10 utc | 283

Both are absolute idiots for so many years … criminal minds with an agenda … Bibi is on his father’s mission (Benzion and rabbi Jabotinsky) … time is so short …

Hasbara narrative of lies, thus no self reflection … danger ☢️

Posted by: Oui | Aug 1 2026 18:33 utc | 284

https://x.com/s_m_marandi/status/2083575460420591973
Seyed Mohammad Marandi @s_m_marandi

Based on statements from the Trump regime, it seems quite possible that after months of barbaric threats, tonight will be the last night of normality in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and possibly Oman. If strikes are carried out against Iran’s civilian infrastructure, the critical infrastructure of these complicit regimes – along with that of the Zionist regime and perhaps Jordan- will be demolished. People in these regimes should immediately prepare for evacuation.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Aug 1 2026 18:49 utc | 285

@279

Simulation/gaming war plans I have seen per mission attrition for attack aircraft in single digit percent losses. Aircraft returning requiring maintenance before next mission was usually more but not that great.

Posted by: paddy | Aug 1 2026 18:58 utc | 286

Arch Bungle | Aug 1 2026 18:15 utc | 285
*** The Protocols state that there will come a day when the entire western world will have such hordes thrown upon the streets to destroy the property of the Goyim. ***

Interesting that those who correctly identify the source of the “Protocols” as being a mix of plagiarism and forgery, hardly ever go beyond that point to explain how it is that most of the “Protocols” actual content has turned out to be so accurate.

Posted by: Cynic | Aug 1 2026 20:30 utc | 287

https://x.com/ME_Observer_/status/2083633126631145841
Middle East Observer @ME_Observer_

⚡️🚨 Digest — 16:15–19:15 UTC

Israel raises its military alert to near-maximum as Hebrew media (Channels 12/13/14/15) report Trump is “closer than ever” to ordering a major attack on Iran, calling these “crucial hours”; UK, Australia, New Zealand and India now urge citizens to leave the Middle East immediately, joining US/German warnings.

🔴 Axios/Channel 12 (US official): Gulf states led by Qatar push against renewed war; Iran surprised US officers with recent aggression, including a suspected cyberattack on water systems in seven US states, per NYT.
🟠 Iranian advisor Mohammad Marandi warns an “overwhelming” Iranian response will begin immediately if Trump attacks tonight, urging people to leave Gulf states.
🟠 Iran’s Foreign Ministry vows to use “all means” for legitimate defense; parliament security spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei says any response “will not be limited to the Gulf region” (IRIB, Al Mayadeen).

———————————

https://x.com/ejmalrai/status/2083626783430131770
Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺 @ejmalrai

Because Iraq didn’t retaliate against Saudi Arabia’s killing of dozens of Iraqis, every single country in the region angry with Iran will bomb Iraq now.

https://x.com/Currentreport1/status/2083605743920627797
Current Report @Currentreport1

JUST IN: Jordan has warned Iraq that it will strike Iranian-backed militias in Iraq if the kingdom comes under attack.

The war could extend well beyond the region as potential targets now include critical economic infrastructure rather than only military sites.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Aug 1 2026 20:31 utc | 288

Mark2@280:

“How does this affect Irans long over due retaleation, retrabution against Israel directly?”

Good question. We shall see.

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 20:51 utc | 289

John Gilberts @ 291
Thanks.

All quite here. But that means nothing.

Repect.

Posted by: Mark2 | Aug 1 2026 21:02 utc | 290

Mahmood OD: ‘Doomsday Deployment’

https://www.youtube.com/@Mahmood_OD/videos

“Iran fully deploys as US/Israeli joint attack finalized against nuclear and oil facilities.”

Victory to Iran & The Resistance – Death to USrael & Evil Empire – Free Palestine!

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 21:06 utc | 291

How is this simpler? You are just substituting multiplication with extra additions and subtractions.
Posted by: ChatNPC | Aug 1 2026 13:39 utc | 259

********************

Sorry – poor choice of words. Perhaps I should have said ‘easier‘.

Posted by: General Factotum | Aug 1 2026 21:28 utc | 292

Don’t Play With Fire (&vid)

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/2083667239673192829

“Leave the Persian Gulf Countries NOW!”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 21:49 utc | 293

TEIAP: Sina Rahmani: Justin Podur: ‘Iran War Update’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ju3Uu7Lmx0

“I successfully bullied Justin into doing a Saturday morning livestream…”

(Sorry for low sound. You’d think after doing this for so long they’d have learned to check their levels…)

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 1 2026 22:15 utc | 294

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/246677/Muslim-countries-urged-to-reconsider-cooperation-with-US
Anyone siding with US to burn in fire of war: Gen. Abdollahi

TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) – The commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters warned any country allowing itself to serve as a shield for Washington would face the consequences of war, urging regional states to reconsider cooperation with US.

The United States is pursuing, with increasing speed, a path of widespread escalation in the regional war, Major General Ali Abdollahi emphasized.

This approach is the outcome of a dangerous strategy aimed at expanding and imposing unlawful dominance across the entire region, he said, adding that the criminal United States proved during the recent war against the Islamic Republic of Iran that it refrains from no act of aggression or destruction against the interests and resources of Muslim nations in pursuit of its sinister objectives.

Muslim countries in the region should know that the United States is using their capital, wealth, vital infrastructure, and strategic resources as a defensive shield for its weakened military while simultaneously strengthening the military machine and security of the child-killing Zionist terrorist regime, he underlined…..

———————————

https://x.com/academic_la/status/2083103368864837923
Shaiel Ben-Ephraim @academic_la

The US is considering withdrawing troops from the Gulf States. They are considering the future of all their big bases in the region.

The options they are considering include making bases smaller or even shutting some down. CENTCOM is actively considering shutting down the bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia outright and shifting those functions to new bases in Israel instead. This is a result of the highly successful Iranian campaign of missile and drone strikes.

If ever there was a sign Iran is winning this war. The war was launched to topple Iran and may end up throwing the US out of the Gulf.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Aug 1 2026 23:05 utc | 295

290 Michaelj72
“🔴 Axios/Channel 12 (US official): Gulf states led by Qatar push against renewed war; Iran surprised US officers with recent aggression, including a suspected cyberattack on water systems in seven US states, per NYT. ”

There are several cities and areas in US experiencing mounting water crises due to neglect of infrastructure maintenance by the increasingly fascistic federal govt. This report has been noted to be psyop calculated to get the populace behind the war on Iran, make them accept increasing hardship and failing social services and maybe get up to some anti-Muslim pograms or civil strife, and such reportage should not be disseminated without this accompanying caveat. That Iran is doing it is total bs. Today there is a call out for anti-Iran war demonstrations correspondingly.

Posted by: Lavieja | Aug 1 2026 23:25 utc | 296

Below is a posting from Iranintl I want to comment on

Trump shares post that says he’s destroying Iran’s currency

US President Donald Trump shared a chart on Truth Social Saturday saying he is “destroying Iran’s currency,” showing the rial weakening from 900,000 to 1,900,000 against the dollar between January 2025 and July 2026.

Trump is destroying Iran’s currency in the same way it is manipulating other markets, using the tools of global private finance. Specifically in the case of currency manipulation it is the Foreign Exchange market/private casino where the dirty deeds are done……and there is only one foreign exchange market at this time so Iran is getting hammered and I would hope they would change the pricing of their oil to Yuan.

The Iran conflict is part of a bigger civilization war challenging the God Of Mammon cult form of social organization with its global private finance jackboot as the companion to Might-Makes-Right barbarism.
While some progress has been made in defining and creating alternatives to the global private finance plumbing,
the creation of money has not been moved out of private hands into sovereign nation hands.
money with intrinsic value has not been created with extensive usage,
individual nation’s money/debt/relative value in relation to other nations needs to be managed within a consortium of sovereign nations without private finance influence…..part of that issue are ongoing trade imbalances [need bancor and associated management philosophy], and
the global debt jackboot needs to be resolved and with redefinition of private property and inheritance.

Of course, I want to see society rid itself of private finance entirely.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 1 2026 23:42 utc | 297

298 addendum. The civil strife is not coming from these inner cities facing deterioration of services. There are cities like Madison, Wisconsin that have organized resistance to ICE incursions. Hate groups like Proud Boys coming from outside the cities play dress up and gear up fully armed and mob in phalanxes onto public transportation.

Posted by: Lavieja | Aug 1 2026 23:44 utc | 298

@ 299 “US President Donald Trump shared a chart on Truth Social Saturday saying he is “destroying Iran’s currency,” showing the rial weakening from 900,000 to 1,900,000 against the dollar between January 2025 and July 2026″

Back in 2022-23, they used those same type of charts showing value of the Ruble to the USD. Trying to show how sanctions were destroying the Russian Economy.
Russia’s economy is still going strong.

Neither Iran or Russia trade in, or accept the USD. So showing a chart comparing the Rial to USD does not really mean anything.
Just more Bloviation from the King of Malarkey.

Posted by: golddigger | Aug 2 2026 0:32 utc | 299

R2R: ‘The Pentagon Can’t Defend Israel’

https://www.youtube.com/@reason2resist/videos

“The Resistance is closing in on Israel.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 2 2026 0:46 utc | 300

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