Iran War?

[HVC]

Hasn't turned on Vance yet?

[Sophie Scholl]

This has been the Evangelical/Israel part of MAGA pushing for this. The Oligarch/Tech Bro part pushed for Venezuela. As such, Miller and Vance are probably safe for now.

[jimmy olsen]

Trump now publicly blamed Hegseth, Kushner, Witkoff and Rubio for the decision to attack. The buck does not stop here. 

Link please

[Tonitrus]

Trump now publicly blamed Hegseth, Kushner, Witkoff and Rubio for the decision to attack. The buck does not stop here. 

Link please

I'll help him out...probably something like this:

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/pakistan/trump-shifts-iran-attack-blame-to-advisers/ar-AA1XXcmn?cvid=69b138d8de93435096c7f15fab5c4232&ocid=hpmsn

Pakistan, March 10 -- President Donald Trump said advisers pushed him toward ordering strikes on Iran, shifting responsibility to key officials. He named negotiator Steve Witkoff, adviser Jared Kushner, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The remarks came as tensions remain high following US military action against Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in Florida, Trump said the situation with Iran had rapidly reached a "point of no return." He explained that discussions with Witkoff, Kushner, and Hegseth convinced him that Iran was preparing to attack the United States. Trump said he believed Iran would have launched an attack within a week if the United States had not acted first.

[Tonitrus]

It is kind of disingenuous though to say he was pushing the blame on them...during the same press conference he pretty clearly in taking his own ownership of it (even if based on what he was being told about the negotiations, etc).

[Tamas]

Lifting of the Russian oil sanction until mid April is now official.

This is the most farcical, incompetent war. Not just during my life time, but of the ones I can remember reading about.

What the actual fuck. You create a direct and strong financial incentive for your rival to support your enemy and keep the war going.

What. The. Fuck.

[viper37]

Two KC-135 refueling plane were lost over Iraq.
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/

Unconfirmed but apparently, one is lost, the other landed in Western Iraq.


Looks like a refueling accident.

[Legbiter]

Two KC-135 refueling plane were lost over Iraq.
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/

Unconfirmed but apparently, one is lost, the other landed in Western Iraq.


Looks like a refueling accident.

1 tanker would be refueling accident. 2...that's a shootdown.

[DGuller]

Two KC-135 refueling plane were lost over Iraq.
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/

Unconfirmed but apparently, one is lost, the other landed in Western Iraq.


Looks like a refueling accident.

1 tanker would be refueling accident. 2...that's a shootdown.

Maybe the first refueler was refueling the second one.

[Tonitrus]

Two KC-135 refueling plane were lost over Iraq.
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/

Unconfirmed but apparently, one is lost, the other landed in Western Iraq.


Looks like a refueling accident.

1 tanker would be refueling accident. 2...that's a shootdown.

Two KC-135 refueling plane were lost over Iraq.
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/

Unconfirmed but apparently, one is lost, the other landed in Western Iraq.


Looks like a refueling accident.

You misread it....1x KC-135 lost and another unidentified aircraft involved that landed safely.

Agree that it looks like a possible refueling accident.

[Sheilbh]

When you're bombing Iran and you've lost John Bolton

John Bolton
@AmbJohnBolton
I favor regime change in Iran, but I'm deeply worried that inadequate preparation will prevent that goal from being achieved. There seem to be holes in the strategy, from the lack of coordination with the opposition, to the lapse in preparing the American people ahead of the attack.

Edit: Also interesting comparison by Shashank Joshi who is Defence Correspondent for the Economist with the Chinese trade war. In that case Trump went very big - and China announced they'd retaliate through restrictions on rare earths exports where they had huge leverage causing a massive u-turn. There's a similar thing here where actual material leverage in the form of control of production or geography really, really matter. These reflect structural importance, and leverage, for these states (and I think Russia is also in this camp because of how important its fossil fuels are).

Not totally relevant here but it seems to me this is also relevant to Europe where the question we've been debating here for a while is whether Europe actually has leverage or is simply unwilling to use it.

[Tonitrus]

You misread it....1x KC-135 lost and another unidentified aircraft involved that landed safely.

Agree that it looks like a possible refueling accident.

Now seeing another report (unconfirmed) that the other aircraft was indeed possibly another '135.  Which would be a bit odd, but not impossible if two were in formation/close vicinity (which would be very odd for two flying gas tankers) and bumped. 

[grumbler]

KC-135s cannot refuel in the air. I cannot think of any circumstance in which two would be flying so close together as to collide, bar maybe in the landing pattern.

[Legbiter]

When you're bombing Iran and you've lost John Bolton

John Bolton
@AmbJohnBolton
I favor regime change in Iran, but I'm deeply worried that inadequate preparation will prevent that goal from being achieved. There seem to be holes in the strategy, from the lack of coordination with the opposition, to the lapse in preparing the American people ahead of the attack.

Still, war is war, blood is blood. Each act of violence exalts Khorne and adds skulls to his throne.

[Tonitrus]

KC-135s cannot refuel in the air. I cannot think of any circumstance in which two would be flying so close together as to collide, bar maybe in the landing pattern.

Indeed, that is why I am doubtful on the unconfirmed reports that the second is also a 135.

6 crew.  And most likely a recovery operation more than a rescue one.