# United States and Israel are bombing Iran {for current/ongoing events, past/future have specific threads} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071 "2026-02-28T07:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 69
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1373 "2026-04-19T15:43:19Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > blockade of Iranian ports didn’t contribute? The news was saying it could lead to permanent damage to Iran’s oil production if they had to shutdown wells as a result Where did you read/hear this? I’ve been really frustrated about how few details there are on this in the media. No one seems to be doing anything but repeating the statements of Trump or Iranians, along with superficial commentary. I’ve not read any journalists actually doing their job and analyzing what exactly is being blockaded and whether it will have any effect at all. ---
**Author:** ![doomtastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@doomtastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomtastic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1374 "2026-04-19T16:03:24Z")
Cut them some slack. The USN may not fully understand what they are blockading, and almost certainly don’t know why. Information has to exist and be attainable before it can be reported. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1375 "2026-04-19T16:57:24Z")
Right. Trump and Hegseth have zero clue what they are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1376 "2026-04-19T17:15:02Z")
“perhaps if I scream at them LOUDER, they might do what I want this time.” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1377 "2026-04-19T17:19:05Z")
“The Art of the Deal”. Bluster and blunder and threaten. And don’t don’t keep your side of the deal. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1378 "2026-04-19T17:42:34Z")
> [@doomtastic](#): > > Information has to exist and be attainable before it can be reported I’m just asking for basic stuff that any journalist could find out with a small amount of research. Like how important are those ports to the Iranian economy? Are there oil facilities at any of them? How much oil gets exported from them? How things will go in the next few days will heavily depend on the answers to these questions. Is this a purely symbolic issue or is it actually damaging Iran ? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1379 "2026-04-19T17:57:14Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > How things will go in the next few days will heavily depend on the answers to these questions. Is this a purely symbolic issue or is it actually damaging Iran ? If you find out, perhaps you should tell Trump and Hegseth. They clearly don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1380 "2026-04-19T18:06:34Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > They clearly don’t know. I’m sure Trump doesn’t even understand concepts like oil needs to be refined and isn’t just pulled out of the ground and shipped to the pump. But iran does. And their the ones holding the cards here. What they do wrt to the strait will heavily depend upon all the answers to those questions. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1381 "2026-04-19T18:55:39Z")
Nobody in this administration seems to understand that decreasing the world supply of oil will actually affect the US. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1382 "2026-04-19T18:57:59Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > . Trump and Hegseth have zero clue what they are doing. Nor do the Iranian leadership. Its a huge clusterfuck of clueless lying liars. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1383 "2026-04-19T18:59:44Z")
I didn’t see it here with a quick keyword search: > **[Defense officials reportedly asked GM and Ford for help with munitions](https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2026/04/16/general-motors-ford-munitions-u-s-defense-department/89641628007/)** > > The automakers would not likely make weapons. But they have expertise in stamping, casting, forging and working with plastics and other composites. > [@](#): > > Key Points: > > - Pentagon officials have approached GM and Ford to help increase military equipment production. > - The request comes as wars in Ukraine and Iran have depleted the nation’s military inventory. > - Both GM and Ford have a history of aiding war efforts, dating back to World War I. > **[Defense officials ask GM, Ford for military manufacturing bump](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2026/04/16/pentagon-asks-gm-ford-for-arms-assist-amid-u-s-wars-report-says/89641039007/)** > > The Pentagon wants Michigan automakers to play a bigger role in U.S. defense manufacturing. That … doesn’t sound good. Most of us pray for Trump’s worsening electoral weakness because of the possibility that the craven Republicans might start to pull away from him. I was _not,_ however, praying for the very public weakening of US defenses at the same time as we enrage our enemies and alienate our friends. Yet another “I DID THAT!!” moment from Herr Drumpf. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1384 "2026-04-19T19:10:56Z")
@EddyTeddyFreddy brought that up in the [Speculation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/474) thread a couple of days ago, I posted a bit on my second-hand concerns. > [@Speculation for and/or Consequences to the US and Elsewhere for Engaging in the Bombing of Iran and Other Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/478): > > Speaking to specifics - my wife is a Senior Engineer at a microchip firm that produces various boutique level chips including some with military applications that have recipes that cannot be altered. One of the common substrates in many chips is Tungsten (note, this is a SINGLE element in production, you can guess how many others are similar). 557% increase in cost. Now, I’m sticking to general terms, but those costs are NOT going to absorbed by the company, especially after getting burned … So we did a good bit of discussion about how it isn’t a good sign, and a profoundly ignorant one for the administration to take. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1385 "2026-04-19T19:29:39Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Where did you read/hear this? I’ve been really frustrated about how few details there are on this in the media. No one seems to be doing anything but repeating the statements of Trump or Iranians, along with superficial commentary. I’ve not read any journalists actually doing their job and analyzing what exactly is being blockaded and whether it will have any effect at all. I can’t find the piece, but it was in the NYT or WaPo since that’s what I read. I remember it had some odd industry term for when oil storage fills up and then they need to turn off the wells. That process results in a loss of pressure in the well and then the well is never as productive as it once was. That’s the source of the permanent damage. I remember earlier articles making the same comment about the other Gulf state production and that’s why the price of oil won’t go back to before the war even after the conflict ends. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1386 "2026-04-19T19:42:58Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > I remember it had some odd industry term for when oil storage fills up and then they need to turn off the wells. That process results in a loss of pressure in the well and then the well is never as productive as it once was. That’s the source of the permanent damage That sounds like the result of the Iranian blockade of the strait (which is actually real) not Trump’s “blockade”(which as far as I can work out is basically imaginary). Another irritating feature of the media coverage IMO is the discussion seems to blend the two things together and discuss the effects as if they were one thing. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1387 "2026-04-19T19:44:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@enipla](#): > > > > Trump and Hegseth have zero clue what they are doing. > > Nor do the Iranian leadership. Its a huge clusterfuck of clueless lying liars. Are you sure about that? It seems Iran’s leadership knows exactly what it’s doing and is, by an measure, faring better than the US’s “clueless lying liars” prosecuting this war. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1388 "2026-04-19T19:55:26Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Are you sure about that? It seems Iran’s leadership knows exactly what it’s doing and is, by an measure, faring better than the US’s “clueless lying liars” prosecuting this war. I agree. Fools being played for the fools that they are. (Trump etal) ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1389 "2026-04-19T19:55:54Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > That sounds like the result of the Iranian blockade of the strait (which is actually real) not Trump’s “blockade”(which as far as I can work out is basically imaginary). Another irritating feature of the media coverage IMO is the discussion seems to blend the two things together and discuss the effects as if they were one thing. I’m not sure how you’d think the US blockade isn’t real. The US Navy is pinning Iranian-linked ships in the Persian Gulf. One of the first was a ship called the Rich Starry, which was forced to return to the gulf after crossing the strait. You even have the Iranian regime (or part of it, at least) saying they’re re-imposing their blockade in response to the US blockade. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1390 "2026-04-19T20:18:43Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > I’m not sure how you’d think the US blockade isn’t real. The US Navy is pinning Iranian-linked ships in the Persian Gulf. One of the first was a ship called the Rich Starry, which was forced to return to the gulf after crossing the strait. The US just boarded the ship TOUSKA with Marines because it was running the blockade, so yes, it does appear real. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1391 "2026-04-19T20:23:41Z")
More information about the Touska here: > **[Trump says U.S. struck and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship in Gulf of Oman](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/19/trump-navy-iran-ship-gulf-of-oman.html)** ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1392 "2026-04-19T20:54:51Z")
Before I click that link, can I ask someone who has… Do they go into more detail than “Trump says”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=68) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=70)