Or maybe it’s because of Trump’s weird psychological issues and terror about the growing focus about the Epstein files…
Not in Ukraine. If this hubris takes hold China will attack Taiwan too early too. And the USA and Israel have not yet won this war, please be patient.
I’ve been down to my apartment building’s bomb shelter 10 times today so far, and yet, there have been very few missiles that even reached Israel and no severe casualties or major damage. That’s because Israel and the U.S. took out Iranian missile command and control this morning and started bombing missile batteries, forcing local Iranian commanders to launch their missiles in a piecemeal, uncoordinated manner, often in a rush before they get bombed. So instead of massive flights of dozens or hundreds of missile and drones like we saw last summer, they’ve been trickling small, easily-intercepted batches. It’s been more annoying for us civilians, true, but I still prefer it to the alternatives.
Israel claiming proof of Khamenei’s death. Seems likely.
Sorry if it has been asked/answered already, but when he attacks another country, does that count as STARTING a war, which reduces the count of the many wars he has ended? In the case of Venezuela, if he attacks and then stops, does that count as starting AND stopping a war?
Yes, his body has apparently been located.
Better late than never, but a lot of protestors would still be alive if this was done last June.
Good wishes and stay safe. The bloody politicians and generals are the ones who start wars for their own purposes. They don’t have to be on the firing line. Much like WW I.
That’s an optimistic view of what comes next. Full IRGC control would have put down the protests in the same way though so it’s unlikely it would have gone worse.
That might be true of American politicians, but the generals on all sides and the politicians on the Israeli and Iranian side are there with everyone else, and missiles fall across the country.
Khamenei, a politician, is dead. Dozens of IRGC generals are dead. American generals are on bases that have taken fire.
I feel the same. Is there any discussion of after bombing actions that might be useful?
In general, I believe or at least hope, that the US (and UK) military are ethical defensive organizations, not instruments of dictatorship. Unlike what has happened in other countries all too often.
There is a fine line though between defence and pre-emptive avoidance of future agression?
Off topic, probable cheap shot, do not reply
There’s non-zero evidence that Epstein was somehow affiliated with Israel (nothing solid, but enough to ask the question).
If Epstein was collecting blackmail material on people then Trump’s devotion to serving the needs of Israel 130% would be explained through a different Epstein route.
If there’s been one train line of consistency between the two Trump administrations, it’s been MIGA - Make Israel Great Again.
Reply to off topic
Ugh. That’s all I can say. Ugh.
Is there an “AA” equivalent for addiction to Israel? America is in a very bad relationship with them. This is pathetic. Pathetic. The worst.
But to keep this on topic: who or what agency in the US has the authority to authorize military action against another country? I had the impression it was congress, but I’m not not sure of the details. What was the situation with Bush’s Iraq war?
Supporting the right of an existing nation-state to continue to exist is in the interest of all nation-states, with the specific exception of one state trying to destroy another for other reasons. So supporting Israel existentially makes sense to me, beyond their utility as a generally America-friendly state in the region.
Uncritical support is another thing. This isn’t the thread for Palestine discussions; I just want to acknowledge that it’s part of the bigger picture, and America’s not making good choices there in my opinion.
What I’d like to know is whether the US bombing of Iran is following Israel, leading Israel, or just alongside out of common interest. In other words, we’ve been at odds with Iran since 1978 at least. Are we attacking now because something new has occurred, as a domestic distraction, or because Israel asked us to, or some combination?
Renaming the DoD to the Department of War suggests to me that el donald does not want a defensive organization. Dictators start wars to justify suppressing dissent.
Moderating:
@Sage_Rat, you comment is getting dangerously close to the “dual loyalties” canard, and uncited speculation approaching the realm of conspiracy theory. Unless you have a credible cite for this, I find it extremely off topic and getting uncomfortably close to a racial/religious cheap shot. Drop this Now. All others, do not reply, I’ll be hiding it shortly.
And of course that opens a whole can of worms which we should not go into here. What does a moral or ethical commander do when given an order from a politician that conflicts with their sense of duty and responsibility?
I’m sure we’ve been through this in other threads? Let’s not thrash it out in this one.
President has always launched strikes - short of declaration of war - ostensibly with obligation to inform Congress. Search the many War Powers Act threads.
Saw someone commenting that this occurred shortly after the initial meeting of the Board of Peace…. 
I can’t help thinking of 1984 here.
The Board of Peace. The Ministries of Truth, Love and Plenty.
Big Trump is watching you…
I am getting off topic again, sorry. Time to go to bed and work on my music tomorrow. Pick up my guitar and play, just like yesterday… 