Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/4/2020 9:00:47 PM

...and apparently will be that, in the animal kingdom, the biggest, fastest, most powerful and most willful rules. 

In spite of the wishes of a lot of those who think reasoning with, negotiating with, coercing, and even challenging the most powerful will bear fruit, the bottom line is the human race is part of the animal kingdom and we follow the same rules.

Taking out the Iranian terrorist General is probably long overdue.  Iran, until this time, has banked on the US tanking on the "most willful" part of the equation.  No more.  Anyone who has lived in or visited foreign countries understand how idyllic a life we lead in the United States.  Those of us with a military background understand how the miscreants of the world want to take that away from us, and how those who haven't been exposed to the "real WORLD" simply don't understand how much better they have it than most of the planet.  In particular they are so naive that they just dont understand how their politics just play into the hands of our enemies.

Bravo to President Trump, especially for showing restraint in not killing Iranian people because they destroyed a piece of aluminum, plastic, and steel (drone).  Bravo for executing a precision strike that only killed the targets, and bravo for understanding my first paragraph above.

Finally, freedom does not come without a price and we can't ever forget that.

Nasreddin Hodja

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/5/2020 1:11:26 PM

Well said!!!! My time in the Air Force included three years in foreign countries and I can attest to your conclusions. Luckily I was stationed in the more desirable locations and even then we in the United States are so much more fortunate than those inn most foreign countries. I have never been in any of the Middle Eastern countries and nor would I have any desire to want to live there. The likes of Ilhan Omar come to our Country and spout their disdain for America. I agree with many who suggest that these radicals go back to where they came from to preach their "sermon".

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/5/2020 5:16:09 PM

I've been to the Middle East and Hodja, you nailed it.  I think the average American has no idea about these countries and these people.  This is the same country that held our people hostage in the Carter Administration and have been in the streets of Tehran yelling "death to America" for the last 40 years.  

  I cannot believe that there are people in this country who are questioning taking out a known terrorist, who has been responsible for American deaths.  Did they believe if we were apologetic enough he would just stop???  In my mind, this is no different than taking out Saddam.  

Now the Iranians are saying they are taking the limits off their uranium enrichment.  Well, we pulled out of that agreement some time ago, so this is nothing more than trying to appeal to the emotions of our would be allies.  The truth is that we can do far more to Iran than they can do to us.  And if they are smart, they know that Trump will act.  

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/5/2020 5:43:13 PM

Spent two years in Turkey 1968-70 (thus the Nasreddin Hodja pseudonym).  Even as late as then in the villages women were going to the one available water source, filling their container and walking it back to their home with it on their head.  More than likely, that home had dirt floors.  At my previous employment we developed an electronic security system for Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti.  Abject poverty there is rampant, and what little money they can get they spend on khat, a hallucinogen that is chewed.  It is not unusual to see a naked man running through the streets, high on khat.  A current work colleague grew up in India, where his home village got electricity in 2012.  He put himself through college, studying as he sat under a tree tending the family flock.  

Hound I am sure you could tell many stories about what you observed in the Middle East.  And you are right, the guy was not a principled military man, he was a terrorist and termination was justified.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/5/2020 6:54:34 PM

Bernie & Liz want to send gift bags to Tehran with sincere apologies

Name:	PTClakefan -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/5/2020 10:05:38 PM

I think they (Bernie and Liz) should deliver those gifts personally, so they can demonstrate their liberal bona fides.  

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/5/2020 10:14:58 PM

They wouldn't for fear that their heads and torsos would be returned to the US on separate flights.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 10:03:41 AM

It remains to be seen whether this will stabilize or destabilize things in the ME in the short and long run.  No doubt Iran will lash out in various ways but Khamenei must be worrying about his own safety at this point and not from the U.S., but from within Iran.  But make no mistake, this guy deserved his fate and it was long overdue.  Whether despots get the message that there is new sheriff in town with Trump is the real question.  Not knowing anything specific about that part of the world other than what I have read, I can only make my judgement about this drone strike is based on who is supportive and who opposes it.  Based on that, for now it seems to me to be the right decision.  One thing we know for sure is that Obama's appeasement was an abysmal failure and seen in the ME as weakness.....which it was.

On another note, only Trump could get the left to come out in support of a homicidal maniac that hates America and is responsbile for the deaths of thousands to tens of thousands, including Americans.  And the Babyon Bee strikes again with a satire piece about Democrats wanting to have the American flag staffs lowered to half mast for Sulaimani.  And the media is all agog fretting that people will think it's true.  That they are concerned about that is pretty telling.  Given their response, it's entirely plausible.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 10:57:13 AM

The Middle East has been fighting, pissing and moaning long before Trump and I doubt that they will stop anytime soon ( well except Salmonella, Soleimani  )

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 11:46:57 AM

Completely agree and the question in my mind is how this will play out in the long run.  I am all for whacking terrorists at any time and place.  And the ME is indeed a 6th century he!!hole and once they no longer have oil or we no longer need it they can descend back into the 6th century as far as I'm concerned.  And again, if you look at the cast of characters ringing their hadns about this it only confirms for me it was the right thing to do.  But there will be consequences because Iran is ruled by madmen.  What those are remains unclear and how we will be forced to respond likewise is uncertain.  What is certain is that this guy deserved being put at room temperature (once the flames died down) and I'm glad he's off to his eternal "reward".

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 12:51:52 PM

Drop a few cruise missiles into whatever locations are producing the most oil / refineries.  Oil is their only real claim to fame.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 4:46:04 PM

Liberals are claiming that what Trump did is illgal and that he is guilty of war crimes.... so why wasn't Obama guilty of war crimes when we targeted Osama and killed him off.  Or when we hunted down Saddam?  

Nancy and some other liberal dude in the Senate want to limit Trumps war powers - excuse me, but they are acting like he has declared war on Iran, but they are the only ones talking about war.  They've got the Milleniel snowflakes wringing their hands afraid they will be drafted (would we honestly inflict their neediness on our military?)  Lets send Bernie and Joe and Liz over there to apologize.  

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 5:00:28 PM

because orange man bad.  

It is funny that Trump is able to get these left wing nutz to side with terrorists or worse and they do it with a smile. 

Nutburger Nancy wants to attempt to restrict what Trump can do, go for it - we do not need to be in the ME at all.  And as for Iraq, when we pull out, told to get out, forced out -  we should make sure no additonal aid will flow, and when Saudi, Iran or whoever decides to move into Iraq, let em have it and when they ask for our help again,  tell them that we are sorry but we were asked to leave and wish the well. 

Name:	PTClakefan -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 7:03:11 PM

I could be wrong, but I think what the libs are saying is that Trump's threat (if carried out) to target "cultural sites" if this escalates, could violate the terms of the Geneva Convention, the Hague Convention and the U.S. War Crimes Act.  I don't think anyone, with any credibility, has said targeting Sulemani and taking him out was a "war crime."    

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 8:43:12 PM

I don't think he said "cultural sites" but "sites with cultural significance".  Could be a big difference.  A valid military target could have cultural significance.  Point Trump may be driving home to the Iranians is that he mght not pass up a valid military target just because it is culturally significant.  New Sheriff in town?

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 9:21:07 PM

You raise a interesting point.  Give how they have known to use cultural spots and women and children as safeguards.  

Pompao has repeatedly said that we will not do anything illegal.  I suspect we have a lot of strategic targets that we won't have to blow up mosques and anything historical that is illegal.  Iran uses rhetoric all the time, so I don't see why Trump shouldn't.  Just because he says it doesn't mean he will do it.  But I think he wants them to understand that the game is over.  

Name:	PTClakefan -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/6/2020 10:20:32 PM

I agree that what has come out thus far is that the U.S. will be targeting only Iranian military and industrial facilities should it come to that.  President Trump's earlier tweet left that a little vague, but Pompeo and others have seemed to walk that back a bit.  For all of the good things that have ocurred during his administration, economically and otherwise,  I really wish that he would filter that twitter account a bit (or a lot).  One day it may really matter.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/7/2020 8:30:19 AM

Who gets to decide if a site is off limits?  Why not just deem the entire country a cultural site and then no one can do anything inside your borders.

If that is the case could the Chevy that Salami was riding in not a his cultural mode of travel and protected under international law?

I can understanding not destroying historic sites etc - but who gets to decide?  If that is the case we can just deem all of our sites, people and transportation around the world as protected and off limits.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/7/2020 9:09:08 AM

Here's the reality.  The U.S. already has plans in place to retaliate against Iran which I am sure includes specific targets, some of which may have cultural significance to Iran despite being legitimate military targets.  This is yet another example of people projecting onto what Trump actually said.  He has more than likely been in briefings where they have discussed the targets and I am sure they pointed out that some of them have cultural significance.  Hence, and I will echo Hodja's comment, that the new sherrif in town is telling them that combining military targets with cultural sites will not exempt them from attack.

Name:	MAJ USA RET -	Reply
Subject:	It Has Always Been
Date:	1/7/2020 10:21:00 AM

If a woman, in an Arabic land, looks at the face of a man not her husband while he talks to her, she will likely be SEVERELY punished. That would have been the fate of my interpreter had they been able to take her. The man would not be punished.

In the baking hot sun, the women wear full coverage black clothing. They are not allowed to drive. They are not allowed to be out in public unless escorted. Women are chattel.

In the main, Muslim men are self-centered and possessive. Men are aggressive and violent. Men are allowed by their chosen religion to be duplicitous. Men are pigs. And because of their unbridled animalism, they make terrible soldiers. You can show them how to do it… and they will act the part during training. But in the end… well… they just like their automatic weapons. THIS… I have witnessed!

Life in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Muslim Africa is desperate unless you number among the elite.

* * * * *

I have lived in Europe for five years of my life. The term for returning to the U. S. was “returning to the world.” Laughable phrase. We have it SO much better than the rest of the world. Just how did we get to be this way?

We are a democratic republic created by VERY wise and critical students of history, philosophy, religion, and human nature. I suggest that liberals, socialists, communists, journalists, and actors give it a try. We should ALL “…support and defend the [our] Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

- LMF Curmudgeon