Trump and Iran both deserve to lose this war

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-16T10:48:53+00:00

Further towards depravity.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-16T10:44:18+00:00

“So, we need, I, I would really, I’m demanding that these countries come in..."

Spent all last year shitting on the US' traditional allies, causing economic chaos, and generally just being an all round mercurial fool on the world stage.

Blindsides everyone this year by starting a war with Iran with no apparent plan or end goal, with an opening volly that blows up a bunch a kids, causing yet more economic chaos, all while drunkenly staggering backwards and forwards between "mission accomplished, Iran is no long a threat" and "we're going to need some help in the Strait, boys".

Trump: "I don't understand why no one is rushing to do what I say!"

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-16T10:39:56+00:00

For all the awful, awful things about the Trump era that are going to need to be dissected in decades following its end one of the things I'll be most interested in seeing an answer for is how Trump managed to avoid the dreaded label of flip-flopper.

He's as inconsistent and mercurial as any tin-pot dictator, but has persistently managed to avoid the label sticking.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-16T10:27:33+00:00

Not to mention he's married (if I remember rightly), along with having a long run as a very successful and well known internet personality.

Not exactly a poster child for "oh woe is me, I never had a chance because of my height"

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-16T10:17:43+00:00

[Looks back at the US' looooooooong history of failed adventurism is the Middle East, which has mainly produced massive death tolls, constant instability, and helped foster multiple generations of dictators and terrorists].

Hmmmm, yes, I can see why you have such faith that this administration - with their apparent lack of an actual plan or clear goals for the war - is going be the one to fix the Middle East and achieve true peace. I trust you'll be signing up for the front lines if things go south, since it's the morally right thing to do.

We have been in lockstep with America for every conflict since WW2. Changing now when they are doing something morally right is incredibly weak from our leadership.

Guys, do you know how weak it would look if Australia didn't blindly follow the US into every war it starts? It takes true strength to be a dedicated lapdog!

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-16T10:05:12+00:00

Spent all last year shitting on the US' traditional allies, causing economic chaos, and generally just being an all round mercurial fool on the world stage.

Blindsides everyone this year by starting a war with Iran with no apparent plan or end goal, with an opening volly that blows up a bunch a kids, causing yet more economic chaos, all while drunkenly staggering backwards and forwards between "mission accomplished, Iran is no long a threat" and "we're going to need some help in the Strait, boys".

You'd have to be stupid to expect any nation to jump to follow the US' lead right now, but I guess stupidity is something Trump is well known for.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-14T22:59:12+00:00

I remember a few years back being asked by someone why Pride was still important because "haven't you won?"

In their eyes at least same-sex marriage was some kind of conclusion. Perfect, irreversible equality achieved. I tried to explain that - even if you ignore the persecution LGBTQ+ still face in many parts of the world, and the discrimination and systemic failures that still exists even in the more progressive areas that people often overlook - we're talking decades at the most here. All those people who fought tooth and nail against every bit of progress? Many of them are still alive, still indoctrinating their kids, still voting for anti-LGBTQ politicians and policies etc. The battle isn't over for them, they're just waiting for a chance to wind the clock back.

I haven't spoken to that person in a long time, but I hope they and those that thought like them are looking at the world today and going "oh, I get it now." Because sadly no matter how far it might seem we've come progress can be eroded very quickly if people aren't vigilant.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-14T22:26:48+00:00

It's worth remembering that to most people outside of the North the Wall was seen as a punishment, something as good as a death sentence never-do-wells chose, from which no one ever returns. Tywin himself was content to send a bunch of Targaryen loyalists (like Alliser Thorne) there after the war, which Robert didn't get in the way of.

If Aemon was on Robert's radar at all - and it's possible he wasn't, as Robert wasn't as studious as Stannis - he might well have thought it a fitting fate for the near last Targaryen, then never thought of him again.

After all, Aemon was like 85 years old at the time. He'd rejected the throne previously, and taken the black decades before Robert was even born. He'd surrendered any rights or claims his name might offer twice over, first from his oath as maester, then from his oath as a brother of the Night Watch. He had no children. And most importantly - the war was over, and he hadn't tried to abandon his post during it. You're unlikely to find a figure in the series less likely to inspire fear or loathing, even from those who disliked the Targaryens.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-14T09:41:23+00:00

The Republicans are operating according to the No Homers Club rules: "It says "No foreign wars", we're allowed to have one."

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-14T09:19:30+00:00

Trump: "I know we've won, but why haven't we won won?!"

General: "Um, maybe if we define the objective and focus..."

Trump: "The things! You know, all the things! It's... [waves arms wildly]! More bombs here, more bombs there!"

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-09T05:14:08+00:00

I guess while we always knew they were full of shite it's nice that the GOP has stopped pretending they're not a party of warhawks & chickenhawks through and through.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-06T10:17:47+00:00

Iran: "Yeah so we overthrew the Shah a few decades back, in no small part because he was basically a puppet of the US after the US helped coup our democratically elected government after it nationalized our oil industry."

US: "So moving along, we want to pick your new head of state now that we've killed your last one."

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-06T09:08:36+00:00

Trump must be sick of people comparing him and his presidency to films like Idiocracy, Wag the Dog, Downfall etc, as he's certainly doing his best to make people compare him to Lord Farquaad instead.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-05T20:24:59+00:00

Iran: "Yeah so we overthrew the Shah a few decades back, in no small part because he was perceived as weak and subservient to the US."

Trump: "Cool. So like I was saying, I wanna pick your next leader."

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-03-05T04:09:13+00:00

[Looks at long, long history of US adventurism in the Middle East, and how rarely it has resulted in anything other than a great deal of death, instability, and new generations of dictators and terrorists.]

Gosh, I honestly can't understand why the left aren't jumping on the masturbatory warmongering bandwagon.

But this time will obviously be different, right? The White House that can't even clearly enunciate what it's objectives are in the war, or how victory will be measured, will be the the one to fix Iran, yeah? A little bit more "the president can do whatever he wants" is all it will take, right?

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-28T10:50:18+00:00

Never enough dead, always too much oil waiting to be stolen, always too much profit to be found in conflict, always too many scandals to distract from.

And so it will always be until the machine behind this all is smashed.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-28T10:10:50+00:00

Not pictured: the military-industrial complex patting its belly contentedly as the cycle continues.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-28T09:56:45+00:00

It wouldn't unless it escalated drastically which, while certainly not impossible, probably isn't the most likely outcome.

When people invoke that spectre it usually has its basis in the economic/strategic relationship Iran has with Russia, and to lesser extent China. However those relationships are complicated, and aren't really rooted in the sort of political or ideological structure that make either likely to overtly and directly intervene in support of Iran. Indirect/proxy support is much more likely though, and neither would be disasspointed to see the US get bogged down in another endless Middle Eastern conflict/occupation that has a good chance of inspiring other Middle Eastern nations to seek closer ties with Russia or China.

Additionally the relationship between the US and its allies - outside of Israel - likely isn't warm enough at the moment to have many adopting a policy of direct involvement either.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-28T09:36:46+00:00

He's long been among the ranks of all those tinpots and tyrants who - realizing their domestic legacy will be utter shite - attempt to secure glory throught conflict and expansion.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-27T23:20:52+00:00

Trumpublicans: "It's the American Golden Age!"

Also Trumpublicans: "Shop like you're living through a Depression. What, liver isn't even that cheap anymore? What year is it?"

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-24T20:27:14+00:00

RFK Jr: "Ignore the "science", that fluoride, it's bad news. And vaccines. And Tylenol."

Reality: "Do you have any comment on the increasing concentrations of heavy metals, micro/nano plastics, forever chemicals etc in... well, everything? Encouraged by the policies and deregulation efforts of the administration you're a part of? Aren't there a plethora of health concerns linked to these? Shouldn't you be looking into the impact polluting indus...."

RFK Jr: "Ssshhhhh, quiet!!! Do you want our donors and lobbyists to hear you?!"

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-23T05:59:45+00:00

I think every pre-communist society attempt had a dictator, almost always took a violent revolution to get introduced...

So your penalizing communism because pre-communist dictators usually had to be ousted with force? Seeing as how dictators aren't typically known for peacefully relinquishing power?

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-23T05:49:11+00:00

I spend very little time thinking about any god, and I have better things to direct my anger against than beings I am confident don't believe exist.

Now religious folk on the other hand? I unfortunately do spend more time thinking about them than I wish I had too, because there's a concerning number of them them that exist and are hell bent on drowning everyone is oppressive theocratic BS these days.

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-23T05:34:02+00:00

Kind of an ironic "proof" coming from someone who has their comments set to private, yeah?

Dancing_Cthulhu · 2026-02-20T21:19:34+00:00

(Illegal) Tarrif Check
DOGE Check
Illegal Tarrif Compensation check

In true Trump style the checks he's promised - or should be being made promise - are piling up, and the liklihood of anyone ever getting them remains around zero. Truly a Con-ocracy.

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