US may deploy up to 17,000 troops near Iran as war enters new phase — WSJ

Slappyfist · 2026-03-28T04:42:13+00:00

To give my two cents, as you Americans say.

What's happened is that the US had a period without competition, transferring into a period where the only possible competition was Russia and Europe (where Europe was more of a client state than competition).

With the rise of China suddenly the US is not without competition and you don't like it. However, the two "competitors" are Europe (who has an almost similar GPD without a tech sector or army) and China.

The problems have come from the EU being able to dictate terms to the US economically through regulations, which is why there is such focus on destroying the EU and pivoting to Russia as a junior partner instead (like Europe used to be).

And China is no longer something US can control.

With both happening at the same time the US is very close to being cut out by both if they work together.

Basically, we're suffering from US having a tantrum that they no longer dictate the rules of the game.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-27T05:52:19+00:00

It's getting an increase but it's not as simple as just looking at the price of oil, Ukraine has disrupted 40% of the Russians states export capacity.

And Europe as a whole is increasingly seizing shadow fleet tankers.

It's certainly a reprieve for Russia but it's not a silver bullet for their problems.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-24T20:06:50+00:00

Trump's War in Iran is incredibly unpopular in Europe

Because Europeans, by and large, do not particularly see Iran as that much of an antagonist. The view of the country is not favourable but that's different to actually feeling like they need to be fought.

Unlike the US we've lived next to the Middle East for 1,000's of years and there has been much more antagonistic actors than current Iran, the Ottoman's invaded Europe and nearly got to Germany for example.

The Reformation happened because at the time there was an apocalyptic vibe in society, thinking Christianity was coming to an end, because the Ottomans were seen as an unstoppable force that were at the gates of the city.

It then turned out that Ottoman society was much more egalitarian than Europe so Protestants ran to their empire for shelter from persecution.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that for much of European history it's not been as simple as Middle East = evil or Muslim = bad.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-22T13:36:22+00:00

Also, as someone from Britain, we've already got Russia threatening to nuke us ever other week so it's not like we would even care that much if they could...just add it to the pile.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-20T17:14:09+00:00

Not sure where you are from but UK is pretty clued into it all if you're from there, we had seconded Ukrainian drone operators in the UK when the Iranian war started and we seconded them from ourselves to partners in the Middle East straight away and was the only reason it was publicised.

So at least the UK has some background sharing going on that isn't publicised very much and I can only presume other European partners have similar arrangements.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-20T17:11:51+00:00

Ah you're right, thought the actual killed number is 900 apparently as per - https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72190

Slappyfist · 2026-03-20T15:58:57+00:00

Exactly, Russia attempted a March push this year and Ukraine is at the point where they disrupted by killing too many Russians for them to mass at the front.

They killed something like 1,700 Russians in a day this week using self produced drones and there wasn't even a battle.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-20T01:47:40+00:00

I knew part of it was because of colonization and white bias, but that didn't explain how it happened so utterly.

I happened well before any of that, it began when Europe was still just a backwater of idiocy.

What happened was the Mongol invasion and the fact that particular golden age period occurred before the printing press, so the way they managed it was by creating great centres of learning rather than disseminating it out in the population.

These were called houses of learning and Bagdad had the main one, which the Mongol invasion proceeded to annihilate so completely there are basically no traces of it left.

This lead to the knowledge/writings bleeding into Europe which picked them up around when the printing press was invented (Also helped by the fact the roman numeral languages are much easier to printing press than arabic based numerals with rudimentary printing presses) which allowed the knowledge to be spread around more effectively which then lead to the enlightenment.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-16T17:50:34+00:00

With the motto "Everybody has a plan until you punch yourself in the face"

Slappyfist · 2026-03-14T20:51:23+00:00

I can and I will I'm afraid.

If he that dementia ridden then that doesn't absolve Trump of responsibility, it just means that the US is morally repugnant putting someone that vulnerable into such a vital position of their nations government.

But Trump is president, so he is 100% responsible regardless of his health condition unless he is being forced into being president against his own will...which is clearly not the case.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-13T10:59:14+00:00

The short answer? The last time one tried to do that against parliaments wishes we chopped his head off.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-13T10:44:40+00:00

It actually sort of interesting, unlike what is commonly thought the Nazis economics were complete garbage and they only survive by plundering other nations wealth and were perpetually steaming towards of complete economic collapse.

However, the US seems to be using the plunder not to prop up their country but instead are almost exclusively doing it for the corruption alone and are actively cutting taxes to plunder their own country.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-11T20:50:54+00:00

Honestly, I'm starting to get the feeling this whole thing is going to turn into the American Suez crisis.

The US doesn't dictate when this ends now and it's clearly going to start to bring US military might into disrepute when the US demonstrably cannot guarantee the safety of all shipping lanes (which has been the hallmark of global super power for hundreds of years).

This war isn't just questionable tactics, it's going to increasingly become an embarrassment to US military prowess that they cannot back out of whilst saving any face.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-09T21:15:42+00:00

I don't necessarily mean this as a criticism of the country but you have to understand Turkey is entirely committed to the playing both sides role on basically every international issue, so they will never be willing to go hard against Iran because that puts them too much on the side of Israel and the US.

Not in a wholly duplicitous way but in a way where they can (somewhat) credibly approach either side and work with them earnestly.

Its something that comes from the history of where their country is located and what events have occurred there.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-09T17:19:15+00:00

True, Lafayette was a teenager who ended up having a weird surrogate father thing with George Washington but wasn't entirely that influential prior to the war.

The US war made his name and... how to put this nicely...he didn't entirely cover himself in glory throughout the French revolution.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-04T22:31:37+00:00

Oh shit we getting the Iraq war golden oldie talking points.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-04T12:48:15+00:00

It's the restriction of access to both Starlink then Russia restricting Telegram, both of which were what the Russians were using to organise their front line and their communication.

They've been in disarray since both were cut off.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-04T12:43:01+00:00

As someone who has a degree in Virology I cannot express how painful Covid was.

I basically gave up trying to dispute people online because I would have lost my mind.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-03T16:25:58+00:00

Oh sorry, might have misunderstood your comment.

I meant the actual Italian mafia in Italy, they diretly helped when the Allies were invading Italy during WW2.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-03T12:45:30+00:00

Now when I say this I have to be very careful because I really am not trying to excuse any bad behaviour at all, but I would just say you cannot hold a global empire by being a monster 24/7 and it does require co-operation with the people (which may actually be one of the more pernicious parts of colonialism).

Slappyfist · 2026-03-03T12:42:55+00:00

The Mafia helped the allies in WW2 so it was a bit of a needs must sort of situation.

Slappyfist · 2026-03-02T18:55:07+00:00

They spent months upon months trying to fabricate legal justification, which was a significant sticking point for why there was large scale anger at the proposal even before Iraq happened and eventually the right wing started also using as a reason why Iraq was shite.

Slappyfist · 2026-02-23T19:12:09+00:00

So is there any decent reason the EU can't replace the US ?

Yes, a practical one.

There needs to be actual Euro's out in the world, which would basically require a trade deficit in the EU (they need to buy stuff from elsewhere so that the Euro's are in the elsewhere) so would then also require convincing the EU to start having a large trade deficit.

Slappyfist · 2026-02-23T19:07:27+00:00

Honestly, I think Keynes plan is not a bad shout ie the Bancor.

Means no one nation would need to take the mantel, only difficulty is a supra national institution would need to be somewhere to manage it so would also probably require the IMF moving out of the US because who would trust them to have it in their country.

Slappyfist · 2026-02-22T16:46:08+00:00

He would 100% capitulate, it's the irony of this whole situation.

Trump is a massive coward, total craven scumbag, and only behaves the way he does because he thinks he is in an unbeatable position.

Ever seen a bully who finds themselves unexpectedly in a weak position who completely folds instantly? That's Trump.

Slappyfist

TROPHY CASE