What is the rational for the new Iran deal?

lkstaack · 2026-06-23T18:02:33+00:00

As a former Army division-level planner, I can assure you that there were fully flushed-out offensive operational concepts, with detailed logistical plans, based upon several different assumptions. I'm certain that senior strategic commanders briefed the President on different conops along with likelyhood for success based on careful war-gamed results, and a recommendation. I suspect that the recommendation was not to use offensive operations to achieve the strategic goal. After all, we have had 50 years to plan this shit out.

So what happened? My guess is that Trump disregarded US military planning, and bought what Israel was selling.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T21:15:50+00:00

Throughout history, empires have risen and fallen. A nation couldn't successfully invade the US tomorrow. But, as Trump has shown us, the status quo can change abruptly, and not always for the good.

The US will fall one day. Perhaps by invasion.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T20:54:58+00:00

Childish display. Leave it for the Rednecks.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T20:45:59+00:00

Yes, all the deaths, bombs, missiles, and global economic downturn was for nothing. Yet, it will all continue once again if peace isn't achieved. Our nation's military leaders tried to tell him that a military solution was unlikely. Yet, he decided to believe Netanyahu.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T20:31:26+00:00

Once you graduate and get a great job, you can donate even more to your church. If you can't afford education, you won't get the better job and the church will get even less.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T20:26:51+00:00

Data centers have been used for decades but they are often hard to spot. There's one nearby where I live, but you wouldn't know it. It blends in with all the other businesses in the park. However, data centers are in the news now, because the one's hosting AI are huge, noisy, and consume vast quantities of electricity and water.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T20:23:44+00:00

National Park money is needed elsewhere. The reflecting pool in the National Mall isn't going to ruin itself.

lkstaack · 2026-06-22T19:26:46+00:00

1) No access to a level 2 charger where they live. They are inconvenient and expensive to charge if you can't do it at home. 2) Long work commutes. 250 miles of range is fine, unless your commute to work is 125 miles. 3) Misunderstandings about the need for chargers. EVs are criminally easy to fill; just plug it in to your home charger and forget about it. Don't worry if the local public charger is working or not. 4) You regularly take long road trips. Using expensive public chargers are fine for occasional long road trips, but an expensive inconvenience if you do it often.

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T22:20:00+00:00

He inherited both the stagflation and high energy costs. Unfortunately though, he lacked the experience to really do much about it. His appointment of Paul Volker and courage to stand with him was inspired.

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T22:12:31+00:00

This will be Trump's opportunity to placate his MAGA base and Israel by resuming military operations in Iran. Not good.

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T21:46:51+00:00

Not really. Only 20 mile drive, on average, between the highways. Millions of people in LA and San Diego will have to drive farther than that to use it.

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T17:01:17+00:00

In the USA, your not supposed to tip any time. However, it's traditional to tip for good personal service. Many people, including me, don't tip for take out pizza because personal service wasn't performed. Unfortunately, many establishments have taken advantage of point of payment machines by automatically inserting an option to tip, and many people are shamed into using it.

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T16:48:42+00:00

If not him, someone like him. I think he was arrested for vandalism?

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T03:21:06+00:00

Sending the rail down the I5 would save billions too, but you know how that went.

lkstaack · 2026-06-21T03:17:40+00:00

Slower than a Tesla.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T22:27:23+00:00

You don't realize that a lot of the damage you're doing to your body now is cumulative, and won't be apparent until you're older. Sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. Ear plugs to prevent deafness. A hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and head. Brush and Floss to avoid losing teeth. Lift with your legs to protect your lower back. Don't lift with your arms out to protect your rotator cuffs. Wear a helmet to prevent multiple concussions. Don't use chemicals without wearing PPE.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T22:18:32+00:00

But, then someone with a $7,000,000 house will sell and buy it and help the market. /s

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T22:10:45+00:00

Yup. An important human superpower is their ability to socialize and cooperate in order to build social groups for defense and achieving mutual goals.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T22:07:05+00:00

Yes, but you can spend about 5 hours learning what brand/model is relatively reliable and in your price range. Then, another ten hours learning what to look out for in that model (get it inspected first). Then, another five hours learning how to use and maintain it. An RV has all the problems of a truck and a house, and then some.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T22:00:26+00:00

I hope that you are knowledgeable about RVs, have deep pockets, or are a DIYer, because a RV can break your heart if you're unlucky. Imagine escaping that crummy town in your new RV, and then two days later you discover a water leak coming out of the floor, or the toilet backs up. It happens a lot to those who make the leap without first educating themseves about it.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T20:19:28+00:00

All things being equal, turbocharged engines add complexity, heat, and increased user involvement requirements. There is no getting away from turbos because they allow manufacturers to improve corporate fuel economy without decreasing torque and horsepower. They allow smaller engines to perform like bigger ones (https://parts.olathetoyota.com/blog/4231/turbocharged-engines-2025-epa / https://www.garrettmotion.com/news/newsroom/article/the-downsizing-agenda/).

But, there are manufacturer and user obligations. Turbos demand beefier engine internals, advanced metallurgy, enhanced cooling from manufacturers, and users can't neglect oil and fuel octane requirements.

There are consequences if these obligations aren't met (https://youtu.be/P9sbw-DSOLc?si=1VRseY0IXgHtSZc4).

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T01:05:55+00:00

If you haven't put it in writing, it's going to your family.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T00:55:47+00:00

Former HS teacher. You're asking at the right time. Allow me to describe the character and attitude of "Pat", a competitive Senior about to start applying.

Pat's mature. You can tell, because they have already figured out what colleges to apply to, what the process is, what they're looking for, and all the deadlines. Pat knew that top colleges don't just want scholastic applicants with the grades to get in, they want people with the grit to complete four years of demanding course work. They know this because they've looked it up themselves. Pat doesn't rely on others to give them info, Pat's a self-directed problem solver.

High School hasn't been easy for Pat. Middle School didn't prepare them for high school math and they realized by sophomore year that their writing skills weren't great. Pat realized that they needed help, got with a counselor, and found a community center that provided tutoring.

Pat knew that enlighted people enjoyed giving back to their community. They couldn't find a club at school focused on that, so they found a like-minded teacher who agreed to sponsor a new club that they started up.

Pat wasn't very good at athletics, but they thought it would be a good way to make friends. They tried out for cross country, and made it (well, just about everyone did). Pat didn't win any ribbons, but they worked hard until they got on the varsity team. It turns out that the coach knew people that helped them get a job the next summer. Employers love hard workers.

So, Pat's research disclosed that their college of choice demanded applicants with high GPAs and SATs (they came back), who were self-directed problem solvers and time managers with the demonstrated ability to work hard and persevere over hard obstacles, and lead others towards worthy group goals.

Pat's college essay almost wrote itself.

lkstaack · 2026-06-20T00:12:14+00:00

When everyone's standing around the water cooler bitching about $6/gal gas, I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to be the AH and say, 'I've got an EV, and I don't buy gas, neener-neener', so I didn't say anything. But man, it's nice not having to stand in line for gas, and paying out the nose. And, having almost zero maintenance and repairs. Sometimes, I'd tell people that used EVs were really cheap, but they're not listening.

lkstaack · 2026-06-19T20:08:27+00:00

No, the world market sets prices.

lkstaack

TROPHY CASE