Trump Thread

[Tuuvi]

It really frustrates me that no one in the mainstream who is opposed to Trump's immigration policies, that I've seen at least, will dare suggest opening up more avenues for people to immigrate legally so they don't feel compelled to cross the border without papers. I don't understand why we have to kowtow to white nationalists who falsely claim "we're not racist, we just want people to respect the law and immigrate legally" and then talk about ending family based immigration and the diversity lottery as soon as they come into power.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

It really frustrates me that no one in the mainstream who is opposed to Trump's immigration policies, that I've seen at least, will dare suggest opening up more avenues for people to immigrate legally so they don't feel compelled to cross the border without papers. I don't understand why we have to kowtow to white nationalists who falsely claim "we're not racist, we just want people to respect the law and immigrate legally" and then talk about ending family based immigration and the diversity lottery as soon as they come into power.

While I am avid in my opposition to illegal immigration, and do want a greater degree of border security, and emphatically agree that penalties need to be ramped way up for those industries/companies who employ illegals and encourage illegal workers,

it IS also true that our current immigration numbers/procedures and especially our guest worker programs are in DRAMATIC need of reworking.

[Strike For The South]

NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE

Having Bolton, Israel, and KSA whispering into your ear leads to crazy late night tweets.

I can't even begin to fathom what a war with Iran looks like, other than a whole bunch of innocents dead.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...I can't even begin to fathom what a war with Iran looks like, other than a whole bunch of innocents dead.

Pretty well true of the vast majority of all human conflicts, Strike, unless you are cynical enough to believe that there are no innocents and that we all deserve to get it in the neck.

[spmetla]

I can't even begin to fathom what a war with Iran looks like, other than a whole bunch of innocents dead.

It would be bloody on both sides' militaries for sure. Unlike Iraq, Iran has the ability to hit US bases in the Persian Gulf (Kuwait and Qatar) to include the actual CENTCOM Headquarters.
Iran has so much airspace and such rugged terrain that the air campaign would be more like it was over Kosovo in the 90s than Iraq in the the Gulf War with trees and mountains etc... that mask AAA/SAM.
It would probably get Saudi Arabia involved directly and thereby a much larger and very 'hot' war for the entire region. How it would play out for our Troops in Afghanistan would be an interesting question and how Iraq's pro-Iran government would act would be questionable to say the least. I'd also wonder how Turkey would act, for 2003 they didn't allow the US of their territory to invade Iraq, if they did the same for Iran then the US would be effectively limited to Naval Aviation until it could establish more bases not within striking distance of the Iranian Air Force.

All that aside, I think we were closer to going to war with Iran under George W. than under Trump. Despite his talk about how strong the military is now it's really no better or worse than two years ago, though no longer worrying about budget sequestration.

This is probably just his trying to appear Strong for the whole MAGA thing not to mention distract from the continual fallout from Helsinki showing him as a Russian stooge together with Mueller Probe, Manafort trial, and the Russia/NRA woman.

[AE Bravo]

It would be bloody on both sides' militaries for sure. Unlike Iraq, Iran has the ability to hit US bases in the Persian Gulf (Kuwait and Qatar) to include the actual CENTCOM Headquarters.

Iran has spy cells in Kuwait so it's very much possible, but Qatar is where it gets complicated for Iran and some suspect it is partly in its sphere of influence after the Gulf crisis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_...ndensate_field

That, coupled with its isolation from its neighbors are major reasons Iran is unlikely to hurt Qatar in any way.

[rory_20_uk]

Iraq were. bluntly, idiots for even trying to have a stand-up fight with the coalition. Iran would have learnt the lesson and would probably fight as unconventionally as possible, via proxies and moving assets to surrounding countries where possible.

In short, the risk is great and the gain is practically non-existent.