So, we’re all abuzz over Iran. Shazam! as Gomer used to say. This is like a shell game. 
Hamas started it… no, it’s was the Palestinians… maybe, it was Israel… no, Hezbollah… or maybe Lebanon… but it could be Iran. Slogans keep changing on the flags popping up everywhere. “You have our total support, Israel!” “Free Gaza!” “We’re coming for your kiester, Iran!” (OK, I made that last one up.)
We don’t know what’s going on.
But it doesn’t matter. We’re in! Don’t care who started it. Don’t care why. Tell us the general vicinity to drop when we get there.
Frankly, it might simpler to identify the places where the U.S. would not giddy-up and go. It’s practically expected. If you have ghosts, who you gonna call? “Ghostbusters.” If you have a war, who you gonna call? The United States of America.
We’re up for a war anytime, anywhere, for any purpose, which frankly should be sufficient reason to vote for Trump. He doesn’t like wars. (He, like, takes it seriously or something!)
When he was growing up he was probably buying up properties with Monopoly money when the rest of the kids were playing GI Joe.
You Gen Z people should think long and hard about who you want to be president, because a war is a real possibility. Likely even, with all the crazy people at the top. And surprise, surprise: you Gen Zers will have to go fight it! Seriously. So take your headsets off and start paying attention. It’s not a video game in the Army, son. Don’t believe that “shock and awe” crap. It ain’t gonna be 3 days and we’re out. 3 years, maybe. And we’ll leave a mess behind. That, I guarantee. But we’ll leave some cool stuff when we go. Probably $18.6 billion of equipment; a little a little somethin somethin so they won’t get too pissed off.
I remember the first lottery drawing (since 1942) that was held at Selective Service National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in December 1969. The initial date and number were September 16 and 139, so all men born September 16, 1951, were assigned draft number 139. The 11th draws, however, were the date July 9 and the number 1, so men born July 9 were assigned draft number 1 and drafted first.
July 9 is my birthday. It is also the birthday of my former boyfriend who turned 21 the following year. Had I not been a girl and had he not gotten a deferment, it would have been a “Country Joe and the Fish” moment for both of us.
Yeah, come on all of you big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He’s got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We’re gonna have a whole lotta fun.
And it’s one, two, three,
What are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it’s five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain’t no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we’re all gonna die.
When your country drops you off in a jungle where no one speaks your language it begs the question, “What the hell am I doing here?” This is 1969 we’re talking about. We just had the summer of all summers. The “summer of love.” We gave new meaning to the word, “pacifist.” John Lennon and Yoko Ono were protesting the war in bed and not one fight broke out at Woodstock in a crowd of 500,000!
Horoscopes were popular back then. When you’d meet someone, the first thing they’d ask is, “What’s your sign.” The irony of July popping up first was not lost on me. They would be sending cargo planes full of emotional, nurturing, sensitive and sometimes insecure hippies who would be more concerned with their boots matching their combat fatigues, than doing a hundred push-ups.
That I didn’t have to go was fortuitous: for the military. I doubt all my make-up, orange-juice can curlers, and requisite hairspray would have fit in those camouflage bags under a cot somewhere. 
In the early 70s, or thereabouts, the country was getting restless. To justify the war, the MSM thought it would be a good idea to show clips of the Vietnam War in action. That was a mistake. This was during the 6:00 news when we were eating off of TV trays so we could see what was going on. As we choked down our Swanson chicken, we decided then and there we didn’t like this Vietnam thing, at all.
They were shooting at each other! On TV! Oh, no, no, no, no. That was not OK. I mean someone could get killed!
And it went on and on with no end in sight.
“Over the President’s veto, Congress enacted the War Powers Resolution in 1973, which was designed to redistribute the war powers between the President and Congress. Although ambiguous in some respects, the Resolution appears to define restrictively the President’s powers, to require him to report fully to Congress upon the introduction of troops into foreign areas, to specify a maximum time limitation on the engagement of hostilities absent affirmative congressional action, and to provide a means for Congress to require cessation of hostilities in advance of the time set.
The President’s power to commit United States troops into hostilities, or into situations of imminent involvement in hostilities, is limited to instances of (1) a declaration of war, (2) a specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by an attack on the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.
In the absence of a declaration of war, a President must within 48 hours report to Congress whenever he introduces troops (1) into hostilities or situations of imminent hostilities, (2) into a foreign nation while equipped for combat, except in certain nonhostile situations, or (3) in numbers which substantially enlarge United States troops equipped for combat already located in a foreign nation.64 If the President introduces troops in the first of these three situations, then he must terminate the use of troops within 60 days after his report was submitted or was required to be submitted to Congress, unless Congress (1) has declared war, (2) has extended the period, or (3) is unable to meet as a result of an attack on the United States, but the period can be extended another 30 days by the President’s certification to Congress of unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of the troops.”
It says so right here: https://constitution.findlaw.com/
So when Biden said:
…militia groups have conducted numerous attacks using unmanned aerial systems and indirect fire… A United States contractor suffered a fatal cardiac incident while moving to a shelter during one of these attacks. …
In response…United States forces conducted targeted strikes against facilities in eastern Syria…I directed this military action…pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief.”
Was this another “Biden moment” or did another war break out when I wasn’t looking? What does Syria have to do with all this? Hamas, Israel, Palestine, Hezbollah, Iran, and now Syria? That contractor might have had myocarditis, for Pete’s Sake. Seeing U.S. fighter jets overhead probably scared him to death.
Don’t tell me they’re trying to kill all the Palestinians in Syria now. As far as I know, we can’t (don’t) declare war unless we are attacked or about to be attacked. There is a process. The process should not involved Biden attacking a country and saying he did it because he’s in charge. To be “in charge” one should, at the very minimum, be in charge of their faculties I would think. I’m not sure that applies here. Does he realize Syria has friends in high places? As does Iran and Turkey. They run in the same circles.
So, did Biden do this to go to war with Russia?
Or did they find the WMDs they were looking for in Iraq, in Syria. Because that’s where they went. To Syria. Lots and lots of tunnels connecting the former Ba’ath party that was put together by an Antiochian Orthodox Christian. Another story for another day.
So, here’s the really scary part (for me) that nobody wants to say out loud: What “constitutional authority” does Biden think he has? He has been signing off on Executive Order 13848 for 3 straight years. The one that says there is a “national emergency” because of (the threat of) stolen elections, giving Trump special powers, like remaining Commander-in-Chief. (No one ever listens to me.)
Where’s Trump????
Another war is upon us shrouded in propaganda. We see it and smell it. Count me out. God is our Father. Brothers all are we. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in and in Relation to Syria
On October 14, 2019, by Executive Order 13894, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in and in relation to Syria.
The situation in and in relation to Syria, and in particular the actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria, undermines the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, endangers civilians, and further threatens to undermine the peace, security, and stability in the region, and continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019, must continue in effect beyond October 14, 2022. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 with respect to the situation in and in relation to Syria.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 12, 2022
Film about Palestine made 25 years ago by famous filmmaker/journalist John Pilger
https://johnpilger.com/videos/palestine-is-still-the-issue
The US will probably stage a false flag or actually manage to bait Syria or Iran into firing at one of our ships or other assets. Hard to say whether the US will attack Syria, Iran or both. Perhaps neither if the Israelis are very careful and scale down their offensive in Gaza, which it appears that they have.
But the neocons want a war against Iran. It will be interesting to see how Iran responds if it is attacked. They seem to have targeted Iranian assets in Syria so far, ostensibly in retaliation for attacks on US assets in the region. My money is that if they get froggy and jump it will be against Iran. And it may be a fascinating little drama.
My guess is that the Iranians are ready for them, just like Hamas is ready for Tzahal. But I could be wrong.
I’m at the tail end of Millennials and work with a bunch of Gen Z’s, for the love of all that is holy the thought of your above statement is terrifying.
I don’t think I’ve ever met a collective group of people where the ENTIRE generation has some sort of mental disorder, or breaks down at even the slightest sign of adversity, is insanely sexually confused. Never seen anything like it and I see it on almost a daily basis.
If they are the ones that are going to protect us during war then I’m just gonna start learning Mandarin, Farsi or whatever else bc we’re boned in that case.
But, to give Gen Z some credit, the ones that are conservative are very conservative and a large portion of recent Orthodox converts seem to be Gen Z. So there, ended on a happy note lol.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a collective group of people where the ENTIRE generation has some sort of mental disorder, or breaks down at even the slightest sign of adversity, is insanely sexually confused. Never seen anything like it and I see it on almost a daily basis.”
But I think that’s what the current cultural leadership of America is and has been trying to create. Sadly, to a large degree, they’ve been successful. What used to be problems are now exalted as virtues. It’s so weird — we can all see it, but we’re supposed to pretend that we don’t notice.
Take this recent CIA recruitment video — where having “generalized anxiety disorder” and being “intersectional” (I still have no idea what that is…. I’m a GenX’er) are exalted as virtues. The fact that these sorts of things are publicly exalted as virtues proves that feminine-style “false motherly compassion” influences have fully corrupted our institutions, at the highest levels.
In 1991 when I was joining the Army, these would have been frank disqualifiers. (Not sure about the “intersectional” one, but if I had told the recruitment officer that I was “intersectional,” he probably would have laughed in my face….)
Fortuately – as you state – many Gen Z’ers are solid and inspiring. I’m involved with the Orthodox St Paisios brotherhood and have met many solid Gen Z’ers through that — talk about a renewed hope and confidence in younger generations.
It’s that classic scenario where the wisest people are hovering under the radar and aren’t even part of the conversation….. such seems to be true with Gen Z, in my opinion.
I stopped believing in the American Okey Dokey dream a long time ago. Not sure if I ever believed in it. The Good Ol’ USA has always been about making money. Calvin Coolidge once said “ The chief business of the American people is business”. I think that sums it up. I remember one time I was watching Star Trek the Next Generation and it occurred to me that the USA reminded me of the Ferengi. War is big business and this country profits over other peoples suffering. Anytime there is some humanitarian action that is made, it is merely for a good excuse to have a photo op. On the dollar it says “In God We Trust”. What god? The god of this country is money and this country does not care how many people it has to kill to get more of it. We’re going to war. The rich kids will get out of it but the poor kids will die to make the former richer. Oh Lord Jesus Christ help us to endure the rough times ahead and have mercy on us all.
Well said (written) Dn. John. I was in that 1969 draft lottery Gail mentioned, and thank God every day that I drew 337 and did not have to go to Vietnam. I believe that war opened a lot of eyes to Butler’s contention that War is a Racket.
At least the Ferngi are honest about their greed and avarice. Americans cloak their greed and avarice with a mantle of pseudo compassion and moralistic pontifications.
It is interesting that the name of the rapacious Ferengi
of Star Trek fame is the same as the Arabic term derived
from the rapacious Crusaders known to us as Franks
Even recently Greeks referred to them as Frangoi (Φράγκοι).
Also, it’s possible that the term Varangi (as in Varangian Guard) is derived from this.
Here is what the OED [Oxford English Dictionary] has to say:
(1) Varangian
noun & adjective
Summary
A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element.
Etymons: Latin Varangus, -ian suffix.
< medieval or modern Latin Varangus (< medieval Greek Βάραγγος (plural Βάραγγοι), < (through Slavonic languages) Old Norse Vǽringi (plural Vǽringjar), apparently < vár- (< plural várar) plighted faith) + -ian suffix.
Notes
In the Old Russian chronicle of Nestor the name occurs as Variagi and Variazi (plural), and survives in modern Russian varjag a pedlar, Ukrainian varjah a big strong man.
(2) Feringhee
noun
Etymology:
Summary
A borrowing from Persian.
Etymon: Persian farangī.
An eastern adoption of Frank n.1, with Arabic ethnic suffix -i; in Arabic faranjī, in Persian farangī.
The Online Etymology Dictionary similarly distinguishes them:
(1) Varangian (n.)
one of the Northmen who ravaged the Baltic coast in 9c. and by tradition overran part of western Russia and founded a dynasty there,” 1788, from Medieval Latin Varangus, from Byzantine Greek Barangos, a name ultimately (via Slavic) from Old Norse væringi “a Scandinavian,” properly “a confederate,” from var- “pledge, faith,” related to Old English wær “agreement, treaty, promise,” Old High German wara “faithfulness” (from PIE root *were-o- “true, trustworthy”). Attested in Old Russian as variagi; surviving in Russian varyag “a peddler,” Ukrainian varjah “a big strong man.”
(2) Feringhee (n.)
name used in India for “European; Englishman; Portuguese,” 1630s, from Persian Farangi, from Arabic Faranji (10c.), from Old French Franc “Frank” (see Frank) + Arabic ethnic suffix -i. The fr- sound is impossible in Arabic.
So it seems that, despite the similar sounds
they are probably not related.
War is about the only thing we have to export, these days and it has no end. Gone are the days when nations ran out of weapons and implements of destruction and went home. We gave away our manufacturing base, are not allowed to be energy independent, we’re largely not educating the next generation of innovators and technology leaders, our engineering schools are filled with Asians that can “speak” math like a language…
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that lawmakers in DC are literally breathing in the ashes of aborted babies: https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/where-do-aborted-babies-go-after-they-are-killed/
Our country sickens me more and more each day.
Breaking: Orthodox Church Condemns Israel For Bombing Its Gaza Centre
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem blamed Israel Tuesday for the overnight bombing of its cultural centre in Gaza City and condemned the “direct and unjustified attack”.
“This attack represents a stark embodiment of Israel’s unwarranted determination to destroy the civil infrastructure and social service centres, as well as shelters for civilians trapped in the besieged enclave,” the church said in a statement.
An AFP journalist saw the ruins of the Orthodox cultural centre and school in Gaza City, with smoke still rising from the rubble.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike when contacted by AFP.
Israel has bombarded the Palestinian territory since the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants, which killed around 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.
More than 8,500 people have been killed in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory said in its latest toll.
A resident living near the Orthodox cultural centre told AFP he “woke up to this destruction”.
“This church (property) has been targeted by missiles, what’s in it? Why is all this happening?” asked Hassan Abu Mersa.
The Patriarchate said 19 places of worship, including churches and mosques, have been hit by Israeli strikes since October 7.
Several people were killed on October 20 while they were sheltering in the compound of Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church still in use in Gaza, when it was hit by Israeli bombardment.
US News & World Report | World’s Strongest Military
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/strong-military
Russia | #1 in Strong military
No comment…
No argument from me. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
I saw an article (on here or Insta) that stated there are more war ships in the Mediterranean now than at any point since WW2. Not only that but an Orthodox Insta page also reported that the U.S is sending a massive amount of ammo to Israel. I’ve seen more and more level-headed people now saying that war seems inevitable.
In the famous words of Alexander Mercuris “The neocons have no reverse gear.” They want a war and it’s very much increasingly looking like a war they shall get. But, it’s basically the U.S & Israel against Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Syria and you have to wonder how they would pull this off given how the West has almost entirely depleted their munitions stock.
Afghanistan, Ukraine, now this, seems as though they are going for broke before the elections.
And wait until you see the executive orders that are flying off Biden’s desk. A LOT is happening behind the scenes no one wants you to see.
What’s going on behind the scenes with the executive orders? I’m out of the loop on that lol
Brendan,
The Western elites are not even smart enough to identify their main competitor at the moment. They go on about how China is a “peer competitor” and they see its manufacturing and general economic strength. That is certainly important. But neither finance nor manufacturing are dispositive.
Finance is a biproduct of voluminous economic activity, initially usually manufacturing. Manufacturing is what you do if you have a big population and access to natural resources, the stuff that products are made of. But you can purchase goods from lots of sources. However, at the foundation of it all are two and only two things, really: Natural resources, including energy and food, and an immediate/present military dominance.
Bread (and energy) and guns. I say energy because oil and gas are the life blood of developed economies.
In the long term, bread and energy are decisive. But you have to survive sovereign long enough for bread and energy to do their magic and that is where guns come it.
Jared Diamond wrote an interesting book in which he
attributed Western superiority to Guns, Germs and Steel.
Well, we’re near out of guns and no longer make much steel;
so it seems germs is about all we got left – hence COVID.
Mike Adams Interview | US Presidential candidate Dr. Shiva sounds off on
Zionism supremacy and Israel’s ongoing GENOCIDE against Palestinians
https://www.brighteon.com/7cdb995a-5c37-4c45-816d-3bcc2148d91a
[Video – 54:21]
This is Part 1 of a two-part interview with Dr Shiva,
perhaps the only non-Zionist candidate for election.
Suddenly I understand Dr Shiva a whole lot more
and like him a whole lot better…
Spot on, is Dr. Shiva on his commentary.
Meanwhile, in other news, the LGBT community is being targeted: Trans Fat To Be Banned. Both fat shaming and bigoted against our tranny fat community!
See: https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/trans-fat-be-banned-what-means-your-health
OK, I’m not sure this is what was meant!
🙂
Well spotted! 🙂
Systemic bigotry!
I’m not sure this Mike Johnson thing is as cringeworthy as we sometimes make it. Yes, he’s an evangelical. And yes, he will likely send a bit more off to Ukraine when the opportunity arises as a separate bill, at least one final care package. I believe he had to do that in order to even get the job since the MIC and DS would otherwise have blocked him.
But he is definitely MAGA. And that brings up a somewhat unfortunate and perhaps uncomfortable point for many of us: Occasionally, MAGA can be dead @ss wrong about things. Israel-Palestine is one such issue. So we’re going to have to grit our teeth and bear it when Johnson, Trump, etc., say all sorts of clueless things because many of their supporters are Christian Zionists and Jews. That’s just the price of doing business. We can take solace in the fact that at least MAGA is less interventionist than the Uniparty. Who cares how they feel as long as they try to avoid shooting? Russia and China can handle the external winding down of the American Empire.
Yet it is truly surreal to agree more with Rashida Tlaib or the Squad than with MAGA. Hopefully the Right will eventually see what an albatross Israel has been for America.
Trump said Israel “has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force.”. But it’s looking more and more like they weren’t defending themselves. Those questions would have been asked and answered. I think he would have pulled the plug on funding it. – Biden, well you know. Biden is Biden. If the war machine wants it, he’s for it. He has FoMO when it comes to these things (fear of missing out).
In May 1916 the German High Seas Fleet broke out of jail
and assaulted Admiral Beatty’s battlecruiser squadron.
Despite inflicting far heavier blows than they received,
the action ended with the Germans running for cover
as the Brits brought up the big boys of the Grand Fleet.
The upshot was that the Germans were back in jail
where they were to remain for the rest of the war.
Admiral Jellicoe had far too much sense to send
his battleships into Kiel to winkle them out.
As Winston Churchill famously said,
Jellicoe was the only man on either side
who could lose the war in an afternoon.
In October 2023, Hamas broke out of jail
and assaulted its jailers around Gaza.
Despite inflicting far heavier blows than it received,
the action ended with Hamas running for cover
as the Israelis brought up the big boys of the IDF.
The upshot was that Hamas was back in jail
where they could be kept by sound police action.
Netanyahu however, having too little self-control,
sent his bombers into Gaza to winkle them out;
to the horror of the watching world.
As Winston Churchill might have said,
Netanyahu is the only man on either side
who could destroy Israel’s right-to-exist
in the eyes of that watching world.
Interesting.
Fascinating comparison.
I wonder, though, if Netanyahu could have done any less and still have been allowed to remain in power.
Probably not, but had he kept it to a police action
(“We were surprised and a few bad guys got out
but normal service is restored and the jail secured”)
Israel’s relations with the Arabs could have been saved.
Netanyahu would very likely have fallen,
but Israel’s very survival would not be at risk
and we would not all be facing Armageddon.
He’s not the street fighter Jordan is. But that’s why he could get the votes.
Johnson has a “Bill Barr” feel to him.
Misha, it’s a Charlie Foxtrot anyway you slice it. What gives me hope is that we are seeing the slow-motion implosion of the Democrat Party. Said party is a “coalition of the fringes”, one in which many of the fringes absolutely hate each other. In this case American Jews and the Far Left Israel-haters.
I hope that the GOP is smart enough (doubtful) to step aside and watch them destroy themselves. I imagine that MAGA Mike sees things in such a fashion. If so, this is good news.
BTW, y’all gotta watch Buck Johnson’s latest interview on Counterflow. Excellent presentation with the inimitable Jim Jatras.
It was great. Always good to see Jim make the rounds.
Something we should appreciate is the nature of the second front opened up by the Israel/Palestine conflict reigniting. Whatever the equities involved in Hamas’ initial attack, the resumption of the fighting has further divided the West internally. On the Right in the West, there is already a ready-made constituency for the Eurasian project: nationalists and traditional Christians in general. Added to that now is a section of the Left, approximately half of the Democrat Party, who support Palestinians over Israel.
We here in American were already hurtling toward political instability before the conflict in the Holy Land. This exacerbates it and adds fuel to the fire of not only the civil situation in America, but also the strife in Europe centered around the immigrant population. Europe is being treated to large, boisterous pro-Palestinian rallies populated by many immigrants and their sympathizers.
All of this adds toward general political polarization in the West. That center which remains appears to be having an increasingly difficult time of it.