Jokes, memes, and cartoons

[Magical Realist]

No, I justify bombing by threats in the future (ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity), like Iran getting nuclear weapons. You know, if you bother to read what I literally wrote.

You're justifying bombing based on threat assessment only. But you're also justifying it as payback for their long history of misdeeds. What "ongoing war crime" was Iran committing that justified our bombing it 6 months ago?

Iranians, like Hamas or any other terrorists, never negotiate in good faith.

Oh really?

"Iran has negotiated and signed multiple major international agreements, most notably the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the 2026 Islamabad Memorandum.

Key Major Agreements & Negotiations

• The 2015 JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal): Negotiated over nearly 20 months between Iran, the U.S., China, Russia, France, Germany, and the UK, this landmark pact placed strict limits and international inspections on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018.
• The 2026 Islamabad Memorandum: Signed in June 2026 via mediation to establish a preliminary 60-day ceasefire framework, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and address regional fighting and sanctions after the 2025–2026 military escalations.
• Ongoing Indirect Talks: Iran continues to engage in back-and-forth diplomatic proposals and indirect talks mediated by countries like Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan to address nuclear enrichment, frozen assets, and regional security."

[Syne]

No, I justify bombing by threats in the future (ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity), like Iran getting nuclear weapons. You know, if you bother to read what I literally wrote.

You're justifying bombing based on threat assessment only. But you're also justifying it as payback for their long history of misdeeds. What "ongoing war crime" was Iran committing that justified our bombing it 6 months ago?

There's been zero evidence that their behavior will improve and every evidence that it will only continue to worsen.
Iran killed an estimated 30,000 people for protesting, been funding terrorism for decades, and were seeking nuclear weapons (having already enriched uranium well-beyond any civilian needs). There's no hint that they would not kill another 30,000 protesters, not continue terror attacks, and not use any nuclear weapon they attain.

But sure, we could all use another nuclear power like North Korea in the world... only much more volatile.

Iranians, like Hamas or any other terrorists, never negotiate in good faith.

Oh really?

"Iran has negotiated and signed multiple major international agreements, most notably the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the 2026 Islamabad Memorandum.

Key Major Agreements & Negotiations

• The 2015 JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal): Negotiated over nearly 20 months between Iran, the U.S., China, Russia, France, Germany, and the UK, this landmark pact placed strict limits and international inspections on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018.
• The 2026 Islamabad Memorandum: Signed in June 2026 via mediation to establish a preliminary 60-day ceasefire framework, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and address regional fighting and sanctions after the 2025–2026 military escalations.
• Ongoing Indirect Talks: Iran continues to engage in back-and-forth diplomatic proposals and indirect talks mediated by countries like Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan to address nuclear enrichment, frozen assets, and regional security."

Except they didn't disclose all nuclear sites to IAEA inspectors, they violated their own ceasefire, and have not kept any agreement made.
Hitler also signed an agreement with Neville Chamberlain. 9_9

You really are just a sweet summer child, aren't you?

[Magical Realist]

But sure, we could all use another nuclear power like North Korea in the world... only much more volatile.

You do know that going nuclear on a nation with a massive arsenal of nukes would only amount to national suicide don't you? The myth that once a rogue nation gets nukes it will blow up the world has been disproven by North Korea. Every country wants to join the nuke club. It's the surest way of ensuring their own survival.

Except they didn't disclose all nuclear sites to IAEA inspectors, they violated their own ceasefire, and have not kept any agreement made.

That was after 2018, when the US withdrew from the JCPOA ala Trump. Trump essentially created the problem he is now stuck with.

• "Initial Compliance (2015–2018): Following the JCPOA's implementation in January 2016, IAEA reports consistently verified that Iran stayed within the agreed limits on enriched uranium stockpiles, heavy water, and enrichment levels.
• Post-U.S. Withdrawal & Step-by-Step Violations (2018–2025): After the U.S. exit in 2018, Iran began gradually rolling back its commitments to pressure remaining signatories for economic relief, eventually escalating its enrichment purity and increasing its stockpiles."

[Yazata]

The mere fact that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons, ICBMs and that their slogan is 'Death to America' seem to justify our attacks on their nuclear infrastructure. Purely out of American self-interest.

Iranian support for Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas seems to me to be more of an Israeli concern, less a matter of American self-interest. The Houthi attempts to block the Red Sea do impact our shipping, though I think Europe uses that trade route more than we do and probably should be doing more. The Saudis appear to be escalating their war against the Houthis and both Turkey and Pakistan have pledged to help Riyadh. We should let Israel handle Hamas and Hezbollah, play a supporting role in keeping the Red Sea open, and supply the Saudis with satellite reconnaisance and with targeting information against the Houthis (at little cost to ourselves).

Hormuz would seem to be a secondary matter from the US perspective. We are self-sufficient in petroleum and natural gas, and Venezuela can fill any shortfalls. Our only concern with Hormuz is that it drives up world oil prices. We should play at most a supporting role in Hormuz. I'd like to see the Saudis, the UAE and Europe take the lead in keeping Hormuz open.

Bottom line: Keep our eye on the ball, which is Iranian nuclear weapons and ICBMs (because they directly threaten us). Use satellite reconnaissance and whatever human intelligence we have inside Iran (probably lots with the dissidents) to keep track of the things of concern to us and call in air strikes whenever Iran shows signs of restoring threatening capabilities.

[Syne]

But sure, we could all use another nuclear power like North Korea in the world... only much more volatile.

You do know that going nuclear on a nation with a massive arsenal of nukes would only amount to national suicide don't you? The myth that once a rogue nation gets nukes it will blow up the world has been disproven by North Korea. Every country wants to join the nuke club. It's the surest way of ensuring their own survival.

Islamist terrorists are suicidal, hence the use of suicide bombers.
But even assuming they didn't, their further terrorist proxy attacks and even threatening the Strait of Hormuz permanently would be untenable to stop. Just like we don't risk stopping the evils of North Korea.

Except they didn't disclose all nuclear sites to IAEA inspectors, they violated their own ceasefire, and have not kept any agreement made.

That was after 2018, when the US withdrew from the JCPOA ala Trump. Trump essentially created the problem he is now stuck with.

• "Initial Compliance (2015–2018): Following the JCPOA's implementation in January 2016, IAEA reports consistently verified that Iran stayed within the agreed limits on enriched uranium stockpiles, heavy water, and enrichment levels.
• Post-U.S. Withdrawal & Step-by-Step Violations (2018–2025): After the U.S. exit in 2018, Iran began gradually rolling back its commitments to pressure remaining signatories for economic relief, eventually escalating its enrichment purity and increasing its stockpiles."

Undeclared Nuclear Material was Present (The Turquzabad Site)

    What happened: While Iran did not run active clandestine enrichment centrifuges during the JCPOA, it did possess an undeclared site housing nuclear material during the deal's duration.

The Location: At a warehouse in Turquzabad, Iran stored heavily contaminated equipment and undeclared nuclear material from its legacy, pre-2003 weapons program.

The Timeline: The IAEA concluded that this material was kept at Turquzabad between 2009 and 2018—meaning it sat there entirely undeclared throughout the entire period the JCPOA was active. It was only emptied in late 2018 after Israel publicly exposed its existence

9_9

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I'd like to see the Saudis, the UAE and Europe take the lead in keeping Hormuz open. 

If only they would actually step up.

[confused2]

On the European side of the pond we're quite keen on electric cars and heat pumps .. so maybe not as bothered by lack of diesel as you might assume .. in fact the other way round .. Trump wants us to want diesel even (especially?) if it means doing a deal with Putin... I've always liked Putin.

Back to nukes.. as I think MR points out.. the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the deal [context above] in 2018. Rather than go with the art of the deal and do it better .. Trump went with "I'm the President of the United States and I can do whatever I want to do" .. and the current shitfest is the result.

[Syne]

Europe relies on diesel significantly more than any other major global economy, primarily due to decades of historical policy incentives and tax advantages. This has created an economy that is structurally short on diesel, forcing the region to import massive volumes—amounting to roughly 580,000 barrels per day from outside the bloc.
- gemini

There is no "better deal" with people who lied about the first deal. 9_9

[confused2]

From 'the internet'..

Mr Netanyahu alleged that the Iranian authorities had cleared and covered up the Turquzabad site.

If true then we have to conclude Iran didn't want it to be a deal-breaker.. others wanted an excuse to break the deal.

[Magical Realist]

Hmmm...also anti-free press.

[Image: 837738278-10241212713307786-54449263446766743-n.jpg]

[Syne]

From 'the internet'..

Mr Netanyahu alleged that the Iranian authorities had cleared and covered up the Turquzabad site.

If true then we have to conclude Iran didn't want it to be a deal-breaker.. others wanted an excuse to break the deal.

Quit cherry-picking.

In September 2019, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that Iranian authorities had cleared, covered with gravel, and attempted to hide evidence at the undeclared Turquzabad nuclear site after realizing it had been exposed.

IAEA Findings: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) subsequently inspected the Turquzabad location and confirmed the presence of anthropogenic uranium particles that had not been declared by Iran.

Iran’s Position: Iranian officials denied the allegations, previously claiming that the Turquzabad location was an ordinary commercial carpet-cleaning facility and dismissing Israeli claims as false.

Context: Netanyahu made the claims during a press briefing in September 2019, following up on his initial September 2018 United Nations General Assembly speech in which he first accused Tehran of using the warehouse to store materials from a secret nuclear program.


The Turquzabad site was completely undeclared to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during the active period of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
- gemini