You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Matthew, Chapter 24.
We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.
Winston Churchill
Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.
Donald Trump on skipping the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.
March 2, 2025
Turkey v. Kurds
Following an opening from Turkey's strongman ruler Erdogan, the PKK is suspending armed operations.
US Mexican Border
The US is deploying an additional 3,000 troops to the Mexican border.
March 3, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
Absolutely stupid.
US v. Al Qaeda
On Feb. 23, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria, targeting and killing Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
US Central Command.
March 4, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
The US suspended military aid to Ukraine. Europe began immediately to fill in and J. D. Vance warned, based on nothing at all, that only Trump could negotiate peace.
More likely, this accelerates the eclipse of the United States.
March 6, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
The Trump Cabal cut off intelligence access to Ukraine. Shortly after this, Russia hit Kyiv with ballistic missiles.
March 8, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
When his country called, Donald Trump called up his doctor who found that he ineligible to go into harms way due to shin splints.
Like a lot of the 1960s "not me" crowd, to include Dick Cheney and Joe Biden, this hasn't meant, in the case of Donald Trump, that he doesn't mind ordering killing done. Trump's taken into almost new territory, however, by withdrawing intelligence from an ally dependent up on us while his political party, which once stalwartly opposed foreign aggression by countries like Russia and North Korea, largely stands by.
The United States now has blood on its hands, and through betrayal:
US intel ban leads to heavy Ukrainian losses
A lot of people who admire Trump believe he has a big business head and that he's bring this to politics. Why this is a good thing is never actually mentioned. Government isn't a business. Beyond that, is Trump really a good businessman? We have very little evidence that the is. What we have evidence that he was born very wealthy and its well known that those born into great wealth are highly unlikely to lose it all. Very wealthy families that do lose everything usually do so in the course of a couple of generations. It takes that long to dissipate the wealth. My guess is that this is happening to the Trump fortune right now. Big fortunes are lost through classic means, spending on largess and women usually. My guess is that for those who are looking at the trump's fifty to seventy five years hence, you'll find that they're still rich, but not vastly so, and probably working mundane rich people's jobs.
Anyhow, one of the big myths about Trump is that he's a great negotiator . What he is, is a bully. Since returning to the Oval Office he's applied his bully skills to numerous things and its really start to fail. The tariffs are a good example. Canada has now reached the complete "fuck you" stage with Trump and he can't do one single thing about it. Probably by summer the Mid West will have rolling blackouts due to an electrical blackout. The dimwit Trump has promised to get the XL pipeline rolling again and build one extending all the way to Alaska. My prediction is that the XL if completed under Trump will be filled with air as it was supposed to transport Canadian crude. Donny probably doesn't know that. The Canadians are never going to allow the US to build a pipeline on their soil.
On the war, Ukrainian President Zylensky was brought to the US to surrender title to his country's minerals as an extorted payment for ongoing support. The meeting went famously wrong as J. D. Vance, now with in a hairsbreadth of being President, showed himself way out of his element and engaged in an argument with the embattled Ukrainian leader. Trump, coming to Vance's rescue, once again showed his intellect is really lacking and his verbal skills are that of a child. Since that time, using tactics that he learned as a real estate magnate, he's attempted to bully Ukraine into submission by withholding arms and intelligence to the country.
In blunt terms, he figures that getting Ukrainians killed will make them pliant.
It's monstrously wrong.
And its not even artful.
There's pretty good evidence at this point that the bloom is really off the rose of this administration and that even within the administration itself things are beginning to breakdown. Marco Rubio got into a yelling match with weirdo Elon Musk and actually prevailed. Another cabinet member had to take babbling Trump off the phone and negotiate a deal with Trudeau himself. Trump is slowly on his way out, but how much damage he does on the way out is yet to be seen.
At any rate, somewhere on the far side of things thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are joining the souls of those of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam to lament being betrayed by the United States. But at the same time, the departed spirits of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger can take solace that their betrayal of an ally wasn't the work of a demented toddler.
Here in the US, the hardcore MAGA's are all saying it'll work out, or coming up with reason why betrayal is okay. It won't, and it isn't.
March 13, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
Russia rejected lil Don's suggestion of a cease fire.
March 16, 2025
Middle Eastern War
The US struck the Houthis yesterday, who vowed retaliation.
March 17, 2025
Middle Eastern War
|
Hegseth Says Campaign Against Houthis Will be
'Unrelenting' Until Hostilities Cease
March 17,
2025 | By Matthew Olay
During
a media interview yesterday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S.
military will continue to tactically engage Iranian-backed Houthis until they
stop acting aggressively against U.S. ships in the region.
Hegseth
commented on the topic following President Donald J. Trump's order for U.S.
Central Command to launch multiple airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen, March
15, 2025.
"Freedom
of navigation is basic; it's a core national interest," Hegseth said,
adding that the current campaign is about restoring deterrents in the region
in addition to freedom of navigation.
"The
minute the Houthis say, 'We'll stop shooting at your ships [and] we'll stop
shooting at your drones,' this campaign will end but, until then, it will be
unrelenting," he continued.
Hegseth
also said the airstrikes were meant to draw Iran's attention.
"The
message is clear to Iran … Your support of the Houthis needs to end
immediately. We will hold you accountable as the sponsor of this proxy, and I
echo [the president's] statement [that] we will not be nice about it,"
Hegseth said.
The
Houthis have been acting aggressively in the Red Sea region since October
2023, when a U.S. Navy destroyer had to intercept three land-attack cruise
missiles fired by the Houthis toward Israel.
Since
then, the Houthis have launched over 100 drone and missile attacks targeting
American and allied ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, resulting in
many commercial ships having to alter their routes to avoid the region at a
tremendous commercial cost.
Hegseth
likened the severe economic impact of the Houthi aggression in the region to
"being held hostage by a terrorist organization" and then pointed
out that the Trump administration has indeed labeled the Houthis as
such.
"To
the Houthis: [the airstrikes weren't] a one-night thing … This is about
stopping the shooting at assets in that critical waterway to reopen the
freedom of navigation, which is a core national interest of the United
States," Hegseth said, before again reemphasizing that Iran needs to
"back off" from enabling the Houthis.
Hegseth
said Iran and its additional military proxies — including Hamas and Hezbollah
— are in a "weakened state."
"But
it doesn't mean they still don't have the desire [for aggression]," he
said, adding that Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
"Iran
must get that clear message and negotiate the end of their pursuit for
nuclear weapons because … President Trump has said clearly that they will not
get a bomb," Hegseth said.
|
March 19, 2025
Middle Eastern War
Israel is back to bombarding Gaza, so the cease fire did not hold.
Russo Ukrainian War
Putin agreed to an infrastructure ceasefire, which it turned around and immediately violated.
cont:
March 23, 2025
Middle Eastern War
The rocket and counterstrike feature of this war in Lebanon has returned.
Russo Ukrainian War
Ukraine has hit some major Russian air assets and fuel assets in the last couple of days. Russia had hit Kyiv.
March 24, 2025
The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.
I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.
This is going to require some explaining.
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic.
March 25, 2025
Middle Eastern War
The Trump administration petulantly denied texting war plans to The Atlantic, while insulting the recipient, while it simultaneously became more obvious that in fact it had occurred.
The US hit Houthi targets in Yemen again.
March 30, 2025
It's been a bad week, foreign policy wise, for the supposed great negotiator, Donald Trump.
United States v. Iran
In a press interview today Donald Trump threated to bomb Iran to the hilt if it does not enter into a nuclear deal with the United States.
Iran has replied it won't enter into direct talks with the US, but might be willing to discuss this matter in some other fashion.
Russo Ukrainian War
The great dealmaker also expressed frustration, or rather that he was "pissed off", with Putin, accusing him of lying and not wanting a peace.
Apparently Trump is the last guy on Earth who didn't already know this, besides flunky sycophants.
He's threating secondary tariffs.
Middle Eastern War.
Revealed on the leaked texts VP Vance was concerned that Trump didn't understand what the bombing. He said:
3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.
I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.
April 2, 2025
Israel v. Hamas
Israel has announced its intends to seize "large" areas of land in Gaza.
April 8, 2025
Israel v. Hamas
Israel now controls, once again, 50% of Gaza.
Russo Ukrainian War
ISW reports that Russian advances have slowed to a crawl.
April 13, 2025
Mexican Border
Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions
Presidential Memoranda
April 11, 2025
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM/NSPM-4
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBJECT: Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions
As the Chief Executive and Commander in Chief, the United States Constitution empowers me to direct the various elements of the executive branch to protect our homeland and ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the United States in the manner I deem most efficient and effective, consistent with applicable law. Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats. The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past. Through Executive Order 14167 of January 20, 2025 (Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States), I assigned the Armed Forces of the United States the military missions of repelling the invasion and sealing the United States southern border from unlawful entry to maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States. This memorandum provides additional guidance on securing the southern border to the heads of certain executive departments.
Section 1. Policy. (a) to accomplish the military missions described in Executive Order 14167, and to ensure the safety and security of the military and other Federal personnel in areas of military operations within Federal lands along the southern border, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate actions:
(i) to provide for the use and jurisdiction by the Department of Defense over such Federal lands, including the Roosevelt Reservation and excluding Federal Indian Reservations, that are reasonably necessary to enable military activities directed in this memorandum, including border-barrier construction and emplacement of detection and monitoring equipment; and
(ii) to provide for transfer and acceptance of jurisdiction over such Federal lands in accordance with applicable law to enable military activities directed in this memorandum to occur on a military installation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and for the designation of such Federal lands as National Defense Areas by the Secretary of Defense.
(b) The Secretary of the Interior shall allow the Secretary of Defense to use those portions of the Roosevelt Reservation not yet transferred or withdrawn under this memorandum. In accordance with Proclamation 10886 of January 20, 2025 (Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States), 43 U.S.C. 155 is hereby invoked and the Secretary of the Interior may make withdrawals, reservations, and restrictions of public lands to provide for the utilization of public lands by the Department of Defense to address the emergency at the southern border, without regard to any limitation on withdrawals otherwise applicable under the terms of the Engle Act, 43 U.S.C. 155-158.
(c) The Secretary of Defense may determine those military activities that are reasonably necessary and appropriate to accomplish the mission assigned in Executive Order 14167 and that are necessary to protect and maintain the security of military installations, consistent with section 2672 of title 10, United States Code, and the longstanding authority of a military installation commander to exclude persons from a military installation, as recognized in section 21 of the Internal Security Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 797) and 18 U.S.C. 1382.
(d) In carrying out activities under this memorandum, members of the Armed Forces will follow rules for the use of force prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 2. Phased Implementation. The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Homeland Security will initially implement this memorandum on a limited sector of Federal lands designated by the Secretary of Defense. Within 45 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Defense shall assess this initial phase. At any time, the Secretary of Defense may extend activities under this memorandum to additional Federal lands along the southern border in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor, and other executive departments and agencies as appropriate.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority of the Secretary of Defense to authorize and request that State Governors order members of the National Guard under authority of title 32 of the United States Code to conduct Department of Defense activities, including as appropriate to support law enforcement activities under the responsibility of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, if requested by such official;
(ii) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(iii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
April 18, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US is about to give up attempting to broker a peace in the Ruisso Ukrainian War.
Apparently his boss, the great deal maker, and friend of thug Putin, isn't as effective at deal making as he claimed.
April 23, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians and it’s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the United States to walk away from this process.
J. D. Vance.
So much for Trump's negotiating skills.
April 26, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the war in private in the Sistine Chapel, before Pope Francis' funeral.
April 27, 2025
Russo Ukrainian War
The Russians are asserting they have expelled all Ukrainian troops from the Kursk oblast.
May 3, 2025
Mexican Border
The administration declared a "Texas National Defense Area" spanning 63 miles east of El Paso along the Texas-New Mexico border, following having declared a similar 170-mile-long zone created in New Mexico last month.
May 6, 2025
India v. Pakistan
India launched airstrikes inside of Pakistan on sites its alleges are terrorist locations. This follows a recent terrorist attack in India.
May 7, 2025
Middle Eastern War
Trump is claiming the Houthis capitulated in the face of US and UK bombing raids and will cease attacking shipping.
May 8, 2025
India v. Pakistan
Pakistan is claiming that a very large scale air battle took place between India and Pakistan over the past 24 hours.
May 10, 2025
India v. Pakistan
Pakistan strikes Indian bases with Fatah missiles
Cont:
Both contestants have agreed to a ceasefire, after having run right up to the brink of full scale war.
Donald Trump implied the US had a role in this, although its not at all clear that this is really the case.
And with this entry, this edition of Wars and Rumors of War concludes.
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