Forum Topic

Trump's "Art of the Deal" - get other people to pay, even with their lives

"Hours after the U.S. military announced that three U.S. service members were killed during military strikes against Iran, President Donald Trump told NBC News, “We expect casualties with something like this.”Trump added in a phone interview, “We have three, but we expect casualties, but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”" (NBC)Back in 2018 (first term), "according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that [WW1 US] cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed." Satire is dead.

David Ainsworth ● 12h8 Comments

BBC 21.46 this evening, a wonderful explanation from Rubio:-Rubio: US attacked Iran 'pre-emptively' knowing Israel would strikepublished at 21:4621:46Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US attacked Iran "pre-emptively" on Saturday because they knew Israel was going to strike, which he says would have meant Iranian retaliation against US forces.Speaking a little earlier, he tells reporters: "We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces."And we knew that if we didn't pre-emptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties and perhaps even higher those killed," Rubio continues."Yeah, sure. Makes perfect sense. So you had to pre-emptively attack because Israel your ally was going to attack, and Iran would then attack you because you both had been threatening Iran with attack and you didn't want Iran to pre-empt you. Well, no jury would convict, I'm sure. All perfectly justified.

David Ainsworth ● 6h

Perhaps the USA and Israel should have waited until Iran actually developed nuclear capability. But even then the usual suspects would object. David Ainsworth would say, 'Why shouldn't Iran have a nuclear bomb if Israel has one?' Zack Polanski would condemn the attack on a peaceful nation. Ed Davey would argue that any attack on Iran without the authorisation of the UN Security Council, including Russia and China, was a clear breach of international law. And Keir Starmer would refuse either to support or condemn such an attack, offering British bases for defensive purposes (i.e. to shoot down Iranian missiles but not for aggressive action (i.e.  to destroy Iranian missile bunkers).

Steven Rose ● 8h

"Which war was he going to settle in one week?"Jan 2025 "US president-elect Donald Trump's Ukraine peace envoy Keith Kellogg says an end to the war in Ukraine could happen within 100 days of him taking office.Mr Trump had previously pledged the conflict would be over within 24 hours of him entering the White House.""How long is this one going to take?  The latest I heard was four weeks."Trump said that, but he has also said it might be less or might be more. Almost as impossible** to predict as is Farage implying that he actually knew secret things from an election. (Mind you, when Reform wins power, the elections will no longer be secret, I expect). "Why are there suddenly so more wars?"Google AI has some explanation of that. Apparently it is a correct impression. Have a look.** Trump of course can decide at least to end US participation whenever he wishes as he is the Capo di tutti i capi.

David Ainsworth ● 9h

How long is this one going to take?  The latest I heard was four weeks.  Which war was he going to settle in one week?  Why are there suddenly so more wars?

Philippa Bond ● 10h

"Trump says US took 'last best chance' to hit Iran"He breathes, he lies.In contradiction of this, yesterday he said:-"the joint US-Israeli attack was “one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen. Nobody’s seen anything like it.”He said the combined forces have “hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems. Just now was announced that we knocked out nine ships, plus their naval building, all in a matter of literally minutes.”Trump concluded with a warning to Iran’s leaders and military.“We are the world’s greatest and most powerful nation,” he said."Yet somehow this attack HAD to be done now, and plenty of the ignorant believe it.

David Ainsworth ● 11h

Also, on BBC's rolling news:"Trump says US took 'last best chance' to hit Iran"Trump says Iran mission 'substantially ahead' as he pays tribute to fallen service members.Trump then moves on to discuss his plans for the new ballroom set to feature in a renovation of part of the White House.As building work continues, Trump says it'll be a "very very beautiful building", and describes how it is expected to cost "$400 million or less".Soon after, the president begins to talk about the military personnel being honoured at today's medal ceremony.

Ivonne Holliday ● 11h

I agree, David, never him.

Ivonne Holliday ● 11h

Mr Ainsworth'Satire is dead.'Not really.I find your posts very amusing.But then I realise "no he means it" and I start to get worried.

John Hawkes ● 12h