Welcome to Thunderdome

GORDON wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2024 2:00 pm I cant help but think the US forces are watching the Drone Wars.... Ukraine, Huthis, this, and taking a lot of notes.

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if we cancelled the next-next aircraft carrier, for a drone robot ship.

Drone swarm is a shitload cheaper than a single $10M missile.

The Marine's have been watching for sure. I think they got rid of all their tank units a few years ago. Assume everyone's just a mechanized infantry drone squad now.

Back in '92, during an exercise in the Med, my ship accidentally slammed a Sparrow missile into the bridge of an allied ship (wasn't my fault).

Rumor has it we had peeps over there to help.... but also assess how effective our missile was in a real-world situation.

That's what I picture a lot of. Nondescript peeps crawling around looking at damage, getting statements, collecting data.

GORDON wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2024 2:09 pm Rumor has it we had peeps over there to help.... but also assess how effective our missile was in a real-world situation.

Imagine the data they get watching these Cold War machines fighting where and who they were designed for. Wild stuff.

Our poor F-22, she gets to watch Bradley, Abrahams, Javelin having all the fun. F-35i probably has ace pilots after last nights attack. While Ms. F-22 is stuck shooting down weather balloons.

Troy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2024 1:52 pm We can laugh off the 99% interception rate, but it required what - 6 countries worth of Air Forces to do that? A billion dollars in fuel and munitions?

Ronald Reagan was smiling about the Iron Dome's effectiveness this weekend.

GORDON wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2024 2:00 pm I wouldn't be entirely surprised if we cancelled the next-next aircraft carrier, for a drone robot ship.

Drone swarm is a shitload cheaper than a single $10M missile.

I think we're definitely going to see new tech based on the drone/missile attack. The ability to stop swarms will be a top features.

President, PM, and other officials dead in a helicopter crash.

Israel says, "Wasn't me."

The president's nickname was "The Butcher of Tehran". I'm guessing not a lot of tears being shed in Iran today.

Snap elections being held.

I would guess sanity wants Masoud Pezeshkian to win. He's the reformer.

During nationwide protests against Amini’s death in 2022, Pezeshkian said in an interview with Iran’s IRINN TV: “It is our fault. We want to implement religious faith through the use of force. This is scientifically impossible.”

Intel says Iran wants to assassinate Trump.

No connection to the recent attempt.

If you're looking for silver linings for a Trump victory, this is one. Iran wanting him dead is actually a pretty strong endorsement.

Hay cool lots of americans are as sane as Iran.

The biggest loser with Syria falling is Iran.



Also, there's a movement going on in Iran that implies we'll see some change there too. This is just one video, but there are more out there.

Thanks Trump!

Time to bring back that "Bomb Iran" parody song, I guess

I support bombing Iran's nuclear sites, but... true.

TheCatt wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 2:12 am I support bombing Iran's nuclear sites

Ditto.

I don't think we're "at war" though and I hope we're not on the road there.

Interesting fact: Hezbollah has not fired a single rocket at Israel since Israel began bombing Iran. That's weird, no? Your source of weapons and money is being attacked and you just sit quietly watching?

So, it appears a lot of extreme left wingers are now on team Iran. Seriously, keep telling me how the people on the fringes aren't essentially in cults.

Gays and women rooting for Hamas and Iran should get all expenses paid trips to the Middle East. After all, what could they possibly have to fear, right? Trump, Israel, and the U.S. are the "bad guys"...

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Meanwhile, it looks like Trump is actually trying to not escalate this beyond the strikes. Ball's in Iran's court. They can simply focus on Israel or force the U.S. to get involved.
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This came out while I was typing the above:

Well, Iran always wants to buy more time. We'll see where this goes.

True story. It feels like the majority of their population no longer wants the government to maintain power. They want reform and freedom. Thus, I think their government is doing anything it can to hang on. They cannot have much left though. All of these missiles being fired and the Israeli airstrikes hitting what really wasn't the largest military... Plus, they don't have the numbers to enforce a conscription army.

I did enjoy watching their spin the past few days:

Iranians were reporting their government said they had completely destroyed the U.S. base in Qatar. The truth is that they warned Qatar before the attack so there wouldn't be casualties. Same thing they did when the U.S. killed that general years ago.

Now Trump announces a ceasefire deal, and Iran said no deal was in place...BUT if Israel stops attacking at this exact time, they'll stop too.

I laughed: And...the ceasefire is over. Trump is pretty pissed and he's right. "12 hours until the ceasefire" doesn't mean launch as many attacks as you can in those 12 hours.

And now the ceasefire is back on and holding.

Leisher wrote: ↑Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:42 am "12 hours until the ceasefire" doesn't mean launch as many attacks as you can in those 12 hours.

I feel like it often does, though, in reality.