Let me start with the positive, I’m glad you are shaking your “bug.” And, now to the profound. Your report captures our nation’s moral demise. The nice little not-war, war is a first class debacle. There was never much doubt about our military’s lethality. The deeper question, unanswered, is the legal sophistry allowing Congress to avoid declaration and a President to commit war acts by declaration; whether, whim or circumstance the same. The war may not be “unlawful;” it is most certainly illegitimate and unnecessary.
We are burning money like a drunken sailor (former Navy myself). The war’s purpose is still a bumper sticker—actually several—and the notion of an end state vague. Today, we learn from Mr. Trump there’s really not much left worth bombing. In Pogo’s parlance, “let’s just declare victory and leave.” Works for me. Israel wanted this war, let them “enjoy” its fruits. Who didn’t want this war, the Gulf States (GCC). Good chance they will rethink their US interests.
Most depressing, Congressional members whose calculus is craven in the full sense. It’s a war. We are expending blood and treasure. We are torching American prestige. We went to war in the midst of diplomatic talks with Iran to prevent war—that is damning beyond words. There is a price to pay, and those receipts will come due.
I hope you feel better soon. I appreciate this posting and rely on your take on all the horribleness. Plus you are a most felicitous writer and one of only two substacks that I subscribe to! Courage to us all!
The United States' record in foreign expeditions is littered with failures. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, all abject failures at huge cost with unintended, (aka unanticipated), consequences and lives lost on both sides. Have any of them improved the reputation of the USA? No, quite the oppposite. There is a quote attributed to George Santayana which is apposite; "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Iran will surely be another country to add to the list of abject failures. Sadly the repercussions will affect the whole world.
The USA is the most powerful country in the world but sadly it's now in the hands of grown adults acting like juveniles who have not a clue what they're doing. The country has moved from the self styled "policeman of the world" to the vandal of the world.
I think the murders in MN will be this generation's Kent State Massacre. Today Minab, Iran is our My Lai Massacre. We the People are morally wounded 😠 and we are pissed! There's a reason we see all the 'aging hippies' out there. We went through this before☮️❤️🎶
It's hard to believe that ONE man in ONE year --with clearly progressing mental illness -- has done so much damage to our country, our world standing, our credibility, our economy, and the future of the entire planet.
Glad you're getting better. We all made fun of "Operation Epic Fury", but it turns out to be an apt name after all. It's what the rest of the world is feeling about Trump's epically stupid adventures in switching sides in Ukraine & starting what could easily morph into WW3 in Iran. Russia supplying intel to help Iran target US forces? Ok, we'll relax sanctions. And you're spot on about the wreckage of the professional civil service. The one area where he doesn't seem to be rebuilding is the counterterrorism resources he purged.
Mary, first and foremost, please take care of yourself. Sending all my prayers your way for a speedy recovery.
As for "planning," we all know that is something this administration does not do. Didn't tRump run on "concepts" of a plan? How anyone bought that is far beyond me. All we can do is to keep making our voices heard. All of us need to speak out, make those daily calls, and pray for deliverance from this cruel, evil, inhumane, and absolutely bonkers administration.
Thanks, Mary, for keepin’ on keepin’ on. I appreciate your clarity and humor. We have a 6 month old Goldendoodle at our house so your references to Marz are wonderfully spot on, too.
Hope the feeling better moves quickly on to feeling great. The mental anguish of living in this inside-out world is bad enough without actual viruses. I'm heartened to hear that the Pentagon was at least trying to lessen civilian casualties; I suspect that even if they'd never say so, the brass professionally were horrified by what Bibi called "targeted." But we seem to destined to be ruled by deep-dyed idiots and so little girls die. And others--the number is in the thousands now
Let me start with the positive, I’m glad you are shaking your “bug.” And, now to the profound. Your report captures our nation’s moral demise. The nice little not-war, war is a first class debacle. There was never much doubt about our military’s lethality. The deeper question, unanswered, is the legal sophistry allowing Congress to avoid declaration and a President to commit war acts by declaration; whether, whim or circumstance the same. The war may not be “unlawful;” it is most certainly illegitimate and unnecessary.
We are burning money like a drunken sailor (former Navy myself). The war’s purpose is still a bumper sticker—actually several—and the notion of an end state vague. Today, we learn from Mr. Trump there’s really not much left worth bombing. In Pogo’s parlance, “let’s just declare victory and leave.” Works for me. Israel wanted this war, let them “enjoy” its fruits. Who didn’t want this war, the Gulf States (GCC). Good chance they will rethink their US interests.
Most depressing, Congressional members whose calculus is craven in the full sense. It’s a war. We are expending blood and treasure. We are torching American prestige. We went to war in the midst of diplomatic talks with Iran to prevent war—that is damning beyond words. There is a price to pay, and those receipts will come due.
I hope you feel better soon. I appreciate this posting and rely on your take on all the horribleness. Plus you are a most felicitous writer and one of only two substacks that I subscribe to! Courage to us all!
Remind Marz he's got two more legs than you do.
Thanks for this thoughtful essay, Mary. Hope you feel better very soon.
Feel better. We need your clarity and anger.
The United States' record in foreign expeditions is littered with failures. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, all abject failures at huge cost with unintended, (aka unanticipated), consequences and lives lost on both sides. Have any of them improved the reputation of the USA? No, quite the oppposite. There is a quote attributed to George Santayana which is apposite; "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Iran will surely be another country to add to the list of abject failures. Sadly the repercussions will affect the whole world.
The USA is the most powerful country in the world but sadly it's now in the hands of grown adults acting like juveniles who have not a clue what they're doing. The country has moved from the self styled "policeman of the world" to the vandal of the world.
I think the murders in MN will be this generation's Kent State Massacre. Today Minab, Iran is our My Lai Massacre. We the People are morally wounded 😠 and we are pissed! There's a reason we see all the 'aging hippies' out there. We went through this before☮️❤️🎶
It's hard to believe that ONE man in ONE year --with clearly progressing mental illness -- has done so much damage to our country, our world standing, our credibility, our economy, and the future of the entire planet.
Our only remaining firewall is the midterms.
Glad you're getting better. We all made fun of "Operation Epic Fury", but it turns out to be an apt name after all. It's what the rest of the world is feeling about Trump's epically stupid adventures in switching sides in Ukraine & starting what could easily morph into WW3 in Iran. Russia supplying intel to help Iran target US forces? Ok, we'll relax sanctions. And you're spot on about the wreckage of the professional civil service. The one area where he doesn't seem to be rebuilding is the counterterrorism resources he purged.
Mary, first and foremost, please take care of yourself. Sending all my prayers your way for a speedy recovery.
As for "planning," we all know that is something this administration does not do. Didn't tRump run on "concepts" of a plan? How anyone bought that is far beyond me. All we can do is to keep making our voices heard. All of us need to speak out, make those daily calls, and pray for deliverance from this cruel, evil, inhumane, and absolutely bonkers administration.
Typical cluster-fruckus aka faux-regime, they must be so proud making America great again, huh?
We can use some “normal human “function” in governance too. Thanks, Mary!
Thanks, Mary, for keepin’ on keepin’ on. I appreciate your clarity and humor. We have a 6 month old Goldendoodle at our house so your references to Marz are wonderfully spot on, too.
Trump has never cared about the safety of little girls.
Hope the feeling better moves quickly on to feeling great. The mental anguish of living in this inside-out world is bad enough without actual viruses. I'm heartened to hear that the Pentagon was at least trying to lessen civilian casualties; I suspect that even if they'd never say so, the brass professionally were horrified by what Bibi called "targeted." But we seem to destined to be ruled by deep-dyed idiots and so little girls die. And others--the number is in the thousands now