[r721]

Feb 25:

>White House officials believe ‘the politics are a lot better’ if Israel strikes Iran first

>As the administration mulls military action in Iran, officials argue it’d be best if Israel makes the first move.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/25/white-house-politic...

[gpt5]

Looks like the rumor was incorrect. Both jointly attacked (NYtimes - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/28/world/iran-strikes-t...)

[vintermann]

But Israel announced it first, which they maybe hoped would amount to the same thing PR wise.

[sekai]

Just now:

Trump: "The lives of American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties - that often happens in war."

Another republican president starting a war in the middle east, once again sacrificing American lives.

[somenameforme]

While I think this (and Venezuela) are arguably the biggest missteps this administration is making, it's hardly a partisan point. The political establishment loves war more than perhaps anything else. In 2016 alone Obama bombed half a dozen different countries with more than 26,000 munitions for an average rate of three bombs dropped every hour, every day, for a year. [1] Nobel Peace Prize embodied.

I think the only way to get away from the warmongering is to go for a third party. But even they would likely be corrupted by the excessive influence of the military industrial complex. Eisenhower was not only right, but plainly prophetic.

[1] - https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/list-of-c...

[alex_young]

A war? Of course not. It’s a major combat operation. Only congress can declare wars. We haven’t had any in decades. They should call it the Dept. of Major Combat Operations.

[hermitcrab]

I thought he wasn't allowed to start a war without a vote in congress?

[beloch]

This may be the bloodiest "Wag the Dog" in modern history. They may create an Ig Nobel peace prize specifically for this.

[amunozo]

Once again mass killing civilians and setting a country of 100 million inhabitants into chaos.

But yes, poor American soldiers.

[ambentzen]

"Some of you are going to die, but that is a sacrifice I'm willing to make"

[jjtwixman]

Americans voted for no new wars, and especially no new wars in the sandbox, and they got a new war in the sandbox.

Americans really have to be among the most gullible people on the planet.

Not to mention that Trump is a paedophile, the open corruption, attempted coup etc... it's like that Hemingway quote. The decline of the USA has been gradual, and then very sudden.

[lonelyasacloud]

> Trump: "The lives of American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties - that often happens in war."

Coming from President Bone Spurs ...

[heresie-dabord]

Trump is calling them heroes now. But we know what he really thinks: "suckers and losers".

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/john-kelly-con...

[TheOtherHobbes]

"Some of you may die, but that is a risk I am willing to take."

[ekianjo]

You forgot the Obama wars for some reason?

[shusaku]

I’m honestly perplexed. I had anticipated a scenario like “the US feared Iran was unstable and attacked to protect nuclear material”. It seems this would give them reasonable cover. I don’t see how Israel going along helps

[catlikesshrimp]

Bibi needs Israel to keep fabricating wars. He will go to trial for previous charges if Israel runs out of wars.

[replooda]

> Israel going along

Honinbo-sensei, you seem to have failed to recognize puppy-go for what it is and also to identify the player.

[chrisjj]

s/politics/optics/