The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: No smocking guns. - Page 203 - Politics and Economics

Worth noting that A. Iran is fighting against ISIS for ****'s sake and B. the power vacuum in Iraq is like, distinctly the result of Western interference.

I agree, but it's not like Iran is funding pro-American forces. They may defeat ISIS, which is good, but then another vacuum exist, and they would also be anti-American.

02-03-2017 , 01:57 PM

#5052

jayhawks

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,128

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kukraprout

I'm not sure what problem you would be trying to solve by attacking Iran but they have nothing to do with ISIS, for example. They're not on the same side in the Shia vs Sunni war.

Iran is big threat, but I want nothing to do with attacking them.

02-03-2017 , 01:57 PM

#5053

Dominic

Tripod

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 74,270

Regarding the Secret Service firings:

Secret service agents are required to report any illegalities they witness. Nor are they legally bound to remain silent once they leave service.

Private security is not bound by the first rule and can be contracted to remain silent after service.

02-03-2017 , 01:58 PM

#5054

Autocratic

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by raradevils

could be said about most of the Middle East

Right, but this is so direct and recent that it just goes to show how short sighted the people with their fingers on the trigger are. Re: the formation of ISIS, the primary narrative should be "we allowed this to happen." It's insane that we invaded Iraq under 15 years ago, an Islamic terrorist organization has seized power and territory in the resulting chaos, and the response is that Iran is somehow particularly culpable.

02-03-2017 , 02:00 PM

#5055

JordanIB

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 13,458

From a C-list talk radio host in Alabama in the 4th Skype seat: "Still too many brown people. When will the administration get rid of them?"

edit: was so swayed by his question on the browns, I completely missed that he ripped the media pool in the room, and the room groaned

02-03-2017 , 02:00 PM

#5056

lycosid

veteran

Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,806

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawks

It would be ugly, worse than Iraq. This is why, in my opinion, the Iran nuclear deal was bad. By agreeing to reduce their nuclear development, Iran had their sanctions lifted which resulted in assets being unfrozen and oil revenues to increase. Where do you think a lot of the money is going?

It's great that you just started with the assumption that we will be eventually invading iran, no matter what.

02-03-2017 , 02:00 PM

#5057

microbet

Solar Powered

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 56,665

Quote:

Originally Posted by champstark

Spicer just completely walked back everything on Israeli settlement policy Trump etc. have put forth so far.

They've already taken both sides, so I guess now that means they're back to supporting settlements.

---

Please please please let this administration go away soon. Four years of this is impossible.

02-03-2017 , 02:01 PM

#5058

jayhawks

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,128

Quote:

Originally Posted by microbet

Modernizing and liberalizing their society. Large investments especially in tech startups. They are smart, educated people who want freedom and prosperity.

I don't really doubt this, but ulterior motives exist.

02-03-2017 , 02:01 PM

#5059

lycosid

veteran

Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,806

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawks

Iran is big threat, but I want nothing to do with attacking them.

I missed this, so now I guess I'm just completely confused about your world view.

02-03-2017 , 02:02 PM

#5060

.isolated

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Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 21,495

Paraphrasing NH Skype call question: "Opioid and heroin use is being dealt with. What about Fentanyl being manufactured in the north east?"

Spicer: "heroin. WALL! WALL! heroin. WALL!!!!!1111111111 WALL!!!!!111111111111ONE".

Never said the word Fentanyl in his answer. Deflecting piece of trash. I guess as an admitted former dependent on opioids, I have a strong hatred of them and things related.

02-03-2017 , 02:02 PM

#5061

will1530

self-banned

Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5,773

Quote:

Originally Posted by champstark

Spicer just completely walked back everything on Israeli settlement policy Trump etc. have put forth so far.

So where are we today? Trump etc have said a dozen different things wrt Israel.

02-03-2017 , 02:02 PM

#5062

Zimmer4141

Wet

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 33,667

I'd imagine this is their intent, but I legit get depressed from reading news updates and talking about it. I'm considering taking a break for my own personal sanity, but then I realize that means I'm giving up and giving them what they want.

02-03-2017 , 02:02 PM

#5063

einbert

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 14,911

Just speculation, but war with Iran could be used as reasoning for possible internment of Iranian-Americans or other Muslim Americans.

02-03-2017 , 02:03 PM

#5064

champstark

aka starkwired

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14,838

Quote:

Originally Posted by microbet

They've already taken both sides, so I guess now that means they're back to supporting settlements.

---

Please please please let this administration go away soon. Four years of this is impossible.

Oh I thought the official line was in support, but today Spicer said they believe peace can happen with existing lines but that additional settlements are detrimental to the process.

02-03-2017 , 02:04 PM

#5065

jayhawks

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,128

Quote:

Originally Posted by lycosid

It's great that you just started with the assumption that we will be eventually invading iran, no matter what.

I'm not assuming that we will invade, I really hope we don't. But if we did, it would be extremely ugly.

02-03-2017 , 02:04 PM

#5066

JordanIB

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 13,458

I assume this Skype nonsense is just the intermediary step to eliminating the live press pool. and going to full-time planted questions?

02-03-2017 , 02:04 PM

#5067

Autocratic

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Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawks

I agree, but it's not like Iran is funding pro-American forces. They may defeat ISIS, which is good, but then another vacuum exist, and they would also be anti-American.

First, Iranian perceptions of America are increasingly positive. Throwing that away is insane.

Second, and this builds on the first point, we are low on actual allies in the Middle East no matter what we do, and invading Iran doesn't solve that problem. They're our most likely Middle Eastern ally outside of Israel in 20 years time.

02-03-2017 , 02:05 PM

#5068

RV Life

old hand

Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 1,935

Quote:

Originally Posted by raradevils

No actually I do.

Really? Can you name 5 terrorist attacks that have occurred in Muslim countries without looking it up? Meaning, you can't say Paris but you can say Bali in 2016 or something like that. Give an estimate on the number of people killed too. Thanks. Should be easy since you care so much.

02-03-2017 , 02:05 PM

#5069

champstark

aka starkwired

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14,838

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autocratic

Not to mention historically (and just naturally) Iran is a perfect fit as a US ally. If they magically became a democracy tomorrow we'd be BFFs within a few years (well, not under Trump, but whatever).

02-03-2017 , 02:06 PM

#5070

champstark

aka starkwired

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14,838

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Life

Also, please indicate if they were sponsored by Iran.

02-03-2017 , 02:09 PM

#5071

microbet

Solar Powered

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 56,665

Quote:

Originally Posted by einbert

Just speculation, but war with Iran could be used as reasoning for possible internment of Iranian-Americans or other Muslim Americans.

Boy would any actions against Iranian-Americans make it clear that it was about Islam because a lot, if not most, Iranian-Americans are Jewish or Christian (Armenian).

02-03-2017 , 02:10 PM

#5072

ScreaminAsian

For President

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 33,333

“We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank,” Trump said during a meeting with business leaders Friday morning. “Because frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine, that had nice businesses, they just can’t borrow money …*because the banks just won’t let them borrow because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank.”

big win for personal friends of donald trump

02-03-2017 , 02:12 PM

#5073

kerowo

lolcat

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 37,190

I can't name all of the shootings that took place in the US in the last 10 years does that mean I don't really care about them? It's a bull**** test and you know it.

02-03-2017 , 02:12 PM

#5074

ScreaminAsian

For President

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 33,333

Trump also intends to sign a separate presidential memorandum to roll back the Labor Department’s rules that would require financial professionals to put their clients’ interests ahead of their own. The “fiduciary rule,” scheduled to go into effect in April, has long been a target of Republicans, including close Trump Wall Street ally Anthony Scaramucci, who call it burdensome and costly.

this is great for scammers pretending to be financial professionals