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FORUM / MIKES GRIPES /  Israel forcing Trump's hand

Israel forcing Trump's hand

Started by Plum53 REPLIES574 VIEWS· 18 Mar 2026, 07:15
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PL
Plum
Captain21,007 posts
18 Mar 2026, 07:15#1

I've heard this now from numerous analysts.


The premise;


Israel warned the US it would attack Iran. And the warning came with a note that said "If our airforce can't acheive the goal then we will look at the nuclear option." Trump had to decide between a potential nuclear action in the ME and assisting Isreal to eliminate the threat to a pre-determined degree.


We've assumed a bunch of reasons for the US getting involved, so perhaps this one is worth discussing. Granted, there's every chance that it could be dribble.


What would our board members do if faced with such an option?




DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 08:25#2

News has come out of the White House that Trump apparently had certiied credible evidence that Iran were planning a direct attack against the US, which is why Trump acted and did what he did.

We will never ever know the true extent or the veracity of this top secret information, but that is what is getting said.

Trump would have been advised well before hand just how much this could derail his presidency, and the damage it would do to him.....so maybe there is some truth to this... maybe not.

RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
18 Mar 2026, 08:45#3

"News has come out of the White House . . ."


Why would anyone believe anything coming out of the White House?


Seriously.


It's just lie after lie. Would you like examples? Do you not see through all the bullshit?


You may as well start your post with the words "What follows is another lie . . ."



DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 09:04#4

Why would anyone believe anything coming out of the White House?

Why would anyone believe what Iran says or has said for the last 40 years?

None of us know the true extent to which Iran wanted to attack anyone in the world recently, and also what weapons they had at hand to do so.

So, to answer your question, I would trust Trump over Iran on any given day of any year

Do you not see through all of Iran's bullshit?

So.... are you saying that you would trust Iran over Trump?

RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
18 Mar 2026, 09:17#5

Well for starters, do you see me starting posts with "News coming out of Iran"?


No?


Just because I think Bozo is an incompetent fool doesn't mean I support the Iranian regime, just as it didn't make me a Biden supporter.


To answer your question, I am just as sceptical of anything Bozo says as I am of anything coming out of Iran. They're equally dishonest, neither one less so than the other.

SH
sharkbok
Captain20,097 posts
18 Mar 2026, 09:37#6

So Trump is really a hero.... Ha, ha.


https://www.foxnews.com/video/6391072838112


A senior Trump administration intelligence official, Joe Kent, has resigned in protest over President Trump’s war in Iran.


Who resigned and from what role?

  1. Joe Kent was serving as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, making him the top U.S. counterterrorism official.
  2. He is a retired Army Green Beret and was a prominent pro-Trump, MAGA-aligned appointee.

His reasons for resigning

  1. In his resignation letter, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience” support the ongoing U.S. war in Iran.
  2. He argued that Iran did not pose an “imminent” or “immediate” threat to the United States.
  3. He claimed the conflict was started due to pressure from Israel and what he called its powerful American lobby, likening it to how he believes the U.S. was drawn into the Iraq war.

Why this matters

  1. Kent’s departure is the first major resignation of Trump’s second term specifically over a core policy issue, namely the Iran war.
  2. His criticism adds to existing doubts among lawmakers and analysts about the intelligence and rationale the administration used to justify striking Iran.

Trump and allies’ response

  1. Trump dismissed Kent’s concerns, calling him “weak on security” and saying it was “a good thing” he left because he did not see Iran as a threat.
  2. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Kent’s claims were false and insisted the president, as commander in chief, decides what constitutes a threat.?
  3. House Speaker Mike Johnson, citing classified briefings, insisted Iran posed an imminent threat, pointing to nuclear enrichment and missile development




DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 09:50#7

Just because I think Bozo is an incompetent fool doesn't mean I support the Iranian regime, just as it didn't make me a Biden supporter.

Just because I support some of Trump's ideas and actions does not mean that I endorse him in many other ways.

To answer your question, I am just as sceptical of anything Bozo says as I am of anything coming out of Iran. They're equally dishonest, neither one less so than the other.

That seems to be more like sitting on the fence, especially if you needed to make a crucial decision

The White House is saying that they had credible intel on Iran and that they then acted upon it ... we may never know

Iran is saying that they have nothing to hide because they did nothing at all wrong... we may never know

If you now needed to act on this information..... who do you believe in this specific instance... Iran or Trump

RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
18 Mar 2026, 10:02#8

"The White House is saying that they had credible intel on Iran and that they then acted upon it ... we may never know"


No, we do know that's not true . . . if you're able to see through the bullshit.


Tell me DA, if you had to name a single position in Bozo's administration who would be best placed to know if there was a threat from Iran, what position would that be?


Would the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center feature in your list . . . because that guy just told us the truth. He's been fired of course . . . but I believe him.


The intel you speak of is not credible. It's just another Bozo lie that you've swallowed.

DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 10:49#9

Ok, so, you will believe Iran then ... got it

Anyone else willing to put their name in this same hat and rather believe what Iran is telling the world, and not what Trump and his administration are telling the world...... we may as well see who all belongs in which group.

I will state it here and now, that I will always believe the Trump administration over anything Iran says.

No, that does not mean I believe "everything" that Trump says..... because as with many politicians and presidents.....he lies and exaggerates.... but when it comes to Iran, I will gladly take the side of the US.

If that makes me a naive and gullible person, I'll take it on the chin..... but at least I can put my stake in the ground on who I support and believe and not just say that ....... well...errrr... they are both as bad as each other...

CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
18 Mar 2026, 12:02#10

By the way S harkshit Joe Kent was a donor to Proud Boys and anto-semetic. Are you now a supporter of Proud Boys - in itself an anto-semetic organozation.


Although Trump suppoprted him in elecions in the past - he never won any. He is on he extreme side of the RP and not really on teh inmside track on issues,

DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 12:05#11

Nobody yet willing to openly state who they believe in this whole Iran war.......interesting .... let's see

RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
18 Mar 2026, 12:13#12

No, just because I don't believe all the lies coming out of the White House doesn't mean I automatically believe the lies coming out of Iran. I thought we'd been over this already.

ST
Stavanger1
Pro4,532 posts
18 Mar 2026, 12:17#13

We've assumed a bunch of reasons for the US getting involved, so perhaps this one is worth discussing. Granted, there's every chance that it could be dribble.


Does sound like dribble to be honest. I'm not fan of the state of Israel under it's present government, but I don't think Israel would be crazy enough to use a nuke. Israel conducting an unprovoked nuclear strike on Iran would render them international pariah's on the world stage, any sort of sympathy the world had for them over the holocaust would evaporate, you could expect a permanent hostile stance towards them from all their Gulf neighbours and probably the end of trade between Israel and the EU, Israel's largest trade partner and hey could possibly be heavily sanctioned as well. You could expect a significant shift of public opinion against Israel in the US as well, even the US possibly would have to turn its back on Israel. In addition you would get an extreme rise of antisemitism globally. It simply far too big a gamble for Israel to have ever taken, unless they had absolute proof of some sort of imminent major attack attack on them by Iran was forthcoming, something such a nuclear/biological/chemical attack, a more regular attack such as with missiles, drones or attacks by Iran's proxies would not have warranted a pre-emptive nuclear strike.


Israel warned the US it would attack Iran. And the warning came with a note that said "If our airforce can't acheive the goal then we will look at the nuclear option." Trump had to decide between a potential nuclear action in the ME and assisting Isreal to eliminate the threat to a pre-determined degree.


Even the phrasing of that doesn't make sense. Wouldn't that leave the door open for America to stay out of the initial Israel strikes against Iran and wait to see what the results where before deciding to join Israel or not. It's not like Israel would nuke Iran without giving the US prior warning. Secondly even with the US joining the campaign, there was no guarantee the US could actually destroyed Iran's nuclear program either, as from what I've seen most analysts seem to think without boots on the ground the US can only set the program back in time, that can't wipe it out completely and Israel knows that.


News has come out of the White House that Trump apparently had certiied credible evidence that Iran were planning a direct attack against the US, which is why Trump acted and did what he did.


Absolute tosh. Iran has never actually directly attacked the mainland United States before. Why would they do it now when they American's had a carrier task force off their coast, it would just bring hellfire down on them. American intelligence services indicated there was no imminent threat to the US from Iran. There was no intelligence from other allied countries that showed an imminent threat to the US either. Numerous American politicians who have partook in intelligence briefings since the operation began have stated no intelligence was presented that indicated there was any threat posed to the US by Iran. Then we have the fact that Trump is one of the worlds biggest liars, he lies and insane amount and just makes stuff up.


Just take for example what he said the other day when a journalist asked him about the bombing of the girls school in Iran, the journalist said it certainly seemed like the United States was responsible as the weapon that hit the school was identified via video footage as a Tomahawk cruise missile. Trump responded that Iran has some Tomahawk missiles. This is a f**king mental statement. The ramifications of that being true is either Iran or some other actor was able to steal Tomahawk cruise missiles form the US or one of it's three allies that use them (the UK, Netherlands and Australia) or that one of those allied countries gave Iran Tomahawk missiles or they gave them to someone else who subsequently gave them Iran. Scenario one is that a massive and unpresented security breach has occurred and scenario two is the US states has been betrayed by an Allied nation in the most serious manner. Now if either such scenario occurred, it would be major news, US intelligence services would be going hell for leather trying to discover what happened, politicians on both sides of the isle would be demanding to know what happened, when did it happen, how did it happen, under who's watch did it happen. But what do we actually get in response to his claims, absolutely zero, nothing, because the US intelligence services and all the politicians know it's complete bullshit. Everyone and their dog knows, its nonsense.


We will never ever know the true extent or the veracity of this top secret information, but that is what is getting said.


That is present without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. You once again demonstrate your complete inability to do any sort of critical thinking and are just wedded to political ideology.

DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 12:41#14

No, just because I don't believe all the lies coming out of the White House doesn't mean I automatically believe the lies coming out of Iran. I thought we'd been over this already.

No we haven't .....and I am repeating this again because it keeps getting brought up about who to believe.

I am asking you and our fellow posters for an answer to a potentially difficult scenario, regarding what decision you would make, pertaining to starting or even supporting a certain side in this war.

If you received information from the White House right now, and you also received information from Iran right now..... who would you choose to believe before you decided to start or support a side in this war...

It's a very simple question, and one that I have already expressed my stance on.

There is no middle ground here ..... it is not a 50 / 50 decision or answer ..... you either start and support a war with Iran, or you don't

So which side would you trust and believe....... Trump or Iran

DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 12:51#15

Does sound like dribble to be honest. I'm not fan of the state of Israel under it's present government

We agree on something

Absolute tosh.

Your basic opinion, nothing more

American intelligence services indicated there was no imminent threat to the US from Iran. There was no intelligence from other allied countries that showed an imminent threat to the US either. Numerous American politicians who have partook in intelligence briefings since the operation began have stated no intelligence was presented that indicated there was any threat posed to the US by Iran. Then we have the fact that Trump is one of the worlds biggest liars, he lies and insane amount and just makes stuff up.

Correct, they also said all of this in the run up to 9/11 .... that helped them... didn't it.

Just take for example what he said the other day when a journalist asked him about the bombing of the girls school in Iran, the journalist said it certainly seemed like the United States was responsible as the weapon that hit the school was identified via video footage as a Tomahawk cruise missile. Trump responded that Iran has some Tomahawk missiles. This is a f**king mental statement. The ramifications of that being true is either Iran or some other actor was able to steal Tomahawk cruise missiles form the US or one of it's three allies that use them (the UK, Netherlands and Australia) or that one of those allied countries gave Iran Tomahawk missiles or they gave them to someone else who subsequently gave them Iran. Scenario one is that a massive and unpresented security breach has occurred and scenario two is the US states has been betrayed by an Allied nation in the most serious manner. Now if either such scenario occurred, it would be major news, US intelligence services would be going hell for leather trying to discover what happened, politicians on both sides of the isle would be demanding to know what happened, when did it happen, how did it happen, under who's watch did it happen. But what do we actually get in response to his claims, absolutely zero, nothing, because the US intelligence services and all the politicians know it's complete bullshit. Everyone and their dog knows, its nonsense.

I agree here, and I actually wish that there was some way that Trump could be held liable or responsible in some way, for this kind of bullshit rethoric... I really do.

You once again demonstrate your complete inability to do any sort of critical thinking and are just wedded to political ideology.

When I see what you have previously put forward on this forum, regarding various topics in the past......it is absolutely laughable that you even want to start mentioning critical thinking, it really is.

RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
18 Mar 2026, 13:02#16

I don't trust or believe either side.


Your question is hypothetical. I'm not sure what this information is that I'd get to make this decision but in both cases, I'd believe the opposite of what they are saying or claiming.

SH
sharkbok
Captain20,097 posts
18 Mar 2026, 13:15#17

When Trump gets impeached for an illegal war against Iran, this is a very credible witness to the court. (Even if the Trumpazee species refuse to accept reality).


  1. Joe Kent (director of the National Counterterrorism Centre)- the top U.S. counterterrorism official.
  2. He is a retired Army Green Beret


  1. He argued that Iran did not pose an “imminent” or “immediate” threat to the United States.
  2. He claimed the conflict was started due to pressure from Israel and what he called its powerful American lobby, likening it to how he believes the U.S. was drawn into the Iraq war.


This is a very damming testimony. The person who is actually in charge of counter terrorism. Ha, Ha.




ST
Stavanger1
Pro4,532 posts
18 Mar 2026, 14:28#18

Your basic opinion, nothing more


He's provided nothing, no evidence, nada, zip, zilch, zero. As I said that is which presented without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.


Correct, they also said all of this in the run up to 9/11 .... that helped them... didn't it.


Do you any idea of how mad a world you're suggesting. If that you can with no credible evidence of a threat you can just start bombing the shit out of a country. I mean why stop at just Iran, why not pre-emptively attack Russia, they got Nukes...what if Putin is overthrown and we get an ultranationalist leader hell bent on attacking the west, or some of their nuclear weapons are stolen by terrorists, why not attack North Korea or Pakistan on the same grounds? I mean sure those threats may not be likely, but can you 100% rule out? And you can apply the same logic to any country you want. Gotta strike now before its too late, can't take any risks, New York or London could go up in mushroom cloud any second now!




DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 14:46#19
  1. Joe Kent (director of the National Counterterrorism Centre)- the top U.S. counterterrorism official.
  2. He is a retired Army Green Beret


  1. He argued that Iran did not pose an “imminent” or “immediate” threat to the United States.
  2. He claimed the conflict was started due to pressure from Israel and what he called its powerful American lobby, likening it to how he believes the U.S. was drawn into the Iraq war.

If this were ever proven to be absolutely true, I woud be the first person on here to say impeach Trump, and lock him and everyone else up, who were part of the decision to go to war with Iran

DA
Devil's Advocate
Pro7,008 posts
18 Mar 2026, 14:54#20

He's provided nothing, no evidence, nada, zip, zilch, zero. As I said that is which presented without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

It sure can ... but as I have said before, you are extremely naive when it comes to what you think you should know or even deserve to know... or expect to know.

There are so many variables going around Washington 24/7, with evidence being presented across that Oval desk, every single day of this war..... and you expect it to become public knowledge.....

Not everything needs to be justified, especially if it's within the best interests of the general public not to know, or if it could in anyway give away what information they do have on their enemy.

However, if there is anything untoward, regarding decisions that were made to go to war, I fully expect every single individual to face the consequences of the law.... including Trump.

Do you any idea of how mad a world you're suggesting

Gotta strike now before its too late, can't take any risks, New York or London could go up in mushroom cloud any second now!

Ok, well let me ask you the same questions I was posing to others, given what info the White House has recently released.

Firstly, if you received "confirmed" and "credible" intelligence that Iran was going to strike the US, would you do what Trump did.

Secondly who would you believe in this war, as an outsider, given all the bullshit flying around.... Iran or Trump.

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