Some figures estimate a ground force of 500K. That isn't really the problem though. We have about 700K+ violent criminals in prisons but they would have to be trained and serve combat tours in exchange for clemency. I do not know what percentage would be fit for duty. Beyond that we have millions that would volunteer for such an invasion. I have yet to see any movement on the underground missile cities. Those can not be reached by bunker busters or nukes. They are 500m under mountains. Their leaders could live in the underground cities for decades.
This propaganda channel [1] suggests we are destroying these complexes with a small bunker buster (BLU-109) but that does not align with the depth of 500m which the video even states is the depth of these missile cities. Something is off here.
I keep thinking that instead of spending approximately $1B a day attacking Iran - killing, maiming, hurting people, poisoning the ground, damaging infrastructure, creating a future humanitarian criteria, what if, everyday, we dropped a $1B in cash in $50 bundles?
I keep thinking what the world would look like if the Bush wars didn't happen and the money went instead into global development - green energy transition, education, healthcare. How much solar and nuclear does 1.2T USD buy you?
But then I take off my red communist beret off and salute the stars and stripes and remember what really matters.
In all seriousness, if I ever had access to a time machine, I would want to see what the world looks like now in the timeline that Al Gore became president. I fully suspect that September 11 is one of those events that, in Doctor Who parlance, is a static point in all timelines, so I want to see how Gore would have responded, and what ramifications that would have had over the next 20 years.
just created an account on HN so I could reply to this comment: why the heck did you have to remind me of that! 20 something years removed I had forgotten that little detail and was so happy in my ignorant bliss!
Any significant transfer to the ordinary people will flow, in large part, to the government.
Putting cash into a somewhat closed system is particularly inflationary.
So, this well-meaning humanitarian idea of cash transfer (a) funds an authoritarian regime while (b) adding inflation woes to the people it's trying to help.
Taking money in taxes and giving it to poor people is the worst outcome for American Conservatives. This way the money goes to contractors that provide materials and services to wage war.
Because congress is controlled by the Republican party and the Republicans are authoritarians who have bent the knee to Donald Trump, elevating him over their country and sworn duty.
Don't wrinkle my tinfoil, it messes up the reception of the metal DMT elves! This is nothing really, I have conspiracy theories [spoilers] that would make Duncan Trussell and Alex Jones roll their eyes.
By the way, the '30k' protestors killed numbers I've heard from US media was fake. OSINT numbers of 15k death is way more likely, and the number from HRANA is 7k confirmed, 11k to be confirmed [0], 50k inprisonned (of which it seems a lot will be executed, which IMHO is worse, and liberating them would have been a more correct, if flimsy, ground for invasion than the current excuse)
Some figures estimate a ground force of 500K. That isn't really the problem though. We have about 700K+ violent criminals in prisons but they would have to be trained and serve combat tours in exchange for clemency. I do not know what percentage would be fit for duty. Beyond that we have millions that would volunteer for such an invasion. I have yet to see any movement on the underground missile cities. Those can not be reached by bunker busters or nukes. They are 500m under mountains. Their leaders could live in the underground cities for decades.
This propaganda channel [1] suggests we are destroying these complexes with a small bunker buster (BLU-109) but that does not align with the depth of 500m which the video even states is the depth of these missile cities. Something is off here.
[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYQJNpaZqmc
I keep thinking that instead of spending approximately $1B a day attacking Iran - killing, maiming, hurting people, poisoning the ground, damaging infrastructure, creating a future humanitarian criteria, what if, everyday, we dropped a $1B in cash in $50 bundles?
Would we have a better outcome?
I keep thinking what the world would look like if the Bush wars didn't happen and the money went instead into global development - green energy transition, education, healthcare. How much solar and nuclear does 1.2T USD buy you?
But then I take off my red communist beret off and salute the stars and stripes and remember what really matters.
In all seriousness, if I ever had access to a time machine, I would want to see what the world looks like now in the timeline that Al Gore became president. I fully suspect that September 11 is one of those events that, in Doctor Who parlance, is a static point in all timelines, so I want to see how Gore would have responded, and what ramifications that would have had over the next 20 years.
Gore might have invaded Afghanistan, or at least start military operations. I highly doubt he would have invaded Iraq.
Also, just reminding everyone that he won the election. Republicans stole Florida, and the Supreme Court approved of it.
just created an account on HN so I could reply to this comment: why the heck did you have to remind me of that! 20 something years removed I had forgotten that little detail and was so happy in my ignorant bliss!
Freedom isn't free. It's got a hefty fuckin' fee.
We ran this experiment already. Obama handed them $1.7B in cash [1]. Not a good outcome.
[1] https://apnews.com/article/united-states-government-fd411341...
And then again [1]
[1] - https://mast.house.gov/2023/11/biden-handed-over-16-billion-...
That money went to the Mullahs, not the ordinary people.
Any significant transfer to the ordinary people will flow, in large part, to the government.
Putting cash into a somewhat closed system is particularly inflationary.
So, this well-meaning humanitarian idea of cash transfer (a) funds an authoritarian regime while (b) adding inflation woes to the people it's trying to help.
Taking money in taxes and giving it to poor people is the worst outcome for American Conservatives. This way the money goes to contractors that provide materials and services to wage war.
Trump would have to find another distraction from the allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor. This just seemed easier in his mind.
But how would billionaires exploit that to stay in power, artificially create more scarcity and uncertainty, and make more money?
What I don't understand is why Congress is doing nothing. Today we were told Trump went to war because he 'felt' we were threatened by Iran. Absolute BS. See video here: https://x.com/The_Kremlinn/status/2031757780248297564?s=20
This on top of everything else. Goodbye American empire. It was nice while it lasted.
Maybe you're too young to remember but it was the exact same thing for the war in Irak.
No, the Bush administration provided false intelligence to congress that time.
Powell had the decency to go in front of the UN and lie to the whole world. Trump doesn't even have that much class.
He was threatened by Iran though.
Because congress is controlled by the Republican party and the Republicans are authoritarians who have bent the knee to Donald Trump, elevating him over their country and sworn duty.
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What did I even read. More tinfoil for this man’s hat!
Don't wrinkle my tinfoil, it messes up the reception of the metal DMT elves! This is nothing really, I have conspiracy theories [spoilers] that would make Duncan Trussell and Alex Jones roll their eyes.
Either LLM free hallucinations or a markov-chain.
The only time you set violent criminals loose on another country is when you desire genocide of the people of that country.
Australia turned out kinda OK
Historically accurate but in this case mini-genocide of bunker dwellers, missiles and Marvel comic collections.
By the way, the '30k' protestors killed numbers I've heard from US media was fake. OSINT numbers of 15k death is way more likely, and the number from HRANA is 7k confirmed, 11k to be confirmed [0], 50k inprisonned (of which it seems a lot will be executed, which IMHO is worse, and liberating them would have been a more correct, if flimsy, ground for invasion than the current excuse)
[0] https://www.en-hrana.org/the-crimson-winter-a-50-day-record-...
We can liberate them by sending them to heaven.