On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader, Chief of Global Operations and the Delegated Committee Emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias “Abu Khadijah”, and one other ISIS operative.
As the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making body, Abu Khadijah maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the group’s global organization.
After the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces moved to the strike site and found both dead ISIS terrorists. Both terrorists were wearing unexploded “suicide vests” and had multiple weapons. CENTCOM and Iraqi forces were able to identify Abu Khadijah through a DNA match from DNA collected on a previous raid where Abu Khadijah narrowly escaped.
“Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.
https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1900737395915440260
Comment: At least we’re consistent in targeting ISIS as an enemy. Trump was excited about this one. Last night he put this statement out on his social media platform:
“Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
In addition to CENTCOM, Trump also has Gabbard whispering in his ear that the jihadi terrorists are bad. That’s one point that she is absolutely consistent on. This may be the one bit of US policy, foreign and domestic, that will not be turned on its head. This strike on Abu Kadijh with the assistance of Iraqi intelligence is not just a one off. The SDF and Iraqi Intelligence were also instrumental in two other victories over ISIS this month.
On March 6, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), enabled by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, conducted a raid and captured Salah Mohammad Al-Abdullah, an ISIS cell leader in the vicinity of Shahil, Syria. During the operation, the SDF recovered multiple weapons to include a 12.7mm (.50 cal) Sniper rifle, an AK-47, hand grenades, and various weapons and ammunition.
The SDF-led operation is part of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign to degrade ISIS networks and prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group in the region. CENTCOM forces enabled SDF during the operation by providing technical support and intelligence.
. . . . .
U.S. Central Command commends Iraqi Intelligence and Security forces on the successful operation leading to the capture and arrest of Chechen ISIS terrorist Umm Hussein, the wife of ISIS leader Abu Khadija, who was killed in a strike on March 13. Umm Hussein has been an active member of ISIS. An additional two ISIS terrorists were captured in the operation. This is a testament to Iraq’s continued commitment to dismantling ISIS networks and ensuring the safety and security of the region. CENTCOM, with our partners and allies, remain steadfast in our efforts to eliminate ISIS and prevent its resurgence.
So we still have allies in the region, allies with which we engage in hostilities against a common enemy. That’s quite a call back to the way America has operated in the world since WWII. I hope we, as a nation, don’t forget that.
TTG
Your backhanded compliment of Tulsi for hating jihadis is a disgrace.
Trump praised by Dominant Media only when bombing Moozlims. See Scarborough, Joseph during first term of Syria bombs-away. Only time Drumpf described as “Presidential.”
Tulsi hates jihadis that killed Americans on 9-11.
Big Problem because Jake Sullivan emailed to Hillary in 2014 that AQ “was on our side in Syria.”. Yet Tulsi is defamed as a “traitor”.
Zbig armed jihadis. USA always sides with Sunni jihadis….. Azerbaijan v Christian Armenia, Kosovo v Christian Serbia, Bashar Assad v Beard measurer – Head chopper Jolani, Muslim brotherhood in Egypt v Secular Army, Secular Saddam etc…
Al-Qaeda is our ally.
Think of our brothers and sisters who jumped out of the World Trade Center rather than be immolated by Al-Qaeda men.
PSC,
Concerning the idea that AQ “was on our side in Syria,” ISIS and AQ were at odds and actually fought each other in Syria. So, in a way, both the US and AQ were fighting the same enemy. It’s as if the Imperial Japanese Navy started sinking Hitler’s U-boats. Wouldn’t have made us allies and wouldn’t have stopped our war against Japan, but it would have meant we were fighting a common enemy.
Tulsi is defamed as a traitor (very inaccurate term) for her support for and cheerleading for Moscow, not her stance against the jihadis.
Let us see how long Iraq will be an ally giving IS has almost ceased to exit. Once the reason for working together is gone everything changes.
https://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2025/02/security-in-iraq-feb-8-14-2025.html
Poul,
It won’t be the first time we left Iraq at the behest of the government in Baghdad.
It won’t be the first time we left Iraq at the behest of …
Well not quite according to Poul’s blog link, or Joel Wing:
https://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2025/03/iraq-continues-to-import-iranian-energy.html#more
American extraterretorial power at work once again. Not that I am a fan of the Iranian regime. But … Seems the government in Baghdad signed a deal until 2027.
Barbara Sibold,
Obama pulled all our troops out of Iraq and did not send them back until Baghdad asked for their return to repel ISIS. We never left after that.
Why didn’t we take out the Taqfiri head chopper Jolani instead of supporting them to get rid of Assad? It is my understanding that the whole cabinet of Syria is now made up of foreign Jihadis, blowback is inevitable but Israels plan worked out with the help of US neocons.
Gordon Reed,
The new cabinet in Syria is Syrian, almost all from HTS and the former Syrian Salvation Government in Idlib. So they’re jihadis, but Syrian jihadis, not foreign.
Foreign jihadis have been appointed to senior positions in the Syrian military however.
TTG,
“they’re jihadis, but Syrian jihadis,”
LOL as if there is a difference.
DJT did not write that (unless you cleaned it up). It is correctly written, spelled and capitalized. Trump might have mumbled something but he did not actually write that post.
Good to see another headchopper get taken out. But he’ll be replaced. So when do we stop playing whack-a-mole and go after the financiers. I understand they get a portion of their local funding via kidnaping-for-ransom, extortion, taxes, racketeering, drug trade and robberies (hmm, sounds a bit like Stalin’s use of protection rackets and bank robberies for funding his bolshevik cause.) But by most accounts ISIS also gets a huge chunk of money from international donors, mostly Saudi & Qatari individuals and other Gulf States. Following the money is the best way IMHO to get rid of this scourge.
Good idea, Leith. Go after the financiers. It is time to get rid of the UN (which also funds Hamas) and screw MI6 too. Whatever the CIA’s contribution is, that organization has outlasted its shelf life to the point of putrid rot. Replace it with the DIA. Trump is already cutting off USAID. So that’s a good start.
oh and Turkey. In Idlib only the Turkish Lira used as currency and all cell networks are Turkish. Idlib is the most hardcore jihadi city in Syria.
And finally I am informed by reliable Syrian sources that the Ukrainians, being the corrupt scumbags that they are, provided the jihadis with drones and drone targeting. Of course, that probably also brings us full circles to the CIA/deep state/ObamaBiden Admin, also all corrupt scumbags.
So yes, Leith. Let’s go after the funding. Oh wait, that is kind of what DOGE is doing + Trump replacing all the agency heads, etc. And you and TTG squeal to the high heavens about it and call names like, “dictator”.
I can only surmise that your demands to get the bottom of the jihadis’ triumph is more fake moral posturing and misdirection.
Eric Newhill,
Yes, they did. And they did it well in order to damage Russian forces in Syria eventually depriving them of air and sea bases in Syria. They will be teaching all of NATO before long. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence is also operating against Russia’s Africa Corps all over Africa.
TTG,
Yeah – and the world will be a worse place for it. If only you could see beyond your lust for Russian blood. Ukraine has never done anything but foment corruption. Assisting jihadis to obtain a base and all of the resulting deaths of Alawis, Sufis, Druze and Christians is worth it to hurt Russia a little? Project 2025 can’t come fast enough. Wipe out the whole DC bureaucracy if that is exemplary of their thinking, and all evidence suggests it very much is. Definitely start by cutting off the funding. No one in State, CIA or Flag officers is responsible enough to play with meaningful amounts of money. Ban think tanks and NGOs. Permanently close the doors of idiot factories, like George Town U and West Point.
Anyhow, I’ll be impressed when Ukraine can actually defend itself against Russia. To date, it’s been three years into the conflict, all that NATO aid, and Ukraine is just being inexorably ground down to nothing.
Eric –
DOGE is not going after Jihadist funds, they’re going after your’s and mine.
Leith,
I’m not a government dependent. I work for a living. Nor do I attend transgender operas or benefit from state controlled media propaganda.
leith,
I’m quite happy they are going after the theft of my money. I hope they publish the names of all the crooks who spent it and the recipients of the same. maybe we can lawfare them all so we can get some back. If anyone liked how that was getting spent they are free to write a check off their own bank account.
TTG,
You wrote “At least we’re consistent in targeting ISIS as an enemy”.
Here is the guy who was number two in ISIS – not some low level flunky but the guy who was NUMBER TWO in ISIS – walking hand in hand with Annalena Baerbock:
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/1/12/syria-does-not-need-a-handshake-litmus
And you want to pretend that we are actually fighting ISIS rather than using them as a finishing school for our allies? Please.
James,
Ahmed al-Sharaa was not in ISIS. He was al Qaeda both in Iraq and later in Syria and founded al Nusra. Al Nusra and ISIS became enemies which fought each other. Today al-Sharaa’s government in Damascus fights ISIS.
TTG,
OK – Ahmed al-Sharaa was part of al-Qaeda in Iraq which later changed its name to ISIS. And he rejected Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s attempts to maintain control over the subsidiary that al-Baghdadi had set up in Syria – not because of any differences over doctrine or goals but just because both of them wanted to be in charge.
But hey – who said we can’t be friends with some Salafists while also being enemies of other Salafists who share the exact same values, doctrine, and goals.
James,
Al-Qaeda is not ISIS and al-Qaeda in Iraq certainly is not ISIS. What became HTS had ambitions for Syria only. ISIS wants to establish a world caliphate. You’re right that they’re all Salafists, but so are the Saudis and we’re buddy-buddy with them on a range of things… even though they’re surely funding ISIS.
TTG,
“What became HTS had ambitions for Syria only.”
How on earth did you come to this conclusion?
Fred,
HTS broke away from other groups including al Qaeda specifically to get away from the jihadis bent on conquering the world. That’s been the case since 2017. HTS and al-Sharaa were and are focused on Syria. Al-Sharaa has repeatedly said so and his actions support that aim.
Oh TTG, your level of naivete on this subject matter is at the fatal level, though I realize that you are probably just repeating and defending deep state talking points as the myopic and delusional deep state is one of the architects of the jihadi triumph.
No jihadi has ambitions limited to the borders of a country. None. Jihadis don’t even recognize such borders as real. There is only the ummat al-Islām, inevitably a caliphate across the entire globe. HTS, ISIS, Al Qaeda are all jihadi groups. They may quibble over leadership here and there, but they are all fundamentally united as muslim brothers. Much of the quibbling is a deep state propaganda smoke screen.
The jihadis’ strategy, in their own words, has been readily available for some time. They seek to gain geographic bases from Afghanistan to Syria to swaths of Africa. From those bases, raise and train armies. Meanwhile, via immigration, infiltrate and undermine non-muslim countries to prepare for the day when complete conquest (includes open warfare) can jump off, whether that be in ten years or five hundred years.
The Saudi royals don’t fund these guys because they are a threat to the lifestyle of the royals. True believers in Saudi and the Gulf states do fund them.
It’s all the muslim brotherhood and your distinctions are completely illusory.
Eric Newhill,
All those jihadist groups don’t just fight over leadership, many of them have been in shooting wars against each other. They are not as monolithic as you believe.
TTG,
I think you are behind the times. The trend since 2016/2017 has been for the various jihadi organizations to consolidate. Sure, once in a while there are political differences that result in intra-jihadi violence – they’re killers after all and killers gonna resort to killing – but those are just growing pains within the emerging unified global movement.
Eric Newhill,
These groups consolidate, break up and sprout new groups all the time. Just like Islam, they are not a monolithic entity.
“Al-Sharaa has repeatedly said so …”
And you are foolish enough to believe that?
Fred,
Read the whole answer, Fred, not just the phrase that triggers you.
TTG,
“These groups consolidate, break up and sprout new groups all the time.”
Until they don’t. This lack of understanding, on your part, that the jihadis can learn and evolve – and should never be trusted – is the same unimaginative mentality that failed to prevent 9/11 and that led to Bin Laden attaining hero status via Stinger missiles in Afghanistan.
Or do you see them as perpetually stupid wogs who can’t figure out how to unify to achieve the glorious global objective that they all share through their religion?
IMO, they are playing people with your thinking, quite effectively at that. You’re actually ok with jihadis controlling Syria because you’ve been lulled into believing that they are kinder, gentler, geographically limited jihadis. You are being proven wrong as we speak and will be much more so in the future.
Eric Newhill,
Your world view seems to demand a singular, all powerful, arch nemesis. The jihadis are just one type of enemy and, yes, they do learn and evolve. HTS and al-Sharaa is a perfect example. From the loyal al Qaeda soldier in Iraq known as al Jolani to the current HTS commander and president of Syria, he changed a lot. He’s still an authoritative and violent jihadist, but far different from his past self. He’s in the process of integrating the YPG/SDF into the Syrian Army and still waging active war against ISIS. The founders of Israel started off as murderous terrorists.
TTG,
“The founders of Israel started off as murderous terrorists.”
My my what a broad brush we use today.
Fred,
The Irgun, the National Military Organization in the Land of Israel, has a long history of terrorist attacks on civilians and police. You do remember the King David Hotel bombing and the massacre at Deir Yassin?
TTG,
The founders of Israel were solely of the Irgun? Over to you.
Fred,
The Irgun was active for decades and were critical to the founding of Israel. It was integrated into the IDF and many leaders became leading politicians and business leaders. They did not fade into oblivion. Menachin Begin was the last commander of Irgun and the founder of the Likud Party. With his signing of the Camp David Accords, he showed how a former terrorist can learn and evolve.
TTG,
Murdering Islamic religious fanatics can evolve into something better, but Putin/Russia are forever stuck in the past and remain perpetually evil and non-agreement capable.
Ok got it.
Eric Newhill,
Putin could have been something better, but he chose to stick to his commie KGB ways.
TTG, is your new President turning into Biden redivivus?
Doesn’t much matter as far as the war in Ukraine goes. The US doesn’t have the power to help or hinder there, or not much. Trump’s moved away from Team Biden’s Ukraine policy because that Biden policy was a loser. Not because Trump has any moral qualms or has suddenly come over all Westphalian.
It matters in the ME. The US has immense power there. How’s Trump using it?
Gaza and the West Bank?
Straight psycho stuff. Possibly even worse than Biden. The President of the United States into genocide and ethnic cleansing. Cheered on by a majority in both parties and much of the electorate.
Yemen?
Ann Coulter:- “Why did we have to do this? Is it part of our constitution that we must be bombing someone at all times?”
Iran?
Looks like Dana Stroul and the sanction ghouls are as favoured under Trump as they were under Biden. If you can’t beat them starve them, says the City on a Hill.
Syria?
Kucinich spells it out. And Colonel Lang would have backed him up. He hated the R2P fraud too.
U.S. foreign policy all too often reveals calculations to excite and exploit sectarian, religious, or ethnic divisions to achieve vainglorious geopolitical goals which blowback in disintegration and defeat.
Like a coterie of Snidley Whiplashes “Curses, foiled again!” our policy geniuses ignore the devastation they have wrought and proceed headlong into plotting the next disasters: future prolonged civil wars, systemic persecution, massive human suffering, refugee crises, and enduring political instability.
The deliberate exacerbation of sectarian tensions has repeatedly left behind weakened states, emboldened extremist groups, and countless innocent victims. It perpetuates human suffering on a vast scale. It has severely damaged America’s global reputation. It has fostered extremism, instability, and ongoing conflict.
I have spent my career fighting against these wars of aggression. I have cautioned that regime-change operations never lead to peace, only to greater suffering.
Now, with the fall of the Assad government to extremists, the nightmare that I and others warned about has become reality. The Syrian war, fueled by U.S. intervention and covert operations, has led to the very outcome that interventionists claimed they were trying to prevent—a bloodbath.
The neocons, interventionists, and war profiteers have achieved their aims, their machinations whitewashed by a reckless and complicit mainstream media whose ignorant naïveté or willful deception has paved the way for these atrocities. Another government toppled, another nation in ruins, and another generation of innocent people paying the price for metastatic arrogance.
Americans believe in religious freedom. Our government does not practice that abroad.
Americans believe in human dignity. Our government pulverizes it in other countries, with our tax dollars.
Americans want peace. But we will never have peace until we confront the reality that our own government has been spending trillions of our precious tax dollars in furtherance of stirring conflict and igniting wars, to the benefit of a few and to the manifest detriment of the rest of us.
I did all I could while in office. Now I pray for those suffering under the yoke of oppression we have caused, and pray for America to change course.
(The Genesis of Sectarian Death Squads in Syria: The Fall of Assad to US Supported Extremists and the Massacre of Christians and Alawites)
https://kucinichreport.substack.com/p/the-genesis-of-sectarian-violence
There’s a fool born every minute and way back I reckon I took up my minute. Believing it would all change with the new President was a mug’s game. As far as foreign policy goes – and it’s in foreign policy above all that you get the mountains of corpses – Trump’s as fake as Biden.
EO,
Trump is an imperialist seeking absolute power at home and empire abroad. He’s an imperialist from another century when a few great powers sought to divide the world amongst themselves. His desire for Canada, Greenland and Panama should have given you a hint.
TTG,
No. He is more of a strict adherent of the Monroe Doctrine.
Absolute power at home? Lol. You should more closely examine the actions of your own party as well as their buddies in Europe.
Eric Newhill,
Like Monroe, he does want Canada. And, yes, he does want absolute power in the imperial Presidency. He is certainly not a fan of the separation of powers among the three branches of government.
Your party is the one committing arson on Tesla dealerships and making the names and addresses of Tesla owners available. Your failed sort of almost Command Sgt Major VP candidate was gleefully going on about how threatening Tesla and Tesla owners and burning charging stations is a great way to “resist”. He gets his rocks off watching Tesla stock drop as result of the terrorism. That’s the democracy you prefer?
Talk about a thin skinned juvenile jerk – https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/tim-walz-openly-roots-against-tesla-stock-watches-it-fall-to-give-me-a-little-boost-video/ar-AA1Bgqrf?ocid=BingNewsSerp
Eric Newhill,
Walz takes pleasure in the watching Tesla stock drop. So what. I remember when MAGA world wanted to bankrupt Anheuser-Busch over a silly commercial. And he never condoned the arson and vandalism. He even gave advice to Tesla owners on how to remove the Tesla badges from their cars.
TTG,
Stock dropping because of a boycott is different than stock dropping due to fear instilled by terrorist activities that keeps people from purchasing Tesla. Walz has aligned with terrorists.
No MAGA people bombed purveyors of Bud Lite.
Eric Newhill,
EV sales skew heavily towards liberals and well off liberals at that, the very audience that Musk is alienating. MAGA types don’t like EVs in general and most of them can’t afford Teslas or other EVs. That same attitude is tanking Tesla sales in Europe. China is just outselling Tesla in China and Asia. Insurance rates for Teslas are going through the roof because Tesla can’t repair them and often just total them instead. It’s not the vandalism that’s tanking Tesla.
Eric –
All these stories of arson could well be Tesla dealerships doing the arson themselves for the insurance. In order to recoup the losses from people not buying Musk’s autocrappery.
Sweden’s Polestar is offering a $20,000 incentive for Tesla owners to trade in their Teslas.
By the way Polestars don’t fall apart or have batteries that spontaneously combust while idling like Tesla does.
Leith,
Tesla dealers purposely engaging in insurance fraud. How imaginative to commit such high profile felonies. Meanwhile the Chinese-Swedish jv manufacturer is losing money for the 5th straight year. I’m sure they’re great, if you live in Sweden with electricity rates of what? And a dealer network of?
TTG,
MAGA(!) wanted to bankrupt Anheuser-Busch, owned by AmBev, by,
Firebombing breweries! Firebombing Distributors! Oh, wait, no.
They spent $, their own $, on some other product. Much of that owned by AmBev. But the nice marketing lady got Bud Light sales shifted to what, which had what margin versus BL? And the crossdressing actor? Got some nice paychecks.
Fred –
How about electric vehicles from Hyundai/Kia, BYD, MG, Renault, BMW, VW/Audi/Škoda, Rivian, XPeng, and others? All slashing prices and launching new, high-quality EVs with better specs than Tesla.
But why don’t you buy a Tesla and sport around downtown with it? Better yet buy yourself a big chunk of Tesla stock while its price is bottomed out? Don’t believe the doubters saying Musk is bankrupting Tesla after he bought into it. Just like he bought into SpaceX & Twitter and has tried to ruin them. What else would you expect from an African immigrant. Have faith, he’ll get the American taxpayer to bail out all three of his failing enterprises.
TTG,
So the burning of Teslas and charging stations, the protests around dealerships, doxxing of Tesla owners, Walz suggesting that Tesla owners remove the Tesla logo, etc. is just liberals having fun venting and serves no material purpose?
Eric Newhill,
Walz suggesting that Tesla owners remove the Tesla logo is good advice. It makes their cars less a target for vandalism. Everything else you mention is just plain vandalism.
Ann Coulter:- “Why did we have to do this? Is it part of our constitution that we must be bombing someone at all times?”
I think Ann has hit the nail on the head.
Thank you, Ann!
TTG – a more optimistic assessment from Daniel Davis on the chances of peace in Ukraine – provided the Europeans can agree – and some hints on how that could lead to stability in the ME. Looks like the terms of Putin’s June ’24 Foreign Office speech.
“Trump Putin Phone Call: What’s been Revealed”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hztnlCZVn_0&ab_channel=DanielDavis%2FDeepDive
……………………………..
That June 14th 2024 speech set out the terms to which the terms mentioned by Daniel Davis are starting to approximate:-
Today, we are presenting another concrete and genuine peace proposal. If Kiev and Western capitals reject it again, as they have done before, then ultimately, it becomes their responsibility, both political and moral, for the ongoing bloodshed. Clearly, the situation on the front lines will continue to evolve unfavourably for the Kiev regime, altering the conditions necessary for initiating negotiations.
Let me underscore the key point: the essence of our proposal is not a temporary truce or ceasefire, as the West might prefer, to allow the Kiev regime to recover, rearm, and prepare for a new offensive. I repeat: we are not discussing freezing the conflict, but its definitive resolution.
And I will reiterate: once Kiev agrees to the course of action proposed today, including the full withdrawal of its troops from the DPR, LPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, and begins this process earnestly, we are prepared to commence negotiations promptly without delay.
I repeat our firm stance: Ukraine should adopt a neutral, non-aligned status, be nuclear-free, and undergo demilitarisation and denazification. These parameters were broadly agreed upon during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022, including specific details on demilitarisation such as the agreed numbers of tanks and other military equipment. We reached consensus on all points.
Certainly, the rights, freedoms, and interests of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine must be fully protected. The new territorial realities, including the status of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions as parts of the Russian Federation, should be acknowledged. These foundational principles need to be formalised through fundamental international agreements in the future. Naturally, this entails the removal of all Western sanctions against Russia as well.
https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1957107/
Those same terms later stated by Lavrov in the Newsweek article referred to before.
On 14 June, President Vladimir Putin listed prerequisites for the settlement as follows: complete AFU withdrawal from the DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic], LPR [Luhansk People’s Republic], Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblasts; recognition of territorial realities as enshrined in the Russian Constitution; neutral, non-bloc, non-nuclear status for Ukraine; its demilitarization and denazification; securing the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens; and removal of all sanctions against Russia.
https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russias-lavrov-warns-dangerous-consequences-us-ukraine-1964468
“Removal of all sanctions” would be a stretch for the Europeans, on their sixteenth sanctions package last time I looked. Maybe it’s going to be a tussle between Trump set on detente and the Europeans set on Cold War II. But if Trump does manage to get somewhere in these peace negotiations, and particularly since these negotiations have implications for the ME, “fake as Biden” would have to be withdrawn,
Then Trump could get on with his MAGA, which he seems to be deeply attached to, and the Europeans could have a go at sane politics. For once.
“Domestic Terrorism Alert”
Doesn’t sound like a ‘silly commercial’ or a self torching vehicles for fraudulent insurance claims.
https://johnalucas6.substack.com/p/domestic-terrorism-alert
And look at the coordination. Of not insurance fraud actions: https://x.com/DefiyantlyFree/status/1902850311540314150
Fred,
I also doubt anyone’s self torching their Teslas or Tesla service centers for insurance. And the idiots torching other peoples’ Teslas don’t realize that Teslas have cameras all over them recording those crimes. Plus torching other peoples’ Teslas doesn’t hurt Musk. It only hurts the poor bastards that bought the Tesla for likely Earth conscious, save the planet reasons. Torching service centers is just dangerous. someone’s going to get killed eventually, maybe even a fireman. EV fires are extremely dangerous. Those clowns deserve to be brought up on federal charges.
Boycotting Tesla and holding demonstrations, even worldwide coordinated demonstrations, is another matter. As long as they’re not blocking entrance to those service centers, it’s free speech.
Interesting to see that USASOC is doing Walz one better in warning Tesla owners. They’re advised to lock up their Teslas out of sight. Walz only advised them to remove the Tesla badging. If I had one, I’d keep it in the garage and I certainly wouldn’t be parking it out on the street. Swapping out the Tesla badging for Toyota badging may be a good idea. That might keep some yahoos from getting the urge to key it or smash a window.
It hurts Musk/Tesla b/c people become afraid of purchasing Teslas. Also, the insurance could become expensive enough to further discourage purchase. That should be obvious. Even the stupid not-white-nationalist terrorists have figure out that much.
Eric Newhill,
People across the US, Canada and Europe stopped buying Teslas out of disgust with Musks actions, not fear. But you’re right about insurance costs and resale value.
TTG,
Why yes…Identifying opportunities to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in govt is so disgusting.
I hope you guys keep repeating that mantra and escalate the associated terrorism. Pretty soon you’ll never find your way back to power. There just can’t be that many crazy tools of the thieves in the country.
Eric Newhill,
Fraud, waste and abuse certainly exists in the federal government, but DOGE has yet to find it. Almost all it found so far are programs that the Trump regime does not and will not support like feeding the starving and caring for the sick. And, of course, supporting trans operas.
TTG,
Those programs are often money laundering. Kind of like people paying $500K for Hunter’s paintings. And it takes time to prove fraud, waste and abuse. There are ample examples of situations that will probably pan out as exactly that.
The African immigrant is now recalling his Tesla trucks because – wait for it – he used the wrong “glue”. Why the heck is Tesla gluing on steel panels anyway? If it’s the wave of the future the Muskrat ain’t no Duke Kahanamoku, just another wannabee. But have no fear, he’ll glue on some armor and sell them to the Army.
https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-cybertrucks-made-with-the-wrong-glue-hit-with-yet-another-sticky-recall/
Leith,
The guy just led the rescue of astronauts that Biden left in space – to the detriment of their health and well being – for political reasons. But yeah, sure, he’s just an idiot.
Eric –
I didn’t call him an idiot. What I implied was that he is a lousy manufacturer of automobiles. It’s not just the glue, it’s the dozens of safety recalls of Teslas. Including the eight safety recalls of the self-immolating Tesla-3 that he got Trump to do a commercial for on the White House lawn.
And I doubt the Muskrat “led” the astronaut rescue. He was too busy in DC stealing the money that you and I paid in to social security.
Leith,
Elon is stealing tax dollars? You have any proof of that?
PS – Muskrat can’t seem to get Starship’s Raptor engine working right either. The American people need to stop subsidizing this con man.
https://wccftech.com/spacex-starship-raptor-rocket-engine-explodes-in-massive-fireball-during-test/
leith,
Musk’s dream of a fleet of Starships going to Mars may be a way off, but his Falcon rockets are pretty damned good and they’re about the only game in town right now.
TTG –
“his” falcon rockets??? Falcon was designed and built by Jim Cantrell, John Garvey, Tom Mueller, Chris Thompson, Gwynne Shotwell.
leith,
True, but they are SpaceX rockets. I’ll let Musk slide on that one.
And he used $38 billion of taxpayer money to do it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2025/elon-musk-business-government-contracts-funding/
And neither SpaceX nor Tesla pay taxes.
We need to revert to the tax schedules under Republican president Eisenhower.
“We need to revert to the tax schedules under Republican president Eisenhower.”
Actually, I agree with you on that.
Or at the very least, not extend the tax cuts enacted in Trump’s first term.
Leith,
Stop launching satelites on SpaceX. Pay more for Boeing and get less launches and less reliability.
Efficiency!
Taxes: You know who doesn’t pay taxes – the NGOs getting our tax money and funneling back to leftist causes. Cut all that. Oh, wait, that’s what Trump is doing. cry harder.
Fred –
Boeing-made B-52s are still flying 70 years after they were built.
Boeing CH-47 Chinook first flight was over 60 years ago and they are still going strong.
Boeing LGM-30 Minuteman III still in service 55 years later
12000 737, they’re currently in service in 110 countries with over 300 airlines (& militaries)
Air Force One
SpaceX engineers learned their craft at Boeing, Lockheed, Rocketdyne, NASA etc. But many are now leaving SpaceX. They burn out after just a few years. Let’s see if SpaceX and Tesla are here to stay – or whether their 15 minutes of fame ends up as a fiasco.
leith,
Now do “It takes a woman” GM:
https://www.automotivedive.com/news/nhtsa-odi-open-safety-probe-877k-gm-vehicles-over-engine-failures-62l-v8/737966/
almost a million. There’s more!:
https://www.automotivedive.com/news/gm-recalls-cadillac-camaro-front-wheel-lockup-transmission-wear/742865/
And more:!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2025/03/17/check-car-recalls/82475793007/
Off topic of course,
but if anyone is wondering about what is known about the F-47,
this 24-minute video with an Aviation Week reporter seems to say as much as can be said:
https://youtu.be/9e_EXmVUJCM
Quite a bit more information about the F-47 is here:
https://www.twz.com/air/boeing-wins-air-forces-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-contract
including mention of the earlier Boeing YF-118G Bird Of Prey.