Operation Epic Fury

Just saying.

5000 more US troops are being sent to the Mideast.
The US is offering 10 million USD to anyone who can provide information to the whereabouts of the supreme leader.

@billybob :
If troops are ordered into battle, then that changes this from an "Operation" to a "War", right? Something that Congress is "supposed" to do? Also, didn't Bush always go to Congress to get approved for funds for the Iraqi war?
My opinion and mine alone and not my employer's.

@DennisinPeoria :
Indeed, Bush did.
As a side note, of sorts, WSJ is just breaking a story. The Trump
administration received a $10 billion
fee for brokering the deal that kept Tik
Tok alive in the US,

@billybob :
A $10 billion fee from who? And why does his administration get a fee?

@DennisinPeoria : One man's "fee" is another man's "shake down".

@DennisinPeoria :
The fee is most likely from Tik Tok. No word who in administration gets it.
Monday should be a big day for news. There is this unfolding story. The Kennedy Center boards is in major revolt against Trump. He wants to fire the head of the Kennedy Center because of the drastic drop in business there. It was set to happen last night. He was going to announce a replacement. However, his hand picked board revolted and called a meeting for Monday to discuss things. Things got super ugly and the board meeting is now scheduled for Monday at the White House. If the current chairman leaves, it seems like he might have some stories to tell. Especially, since he was passed over for Sec. of State.
Also, he wants to build an underground security center where visitors and tourists can be screened in greater numbers.It sounds like he wants to reopen the White House for tourists. It has been closed for tourists since 9-11. He wants it up and running by July, 2028 before he leaves office and for the tourist season. LOTS and LOTS of questions of the logistics of that. I am sure the Secret Service has many issues and concerns.
Trump will also be having meetings on the war so he will be shuttling around the White House to meetings. Also, the Tik Tok fee will be in the news. There is also another meeting schedule to discuss the Save America Act. Busy days are ahead.

I think Iran at some point will come back with a very strong retaliation for the bombing of the all girls school. And you know if that was the other way around that America would do the same. This tragedy isn't getting enough attention. But there are so many Trump atrocities, mishandling, crimes, and screw ups that aren't getting enough negative attention.

@billybob :
I actually thought the WH had been reopened for tourists, perhaps during Obama's term?
Why can't the SS have a high tech metal detector for tourists to go through? I don't see staff assigned to do vetting of tourists coming in, asking if they're US citizens or of they're from a banned country...
Or set it up like the Gateway Arch where you make an appointment to visit after filling out a long questionnaire detailing your life history and if you've voted for Donkeys or Elephants. And pay a $50/person fee that goes to the Oval Office guy's foundation, but you'd get a brand new Made in China Red ball cap with the letters M, A, G, and A on it you have to wear during the tour....
My sarcasm is my opinion and mine alone and no one else.

@DennisinPeoria :
White House has reopened to tourists but on a limited basis. Pre 9-11 you could just get in a line and go through. Quite often then line was very, very long. . Betty Ford started a tradition of opening the White House on selected evenings during holiday season when the holiday decorations were up. It was really, really beautiful. Likewise, the White House rose garden was open on a few days in warmer weather.
Since 9-11 all that came to a stop. Now, you have to books through your senator, or representative. If you are a foreign visitor you book through your country's embassy. Everyone has a quota and they stick to it. You have to give your SS number and foreign visitors give their passport number. It is strongly advised to make those plans 3-6 months in advance. Gone are the days where you could things randomly.
Trump continues to attract terrible controversy over the ballroom and destruction of the rose garden. Betting is that he is trying to do this as a result of the bad publicity on the ballroom and rose garden.
Also, since 9-11,for a period of time, until a new system was put in place, the Capitol bldg was closed to tourists. Gone were the days you walk around pretty much as you wanted. Now, it is tours, security and more places are restricted. They put an underground center on the capital plaza for security etc.etc. Actually, it is very nice and very well done. It is obvious that Trump and/or Secret Service are trying to copy that arrangement. The plans call for 8 lanes of security which is very telling. There is no need for that many lanes unless they are going to open it up to tourists like it was before 9-11.

Can't imagine how many US citizens are still in Iraq. However, the US Embassy in Iraq has just an advisement to them to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Even for State Dept. warnings this one was unusually 'forthright, frank and candid" The US Embassy there is one of the largest in the world.

This from Occupy Democrats on FB, so obviously may have some bias:"stunning new report showed Trump IGNORED warnings from his generals and went to war anyway!Donald Trump repeatedly brushed off urgent warnings from Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine that Iran would disrupt the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. attacks. In multiple briefings, Caine said that Iran would likely send missiles and drones to the area, but Trump pushed ahead anyway, convinced Iran would "quickly bend" and capitulate.Trump told his team he believed the U.S. military could handle any threat to the strait if it came, even as he acknowledged the risks. Now, three weeks into his illegal "excursion," Iran has done exactly what the generals predicted: blocked and attacked shipping in the Strait, choking 20% of the world's oil supply. Tankers have been hit, oil prices have spiked, and the International Energy Agency has ordered the largest-ever release from emergency reserves.The war has already killed at least 13 U.S. troops and more than 1,300 Iranians, including a school full of girls, and set the region aflame with tit-for-tat strikes and counterstrikes that Trump can't order stopped, however hard he may try starting soon. Critics like Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) called the lack of planning "pretty shocking": "They had no plan to address the crisis in the strait ... they still didn't have a plan."Trump's timelines have absurdly shifted, first saying strikes could last four to five weeks, then claiming "we've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough," and now saying he'll pull out when he feels it "in his bones." His own advisors outside the White House are reportedly looking for an exit, but Trump has no idea of whether he should stop this madness or not.Asked by the press if this will be a long or short war, Trump bizarrely answered, "Both." But he can't have it both ways, and if he thinks he can, the men in white coats are waiting outside ready to take him away. But this is no laughing matter. Families are burying their dead, people are already dreading tomorrow's gas prices, and the Middle East is literally aflame. Such leadership should not be accepted for a millisecond in the United States of America."

@DennisinPeoria :
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is one of then ones Trump fiercely criticized for not being inn knock step with Trump on nthe war issue, Now, the Strait of Hormuz is blocked and Trump is asking for help from other nations help in escorting the ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the UK was one of the very first he asked. So far, he has not given an answer. It is total insanity.

He says NATO is useless but then asks NATO members for help. Says the economy is great but then helps start a war (or excursion) that starts a world wide economy crisis. What is the next strongest word beyond insanity?

@RambleOn :
There are a couple of words but we would be banned if we used them, Lol!