War with Iran - DEFCON 3

[Bo Diddley]

We're getting closer.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle...ns-2026-02-13/

The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries.

The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, raises the stakes for the diplomacy underway between the United States and Iran.

[dabrockster]

Trump moves closer to a major war with Iran

State of play: Trump's armada has grown to include two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets and multiple air defense systems. Some of that firepower is still on its way.

• More than 150 U.S. military cargo flights have moved weapons systems and ammunition to the Middle East.
• Just in the past 24 hours, another 50 fighter jets — F-35s, F-22s and F-16s — headed to the region.

Between the lines: The standoff with Iran has gone on so long that many Americans are likely numb to it. War could come sooner, and be much bigger, than most recognize, sources say.

• Trump's military and rhetorical build-ups make it hard for him to back down without major concessions from Iran on its nuclear program.
• It's not in Trump's nature, and his advisers don't view the deployment of all that hardware as a bluff.
• With Trump, anything can happen. But all signs point to him pulling the trigger if talks fail.

The timeline: The Israeli government — which is pushing for a maximalist scenario targeting regime change as well as Iran's nuclear and missile programs — is preparing for a scenario of war within days, according to two Israeli officials.

• Some U.S. sources tell Axios that the U.S. might need more time. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said strikes could still be weeks away. But others say the timeline could be shorter.
• "The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks," one Trump adviser said.

The bottom line: There's no evidence a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran is on the horizon. But there's more and more evidence that a war is imminent.

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/ira...-nuclear-talks

[myboynoah]

This is the slowest march to war in the history of war. And for what? What is the point of this? And what will we do? The moment is lost, if there ever was one.

Or, we are doing it because Israel wants us to. Why do we have Israel pushing for anything we do as a nation?

[frank ryan]

This is slowest march to war in the history of war. And for what? What is the point of this? And what will we do? The moment is lost, if there ever was one.

Or, we are doing it because Israel wants us to. Why do we have Israel pushing for anything we do as a nation?

Israel wants us to. More specifically Netanyahu wants us to. I remember hearing an interview with him on 9/11 clamoring for an attack on Iran

[dabrockster]

This is the slowest march to war in the history of war. And for what? What is the point of this? And what will we do? The moment is lost, if there ever was one.

Or, we are doing it because Israel wants us to. Why do we have Israel pushing for anything we do as a nation?

The time was during the riots and he let all those murders happen and talked big and did nothing... Now, it is too late. Do I think removing these evil tyrants are a good thing. Yes.. I find this whole negotiation to be disgusting.. Time for that passed as well.

He will fumble this much like he has on Venezuela. Maduro is gone but his defacto govt remains.. Nothing has changed there..

[Maximus]

Israeli elections in oct. Bibi trying to have them after regime change in Iran

[frank ryan]

One of these times, the destinations for aggressive military actions will be met with a response. It's not making the US safer.

[Maximus]

One of these times, the destinations for aggressive military actions will be met with a response. It's not making the US safer.

huh? the destinations? who can respond

[frank ryan]

huh? the destinations? who can respond

I meant they will meet the US with a response.

I've been consistent in saying my primary disgust and worry with Trump is his potential to damage our national security.

We've humiliated and shed long-term allies and caused to game plan for dealing with us as an adversary.

They shouldn't trust us, even with Marco's speech. We've released policy papers that indicated antagonism toward the EU and a continued detente with Russia.

That has also castrated our intelligence gathering capacity. Apparently Ukraine tested us by feeding our resources false info and Russia act in a way that indicated we had leaked the info to them.

We are expending so many resources on this ICE bullshit while ignoring genuine domestic and foreign threats.

The country is so divided and pessimistic, rallying around the Flag in the event of a war is now an impossibility.

[dabrockster]

I meant they will meet the US with a response.

I've been consistent in saying my primary disgust and worry with Trump is his potential to damage our national security.

We've humiliated and shed long-term allies and caused to game plan for dealing with us as an adversary.

They shouldn't trust us, even with Marco's speech. We've released policy papers that indicated antagonism toward the EU and a continued detente with Russia.

That has also castrated our intelligence gathering capacity. Apparently Ukraine tested us by feeding our resources false info and Russia act in a way that indicated we had leaked the info to them.

We are expending so many resources on this ICE bullshit while ignoring genuine domestic and foreign threats.

The country is so divided and pessimistic, rallying around the Flag in the event of a war is now an impossibility.

I call bullshit on this. Source?

[LVAllen]

I call bullshit on this. Source?

Looks like a blogger claimed a former French intelligence officers said that on TV, but the recording of the show just says that the Oval Office Incident damaged the intelligence-sharing, and that Ukraine was getting information from the French these days, not that Ukraine fed us false info.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/68368

The rumors began circulating after Vincent Crouzet, a former French intelligence officer, made the accusation on the TV program 24h Pujadas on Jan. 15, according to a blog post by commentator James Marinero.

“Crouzet, a former operative of the French Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE) and a noted commentator on security matters, alleged during the 24h Pujadas programme that Ukrainian intelligence services have engaged in a deliberate campaign of disinformation directed at the United States,” Marinero wrote.

Crouzet did appear on LCI on Jan. 16, the next day, and he did discuss intelligence-sharing between the US and Ukraine. However, at no point did he claim that Ukrainian intelligence intentionally misled their US counterparts.

Crouzet went on to say that this rift evidently dates back to the infamous Oval Office incident of Feb. 28, 2025, which led to a “breakdown of trust” between the two intelligence services.

What he said next, translated directly, was that Vasyl Malyuk (then of the Security Service of Ukraine, SBU) and Kyrylo Budanov (then of HUR) “decided to stop sharing the efficient intelligence they possessed with their American partners on the part of American leaks to Moscow.”

So, he wasn't saying that the US is in league with Moscow. He said the US's security when it comes to shared intelligence is essentially a study in incompetence. Not sure that paints the US in a better light. For what it's worth, Kyiv denies the whole thing.

[dabrockster]

I appreciate you providing the information and the trail of where it came from. And the acknowledgement of it being denied by Ukraine.

A French spy with a blog is one that is not very convincing..

But is the type of innuendos I find horseshit that frank shovels all to often.

[falafel]

I appreciate you providing the information and the trail of where it came from. And the acknowledgement of it being denied by Ukraine.

A French spy with a blog is one that is not very convincing..

But is the type of innuendos I find horseshit that frank shovels all to often.

Whoa, why the personal attack? You just thanked LVA for providing the source and attacked frank in the same breath.

[dabrockster]

It’s called multi-tasking.

[Jeff Lebowski]

It’s called multi-tasking.

That's funny.

But I agree with falafel. Lighten up, man.