“War of Choice”. The American Revolution tops my list as the nation’s best War of Choice. We could have delayed it, but the gang thought it would be fun.
Speaking haphazardly in podcasts unintentionally exposes bias. And that bias flows through all discussion. This is why I oppose gathering information from Podcasts — they are often sloppy — present company excluded. Few of us can speak extemporaneously in intelligent, well integrated, thoughtful paragraphs. And often (not in this case), people fall in love with their own voices and do not carefully craft their statements (e.g. Jonah Goldberg, the “ah” master). Richard Epstein is one of the few podcasters who speaks in a clear, precise, integrated manner. But, he is the exception, and was a university lecturer and law professor for years. Most of us devolve into conversational level interchange.
For the War of Choice crowd, I say, … it’s 2030. President Newsom has just been informed that Iran is closing the Strait of Hormuz and will limit passage to Chinese vessels. It has fired missles that landed in the mid-Atlantic as a demonstration and advised the US, Europe, and America’s Asian allies to stand down. Islamic Revolutionary governments with the help of Iran have already seized power in Oman and Bahrain. Qatar has agreed to become a principality in the Iranian greater caliphate. Russia and Iran have announced they have raised the price of their oil and Persian Gulf oil to $250 a barrel. Saudi Arabia agreed. China has been chosen as the exclusive shipping flag for all oil and gaz from the region. A major fire has paralyzed the new Saudi oil pipe line that circumvents Hormuz.
New York, Boston, DC, Philadelphia, and Miami are within the targeting range of Iran’s nuclear weapons.
President Newsom proposes global talks and the Ayatollah of Iran says he will meet with European leaders who recognize Iran’s right to rule the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia agrees to participate, but Iran informs them they can only participate as an observer. Iran responds to President Newsom that he will never meet with the United States. As a condition, Europe must only send Muslim representative to the talks.
Israel remains under extreme lockdown since the Iranians launched a small nuclear weapon into the Negev. and Isreal’s Yair Lapid, of the Aptid Party and current Prime Minister of Israel has agreed to return all lands captured in the in the 1967 war as an opening to restoring Palestinian control over Palestine.
The Baltic states announce they are withdrawing from NATO.
Taiwan, now under PRC rule, announced a trade suspension in EUV chips with the United States unless it agrees to Iran’s terms. US chip foundaries cannot replace Taiwan supplies.
Russia announces the Netherlands, under pressure, has approved its purchase of ASML and will transfer the company’s headquarters to Nizhny Novograd.
President Newsom addresses the nation in a pre-recorded message since he cannot read a telepromoter. He tells America the problems America faces are due to the feckless leadership of Donald J. Trump who failed to address the Iranian threat in 2026 before the window of action closed. President Newsom announces the US has NO Choice. We must negotiate through surrogates.
YES. You who call this a War of Choice know how this ends if Iran is not confronted. So expunge those words from the discussion.
When I say “war of choice,” I mean that the United States was not responding to a direct attack. As I’ve said many times, while this war may well have been inevitable at some point to address Iran’s nuclear program, whether this was the moment we absolutely had to act is, in my mind, debatable. That’s what makes the decision to go to war today, as opposed to another time, a choice. Dany and I disagree on that point, and we are fine with thar.
But now that we’re in it, we are both laser focused on the objectives and the end game - both of which are a necessity. The question of choice can be debated after the war.
One other thing: Hot Takes is not really a “podcast,” and it isn’t intended to express carefully crafted positions. It’s two friends riffing about — and debating — the week’s news and sharing our perspectives with our community. Think of it as a virtual happy hour. Hey, that’s what it’s called! Only we need more drinks. 🍸
Full occupation of Iran and keeping the oil, to rebuild Iran, like we did Japan in 1945 and more recently in Iraq. A murderous regime, spreading death and destruction around the Islam world, that even kills its own people, will end. It is the only choice left, thanks to Israel, and the Arabs that will not do the occupation themselves. 300,000 occupational troops would be required at its peak. Iraq and Turkey would need to seal their borders to keep the Iranian Guard from doing what Afghanistan's Taliban did to escape into Pakistan. once committed to the "project", the occupational troops will come from the National Guard and Army reserves at first and then from conscripts by re-instituting the Draft. After 18 to 24 months of on the ground WAR the conscript's will be ready to replace the Regular Army in doing the occupation duties. We will be at the point we were in WWII two weeks before we dropped the atomic Bombs on Japan when preparing for a full invasion of Japan. Congress is all in because the Republicans will follow Trump to the gates of hell and the Democrats will not have enough votes for another 9 months.
“War of Choice”. The American Revolution tops my list as the nation’s best War of Choice. We could have delayed it, but the gang thought it would be fun.
Speaking haphazardly in podcasts unintentionally exposes bias. And that bias flows through all discussion. This is why I oppose gathering information from Podcasts — they are often sloppy — present company excluded. Few of us can speak extemporaneously in intelligent, well integrated, thoughtful paragraphs. And often (not in this case), people fall in love with their own voices and do not carefully craft their statements (e.g. Jonah Goldberg, the “ah” master). Richard Epstein is one of the few podcasters who speaks in a clear, precise, integrated manner. But, he is the exception, and was a university lecturer and law professor for years. Most of us devolve into conversational level interchange.
For the War of Choice crowd, I say, … it’s 2030. President Newsom has just been informed that Iran is closing the Strait of Hormuz and will limit passage to Chinese vessels. It has fired missles that landed in the mid-Atlantic as a demonstration and advised the US, Europe, and America’s Asian allies to stand down. Islamic Revolutionary governments with the help of Iran have already seized power in Oman and Bahrain. Qatar has agreed to become a principality in the Iranian greater caliphate. Russia and Iran have announced they have raised the price of their oil and Persian Gulf oil to $250 a barrel. Saudi Arabia agreed. China has been chosen as the exclusive shipping flag for all oil and gaz from the region. A major fire has paralyzed the new Saudi oil pipe line that circumvents Hormuz.
New York, Boston, DC, Philadelphia, and Miami are within the targeting range of Iran’s nuclear weapons.
President Newsom proposes global talks and the Ayatollah of Iran says he will meet with European leaders who recognize Iran’s right to rule the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia agrees to participate, but Iran informs them they can only participate as an observer. Iran responds to President Newsom that he will never meet with the United States. As a condition, Europe must only send Muslim representative to the talks.
Israel remains under extreme lockdown since the Iranians launched a small nuclear weapon into the Negev. and Isreal’s Yair Lapid, of the Aptid Party and current Prime Minister of Israel has agreed to return all lands captured in the in the 1967 war as an opening to restoring Palestinian control over Palestine.
The Baltic states announce they are withdrawing from NATO.
Taiwan, now under PRC rule, announced a trade suspension in EUV chips with the United States unless it agrees to Iran’s terms. US chip foundaries cannot replace Taiwan supplies.
Russia announces the Netherlands, under pressure, has approved its purchase of ASML and will transfer the company’s headquarters to Nizhny Novograd.
President Newsom addresses the nation in a pre-recorded message since he cannot read a telepromoter. He tells America the problems America faces are due to the feckless leadership of Donald J. Trump who failed to address the Iranian threat in 2026 before the window of action closed. President Newsom announces the US has NO Choice. We must negotiate through surrogates.
YES. You who call this a War of Choice know how this ends if Iran is not confronted. So expunge those words from the discussion.
James, thanks for weighing in.
When I say “war of choice,” I mean that the United States was not responding to a direct attack. As I’ve said many times, while this war may well have been inevitable at some point to address Iran’s nuclear program, whether this was the moment we absolutely had to act is, in my mind, debatable. That’s what makes the decision to go to war today, as opposed to another time, a choice. Dany and I disagree on that point, and we are fine with thar.
But now that we’re in it, we are both laser focused on the objectives and the end game - both of which are a necessity. The question of choice can be debated after the war.
One other thing: Hot Takes is not really a “podcast,” and it isn’t intended to express carefully crafted positions. It’s two friends riffing about — and debating — the week’s news and sharing our perspectives with our community. Think of it as a virtual happy hour. Hey, that’s what it’s called! Only we need more drinks. 🍸
Thank you.
Full occupation of Iran and keeping the oil, to rebuild Iran, like we did Japan in 1945 and more recently in Iraq. A murderous regime, spreading death and destruction around the Islam world, that even kills its own people, will end. It is the only choice left, thanks to Israel, and the Arabs that will not do the occupation themselves. 300,000 occupational troops would be required at its peak. Iraq and Turkey would need to seal their borders to keep the Iranian Guard from doing what Afghanistan's Taliban did to escape into Pakistan. once committed to the "project", the occupational troops will come from the National Guard and Army reserves at first and then from conscripts by re-instituting the Draft. After 18 to 24 months of on the ground WAR the conscript's will be ready to replace the Regular Army in doing the occupation duties. We will be at the point we were in WWII two weeks before we dropped the atomic Bombs on Japan when preparing for a full invasion of Japan. Congress is all in because the Republicans will follow Trump to the gates of hell and the Democrats will not have enough votes for another 9 months.