Iran
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: temporarily unsure ...
fdr, thank you for your insightful comments re. Art. 5 & 6 following the initial overnight attack on RAF Akrotiri, which seems to have been quite unprovoked if indeed the UK had not sanctioned the use of RAF Fairford (albeit just for “defensive” purposes) by the USAF in the current conflict at the time the attack was launched.
According to later news, it seems that a second attack on RAF Akrotiri followed the subsquent RAF Fairford announcement ... my initial gut feeling was that the UK government should at once, however belatedly, try to grow a pair and act accordingly ... but Starmer, being a lawyer, might be having difficulty untwisting his knickers right now, wondering who actually launched the attacks on RAF Akrotiri?
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
According to later news, it seems that a second attack on RAF Akrotiri followed the subsquent RAF Fairford announcement ... my initial gut feeling was that the UK government should at once, however belatedly, try to grow a pair and act accordingly ... but Starmer, being a lawyer, might be having difficulty untwisting his knickers right now, wondering who actually launched the attacks on RAF Akrotiri?
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Baston
fdr, thank you for your insightful comments re. Art. 5 & 6 following the initial overnight attack on RAF Akrotiri, which seems to have been quite unprovoked if indeed the UK had not sanctioned the use of RAF Fairford (albeit just for “defensive” purposes) by the USAF in the current conflict at the time the attack was launched.
According to later news, it seems that a second attack on RAF Akrotiri followed the subsquent RAF Fairford announcement ... my initial gut feeling was that the UK government should at once, however belatedly, try to grow a pair and act accordingly ... but Starmer, being a lawyer, might be having difficulty untwisting his knickers right now, wondering who actually launched the attacks on RAF Akrotiri?
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
According to later news, it seems that a second attack on RAF Akrotiri followed the subsquent RAF Fairford announcement ... my initial gut feeling was that the UK government should at once, however belatedly, try to grow a pair and act accordingly ... but Starmer, being a lawyer, might be having difficulty untwisting his knickers right now, wondering who actually launched the attacks on RAF Akrotiri?
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Here 'n' there!
TBH, places like Mildenhall and Lakenheath here in the UK have been fully involved in the run-up and ongoing support of the current Ops so the change appears to be more about Fairford and Diego Garcia being used to launch military strikes from if required. I suspect, in Iran's eyes, the UK, along with many other places in Europe, have been involved all along given the significant Logistic and Tanker support through/from European bases - hence Spain getting cold feet?
The issue is Iran hitting back into Europe. It'll not be drones and missiles. Such a response by Iran will bring a whole new slant to this war.
The issue is Iran hitting back into Europe. It'll not be drones and missiles. Such a response by Iran will bring a whole new slant to this war.
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From: Coltishall
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by dogle
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
My notional $50 dollar bet in Las Vegas would be on a series of fifth column moves/terrorist attacks/sabotage efforts... accompanied by cyber attacks...which based on which news you read, are already underway.
Last edited by Lonewolf_50; 2nd March 2026 at 17:40.
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From: UK
Well done Qatar, achieving something UK found difficult over Cyprus 🙄. Although, whilst there is no timeline for the downing of the jets, I have to wonder how on earth they managed to launch? Surely any useable runway would have been a primary target. Given the location of Akr, have type 45s been deployed to provide a shield?
Joined: May 2007
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From: Nottinghamshire
Well the Trump administration doesn't care. Hegseth's news conference spelt it out:
"No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars,"
He could not make it any clearer. This isn't about regime change......
.
"No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars,"
He could not make it any clearer. This isn't about regime change......
.
Until he spoke today. Only on Saturday he was destroying their nuclear ambitions, missiles and Navy, now he took the last best chance to stop the country's regime. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but he's not wearing any clothes.
Thread Starter
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Lonewolf_50 posted:
Originally Posted by ORAC
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
Originally Posted by ORAC
What if the attacks did not not come from Iran, but from the regime’s trigger-happy Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon? I imagine that a lawyer might have quite a high-quality problem in invoking Art.5 whilst still being unable to identify the adversary beyond doubt.
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: yes
However I reiterate my point I made elsewhere. This is not so much about regime change as a change in the regime. He'll definitely be happy to leave the regime in place as long as it doesn't represent a threat to the region or the US. This is the endgame.
Just like Venezuela, he decapitated the leader, no doubt literally in the case of the Iranian leader. Venezuela is now cowed.
A cowed but despotic regime in Iran would be acceptable to Trump. He cares not about the Iranian people.
Remember Trump is a businessman at heart. A hostile Iran is bad for business.
Unfortunately I see a lot of commentary from journalists and indeed politicians who don't seem to have grasped the reality is that current US regime has no interest in helping the Iranian people and their freedom.
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From: Everett, WA
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From: Texas
Consider Operation Iraqi Freedom, begun in 2003. Ostensibly, and in a substantial portion of the public rhetoric, the US President was interested in helping the Iraqi people get a democracy. I doubt that you cared for that war, but its intent mirrors what you just advocated for.
What may upset you a great deal more is to discover that today, Iraq has a representative government.
Originally Posted by 2025 Election Results
Out of 329, Shi'i parties secured 187 seats, Sunni parties 77 seats, Kurdish parties 56 seats and the rest, 9 seats in total, were allocated to minority groups.
Be careful of what you wish for, as you are sure to get it.
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From: A Fine City
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From: Land of Oz
