Comments
It was obvious for everyone with 2 brain cells to rub together, that the gulf states invited so many US companies to open up shop there, as a defence insurance policy, so that the US government has monetary interests in the area besides oil, to intervene and defend in case of an attack.
Well played from their side, as that's how this game works.
And for those who didn't get it before, Marco Rubio even went out and publicly said Ukraine should sell rare earth rights to the US so that they have something there to defend to justify to the public providing a security guarantee for Ukraine. He basically spelled it out in layman's terms how the game is played. You can dislike it, you can disagree with it, but this is how it always worked, even if the general public was not aware of it. It's nothing to do with defending freedom, democracy, honor, values, whatever, it's all about preserving and making money.
By oa335 2026-03-1323:57 It was Trump.
“All I want is freedom for the people (of Iran)” - Donald Trump
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5760238-trump-freed...
By kernal 2026-03-1323:05 How exactly did you think Ukraine was going to pay back the hundreds of billions they borrowed from the US? Print more hryvnia?
By ZeroGravitas 2026-03-1323:36 Though most of the "rare earth" stuff seems to be bullshit based on memes built on not understanding that rare earths aren't rare.
Like the Venezuela oil stuff, it's a half remembered fantasy of what was important when Trump's brain still functioned, several decades ago.
They're destroying America's reputation and alliances for fools gold.
By nine_zeros 2026-03-1320:59 [dead]
By mindslight 2026-03-1321:202 reply Elect a clown, get a circus. Elect a tyrant, get tyranny. Elect a thief, get stolen from. Elect a serial rapist, expect a crime spree as they try to outrun justice. Elect someone who is all of the above and get utter chaos that is inhospitable to long term business.
By electtrump 2026-03-1321:362 reply [flagged]
By kemotep 2026-03-1321:42 Is complaining about an unnecessary conflict that is disrupting the global economy really insufferable? I mean my coworkers constantly bitched and moaned about things Biden was doing that just seems quaint comparatively. Namely about the cost of living, gas prices, and instability in the Middle East. All things Trump has definitely made significantly worst in comparison to just doing nothing.
By mindslight 2026-03-1321:42 I'm a libertarian. You've blinded yourself by defining anything that isn't fundamentalist right reactionary as this catchall "leftist" bogeyman.
I most certainly understand the frustration that led you to this charlatan who you thought could at least stick a fork in the eye of the status quo. The problem is you didn't listen to your fellow countrymen telling you that the fork would inevitably go into your own eye even harder. And you still aren't even as the results become ever more painfully clear.
Elect a lying, fascist and corrupt democrat regime and get rich armed middle east terrorist countries threatening nuclear war.
How the hell could you type that out with a straight face.
This is some darvo tier shit.
By mindslight 2026-03-140:061 reply Trump was a registered Democrat and he sure as Hell isn't a conservative, so in a weird way that statement actually checks out.
By AnimalMuppet 2026-03-140:47 Depends on your definition. He's sure not what was considered "conservative" a decade or two ago. But he is what is currently labeled "conservative".
The older definition was small government, limited federal power, fiscally conservative, protect the Constitution. The new definition is... something very different.
By mindslight 2026-03-140:49 In the pejorative sense the word has taken on as the wheels have slowly come off the cart for the past several decades, sure. But as far as the lofty ideals outlined by conservative thinkers, an "institutional arsonist" is basically the polar opposite. The conservatives with any principles left got labeled "RINO" and sidelined. And that's saying a lot given what had previously passed for principles.
The correct term is "reactionary." Or less awkwardly, "fascist." Yarvin elucidates on this in A Gentle Introduction ....
it's amusing seeing the NYT do PR for the Iranian regime, but totally expected given that they're a propaganda arm for the democrat party. The Iranian government is running on fumes and is on the verge of collapse. They aren't a threat to any of the giant tech companies.
By superhuzza 2026-03-1323:18 This article isn't PR for the Iranian regime, it highlights how unstable and non-business friendly the region is. If anything it's a warning...
By lovich 2026-03-1323:34 Ah right, I forgot amazon was saying an object hit their data center and wasn’t admitting it was a bomb still.
The Iranians can’t project force far enough to be an existential threat to these companies but they’ve already taken damage to their assets in the region
