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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Thursday, February 19, 2026

Newsweek lists the reasons that war may be the likely outcome between the U.S. and Iran.

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Iran's leaders want to reach a nuclear deal with the U.S., but they are also rushing to prepare for war in case talks between the countries fail.

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-- The Wall Street Journal (@wsj.com) Feb 18, 2026 at 12:55 PM

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The biggest sign is that Congress has abrogated and even abandoned its constitutional War Power responsibilities.

Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the exclusive power to formally declare war, raise and support armies, maintain a navy, and make rules for the military. While the President acts as Commander-in-Chief, Congress controls the funding and authorization for military operations.

#1 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-02-19 07:56 AM | Reply

MAGA Neocons are always excited about another Trump war.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2026-02-19 08:12 AM | Reply

Trump enjoys killing people in public (boat strikes) and in private (little girls).

He's a degenerate.

#3 | Posted by Zed at 2026-02-19 08:13 AM | Reply

Thanks to the over-abused Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF), which the US Congress should be periodically reviewing, POTUS can wage war on anyone he likes and the hardworking American taxpayer foots the bill.

The AUMF was part of the 9/11 Global War on Islam (GWOT) following the 9/11 attacks on the US.

Logically, USCENTCOM has been the biggest attacker of targets in the world, focusing on Muslims in the Middle East.

Dummkopf Trumpf attacked Somalia 30 times, last April he attacked Iran, and then he attacked Venezuela, illegally abducting President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The Global War on Islam continues, 25 years later.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu knows the exact location of all US strategic platforms such as ACGs and B1/B2 squadrons at all times. Israel has military attaches in the US and NATO, as well as their own satellite.

No wonder people in the Middle East can't stand our guts.

"Bombs away!"

Link: www.congress.gov

#4 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-19 08:20 AM | Reply

Of course, Der Dotard and the US administration are being played again by that war criminal Bibi. The man who claims to have ended umpteen wars is stumbling into an armed conflict--again, and that will certainly have an effect on his desire to receive a certain prize for peace. It will be interesting to see how Trump deflects from captured US airmen, or the coffins of US soldiers, sailors and airmen. The first couple to die will be hailed as heroes, and the rest, well their funerals will probably interfere with our feckless leader's golf game with a prancing queen from South Carolina...

#5 | Posted by catdog at 2026-02-19 08:34 AM | Reply

"hardworking American taxpayer foots the bill"

Some with their lives. Or the lives of their children who will be the ones who will fight and die in that war.

Personally I have no beef with the Irainian people. But they (and their allies) are about to have one with me. Apparently.

Expect more terrorism as a result. Not less.

How does this make Americans more safe? It doesn't.

So what is the actual purpose of this war? What do we expect to gain from it? I sure don't know. And I bet Congress doesn't either. Because they get have not even bothered to ask.

#6 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-02-19 08:34 AM | Reply

To be clear.

If Trumpy attacks is Iran without Congressional authorization then it will be an illegal act of war according to the US constitution.

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-02-19 08:44 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Fartfisher apparently thinks the U.S. Constitution is funny.

#8 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-02-19 08:57 AM | Reply

Yes, our young men and women are in harm's way too, Marine.

Incredible how the US has abandoned Ukraine and NATO, but a country the size of New Jersey has the ability to summon two nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups (ACSG) of a superpower into their AOR.

I'm glad I'm retired.

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-19 09:01 AM | Reply

And who in the US Congress is going to stop the Epstein Administration from waging war against Muslim Iran?

The Democratic Party Minority Leaders of both Houses?

These two were not selected by their fellow Democrats to be the Minority Leaders for their looks.



#10 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-19 09:16 AM | Reply

We're not going to war. We'll spend billions moving assets and putting on a show, but, as always, TACO.

#11 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-02-19 09:38 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"We're not going to war."

I wish I had your confidence.

The reason I think we ARE going to war is that there is no way to stop him. And Trumpy loves that. He loves flexing American power. Like it belongs to him.

This whole episode is not for America. It's for Trumpy's EGO. And that's where the danger lies.

#12 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-02-19 10:02 AM | Reply

One AI snaphot: "The daily operating cost of a US aircraft carrier strike group (ACSG) is roughly $6 million to $10 million per day underway."

The Gerald R. Ford departed the Caribbean Sea, crossed the Atlantic, and arrived in USCENTCOM AOR.

That's an expensive trip and to have two ACSGs in on one location is an expensive bluff.

The only one that may talk Dummkopf Trumpf out of attacking Iran is Vladimir Putin.

Putin needs Shahed drones produced there and Russian oligarchs have invested billions in Iran.

Trumpf is caught between two masters: Bibi and Vlad.

#13 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-19 10:26 AM | Reply

Putin's butt slut is whining about the Nobel Prize again.

bsky.app

#14 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-02-19 10:33 AM | Reply

Prince Andrew just got busted.

Squirrel!!!

#15 | Posted by morris at 2026-02-19 10:52 AM | Reply

If this was Hillary's position, you'd all be cheering.

#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-02-19 11:58 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

The rancid orange chomo is sleeping through his Board of Peace meeting this morning.

www.thedailybeast.com

#17 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-02-19 12:02 PM | Reply

If this was Hillary's position, you'd all be cheering.
#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds

There's a position?
Trump has taken a position here?
Any chance we can see this position in writing?

#18 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-02-19 12:06 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#16 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTHRDS

So, you support another, new foreign war?

Tell me why you voted Trump again?

#19 | Posted by Zed at 2026-02-19 12:47 PM | Reply

"Logically, USCENTCOM has been the biggest attacker of targets in the world, focusing on Muslims in the Middle East."

Um...Didn't Muslims invade and conquer Persia?

I'm just curious...does your Islam fetish lead you to believe that once Muslims conquer a country, it should forever be Islamic?

A lot of Iranians don't seem to want than brand anymore. Should they be forced to accept it...because "Islam?"

#20 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-02-19 03:04 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

#20 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER

Non sequiturs and strawmen alert!

But I'm not surprised a Zionist like you would support another war in the Middle East at the behest of Netanyahu.

#21 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:07 PM | Reply

Didn't Muslims invade and conquer Persia?
#20 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER

Persia?

What the fuck are you babbling about?

Iran was a secular nation until that didn't work for America anymore.

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:09 PM | Reply

Out of curiosity, has anyone seen anyone within the global Iranian diaspora speaking out against the US going after the Iranian regime? I've only seen protesters in favor-some of them even carrying Israeli flags.

It's a question.

Given the history of US "liberation" in the region, I'll be in my early 70's before a war in Iran concluded. Many of you would be dead and gone.

#23 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-02-19 03:09 PM | Reply

has anyone seen anyone within the global Iranian diaspora speaking out against the US going after the Iranian regime?

Nope. They're cheering it on.

Lots of Iranians in Iran are as well.

Pahlavi isn't the answer and he's not going to do shit.

He's living a luxurious life in America with his wife and daughter. Why would he want to return to Iran where he'll be in danger of being assassinated at any moment.

Should there be a war, and I'm still of the opinion there won't be, Trump isn't going to do shit for Iran.

Maybe build a Trump towers Tehran.

#24 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:14 PM | Reply

"But I'm not surprised a Zionist like you would support another war in the Middle East at the behest of Netanyahu."

Yeah. For a lot of Iranians whose families fled to the US, there are two countries that matter to them. That supported them. The US and Israel.

As an extremely useful idiot for any regime that you can use to consider yourself contrarian, I doubt you get this.

And you'll never qualify to be in a war, so don't worry about that. Leave that worry to those that will.

#25 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-02-19 03:14 PM | Reply

"Persia? What the fuck are you babbling about? Iran was a secular nation until that didn't work for America anymore"

You've literally got to be the dumbest, least educated person who shows their face around here. If it weren't for the negative side of Dunning-Kruger, you would have deleted your account here long ago.

You're actually sort of amazing. A specimen fit for a laboratory.

But to open it up to the masses, does anyone want to explain to Klown the connection between Persian and Islam?

#26 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-02-19 03:17 PM | Reply

does anyone want to explain to Klown the connection between Persian and Islam?
#26 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER

No, no.

I want you to.

Please, be really white about it and explain it to me like you know everything about everyone.

"Persia", hilarious.

What about Mesopotamia?

#27 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:19 PM | Reply

Didn't Muslims invade and conquer Persia?

Not "Persia!"

Alexander the Great conquered Persia.

The Mongolians conquered Persia.

Islam was sent into Iran by France and America when they ousted the shah and put the ayatollah in charge.

#28 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:25 PM | Reply

Oh no!

Mythfluffer ran away.

Maybe he's on his way to Persia.

#29 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:28 PM | Reply

"Please, be really white about it and explain it to me like you know everything about everyone."

Shall I mansplain it to you?

Or would you prefer just to look "Iran" up on Wikipedia?

#30 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-02-19 03:35 PM | Reply

"Mythfluffer ran away. Maybe he's on his way to Persia."

If you want to hop on a plane, maybe with C0RI0LANUS, to go defend the Islamic regime...now would be the time. The airspace may soon be closed.

I hear there is no greater honor than death as a martyr. I mean, the Iranians probably won't appreciate you, but you may get an honorable mention at some protest at Berkley or Columbia...

#31 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-02-19 03:37 PM | Reply

If you want to hop on a plane, maybe with C0RI0LANUS, to go defend the Islamic regime..

Why would either of us need to do anything when America has been protecting the Islamic regime ever since they installed it?

Do you actually know any history?

#32 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 03:50 PM | Reply

There's a position?
Trump has taken a position here?
Any chance we can see this position in writing?
#18 | Posted by snoofy

Again Snoofy's whole stick is to pretend to not understand, then make discussing a topic impossible.

Did Hillary have a position on Libya? Did the citizens of the US see it in writing?

Iran was a secular nation until that didn't work for America anymore

I am not sure, was the Shah of Iran not secular? I thought American CIA installed him, then Carter just felt, similar to JFK (Rhodesia) that "colonialism" was "bad", and just let it all fall apart. To the detriment of woman in those countries.

But I'm not surprised a Zionist like you would support another war in the Middle East at the behest of Netanyahu

I don't support it, but I predicted it this past Summer. The US (Trump) has to make Iran a Western ally. Sit on that awhile think about the ramification in the geopolitical spectrum of current events. Ponder it, and playout of both Iran as Russian ally, vs US Western European ally.

It will be come apparent as to why.

#33 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-02-19 04:07 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

Let's see what the Berlin Butthead has to say about Indonesia.

#34 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-02-19 04:07 PM | Reply

Hi Clownshack

You are dealing with an illogical troll who is bleating jejune talking points and Islamophobic gibberish.


#35 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-19 04:11 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

was the Shah of Iran not secular?

Yes, he was.

I thought American CIA installed him,

Yes, the did.

then Carter just felt, similar to JFK (Rhodesia) that "colonialism" was "bad", and just let it all fall apart.

Nope. The shah dared defy the will of America. So the ayatollah was installed.

#36 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 04:17 PM | Reply

The US (Trump) has to make Iran a Western ally.

Trump couldn't care less about Iran.

All his saber rattling is to appease Netanyahu.

#37 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 04:18 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

You are dealing with an illogical troll

Agreed.

He's also a foreign agitator.

Which adds to the fun.

#38 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-19 04:21 PM | Reply

I don't support it, but I predicted it this past Summer. The US (Trump) has to make Iran a Western ally. Sit on that awhile think about the ramification in the geopolitical spectrum of current events. Ponder it, and playout of both Iran as Russian ally, vs US Western European ally.

It will be come apparent as to why.

#33 | Posted by oneironaut

That worked so well with the Shah, I can't say I'm surprised this unimaginative bunch of clods would try it again.
They're all about Adolph and Joseph's playbook here.

#39 | Posted by morris at 2026-02-19 05:40 PM | Reply

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