Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Trump supporters who backed his promise to avoid new Middle East wars worry Iran's attacks on shipping are pushing the U.S. toward escalation -- and maybe even boots on the ground.

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I don't think this whole affair gets us World War III -- if anything we are sprinting toward the VIETNAM WAR shaped door, which was an insane regional bloodbath with millions dead and horrifically wounded that pulled in multiple great powers one way or another so I'm not downplaying the danger -- but ...

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-- Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24.bsky.social) Mar 14, 2026 at 1:29 PM

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... maybe even boots on the ground. ...

US Marines deploy as Trump weighs seizing Iran's Crown Jewel' Kharg Island
gulfnews.com

... The deployment of US Marines to the Middle East is raising fresh questions about Washington's next moves in the escalating conflict with Iran " and whether Tehran's key oil export hub on Kharg Island, often described as the "crown jewel" of Iran's energy sector, could become a target.

A Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), typically consisting of around 2,500 to 3,000 personnel, has been deployed to the region as tensions rise in the Gulf. The move comes as US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, a strategic facility that handles most of Iran's crude exports. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-17 12:18 PM | Reply

Boots on the ground? From where? The Persian gulf, and the scale mountains? The gulf of Oman? You know how far they'll have to march to get to the nation's Capital?

This isn't a sound strategy.

Also, boots on the ground why?

Because Trump is getting humiliated by his stupid war? Because it's still not distracting from the Epstein files?

Worst President ever.

#2 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-17 12:28 PM | Reply

I have to post once again

America is losing this war.

We are in a strategic dead end.

There is nothing military that we can do to "win" this war.

Let's be clear. Escorting ships through the SoH and/or seizing Kharg island or any of the Iranian islands WILL NOT SOLVE THE OIL CRUNCH, WILL NOT OPEN THE STRAIT.

All Iran has to do is hit or THREATEN to hit any of the ports in the gulf. or hit or threaten to hit the oil infrastructure in the gulf

THAT IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR OIL TRAFFIC THROUGH THAT AREA TO CEASE

No shipping company is going to put their billion-dollar vessels at risk. Full Stop.

The ONLY way for the shipping channel to open is for Iran to NOT shoot at or THREATEN to shoot at ships. Full Stop.

Why is that so hard for anyone to understand?

What will get Iran to NOT shoot at or THREATEN to shoot at ships?

ONLY A NEGOTIATED CEASEFIRE

Can anyone honestly say that could be achieved through bombing alone? If so give us some facts, make the argument.

If not that then regime change? Which Israel is attempting as we speak-trying to assassinate the defense minister and head of the Baji force and calling for uprising as late as a few minutes ago!

If you think the Iranian regime collapsing won't make stopping Iran from targeting the gulf impossible, then you are an idiot. A splintered Iran will absolutely continue the war as the military (IRGC) will control the damn missiles.

So, yeah we are fucked.

Thanks magat scum.

#3 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-03-17 12:42 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

It's pathetic how quickly MAGA did an about face on starting new conflicts.

It's even more pathetic when you consider how poorly planned and executed this war is after all their chirping about the Afghanistan withdrawal, Obama's drone strikes, Libya, Syria ect ect.

Nothing but armchair generalship turned to gushing praise for a military venture far more inept, dangerous and likely to result in global problems socially and economically than anything they clutched their pearls over the last 15 years.

#4 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-17 12:52 PM | Reply

Trump has found the Vietnam that he so desperately tried to avoid in his youth.

#5 | Posted by qcp at 2026-03-17 01:10 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

first rule of being in a hole, stop digging.

saint ronnie took a hint in beruit, and got the heck out. dementia don just ain't that smart.

#6 | Posted by bus_driver at 2026-03-17 02:13 PM | Reply

Morally this is the most Evil thing Trump has done in his entire life.

AGGRESSIVE WAR is the Ultimate WAR Crime as all other WAR Crimes are Fruit of the Poisonous Tree.

Everybody Talks About Putin. How Evil he is. I Agree. Putin is Evil.

This is Every bit as Evil,more so Actually, as it was done at the Behest of a Genocidal Entity. An Entity that has refused to declare it's borders to facilitate Expansion by War.

This is Not About "Security" it is about "Greater Israel".

Hypocrisy is Disgusting. Especially after all the Moral Posturing about Ukraine and "Territorial Integrity".

Why is nobody addressing the Moral Horror of this?

Why are the Democrats not Calling for Impeachment? Why did the War Powers Vote Fail?

Why are NATO and the UN not Calling For US and Israeli SANCTIONS?

Why is Ukraine so Noble and Iran just Trash?

Is it Because the Ukrainians are Europeans and the Iranians Not?

Or is it Because they are Muslims?

The KLA were Muslims, NATO Bombed Serbia for them and they were an Albanian Drug and Organ Harvesting Operation, Not Angels.

#7 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-03-17 03:21 PM | Reply

*** House Leader Mike Johnson (R-LA) Won't Hold Hearings on Gigantic Cost of Illegally Attacking the People of Iran ***

Q: "The House has not had a single public hearing with a cabinet official about the cost of the Iran war. Why not?"

JOHNSON: "They've given us multiple briefings."

R: "But a hearing."

JOHNSON: "You cannot go outside a classified briefing to give to the public the info b/c it would adversely affect our mission."

~snip~

What mission? Killing the people of Iran and destroying the environment on behalf of wealthy Israel?

Thanks for bankrupting America, Bibi, Dummkopf Trumpf, Mike Johnson, Miriam Adelson, Chuck Schumer, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Hakeem Jeffries!

US midterm elections are on Tuesday 3 Nov 2026.

Sources:

The Artful Dodger

Sniveling AIPAC Weasel Mike Johnson

Cost to American Taxpayers for Attacking Iran on Behalf of Wealthy Israel

The next generation of Americans will pay for this madness

MIGA

#8 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-17 03:28 PM | Reply

Trump says US doesn't 'need' NATO allies for Iran war
abcnews.com

... President Donald Trump said that "most of our NATO 'allies'" do not want to join the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran.

Trump claimed allies' refusal to join is "despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon," he wrote in a post on social media.

"Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries' assistance -- WE NEVER DID!

Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea .... WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!" he said in the post. ...



#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-17 03:43 PM | Reply

PEDO DONNIE has been slipping since 'Day One'.

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-17 04:26 PM | Reply

PEDO DONNIE has been slipping since 'Day One'.

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead

The chart of Trump's approval ratings over time look like a ride down a ski resort's bunny hill. He's way underwater.

His OPERATION EPIC EPSTEIN DISTRACTION is pulling them down even further day by day.

#11 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-17 04:33 PM | Reply

*** Junta Apparatchik Proudly Admits Trumpf Doesn't Care About Cost of Attacking the People of Iran ***

"Dummkopf Trumpf-appointed National Economic Council head good-for-nothing Kevin Hassett proudly admitted that the illegal attack against the people and environment of Iran and its catastrophic impact on the average US consumer is the last of the junta's concerns-- a shockingly tone-deaf message 18 days into an extremely unpopular war."

Source: Oligarchs Don't Care About the Hoi Polloi

Republicans voted for this madness on Tuesday 5 Nov 2024

#12 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-17 05:05 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Trump Allies Fear Iran is Slipping Beyond the President's Control?

Trump's BOWELS are beyond the President's control!

#13 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-17 05:19 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Hah!

#14 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-17 05:20 PM | Reply

Planning was never DJT's strong point... were it so, he would never had a DEI hire at the prison strangle Jeffery Epstein to death. Just sayin'.

Or sent his Bestest Wing Man Friend that "Our Secret" Birthday Card with the drawing of a very young girl on it.

#15 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-17 05:38 PM | Reply

WTF? Iran was never IN his control. He's nothing but a sock-puppet for nuttyahoo.

#16 | Posted by Yodagirl at 2026-03-17 05:42 PM | Reply

Is Vegas giving odds on the prospect of a "regime change" in Cuba? When those missing 3 million Epstein docs inevitably see the light of day, I have no doubt there will be USMC boots wading ashore by the next high tide. What real value does a obvious distraction have if doesn't actually distract?

#17 | Posted by dutch46 at 2026-03-17 05:50 PM | Reply

Epstein: The Sword of Damocles hanging over Trump by a single hair.

#18 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-17 06:05 PM | Reply

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