From the Libertarians at [i]Reason[/i]

Words of wisdom:

"Is the Iran war "very complete"? While I was messaging with colleagues yesterday about the president's latest statements on the war in Iran, my 2-year-old hijacked my keyboard and typed: "GBCFDC] GAH] SIQRTIKHrFBG|." This makes about as much sense as the Trump administration's messaging.

Hours after markets slumped in response to concerns about escalation and expansion of the war, President Donald Trump told CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang that U.S. efforts were "very complete."

But just a day earlier, Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on 60 Minutes that "this is only just the beginning," while scoffing at the idea that U.S. goals in Iran were nearly accomplished. And the department's official "rapid response" account posted to X yesterday: "We have Only Just Begun to Fight."

At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Trump seemingly tried to reconcile these inconsistencies, saying we could call the war "a tremendous success right now, as we leave here…or we could go further. And we're going to go further."

But Trump's statements yesterday only drive home the aimlessness of our current military marauding. It's been a success, but we're going to "go further"? Why? Does anyone even know?

Some have suggested that Trump's more optimistic statements were merely meant to rally the markets. Maybe. Or maybe he believes it. Or maybe nobody involved in this believes anything. (Again, I would like to echo my toddler: "GBCFDC] GAH] SIQRTIKHrFBG|."😉

Whatever the case, this recent round of contradictory huffing and puffing fits right in with the administration's whole vibe surrounding the war so far. No one in power seems much concerned with concrete goals, or a somber analysis of tradeoffs, so much as they do with projecting a macho insouciance toward such trivialities.We're bombing bad guys—isn't that enough for you?

It's like a bunch of reality TV stars playing at war—but with all too real consequences".

Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Senior Editor, Reason

BTW, "insouciance" is now my favorite word.

EDIT: It means "lighthearted indifference" according to Merriam-Webster.

the internet weighs in

MAGA voters: “I picked Trump because he’s a clear, decisive leader.“

Trump: “I don’t know. I guess we went to war because my son in-law said Iran might attack us.”

@no1marauder

"We're kicking a$$, lookin' real tough."

the internet seems smart
i don't know tho

Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz,
but it’s alright y’all, the President is on it.
He just made a Truth Social post telling Iran to remove them.
So, there, all fixed.

@no1marauder said
Words of wisdom:

"Is the Iran war "very complete"? While I was messaging with colleagues yesterday about the president's latest statements on the war in Iran, my 2-year-old hijacked my keyboard and typed: "GBCFDC] GAH] SIQRTIKHrFBG|." This makes about as much sense as the Trump administration's messaging.

Hours after markets slumped in response to concerns about esc ...[text shortened]... is now my favorite word.

EDIT: It means "lighthearted indifference" according to Merriam-Webster.