OneGuyFromBarlick

HERE'S today's dose.....
Donald Trump has announced the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks after talks at the White House. But a longer-term peace deal is ambitious and will take much more support from Washington to disarm Hezbollah, writes our State Department correspondent. Earlier, the US president spoke to the BBC - saying "whatever I'm doing, it seems to be working very well" when asked about his threats to Iran's "civilisation". In later remarks to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump says "I don't want to rush myself" when it comes to making a deal with Iran. Meanwhile, US forces have boarded a ship carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, the US military says - Trump says the US has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz. In Iran, top figures speak of "iron unity" after Trump's claims that the country's leadership is embroiled in infighting. Israel's defence minister says they are prepared to renew the war with Iran if the US gives the green light, and threatens to return Iran "to the dark and stone ages"
I think a necessary aid to understanding what is going on is the realisation that Israel is driving the course of events.... The actions in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Iraq are all about Israel extending its territorial boundaries. Once you accept that it all makes sense. Netanyahu is not concerned about global economics, he is only interested in getting credit for advancing Israel in the world as he believes that is the only thing that can save him from otherwise inevitable justice.

Stanley wrote: ↑24 Apr 2026, 00:34 I think a necessary aid to understanding what is going on is the realisation that Israel is driving the course of events.... The actions in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Iraq are all about Israel extending its territorial boundaries. Once you accept that it all makes sense. Netanyahu is not concerned about global economics, he is only interested in getting credit for advancing Israel in the world as he believes that is the only thing that can save him from otherwise inevitable justice.

Bang on there Stanley. Israel can only prosecute war with US backing. What is actually needed is a US President who is not prepared to support genocide. Take all the military funding away and it would be a totally different situation. I firmly believe that the Jewish people have a right to exist but not by occupying other countries without previous consent.

I agree Ian....

HERE'S this morning's update....
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday morning, the White House has said. "The Iranians want to talk," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding that US Vice-President JD Vance was "on standby" to travel if the talks proved successful. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said he and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad early on Saturday, and Araghchi would be meeting "Pakistani high-level officials". He added that: "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan."
The Straits of Hormuz are still blocked.The likelihood of severe economic shocks increases. Deep Joy!