Posted on 02/18/2026 1:03:09 PM PST by V_TWIN
President Trump is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship, to the Middle East, along with a huge fleet of aerial refueling tankers and F-22 and F-35 strike fighters, according to reports.
It would join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Middle East as a major show of force amid US negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
The Ford — America’s most advanced aircraft carrier and the largest ever built — is designed to carry more than 75 aircraft, including F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters and F/A-18F Super Hornets, as well as EA-18G Growler radar-jamming jets.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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This kind of buildup either ends with a big negotiation win or a big offensive action.
There is likely no middle ground in this game of chicken
I’d say the sh*t show is about to begin.
May Divine Providence protect our service men and women, and MAY they banish the evil of the Iranian Mullahs from the face of the Earth.
“I let Prime Minister Netanyahiu know that negotiation is my preference,” Trump said.
Still, “bomb-happy Bibi” reportedly brought (cough) “intel” to the Trump meeting intended to convince Trump to target Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles (Israeli news outlet i24News propaganda reported).
An astute FReeper posted: There are those so blinded by annual billions of US tax dollars blanketing tiny Israel that “Americans not wanting another Middle East war (just because Israel wants it) is deemed ANTISEMITIC.”
Do we really want to get into a war with Iran ....... a country twice the size of Iraq? With 67 million people who HATE us?
Reality Check
Iran has a large military in terms of personnel, tanks, and regional
proxies, plus Iran has larger numbers in its missile arsenal.
Yet, Israel is generally seen as militarily stronger due to its annoyingly persistent lobby embedding
Israel’s “qualitative edge” in US law without the knowledge and acquiescence of US taxpayers.
Israel slobbers at the US funding trough 24/7 and is dependent on US tax dollars to advance its air power, the paper tiger of its super-hyped intelligence apparat, and its presumably “cutting-edge” technology financed with US tax dollars.
Israeli military is totally dependent on US tax dollars and thus can throw around its military weight against anyone who stands in the way of Israel’s quest for world domination.
Israel makes a sophomoric show-and-tell of “strong US support”.
US taxpayer outlays for its multi-layered air defense system are massive.......
thus making Israel appear to be superior in technological and military effectiveness.
Patriots, Call Congress
US Capitol switchboard
(202) 224-3121
Contact the Trump DOJ
Phone 800-514-0301
TDD 800-514-0383.
Call the Trump White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213
Send a letter to the White House
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Message: US Taxpayers want it known: we do not exist to be preyed upon, and are not constitutionally obligated to finance the propaganda of our so-called “reliable allies”—— with greedy pols lusting after billions of our tax dollars.
That's a strange comment ... would you like to explain it?
Nor do we exist to be punching bags as Iran continues proxy wars to kill Americans and support destabilization of our country.
Iran is the greater evil, we get nothing from Iran but at least get something from Israel.
This interesting:
“The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video showing that Russian and Iranian navies hold maneuvers in the Oman Gulf...”
You don’t hear a lot about it in the press, but the Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz is also just off the coast of Oman.
I’m not really excited about stepping into another quagmire.
The US took one Iranian government in 1953.
Jimmy Carter pulled the rug from under the shah in 1979.
I don’t like the way this is shaping up. That said, the Trump administration knows full well that a quagmire would kill their chances of winning in the fall of this year. Trump would lose the house and get impeached again. Plus 2028 would start to look very shaky.
I’m not sure I understand the risk/reward for Americans. The Iranians do not currently have the capacity to build a bomb. They can’t even threaten the Israelis. That was taken care of last year. So what other vital interest does the US have at stake
The Iranians need to figure out how to shape their own future without outside help.
Simple, poster is rabid anti-sematic and likely believes matza balls are made with children.
imho
Shove it Liz. What is someone with your attitude doing on Free Republic?
I’m not really excited about stepping into another quagmire.
The US took one Iranian government in 1953.
Jimmy Carter pulled the rug from under the shah in 1979.
I don’t like the way this is shaping up.
The Iranians need to figure out how to shape their own future without outside help.
I am thinking that the Iranians need to give up Uranium enrichment. That they do not, signals to all that they seek nuclear weapons.
Without Uranium enrichment, they can have mullahs, they can have the Shah, whatever. No one will care.
We need to be honest, 1979 is the total failure of the democrat leadership, but in truth they see it as a success.
It should have never happened, and Carter pretty much made it happen. Carter was as bad as they come.
Since the Regime believes they are God's gift to the Universe the only way they will stop is if they are stopped by force. Protests to them are merely an opportunity to massacre even more people.
Thank you for your opinion. I’ll consider it for what it’s worth.
I’m vastly more interested in having the person who posted that comment explain it.
“ Jimmy Carter pulled the rug from under the shah in 1979.”
We still suffer under the decisions made by that idiot. He wrecked the nuclear power industry.
Free the Persians!
My feeling is they are going to do short probes to get id patterns on their radar systems and once that is done, its BOOM BOOM
I believe negotiations are over, Iran’s future stall tactics will not be considered. Time to commence whoopass.
Iran’s major cities are anchored by the capital, Tehran, followed by large urban centers like Mashhad, Isfahan, Karaj, Shiraz, and Tabriz. These cities serve as crucial economic, cultural, and industrial hubs, with populations exceeding 1 million in many cases. Key cities are located primarily in the western half of the country, featuring historic sites, bustling bazaars, and significant religious, artistic, or industrial infrastructure. Maybe the people want more of the latter and President Trump wants to help.
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