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Trump sends America’s biggest warship, advanced fighters toward Iran in biggest military buildup yet
nypost.com ^ | Feb. 18, 2026 | By Ronny Reyes

Posted on 02/18/2026 1:03:09 PM PST by V_TWIN

Screenshot-20260218-135229-Duck-Duck-Go

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 ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: cartersfolly; didnvote4this; disruptorkywrdtroll; dostfutroll; dukeywordtroll; iran; makewargreatagain; makezotsgreatagain; neoconsgiddy; neoconsrejoice; nevertrumpkywrdtroll; noxioustrollgetazot; peaceprezwantswar; peskytrollneedszot; presidencyender; regimechange; tdskeywordtroll
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To: Wallace T.
You keep saying that, but I suggest it is better to trust Trump than your opinion.

So far, he is spot on.

Toppling the mullahs is a big deal. Have a little faith.

41 posted on 02/18/2026 2:36:48 PM PST by RoosterRedux (“Critical thinking is hard; that’s why most people just jump to conclusions.”—Jung (paraphrased))
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To: ckilmer

There’s not a lot we can do to Iran besides aerial attack. Tehran is what 700 km from the the Gulf or Arabian Sea. We’re not doing a Maduro replay. There’s also a considerable mountain chain between the sea and Tehran.
So do we throw a few more Bunker Busters or just sign on to a slightly better deal than Barky got. Either way the President still has to sleep at night knowing the 1,000s who were killed as he said “ help is coming!” I’m guessing he will sleep just fine.


42 posted on 02/18/2026 2:38:16 PM PST by xkaydet65
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To: All

“I let Prime Minister Netanyahu know that negotiation is my preference,” Trump said.

“I let President Trump know that sinking the approach shot from 180 yards is my preference,” Netanyahu said.

Anyway, I mentioned in another thread, mullahs being religious fundamentalists, cannot negotiate without violating their religious rules, so it comes down to a choice for them, go against their religion, or face death trying to defend it.

Philosophers can debate whether it is honorable or deluded to choose death. I suppose much depends on what faith it is that one would die for. Imagine the disappointment after one dies to find out there never was a hidden twelfth imam, and that Allah is at best a badly constructed version of God and at worst Satan disguised as God.


43 posted on 02/18/2026 2:53:47 PM PST by Peter ODonnell (Tagline will be made available to premium donors to the O'Donnell Foundation)
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To: RoosterRedux

I believe Trump’s game here is to get the Iranian regime to blink. It may work.


44 posted on 02/18/2026 2:56:05 PM PST by Wallace T.
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To: jonrick46

Starfleet Academy? LOL


45 posted on 02/18/2026 2:58:26 PM PST by dforest
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To: Liz

“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?”

Hate us?? Not necessairly. They hate their government more. It is not like we will go to war (air strikes) against a solid nation that is unified and does not pose a threat against us. It was Iranians who made those IEDs that killed and maimed American soldiers during the Iraqi war and are currently thirsting for the ability to hit the United States with nuclear armed ICBMs.


46 posted on 02/18/2026 3:08:16 PM PST by odawg
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To: Skwor
The ayatollahs either cave or get clobbered
47 posted on 02/18/2026 3:18:26 PM PST by rdcbn1 (..when poets buy guns, tourist season is over................Walter R. Mead)
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To: xkaydet65

The israelis likely have a lot of agents in tehran. there is enough confusion in the country to place a lot people everywhere.

But I don’t think either the israelis or the usa will kill khoemeni or however it is that you spell the guy’s name.

the real question is how do you take all the nodes by which he exercises power? basically strip him and leave him naked of power.

that takes some real understanding to pull that off.

then leave the iranians to figure things out for themselves.

another shah may not be such a great idea. but that would be for the iranians to decide.


48 posted on 02/18/2026 3:28:58 PM PST by ckilmer (`61)
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To: Wallace T.

Can’t disagree with that.


49 posted on 02/18/2026 3:33:50 PM PST by RoosterRedux (“Critical thinking is hard; that’s why most people just jump to conclusions.”—Jung (paraphrased))
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To: Liz

They don’t hate us. thats ignorant.


50 posted on 02/18/2026 4:13:18 PM PST by griffin (When you have to shoot, SHOOT; don't talk. -Tuco)
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To: ckilmer

No . It would be for us to figure out how to do it. And Bibi wants to blow things to Hell not target some individuals who think thet already have their successors picked by the moon god. And we aint landing Helos and 130s in the desert the way we did 46 years ago, and if that helo hadn’t banged into the 130 that raid would have worked.


51 posted on 02/18/2026 4:23:11 PM PST by xkaydet65
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To: Huskrrrr

120 oz. can...


52 posted on 02/18/2026 4:27:38 PM PST by one guy in new jersey
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To: hcmama
...And it's not happening now. I seriously doubt outside Tehran and the diaspora anyone would characterize the protests this way

The regime itself says 350 Mosques have been set on fire. The resistance claims up to 7000. I'm not seeing a love of Islam here.

53 posted on 02/18/2026 4:34:49 PM PST by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: V_TWIN

In about 2 weeks....


54 posted on 02/18/2026 4:44:23 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Liz

Gee, I wonder why they hate us:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/08/26/exclusive-cia-files-prove-america-helped-saddam-as-he-gassed-iran/


55 posted on 02/18/2026 4:44:56 PM PST by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: Liz

Since when do Hamas and Islamic Jihadis get to post on FR?


56 posted on 02/18/2026 4:45:45 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Skwor; Liz

It’s pathetic that anti-semites like Liz haven’t been banned yet.

This forum has seen way better days...


57 posted on 02/18/2026 4:48:48 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: V_TWIN
Airtraffic in Europe...
58 posted on 02/18/2026 4:57:56 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

“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.”

Do you have a citation for that?


59 posted on 02/18/2026 5:02:09 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Skwor

Another possibility is that big ship getting sunk. I pray that it does not, but with hypersonic missiles and drone swarms that big guy could be in for some serious action.


60 posted on 02/18/2026 5:07:41 PM PST by redfreedom (They’re AWFUL...Affuent White Female Urban Leftists)
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