Free Republic

“The U.S. is expected to deploy 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. The Fort Bragg-based brigade can be deployed anywhere in the world within 24 hours and serves as the Army's emergency response force. A possible ground operation in Kharg Island, a small five-mile landmass that handles 90% of Iran's oil exports could result from the deployment. Sending the division to the region could be the first step to such operations. However, Washington has yet to officially confirm the deployment. It comes after Trump's strange reaction after discovering Iran's new Supreme Leader's sexuality.“

John Daniel Davidson at The Federalist accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of forcing President Trump to invade Iran. But as in so many situations, the accusation of “force” is not that straightforward. And Davidson doesn’t make a successful argumentAdvertisementDavidson opines on a statement made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio:‘It was abundantly clear that if Iran came under attack by anyone, the U.S. or Israel or anyone, they were going to respond against the United States,’ Rubio said. But later he added this: ‘We knew there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that would precipitate an attack against American...

Iranian security personnel have killed at least 50 protesters in a sign of the regime's defiance of US President Donald Trump's warning of intervention if bloodshed continued. The death toll is expected to increase as local hospitals report being overrun with casualties, including many with gunshot wounds, while some families are too terrified to get medical help for fear of being arrested. Iranian rights group HRANA reported 65 deaths including 50 protesters and 15 security personnel as of January 9, while the Norway-based human ⁠rights group Hengaw said more than 2,500 people have been arrested in the last two weeks....

A bilateral meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could happen as soon as next week, according to a White House official. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff returned from Moscow on Wednesday and relayed to President Trump that Putin would like to meet with him, the official said. In response, Trump indicated he is open to that if Putin also meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the official added. Witkoff met with Putin for several hours on Wednesday ahead of the Friday deadline imposed by Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine or...