OV9

Saw that, looks a lot worse than when they just grab a soundbite and show it on the news, eh?

Also, they offered Iran a "deal", which is basically the previous Iran deal that Trump tore up, with extra bits tagged on that Iran could never reasonably agree too, like 'not even civilian nuclear fuel processing' and 'serious restrictions on your ability to make arms to protect yourself'.

For example, they want an arms control treaty...despite the fact that it was Isreal and the US who attacked Iran, when their own intelligence sources have separately confirmed, twice, that Iran was no imminent threat.

Basically a joke so that Trump can do "well, we offered" in name only, then carry on bombing.

It's great that thousands are dead as a result of Trump ripping up a deal, basically because it was made by black man - he almost always plays the man (obama) not the ball (the treaty/deal/etc).

He's done this with quite a few agreements elsewhere - NAFTA becoming USCMA - basically the trade agreement between canada, US and mexico; Apparently Obama let the country get ripped off, terrible deal, useless president etc, yet the only substantive changes were updating it to include some digital trade stuff and firming up of parts origins for cars, which could have been done with a simple addition to the existing deal - but he had to remove the black mans signature from it because he's a psychotic racist sundowning with degenerative neurological issues.

You know, like that loud racist uncle that people only invite to christmas because the care home says he needs the contact, but you don't want to because he'll call your nieces boyfriend a watermelon mouthed rapist. Except this one has a bloated military budget and nuclear weapons behind him.

He'll never see a courtroom. Stroke or assassination are my bets.

Jobbo wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 3:41 pm Last Friday:

Or, Iranians report 'US President u-turns after Iran warning'

Trumps problem is interceptors, or lack thereof. They literally can't keep intercepting all the cheap drones that Iran is capable of sending, so he needs an off-ramp to be able to say 'it's over, we won'.

Simon wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:59 pm Trumps problem is interceptors, or lack thereof. They literally can't keep intercepting all the cheap drones that Iran is capable of sending, so he needs an off-ramp to be able to say 'it's over, we won'.

I saw something about this I think...

Iranian drones cost like $30k each and the interceptors are orders of magnitude more expensive?

Yep. Ukraine developed their own anti drone system which is only $2100 per hit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(drone)
Can draw your own conclusions why we’re still using $300,000 ammunition to shoot them down.

DaveE wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 5:11 pm

Simon wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:59 pm Trumps problem is interceptors, or lack thereof. They literally can't keep intercepting all the cheap drones that Iran is capable of sending, so he needs an off-ramp to be able to say 'it's over, we won'.

I saw something about this I think...

Iranian drones cost like $30k each and the interceptors are orders of magnitude more expensive?

Broadly, yes. Depends on the interceptor type, but Patriot systems munitions cost somewhere like $1m-4m per interceptor missile depending on whether they're intended to take out smaller or larger targets - and generally you need to fire two interceptors per incoming target if you want a guaranteed hit.

So Iran could send 50 one way drones at a cost of a million and a half bucks, and arab states could theoretically (if they only have access to Patriot systems) spend £100-200m to intercept them - and each Patriot system missile takes months to build at best - 'peacetime' build time is closer to two years but you'd assume they'd be speeding that up lately.

For context, Iran can reportedly sling out 100 drones from production lines per day.

Obviously there are alternatives that aren't quite as pricey, but unless the incoming stuff is within the distance of a CIWS system (think an A10 Tankbusters 'brrrrrrrt' cannon, on a computer controlled pintle) then most options are still an order of magnitude more expensive to defend with,

One of the major logistics issues is that gulf states have Patriot systems for defence, but once they run low, and once the US runs low, the US will be gobbling up all the Patriot missiles for themselves to protect their installations and materiel in the region - they won't be giving jack shit to Dubai, for example. At which point Dubai becomes a very, very soft target.

The US/Israeli defence systems work fine against militia-esque forces like Hamas or Hezbollah who are making munitions in back yards, but they ain't so good against nation states who have thousands of missiles in stock, with large amounts of mobile launchers, etc.

Trump's throwing Hegseth under the bus...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 44426.html

Oof, would have loved to have seen his face

It’s nothing new though, he’s shafted plenty of his crew on TV in the same way.

Rufus Wainwright (love a bit of Rufus me - requote at will ) wrote a song in 2007 called Going to a Town and the lyrics, despite being about a completely different shame for America, are incredibly apt for America now…

I'm going to a town that has already been burnt down
I'm going to a place that has already been disgraced
I'm gonna see some folks who have already been let down
I'm so tired of America

I'm gonna make it up for all of The Sunday Times
I'm gonna make it up for all of the nursery rhymes
They never really seem to want to tell the truth
I'm so tired of you, America

Beany wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:13 pm

DaveE wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 5:11 pm

Simon wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:59 pm Trumps problem is interceptors, or lack thereof. They literally can't keep intercepting all the cheap drones that Iran is capable of sending, so he needs an off-ramp to be able to say 'it's over, we won'.

I saw something about this I think...

Iranian drones cost like $30k each and the interceptors are orders of magnitude more expensive?

Broadly, yes. Depends on the interceptor type, but Patriot systems munitions cost somewhere like $1m-4m per interceptor missile depending on whether they're intended to take out smaller or larger targets - and generally you need to fire two interceptors per incoming target if you want a guaranteed hit.

So Iran could send 50 one way drones at a cost of a million and a half bucks, and arab states could theoretically (if they only have access to Patriot systems) spend £100-200m to intercept them - and each Patriot system missile takes months to build at best - 'peacetime' build time is closer to two years but you'd assume they'd be speeding that up lately.

For context, Iran can reportedly sling out 100 drones from production lines per day.

Obviously there are alternatives that aren't quite as pricey, but unless the incoming stuff is within the distance of a CIWS system (think an A10 Tankbusters 'brrrrrrrt' cannon, on a computer controlled pintle) then most options are still an order of magnitude more expensive to defend with,

One of the major logistics issues is that gulf states have Patriot systems for defence, but once they run low, and once the US runs low, the US will be gobbling up all the Patriot missiles for themselves to protect their installations and materiel in the region - they won't be giving jack shit to Dubai, for example. At which point Dubai becomes a very, very soft target.

The US/Israeli defence systems work fine against militia-esque forces like Hamas or Hezbollah who are making munitions in back yards, but they ain't so good against nation states who have thousands of missiles in stock, with large amounts of mobile launchers, etc.

Plus Granite.

This is an interesting read:

https://www.thestatesman.com/world/iran ... 73121.html

Does it make a difference spoken by someone else?

Nope, even more bigglier unhinged.

Watching an REPerformance video (Audi garage down south) and apparently, TPS, who are a major supplier of OEM parts have stopped selling oil to anyone other than main dealers "to protect" the main dealer supply. He's been bulk buying it from where he can elsewhere, but reckons in a couple of weeks they'll struggle unless things change.


I've said it before, but still amazes me the Americans are tolerating this madness - especially given how it's affecting their fuel prices.

Both cars have full petrol tanks. That's all I have to say on the matter.

I don't want us to be, but I think energy prices, petrol availability and the stock market are going to be quite fucked soon and I'm a bit worried about it.

Simon wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 3:41 pm Both cars have full petrol tanks. That's all I have to say on the matter.

Galaxy full too. I've taken to never run it below half tank.

The mrs has reported people starting to queue for fuel. I have a bit over various cars but still use a tank a week so if things do go tits up it won’t be long before I start to struggle.

I need 20 litres for the quad bike so I’ll look like a prepper filling up my can

yeah i filled all 3 cars when it was originally announced a few weeks back. the van has been through about 4 tanks since but the elise and 320d still have full tanks ready to jump into action!

Brimmed the car up today, knocking on £80, rather annoying, but in fairness it'll last me a month given I don't use the car too often these days - I'm sure it was closer to £60 last time. Oof. Fucking ballache for people filling up weekly and not on a decent wage.

Well got my fuel, and filled my car but it won’t be going anywhere soon. It was only 1.5 miles to the petrol station and I could smell brakes. Rear right seized