forever wars Archives

Trump Is Down to Four Bad Options

March 23, 2026 Buck Banks

“Mr Trump’s defenders insist that his rhetorical gymnastics are part of the plan: the president is keeping his options open, and keeping Iran on its toes. To almost everyone else it is clear that America entered this war with a flawed strategy, starting with its failure to anticipate that Iran would close the strait. … With the fighting entering a fourth week, Mr Trump has four options for how to proceed. He can talk, leave, continue or escalate. If he has not yet chosen one, it is because none of them are good.”

— The Economist

Putin Pushes ‘Forever War’

February 22, 2022 Buck Banks

“Putin has now affirmed that he refuses to accept the outcome of the Cold War and that he will fight to dismantle the European system of peace and security constructed by the international community after its end. This is Vladimir Putin’s forever war, and Russia, cursed as it has been so many times in its history with a terrible leader, will be fighting it for as long as Putin remains the master of the Kremlin.”

— Tom Nichols

Heroes and Zeros

February 3, 2022February 4, 2022 Buck Banks

There’s no disputing al-Qurayshi was an evil guy,
And there’s no disputing he had to die.
But we spent millions —
And still killed civilians!
Oh, and sometimes our helicopters can’t fly.

U.S. Kills ISIS Leader and Some Women and Children

February 3, 2022 Buck Banks

“This horrible terrorist leader is no more.”

— President Biden, quoted by the Washington Post, on the U.S. Special Operations mission overnight in Syria that killed Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the leader of the Islamic State.

Tag: forever wars

Trump Is Down to Four Bad Options

— The Economist

Putin Pushes ‘Forever War’

— Tom Nichols

Heroes and Zeros

U.S. Kills ISIS Leader and Some Women and Children

“This horrible terrorist leader is no more.”

— President Biden, quoted by the Washington Post, on the U.S. Special Operations mission overnight in Syria that killed Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the leader of the Islamic State.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“His apparently deteriorating condition has caused tremendous alarm across the nation (and political spectrum) about the President’s cognitive function and continuing mental fitness for the office of President, and prompted concerns about the President’s well-being.”

— Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is requesting the White House physician conduct a “comprehensive cognitive assessment” of President Trump and brief Congress on the results.

— Paul Krugman

“God deserves all the glory. Tens of thousands of strikes carried out under the protection of divine providence. A massive effort with miraculous protection. God is good.”

— Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to reporters.

Numerati

47.6

134

60%

A new Pew Research poll finds 60% of U.S. adults now have an unfavorable view of Israel.

57%

A new survey finds that approximately 20% of 2024 Trump voters may not vote Republican in 2028, and that almost 57% of voters who switched from Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024 are considering abandoning the Republican party in 2028.

86%

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds 86 percent of Americans are concerned for the lives of U.S. military personnel in Iran — and 56 percent believe the war will have a negative impact on their personal financial situation.