Which is more likely: The KGB killed JFK, or Trump is a KGB agent?

[Jon Banks]

But I thought according to the leftists that Trump was a Nazi?  Now he is sympathetic and even controlled by Israel. 

I can't speak for those people. I'm on the Left but have never bought into the "Trump-Putin" stuff nor have I ever called Trump a "nazi".

I think Trump is merely acknowledging the reality that Hamas is a barbaric terrorist organization.  They are incapable of self-government. 

Both things may be true but it doesn't justify Israel mass murdering civilians, not just in Gaza, but now Lebanon and Syria too.

Hamas has offered to hand over power to the Palestinian Authority fwiw. Netanyahu rejected their offer. Hamas offered to free all the hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu rejected that offer too.

Israel just two weeks ago massacred 15 paramedics in Gaza. How is that Hamas' fault? There's video of the incident. It clearly shows that they were murdered in cold blood.

Trump supports Israel's far-Right government and has given them a free pass to commit war crimes and acts of terror with impunity.

Iran has promoted terrorism around the world. 

Both Saudi Arabia and Israel have killed more American citizens than Iran has.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar, both allies of the US, have funded Al Qaeda and ISIS. Both of those groups are enemies of Iran. The whole war on terror thing was a scam since Bush decided to hold Iraq, not Saudi Arabia (which assisted the 9/11 hijackers), accountable for the 9/11 attacks.

As for nukes, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's DNI, says Iran isn't currently developing Nuclear weapons.

'Tulsi Gabbard Says Iran Not Believed to be Building a Nuclear Weapon'
https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-iran-nuclear-weapon-2051523

[Jon Banks]

I didn't allege that Trump is a Manchurian Candidate, Banks.

Why the hyperbole?

He's probably just an expendable "useful idiot" on steroids.

He may be a 'useful idiot' for Israel and neoconservative Republicans but clearly not Putin.

If Trump aligned his foreign policies on BRICS, Iran, China, and Venezuela with Russia's policies, I might change my mind.

But in the big picture of Trump's policies, it's easy to dismiss the notion that 'he's working for Putin'.

[Richard Smith]

I can't speak for those people. I'm on the Left but have never bought into the "Trump-Putin" stuff nor have I ever called Trump a "nazi".

Both things may be true but it doesn't justify Israel mass murdering civilians, not just in Gaza, but now Lebanon and Syria too.

Hamas has offered to hand over power to the Palestinian Authority fwiw. Netanyahu rejected their offer. Hamas offered to free all the hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu rejected that offer too.

Israel just two weeks ago massacred 15 paramedics in Gaza. How is that Hamas' fault? There's video of the incident. It clearly shows that they were murdered in cold blood.

Trump supports Israel's far-Right government and has given them a free pass to commit war crimes and acts of terror with impunity.

Both Saudi Arabia and Israel have killed more American citizens than Iran has.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar, both allies of the US, have funded Al Qaeda and ISIS. Both of those groups are enemies of Iran. The whole war on terror thing was a scam since Bush decided to hold Iraq, not Saudi Arabia (which assisted the 9/11 hijackers), accountable for the 9/11 attacks.

As for nukes, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's DNI, says Iran isn't currently developing Nuclear weapons.

'Tulsi Gabbard Says Iran Not Believed to be Building a Nuclear Weapon'
https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-iran-nuclear-weapon-2051523

When someone wages unprovoked genocidal war like Hamas has done with the support of Iran, one of the risks is that there will be retaliation.  That includes civilian casualties.  Particularly when Hamas hides among civilians.  The Allies in WWII bombed German and Japanese cities.  Hundreds of thousands of civilians died.  That was a consequence of the barbaric policies of their own governments.  There may very well have been "innocent" people among those killed but civilization cannot co-exist with barbarians.  Sometimes the consequences are unfortunate but necessary.  Half measures simply open future generations to risk.  No one suggested that anyone negotiate with Hitler.  The Nazis were forced into unconditional surrender.  Until they did that, the Allies continued to destroy their cities.  Hamas has to surrender, release the hostages, and another government needs to be installed before this can end.   Until them, everyone in Gaza remains at risk.   

[Jon Banks]

When someone wages unprovoked genocidal war like Hamas has done with the support of Iran, one of the risks is that there will be retaliation.  That includes civilian casualties.  Particularly when Hamas hides among civilians.  The Allies in WWII bombed German and Japanese cities.  Hundreds of thousands of civilians died.  That was a consequence of the barbaric policies of their own governments.  There may very well have been "innocent" people among those killed but civilization cannot co-exist with barbarians.  Sometimes the consequences are unfortunate but necessary.  Half measures simply open future generations to risk.  No one suggested that anyone negotiate with Hitler.  The Nazis were forced into unconditional surrender.  Until they did that, the Allies continued to destroy their cities.  Hamas has to surrender, release the hostages, and another government needs to be installed before this can end.  Until them, everyone in Gaza remains at risk.

It will not end if Hamas surrenders. Netanyahu has made clear that he intends to follow through on Trump's idea of removing the Palestinians from Gaza. He has also rejected several offers from Hamas to free all the hostages.

Israel is giving the Palestinians the choices of death or expulsion.

How is that not genocidal? And why are you okay with our tax dollars supporting it?

'Israel approves controversial proposal to facilitate emigration of Palestinians from Gaza'

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/middleeast/israel-approves-proposal-to-facilitate-emigration-of-palestinians-from-gaza-intl/index.html


Trump ran on a platform of ending wars. So far, he's not ending any wars and he's close to getting us into another unnecessary war in the Middle East with Iran, Putin's ally.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

He may be a 'useful idiot' for Israel and neoconservative Republicans but clearly not Putin.

If Trump aligned his foreign policies on BRICS, Iran, China, and Venezuela with Russia's policies, I might change my mind.

But in the big picture of Trump's policies, it's easy to dismiss the notion that 'he's working for Putin'.

I don't know where you get the idea that neconservatives support Trump or he suports them? Rubio? Or who? The neoconservatives I know of loathe Trump; they don't support him. Bill Kristol, Lynne and Dick Cheney, John Bolton...it's a long list. They endorsed Harris. What do the neconservatives say about his policies towards Russia and Ukraine and Europe? They are scathing in their criticism. It seems to me you are singling out Israeli policy and ignoring everything else.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

But I thought according to the leftists that Trump was a Nazi?  Now he is sympathetic and even controlled by Israel.  That doesn't sound like the Nazis that I remember from the history books.  I think Trump is merely acknowledging the reality that Hamas is a barbaric terrorist organization.  They are incapable of self-government.  Iran has promoted terrorism around the world.  They can't be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.  That has been made clear to them.  Someone is going to have to take out their nuclear program.  Biden was too weak.  It shouldn't take a war to do that.

Touche. I do find it weird that those among the progressive Left that likes to call everyone a fascist are mostly (not all) silent when it comes to a real life fascist group like Hamas. You can criticize Israel's response to 10/7 but to march in the street in support of Hamas or not criticize those that do is indefensible. Hamas's ideology is something right out of the Wannsee Conference.

[Jon Banks]

I don't know where you get the idea that neconservatives support Trump or he suports them? Rubio? Or who? The neoconservatives I know of loathe Trump; they don't support him. Bill Kristol, Lynne and Dick Cheney, John Bolton...it's a long list. They endorsed Harris. What do the neconservatives say about his policies towards Russia and Ukraine and Europe? They are scathing in their criticism.

The neoconservatives aren't united behind the Democrats. There are many still in the GOP.

Rubio is one. Mike Waltz, Lindsey Graham, and Tom Cotton are arch-neoconservatives too.

And even if they dislike Trump on other issues (ie Ukraine), they support his policies in the Middle East.

It seems to me you are singling out Israeli policy and ignoring everything else.

Because Trump has done more so far in his second term for Israel than any other nation.

I notice patterns and Trump's patterns of behavior so far in his second-term have all been to the benefit of his major campaign donors. Elon Musk gave him $250 million. Miriam Adelson, an Israeli billionaire, gave him $100 million.

[Jon Banks]

Touche. I do find it weird that the progressive left that likes to call everyone a fascist are mostly (not all) silent when it comes to a real life fascist group like Hamas. You can criticize Israel's response to 10/7 but to march in the street in support of Hamas is indefensible. Their ideology is something right out of the Wannsee Conference.

^Typical Rightwing misinformation. No one is marching for Hamas. People are marching because they hate that we're sending billions of US tax dollars to a government led by a war criminal (the Hague indicted Netanyahu last year).

Nothing is more fascist in the US right now than disappearing foreign college students (who haven't broken any laws) over their criticisms of Israel. The First Amendment protects criticisms of a foreign government. Heck, even verbal support for Hamas is protected speech (but none of the students targeted have expressed verbal support for Hamas).

Criticism of Israel's crimes against humanity doesn't equate to support for Hamas.

I personally believe the Palestinians would be better off without Hamas and Israelis better off without Netanyahu.