Iran Super Thread- Merged

[Humphrey Bogart]

The best Arab army soldiers are usually contractors...

Foreign Contract Soldiers in the Gulf

Despite flagging oil revenues and the introduction of conscription in the Gulf, the use of foreign contract soldiers, sometimes called mercenaries, is here to stay.

Not surprisingly, the highest proportion of foreign contract soldiers serve in the Gulf’s three richest states, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait, where few young men have a strong economic incentive to sign up. Although these three countries instituted mandatory military service for male citizens between 2013 and 2017, the role of contract soldiers has changed little.

Foreign Contract Soldiers in the Gulf

Despite flagging oil revenues and the introduction of conscription in the Gulf, the use of foreign contract soldiers, sometimes called mercenaries, is here to stay.

carnegieendowment.org

The UAE loves Colombians ... oh and Ex Commonwealth chaps to be Officers...

Mike Hindmarsh - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Mills Bomb]

Sounds like the Iranians and the US have opened up a comms channel again and according to the US, Iran wants to deal.

When you wipe the upper deck a few times, attitudes can change.

Can you provide a source for that?

So far, the only person to claim they want to make a deal is Trump.

Iran says they won't negotiate.

When they were last negotiating, this surprise attack happened.

I would be curious to see your sources and what backs that claim up - is there some breaking news story we're missing?

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Can you provide a source for that?

So far, the only person to claim they want to make a deal is Trump.

Iran says they won't negotiate.

When they were last negotiating, this surprise attack happened.

I would be curious to see your sources and what backs that claim up - is there some breaking news story we're missing?

Let me introduce you to Google...

https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/iran-war-us-communication-witkoff-araghchi

 

[Mills Bomb]

I've seen in this thread several people claim the "success" of the Venezuela mission.

Yes, they got Maduro. From a technical perspective, it's fair to saw that mission was a success, they got in, they got out, and they got the target.

But has enough time really passed to call the mission a "success" and with any sort of certainty, can we really know at this point how that plays out long term?

Finding reliable open source information on what's actually happening inside Venezuela has proven fairly difficult. It seems the place is fairly locked down.

It seems like Maria Corina Machado was essentially played by Trump, as well as her supporters. I don't think anyone is holding their breath for her to free Venezuela, it seems more and more like a pipe dream every day.

Maybe this is the wrong thread, but saying that mission was a "success" even in relation to this one, I think we need to see how it really plays out.

 

[Mills Bomb]

Let me introduce you to Google...

https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/iran-war-us-communication-witkoff-araghchi

"Sources say"

Which sources? Are we talking about sources in the Trump administration?

I'm skeptical, but let's see how it plays out.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I've seen in this thread several people claim the "success" of the Venezuela mission.

Yes, they got Maduro. From a technical perspective, it's fair to saw that mission was a success, they got in, they got out, and they got the target.

But has enough time really passed to call the mission a "success" and with any sort of certainty, can we really know at this point how that plays out long term?

Finding reliable open source information on what's actually happening inside Venezuela has proven fairly difficult. It seems the place is fairly locked down.

It seems like Maria Corina Machado was essentially played by Trump, as well as her supporters. I don't think anyone is holding their breath for her to free Venezuela, it seems more and more like a pipe dream every day.

Maybe this is the wrong thread, but saying that mission was a "success" even in relation to this one, I think we need to see how it really plays out.

Enough of a success that the US Embassy opened back up in Caracas 2 days ago for the first time in 7 years.

US embassy in Venezuela reopens as Trump pushes for access to resources

Trump administration has pressed the interim Venezuelan government for concessions on issues such as oil access.

www.aljazeera.com

"Sources say"

Which sources? Are we talking about sources in the Trump administration?

I'm skeptical, but let's see how it plays out.

You asked for a source, you were provided one.

 

[Mills Bomb]

You asked for a source, you were provided one.

Respectfully, I think you know what I was getting at, it's very highly disputed. But I am completely open to being proven wrong if anyone has any real concrete evidence direct negotiations are happening.

I'll be honest, I have too much "TDS" to take Trump at his word at this point.

There is a real chance here this is another forever war, against a regime that is going to fight bitterly for a long time.

Let me put it this way, whenever there is a large scale surprise attack on a country that includes the killing of their leaders, civilians, a kids school, the chances of a negotiated peace with that country shortly after that type of attack occurs is extremely slim.

For Iran, there is a real chance they see this as a sort of their Marco Polo Bridge, Pearl Harbour, 9/11, Oct 7th type of event that may lead to many years of determined war.... A negotiated peace this soon, it seems like kind of hoping for a miracle.

And let be clear, I truly do hope I am wrong. Like I genuinely do hope for us skeptics it's just our "TDS" but we should at least recognize there are serious red flags.

 

[Genetk44]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all but... Maybe I'll just "let them fight" lol

Respectfully, I think you know what I was getting at, it's very highly disputed. But I am completely open to being proven wrong if anyone has any real concrete evidence direct negotiations are happening.

I'll be honest, I have too much "TDS" to take Trump at his word at this point.

There is a real chance here this is another forever war, against a regime that is going to fight bitterly for a long time.

Let me put it this way, whenever there is a large scale surprise attack on a country that includes the killing of their leaders, civilians, a kids school, the chances of a negotiated peace with that country shortly after that type of attack occurs is extremely slim.

For Iran, there is a real chance they see this as a sort of their Marco Polo Bridge, Pearl Harbour, 9/11, Oct 7th type of event that may lead to many years of determined war.... A negotiated peace this soon, it seems like kind of hoping for a miracle.

And let be clear, I truly do hope I am wrong. Like I genuinely do hope for us skeptics it's just our "TDS" but we should at least recognize there are serious red flags.

Respectfully, not taking Trump at his word has nothing to do with “TDS” but is rather a good sign of critical thinking and discernment.

 

[Mick]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we've been operating in the Persian Gulf for decades. Really up until the current political shift in Canada, which saw us diverge away from our traditional allies in favour of our "Post Nation-State" postering.

Trudeau's "postnational state" quote is from a Dec 2015 New York Times Magazine interview.

4 of the 6 times Canada commanded CTF-150 occurred after Trudeau's statement was made, the last occurring in 2024.

Can you provide examples of where Canada has "diverged away from our traditional allies"?

A few examples of recent / recurring operations. NATO, US, UK seem to be a common theme.

Op Caribbe (supporting US)
Op Artemis (supporting US-led CMF)
Op Reassurance (supporting NATO)
Op Neon (supporting UN sanction on North Korea alongside US)
Op Unifier (NATO, UK, US etc)

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Trudeau's "postnational state" quote is from a Dec 2015 New York Times Magazine interview.

4 of the 6 times Canada commanded CTF-150 occurred after Trudeau's statement was made, the last occurring in 2024.

'Commanded' but they only ever deployed one ship since 2014. We have to be the only Country that 'commands' without contributing actual assets, as a matter of regular practice.

Can you provide examples of where Canada has "diverged away from our traditional allies"?

A few examples of recent / recurring operations. NATO, US, UK seem to be a common theme.

Op Caribbe (supporting US)

We have placed caveats on intelligence sharing and are only working the Coast Guard and not Southern Spear aka the US Military.

Op Artemis (supporting US-led CMF)

Op ARTEMIS has been shutdown and the CAF no longer participates in CMF or Maritime Security in the area.

Op Reassurance (supporting NATO)
Op Neon (supporting UN sanction on North Korea alongside US)
Op Unifier (NATO, UK, US etc)

We aren't in step with the Americans on anything really anymore. I would call our participation basically non-existent. They also have talked about kicking us out of the FVEY community.

White House official pushes to axe Canada from Five Eyes intelligence group

A top White House official has proposed expelling Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network to ramp up pressure. Read more

financialpost.com

Canada has culturally and politically diverged away from the United States. That's just a fact, which is why we are dealing with some fairly serious political issues on the home front. Alberta separation being front and centre. I am waiting for the denial currently taking place to be lifted when the real #s come in.

 

[The Bread Guy]

… if the US doesn't force a system of government on Venezuela or Iran, it's not really changing regimes.

And insisting on essentially a veto on who’s in charge isn’t “really changing” or “forcing” a system of government? What kind of leader do you think the US could live with if Iran remains a radical (allegedly) Muslim theocracy? If he wants the final say, POTUS47 can take the credit if things go well, but also has to eat the shit sandwich if things go south, even if he tells people “it’s up to you.”

 

[OldSolduer]

What has Silly Donald and his idiot nephews done today?

 

[Mick]

'Commanded' but they only ever deployed one ship since 2014. We have to be the only Country that 'commands' without contributing actual assets, as a matter of regular practice.

Yes, due to Russian aggression, focus shifted to Europe, and since 2014 fourteen (14) different ships have deployed in support of Op Reassurance.

We have placed caveats on intelligence sharing and are only working the Coast Guard and not Southern Spear aka the US Military.

Canadian participation in Op Caribbe continues, with caveats (rightly so, due to concerns with legality of US strikes).

Op ARTEMIS has been shutdown and the CAF no longer participates in CMF or Maritime Security in the area.

Focus is Europe, and only so many ships Canada can deploy.

We aren't in step with the Americans on anything really anymore. I would call our participation basically non-existent. They also have talked about kicking us out of the FVEY community.

The vast majority of major Canadian military deployments have been - and continue to be - in support of the United States and NATO.

US domestic and foreign policies have undeniably and drastically changed in the past year: tariffs, insults, lack of allies consultation, unilateral military operations, loosening of sanctions... the list goes on. If anyone is diverging from traditional allies, it's the Trump Administration.

UK and the Netherlands have also restricted intelligence sharing with similar concerns.

Canada has culturally and politically diverged away from the United States. That's just a fact, which is why we are dealing with some fairly serious political issues on the home front. Alberta separation being front and centre.

Time will tell, but as an Albertan, I think you over-estimate the desire for separation in Alberta.