FRIDAY 'ROUND-THE-HORN: WAR ARE THEY NOW? EDITION.

Riddim.

Remember “The Surge” in Iraq? Now, with Iran, we have multiple Surges -- of bullshit! From “Regime Change” to “Imminent Threat,” the excuses for the war keep coming and are all transparent fakes: Everyone knows Tubby pulled this caper a.) to distract from the Epstein Files and b.) because he’s nuts, and not just playing nuts as a strategic thing but plain nuts and surrounded by suck-ups who dare not challenge his insane and homicidal whims.

The Prestige Press is talking about the conflagration of the Middle East like it’s D-Day and the “D” doesn’t stand for Duh (Axios: “Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait.” Fat Boy probably thinks it’s like Skull Island or some other comic book movie thing. I wonder if they let him push around toy soldiers on a map with a long stick.) The more bought-in wingnut publications are trying to fast-forward the rubes to dreams of Glorious Victory (Washington Times: “Rival opposition groups jockey for primacy in a post-regime Iran” -- this conjures images of guys in Ayatollah outfits standing on soapboxes going "If elected I pledge --" before they're blown to smithereens).

My favorite may be ham-faced pundit Erick Erickson, in this bit before his paywall mercifully intervenes:

I would prefer it if we thoroughly destabilized the regime, and the people could take it back. That is the ideal goal. I have had conversations with some intimately familiar with both the President and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s thinking, who have also spoken to those tied to the Saudi Crown Prince...

I like to think Ham-Face interviewed some guys who got faked out by FBI agents dressed like sheiks, as in ABSCAM.

Trump’s factota have no interest in running the country, let alone the war, in a competent manner but they do work hard at propaganda: Here’s the latest load shovel-passed to the Wall Street Journal: 

Trump Told Inner Circle Some Mass Deportation Policies Went Too Far

President directs a new approach as some advisers believe immigration is no longer as strong a political issue for Trump

 “If The Czar Only Knew” turns into “Pssst, Someone Told The Czar and He’s Deeply Concerned!” 

WASHINGTON—President Trump is seeking to lower the profile of his mass deportation effort, and has directed his top advisers to adopt a new approach on one of his central campaign promises, according to people familiar with the matter.

In conversations with top advisers and his wife Melania, Trump has become convinced that some of his administration’s deportation policies have gone too far, and voters don’t like the term “mass deportation.” 

“Dunnald. Dees ICE is nawt good.”

“So have ‘em put your glass in the chiller instead. Now leave me alone, I’m busy pushing these soldiers around with a stick.” 

The president has told them he wants to see more attention on arresting “bad guys” and less chaos in American cities, according to people familiar with the matter.

So now when they kidnap normal people their social media staff will paste gang tats on them with Photoshop -- hang on, they already tried that. Well, then my guess is this is just an ass-covering fraud! Always a safe bet.

As usual, subscribers got five ROY EDROSO BREAKS IT DOWN editions this week -- here’s a free one for non-subscribers, inspired by the New York Times’ ridiculous attempt to cover for Trump’s Caligulan humiliation of his subordinates with improperly-sized shoes. I think mine's a little more ridiculous but frankly it's a close call.