Bunker busting bombs - NOT amateur radio

Last week, the USA used expensive "bunker busting" bombs on at least one Iranian nuclear site. The US president said it was highly effective and has put Iran's nuclear program back many years. 

A leaked intelligence report is more guarded. The know-how still exists and much of the highly enriched uranium may have been moved beforehand.

If the US president is wrong the implications could be enormous. I find it hard to accept that the presidents of the USA and Israel can be so sure, allegedly, unless they really do have incredible intelligence and spies.

Personally, I always prefer talking rather than "bully boy" tactics. 

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Iran - NOT amateur radio

It sounds like the detained dual nationality Briton is (eventually) being released from Iran and is on her way back to the UK. It appears the Iranian authorities were holding her because the UK government was breaking international law for withholding £400M from a cancelled tank order in the 1970s.

Several things come to mind:

    1.   The UK government should always operate within international law.

    2.   The Iranian government has no right to hold an innocent mother all this time as a hostage and bargaining chip.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60756870 .

UPDATE 1340z:  She is on the plane. I hope she is soon reunited with her family.

Iran tanker Grace 1 - NOT amateur radio

As Gibraltar has received assurances from Iran that this vessel will not break EU sanctions, they say it can sail. It was impounded as it was thought bound for Syria.

However, the USA now wants to seize it. I am not party to the USA's intelligence, but this looks like President Trump is out to show how tough he is in the run-up to the next elections. He may impress some, but not me. So far his foreign policies have seemed poor to me. Others may disagree.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49379144

War by accident? - NOT amateur radio

Probably Iran and the USA do not want outright war. However, the chance of one side miscalculating the actions of the other is quite high. President Trump is a "loose cannon" and sometimes acts irrationally. Iran is not exactly a peaceful and loving nation. I am sure behind the scenes both sides are actively engaged in cyber war.

Although Iran is far from perfect, I personally think Trump is like a little boy with a can of petrol and a box of matches.

Iran-USA conflict - NOT amateur radio

We live in dangerous times with the USA president "shooting from the hip" as if he is in the wild west. Actually the world could fall into a deep recession should he attack Iran. Iran is a dangerous unknown, but just as on climate change, the USA president seems to think he knows best.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48728465

USA and Iran - NOT amateur radio

There is no love lost between the USA and Iran. Iran could well be the aggressor in the recent conflict in the Gulf. What bothers me is dirty tricks. It is just feasible that the whole thing is a CIA plot, unlikely I know.

In times of heightened tension and war it is extremely hard to get independent, verifiable proof. All I caution is caveat emptor. What you see may not be what it seems.

Iran - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am sure Iran has plenty of faults, but then so have the USA, UK and many other western nations. The best way to win "hearts and minds" is by dialogue and not by imposing sanctions in my view.

Perhaps President Trump is thinking more of the mid-term elections tomorrow in the USA? Mind you, he is a genius (he told us so), so perhaps he is so wise, just like on climate change.

Sadly, I cannot remember one USA president who has been so ridiculed across the planet. What amazes me is that he is so popular in the USA. Of course, a rich billionaire is very in touch with the common man.

Said with lots of sarcasm!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46094489 .