this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2026
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politics

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President Donald Trump on Thursday said he is weighing whether or not to "annihilate" Iran in a renewed effort to end the illegal 201-day US-Israeli war of choice, musings that came on the heels of a report by United Nations experts who said the United States likely committed war crimes during earlier attacks on the Middle East nation.

"I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them, or do I not?" Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid. "It's a big decision. Anything could happen with me."

I'm betting he's going to nuke 'em. He already moved nuclear bombers into the Middle East. The ecconomic ramifications of that (initial and long term) ontop of the international backlash from that would signal the true end of the American empire, which might cause guillotines to be rolled out. I'd honestly not know how the US would continue on as a country in that outcome.

It'd probably break down along partisan lines that mirror the Civil War's lines. The South would rage and bring back slavery (they really hated losing them such that this grevience persists into today's politics). Wish I lived in a northern state. Putin would really have gotten a bang for his buck in that situation.

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[–] Aphos@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Can he do that? A nuclear strike would need others to go with the plan or not?

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

To initiate a launch of weapons of mass destruction, it requires the approval of the National Command Authority (NCA). That’s an impressive sounding name, but the NCA consists of only two people: The President and his political appointee, the Secretary of Defense.

-Explained here.

It comes out of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Essentially, Congress delegated its war powers to the president and his loyalist. So, basically, it'd boil down to tRump and Pete Kegsbreath agreeing to nuke Iran. Maybe some in the military would not carry out the order, but how unlikely would it be that they couldn't find ONE MAGAt to carry out their orders?

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago

Well we're safe, there is no secretary of defense, only war.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

I can just imagine the two shake hands afterwards congratulating each other on the decision.

[–] ImgurRefugee114@reddthat.com 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Gee, I'm sure glad those Americans have all of those checks and balances in place...

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think in the past there would have been a tacit expectation that one consults with allies at least for some logistics, but currently there is no such expectation I assume, and there is certainly no such requirement. What a catastrophe it would be. One from which humanity may never recover.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

What a catastrophe it would be. One from which humanity may never recover.

He can't even wipe his own ass. Shit comes out of both ends on this dumbass