Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for June 30, 2019

Bolton: another chicken hawk who has no problem sending Americans to die in an unnecessary war.

Iran is far larger (in both land area and population) than both Afghanistan and Iraq COMBINED, has a far better educated populace, has far more expansive resources and a much stronger military.

Going into Iraq in 2003, Donald Rumsfeld predicted it would take days, maybe a few weeks but certainly not months. We are still there 16 years later. We have been in Afghanistan even longer.

Now we have the chickenhawks of 2019, John Bolton and Arkansas senator Tom Cotton, promising that taking out a far more massive adversary could be done in a couple of strikes.

We have heard this line before. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

They are crying wolf. Again. And it is a very hungry, expensive wolf, as they seek to offer up our brave young heroes as HUMAN SACRIFICES on the blood-stained altar of corporate profits for oil companies and the “defense contractors” of the “military-industrial complex” that REPUBLICAN Eisenhower warned us about.

War is expensive. Much blood, treasure and resources are expended. But the blood comes from constituencies considered expendable and the treasure flows into the pockets of those who own the “defense contractor” “industries.”

George Orwell warned of perpetual war. We are there.

Bonespurs and associates are the yellow peril, just check the stripes up their backs.

Ah, we have A-bombs. Trump wants to use them now! Genocide we are there!

I hate to quibble about what’s probably just a typo, but in panel five the Red Raspberry says “Well, if you must know, he’s in town to affect regime change, to take out the tyrant.”

“To affect” means to make a difference in something that’s already happened or in existence, so what RR is saying is he’s in town to make a difference in an already existing regime change. What’s properly needed here is the verb “to effect”, which means to cause something to happen, or to bring something about – i.e., RR’s in town to get rid of Khamenei.

So now Bolton’s commissioning Red Rascal cartoons to persuade us to go to war? Because lying about yellowcake won’t work twice.

So, the “Rascal” was in Iran. That must have been the current ongoing mission that made Trump cancel the attack.

“But … but … but we have actual pictures of actual Iranians affixing actual mines to one of our actual ships, um, the Turner Joy, I think it was.”

And if The Treasonweasel had written the Work order himself, The Rascal would STILL be looking for Ayatollah Khomeini….

They were right. Red Raspberry fits better.

Strangely, John Bolton is Red Rascal’s real alter ego.

Actually, it’s E-ffect change, not A-ffect. A rare misstep, Trudeau’s usually pretty good . . .

Did the Red Rascal (Trudeau) mispeak? Did he really mean “. . . to affect (influence) regime change, . . . ,” or did he mean “. . . to EFFECT (bring about) regime change, . . . .”? Does Trudeau NOT know the correct use of affect/effect or does he want readers to infer that the Red Rascal is not particularly well educated?

Google: " Trump appears to name the wrong Iranian leader when announcing sanctions on Iran ". “The assets of Ayatollah Khomeini and his office will not be spared from the sanctions,” Trump said at the signing of an executive order to impose the sanctions. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was Iran’s Supreme Leader from 1979 to 1989. He died in 1989 and was succeeded by the current Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei."

It’s “effect” regime change (“effect” as a verb means “to bring about”; “affect” as a verb means “to influence”). I’m gonna pin this one on the editors. Garry surely knows better.

And on a totally different note, there’s a water heater in the room. This actually IS in the basement.

So true

‘ “Sorkh Razil” does not translate to “Red Rascal.” Instead it, especially given contemporary events, would more accurately translate to “American Mofo.” ‘ See https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=3597 for an unusually authoritative discussion.

The last time the US & UK tried regime change in Iran (1953) it did not end well (1979). But why learn from mistakes?

I am thinking every empire that took any combat actions in the mideast eventually quit and usually fell shortly there after. Best to get out and let them sort themselves our.

Looks like the water heater is leaking. Time for a new one.

Vote for Tulsi Gabbard

Thanks to the grammar police, but ultimately your comments are pointless. It doesn’t really affect the content. Trying to control the oil in South America and the Middle East is flat out stupid. The sanctions against Venezuela have indirectly led to the deaths of thousands due to the lack of proper medical care. As pointed out above war with Iran is a losing proposition. All of this is to perpetuate a 19th century technology that is literally destroying the climate leading to untold misery for millions and an unknowable number of unnecessary deaths. Words don’t suffice to describe how short sighted and stupid this is, all to further enrich those who are already rich. How much is enough for those people?

It’s like popes and busses — there’ll be another one along in a couple of minutes.

Why does the red raspberry look like Duke?

The second to last panel should have read "Sorry! Loser John Bolton sends his regards!

Regime change begins at home.

Remember when W delivered that pallet of 100 dollar bills to Iraq and it immediately disappeared?

Well, they must have found some more social security funds to spend on another hopeless war…like the 6 billion they “borrowed” for Iraq.

Surprised at the misused “affect” (vs. “effect”, the appropriate verb in this case). Or is it the intentional misuse, on behalf of the character.