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MTG is pissed (Political)

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Off Key - General Discussion
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  • wtgW Offline
    wtgW Offline
    wtg
    wrote last edited by wtg
    #21

    What I'm reading is that control is basically distributed in a network in Iran, and the death of even several key leaders won't fundamentally change the control structure there. But by doing what we've done, we've introduced an element of chaos and uncertainty into the whole situation.

    I think @mik is right, that this will be a short intervention; my assessment is that Trump was just looking for another headline about how brave and great he is. He will hold up the death of the ayatollah as a huge success, nothing anyone else would have done and he will continue to call for the Iranian citizens to take back their country. If they don't, he'll just say he set the stage and they didn't take advantage of it and wash his hands of the whole matter.

    I doubt that he's considered what happens next.

    MikM 1 Reply Last reply
    • Piano*DadP Piano*Dad

      A good Associated Press report ...

      https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-ayatollah-khamenei-ad853dc1d5606fd9202b65a75bdbfc2f

      wtgW Offline
      wtgW Offline
      wtg
      wrote last edited by wtg
      #22

      @Piano-Dad

      I thought this was interesting, too.

      https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/riyadhs-secret-plea-saudi-crown-prince-reportedly-pressed-us-for-military-action-against-iran/articleshow/128917213.cms

      Here's the non-paywall version of the WaPo article mentioned by the Times of India:

      https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/push-from-saudis-israel-helped-move-trump-to-attack-iran/ar-AA1XhnBW

      1 Reply Last reply
      • Piano*DadP Offline
        Piano*DadP Offline
        Piano*Dad
        wrote last edited by
        #23

        One should not ignore takes that are uncomfortable, like this one from a former head of CentCom ...

        https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/opinion/iran-trump-bad-faith.html

        Crazy economist who likes to write about higher education.

        1 Reply Last reply
        👍
        • Piano*DadP Offline
          Piano*DadP Offline
          Piano*Dad
          wrote last edited by
          #24

          Serious analysis from the Institute for the Study of War.

          Israel appears to be targeting the internal apparatus of political control, consistent with a regime change goal. I can't say I'm shedding any tears for the butchers who killed over 10,000 (up to possibly 30,000) protestors last month.

          https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-morning-special-report-march-1-2026/?utm_source=utm_bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=IranUpdate030126AM

          Crazy economist who likes to write about higher education.

          1 Reply Last reply
          👍
          • wtgW Offline
            wtgW Offline
            wtg
            wrote last edited by
            #25

            Another view from Politico/Foreign Affairs.

            https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/03/01/iran-uprising-trump-khamenei-regime-change-00806179

            1 Reply Last reply
            • wtgW wtg

              What I'm reading is that control is basically distributed in a network in Iran, and the death of even several key leaders won't fundamentally change the control structure there. But by doing what we've done, we've introduced an element of chaos and uncertainty into the whole situation.

              I think @mik is right, that this will be a short intervention; my assessment is that Trump was just looking for another headline about how brave and great he is. He will hold up the death of the ayatollah as a huge success, nothing anyone else would have done and he will continue to call for the Iranian citizens to take back their country. If they don't, he'll just say he set the stage and they didn't take advantage of it and wash his hands of the whole matter.

              I doubt that he's considered what happens next.

              MikM Offline
              MikM Offline
              Mik
              wrote last edited by Mik
              #26

              @wtg said:

              What I'm reading is that control is basically distributed in a network in Iran, and the death of even several key leaders won't fundamentally change the control structure there. But by doing what we've done, we've introduced an element of chaos and uncertainty into the whole situation.

              I think @mik is right, that this will be a short intervention; my assessment is that Trump was just looking for another headline about how brave and great he is. He will hold up the death of the ayatollah as a huge success, nothing anyone else would have done and he will continue to call for the Iranian citizens to take back their country. If they don't, he'll just say he set the stage and they didn't take advantage of it and wash his hands of the whole matter.

              I doubt that he's considered what happens next.

              I do not believe you're right. He saw an opportunity and took it. No one knows for certain how it will end up, but we've been screwing around with these bastards and their nuclear ambitions for 25 years.

              What we must do is avoid trying to dictate what Iran looks like after this, and I certainly hope there has been groundwork laid for a replacement government. While Palavi probably has the most power behind him, I seriously doubt the Iranians wish to see the return of the Shah, even in his son. We cannot forget the genesis of the Islamic Republic was largely due to our brutal meddling, and several generations of Iranians have been taught all about that.

              All that aside, I am pretty sure domestic political considerations were a factor. Should this be successful the midterms will go much better. If not, well, it looked pretty bad anyway.

              “I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
              ― Douglas Adams

              1 Reply Last reply
              • B Offline
                B Offline
                Bernard
                wrote last edited by
                #27

                but we've been screwing around with these bastards and their nuclear ambitions for 25 years.

                The US, self-appointed gatekeepers and the only nation ever to obliterate entire cities of civilians with nuclear bombs. How, exactly, does having the secret codes in the hands of someone like Trump give us any authority on who or who shouldn't have nuclear ambitions?

                What we must do is avoid trying to dictate what Iran looks like after this, and I certainly hope there has been groundwork laid for a replacement government.

                Surely, you can't be serious.

                To add to the comment about 'several generations', this latest action only heaps more resentment upon resentment upon resentment.

                The industrial revolution cheapened everything.

                1 Reply Last reply
                • D Offline
                  D Offline
                  Daniel
                  wrote last edited by Daniel
                  #28

                  It's a hard no from me. Iran's nuclear program is being monitored by the relevant official agency. It would be a 2nd-- 2nd Iraq War ("weapons of mass destruction") or even worse, maybe much worse. Hopefully, the U.S. and Israel, again, are forced to come to terms with Iran's current abilities to wage war, and back off a second time.

                  'But as they said in one of the later Rocky movies, "Time...it's undefeated.".-- Mik

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • D Offline
                    D Offline
                    Daniel
                    wrote last edited by
                    #29

                    Link to video

                    'But as they said in one of the later Rocky movies, "Time...it's undefeated.".-- Mik

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • D Offline
                      D Offline
                      Daniel
                      wrote last edited by Daniel
                      #30

                      The latest news.

                      Link to video

                      (Click on link, you will see the video, press play)

                      'But as they said in one of the later Rocky movies, "Time...it's undefeated.".-- Mik

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • D Offline
                        D Offline
                        Daniel
                        wrote last edited by
                        #31

                        Link to video

                        'But as they said in one of the later Rocky movies, "Time...it's undefeated.".-- Mik

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • A Away
                          A Away
                          AndyD
                          wrote last edited by
                          #32

                          I have to ask those who wish to withdraw within your borders and do little or nothing to affect the external world, what would be your Pearl Harbour moment?

                          China taking over Taiwan? Or China taking over Mexico?
                          Russia taking over Ukraine. Or taking over Greenland?

                          Ventosa viri restabit

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • A Away
                            A Away
                            AndyD
                            wrote last edited by
                            #33

                            I will add that the RAF base on Cyprus has been attacked.
                            And the UK is helping, through Diego Garcia, and two airfields in England.

                            Ventosa viri restabit

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • A Away
                              A Away
                              AndyD
                              wrote last edited by AndyD
                              #34

                              It's not like the US has been the only target for these fanatical terrorist clerics of Iran.

                              https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2020/sep/16/timeline-iran-assassinations-and-plot

                              For us in the UK, from a House of Commons report:
                              "In October 2025, the Director General of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, reported that security agencies have tracked “more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots” in the previous year. He has issued similar reports in earlier years.

                              Those targeted by Iran in the UK include dissidents, journalists, regime opponents, Israelis, Jews, and sectors including government, travel and universities. BBC Persian and the UK-based news agency Iran International are among those who have long reported Iranian state threats. In addition to its state agencies, including the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, Iran has used criminal groups to conduct operations in the UK and elsewhere. "

                              Ventosa viri restabit

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • D Offline
                                D Offline
                                Daniel
                                wrote last edited by
                                #35

                                The U.S. budget for military and intelligence was raised from 500 billion to 1 trillion. Many people in the U.S. of all ages and in all state are going without the food or medicine and many

                                'But as they said in one of the later Rocky movies, "Time...it's undefeated.".-- Mik

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