People don't seem to get it. We've been here before. In 1953, to be specific. Even if "we" achieve regime change, the new regime will live under the cloud of more western invaders. Sooner or later, it will be 1978 all over again. The only thing we will have achieved in the long term is to hold onto the title of the "Great Satan."
In the short term, though, it keeps the Epstein Files out of the headlines. So that's all good.
But that raises a serious question. Are we, as a nation, too stupid to survive?
It seems the orange dumpster is incredibly easy to manipulate by the money powers behind the throne, who can profit from this war. All they have to do is to appeal to his baser instincts and they get anything they want - more aircraft, more missiles, more anything bringing a lot of money into their - and his - pockets.
"... the escalation ladder that now exists in public view. When regime change is declared, each Iranian response will be interpreted as proof of Iranian malign intent rather than as predictable retaliation, making restraint politically harder on both sides."
Thank you for that conclusion, Mr. O'Neill. Trump has largely abandoned diplomacy worldwide, leaving war an easy choice for him--like a pill he can take. If it escalates, just take another pill.
I doubt that any serious diplomatic measures are considered by Trump for any situation; when you install real estate developers and angry failed presidential candidates with grudges against the people they are supposed to negotiate with, you are actively denigrating and destroying diplomacy. Come on. The Witkoff and Rubio envoys are smokescreens for the easy choice of using all those military toys to show the world how tough you are.
This article focuses on the strategic aspects of the framing of this action, not the fact that this unprovoked attack is flagrantly illegal.
The question posed by this ex-CIA agent is not "whether the United States has defined victory in a war it is now framing around regime collapse", the question is, how can this attack be justified at all, when it is an obvious violation of international law and the UN Charter?
Already, this attack has killed several hundred civilians, including at least 148 when a school was bombed by the US/Israel alliance. The stated intentions of the US and Israel are irrelevant. There is no interpretation where any of this is not illegal and unethical.
There's already been too much mealy mouthed discussion from pundits, from Democratic lawmakers, from the media in general... these attacks are wrong, and illegal, period.
2/28/2026: Folks will look back on this date years from now as the start of another long war. Trump may have broken campaign promises before, but now he has really stepped in it. Hey Republicans in Congress - are you ready to grow a spine and stop all funding to the DOD? Hey Maga-nuts: Are you happy now? Trump has spit in your faces by starting an illegal war.
“If it fails, it risks hardening Iranian resolve and widening the conflict while teaching every other adversary the same lesson: When Washington declares that you are illegitimate, accommodation becomes pointless and survival becomes the only strategy.” I doubt this administration ever thinks this far in advance.
People don't seem to get it. We've been here before. In 1953, to be specific. Even if "we" achieve regime change, the new regime will live under the cloud of more western invaders. Sooner or later, it will be 1978 all over again. The only thing we will have achieved in the long term is to hold onto the title of the "Great Satan."
In the short term, though, it keeps the Epstein Files out of the headlines. So that's all good.
But that raises a serious question. Are we, as a nation, too stupid to survive?
It seems the orange dumpster is incredibly easy to manipulate by the money powers behind the throne, who can profit from this war. All they have to do is to appeal to his baser instincts and they get anything they want - more aircraft, more missiles, more anything bringing a lot of money into their - and his - pockets.
O-I-L
Yes, I forgot about that very important fact. And he'll probably install another Shah.
I'm done with Israel until they force their own regime change.
My foremost question is, HOW IS IT LEGAL for us to force regime change when we are not under attack? What makes this different from Putin's land grab?
Remember, he doesn’t fault Putin for that
And yet he imposed all kinds of sanctions. Gotta pretend to have a bigger dck.
"... the escalation ladder that now exists in public view. When regime change is declared, each Iranian response will be interpreted as proof of Iranian malign intent rather than as predictable retaliation, making restraint politically harder on both sides."
Thank you for that conclusion, Mr. O'Neill. Trump has largely abandoned diplomacy worldwide, leaving war an easy choice for him--like a pill he can take. If it escalates, just take another pill.
I doubt that any serious diplomatic measures are considered by Trump for any situation; when you install real estate developers and angry failed presidential candidates with grudges against the people they are supposed to negotiate with, you are actively denigrating and destroying diplomacy. Come on. The Witkoff and Rubio envoys are smokescreens for the easy choice of using all those military toys to show the world how tough you are.
O-I-L
Quite possible. When you're given six different rationales for war, it's usually the one not mentioned.
This article focuses on the strategic aspects of the framing of this action, not the fact that this unprovoked attack is flagrantly illegal.
The question posed by this ex-CIA agent is not "whether the United States has defined victory in a war it is now framing around regime collapse", the question is, how can this attack be justified at all, when it is an obvious violation of international law and the UN Charter?
Already, this attack has killed several hundred civilians, including at least 148 when a school was bombed by the US/Israel alliance. The stated intentions of the US and Israel are irrelevant. There is no interpretation where any of this is not illegal and unethical.
There's already been too much mealy mouthed discussion from pundits, from Democratic lawmakers, from the media in general... these attacks are wrong, and illegal, period.
2/28/2026: Folks will look back on this date years from now as the start of another long war. Trump may have broken campaign promises before, but now he has really stepped in it. Hey Republicans in Congress - are you ready to grow a spine and stop all funding to the DOD? Hey Maga-nuts: Are you happy now? Trump has spit in your faces by starting an illegal war.
Bibi wants it, so Trumps gives it to him.
“If it fails, it risks hardening Iranian resolve and widening the conflict while teaching every other adversary the same lesson: When Washington declares that you are illegitimate, accommodation becomes pointless and survival becomes the only strategy.” I doubt this administration ever thinks this far in advance.