"So does the Iranian regime finally fall THIS TIME?" Topic

Legion as to your first paragraph these say it all

Democratic politicians.

Subject: Chris Murphy 🟧 on X: "awesome" / X


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Disgusting!😡

As to the media.

Well like Rachel, like I really like think you should go to like Tehran and like meet the Mullahs. Like you're a lesbian of like Jewish heritage, both of which, like the Mullahs are really, really fond of. 😏

Pleaseeeeeeeee gooooooo.

"On Monday's broadcast of MS NOW's "Rachel Maddow Show," host Rachel Maddow said that "we need to go to the mullahs in Iran to find out whether or not the president is just huffing or whether or not some of these words are supposed to have something to do with something that's happened in the real world" with the war in Iran.

Maddow said, "It's like the reporting on what the White House, generally, the administration, generally, but, specifically, what the president has to say about the war, it's like if you were, like, reporting really intently on when your dog barked, what words it sounded like, you know what I mean? Like, you can discern stuff, you can pull some words out of there, you can talk about what those words might mean, but there's no reason to believe that they have any connection to what's true in the world. It's simply just like sound monitoring at this point."

She continued, "And when he said that he and Iran had a deal about their nuclear material, and Iran was like, we did what now? And then he announced, like, we're going to have peace talks in Pakistan. And Iran was like, with who? The fact that we need to go to the mullahs in Iran to find out whether or not the president is just huffing or whether or not some of these words are supposed to have something to do with something that's happened in the real world, it's dangerous enough in the normal course of government. But when it comes to a live war, it's just ridiculous."
"

The amount of shadow vessels that may have gotten through is in dispute. Some probably did.

But another that did not


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Posted that the leadership in Iran is now divided. Between the Guard hardliners and those who want an agreement.

"Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of the Iranian armed forces, has blocked President Masoud Pezeshkian's presidential appointments and erected what sources described as a security cordon around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a report published Tuesday by Iran International said.

The IRGC effectively has assumed control over key state functions, the report claimed.

"It was always a matter of when, not if, the IRGC was going to step forward even more than it has in the last three decades," Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

Pezeshkian has reached a "complete political deadlock" as tensions between his administration and the military leadership deepen, according to the report."

Let us all know when and if the Uk government announces the names and religious affiliations, if they were indeed Irish, French, Jewish, Catholic priests and or good ol' boys from a local Liverpool pub. 😏

Iran International:

"57 minutes ago
UK counter-terror police make eight arrests over suspected arson plot

British counter-terrorism police have arrested eight people as part of an investigation into a series of suspected arson attacks, including an alleged plot targeting a Jewish-linked venue in London.

Seven arrests were made over the past 48 hours on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, while an eighth man was detained separately under the Terrorism Act in connection with another incident, police said on Tuesday.

Authorities said the exact target of the suspected plot was not yet known, though it is believed to be linked to the Jewish community.

The arrests follow a wider investigation into multiple incidents, including an attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March. Police said 23 people have been arrested so far, with eight charged and others still in custody or on bail.

Counter Terrorism Policing said officers were continuing searches and had increased deployments in northwest London to deter further attacks and reassure local communities."

Ignored by the mainstream media

"Critical Storage Constraints
Iran's ability to continue pumping crude is severely limited by a lack of available tank space:
Onshore Capacity: Analysts from Energy Aspects and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) estimate that Iran has only 13 to 16 days of storage capacity remaining before onshore tanks are full.
Floating Storage: While Iran has historically used tankers for offshore storage, more than 180 million barrels are already loaded on ships in transit or floating storage as of April 2026, with roughly 100 million barrels of that near Southeast Asia and China.
Inventory Levels: Onshore storage facilities were reported at over 51% capacity mid-month, with total capacity estimated at roughly 122 million barrels.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Impact on Production and Infrastructure
The depletion of storage options creates immediate operational risks:
Forced Well Shutdowns: If storage reaches capacity, Iran will be forced to shut in oil wells.
Reservoir Damage: Experts warn that sudden halts in mature wells can lead to "water coning," where water intrudes into the reservoir, permanently trapping oil and reducing long-term recovery. This could permanently eliminate 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day of production capacity.
Economic Losses: A total blockade of oil exports is estimated to cost Iran approximately $435 USD million per day in lost revenue.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Foundation for Defense of Democracies"

And more:

"The primary impact of reaching storage capacity is the forced shutting in of oil wells, which risks permanent geological and mechanical damage to Iran's mature oil fields.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Geological Risks to Reservoirs
Water Coning: When mature wells are abruptly shut, water from beneath the reservoir can intrude into the oil-bearing zones. This process can permanently trap oil within rock pores, making it unrecoverable even after production resumes.
Mechanical Collapse: Rapid shutdowns disrupt the delicate underground pressure systems required for oil flow. Sediment can settle and permanently seal reservoir channels, a phenomenon known as mechanical collapse.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Technical and Equipment Challenges
Restart Difficulty: Restarting idled wells is not instantaneous and can take weeks or months to reach pre-shutdown levels.
Corrosion Damage: Inactive equipment exposed to high levels of hydrogen sulfide (common in Iranian fields) is at high risk for rapid corrosion, potentially leading to widespread infrastructure failure.
Pressure Imbalance: Underground pressures can shift "out of whack" during prolonged closures, requiring complex and expensive water or gas injection to re-establish the necessary flow.
The New York Times
The New York Times

Long-term Capacity Loss
Permanent Production Decline: Forced shutdowns could permanently eliminate 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day of Iran's production capacity.
Financial Impact: Analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) estimate this permanent loss of capacity would translate to roughly $9 USD billion to $15 USD billion in annual revenue lost forever."

This is a large amount of material, but it's not really engaging the points being raised.

Posting multiple articles, commentary, and excerpts across different topics doesn't by itself establish a coherent argument or connect those points to a defined outcome.

Your sheer volume of posting and suspicion that anything that doesnt conform with the viewpoint you want to be the case doesnt alter the underlying questions which haven't changed: how do these developments add up to a clear objective, and how is success being defined and measured?

If Iran has really been so badly damaged, then the obvious question is why it still has not capitulated. That points either to greater Iranian resilience than is being admitted, or to a failure to convert military success into diplomatic leverage.

On that point, and also ignored by the MSM (Whatever that means or why you apparently think everyone but, presumably, you is under its sway) the negotiating setup itself looks weak.

If Iran is as broken as claimed, why hasn't it folded? That suggests either Iran retains more leverage than advertised, or our negotiating team and demands are inadequate to turn pressure into results. Reuters' own reporting that Tehran distrusted Witkoff and Kushner because earlier talks with them were followed by strikes does not exactly inspire confidence in the diplomatic architecture.

Bringing snakes into your home. 🐍

"The United Arab Emirates said it has dismantled a group accused of planning attacks and undermining national stability, adding that those arrested were linked to Iran.

State security authorities said the group was involved in covert activities aimed at harming national unity and carried out recruitment through secret meetings.

Investigations showed the group had connections to Iran's system of governance and maintained contacts with external actors, authorities said.

Officials said members also raised funds and sought to influence young people, with the aim of advancing agendas aligned with foreign interests.

The UAE said it would continue to act firmly against threats to national security."

Incavart I'm not posting for you.

I'm posting for anyone who wants information on the conflict outside the normal defeatist rhetoric and hopes of the MSM and Democrats.

Ignore it. Your mind was made up as early as day 2.

As usual when asked questions, you've ignored them, but ask us more.

But again, my "last" question to you, now repeated again:

"Maybe you are saying only by the complete elimination of Iranian leadership, elimination of their military, elimination of their capability to ever produce nuclear weapons, elimination of their ability to ever propagate terrorism throughout the world again, would THEN classify as a administration success. Is that it?"

Reading your last post, this seems even more so.

Yes we CAN do it. The world would not approve. But you and everyone else knows we can.

It seems this is the only victory you would admit to and even then I doubt you and others would. 😏

If not, please list your acceptable victory conditions, point by point and how they can be achieved short of my condition above, or short of a full scale land invasion?

Otherwise it is still temporary deterrent as I've said from day 2 and will continue to be. But you don't like.

Open question?

Should we consider Senator Murphy a traitor, for vocal support of our enemy? Another Jane Fonda? 🤔

If Iran has really been so badly damaged, then the obvious question is why it still has not capitulated. That points either to greater Iranian resilience than is being admitted, or to a failure to convert military success into diplomatic leverage.

Because, to use a crude analogy, the SS (IRGC) are more ruthless than the Wehrmacht (Iranian Army) and local authorities and holds the upper hand right now in terms of cohesive leadership and willingness to kill anyone who gets in their way.

That's why the talks brokered by Pakistan failed. The less crazy faction negotiated a deal, but the IRGC killed it with force -- and killed some of the negotiators too, IIRC.

So we need to remove a few more layers of IRGC leadership via the practical application of Bunker Busters, MOABS, Cruise Missiles and Drones..,

OVI +1

SBm +1

Again …

@35thOVI

That is not my position. I'm not saying only maximum destruction would count as success, and I'm not accepting "temporary deterrence" simply because clearer objectives have not been articulated.

Further, you are asking me to provide "acceptable victory conditions" as though the burden is on the critic to design the war retroactively. It is not. The burden lies with the administration and its defenders to explain what the objective is, what counts as success, and how the chosen course is expected to produce it.

My objection has never been that only total annihilation would suffice. It is that your definition of success keeps shifting between damage inflicted, markets reacting, shipping movements, temporary deterrence, and other assorted post hoc theories of victory.

If "temporary deterrence" is now the standard, then say so plainly. But that is a much narrower and more provisional claim than the triumphalist language used throughout the thread. And it raises its own questions about sustainability, cost, and repetition over time; not to mention permission from the electorate.

In sum, I am not demanding maximum victory. I am asking for a coherent standard short of it.

Actually all you have said has insinuated that, go back through all your posts.

Go back through my posts, and you will see I've always saw this as deterrent or as the Israelis say: "Mowing the grass".

You don't like that. I have no issues with it, at all.

But honestly, I expected no answer.

But I do disagree with Trump right now. Giving the Iranians additional time to come up with a proposal and temporarily extending the ceasefire, is a waste of time, they've had enough time to prepare!

Typical radical fundamentalist Muslim stall tactics. Israel says they are ready. The military says they are ready.

If Iran Won't Deal, Here's What Comes Next

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Armand

@35thovi

Open question?

Should we consider Senator Murphy a traitor, for vocal support of our enemy? Another Jane Fonda?

That's a different question entirely.

Disagreement with a policy, especially about war, doesn't equate to supporting an adversary. In a system that allows open debate, criticism is part of how decisions are tested and refined, not evidence of disloyalty.

Labeling political opponents as "traitors" doesn't address the underlying arguments; it shuts down the discussion.

If there's a specific claim he's making that you think is incorrect, it would be more useful to engage that directly.

Sure sounds like he is rooting for the radical fundamentalist muslims over our own military.

We know if the President said anything resembling this, the Democrats, media and many of you on TMP would be on it like flies on 💩.

I guarantee it would be the latest "outrage du jour". Similar to another posted today in ultramodern warfare. 🤔

This was the comment in question. (He is currently trying to walk it back.😏)

"Chris Murphy 🟧

@ChrisMurphyCT
awesome
Quote

Ali Vaez
@AliVaez
·
Apr 20
At least 26 Iranian shadow fleet vessels bypass US blockade link

Just thinking about my above post.

Actually they have accused the a President of being many things with much less evidence.

For instance:

"A Russian Asset" "A Putin Puppet" "A Puppet of Israel" "Racist" and on and on and on. 🙄

Noticed also the post on ultramodern just went 💨

OVI +1

Tango … that link sounds about right … But I'd think there would be more IRGC and C3 targeted as well… we have 3 CVN Grps in the area, plus USAF, etc., etc.

Much earlier in this never-ending thread, I made a jocular remark that "The boys would be home by Christmas".

That's starting to not look funny at all as this poorly planned and conducted 'forever war' grinds on.

I read this about consequences:
"Part of Iran's playbook is to raise the cost to countries participating in conflict against it by targeting their citizens and businesses via cyberattacks. This is already taking place, including through disruptions to U.S. critical infrastructure, U.S. medical supplier Stryker, Lockheed Martin, county IT systems in Indiana, Israeli companies, and other countries linked to the conflict. There will inevitably be more victims of cyberattacks in the coming weeks and months; Iranian intent to disrupt will be high, and important domestic moments lie ahead, such as the midterm elections—which Iran has a track record of penetrating, and where state officials recently expressed their concerns about potential disruptions."

link

I hadn't hear of the cyber attacks so I found this suggestive.

What, do you think, are the costs the US may have to pay long term?

That's starting to not look funny at all as this poorly planned and conducted 'forever war' grinds on.

Oh no…it's been a month and we haven't rolled the credits yet…

The Ghost of Saigon in Tehran: Why Ships and Planes Won't Break a Holy War

"…A naval blockade is a slow-motion weapon that targets the innocent before it ever touches the powerful. Unless there is a strategic shift that accounts for the "human geography" of Iran—either through an overwhelmingly devastating campaign that physically breaks the regime's ability to govern or the long-overdue activation of a legitimate internal resistance—we are just "mowing the grass." A ground component doesn't have to mean U.S. boots in Tehran. It means empowering partners who can actually hold territory and legitimacy once the regime's coercion apparatus cracks.

If we continue to rely solely on standoff warfare, the IRGC will do exactly what the Taliban did: retreat into the shadows, wait for the Western appetite for conflict to wane, and rise to power again in a relatively short time.

Make no mistake: I want to see Iran defeated. I support the decision to finally confront the threat this regime poses both regionally and globally. I lost friends in Iraq to EFPs (explosively formed penetrators) supplied by Iran and used against our forces. But the United States does not get to define defeat for our enemies. They decide when they are defeated—and they define it differently. They are generally unconcerned with the loss of military hardware or a failed economy. As long as their ideology survives and the zealots retain power, they will see themselves as the victors, living to rebuild for another day. We are taking away their ships, air defenses, missiles, drones, and economy—but we are still leaving them with their most valuable resource: armed loyalists on the ground to control the populace.

We cannot continue to treat 21st-century zealotry as a problem that can be solved with 20th-century blockades. Control is a human endeavor. Until we have a plan for the ground, we don't have a plan for the future."

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Armand

That's starting to not look funny at all as this poorly planned and conducted 'forever war' grinds on.

Poorly planned? The US Military did not plan poorly … Nor was it poor conducted. Are you watching the same TV show as I am ? It's only been maybe 2 months. Grinds on ?

You continue to make inaccurate, biased, comments and assessments. Your "knowledge" of history and military ops, etc. appears to be very limited.

The US has destroyed 90% of Iran's military along with at least as much as their C3. US loses are very low … while Iran's losses in material, troops, some infrastructure, etc. is huge …

The time for talking to these throwbacks is long over …

Until we have a plan for the ground,

How does he know there is not a plan for the ground? I'm sure there is … But we want to avoid boots on the ground as we did in A'stan and Iraq … And a ground war in Iran would be like trying to invade the PRC mainland. Too big to effectively have any real control. And we know fighting in this type environs and with an enemy that is religiously motived. It is their backyard …

POTUS has 8 days to decide if this is an official war or not.
You know. The War Powers Act.
What does Rand Paul have to say?

Legion,

I agree. Putting troops on the ground in Iran would be a big mistake. I think what support Trump does have for this conflict, about 35%, would fall rapidly.

Subject: Turning the Tables on Iranian Drones – WSJ


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Helping Iran, China Is a Party in the War

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Armand

You know. The War Powers Act.

Yes it has an expiration. Some say it could even be unconstitutional, e.g. Roe vs Wade. And the rub is some say the POTUS does not have the Congresses approval to attack an enemy. And enemy that appears to be a clear and present danger. And even that has different interpretations. E.g. Iran was not a threat. Comments like that IMO is more about politics than reality.

Plus we do have to look at when the Founding Fathers wrote the documents that guide the USA in many situations. Today intel moves at the speed of the internet or even the telephone.

Short answer, to wait for an extremely polarized Congress, sometimes it could be over before they make a decision, good or bad. E.g. what is the max speed of an ICBM and/or hypersonic missile? Preemptive highly classified strikes may be to only way to prevent massive destruction of assets, etc., etc. To prevent huge numbers of dead … that is the bottom line … IMO …

A timeline for the Trump Iran War:
link

I was going to type "interesting" but "depressing" is the bon mot.

Congress is not going to oppose POTUS. If they somehow returned from the near-dead and did anything, he would go ahead anyway and give himself an Executive Order extension, wait for the slow as molasses Supreme Court to rule.

I think there is a distinction to be made between going to war with Iran to address the threat and solving the issues via more subtle methods and in concert with other nations. The war is growing more unpopular. POTUS is a solo actor and will not unify global support to come up with alternate covert and economic plans to deal with a rogue state. He may yet pull it off by himself, or claim victory at the least. In the meantime, he needs to stay focused and stop talking so much. He can argue with the Pope later.

The war is growing more unpopular

With who? Mostly people who already don't like what Trump does.

And those who are growing tired of what Trump does do and says. There are consequences to your actions, Ex Orders, war and government cuts ect. That is why his approval rating are getting down there by Biden and Carter's. That is going to impact how people view the war, especially with high food and gas prices. Something Trump said he was going to fix when he became president along with starting no new wars. Remember "America First?

The war is growing more unpopular.

With who? Mostly people who already don't like what Trump does.

Meaning that the "Trump can do no wrong!" crowd is shrinking.
Bearing that in mind, I see his popularity shrinking bottoming out at 30%. He will always have the Faithful.

Well Trump didn't lie….. again

"In recent days, word has circulated in Iranian political circles about a highly confidential letter reportedly written by a group of senior officials to Mojtaba Khamenei.

According to those familiar with the matter, the letter warned that Iran's economic situation is grave, that the country cannot continue on its current path, and that the leadership has no practical choice but to negotiate seriously with the United States over the nuclear file.

The historical echo is hard to miss. In the final days of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, senior Iranian officials and commanders warned Ruhollah Khomeini that the war could no longer be sustained.

Only days earlier, Khomeini had still been insisting on continuing the war. But under the weight of those warnings, he accepted UN Security Council Resolution 598 and ended the conflict, a decision he famously likened to drinking from a poisoned chalice.

That is why the current letter matters: it suggests that some senior figures now see the nuclear standoff as another moment when ideological insistence is colliding with the limits of the state….."

Subject: Behind Tehran's unity show: The secret letter to the shadow king | Iran International


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Recent US intelligence suggests Iran retains quite a bit of military power despite the claims of the Washington regime:
link

Claims of Iran's total military collapse now look more like wartime propaganda than reality. If even U.S. intelligence admits Tehran still retains roughly half its ballistic missile stockpile and launch systems, then talk of ‘mission accomplished' was clearly premature.

The danger is that Washington may have talked itself into believing its own rhetoric—while Iran, bloodied but far from broken, prepares for the next round.

What a mess.

You didn't hear it from me, but rumor has it, Somali's, Afghans, Syrians and Yes! Even Chicagoans are fleeing back home from Iran! 😱

"Iran's economy after the March war: how bad can it get?

Iran's economy is heading into a period of sharp deterioration following the March war, with mounting pressure from inflation, currency depreciation and damage to key industries raising the risk of a broader crisis.

Over the next two to four months, Iran's economic conditions are expected to continue deteriorating sharply, with high inflation, rising unemployment, falling real incomes, and significant stress across key industries, the external sector, and the financial system, amounting to severe stagflation.

The economy entered the recent war from a weak starting point, and the combined effects of war-related damage, financial strain, and policy responses are likely to intensify these pressures….."

Subject: Iran's economy after the March war: how bad can it get? | Iran International


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As if Iran's "leadership" gives a hoot about the economy.
Primary (?🙄🤷) mistake is believing that the plight of its citizens actually concerns them.
All the usual suspects here are always saying that Iran is a Death Cult disguised as a government. True, they have "elections", but all must bow to the mullahs actually in charge.
You can call it a death cult, and then expect them to care about the people?
At the very least, that is … inconsistent.

If we sank their entire navy, how can Iran lay mines and seize ships? Magic carpets?

NOTHING that you gather statistics and brag about matters, as long as the Death Cult is still in charge. How are you going to change that? More targeted killings?
All those killings are accomplishing is promoting martyrs. "Hassan! I am now Martyr 4th Class! Next Tuesday, I shall graduate to 1st! Inshallah!"

Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire

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Armand

John you cannot rebuild your military with no money.
You cannot rebuild your industry with no money.
You cannot hire competent scientists with no money.
You cannot pay mercenaries with no money.
You cannot supply your proxies with no money.
You cannot rebuild your oil industry after you reached capacities because of the blockade and your equipment starts to fail with no money

You only have what's left after the days of bombing.

And yes, Israel can always kill more, at their leisure

Also if you have watched the Iranians own videos of their attacks on unarmed ships, it is with speed boats. Not much better than the Somalia pirates.

But you and others are welcome to believe they are an unbeatable juggernaut.
.

"10 minutes ago
US Navy tests long-range maritime strike weapon

The first JDAM LR cruises above the US Navy's Point Mugu Sea Range, Calif., on April 1, 2026. US Navy photo
The first JDAM LR cruises above the US Navy's Point Mugu Sea Range, Calif., on April 1, 2026. US Navy photo
The US Navy tested a new long-range air-launched weapon designed for maritime strike and sea mining missions, USNI News reported on Wednesday, citing service officials.

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said the system, referred to as the JDAM Long Range (GBU-75) in the test briefing, is a Boeing-developed extension of the Joint Direct Attack Munition concept.

Officials said Navy aircraft conducted multiple test flights, with the weapon travelling more than 200 nautical miles and designed for a range of up to 300 nautical miles.

The system extends stand-off range beyond existing weapons such as the Harpoon and SLAM-ER missiles, which reach about 140–150 nautical miles."

This is the current Iranian Navy

As long as we don't decide to open the war up again, effective against unarmed shipping. Otherwise, again Somali pirates or Venezuelan drug runners.

"IRGC mosquito fleet maintains threat amid elite fragmentation – Think Tank

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to maintain a potent asymmetric naval threat in the Strait of Hormuz despite heavy losses to Iran's conventional naval forces, a Hudson Institute report said.

The report said the IRGC relies on so-called "mosquito fleet" tactics, including swarm operations, naval mines and drones, to preserve its ability to disrupt maritime traffic in the Gulf.

"Many of the IRGC Navy's fast-attack crafts are inexpensive, lightly built, highly mobile, and often armed with short-range anti-ship missiles, rockets, and heavy machine guns. Some vessels are even configured as explosive-laden suicide crafts," the report said."

OVI +1

SBm +1

Regardless of what Iran has left to attempt to carry on their end times quest. The facts remain – They have taken massive losses in military assets and leadership. They are just trying their old predilections of stalling. Some of the IRGC, etc., may not care about their economy. But they will when their number are attrited and the angry masses will again be an even bigger threat.

It has become a medieval type siege. Of a castle or town. Time is not on the islamists' side.

It may take 2 or even 6 months, which is what the intel estimates report.

What a mess

Yes Iran's islamist gov't and leadership are … No matter how radical, determined, full of religious fervor, etc. they claim to be. What is left of the regime may may take a little time to see the light or better yet. All die or flee …

Again, it has only been 50+ days. In another 50 days just that much more of them will be dead or fled. Plus more of their military assets and leadership will be gone …

If we sank their entire navy, how can Iran lay mines and seize ships? Magic carpets?

Maybe some may have missed the reports. Anything that is left of their "mosquito fleet" supposedly drop a mine or two. And again the POTUS has put out a shoot to kill order on anything Iranian that's actions could be a threat.

This is nothing new … how many times in the past has the USN, etc. have to deal with Iran's little boats in the strait ?

The battle is still in play … just because it is not happening fast enough, or some suffer from TDS, etc. The war is not over. And to move that closer to the end. More islamists are going to have to die. The math is simple. You kill, capture or destroy enemy personnel and equipment. And the US and IDF know how to do this. It may just take a little more time … e.g. 2-6 months.

Ridding the planet of these radical islamists, and their quest of nukes to start the end times. That is why this kinetic action must continue.

But you and others are welcome to believe they are an unbeatable juggernaut.

Where have I said that? 🤷
All I've said is that they will not surrender. Do you really believe that the oppressed "reasonable" Iranians can overthrow the mullahs? 🙄
With what they have left, they will be a constant threat.

Believe what you want to believe. Iran will be a threat for years to come.
Will North Korea give them nukes? You betcha. Shipped through China and Russia.

Stop worshipping Trump as a Wise Master who can do no wrong. That's foolish.

Maybe some may have missed the reports. Anything that is left of their "mosquito fleet" supposedly drop a mine or two.

Then why are so many sources saythat it will take 6 months to clear the Straits of mines? When and if, of course if we ever get a real " ceasefire".
Do you really think that they are mapping the mines? And that they're not sophisticated mines, with Russian engineering?

Russia and China are loving this. America is being flummoxed, and they are sitting on the sidelines. Russia and China care even less about Iranian lives than the Death Cult does. Why should they give a damn about Wogs? The enemy of my enemy…

John
Going break these into parts.

"Where have I said that? 🤷"

Please reread all the Iran threads again. Reading them, makes Iran sound like we are facing Napoleon's army of 1809. The U.S., the Spanish army of the same period.

Do they believe it? Of course not! But they want either Trump humiliated and or the U.S. humiliated. Nothing else matters to many and I'm not speaking strictly of TMP.

Yes, the HATE is that strong.

"All I've said is that they will not surrender. Do you really believe that the oppressed "reasonable" Iranians can overthrow the mullahs?"

Of course they will not surrender! Not admittedly and not announced to their people. It is the nature of the beast. Never openly.

But you will know it by actions.

As long as radical fundamentalist Muslims run the country, it will always be temporary.

Again you and others either read my posts on Al-Taqiyya, or better, go out and do some deep study on your own and see how the regime in Iran believes this should be used.

We will always have to watch Iran and all other radical fundamentalist Muslim countries like hawks.

You only temporarily have lulls in conflict with them. It again, is the nature of the beast.

Yes! Iranians did once before, in 1978. You can die willingly as a slave, or attempt your freedom no matter the cost. Did Spartacus believe he could defeat Rome? But he and others were willing to try.

"Believe what you want to believe. Iran will be a threat for years to come.
Will North Korea give them nukes? You betcha. Shipped through China and Russia."

I think I answered that in my last post. But Iran was a threat before. Has been a threat since 1978. Now they are a weaker threat. But again as long as radical fundamentalist Islam controls any country, that country will always be a threat.

Please people read everything you can about Islam since 600, including holy writings.

No I don't think NK will give them nukes, as long as Trump is in office. God knows after that, especially if someone like Obama is in office. 😳

"Stop worshipping Trump as a Wise Master who can do no wrong. That's foolish."

😂
I think he is too soft toward Iran.
I think he is too soft toward the liberals in the U.S. I would treat them as they have treated Trump and those who oppose them since the Obama administration. (Courts, streets, media, colleges, etc.). Think it's over, go in and read what has happened in Virginia since the last election of a governor. Read James Carville's words of what is to happen. What they plan when they regain the Congress. (I can furnish them if anyone requests them. Just ask. 🙂).

I don't know why I repeat myself. Iran has had this coming since 1979! I back this conflict 100%. Even without nukes, this was long long overdue!

Radical Fundamentalists Islam MUST always be controlled.

At the moment this looks less like a strategy achieving its objectives and more like a series of tactical successes that have yet to translate into a political outcome.

Damage to infrastructure or forces is not, by itself, a strategic result unless it produces a change in behavior or a defined settlement. That link still isn't clear.

There's also an emerging question about the accuracy of the initial assessments. Recent reporting suggests Iran retains more capability than was initially implied, which raises the possibility that its ability to sustain operations was overestimated on our side.

You've now clarified the issue. If Iran will "always" remain a threat so long as this ideology exists, then what you are describing is not victory but permanent management through periodic force. That may be your preferred doctrine, but it should not be presented as a decisive success.

Disagreement with a doctrine of indefinite recurring war is not "hate." It is a substantive objection to making temporary armed pressure the default posture of American policy.

If the approach is effectively "mowing the grass," combined with no clearly articulated justification and no coherent end state, then it becomes entirely reasonable—arguably necessary—for citizens to question the posture.

A nation should be able to define what outcome it is seeking and how current actions are expected to achieve it. Without that, a series of shifting goals, repackaged each news cycle as having been the objective all along, becomes difficult to distinguish from a strategy.

At that point, the issue is not opposition for its own sake, but the absence of a stable framework guiding the use of force.

The focus on Iran's economic strain also seems somewhat misplaced. An asymmetric actor doesn't need a fully functioning economy to continue operating at a disruptive level. In fact, Iran's costs for continued conflict are relatively low.

The more relevant question is the cost and sustainability on our side—financial, political, social and over time. That is what ultimately determines whether a course can be maintained, regardless of the damage inflicted on the opponent.