Tag Archives: Iran

I Didn’t Pay To Be An Ally Of Iran

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On March 5th, Hot Air posted an article about the changing alliances in the Middle East. There are a lot of reasons for those changes–economic, political, and reading the writing on the wall. In an effort to expand the war and apply pressure against Israel, Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, and Iraq. Those attacks have not had the desired effect–in fact in many cases those countries have now quietly or openly aligned with Israel. I wonder if these countries are grateful that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.

The article reports:

Donald Trump is breaking the post-Cold War assumptions in foreign policy and rewriting the strategic rules. Campus radicals in America, and antisemitic professors and transnational elites are much more hostile to Israel than Saudi Arabia or even Qatar.

The international establishment can’t wrap its head around the new reality, nor the opportunities that the changes in strategic alliances promise.

Winning the Iran war, or whatever you want to call it, has the potential to reshape the Middle East for decades to come. Especially if the new Iranian regime is relatively moderate, as we can hope, if not expect, yet.

In the1970s the Middle East was divided between Arab states hostile to Israel and an alliance of Israel, Iran, and the United States. Since the Iranian revolution, the Arab states remained enemies with Iran, had reasonable relations with the US, and a mostly hostile peace with Israel.

Could we soon see a new alignment, with Israel, the Arab states, and even Iran coexisting well together?

We can hope.

The Abraham Accords were the beginning of this process. We could be looking at a peaceful Middle East. It has been a long time since that happened.

Out Of Touch Again

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The  Democrats are clutching their pearls over President Trump’s being part of the Israeli attack on Iran. When Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the House, she defended President Obama’s attack on Libya as constitutional. Now she is singing a different tune. Meanwhile, there are an awful lot of people in the world rejoicing at the death of a very evil leader.

On Tuesday, Behind the Black reported:

Without doubt there remain great risks and real constitutional issues involved the present military campaign by both the United States and Israel to destroy the Islamic leadership in Iran. First, it is almost impossible to force a change in power solely by air power. This has been tried numerous times, with little success. Killing the leaders of this terrorist Iranian government is a positive step, but it remains entirely unclear whether this war can produce a better government there.

Second, as much as there might be legal precedents that allow President Trump to initiate this action without direct congressional approval, it continues a dangerous trend ceding power away from Congress and to the presidency, in direct opposition to the intentions of the Founding Fathers in their writing of the Constitution. They very much were opposed to giving any president the power to start a war unilaterally.

Having stated the reasonable objections to this military action, however, we must now take a look at the two images to the right to see its immediate and very positive consequences. Both pictures are from videos of very spontaneous demonstrations on February 28, 2026 by Iranian refugees celebrating the American/Israeli attacks against Iran.

Did you ever think you would see the American, Iranian, and Israeli flag together at a celebration?

The article notes:

Moreover, these demonstrations took place in two Democratic Party strongholds, cities where pro-Hamas demonstrations have been routine, including rioting and violence against Jews and anyone who dared suggest Israel’s actions in Gaza might be justified.

Nor are these two demonstrations an exception. They have been the rule across the United States and Europe, as well as in Iran itself. The public — the ordinary people for whom governments are meant to serve — seem very much in favor of what President Trump and Netanyahu are doing in Iran. And they are expressing that support of both America and Israel quite unequivocally. If this doesn’t indicate to the world that Israel and the rest of the Middle East can live together in peace and mutual cooperation, nothing can.

This conclusion is further supported by the response by almost every Arab nation in the Middle East, most of whom started off quite willing to let the U.S. and Israel do this deed, with no opposition or with covert support. Now, because of Iran’s indiscriminate attacks on Arab nations, they have all publicly joined the war, allying themselves not with the Islamic nation of Iran but with the U.S. and Israel.

This is the path to freedom for the Persian people. They need our prayers.

Looking At The Big Picture

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Despite what his enemies tell us, President Trump is a very smart man. The backing of the Israeli attack on Iran is a major step toward American national security because of its impact on China’s fuel supply. President Trump may have just prevented an Chinese attack on Taiwan.

On March 3, Red State reported:

President Donald Trump’s latest attack on Iran takes a big economic bite out of one of America’s chief rivals: China.

Over the span of two months, the Trump administration has removed the leaders of two countries that both shared China as their most important crude oil customer. Although China buys oil from nations all across the Middle East, Iran was second only to Saudi Arabia as its supplier last year, according to a POLITICO analysis of data provided by market research firm Kpler.

Almost all of Iran’s exported oil, and more than half of Venezuela’s, went last year to China, which remained one of the only purchasers of goods from the two heavily sanctioned nations. The two countries combined represented some 17 percent of China’s overall oil purchases — a meaningful share for the world’s largest importer of crude oil.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday said it was “highly concerned” by the attacks on Iran and called for an end to the war. The squeeze on China’s energy supply also comes just weeks before Trump is slated to hold a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

…Iran has a single use beyond supplying cut-rate oil to China’s economy, that is to provide a distraction to the U.S. Iranian operations effectively handed us defeats in two wars. Iranian explosive-formed penetrators killed hundreds of American soldiers and Marines. Iran’s sponsorship of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Houthis has created conflict and disrupted international trade. In case of a real war, a nuclear-armed Iran could create a massive distraction to any U.S. effort in the Indo-Pacific and put the Suez Canal as well as Gulf oil fields at risk.

We are in the early stage of a rollback of Chinese influence. From an oil perspective, Venezuela and Iran account for 17 percent of China’s oil imports. Not much you say. Making up that oil volume at below-market rates is difficult. Add to that the fact that the supply of Russian oil smuggled by “dark fleet” tankers is also coming to an end. President Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed that India will stop buying bootleg Russian oil. In fact, only three weeks ago, India seized a tanker carrying Russian oil; Indian Coast Guard Seizes Three Sanctioned ‘Dark Fleet’ Tankers Carrying Illegal Iranian Oil…to India – RedState. This has caused a significant disruption in the supply of Russian oil to China.

Please follow the link above to read the entire article. The implications of the fall of the current government of Iran are wide-ranging.

History Repeating Itself

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On March 3, Real Clear Politics posted an article about some of the history between Iran and Israel. Remember, Iran is not an Arab country–it is Persian, and Israel and Persia have a history. Israel is currently celebrating the feast of Purim, where Queen Esther prevented the genocide of the Jewish population in Persia.

The article reports:

The joint United States and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, 2026, did more than destroy military infrastructure. They decapitated the ideological command center of a regime that has spent four decades promising Israel’s annihilation and financing America’s enemies. The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marks the most consequential blow to state-sponsored terror in modern history.

It revives a question Jewish thinkers have wrestled with for centuries: When does confronting evil move from a strategic option to a moral obligation?

The Torah’s final commandment provides the frame. “Remember what Amalek did to you … you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget.” The mandate sounds ruthless because it addresses something ruthless: a force that attacks the vulnerable without provocation and defines itself through destruction.

Maimonides did not treat Amalek as a racial category. He treated it as conditional. If Amalek accepted basic moral law, it survived. If it persisted in predatory evil, it forfeited its claim to endure. Amalek therefore describes not bloodline, but ideology – a governing doctrine that sacralizes annihilation.

The article notes:

The timing could not resonate more clearly. Purim begins as the Iranian regime loses its supreme leader. The Megillah names its villain precisely: Haman the Agagite, traced to Agag, king of Amalek. Scripture signals continuity. Hatred survives defeat. It reappears when it acquires power.

October 7 exposed that continuity in blood. Hamas did not act spontaneously. It operated within an architecture financed, armed, trained, and strategically directed by Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The massacre of civilians – deliberate, theatrical, ecstatic – reflected doctrine, not desperation. It was a demonstration of what the regime believes is holy.

Iran built the machinery that made it possible.

The article concludes:

Amalek returns whenever annihilation joins theology to weapons and funding. Purim does not mark vengeance. It marks survival – the moment when a people recognized genocidal intent before it matured beyond containment.

This year, as the Megillah recounts the fall of Haman the Agagite, the final mitzvah reminds us that confronting predatory ideology cannot wait until encirclement completes itself.

The obligation lies in refusing to mistake declared annihilation for diplomacy – and in acting before the next decree becomes irreversible.

Many people in America and around the world are tired of diplomacy that simply feeds the other guy to the alligator. It’s time to destroy the alligator.

When The Predator Becomes The Prey

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On Saturday, Townhall posted an article which might explain President Trump’s decision to attack Iran on Friday night.

The article reports:

Now we have more information on why the strikes happened today, from Salem Radio host and CNN contributor Scott Jennings. Jennings is reporting that intelligence indicated Iran was planning strikes on U.S. military and civilian targets in the region, which would have resulted in mass casualties.

The article quotes a CNN report:

A senior administration official said today that they believed Iran was preparing to potentially launch preemptive missile strikes, a factor that influenced President Donald Trump’s decision to initiate military action.

“We had indicators that they intended to use it potentially, preemptively, but if not, if not simultaneous, against with any actions against them, immediately against us,” the senior administration official added. “And the president decided he was not going to sit back and allow America’s forces in the region to absorb attacks from conventional missiles.”

“We are not going to be held hostage by them, and we are not going to let them hit us first, because it would have substantially increased the risk to our troops in the region and to our allies,” the official added.

However, a source familiar with the intelligence contradicted that assertion to CNN, saying that there were no indications that the Iranians planned to strike US forces or assets first — unless they were attacked by Israel or the US.

Given the choice between having civilians and American military killed by a regime that murdered thousands of its own people in cold blood and ending that regime, I choose ending that regime. Iran has been at war with America since 1979, when they began chanting “Death to America.” We have ignored those chants for too long. We have allowed the women of Iran to live as non-persons for a long time. Where are the feminists?

I commend President Trump for taking much-needed action. I pray that the people of Iran will finally be free.

Just a note–much of the military hardware Iran was using to protect itself came from Russia and China. The same was true for Venezuela. Are Russia and China not giving their allies their best technology, or are they both not as advanced as we thought? It’s too late now, but if I were aligned with either Russia or China, I would be asking them for better air defenses!

The Next In Line?

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The future of Iran is uncertain. Although the people were protesting in the streets recently, we don’t know if there is enough unity in the country to form a cohesive government. There are a lot of Iranian ex-patriots around the world celebrating the fall of the regime, but the regime has already named its successor. One of the ex-patriot voices is that of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran. His father was a dictator who did horrible things to those that opposed him, despite moving the country closer to western ideas. The Prince is making noises as if he wants freedom, but he is in ‘campaign mode’ at this time.

On Saturday, Breitbart reported:

The son of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, called on the country’s military, police, and security forces to abandon the “crumbling” Islamist regime of the Ayatollah amid U.S. and Israeli strikes on Saturday.

“Decisive moments lie before us,” the exiled crown prince of Iran said amid a major military operation launched in the early hours of Saturday by U.S. President Donald Trump in conjunction with Israeli forces targeting the rogue nation’s missile programme and leadership apparatus.

In a statement on social media, Reza Pahlavi said that the military operation initiated by President Trump should be seen as a “humanitarian intervention” targeting the Islamist regime —  “and its machinery of killing” —  rather than a strike on the country and people of Iran.

“However, despite the arrival of this assistance, the final victory will still be achieved by us. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish this task in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is approaching,” he said.

Pahlavi, who has lived in the United States since 1978, shortly after which his father, the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was deposed in an Islamist revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, called on the Iranian military, law enforcement, and security services to abandon the “collapsing” regime.

“You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not the Islamic Republic and its leaders. Your duty is to defend the people, not to defend a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime. Join the nation and help ensure a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will sink with Khamenei’s ship and his crumbling regime.”

The hope is that because he has lived in America for so long, Reza Pahlavi understands the value of freedom and can bring freedom to his home country.

Be Wary When The Lobster Shows Up

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On Saturday, Ed Morrissey posted an article at Hot Air about the rising tensions with Iran.

The article notes:

What will happen next in the standoff with Iran? Donald Trump drew a red line nearly two months ago, and the regime brutally crossed it. Trump acknowledged this yesterday, announcing that US intelligence estimates the mullahs murdered more than 32,000 Iranian protesters last month:

…Since those massacres, Trump has assembled one of the largest naval and air armadas the Middle East has ever seen. He has demanded that Ali Khamenei stop all uranium enrichment activities, put serious limits on its ballistic-missile systems, and end support for terror proxies Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Iran keeps trying to offer a sequel to the deal the mullahs cut with Barack Obama, a JCPOA-Lite that only addresses their nuclear-weapons development – and that only for the next three to five years. 

The article notes:

Taking Khamenei and his princeling off the chessboard would be satisfying, but it would change very little. They are not the only mullahs in the clique that runs the theocracy in Iran. The other mullahs are almost certainly not living in close connection to each other, either, likely housed in residential districts where civilian collateral deaths would be almost a certainty. A decapitation strike would have to be timed for a plenary meeting of the mullahs, and the Iranian regime would be idiotic to call one at this time. This option might take the Khameneis out, but another mullah will take their place, and so on. It would end nothing. 

So what’s next? Whatever it is, it may come quickly. The Times of Israel reports today that an “unbridgeable impasse” has emerged in the indirect talks between the US and Iran, likely over Trump’s demand for a full-spectrum retreat by Iran. It’s bad enough that the Iranians are refusing to read US proposals on missile limits:

On Sunday, MSN reported the following:

While there is no official confirmation, a common belief suggests the US military serves its troops a ‘last meal’ with a fancy menu including steak, lobster, and pie, before sending them on a war front. Some link the hearty meal to a dangerous deployment or an extended mission. The theory has circulated on social media for years and often resurfaces during periods of geopolitical tensions. …

Last year, in June, similar reports surfaced on social media on June 18 after military soldier Antonia Lopez posted a lavish meal video that went viral on social media. The day also coincided with the US Army’s birthday. In the clip, Lopez showed that she was given steak, lobster, caprese salad, asparagus, hush puppies, a baked potato, shrimp cocktail, fruit salad, garlic bread, cake, and pecan pie in the meal.

Days after the video was posted, the United States carried out military strikes on Iranian targets on June 22.

Hang on to your hats–the road ahead is going to be bumpy for a little while!

Just Say “No”

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On January 16th, Red State posted an article about the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Iran is feeling the impact of the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration and is looking for relief.

The article reports:

Iran is now signaling a desire to play “Let’s Make a Deal” with the United States, acknowledging that they will “discuss” their nuclear ambitions of the United States eases back on sanctions. Bear in mind, this is the largest state sponsor of Islamic terrorism in the world, here, trying to get America to back off.

The New York Post reports:

Iran is prepared to “discuss” its nuclear program if the US is ready to lift some of its crippling sanctions on the regime in exchange, the country’s deputy foreign minister said over the weekend.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Tehran’s deputy foreign minister, argued that the ball is “in America’s court to prove that they want to do a deal” and predicted the two sides will make progress if the US is sincere.

“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our program if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC Sunday.

Takht-Ravanchi didn’t specify how much relief Iran would expect in order to make concessions on its atomic program.

The article concludes:

These people cannot be trusted. Any deal they agree to isn’t worth the paper it is printed on. Iran has been a blight on the planet for far too long, and the Iranian people, the ones who have been in the streets demanding change, protesting the mullahs even at the cost of their own lives, deserve better. Over 7,000 Iranians have died in these protests. That loss can’t be for nothing. The mullahs have to go. Iran has to rejoin the community of civilized nations.

We can’t do it for the Iranian people. But we sure can put a steel umbrella over their heads while they get the job done, and President Trump looks to be moving resources to the region to do just that.

If we loosen the sanctions, the Iranian people will never be free. They have to fight for their freedom, but our sanctions can help them in that fight.

Freedom Is Expensive

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The men who signed the Declaration of Independence paid a high price for America’s freedom. Five of them were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.  (source here)

Many Americans paid a heavy price for America’s freedom. Now Iranians are fighting for their freedom and already paying a heavy price.

On January 13th, Townhall reported:

Iranian security forces have begun killing civilians not even involved in the country’s mass protests, according to witness accounts, as the country’s officially reported death toll surpassed 2,000 on Tuesday.

However, even that number has been eclipsed, according to the Editorial Board of Iran International, which says the death toll has risen to over 12,000, with the vast majority of those taking place last Thursday and Friday.

…Accounts began emerging late on Monday, after citizens were finally able to make international calls. The country had cracked down on most major forms of communication, including the internet and most international traffic, but then selectively restored and allowed limited channels of communication. Several Iranians were able to contact the foreign press.

According to a witness, Iranian security forces on motorcycles were seen opening fire on protesters in the city of Fardis, just outside the capital city of Tehran. Others have reportedly been operating from unmarked vehicles, patrolling alleys and murdering local residents, including people not involved in the protests.

One woman told the press that the worst of the slaughter occurred on Friday in Tehran.

“Security forces only killed and killed and killed. Seeing it with my own eyes made me so unwell that I completely lost morale. Friday was a bloody day,” she said. “In war, both sides have weapons. Here, people only chant and get killed. It is a one-sided war.”

I don’t know if the resistance in Iran has the leadership or the strength to stop the killing and remove the thugs from power. I hope they do. I also hope that Israel and America have undercover people in Iran helping and working toward freedom for the people of Iran.

Somebody Wants To Come Back And Be In Charge

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On Friday, Townhall posted an article about a recent post on X directed at Iranians from Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the former Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The article reports:

Now, Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the former Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, took to X to post instructions for the people, and specifically addressing the people of Tehran.

“My fellow compatriots,” Pahlavi wrote, “Today, I want to share with you a clearer picture of what is necessary and essential to bring down this regime. My words are especially addressed to the people of Tehran, who with their courage have initiated this new wave of the national uprising. The Islamic Republic is striving to prevent the formation of gatherings in Tehran; because it well knows that the seizure of the streets of Tehran and other major cities will seriously accelerate its downfall.”

The post continued, “The Islamic Republic is striving to prevent the formation of gatherings in Tehran; because it well knows that the seizure of the streets of Tehran and other major cities will seriously accelerate its downfall. To achieve this, first we must all overcome our fear and realize that if we seize the streets, the regime will quickly lose its ability and will to repress.”

Note: He is posting that from a safe location. He is not actually on the ground in Iran.

The article concludes:

With the Ayatollah’s regime on edge and Iranians taking to the streets, the coming hours and days could determine the course of Iran. Does the Ayatollah and the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) still have control or have the people gained momentum in ousting the regime? Only time will tell, but it seems that — unlike 2009 and 2022 — there is a clear message, the opposition is unified, and Pahlavi is pushing for the Iranian people to take back their country.

This also has global implications. Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and the spread of Islamism around the globe. The fall of the IRGC and Ayatollah could fracture that entire movement.

Please follow the link and read the entire article. There is a lot going on here that the mainstream media is ignoring.

Why? Why Now?

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On January 3rd, The Epoch Times posted an article about the indictment of Nicolás Maduro and his wife. This story is just breaking, so there will be updates in the future.

The article reports:

Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were indicted in the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced early on Jan. 3.

“Nicolás Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States,” Bondi said on X. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Bondi issued the statement hours after Maduro and Flores were captured and extracted by U.S. armed forces in Caracas in the early hours of Jan. 3.

The article notes:

In 2020, Maduro and 14 other Venezuelan officials were charged with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking and other charges in New York City, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

“The scope and magnitude of the drug trafficking alleged was made possible only because Maduro and others corrupted the institutions of Venezuela and provided political and military protection for the rampant narco-terrorism crimes described in our charges,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in the 2020 press release. “As alleged, Maduro and the other defendants expressly intended to flood the United States with cocaine in order to undermine the health and wellbeing of our nation. Maduro very deliberately deployed cocaine as a weapon.”

So what is this actually about, and why now?

Venezuela has been a center for Hezbollah operations in South America for years. Iran has poured money into the country. Iran had money during the Obama administration the Biden administration–sanctions on Iranian oil were either withdrawn or not enforced. During the Obama administration roughly $150 billion of frozen Iranian assets was released. In essence, America was funding the terrorism used against our troops in the area. Under President Trump, Iran is going broke. The people are staging a revolution. They are not in a position to help Venezuela. This is the time to strike. The taking of Maduro and his wife is part of a battle against drug cartels and worldwide terrorism. Hopefully, Venezuela can now return to the thriving democracy it once was.

Amazing Perspective!

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On Sunday, The American Thinker posted an article about America’s destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The article reports:

Something called the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has won a Nobel Peace Prize for its opposition to the existence of nuclear weapons.

Its slogan is, “We must eliminate nuclear weapons before they eliminate us.”

Good plan. So, ICAN (what happened to the ‘W?’) must have applauded the Trump administration’s recent beatdown of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, right?

I mean, the U.S. used non-nuclear bombs to (hopefully) prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, at least for a while.

Nope. ICAN denied that Iran was developing nuclear weapons and blamed America for refusing to give up its nuclear weapons. Much as it also condemned Israel for striking Iran’s nuclear-development facilities.

Americans would be speaking Russian and/or Chinese now if we had surrendered/destroyed our nuclear weapons, and Israel might not exist.

Not to be outdone, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW?), which helped found ICAN, also condemned Israel and urged it to create “a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone.”

The article concludes:

Iran’s nuclear weapons program was dealt a significant setback at the very least. And the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons is too upset to admit it.

Wow.

It seems clear that the International Campaign to Abolish Reason and Sanity has been successful.

What would happen if the Middle East were free of nuclear weapons? Does anyone actually believe that Israel would exist if it were not assumed that it has nuclear weapons? I don’t think Israel has ever officially admitted that it has nuclear weapons. It doesn’t have to–just the idea that it might has been enough to provide some degree of safety for the country. Israel lives in a really bad neighborhood. Any weapon they need to keep their country from being overrun is okay with me.

A Prelude To The End Of The War?

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On Thursday, Ed Morrissey at Hot Air posted an article about the rapid changes happening in the war in Gaza. Hamas is in an awkward position now that a lot of the leadership in Iran has been removed. It is not clear how much funding Hamas continues to get from Iran. Evidently other countries in the Middle East have taken note of the recent actions against Iran.

The article reports:

Symbolic? Maybe, maybe not. If true, Hamas leaders didn’t just get a soft ultimatum from Donald Trump this week. 

Yesterday, Trump warned Hamas that the final deal for a cease-fire in Gaza was on the table, and that all other options would get “MUCH WORSE.” Qatar may have decided to raise the stakes to something more personal for Hamas’ billionaire clique in Doha:

Doha-based senior Hamas leaders have been told to lay down their arms as part of the efforts to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel, according to a Thursday morning report from The Times newspaper. …

The Times stated that those told to lay down their weapons were “the most senior Hamas leaders outside Gaza,  including the lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and other key figures.”

One of the key figures reportedly included Hamas political ­bureau member Zaher Jabareen, “a founder of the group’s military wing in the West Bank.”

An additional bureau member told to lay down weapons was Muhammad Ismail Darwish, who had “met the leaders of Iran and Turkey this year while shuttling between Cairo and Doha for indirect negotiations with Israel,” the report said.

The Times credits this as a “symbolic reflection of Hamas’ interest in the ceasefire proposal,” but that doesn’t make much sense. If Hamas wanted to send that kind of signal, their Qatar contingent would have voluntarily and unilaterally disarmed. They wouldn’t have needed the Qataris to order them to disarm.

That makes this sound like a much different kind of signal. The Qataris are likely as tired of playing the Hamas Hokey Pokey as everyone else, for one thing, while their leadership fattens up on “aid” meant for Palestinians. However, it may mean more than that, especially after the strike on Fordow by Trump and the B-2 bombers. That didn’t just send a signal to Tehran, but to Doha as well — and the rocket fire on Qatar afterward probably didn’t help, either.

This is definitely a wait-and-see moment. It is very possible that the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities may have had a larger impact than initially realized.

Two Weeks That Changed America And The World

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On Sunday, Clarice Feldman posted an article at The American Thinker about the last two weeks of the Trump administration. The successes of the Trump administration in the past two weeks include tariff negotiations, peace deals in various locations, lower inflation, closing the border, and deporting illegal aliens. The article chooses to concentrate on Iran and the Supreme Court.

The article reports:

Despite CNN and much of the legacy media misusing a leaked preliminary assessment (of “low confidence”) the bombing was of great value to both Israel and the United States. 

Israel’s use of the F-35 was an absolute success for the U.S. for the following reasons:

1. Combat-Proven Validation — Israeli F-35s successfully struck deep into Iranian territory without losses, proving the jet’s stealth and precision in real-world combat.

2. Global Surge in Demand — The success triggered a wave of interest, with countries like Romania, Greece, and Germany accelerating purchases, boosting U.S. defense exports.

3. Massive Economic Benefit — Lockheed Martin gains billions in new deals, creating thousands of American jobs and expanding the U.S. defense industrial base.

4. R&D and System Improvements — Israeli combat experience helped identify and fix performance issues, saving the U.S. billions in research and development.

5. Strategic and Tactical Edge — Insights from Israeli operations now inform U.S. Air Force tactics, improving readiness and increasing pilot survivability.

In short, this wasn’t just a success for Israel. It was also a major win for Lockheed Martin and the U.S. economy.

The article includes the Pentagon assessment of the raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities:

Pentagon Assessment Operation Midnight Hammer : Planned Over 15 Years #Iran

Chairman Joint Chiefs GEN Dan Caine @thejointstaff

 Strike at Fordow exploited two ventilation shafts

Days before, Iran tried to cover shafts with concrete cap

First US weapon removed concrete cap

Weapons 2, 3, 4, and 5 entered main shaft, traveling at 1000 feet per second  to Iran’s underground mission center

Weapon 6 “flex” capability

The “kill” mechanism was the combination of blast and overpressure on the target

Officer from DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency) began the mission 15 years ago when the underground target was identified and the officer recognized the US did not have a weapon to counter it. 

Years of highly classified (likely special access program) development and testing followed.

Caine said he talked with the two DTRA officers who “lived this single target” for years. 

Post mission, they described hearts “ filled with pride to be a part of this.”

Please follow the link above to read the entire article. It’s been a good two weeks.

If The Strait Of Hormuz Is Closed, Who Loses?

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On Monday, CNBC posted an article about Iran’s Parliament voting to block the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty percent of the world’s oil is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

The article reports:

  • Should Iran follow through on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, it could alienate its neighbors and trade partners.
  • But the possibility of a closure of the strait is low, experts said, despite Tehran’s rhetoric around closing the strait.
  • A closure would provoke Iran’s markets in Asia, particularly China, which accounts for a majority of Iranian oil exports.

The article continues:

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed that Iran had shipped 1.5 million barrels per day via the Strait of Hormuz in the first quarter of 2025.

Furthermore, a closure would also provoke Iran’s market in Asia, particularly China, which accounts for a majority of Iranian oil exports.

“So very, very little to be achieved, and a lot of self inflicted harm that Iran could do” Hari said.

Her view is supported by Andrew Bishop, senior partner and global head of policy research at advisory firm Signum Global Advisors.

Iran will not want to antagonize China, he said, adding that disrupting supplies will also “put a target” on the country’s own oil production, export infrastructure, and regime “at a time when there is little reason to doubt U.S. and Israeli resolve in being ‘trigger-happy.’”

Clayton Seigle, senior fellow for Energy Security and Climate Change at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that as China is “very dependent” on oil flows from the Gulf, not just Iran, “its national security interest really would value stabilization of the situation and a de-escalation enabling safe flows of oil and gas through the strait.”

Iran does not need to alienate anyone right now. I am sure many of the Middle Eastern countries are breathing a sigh of relief knowing that Iran at the moment does not have nuclear capability.

Things We Need To Know

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On Sunday, The Epoch Times posted an article detailing what we need to know about President Trump’s bombing of the Iranian nuclear facilities.

The article lists five things:

Iran’s Key Nuclear Sites ‘Obliterated’

Trump said during an address to the nation that U.S. strikes had “completely and totally obliterated” three key Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan (also spelled Esfahan).

…Trump Threatens ‘Far Greater’ Attacks If No Peace

Trump threatened Iran with “far greater” attacks if the regime refused to make peace.

…US Worked With Israel

Trump confirmed the United States worked with Israel, taking a moment in his address to the nation to thank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

…Iran Atomic Agency Vows to Continue Program

The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization said it will continue with its development of its “national industry,” an apparent reference to its nuclear development.

…Some Lawmakers Want Congressional Authorization

While some lawmakers have been supportive of Trump’s authorizing the strikes, others want congressional authorization before any additional actions are undertaken.

The lawmakers who insist that President Trump needs congressional authorization need to look at some of America’s recent history.

Double standard, anyone?

No one wants another endless Middle Eastern war, but I suspect President Trump does not have the patience for an endless war. I expect the Iranian situation–nuclear reactor sites, Strait of Hormuz, etc., to be resolved quickly.

The View From The Lair

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Better Late Than Never

The Islamic Republic of Iran declared war on the US in 1979. Granted, it has been an asymmetric war, but it has been war nevertheless. Asymmetric warfare is the method of choice when a smaller or less powerful nation wishes to conduct a war of attrition against a larger, better equipped foe.

Last night President Trump responded to their declaration. President Trump has been telling the mullahs of Iran that they would not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons for over ten years. Trump 1.0 was stymied in most of his objectives by the prevalent deep state operatives trying to defeat him.

Other than Reagan, none of the presidents since – including G.W. Bush – have taken Iran seriously. With such an anemic presidential response and after Barry Obozo and Resident Brandon were selected as leaders of the American nation, it was no surprise that the sociopathic mullahs would expect that all future US presidents would roll over and ignore the true facts. After all, if this is a representation of the will of the American people, that will is pretty weak. And dismal.

Enter President Donald J. Trump 2.0.

POTUS told the mullahs “No nuclear weapons”– a pretty simple declaration. And in true ideological response, they ignored him. After all, they have done whatever they wished – and were richly rewarded for it – for three presidential terms. Last night President Trump asked the proverbial question “What part of NO! do you not understand? Can you hear me now?”

After Israel had decimated the Iranian anti-aircraft missile capability as well as both the military hierarchy and their nuclear scientist cadre, President Trump utilized US capability to finish the job. He didn’t reduce Tehran to a smoldering parking lot, as many have wished for a long time (me among them). And so far, he has left intact their refinery and electrical grid. The subjects in Iran are largely unaffected–for now. But their nuclear weapons program has been eliminated. There hasn’t been a diplomatic response from Iran yet. Their recalcitrant attitude might have been adjusted.

I suspect that Chairman Xi and President Putin have watched with some interest. They are both aware that President Trump is serious about what he says. And now they have the proof that he has the cojones to deliver on his word.

But there will be a response. After Resident Brandon invited tens of thousands of criminals and terrorists into our country, with the assistance of an historically ignorant Marxist deep state and dummycrat legislators, the capability of delivering a response is already in place. For those of us in eastern NC, MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS New River, Camp LeJeune, and Seymour Johnson AFB are likely targets. Not to mention any large gathering of people that an attack upon can bring attention to the world.

I don’t consider the expected attacks to be of the “lone wolf” variety. Some will be coordinated, some will be the efforts of wandering vipers. A “lone wolf” in the real world is simply a packless predator seeking to survive. These attacks will be murderous tantrums of ideological throwbacks seeking to draw attention to their “mission”– that of killing any Jew or Christian, while attempting to facilitate the arrival of the next caliphate. It will not be pretty. It will be fearful.

But least if won’t be accompanied by a mushroom cloud.

As I have mentioned previously – Be prepared.

ciao.

The Snark.

The World Has Changed

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On Saturday, I attended my high school reunion in New Jersey. When I got back to the hotel afterward, I opened my ipad and realized that the world had changed. Iran would never again be able to bully the world with the threat of a nuclear attack. America finally dealt with the incorrigible child in the Middle East who since 1979 has funded almost all of the terrorism around the world, especially against American troops.

President Trump drew a line in the sand–he gave them 60 days to negotiate seriously. The Iranians continued to stall for time. Just like the exasperated parent of a two-year old throwing a tantrum, President Trump dealt with the situation. I can’t help but believe that some aspects of this attack were discussed with the leaders of other Middle Eastern countries when President Trump visited those countries recently. The incorrigible child of the Middle East has now learned that bullying and funding terrorism has drastic consequences.

There are several aspects of this operation that are noteworthy. Congress and the media were not informed ahead of time–so there were no leaks from those sources. In contrast to his first term in office, President Trump has people around him that support his agenda and worldview. There was no leaking from either the President’s cabinet or the Department of Defense. The sleight of hand involved in sending some of our military aircraft to Guam was brilliant. The playbook used to protect the operational security of this attack was similar to the playbook used by President Reagan in preventing a communist takeover of Grenada–the press was told afterward so that there would be no leaks.

We can expect howls of protest from some members of Congress–particularly from those in the Democrat party, although there will be some Republicans who object to keeping America and the Middle East safer. However, we need to remember that the Democrats were silent in the past when similar actions were taken by Democrat Presidents. I suspect that the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities will be popular among the American people. This will probably be one of many 80/20 issues that the Democrats find themselves on the wrong side of. Some recent Democrat actions that backfired and were also 80/20 were the unannounced raid on Mar-a-Lago, and the Trump mugshot after his arrest in Atlanta.

The Democrats need new strategists!

What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate

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On Friday, The Gateway Pundit reported that a senior Iranian official has stated that Iran is open to talks about limiting its program of uranium enrichment. Unfortunately, I believe the time for limiting enrichment has passed. I suspect the only reason the official is asking for negotiations is to stop the pounding of Iran by Israel.

The article reports:

A senior Iranian official has signaled that Tehran is “prepared to discuss limits” on uranium enrichment, though it firmly rejects any demand for total cessation—a “zero enrichment” policy is not on the table.

This shift follows weeks of intensifying conflict. Israel has launched airstrikes at Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.

It can be recalled that President Donald Trump has proposed zero uranium enrichment to Iran through United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, according to Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

…A senior Iranian official has told Reuters that Tehran is prepared to discuss limits on its uranium enrichment programme, but made clear that demands for “zero enrichment” are off the table.

The article concludes:

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the urgency of renewed negotiations, saying, “It is absolutely essential to prioritize a return to substantive negotiations, which include nuclear issues to move toward zero enrichment, ballistics to limit Iranian activities and capabilities, and the financing of all the terrorist groups destabilizing the region.”

The news outlet added that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed the call, reinforcing Berlin’s demand for zero enrichment as a baseline for any renewed agreement. British officials, while more reserved, have also recently expressed support for eliminating Iran’s enrichment activities.

Iran is not going to agree to zero enrichment unless it finds a way to continue enrichment while hiding it from the world. The only way this conflict ends is with Iran running out of weapons to fire at Isreal or regime change in Iran.

Beware Of The Manipulative Press

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I am not going to argue that Iran’s nuclear program needs to end abruptly. I am, however, going to point out some things the media is reporting that make me wonder exactly what is going on. This post will not be a conspiracy theory–it will simply be some information and some observations.

Yesterday, Just the News posted the following headline:

Bill Clinton’s once-secret cable to Iran a reminder Tehran’s terror killed hundreds of Americans

The article reminds us that “then-President Bill Clinton sent a cable that told Iran’s president a secret that the 42nd president wasn’t even willing to tell the American public: U.S. intelligence had ample evidence that Tehran was behind the deadly Khobar Towers terror attack.”

The article notes:

The communiqué, released decades later under the Freedom of Information Act, is a stark reminder of two realities that President Trump must review as he decides in the next few days whether to commit U.S. military action to Israel’s war on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

I am not arguing that this is fact–I am just questioning why it is being reported again now (I suspect it was reported at the time the communique was released.)

Yesterday, PJ Media reported:

In Tehran, Iranians are reportedly chanting enthusiastically about the anticipated fall of the “Islamic Republic” regime and the potential return of the Crown Prince, heir to the ancient throne of Persia.

While it is unclear exactly the extent of the damage Israel has inflicted on Iran and whether or not the current genocidal regime will fall because of it, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi confirmed that Iranian soldiers and officials have reached out to him, and he urged the Iranian people to rise up, announcing he already has a plan for renewing Iran should he come to power again.

Neither of these news sources is part of the mainstream media, although Just the News is not a conservative news source, PJ Media is. But I fear we are being manipulated into getting involved in the war between Israel and Iran. I have no problem supplying whatever is needed to Israel, but we need to work toward a quick solution–not another endless war.

I would like to remind you that the reign of the Shah of Iran was not all roses and sunshine. Iran was becoming westernized, but the excesses of the Shah laid the groundwork for the unrest that followed when he became ill. It is very possible that much of the current population of Iran does not remember those excesses. The median age of the Iranian population is 34 years. Remember that part of the reason for the takeover of the American Embassy was that the new government wanted the Shah returned so that they could kill him.

What is happening in Iran now is neither cut and dried or simple.

Getting To The Root Of The Problem

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There are a number of problems with the current regime in Iran. If they had simply minded their own business instead of sponsoring worldwide terrorism, the world might not be particularly concerned about their weapons programs. However, continually shouting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” does not create an image of a peaceful country. Also, the intelligence gathered by Israel in recent years reveals that Iran is building a nuclear weapon. This is a problem for America, Israel, and the rest of the world. Radiation does not stay in one place.

On Tuesday, The New York Post posted an article detailing what it would take to destroy the Fordow fuel enrichment plant built some 300 feet inside a mountain near the city of Qom, two hours south of Tehran. The Iranians saw what Israel did to the Iraqi nuclear program, because of that they have protected their main nuclear reactor well.

The article reports:

Israel needs a 15-ton “bunker buster” bomb to destroy the last untouched nuclear facility in Iran, but only the US has one.

Such a powerful weapon — the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal — is needed because the target, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant, is built some 300 feet inside a mountain near the city of Qom, two hours south of Tehran.

The heavyweight explosive is known as a GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator and was designed by Boeing for the United States Air Force.

Its huge weight means it can only be delivered with a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber — a jet that Israel’s air force does not possess.

As much as I would hate to see America get involved in the war between Israel and Iran, I suspect that if America supplied the weapon and the reactor was taken out, most of the world would rejoice. However, I also suspect that Israel may have their own method of doing the job.

The article concludes:

US intelligence has long agreed that taking out Fordow is key to disabling the Iranian nuclear program.

“If you don’t get Fordow, you haven’t eliminated their ability to produce weapons-grade material,” Brett McGurk, who served as Middle East coordinator for several American presidents of both parties, recently told the New York Times.

In a less-than-ideal scenario, a state-of-the-art bunker buster is not the only solution.

It’s also possible, said Spencer, that, without help from the US, Israel could do a jerry-rigged attack on Fordow.

“Israel has cornered the market on what they call drilling,” said Spencer. “They drop one bomb that reaches a certain depth, then another and another, at different angles, within seconds, to get to where they want to go. But you put multiple people and multiple aircraft at risk. The GBU is one and done.”

Considering that option, Spencer concluded, “There are many ways to destroy the nuclear program in Iran. But this is the effective and efficient one. It gets to the objective quicker and is the perfect solution.”

The article has a picture explaining how the bunker buster works. It would be the most useful tool in this situation.

The Technology Behind The Success

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Israel eliminated a lot of very important people in Iran recently. The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami, was killed. Major General Mohammad Bagheri, who had served as the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, was killed. Ali Shamkhani, who was a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Air Force, was killed.

These leaders were successfully targeted with as little damage to Iranian civilians as possible. The precise targeting was a result of the Mossad’s strategic use of drone technology.

On Friday, PJ Media reported:

According to an Israeli official today, Israel built a drone base deep inside Iran as part of their preparations — and then unleashed them to deadly effect.

This is where I remind you that it’s only in the last two years or so that the deadly efficacy of drone warfare was proven beyond a doubt. In that short time, the IDF not only embraced it but smuggled a drone base into Iran — a tightly controlled dictatorship and presumably on high alert — then, on cue, launched those drones to destroy ballistic missile launchers before they could be used against Israel.

…There must have been soldiers on the ground to set everything up and launch the strike. Prayers, please, that they are or soon will be safely evacuated home.

Israeli intelligence was so effective — and apparently the Trump administration played along to avoid alerting Iran’s leadership — that Israel killed nearly a dozen high-level military commanders.

The article notes:

You see, the thing about Israeli intelligence is that it’s either the best or there is no Israel.

Last night showed, once again, that Israeli intelligence is the best.

Israel is not simply engaged in a casual military exercise. Israel is very aware that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, Israel will no longer exist. They are not playing games–they are fighting for their survival as a nation.

This Isn’t Going To Help Me Sleep At Night

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On Monday, Breitbart reported that Iran now has enough enriched uranium to make three nuclear weapons. I think we are rapidly reaching the time when the negotiations need to stop and action needs to be taken. There are many Muslims who believe that they can hasten the return of their Messianic figure, the Mahdi, by creating chaos. You really do not what someone who is thinking in those terms to have a nuclear weapon.

The article reports:

A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) whose contents were revealed by multiple international media outlets this weekend expressed “serious concern” with the rapid rate of Iran’s uranium enrichment, which it reportedly claimed was enough to make one nuclear bomb a month in the past three months.

I suspect that part of the reason behind the rapid rate of uranium enrichment in Iran is the election of President Trump. The Iranians knew that as long as President Biden was in office, there were not going to be any serious restrictions on their nuclear program and that America would not support Israel in ending that program with a physical or cyber attack. President Trump does not think the way the Biden administration thought.

The article concludes:

Iranian officials dismissed reports of the IAEA’s disappointment with the country, insisting it would under no circumstances abandon enrichment. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei insisted that the IAEA report was “politically motivated” and dismissed all data on Iran’s enrichment as fabricated by Israel.

“He also noted that any nuclear agreement must include the continuation of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and an end to cruel sanctions against the nation,” the Iranian state outlet PressTV said, paraphrasing Baghaei.

The head of Iran’s nuclear energy agency, Mohammad Eslami, similarly proclaimed on Sunday that Iran would never stop its illicit enrichment, despite legitimate concerns that it has no reason to be enriching the material at such a high level if it is seeking only to develop a nuclear energy program.

“No one can claim Iran has no right to enrichment, because this matter falls within its own specific frameworks and requirements,” Eslami reportedly stated, arguing that calling for Iran to stop enrichment weapons-grade uranium was akin to banning the country from building power plants.

Iran does not need nuclear power. They have enough oil to power their country for centuries. When dealing with Iran, we need to consider the practice of taqiyya, which is generally described as lying for the sake of Islam. It’s hard to negotiate with people who do not feel obligated to tell you the truth.

The Economic Quest For Peace

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One of the things that President Trump does very well is the waging of economic wars. He understands the leverage America has because it represents large market opportunities for all of its trading partners. That is one of many reasons so many countries are willing to negotiate the President’s tariff policies. One way to encourage peace in countries that don’t necessarily want to make peace is to pull the rug out from under them economically. For example, oil prices today are generally between $58 and $78 a barrel, coming down from a high of $113.90 on March 25, 2022. Russia needs oil prices to be consistently about $80 a barrel in order to support its economy and the war in Ukraine. America’s reach for energy independence presents a challenge to the Russian economy and Russia’s ability to finance the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, President Trump is beginning an economic war against Iran.

On Thursday, Just the News reported:

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the United States will impose secondary sanctions on all countries or individuals that purchase oil or petrochemicals from Iran.

The announcement comes a day after the State Department sanctioned seven entities it accused of trading Iranian oil and petrochemical products. 

The president confirmed the new secondary sanctions in a post on Truth Social, warning countries they would not be allowed to do business with the U.S. if they purchase oil from Iran.

The article concludes:

The moves are part of the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran to help weaken its terrorist activities in the Middle East, including through its use of proxy forces.

The domestic economic problems these sanctions will cause will also create unrest in Iran. A regime change would be nice, but remember, history tells us that regime change does not always go in a democratic direction. Currently, we have the example of Syria. I would strongly recommend that America not meddle in any internal affairs in Iran. Our record of bringing regime change and bringing in new leadership in foreign countries is far from stellar.

Iran and Nuclear Weapons

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.   

The issue of whether we will allow Iran to have nuclear weapons is at the point of no return. For years, America has taken the position that Iran, the primary sponsor of terrorist activities in the world, should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. The time has come to put up or shut up.

Iran, an Islamist state ruled by a religious leader since their overthrow of the Shah in January 1979 (during the weak Carter administration), has vowed the destruction of Israel and death to America. Are they just saying these things or do they really mean it? Hitler, in his book “Mein Kampf,” written before he assumed power in Germany, stated his intention to eliminate the Jews. His actions while in power showed that he meant it. We should take the Iranian regime leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, at his word when he advocates the death of Israel and America. We would be fools not to. This is especially true because the Ayatollah has the backing of his religious beliefs. A few years ago, I had a conversation with a neighbor who did not believe that the Koran (the Muslim equivalent of the Bible) advocated the killing of infidels (anyone who does not believe in the Muslim religion) if they did not convert. With a brief review, I was able to identify ten quotations from the Koran than not only justify, but in some cases advocate, the killing of non-Muslims. I am sure that all of you have heard of the reward in their heaven of 30 virgins for killing non-Muslims. Clearly, Islam is not a religion of peace; it is quite the opposite.

So here we are at a decision point. Iran is determined to acquire a nuclear weapon capability and has already produced missiles that can strike Europe and soon our country. Why would any peace-loving country pursue this objective? Also, we know without a doubt that Iran has been providing weapons to their terrorist affiliates like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, who have been shutting down the shipping lanes to Europe from the far East. Iran has also violated all previous and current agreements to restrict their uranium production that would allow them to produce nuclear warheads. Instead of pursuing a policy to stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons, Presidents Obama and Biden have facilitated their uranium enrichment by sending billions of dollars to their government without restrictions. So much, for a clear and definitive policy.

Looking back in history, we can clearly see that evil leaders do evil things, including starting wars that result in the killing of millions of innocent people. Sadly, technology has made war started by these evil people more and more destructive and deadly. Nuclear weapons in the hands of evil extremists threaten the existence of civilization as we have known it.  The risk of nuclear destruction is a direct function of the number of countries that have nuclear capability. The more countries with nuclear weapons, the more likely some evil person in one of those countries will find a reason to use them. Then all hell will break loose and the destruction of civilization will occur.   We have to have the courage not to let this happen.

As we have seen in many wars, including Putin fighting with Ukraine, the leaders who start these wars do not care how many of their own people are killed; to say the least their enemies. Hitler, Stalin, or Mao Zedong could have cared less about military and civilian deaths. The only possible hope is to limit the war-making ability of countries who have demonstrated evil intentions. It is time for America to stand up to the reality that Iran’s nuclear ambitions must be stopped. The fact that President Trump has increased our military presence near Iran with aircraft carriers and B 52 bombers shows a serious intention to stop Iran, one way or the other. Let’s hope that their nuclear program can be stopped without military action. Personally, I doubt it. If not, a joint attach by Israeli and U.S. forces should be initiated to remove the nuclear threat from Iran.