The "Prince of Persia" in the Bible is a demonic power in Satan’s army that is over the region known today as Iran. God has an angel army, and so does Satan. These armies are at war in the heavenly places over Israel’s land and surrounding region. Since the beginning, Satan has been opposing the Hebrew people and their inherited land.
There Are Demonic Powers at Work Today. As you read scriptures such as Ephesians 6:12, you find that we do not war against flesh and blood…“but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Some Background on the Prince of Persia in the Bible:
Israel’s land is referred to in the Bible as the Promised Land, “flowing with milk and honey.” This represents the land’s agricultural abundance. Satan is always against what and who God is for. Therefore, he is after the Hebrew/Jewish people and the land of Israel.
The Prince of Persia in the Book of Daniel
In 605 B.C., Babylonians plundered the land and carried Hebrew children back to Babylon. Daniel was one of these children. He prophesied and wrote the Book of Daniel while in Babylonian captivity. YHVH/God gave Daniel a series of visions about the last days; however, Daniel didn’t understand what he saw, so he prayed to God and asked for clarity. God sent an angel to explain the vision and what was happening in the spiritual realm…
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”—Daniel 10:13-14 (emphasis added)
At the time of Daniel’s vision, the Persian Empire was decades from emerging. Yet, Daniel 10 reveals that Satan was working behind the scenes to raise up a demonic prince who would pull the strings of the earthly kings to come.
The Prince of Persia Is a Demonic Prince
What is a demonic prince? It is a high-ranking angel in Satan’s army that has power over a region or territory. The world is regionally divided both in the physical and the spiritual. God has angelic armies stationed around territories, and so does Satan.
Michael Is a Prince in God’s Army
Daniel 12:1 says the archangel Michael is “the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people…” He is the high-ranking defender and protector of Israel in YHVH/God’s army.
The Archangel Sent to Daniel Was Held Hostage by the Prince of Persia
The angel sent to explain the vision to Daniel was held hostage by the prince of Persia in the Bible for 21 days. The archangel Michael was sent to help him break free from the demonic prince so he could deliver the message to Daniel. Daniel 10:2 tells us that when Daniel prayed, God responded by sending an angel. But Daniel continued to pray until the angel appeared 21 days later. Don’t pass over the importance of steadfast prayers. The angel was dispatched as soon as Daniel prayed, but opposition from the enemy came, delaying his arrival. Daniel continued to pray, and eventually, there was a breakthrough. This is one reason to continue praying for Israel, just like Daniel did.
Yes, it’s about China. IMO, Trump would not have attacked Iran unless he thought he could win. And he thought he could win based on the previous Israeli led 12-day war, and all the intel and shiny objects Bibi showed the administration. The US is not fighting this war FOR Israel, it’s fighting this war WITH Israel. Israel has all the intel on Iran. US acted on that intel, and continues to do so. All that said, the Hormuz situation still remains unresolved. And to resolve it, America is going to put at real risk the USS Tripoli, now sailing to the region from Japan, and expected to reach the Guff in late March, early April.
America is also sailing a 3rd nuclear powered aircraft carrier to the Gulf, the USS H.W. Bush also expected to arrive at end of March. There is going to be a big fight upcoming for control of Hormuz.
Hopefully USA will ‘win’. If things go sideways, Israel will be blamed for pulling USA into this. Like with Iraq.
Matt L., yes you are correct, "The US is not fighting this war FOR Israel, it’s fighting this war WITH Israel." Every time I see President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the same platform - I am reminded of Ezekiel 37.
Carl, remember this when people tar and feather those from MAGA who see US fighting Iran because of Israel. There is truth in that assertion to some degree. US interests and Israel interests align to a certain extent on Iran, but they likely depart at a certain point, too.
My take is that sending in USS Tripoli and USS H.W. Bush are Plan B. Otherwise, why were they not already on-station. What I hope the US is now preparing for, and we can’t yet see, is a Plan C. In case Plan B doesn’t work.
And yes, keep tabs on the YouTube channel @Navydecoded. They have good/interesting takes that are steeped in reality.
Hitler was sinking American ships. Killing American citizens and merchant marines.
Iran has been killing Americans since 1979.
Why we put up with it this long is beyond me?
The DNC has been trying to silence opposition free speech for the last ten years with their protests during their decade of ‘Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight’. From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli. Let Freedom Ring!
"It is a perpetual and constant threat, and has been so for 47 years."
How did it get there? In other words, what was its history with the U.S. prior to 1979?
Did the people just suddenly go cuckoo and install religious hardliners because they had some burning need to start killing themselves, and everyone else? A 1300-year time bomb in Islam suddenly went off? Something in the water? Rabies? Inquiring minds are going 'Hmmm...'
The people of Iran brought the Imans on themselves. They voted them in and then surprise, surprise, they got a totalitarian regime that lasted decades. Voters in America would do damn well to remember that fate at the midterms.
"The people of Iran brought the Imans on themselves."
Do you have any idea what you are talking about? To remedy this, and in short: Study the history of the US intervention in Iran, at least back to the US overthrow of their democratically-elected prime minister in 1953, to support an emerging totalitarian regime by a resurgent Shah (monarchy) who was willing to keep heavy Western control over the country's oil resources. It was this Shah, with US support, and his murderous secret police SAVAK, which eventually led to a popular revolution that drove him from the country. In the turmoil that followed, religious leaders won out internal battles over Marxists and other groups, and, knowing how badly they were treated by American gov's prior to 1979, declared the US "the Great Satan". THAT is just a small piece of how this shit started. It didn't just grow out of the ground like magic 47 years ago.
And this time, please don't take your reading suggestions from jingoist martials.
The Mullahs SUPPORTED the overthrow of Mosadegh —and their supporters were crucial. There are no monuments to Mosadegh in Iran today. There is however a freeway in Tehran named after the Islamist terrorist who attacked Mosadegh’s foreign minister.
The Mullahs don’t hate the US because of our part in the overthrow of Mosadegh. The Mullahs supported it! This is just a left-wing hobby horse. They hate the US for religious reasons—“The Great Satan”. They have been at de facto war with tbe US since 1979.
And the Iranian people are not anti-US either, as the tens of thousands dead at the hands of the Mullahs as they begged for US help showed in January.
Khomeini killed ten times more dissidents in his first year of power than SAVAK killed in the last ten years of the Shah. Meanwhile Khomeini’s regime garnered lots from left-wing intellectuals in the West because Khomeini was anti-US: most famously Michel Foucault. Add Theda Skocpol, Eric Hobsbawm, George Tilly, Barrington Moore…
"The Mullahs SUPPORTED the overthrow of Mosadegh —and their supporters were crucial."
Fine. I'm *not* supporting the mullahs, then or today. I'm asking what happened to the Iranian *democracy* -- who suppressed it, and why. There's now this curious resurrection of the Shah's son. Who's behind that? It can't be the majority of Iranians, they're simply not that stupid.
"And the Iranian people are not anti-US either"
Plenty are, and for damn good reasons -- 1953 coup to maintain Western control of, and profits from, oil resources; 1953-1979 support of the totalitarian murderous Shah; 1979-2026 sanctions and threats to military action; and now the 2026 ongoing war to level the place. You'd have to have rocks in your head to trust the US gov there.
The Pahlavi dynasty had ruled Persia since 1925. The Shah was a moderate leader who brought Iran into the 20th century. It is no wonder if many Iranians look back fondly on the reign of the shahs.
" US overthrow of their democratically-elected prime minister in 1953"
Follow your own advice and read Prof Ali Ansari's "Modern Iran since 1797":
Mohammed Mossadegh, a senior prince in the previous Qajjar dynasty, was *appointed* Prime Minister in 1953 by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (who had been in power since 1941).
Shortly after his appointment, Mossadegh called an election and *stopped* the vote count as soon as it showed him ahead.
So much for democratically elected.
After his dismissal, Mossadegh retired to one of his opulent estates, in Ahmedabad. The Shah was then free to launch his "White Revolution" which modernized the country, emancipated women and gave them the right to vote (7 years before Swiss women). That last enraged Mossadegh's clerical allies and one of them, Ruhollah Khomeini, wrote a public letter claiming women voting would lead to immorality and then fled to Iraq.
Iran's first Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, apologized publicly to younger generations of Iranians for her role in overthrowing the Shah:
There is no difference between Hitler in 1936 and Khamanei in 2026 except the Ayatollah was much more dangerous for world peace. He was a religious zealot with not a hint of rational behavior and promised to use nuke bombs to destroy Israel and damage America. It does not really take an ICBM like many think. Because Iran has a number of fanatics, a kamikaze mission will do, either by air or by boat. A container ship or tanker can get close enough to NYC or DC to launch a small plane and do the deed. It was EXISTENTIAL to get rid of the Mullahs in Iran and their manufacturing capacity before this happened. Sorry. I want my family to survive. The threat justifies the response. Iran declared war on America many years ago, in 1979 to be exact.
Please don’t use WW2 tropes, Brian? This is what Globalists used for the last 80 years to advance forever wars. ‘He’s a Hitler’, ‘Don’t be a Chamberlain’ and ‘Stand strong like Churchill’ have become rotten and tainted due to so much American blood and treasure lost, and these tropes used to support or shout down dissent.
For 47 years American presidents have done nothing to eliminate 8th the century savages and keep kicking the can down the road. We finally have a president who like Patton wants to send the regime on a one way ticket to hell. God bless DJT, our troops, and are only ally.
“Six days before Trump gave the order to commence combat operations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided the president and his senior advisers with intelligence gold. He told them that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would be meeting with his top military advisers on February 28. The CIA confirmed the intelligence with its own sources. Negotiations over disarming Iran were deadlocking in Geneva. So Trump seized the moment. The Iranian regime could be decapitated by hitting that February 28 meeting. And that is exactly what happened in the first strikes.”
Iran never had any intention of disarming. Rather they planned to wait out Trump who would either be assassinated or succeeded. Iran has been funneling a lot of money into the American left to buy influence on campuses and pay for the Global Intafada and Pro-Palestine marches. They had no reason to think they couldn't stall until they had their nukes finished and ready to deploy, by blowing up Tel Aviv first as a demonstration they meant business as they blackmailed the planet. None of this is speculation. These are well researched high probability scenarios in the hands of the CIA and Pentagon. This is why Trump took action now. It was not in his or his party's best political interests, that is for sure
So how, exactly, did they get to where they were in 1979? Did you get a chance to see any of these "8th century savages"? In, say, 1950 Iran, before the first major US intervention? Fortunately, photos exist online of them. It's so easy -- you can just Google "1950 Tehran"
Yes, history exists. Do you mean that nothing can be done because of past history? Should we just wait quietly to accept punishment from a 7th century death cult because you can point to 1979? And we all live on stolen land too, right?
" Do you mean that nothing can be done because of past history?"
Yes, but to properly "do something" one must first *understand* that "past history", and then (you know, in the democracy we have here in the West) discuss, debate, and vote on it, both in Congress and by the American people. The initial comments in this column today were abysmally lacking in that, knowing next to nothing pre-1979.
We have to know how Iran came to be controlled by hardline mullahs *before* we know how to change that. Our MSM and controlled leadership will have none of that, and therefore paint the simple picture of "Eliminate the mullahs, and presto -- Iran is singing kum-bay-yah and worshipping Americans!" It's both silly and dangerous not to understand the extent of US-Iran problematic relations that led to where we are.
From my vantage point, it's exactly the same idiotic stuff we've heard from neocons for a half century (I've watched this show since the 1970s), most notably the 2000's Iraq fiasco which was supposed to be over in weeks once we found Saddam's supposed "weapons of mass destruction", promoted by fabricated evidence. Frankly, I had it up to here with this shit-show.
THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR GOV DO NOT CARE ABOUT AMERICANS -- AND THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT IRANIANS. THEY CARE ABOUT POWER. TO DO SO, THEY WANT TO KEEP US IGNORANT AND SUBSERVIENT.
Yes, Neville Chamberlain demonstrated the benefits of democratic long and deep debates and discussions in open public, which informs the enemy, over whether to engage an enemy directly, or appease said enemy hoping giving up a few small trinkets like Poland, would satiate the gluttony of Hitler to gobble up Europe. That plan worked SO well that Barack Obama and his high (low) IQ team of advisers thought they would ignore the lessons of WW2 and give that old appeasement strategy a try. A few pallets of billions of gold bullion and cash later, did it help? At all? No it did not, as October 7, 2023 proved (this was an Iranian funded and strategized attack on defenseless Israeli citizens, Hamas were only the executioners)
"Neville Chamberlain demonstrated the benefits of democratic long and deep debates and discussions in open public"
We currently have a runaway government of secrecy in the U.S.; the criticism is widespread. If you accept that is a problem, then what is a middle ground that preserves some version of democracy in which the government is nevertheless adequately held to account?
Or, do you think some kind of non-democracy is needed (i.e. there is no problem with secrecy), and if so, what is it? Don't be shy, there are many advocates these days for the current Chinese model.
"That plan worked SO well that Barack Obama and his high (low) IQ team of advisers thought they would ignore the lessons of WW2 and give that old appeasement strategy a try. A few pallets of billions of gold bullion and cash later, did it help?"
Yeah, I see your point. This was all debated out in the open, and stupidly won popular support...
"as October 7, 2023 proved (this was an Iranian funded and strategized attack on defenseless Israeli citizens, Hamas were only the executioners)"
Yes. Even the admittedly world-class IDF, first, had absolutely no idea what the murderous clowns were up to, nor second, how to control it in any kind of reasonable time after it started. I think the best explanation is that the level of *pure evil* in Hamas was of such extremity that the most-moral-military IDF, and Netanyahu who helped drive funding to innocently manipulate Hamas, was simply unable even to fathom the absolute depths that *that* evil could sink too. So Israel was, tragically and unavoidably, out of its depth that day. Wouldn't you agree? It's just so hard to wrap my head around what happened. But I'm always willing to be better edumacated, for sure.
Thank you Sasha for saying what regular, normal Americans think about this subject. Those of us working all day to earn and produce value, pay taxes that go to ‘Learing Centers’ and then go home to work even more to raise decent, future adults are all too busy to pay attention to the minutiae.
I fought in Iraq and know all too well how that got messed up. Clearly no one wants to repeat that bull excrement. I do wish that the Persian people will overthrow that theocratic, sadist regime and we will soon see an imperfect peace come to that region sooner than later. I also hope the same for a future liberal, democratic Cuba that is an independent nation aligned with western civilizational values.
"I do wish that the Persian people will overthrow that theocratic, sadist regime"
Well, maybe we can get the sadistic regime that came just before it, the one that brought the crazed religious zealots to power in the first place. You know -- the one the US elevated to power in 1953 by overthrowing the democratically elected prime minister. That old Shah's son is gunning for a restoration -- and with America's help, he just might get it!
I can’t say I know everything that happened in 1940s and 50s Persia, but I do know that Soviet infiltration of Persian society was high and that Iran as part of Warsaw pact would be a net bad all around.
That said, Tehran in the 50s and 60s looked like a much nicer place to visit than today. No morality police running down folks just trying to live their lives. Same could be said for many places in Mideast such as Beirut and Damascus.
"That said, Tehran in the 50s and 60s looked like a much nicer place to visit than today."
Agreed. Its downslide had (apparently) started during that period with the Shah's emergence. When one has a totalitarian regime *installed by the US*, it's both hard to get excited about the future or the "leader of the free world". So they threw a "Hail Mary" pass in 1979, but for a significant portion of the country, it turned out badly.
I know. It's like people in this thread are repeating the propaganda they've heard and deciding our history with Iran started in 1979. This is purely bogus framing.
My first post in this thread was a joke. Thought that was obvious by careful reading even without /s ... but oh well.
"I can imagine a democratic, pro-west iran that shapes its own destiny. For that, the mullahs must fall. / Do you agree?"
Yes. But it will not happen by pounding the country into the dust, and for God's sake, *killing their top religious leaders*, whether they run the government or not.
Americans have been carefully weaned in recent decades against relying on actual diplomacy to achieve friendly relations, with increasingly disastrous results. You can find plenty of criticism online against the near-complete decimation of our diplomatic corps. There's going to be hell to pay for our going it alone, and the consequences of this current war could be the watershed for that.
I love Patton's speech, and have had it memorized since youth. My Dad used to watch that film every few weeks. Great movie. Great speech.
Like you, Sasha, I did not vote for more wars, but I trust Trump and have to admit he's been consistent on Iran from his campaigns and even well before. And instead of Israel (the dreaded "JOOOS!!!") pulling Trump's strings, he is being very smart in using our one ally in the region, a nation well-armed and well-trained, to help us in out effort. That's not manipulation, it's smart warfighting.
Iran has been screaming "Death to America" for nearly 50 years. I'm glad we are finally addressing their promised actions instead of waiting for them to come true.
Every time Trump does something "radical" I cringe. But when I think about it, I have to remind myself that he has been right about everything. Prove me wrong.
Israel was not created " at the expense of Palestinians" the land was never a nation of indigenous " Palestinian " people. There were Jews there for thousands of years on and off due to expulsion. However thete were many Arabs there, nomadic ones and they were given the opportunity to have a state in the mandate which they refused. They believed they could conquer the Jews and have it all. They wanted a genocide. ButJews fought and won. Then Gaza was given. We see how well that worked out.
I don't understand how people do not realize that in real life, having good intentions doesn't mean sh*t. Human nature being what it is, if there's a soft spot, someone will take advantage of it. And Iran has, for 47 years, and the entire planet has either looked away like it's not their problem or scurried around with fistfuls of paper acting like "dialoguing" will solve the issue. It's time for both those camps to STFU and let somebody with a spine deal with the bully on the block. Yes, like they used to do, back in the "good old days."
I agree with you, Sasha. It's totally wrong to undermine our government in the midst of war. We'll learn the outcome soon enough. I've underestimated Trump many times, so we'll see if he's right.
I do understand that the president has a 60 day window for acts like this before going to Congress. Just like Obama did, Biden did, and Clinton did. Congress declares war, but the president can initiate limited military actions.
"It's totally wrong to undermine our government in the midst of war."
What's totally wrong to have the executive department initiate a surprise war, without the debate and consent of Congress, and of the American people. Or maybe you prefer autocracies and renegade generals, both of whom described here were punished by Ike and Truman.
Oh good gosh, if they’ve gone to Congress with this, the Ayatollah and all his criminal terrorist gang would have long since been gone from their meeting. If they had gone to Congress with this, it would’ve been blasted loud and long to the media, and the meeting would’ve never occurred. That’s the point, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to end a group of evil men and it needed to be done.
"Oh good gosh, if they’ve gone to Congress with this, the Ayatollah and all his criminal terrorist gang would have long since been gone from their meeting."
You're kidding, right? You think the reason Congress should not first have a proper debate and vote, per the Constitution's requirement for it to vote for war (note, just a single time) before it occurs, is because we had currently useful battle intelligence?? Do you understand how a democracy works?
To put in movie speak ala Goodfellas when talking about the hit on Tommy DeSimone, you could say the same for Iran: "it was revenge for the hostages, the Marines in Beirut and a lot of other things..."
"— it’s to play-act at doing so, while adroitly turning present difficulties into someone else’s nightmare in the future."
This can be applied to all kinds of domestic issues. The debt, entitlement programs, Social Security, housing, spending, enacting legislation that Americans desire at a 90% footing. Term limits. Balanced budget. Eliminating two old laws for every new one. Lower or eliminate federal taxation. Spending cuts. And finally, the SAVE ACT.
I would wish that Congress would pass an AUMF which would permit Trump to change the government of Iran and depose the theocracy. That no such AUMF is likely makes me queasy. But what he is doing is not optional. Our opponents aren't rational. Their worldview is informed by their religion. To them, we are the Great Satan, and they want our Death. A regime like that can never have nukes, because they will use them at their first opportunity. A lasting solution to this threat is to take them out. This, Trump is trying to do, and this, I support. I hope he succeeds.
When was Hitler ever an “imminent” threat to the USA?
This Iranian Regime is not an imminent threat.
It is a perpetual and constant threat, and has been so for 47 years.
1000 dead Americans.
50 butchered young Americans on October 7th.
Two assassination attempts on USA presidents.
Thousands of Israelis killed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis.
Hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of deadly drones.
900lbs of 60% uranium — hidden inside a mountain — having zero use other than nukes.
Hitler killed 200 protesters during the Night of Long Knives.
This Iranian Regime killed at least 30,000 in just two days.
The "Prince of Persia" in the Bible is a demonic power in Satan’s army that is over the region known today as Iran. God has an angel army, and so does Satan. These armies are at war in the heavenly places over Israel’s land and surrounding region. Since the beginning, Satan has been opposing the Hebrew people and their inherited land.
There Are Demonic Powers at Work Today. As you read scriptures such as Ephesians 6:12, you find that we do not war against flesh and blood…“but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Some Background on the Prince of Persia in the Bible:
Israel’s land is referred to in the Bible as the Promised Land, “flowing with milk and honey.” This represents the land’s agricultural abundance. Satan is always against what and who God is for. Therefore, he is after the Hebrew/Jewish people and the land of Israel.
The Prince of Persia in the Book of Daniel
In 605 B.C., Babylonians plundered the land and carried Hebrew children back to Babylon. Daniel was one of these children. He prophesied and wrote the Book of Daniel while in Babylonian captivity. YHVH/God gave Daniel a series of visions about the last days; however, Daniel didn’t understand what he saw, so he prayed to God and asked for clarity. God sent an angel to explain the vision and what was happening in the spiritual realm…
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”—Daniel 10:13-14 (emphasis added)
At the time of Daniel’s vision, the Persian Empire was decades from emerging. Yet, Daniel 10 reveals that Satan was working behind the scenes to raise up a demonic prince who would pull the strings of the earthly kings to come.
The Prince of Persia Is a Demonic Prince
What is a demonic prince? It is a high-ranking angel in Satan’s army that has power over a region or territory. The world is regionally divided both in the physical and the spiritual. God has angelic armies stationed around territories, and so does Satan.
Michael Is a Prince in God’s Army
Daniel 12:1 says the archangel Michael is “the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people…” He is the high-ranking defender and protector of Israel in YHVH/God’s army.
The Archangel Sent to Daniel Was Held Hostage by the Prince of Persia
The angel sent to explain the vision to Daniel was held hostage by the prince of Persia in the Bible for 21 days. The archangel Michael was sent to help him break free from the demonic prince so he could deliver the message to Daniel. Daniel 10:2 tells us that when Daniel prayed, God responded by sending an angel. But Daniel continued to pray until the angel appeared 21 days later. Don’t pass over the importance of steadfast prayers. The angel was dispatched as soon as Daniel prayed, but opposition from the enemy came, delaying his arrival. Daniel continued to pray, and eventually, there was a breakthrough. This is one reason to continue praying for Israel, just like Daniel did.
Not just Iran--but everything going on all over: This eventually points to, and is because of our enemy--the CCP...
Yes, it’s about China. IMO, Trump would not have attacked Iran unless he thought he could win. And he thought he could win based on the previous Israeli led 12-day war, and all the intel and shiny objects Bibi showed the administration. The US is not fighting this war FOR Israel, it’s fighting this war WITH Israel. Israel has all the intel on Iran. US acted on that intel, and continues to do so. All that said, the Hormuz situation still remains unresolved. And to resolve it, America is going to put at real risk the USS Tripoli, now sailing to the region from Japan, and expected to reach the Guff in late March, early April.
https://youtu.be/vMy69tl25r8?si=XJa3ZRKLlp8-fV72
America is also sailing a 3rd nuclear powered aircraft carrier to the Gulf, the USS H.W. Bush also expected to arrive at end of March. There is going to be a big fight upcoming for control of Hormuz.
Hopefully USA will ‘win’. If things go sideways, Israel will be blamed for pulling USA into this. Like with Iraq.
Matt L., yes you are correct, "The US is not fighting this war FOR Israel, it’s fighting this war WITH Israel." Every time I see President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the same platform - I am reminded of Ezekiel 37.
Carl, remember this when people tar and feather those from MAGA who see US fighting Iran because of Israel. There is truth in that assertion to some degree. US interests and Israel interests align to a certain extent on Iran, but they likely depart at a certain point, too.
Great vid--thanks.
Incredible you tube video Matt L, everyone should watch it
My take is that sending in USS Tripoli and USS H.W. Bush are Plan B. Otherwise, why were they not already on-station. What I hope the US is now preparing for, and we can’t yet see, is a Plan C. In case Plan B doesn’t work.
And yes, keep tabs on the YouTube channel @Navydecoded. They have good/interesting takes that are steeped in reality.
Hitler was sinking American ships. Killing American citizens and merchant marines.
Iran has been killing Americans since 1979.
Why we put up with it this long is beyond me?
The DNC has been trying to silence opposition free speech for the last ten years with their protests during their decade of ‘Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight’. From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli. Let Freedom Ring!
"It is a perpetual and constant threat, and has been so for 47 years."
How did it get there? In other words, what was its history with the U.S. prior to 1979?
Did the people just suddenly go cuckoo and install religious hardliners because they had some burning need to start killing themselves, and everyone else? A 1300-year time bomb in Islam suddenly went off? Something in the water? Rabies? Inquiring minds are going 'Hmmm...'
The people of Iran brought the Imans on themselves. They voted them in and then surprise, surprise, they got a totalitarian regime that lasted decades. Voters in America would do damn well to remember that fate at the midterms.
"The people of Iran brought the Imans on themselves."
Do you have any idea what you are talking about? To remedy this, and in short: Study the history of the US intervention in Iran, at least back to the US overthrow of their democratically-elected prime minister in 1953, to support an emerging totalitarian regime by a resurgent Shah (monarchy) who was willing to keep heavy Western control over the country's oil resources. It was this Shah, with US support, and his murderous secret police SAVAK, which eventually led to a popular revolution that drove him from the country. In the turmoil that followed, religious leaders won out internal battles over Marxists and other groups, and, knowing how badly they were treated by American gov's prior to 1979, declared the US "the Great Satan". THAT is just a small piece of how this shit started. It didn't just grow out of the ground like magic 47 years ago.
And this time, please don't take your reading suggestions from jingoist martials.
The Mullahs SUPPORTED the overthrow of Mosadegh —and their supporters were crucial. There are no monuments to Mosadegh in Iran today. There is however a freeway in Tehran named after the Islamist terrorist who attacked Mosadegh’s foreign minister.
The Mullahs don’t hate the US because of our part in the overthrow of Mosadegh. The Mullahs supported it! This is just a left-wing hobby horse. They hate the US for religious reasons—“The Great Satan”. They have been at de facto war with tbe US since 1979.
And the Iranian people are not anti-US either, as the tens of thousands dead at the hands of the Mullahs as they begged for US help showed in January.
As bad as SAVAK was, the mullahs are even worse. Kinda like the tsar vs the Bolsheviks.
Khomeini killed ten times more dissidents in his first year of power than SAVAK killed in the last ten years of the Shah. Meanwhile Khomeini’s regime garnered lots from left-wing intellectuals in the West because Khomeini was anti-US: most famously Michel Foucault. Add Theda Skocpol, Eric Hobsbawm, George Tilly, Barrington Moore…
Sure. But WTF is Reza Pahlavi parading around for? To the point of saying he's "ready to lead"! How much of that is being pushed by CIA?
"The Mullahs SUPPORTED the overthrow of Mosadegh —and their supporters were crucial."
Fine. I'm *not* supporting the mullahs, then or today. I'm asking what happened to the Iranian *democracy* -- who suppressed it, and why. There's now this curious resurrection of the Shah's son. Who's behind that? It can't be the majority of Iranians, they're simply not that stupid.
"And the Iranian people are not anti-US either"
Plenty are, and for damn good reasons -- 1953 coup to maintain Western control of, and profits from, oil resources; 1953-1979 support of the totalitarian murderous Shah; 1979-2026 sanctions and threats to military action; and now the 2026 ongoing war to level the place. You'd have to have rocks in your head to trust the US gov there.
The Pahlavi dynasty had ruled Persia since 1925. The Shah was a moderate leader who brought Iran into the 20th century. It is no wonder if many Iranians look back fondly on the reign of the shahs.
" US overthrow of their democratically-elected prime minister in 1953"
Follow your own advice and read Prof Ali Ansari's "Modern Iran since 1797":
Mohammed Mossadegh, a senior prince in the previous Qajjar dynasty, was *appointed* Prime Minister in 1953 by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (who had been in power since 1941).
Shortly after his appointment, Mossadegh called an election and *stopped* the vote count as soon as it showed him ahead.
So much for democratically elected.
After his dismissal, Mossadegh retired to one of his opulent estates, in Ahmedabad. The Shah was then free to launch his "White Revolution" which modernized the country, emancipated women and gave them the right to vote (7 years before Swiss women). That last enraged Mossadegh's clerical allies and one of them, Ruhollah Khomeini, wrote a public letter claiming women voting would lead to immorality and then fled to Iraq.
Iran's first Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, apologized publicly to younger generations of Iranians for her role in overthrowing the Shah:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DT2EeZhjS2c/?hl=ar
"Anti-Zionist"? OHHH!, You mean Antisemitic! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Amen!
There is no difference between Hitler in 1936 and Khamanei in 2026 except the Ayatollah was much more dangerous for world peace. He was a religious zealot with not a hint of rational behavior and promised to use nuke bombs to destroy Israel and damage America. It does not really take an ICBM like many think. Because Iran has a number of fanatics, a kamikaze mission will do, either by air or by boat. A container ship or tanker can get close enough to NYC or DC to launch a small plane and do the deed. It was EXISTENTIAL to get rid of the Mullahs in Iran and their manufacturing capacity before this happened. Sorry. I want my family to survive. The threat justifies the response. Iran declared war on America many years ago, in 1979 to be exact.
Please don’t use WW2 tropes, Brian? This is what Globalists used for the last 80 years to advance forever wars. ‘He’s a Hitler’, ‘Don’t be a Chamberlain’ and ‘Stand strong like Churchill’ have become rotten and tainted due to so much American blood and treasure lost, and these tropes used to support or shout down dissent.
Excellent summary!!!!!!!!!!!! ONE QUADRILLION PERCENT CORRECTAMUNDO!!!!!!
For 47 years American presidents have done nothing to eliminate 8th the century savages and keep kicking the can down the road. We finally have a president who like Patton wants to send the regime on a one way ticket to hell. God bless DJT, our troops, and are only ally.
Eli Lake writes in Commentary.org:
“Six days before Trump gave the order to commence combat operations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided the president and his senior advisers with intelligence gold. He told them that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would be meeting with his top military advisers on February 28. The CIA confirmed the intelligence with its own sources. Negotiations over disarming Iran were deadlocking in Geneva. So Trump seized the moment. The Iranian regime could be decapitated by hitting that February 28 meeting. And that is exactly what happened in the first strikes.”
Iran never had any intention of disarming. Rather they planned to wait out Trump who would either be assassinated or succeeded. Iran has been funneling a lot of money into the American left to buy influence on campuses and pay for the Global Intafada and Pro-Palestine marches. They had no reason to think they couldn't stall until they had their nukes finished and ready to deploy, by blowing up Tel Aviv first as a demonstration they meant business as they blackmailed the planet. None of this is speculation. These are well researched high probability scenarios in the hands of the CIA and Pentagon. This is why Trump took action now. It was not in his or his party's best political interests, that is for sure
Killing Khamenei didn't decapitate Iran's "Regime".
Not even close.
Really? How about the 1,000+ other IRGC dead commanders?
I agree. I’m showing the deep connective tissue between Mossad intel prowess and how it convinced Trump to act, when he did.
So how, exactly, did they get to where they were in 1979? Did you get a chance to see any of these "8th century savages"? In, say, 1950 Iran, before the first major US intervention? Fortunately, photos exist online of them. It's so easy -- you can just Google "1950 Tehran"
Yes, history exists. Do you mean that nothing can be done because of past history? Should we just wait quietly to accept punishment from a 7th century death cult because you can point to 1979? And we all live on stolen land too, right?
" Do you mean that nothing can be done because of past history?"
Yes, but to properly "do something" one must first *understand* that "past history", and then (you know, in the democracy we have here in the West) discuss, debate, and vote on it, both in Congress and by the American people. The initial comments in this column today were abysmally lacking in that, knowing next to nothing pre-1979.
How much does the USA of 2026 resemble say, 1950’s America? Would it be prudent to base policy decisions based on perception of that time?
We have to know how Iran came to be controlled by hardline mullahs *before* we know how to change that. Our MSM and controlled leadership will have none of that, and therefore paint the simple picture of "Eliminate the mullahs, and presto -- Iran is singing kum-bay-yah and worshipping Americans!" It's both silly and dangerous not to understand the extent of US-Iran problematic relations that led to where we are.
From my vantage point, it's exactly the same idiotic stuff we've heard from neocons for a half century (I've watched this show since the 1970s), most notably the 2000's Iraq fiasco which was supposed to be over in weeks once we found Saddam's supposed "weapons of mass destruction", promoted by fabricated evidence. Frankly, I had it up to here with this shit-show.
THE PEOPLE RUNNING OUR GOV DO NOT CARE ABOUT AMERICANS -- AND THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT IRANIANS. THEY CARE ABOUT POWER. TO DO SO, THEY WANT TO KEEP US IGNORANT AND SUBSERVIENT.
Yes, Neville Chamberlain demonstrated the benefits of democratic long and deep debates and discussions in open public, which informs the enemy, over whether to engage an enemy directly, or appease said enemy hoping giving up a few small trinkets like Poland, would satiate the gluttony of Hitler to gobble up Europe. That plan worked SO well that Barack Obama and his high (low) IQ team of advisers thought they would ignore the lessons of WW2 and give that old appeasement strategy a try. A few pallets of billions of gold bullion and cash later, did it help? At all? No it did not, as October 7, 2023 proved (this was an Iranian funded and strategized attack on defenseless Israeli citizens, Hamas were only the executioners)
"Neville Chamberlain demonstrated the benefits of democratic long and deep debates and discussions in open public"
We currently have a runaway government of secrecy in the U.S.; the criticism is widespread. If you accept that is a problem, then what is a middle ground that preserves some version of democracy in which the government is nevertheless adequately held to account?
Or, do you think some kind of non-democracy is needed (i.e. there is no problem with secrecy), and if so, what is it? Don't be shy, there are many advocates these days for the current Chinese model.
"That plan worked SO well that Barack Obama and his high (low) IQ team of advisers thought they would ignore the lessons of WW2 and give that old appeasement strategy a try. A few pallets of billions of gold bullion and cash later, did it help?"
Yeah, I see your point. This was all debated out in the open, and stupidly won popular support...
"as October 7, 2023 proved (this was an Iranian funded and strategized attack on defenseless Israeli citizens, Hamas were only the executioners)"
Yes. Even the admittedly world-class IDF, first, had absolutely no idea what the murderous clowns were up to, nor second, how to control it in any kind of reasonable time after it started. I think the best explanation is that the level of *pure evil* in Hamas was of such extremity that the most-moral-military IDF, and Netanyahu who helped drive funding to innocently manipulate Hamas, was simply unable even to fathom the absolute depths that *that* evil could sink too. So Israel was, tragically and unavoidably, out of its depth that day. Wouldn't you agree? It's just so hard to wrap my head around what happened. But I'm always willing to be better edumacated, for sure.
Thank you Sasha for saying what regular, normal Americans think about this subject. Those of us working all day to earn and produce value, pay taxes that go to ‘Learing Centers’ and then go home to work even more to raise decent, future adults are all too busy to pay attention to the minutiae.
I fought in Iraq and know all too well how that got messed up. Clearly no one wants to repeat that bull excrement. I do wish that the Persian people will overthrow that theocratic, sadist regime and we will soon see an imperfect peace come to that region sooner than later. I also hope the same for a future liberal, democratic Cuba that is an independent nation aligned with western civilizational values.
"I do wish that the Persian people will overthrow that theocratic, sadist regime"
Well, maybe we can get the sadistic regime that came just before it, the one that brought the crazed religious zealots to power in the first place. You know -- the one the US elevated to power in 1953 by overthrowing the democratically elected prime minister. That old Shah's son is gunning for a restoration -- and with America's help, he just might get it!
I can’t say I know everything that happened in 1940s and 50s Persia, but I do know that Soviet infiltration of Persian society was high and that Iran as part of Warsaw pact would be a net bad all around.
That said, Tehran in the 50s and 60s looked like a much nicer place to visit than today. No morality police running down folks just trying to live their lives. Same could be said for many places in Mideast such as Beirut and Damascus.
"That said, Tehran in the 50s and 60s looked like a much nicer place to visit than today."
Agreed. Its downslide had (apparently) started during that period with the Shah's emergence. When one has a totalitarian regime *installed by the US*, it's both hard to get excited about the future or the "leader of the free world". So they threw a "Hail Mary" pass in 1979, but for a significant portion of the country, it turned out badly.
I know. It's like people in this thread are repeating the propaganda they've heard and deciding our history with Iran started in 1979. This is purely bogus framing.
Just be honest and admit you're pro-regime and want the mullahs to win
You're a binary thinker, right? You can't envision a viable path where they have neither the mullahs nor a US-puppet government?
You're the one who presented the choices as binary options between islamism and US-backed monarchism.
I can imagine a democratic, pro-west iran that shapes its own destiny. For that, the mullahs must fall.
Do you agree?
My first post in this thread was a joke. Thought that was obvious by careful reading even without /s ... but oh well.
"I can imagine a democratic, pro-west iran that shapes its own destiny. For that, the mullahs must fall. / Do you agree?"
Yes. But it will not happen by pounding the country into the dust, and for God's sake, *killing their top religious leaders*, whether they run the government or not.
Americans have been carefully weaned in recent decades against relying on actual diplomacy to achieve friendly relations, with increasingly disastrous results. You can find plenty of criticism online against the near-complete decimation of our diplomatic corps. There's going to be hell to pay for our going it alone, and the consequences of this current war could be the watershed for that.
How does one overthrow a fascist regime of theocrats if not by force?
I'm all ears.
I love Patton's speech, and have had it memorized since youth. My Dad used to watch that film every few weeks. Great movie. Great speech.
Like you, Sasha, I did not vote for more wars, but I trust Trump and have to admit he's been consistent on Iran from his campaigns and even well before. And instead of Israel (the dreaded "JOOOS!!!") pulling Trump's strings, he is being very smart in using our one ally in the region, a nation well-armed and well-trained, to help us in out effort. That's not manipulation, it's smart warfighting.
Iran has been screaming "Death to America" for nearly 50 years. I'm glad we are finally addressing their promised actions instead of waiting for them to come true.
Every time Trump does something "radical" I cringe. But when I think about it, I have to remind myself that he has been right about everything. Prove me wrong.
I was searching for the words to explain myself and you just did. Thank you!
Second guessing a war while it’s being fought is treason.
Boo-hoo - gas costs up 20% in two weeks? Tell that to our parents who went through years of rationing everything from gas to butter and sugar.
Take a look at footage of Minneapolis and Detroit and then tell me that this is not a war against an existential threat.
We don’t hate Muslims but Islamism is another story. Dad’s best friend in the Navy was a German and together they fought Nazism.
Gas still cost a lot less than it did under Biden.
The state of Israel was not created at the expense of the Palestinians.
God Bless President Trump and the Military.
Israel was not created " at the expense of Palestinians" the land was never a nation of indigenous " Palestinian " people. There were Jews there for thousands of years on and off due to expulsion. However thete were many Arabs there, nomadic ones and they were given the opportunity to have a state in the mandate which they refused. They believed they could conquer the Jews and have it all. They wanted a genocide. ButJews fought and won. Then Gaza was given. We see how well that worked out.
Al Jazeera gets it, even if many Carlsonites do not:
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/3/16/the-us-israeli-strategy-against-iran-is-working-here-is-why
Al Jazeera knows better than anyone…the stats are plain as day.
As the mother of a West Point cadet graduating this May, I thank you. God bless America, God bless our President, and God bless our troops.
I don't understand how people do not realize that in real life, having good intentions doesn't mean sh*t. Human nature being what it is, if there's a soft spot, someone will take advantage of it. And Iran has, for 47 years, and the entire planet has either looked away like it's not their problem or scurried around with fistfuls of paper acting like "dialoguing" will solve the issue. It's time for both those camps to STFU and let somebody with a spine deal with the bully on the block. Yes, like they used to do, back in the "good old days."
I agree with you, Sasha. It's totally wrong to undermine our government in the midst of war. We'll learn the outcome soon enough. I've underestimated Trump many times, so we'll see if he's right.
I do understand that the president has a 60 day window for acts like this before going to Congress. Just like Obama did, Biden did, and Clinton did. Congress declares war, but the president can initiate limited military actions.
"It's totally wrong to undermine our government in the midst of war."
What's totally wrong to have the executive department initiate a surprise war, without the debate and consent of Congress, and of the American people. Or maybe you prefer autocracies and renegade generals, both of whom described here were punished by Ike and Truman.
Oh good gosh, if they’ve gone to Congress with this, the Ayatollah and all his criminal terrorist gang would have long since been gone from their meeting. If they had gone to Congress with this, it would’ve been blasted loud and long to the media, and the meeting would’ve never occurred. That’s the point, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to end a group of evil men and it needed to be done.
"Oh good gosh, if they’ve gone to Congress with this, the Ayatollah and all his criminal terrorist gang would have long since been gone from their meeting."
You're kidding, right? You think the reason Congress should not first have a proper debate and vote, per the Constitution's requirement for it to vote for war (note, just a single time) before it occurs, is because we had currently useful battle intelligence?? Do you understand how a democracy works?
To put in movie speak ala Goodfellas when talking about the hit on Tommy DeSimone, you could say the same for Iran: "it was revenge for the hostages, the Marines in Beirut and a lot of other things..."
"— it’s to play-act at doing so, while adroitly turning present difficulties into someone else’s nightmare in the future."
This can be applied to all kinds of domestic issues. The debt, entitlement programs, Social Security, housing, spending, enacting legislation that Americans desire at a 90% footing. Term limits. Balanced budget. Eliminating two old laws for every new one. Lower or eliminate federal taxation. Spending cuts. And finally, the SAVE ACT.
I would wish that Congress would pass an AUMF which would permit Trump to change the government of Iran and depose the theocracy. That no such AUMF is likely makes me queasy. But what he is doing is not optional. Our opponents aren't rational. Their worldview is informed by their religion. To them, we are the Great Satan, and they want our Death. A regime like that can never have nukes, because they will use them at their first opportunity. A lasting solution to this threat is to take them out. This, Trump is trying to do, and this, I support. I hope he succeeds.