Secretary of State Marco Rubio updates the media on current activity surrounding Operation Epic Fury.
Secretary Rubio begins with an update on what Americans in the region need to know. Rubio asks all Americans to record their status with the U.S. State Department. [State Dept. Website] To get the latest updates visit http://travel.state.gov/destination and enroll to receive alerts directly at http://step.state.gov. Americans who need consular help can reach us 24/7 by phone: +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada).
Rubio then outlines the latest report on a drone hitting near a U.S. embassy in Dubai. A drone struck a parking lot adjacent to a chancellery building and a fire broke out. No Americans were hurt or injured. The consulate was already on minimal staffing.
Secretary Rubio then provides an update on the general disposition of the conflict effort. Rubio notes the two most powerful air forces in the world are about to go even more severe in our combat activity deep inside Iran.
The traditional frame of reference for pundits surrounds “the escalation trap.” Most of them are so stuck in their old Washington DC view of nation building they just cannot see another approach.
How do you avoid the trap? You don’t play the game.
You don’t try to control the outcome on the ground. You change behavior, without being on the ground.
Eventually, having killed or destroyed everything you want to see killed or destroyed (including their ability to wage war against you), you withdraw – then demand terms.
You don’t need to be there on the ground.
It’s a version of the Venezuela model.
Tell the governing body, whoever that is, whoever surfaces to claim lead with the support of the people, what you expect. Then you hold them accountable.
If they refuse to change behavior, bomb them again – select the refusers as new targets. Wash – Rinse – Repeat.
Again, pull back, await the governing authority to surface, tell them the expectations, if they balk, reject or refuse, bomb them again…. Pull back, await the next crew, tell them the expectations; if they balk, fail or reject, bomb them again…. Then pull back.
Is there an escalation trap? No, you are trying to change behavior – full stop.
You remain open but cold, hard and indifferent to any non-compliant replies.
PDT is absolutely doing the right thing at the right time. My concern is the availability of Western defensive weapons. Hopefully our allies in the region don’t shoot down anymore of our aircraft and there are enough defensive weapons to combat Iran’s drones and missiles until the US and Israel can finish smoking Iran’s ability to launch them.
Certainly brings into question the capability to defend against their weapons.
From twz.com about the drones…interesting that it says we used them for the first time. Wonder what was used in Venezuela.
( with pictures of all as well )
https://www.twz.com/news-features/u-s-military-has-used-long-range-kamikaze-drones-in-combat-for-the-first-time
Don Surber embedded this LUCAS drones story in his column coupla days ago. But thanks for the even more detailed TWZ one…
https://x.com/shanaka86/status/2028271347189866541?s=20
Right around the same time, the flap about inadequate munitions started. Yeah, right. The talking heads spreading that may have been trying to get attention off this.
“CENTCOM: Shooting at all the things that can shoot at us”
— Fox News headline banner
Read PDJT’s Truth Social post on the issue of our weapon supply.
Yeah… We’re good. 👍☺️
Love how he answers questions before they’re asked!
He can predict their idiocy. It’s almost a sport at this point. 🤣
And just a few short years ago he was referred to as the amazing shrinking Marco Rubio. My how he has grown into his shoes. His parents must be very proud of him.
He’s always a step or two ahead of the rest of us!
I do agree. But I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Seems to me that a major part of the strategic and/or tactical planning of this operation would include identifying/ locating and neutralizing these missile and drone launch sites first to avoid/prevent any significant response from the Iranians. I’m not a military guy so I have to assume the experts know what they are doing. Carry on!
The missiles are underground… deeply underground. They need bunker busters to disable the vast network of roadways.
Our Spaceforce has real time eyes on every square inch of Iran right now and can pinpoint the launch coordinates of everything that flies.
So every time the regime rolls out a rocket launcher it’s vaporized before it can get back to its tunnel, and probably in many cases before it can even launch its ordnance.
A great place to watch it happen is the Enforcer channel on youtube. Lots of live updates and breaking coverage.
Another good source is tousi tv, also found on youtube.
Meanwhile, are you by any chance the w kirk related to a youtube channel whose initials are wgl?
Thank you, and no I am not. Have a great day! 🤩
The Donald already made the claim that we could go on a long time bombing and afterwards. Basically, his words. I am not worried they will be firing willy-nilly anymore into Israel. Regardless of who they are hitting now, the US and Israel, Death to Satin, is still their goal to end times.
Thank you Sundance.
How many times did he have to explain the objective…they have ears but refuse to hear.
🎯
The centrifuges in a bombproof (ha!) bunker complex were a dead giveaway, Stephen.
Then there was the concurrent development of delivery systems (missiles).
I also have a vague recollection of reading in the newspapers, back when there were newspapers, that they were enriching uranium. The “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” declarations were another clue.
Call me crazy, but I don’t think Iran was working on a new ride for Disneyland.
Iran bragged about their nuclear capability as their opening position at negotiations.
“Both the Iranian negotiators said to us directly with, you know, no shame, that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60% [enriched uranium],” Steve Witkoff told Fox News host Sean Hannity, “and they’re aware that that could make 11 nuclear bombs, and that was the beginning of their negotiating stance.”
https://nypost.com/2026/03/03/us-news/iran-claimed-to-have-enough-uranium-for-11-nuclear-bombs-during-geneva-talks-us-envoy-witkoff-says/
WMD is Iraq and I completely get it. This is not that. This has been for 47 years when I was a first year college student. I think most of us “older” folks no and remember quite well Jimmy Carter and his mistakes.
As far as I remember, Iraq/Terrorists had not killed the vast numbers of Americans until 9/11. Iran has been doing it for 50 years.
In my opinion Israel is run by lunatics and they have nuclear weapons. The greatest threat to the middle east is Netanyahu and the religious zealots trying to bring about the coming of the Messiah.
You sound butthurt your Supremely Crispy Ayotolla and company are ashes.
Buckeye is spot-on.
You’re acting like a cult follower.
For the people? What people would that be? Cult follower? That’s projection.
Are you going to enlist?
If you support others being sent there to die, maybe you should get some skin in the game rather than watching from the sidelines.
You first, Bobby. Lead by example.
I’ve not seen Israel chanting “Death to America” and Death to Iran” for 47 years.
And they have nukes.
UNUSED nukes.
Odd, that……ain’t it?!?
You’re wrong.
Meanwhile, I *HAVE* seen Iran chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” and threatening to wipe Israel from the face of the earth along with countless threats against America, while they have actively been the world’s number one state sponsor of terror and have actively tried to develop nukes.
Not trying to be offensive, just stating the fact……you’re wrong.
And the MESSIAH already came 2,000 years ago!
“And the MESSIAH already came 2,000 years ago!”
Don’t miss this!
We have GOD’s word, GOD breathed …THE BIBLE.
….and
to the comment Israel is run by Lunatics..
…. NOT TRUE …
strongly!
I think that, outside of those unfortunates led astray by the Scofield Bible, most of the world understands that Israel is run by lunatics with nuclear weapons.
New buzzwords huh? Never creative, always obvious. You are what you hate.
you trolling for ? bait?
GOD’s word is more powerful than a 2 edged sword.
Go fish ….
You forgot to add the Babylonian Talmud and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. <sarc>
So in your opinion, the Jewish zealot leaders who don’t believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, are trying to hasten the return of Jesus Christ. Interesting logic.
and 28 people here agree with this crap. This is why Republicans lose elections all the time. We have fringe idiocy on our side also.
So, protecting themselves from the onslaught of ballistic missiles is ushering in the Messiah? Or October 7th. That wasn’t real either? Or the 1948 war, the Suez, or the Six Day War or Yom Kippur War or all the problems in Lebanon.
OK……..
Once again…
Marco for the win! Good grief he’s goooood….I trust the Lord above all else. Since I trust the Lord, I trust his decision to let Donald Trump live for a purpose. Ride the wave folks! God has everything under control.
Obama gave those “lunatics” billions of dollars in cash!!!
Sure wish I could recall where I read yesterday what Bill Clinton said in his testimony re the cash sent to Iran. Maybe it was from a nightmare I’ve had but Clinton said something like ” its a place to park their money.”
We as Americans, and also all the other people in the world, are fortunate that both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are very religious and believe in the True God. … Both Trump and Rubio >understand the influence a peculiar religion has on the radical clerics in charge of Iran. … In the country of Iran, quite a few people believe they can serve their religion by killing massive numbers of people they don’t like.
……. Sundance is absolutely right, when quoting Rubio, ‘Iran is run by lunatics.’
*****
Marco Rubio at the link speaking about the radical clerics in Iran, =
“Now is the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon…”
“That’s why the President made this decision. It was the right decision — and the world will be a safer place when these radical clerics no longer have access to these weapons. You see how they’re using them now. Imagine how they would use them a year from now if they had more of these.”
Let me explain . . . . . in simple English
This is precisely what the media do not want. It is much harder to twist a story and mislead your readers or listeners when you have to use simple English.
The only way to deal with irrational actors that also possess power is to eliminate them.
Or, if you are Obama, you can just give away the farm when negotiating a treaty. But, like service men in skirts, we’re done with that shit!
Skirts, and IIRC, marching in heels…
The Ø Administration was (and members still are) insane in the brain.
I am afraid that they were loyal, but just not to the United States.
Mad dogs must be put down before they bite somebody.
Is NoKo next-o? I hope that’s a no-no. And they already have nukes… so…
Yawn – Wash – Rinse – Repeat.
In 1969 on camera, one of our young 🇺🇸 soldiers
in Vietnam was asked…if you had one message
to be played 50 years from now, what would it be…..
listen to his answer.
Andrew Sessions (@ACTS4USA): “…” | XCancel
And as for Blumenthal…what size for your gear?
As far as our decades of activities in the ME, it seems Iran should have been the first target. But no, we had to go into Iraq after some foo WMDs, and Afghanistan to go after some desert phantom.
I had thought that when GWB invaded Iraq it was so that our forces would be on either side of Iran to effectively attack. Boy, was I ever wrong about that.
apples and oranges… comparing the bush wars, Afghanistan war, with the current situation is ridiculous at best…
Past is prologue… this has been building to this point since 1978.
Everything that has happened, and happens today, and happens in the future, is a continuum… you can’t just conveniently separate one decade from another. Remember the Iran/Iraq war? It’s a complicated web of history…
That’s because W was a City of London stooge.
The 2003 Iraq war was because (almost exactly 10 years earlier) in March 1993, Iraq attempted to kill GW Bush’s daddy HW Bush during a visit to Kuwait.
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000756374.pdf
Once the big pieces of their military are broken, we should second amendment the Persians, delivering planeloads of rifles and ammo to the citizens. They can mop up themselves.
Indeed. My father’s generation gave small arms, via an NRA effort, to the British Home Guard.
And the FP-45 Liberator was dropped into occupied territory for the resistance forces…
Yes. Those were normal people.
Too bad they did not hang on to them.
Yes maybe, but in reality a lot of – probably most – ordinary citizens who never before had firearms training are going to be at a serious disadvantage against trained members of their military or radical militias.
They all need to know how to break down, clean their rifles, reassemble them correctly ,and otherwise maintain them in order to keep them shooting without jamming. That’s not intuitive to a person unfamiliar with firearms.
And rifles tend to jam under high stress situations where a jammed firearm may easily cost you your life….
All that is true, but I think they can be trained to be functional with modest effort . They don’t need to be expert marksmen. If they have a protest and 10% were armed I think the government forces would not attack like they previously were .
Which is exactly why the AK-47 is one of the most prolific, successful, and effective small arms weapon on the planet.
Not everyone needs to be carrying a rifle. And we own 1,000s of AK-47/74s, a platform that needs little in the sophistication of the user. Old can teach the youth.
That may be why PDJT wants to get the Kurds involved in Iran. They are quite familiar with weapons.
I have not read that President Trump stated publicly he wants the Kurds in the conflict. Where did you read that?
Bad BAD idea. How would we determine the good from the rabid? Let them use knives and swords to sort themselves out.
Easy there. Those things could be pointed at us.
ISIS and Al Qaeda haven’t even set up shop yet… probably waiting for the smoke to clear…
Nah.
I read Rubio as follows: they were going to deploy drone-based “Dirty Bombs”. That would be a game-changer.
More a psychological weapon than a practical one. There would be more direct deaths from the overreactions to potential radiation exposure then directly from the actual drone crashing or exploding.
Dead is dead but the terror lasts for the living.
So does the radiation
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
Perhaps in this case we are talking about morality (good behavior) instead.
“when enough clerics have died then maybe Iranians will have your freedom too” Modified from Proximo The Gladiator.
Love it.
Now, about those drones. Do we have in the hopper a system to identify the low-flying things?
Yes. As well as weapons that can defeat the drones by jamming their comms & guidance.
Its a fast-evolving tech field where new stuff is being tried every month……
Ukraine & Russia both have deployed the “drone on a wire” stuff to avoid the jamming issue. Search for the YT videos of them cutting the “wire”, then drone detonates / crashes.
http://www.youtube.com/shorts/WUc_m0dDD4Q
We have for a very long time, I believe this aircraft type (and later redesigns) detect things @ sea level, think drug speed boats. (down looking radar no ground clutter)
Problem is doing this on the ground/land area is “ground clutter”. I believe AI powered systems can eliminate the “ground clutter” part and can decide rather instantly what might be traveling just above “tree line” that acts like a threat if it is heading into a threat sensitive zone.
We (the USA) has no “known” system to knock these down even if we can detect them, enter the Israel laser systems just deployed for the first time…. I can see a bit into the future here of what the Greenland Golden Dome will consist of. (DC golden dome) (someone posted recently in O/T (probably David) a YT video on the tests of hitting airborne artillery as proof of functionality.
I know of many sensitive places that would be in need such protections, at least after our perimeters are protected.
I agree w Erik Prince this is opening a can of worms and has already created chaos and destruction: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/03/01/erik_prince_on_iran_who_takes_over_how_does_the_regime_get_changed.html
The President and Admin must stop using taxpayer moneys on foreign soil as though it’s a bottomless banc acct, take care of legal Americans 1st…
You enjoy playing checkers don’t you, Lol.
You must have loved Trump’s $10 billion taxpayer-funded “donation” to the Board of Peace.
Sure, the funds are “housed” in the World Bank, but only Trump appointees including Jared “manage” those funds.
**all air quotes intentional**
This is taking care of American, first. Iran had a dead-mans switch tripped and ready to go off that would have harmed thousands of Americans.
Or millions of Americans and everyone else, if they bought a little more time to make that a nuclear dead man’s switch . We go tthere first. Everyone liked this action when it was on McGyver. Saved with only seconds to lose.
Loved that show!
Erik Prince, the ultimate authority on clear, strategic thinking. Just wait until he comes up with another Blackwater to provide “security” to US personnel..
I guess he “Missed Out” on the Contract to provide Security to the New Shah.!!!
Ask Steve Bannon how Epstein doing?
Prince isn’t changing gears to the current new warfare tactics. He’s stuck in the past methods.
They are not stuck. They are angry. President Trump’s strategy does not allowing for cashing in. War used to be their path to riches thru the military industrial complex. President Trump’s Department of War is not playing that game.
❣️
Yeppers.
Now that you mention the MIC…
I’ve been wondering how many in Congress have been adjusting their stock portfolios since the first wave 🤔
Would love to see results! Good one, Ms Betsy
Good point. I stand corrected. How’d I miss the obvious!
All of these men, Tucker too, are mad because they thought they would have a lot more say in ‘Policy” just because they helped him be elected.
shades of Ann Coulter who thought she was a king maker and who absolutely no one wanted to listen to, (especially Pres Trump) after President Trumps 2016 victory.
She turned on the hate Trump full bore with the he promised a border wall, knowing full well congress controls funding.
By the way Ann Coulter ……how do you like us now?
Wow, this is first class and probably one of the best posts I’ve read here.
Talk to your senators and Representatives about what they should be doing for American citizens. The ball is in their court on many things.
There’s plenty of money to be spent on citizens if congress would get off their a$$es and do their jobs. Stop harassing Trump when he is already doing what he can do with no help whatsoever from those who directly represent you and your state.
How is removing the ability to attack you from someone who has consistently attacked you for half a century, but would really love to do it to you with nukes, not taking care of legal Americans first?
Please explain.
another one……..
You do not need to be nice to change behavior. In some cultures it is considered weakness.
Pretty Close Sundance;
We Don’t Care WHO is IN-Charge, as Long as they Don’t have Nukes and Don’t Promote/Condon/Shield Terrorism.
If we Look at the “Failed” States we have Created{or Helped to Create}; None of them are a Threat to USA.
Libya, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, …. Now Iran[Once we Finish the Job}
We used to Worry about Qaddafi, Hussein, Assad getting Nuclear or Biological Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Anyone Worried about that anymore, from Them.???
The Smaller these “Fake” Countries formed in 1919 are Sub-Divided, THE BETTER.
They have 5,000 years of Tribal In-Fighting and Slaughter.
With the Financial and Military Support of Iran, GONE…
Who is going to Fund the “12ver Militia of the Golden Mujahedeen of the Levant”.???
NO One: Then we can bring OUR TROOPS out of the Middle East.!!!
Unfortunately the “refugees” from those countries poured into Europe and the US. I do not believe for a second they were vetted well enough and they brought their anti western attitudes with them along with the radicals among them. The EU is actively hostile to anyone that resists the migratiob as are political elements in the US.
There are worse things than nukes and we just lived through one.
Lots of ancient, historical Christian communities in those regions wiped out as well, unfortunately.
The above punishments that Sundance speaks of regarding “The Change of Behavior” is what parents have done for thousands of years.
Eventually, after enough offer of carrot, rejection of carrot, escalating punishment, and offer of carrot the child accepts the deal even if they don’t like it.
This is what PDJT has done with tariffs. You don’t like 15% then how about 25%?
You won’t let us use airbases in Spain, then how about you are no longer allowed to conduct trade with the USA?
Spain is a DYING Country.
Need to Import Mass iLLegals just Function.
Even that’s a lie. They all go on welfare.
The Commies are importing a Muslim mercenary force to help them conquer the Spanish.
Methinks the commies have already conquered the spanish…
Conflict and conquest are ours, Hallelujah!
Proverbs 22:8
Amen!
The Latin Cultures; Central and South America) Spain, etc., have always had a strong streak of socialism and light communism in the them. Easy for a communist agitator and leader to mold and grow.
Israel right now is the most dependable ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. Its people are bearing the brunt of the Iranian response. And as Secretary Rubio has stated emphatically, it was always the U.S. position that such a terrorist regime would never be allowed to build such a conventional capability that its nuclear ambitions became, in effect, a fait accompli. So for the immediate existential threat of this regime against Israel, and the declared long term threat against the United States and its allies, this regime had to go – period.
That the Democrats have criticisms is no surprise. Someone might just as well announce that the sun came up this morning – Democrat criticism of anything this president does is that assured. These people cannot even affirm that their first duty is the protection of American citizens so of course they’re going to criticize any action this administration takes to do so.
That the media can trot out the usual Republican naysayers in a lame attempt to say “See, Republicans have criticisms too!” is not a surprise. They did this during his first term (Ryan, Cheney, Flake, anyone?) and being creatures of unimaginative habit, they will continue to do so. “Never Trumper” became a popular adjective precisely because of such people.
Yes, people of sincere conscience can disagree with the administration’s actions. But there is a time and place for everything. I would argue that the time during which our brave men and women are in harm’s way is not that time. There will be time for any recriminations we feel are necessary later. But American partisanship has traditionally stopped at the water’s edge. Unless one disagrees with the objectives as stated, then all the arguments should be in service of their being achieved, not second-guessing about them – that can come later.
I know we’re no longer the “greatest generation” and such backbiting and hand wringing is now chic. But for a few weeks, can we not pretend that where partisanship stops at the water’s edge, patriotism takes its place, at least so that our men and women of the armed forces feel that this country, unified, has their backs? Maybe I’m just too idealistic, but I don’t believe that if someone offers to sacrifice himself or herself for the sake of this country that is too much to expect.
J
The demoncrat zombie cult’s purpose is to destroy America from within. Full stop.
Kinda think the Iranian citizen who so many think embraces this war effort is “baring the brunt”.
It’s the old Democrat coin flip: Heads we win, tails you lose. We shouldn’t start things. Wait until we’re hit first (with mass casualties). But, whoa!!! You knew this was coming all the time and you did nothing? That’s criminal.
This is so old Granny remembers they tried it in the Iran hostage standoff—and that was under Jimmy Carter.
It seems there’s a beginning of a morning after plan.
The Kurds in the north are said to being armed and if other organized opposition forces come forward to join them the ground operation to finish off the last of Iranian guards, allowing for a transition to occur while we stay above it all and off the ground.
Sounds good to me.
Let’s see what happens, as our Prez often says…
It’s something I’d hoped for steph. And prayed for for the Iranian people whose courage in the face of certain death and torture for rising up is unfathomable.
Iran is a big country. The eyes of monsters can’t see everywhere.
Praying deeply for their victory…
Right there with ya.
Betsy, there are a lot of us praying for their deliverance and victory against the evil regime. I continue to pray many times a day for the people.
Erdogan will flip out because the US is arming the Kurds. Turkey hates Kurds.
Erdogan is always flipped out
I heard the Kurds were communists. We don’t need anymore of those.
And Muslim to boot.
Muslims that are on our side and fight against our enemies.
Boy these reporters are really thick!
On purpose. They think that if they keep asking questions from different angles that they’ll get something they can use against this Administration.
I think the AWFLs among them probably all have small yappy dogs named Gotcha.
Spain is governed by a lunatic also.
Sounds like tough love…lol
Thank you Professor. Great assessment. We were all worried about boots on the ground/loss of life.
These members of the press are like a bunch of whining children. “But whatabout??? Whatabout???” They’re not critical thinkers and seem to have a fifth grade comprehension level. They’re so cringe.
Indoctrinated.
Plus endlessly Entitled.
At least they aren’t screaming at President Trump anymore.
You are much too kind. I was thinking more like third grade but I’m a reasonable guy so can we agree on fourth grade level?
As one continues to whack-a-mole the successive layers of mullahs, or even junior mullah cadets, the wired intel assistance of the Israelis will be key in assessing when someone is ready to throw in the towel for real. Not being able to establish who we’re dealing with is the kind of thing that delayed the Japanese surrender, because the C2 is so decimated that solitary cells continue to resist and there may likely be fractures within the “government” itself.
As said elsewhere – they may stop after someone they control gets in charge.
Retired Magistrate here: I think that President Trump has been planning Operation Epic Fury for quite some time. Four months after he was elected the second time (May 2025) he visited the Middle East and talked about investment opportunities and regional security. Also, I remember him talking about Iran and their potential for nuclear capability back in 2020 and before that.
So, this was not a spur of the moment knee jerk reaction; it was carefully planned to protect the security of the United States. Operation Epic Fury will level the playing field for the people of Iran and it will be up to them to decide what to do with it. President Trump is not Obama or Bush; he has a long range vision for the security of the United States via peace through strength and where appropriate using strength to achieve peace.
Well said.
Good morning Marcia. Glad to see you commenting. Have missed your comments. I am always looking forward to your comments.
Have a wonderful and blessed day.
I am really puzzled about something and I hope to hear some speculation as to what the actual truth is: in recent months, as Tucker Carlson has gotten more unhinged and obsessed with Israel and the Joooos, like kookoo Candice Owens, I accepted the allegations of some online influences that he was owned by Qatar. But based on his allegations today about activities in Qatar and their swift blunt denial, it doesn’t seem like he’s working for them. Is he just like all the other Lefties –a Soros employee??
Good question and I’ve been wondering the same thing.
I’ve followed Tucker since he broke from Fox News. I don’t understand his ” America First ” rants of late. Can’t remember any time in history when the US put America first. The US has entered numerous wars and sacrificed its blood and treasure by entering WWI, WWII, Vietnam, etc.
Tucker is suggesting isolationism which is to me, Un-American.
Then why did he buy property overseas?
There are some Christians that think they can thwart God’s plan and stop the Anti Christ from appearing. It all hinges on Jewish people accepting the Anti Christ as the Messiah. Nothing can stop what is coming.
Thinking about the much vaunted “regime change…” When was the last time that worked out to our benefit?
The President’s limited — but firm and specific — objectives make a lot of sense.
We need new terms.
PDJ has never engaged in regime change.
In this case he’s simply toppling the regime and walking away…
…because the regime, like the lightbulb in the shrink joke, has to really WANT to change.
This one didn’t.
Thankfully now the people under it absolutely do (2/3 majority is what I’ve seen noted).
I pray they can do it.
Good point. “Regime change” as practiced by prior administrations could more accurately have been called “regime install.”
Pres. Trump is providing the conditions for the former while refusing the latter.
Venezuela.
Thank you, Sundance. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
As an aside: It’s beginning to look like the era of of one or two big issues a day being highlighted on CTS are done with. Every day now, my old scrawny head is spinning! Yeah!
Whatever will the war hawks do when President Trump has finished eliminating or emasculating all threats to the US around the globe?
fabricate a new enemy. They still have their classic fallback: Russia, Russia, Russia
This is basically like disarmament of Japan after WWII. Just have to kill the leaders until you find one that will agree to the terms.
I love the openness and honesty of Sec Rubio’s comments.
One thing troubles me, however. He continues to speak of lunatic clerics.
There are many, many lunatic Muslims who are not clerics, but simply practicing Muslims.
I don’t think it’s only clerics who want Jews and infidels dead.
I think he well knows that.
I have said this before, but I will listen the left-wing pundit space for entertainment and because you can literally see them craft narratives.
I have already seen them try to drive a wedge in over Israel. They think they can pull enough voters away by simply painting Trump administration as Israel’s lapdog.
I know many here don’t want to hear it, but they are not wrong to press that issue, and I am seeing spillover to more centrist and even supposed right leaning commentators in this regard.
Along those lines, they are now pushing the narrative that the neighboring Gulf states and our allies in the ME are feeling backstabbed. That we only protect Israel, and have left other countries vaulnerable. They are claiming, via Saudi sources, that the hits to infrastructure and none US assets was actually Israel pulling false flags to try to draw other Arab states into the war. This, btw, is also the narrative that Iran’s state-run media is pushing.
This plays into the unexpected response by Iran. Iran was hitting civilian targets in the first few days. I thought it was likely a support/coms breakdown. But now I wonder if they didn’t so they could point the finger at Israel.
I think it might just backfire on Iran in reality.
“This is what Secretary of State Marco Rubio was talking about when he explained why the U.S. needed to strike Iran now”….
To say nothing of “dirty bombs.”
The only problem with this plan is that it is coming 46 years too late. When it first became clear who and what “the Mullahs” were, and what apocalyptic fanaticism was driving them, the United States and other countries should have immediately driven them out. We have paid a desperate price for not having done so at that time.
What Rubio has now been saying is spot on the mark. You cannot reason with these people: you must utterly destroy them and their entire ability to harm you. Because they want you dead, and they don’t care if they die in the attempt. “Suicide is glorious.” And, atomic bombs are an even more glorious way to die and to take more “infidels” with you.
Because they have been in power for so long and have deeply entrenched themselves, it’s not going to be easy nor quick to dismantle their military might. It will take even more force to cause this nut to crack. But, it can and must be done. Again, “46 years too late.”
We must hope that more Middle Eastern countries join us, as they realize that the end of the Iranian terror is now within their reach. They, too, have suffered just as long. And there is only one way to finally end it. Iran didn’t used to be this way, before its horrors began.
“Tom Cotton just said Arab nations aren’t begging for peace. They’re asking President Trump for targeting info so they can join the fight against Iran.”….
That it was Barron Trump posting this MADE MY DAY/NIGHT.
I think its a “tribute” account.
These are historic events we are witnessing and very well planned events by the USA and Israel.
What remains for me as essential is where are the enriched uranium stores and who is in charge of them? The Iranians obviously didn’t lose their nuclear capabilities totally in our previous strikes. Until all of it is secured by the USA, Israel or an Iranian force friendly to both, we could be facing the same issues down the road.
I would think this is part of the plans by the USA/Israel and they know where this material and other sites that build and deploy their drone systems, arms etc are located. It will be a good day when we know everything Iran can use to wreak havoc on the ME and elsewhere are captured and destroyed or controlled completely by those who will not use them for destruction.
The first thing to be done is to destroy enough of their missile and drone capabilities that they can’t deliver their bombs where they want them to go. Destroy them on the ground, so you don’t have to destroy them in the air or on the seas. Also, completely sinking their navy will reduce their ability to terrorize the high seas.
We don’t actually know if they are being truthful or boastful in what they still say. In any case, this enemy is still powerful enough, and fanatical enough, that final liberation is going to take some time.
@Osint613
5h
NEW Qatar says it has arrested two cells affiliated with the IRGC inside the country. …. I wonder if Tucker has any comment
10 suspects arrested…..7 of whom were tasked with espionage and 3 with sabotage. -Al Arabiya
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/2028952159602049103#m
Yes, it will be interesting to see how Carlson will pivot to cover this reality.
IDF: In the past 24 hours, hundreds of aircraft carried out simultaneous strikes on hundreds of targets across Iran and Lebanon. Since the start of the operation, the Israeli Air Force has destroyed about 300 Iranian missile launchers
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/2029008663780679836#m
BREAKING: The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran. – CNN
Weapons have been smuggled into Western Iran to arm thousands of Kurdish volunteers. They are expected to begin a ground operation within days, according to ITV News.
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/2028954146049503481#m
I would superficially consider this to be “Fake News.”
Steve Witkoff:
“Let me say this, because I forgot this small little detail. In that first meeting, both the Iranian negotiators said to us directly, with no shame, that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60% and they’re aware that that could make 11 nuclear bombs, and that was the beginning of their negotiating stance.
So that’s – they were proud of it. They were proud that they had evaded all sorts of oversight protocols to get to a place where they could deliver 11 nuclear bombs.”
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/2029015459928891428#m
@Osint613
16h
Iranian opposition channels report that over the past 24 hours, the IRGC and Basij have been turning schools, mosques, and hospitals into their bases. They are abandoning their own headquarters due to widespread strikes on Basij camps and police stations, and relocating to civilian sites, using the same tactics as Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups. By doing so, the IRGC and Basij endanger civilians and effectively turn them into human shields.
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/2028789842813812740#m
I daresay that these madmen have been doing such things for a very long time now. They haven’t cared in the slightest about the Iranian people for 47 years now. Theirs is a black-and-white world of infidels vs. celestial virgins.
@Osint613
1h
TRUMP ON IRAN TODAY: “They have no navy. It’s been knocked out. They have no air force. It’s been knocked out.” “They have no air detection. That’s been knocked out. Their radar has been knocked out.” “Just about everything has been knocked out… They’re going to they’re going to be in for a lot of hurt.” – Fox News
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/2029008135696900550#m
The Democrat Party and mainstream media are Iran’s biggest allies.
Social media publishing massive amounts of anti American propaganda are giving them a helping hand, too.
How is this not treason?
@iranidaturanThe reason Iranian protesters are burning mosques, is not blind hatred, we are not Palestinians.
It has a concrete, practical reason, and there is a very important lesson in it for you in the West.
These mosques are not places of worships, they serve as operation bases for the regime’s militias in residential neighborhoods. Mosques house armories for the Basij militias. They function as headquarters for repression and temporary detention centers for protesters.
Protesters burn these structures as a strategic step to weaken the regime’s local oppression forces. Here is where you in the west must pay attention:
In iran, for decades, mosques served as recruitment and indoctrination centers for the regime. The regime uses them to radicalize vulnerable people and transform them into hate filled killing machine against their own society. Decades of this preparation are now producing results.
The same pattern is currently building in Western cities through mosques and community centers. These efforts are tied to groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and pro-Palestine networks.
Critics who point out this process are quickly accused of “Islamophobia”. This accusation is a deliberate tactic. Do not accept it at face value.
Iranians used to respect mosques as genuine places of worship. Photos show the Shah visiting the Imam Reza shrine with respect. They also show him performing Hajj in Mecca.
Iranians rejected Islam only when the regime weaponized it for political power and control. Western societies should not fall for the same deceptions. Identify these structures and stop them before it is too late.
https://nitter.poast.org/iranidaturan/status/2015483852165190071#m
“The mosques are our armories.”
Little Marco isn’t little anymore. I’m impressed with his come-around. Not 100% sure he has shed his DS skins but I think he’s getting it more right each month.
Marco/Gabbard ticket? Thoughts?
ISLAM IN AMERICA
Estimates for the Muslim population in the United States generally range between 3.45 million and 4.5 million, representing approximately 1.1% to 1.34% of the total 349 million population.
The population is projected to reach 8.1 million by 2050.
The U.S. states with the highest Muslim populations are New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas, often centered in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Chicago, and Houston.
Dearborn, Michigan, has the highest concentration of Muslims proportionally, while New York City holds the largest total number of Muslim residents.
Islam is the third-largest religion in the U.S. after Christianity and Judaism. However, the population is increasing due to both immigration and higher natural birth rates, and projections indicate that Muslims will become the second-largest religious group in the United States by 2040.
Tommy Robinson is currently doing a fine job of warning America not to go down the same path of Europe …but at 1.1% to 1.34% of a very large 349 million population, the problem may already be too well embedded.
Luckily, America’s founding fathers came up with the genius idea of the Second Amendment.
https://nitter.poast.org/MarkWRowley/status/2029042489139839259#m
The freedom fighting Iranians, even though supported by a big majority of Iranians, can not fight a large and well armed army. The US Army and US Marines could not fight a well armed army if they themselves were not armed. They would be slaughtered.
I’m afraid that the Iranian people are going to get screwed agan
The Basij militias are lightly armed, mostly with pistols or AKs, some armed only with clubs and sticks, a few units with heavier weapons. Those are the main enforcers used to control the Iranian population. There are branches in every city and large town. That’s who ordinary Iranian people need to rise against and eliminate. Basij are who were slaughtering protesters and dragging people off to jail or torture.
If the people wipe out the Basij, other Iranian regime forces will lose their “eyes and ears” local informers who know where resistance cells are active.
The main Iranian military (the Artesh) is unlikely to be highly motivated to attack the civilian population after getting crushed by US airpower.
The IRGC will still be a problem. But the real hard-core IRGC is not that big in numbers inside Iran and what there is has been heavily targeted.
This is the problem with what I’m seeing… if you’re looking for Regime Change… THEN YOU NEED TO FREAKING OWN IT AND CONDUCT A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION, COMPLETE WITH A U.S.-ALIGNED REPLACEMENT GOVERNMENT READY TO HIT THE GROUND.
It’s like Afghanistan, except better… because Iranians are not, to a great degree, a bunch of goat herders with a smattering of relatively educated folks scattered throughout the “urban” areas. Iran has an actual air force… legit civil engineers… legit technology engineers (pretty good hackers, I hear)… educational structure… the works. What The People need is an actual army to replace the IRGC… otherwise, The People are fighting one HELL of an uphill battle… which is your point, and a correct one.
It’s not a coincidence that we had military bases and a substantial military presence in Iraq FOR YEARS… decades, in fact. Because Regime Change is complicated business. Maybe less Pitter Patter and more “we own Iran for the next five years” is in order. Then you hand it over. Enough of the 20+ years nonsense. Fix it, put it back on the road to prosperity and independence ASAP… oh, and you more or less guarantee a important friend in the region.
Here’s an idea… let’s call it a “conservatorship“… that should be palatable.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a successful, well-executed Regime Change for once? I mean… D.C. can start one… but they can’t seem to finish the job… which turns out to be mighty costly in the end… on many fronts.
The big picture is that it has definitely started, it’s going to be a long time before it’s over.
Don’t get everybody riled up with your cautious pessimism, my friend.
Nanoseconds in the big picture.
It continues to amaze me how perfect for this role of Secretary of State Marco Rubio as turned out to be.
ZERO dollars for nation building crap, instead, invest in more oil exploration here at home and add a 5-cent-per-gallon WAR tax if you have to, but build US strategic petroleum reserves so we are completely energy-independent of the middle east and we can do business, OR not, at our discretion, and iran can sit there and rust and rot or make better choices hopefully. Same for the rest of the region.
Disagree… 5 trillion dollars is unacceptable. Half a trillion from us to fund our own operations, plus another trillion from all those wealthy neighbors over there gets the job done… if you do it right. The Arabs should be loving themselves the opportunity for a stake in some of that sweet, sweet Persian crude…
Oh… and before Trump is out of office he strikes a deal with the wealthy Arab neighbors to replenish the U.S. reserves at a substantial discount… preferably free… but $10/barrel feels about right.
notice Iran didn’t hit Turkey.
I heard something hit Incirlik AB.
Anyone seen Fuzzy Sweaters lately?