84 Comments
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Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

when we are told by US media and officials that Iran has been decimated, its military, that is a joke...they are stronger...now...we destroyed infrastructure but made hardliners out of the population...it is staggering how Iran can rag doll USA and Israel...how did this happen? I have always said the bombing of Iran and war was wrong...we lost soldiers and assets wrongfully...Trump was misled again...I want him to succeed

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

Bull shit, you lie. You don’t want him to succeed, you just want to bloviate.

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

huge kisses to you Rog, sloppy ones too but no tongue.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

Do you have active herpes or just latent?

AwakeNotWoke's avatar

Can you believe these "strategic leaks" that POTUS Trump berated Netanyahu, now "confirmed" by Netanyahu himself? "Strategic leaks" means it never happened, just bullshit to influence perceptions. Watch what happens to oil prices next. We are now just short of the point of inevitability for global and US recession.

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

I think big people playing with us and the markets

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

I do agree re recession

AwakeNotWoke's avatar

Wonderful news, Paul. POTUS Trump and Marco Rubio are going to take over from.RFK Jr and engage with Bill Gates and GAVI so that they can roll out new shots for the bundibugyo virus:

"Even the Trump administration doesn’t trust Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to handle public health policy.

State Secretary Marco Rubio hung the health secretary out to dry Tuesday, revealing to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he was planning to take the reins on vaccine development and distribution as the ebola virus spreads."

"The State Department is going to be reengaging—I’m not here to tell you we’re going to yank this thing and we’re not going to listen to his [RFK Jr's] points of view—but the State Department, a few weeks ago, made the decision that we were going to reengage on this issue of Gavi.”

Marco Rubio Admits RFK Jr. Has Been a Total Disaster on Vaccines https://share.google/sDkF28NPkouL0TYId

Kathleen Taylor's avatar

https://peternavarro.substack.com/p/iran-lit-the-fuse-president-trump

Quoting Navarro at the link:

"This is not a normal state seeking normal relations. It is a terrorist regime that has spent nearly half a century killing, maiming and kidnapping Americans, daring America to pretend the next attack will somehow be the last.

The idea that a nation so intent on “Death to America” should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles to deliver warheads to Tel Aviv, Riyadh, or New York is as unthinkable as it is unacceptable."

Lynn's avatar

Totally Agree!

Kathleen Taylor's avatar

Is Iran truly "stronger" now that it has foolishly attacked many of its potentially sympathetic Arab neighbors?

The longer President Trump allows Iran to fear in anticipation of America's next move, the more Iran's fractured 'leadership' miscalculates and founders as it lashes out in increasingly unwise ways.

Trump has the upper hand.

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

it is stronger, every single aspect that we said we were attacking it to reverse, remains and is stronger. so I argue yes, dangerously so. we made a huge mistake. went at this wrong.

JJJ's avatar

As Senator John Kennedy says "Even duct tape can't fix stupid."

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ORPK3V-VzyQ?feature=share

Kathleen Taylor's avatar

Yes. Mindful of the Muslim "playbook" and our history with them, I don't see the value in pantomiming "diplomacy" with Iran. And they will only despise and take advantage of perceived weakness in us.

I have no background in military history or strategy. But, I have to ask, Isn't it time to make good on our military threats?

JJJ's avatar

Yes but I believe President Trump has a multi faceted plan that is mitigating a confluence of interconnected issues involving the Gulf arena and the Caribbean which is why he took action in Venezuela. It is much more involved that I have complied but it is lengthly.

The 21st century isn’t defined by countries acting alone.

It’s defined by energy systems, infrastructure systems, and computation systems overlapping across regions that were once seen as separate.

The Dutch are also heavily encroaching on strategic Panama Canal a very important USA strategic chokepoint and gateway built by the USA.

Kathleen Taylor's avatar

Thank you for sharing your view of this misunderstood conflict. I wanted to make a similar effort but felt there is little interest in the deeper analysis of interconnected global complexities here, where it's more popular to doubt and criticize Trump's foreign policy, despite his significant achievements.

I am particularly interested in looking into the Dutch activities with respect to the Panama Canal, which you reference. Trump has been wise to give the Canal the strategic attention it deserves.

Lynn's avatar

I agree, Kathleen. Great insight.

JJJ's avatar

Iran has recently attacked at least 13 countries in 2026 as part of its retaliatory campaign following U.S. and Israeli strikes. 

Primary targets include Gulf nations hosting U.S. military bases:

* United Arab Emirates – Heavily targeted, with 1,138 drone and missile attacks reported. 

* Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman – All hit in strikes aimed at U.S. facilities and infrastructure. 

Other nations attacked:

* Israel – Received ballistic missile barrages. 

* Jordan – Targeted multiple times, including attacks on U.S.-linked bases. 

* Azerbaijan – Struck for the first time, with drones hitting the Nakhchivan region. 

* Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Cyprus – Hit by intercepted missiles or drones, some launched via Iranian proxies. 

* United Kingdom – Its Akrotiri and Dhekelia base in Cyprus was struck. 

Iran has also threatened European countries, warning they may become targets if they join the conflict. 

Kathleen Taylor's avatar

I eagerly await a decisive response.

"Negotiations" are merely providing Iran with an opportunity to stall. Who knows what Iran is plotting in the meantime?

JJJ's avatar

They are the worlds master at perpetual negotiations for their unwavering steadfast goal that all non Muslims must convert or die by the sword.

John MacHarg's avatar

Nuclear weapons…what a load of bullshit. Does anyone remember the Iraq war and WMD? What are nuclear weapons if not the highest order or WMD. How fucking stupid are we to fall for that again. Like hantavirus, or Ebola…how are people so fing gullible. It’s laughable…like I am antisemitic for pointing this BS out. And crazy regime…Iran is 20 times older than America. Who are the crazy ones…orange man and a bunch of people who think they’re so smart they keep falling for the same stupid tricks. Meanwhile Iran rag dolls…

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

I kind of like this post, full of interesting things to chew on

AwakeNotWoke's avatar

Operation Epic Fury achieved all of its stated objectives and more. The US liberated the Iranian people. The US overthrew the Iranian regime. It's now held by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, that is more hard line, which is good because although it is more hard line it is different. Also, the US destroyed their missile force. U.S. intelligence says that only 70% of their missile and drone capabilities are still intact.

The Iranian leadership have suffered a loss because they have been emboldened into a false sense of security by the demonstration that they can take attacks by both the United States and Israel yet still fire missiles and block the Strait of Hormuz.

Thanks to international reporting by the BBC--based on an extensive investigations utilizing satellite imagery and more—it's been found  that “Iran has damaged [only] 20 US military sites since the start of the war…suggesting [merely that] the attacks are more extensive than publicly acknowledged.”

The BBC continued that “Iran has targeted key facilities across eight countries in the Middle East since the end of February, causing millions of dollars of damage to state-of the-art air defense systems, refueling aircraft and radars.”

Examples of the destruction the BBC confirmed include merely three state-of-the-art anti-ballistic missile batteries that cost in the area of $1 billion. Also Iran destroyed an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane—which costs $700 million—and damaged or destroyed at least 42 US aircraft including F-15 and F-35 fighter jets, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and an A-10 attack plane.

It's been warned that given the US still not being able to replenish defensive missile systems, if the “US-Iranian ceasefire breakdown and fighting resume, the existing damage to US bases suggests that facilities across the Gulf could be vulnerable.”

This is chickenshit. This is perhaps one of the greatest strategic victories the U.S. has ever achieved.

John MacHarg's avatar

Why do you hate Jews so much? 😉

AwakeNotWoke's avatar

I don't hate them. I actually spend hardly any time even thinking about them and, even though I prefer Christians, I certainly don't have strong emotions for them. You're confusing not loving Israel passionately with hating. They're separate things.

John MacHarg's avatar

I’m just pulling your leg. My comment is 100% sarcasm. Sorry if it was offensive…just joking.

John MacHarg's avatar

Actually that’s pretty funny because I thought your comment was also sarcasm, but maybe you were being serious. If so that’s truly hilarious…not your comment, but the part about you thinking I was being serious and me thinking you were joking🤣🙏

JJJ's avatar

You need to deep dive Shia fanatical Mahdism and their 12th IMAM apocalyptic beliefs . What does.their age have to do with it. If you are presuming they are the off spring of Darius The Great NADA. The Iran we see today, just like Turkey is one of the most genetically diluted intermarried nations on earth. SEARCH: Haplogroups.

John MacHarg's avatar

I think the age of a culture says a lot about that culture and particularly when they have remained on the same land for thousands of years, and when it is obvious in their traditions, legends, history, architecture and ruins. I’m not so sure about blood lines as they can lead to eugenicism. And I know many Iranians in my past and they are beautiful intelligent people. Plus it seems everything we have been fed in the west has been either an inversion of the truth, half truth, lie or big lie that is the opposite of the truth…particularly over the past decade. So color me skeptical, but not cynical…

JJJ's avatar

I was referring to the Islamic Revolutionary "Guardianship," not the admittedly beautiful Intelligent Iranian people, whereas as based on polls i found including samplings inside Iran about 8o to 65% of public sentiment increasingly reflects rejection rather than reform of the above mentioned

John MacHarg's avatar

But you know that still doesn’t justify our going to war and interfering with their country. I remember when Bush talked about WMD and followed that up w/ spreading democracy in the Middle East. It’s all the same tired BS. I mean they are not even trying to be creative and come up with new narratives. IMO they were lying before about Iraq and same now…obviously. 500k children died in Iraq and our sodomite politicians tell you with a straight face, in all seriousness, as if they were God that it was worth it. Yet here we are again…ground hog day. I thought we just voted in 2024 for no more wars, no new wars whatever. I boggled how people can forget that and based on the exact same propaganda speel as the Iraq war.

JJJ's avatar
6dEdited

Your skepticism is understandable and I believe the Iranian matter is different and needs attention.

1) Baseline reality: origin of hostility

It was not Israel that declared Iran had no right to exist. After the 1979 revolution, Iran’s leadership institutionalized opposition to Israel as a core pillar of the state, a position that has never been rescinded.¹

Since then, senior Iranian figures have repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination, not coexistence.²

Parallel to that, Iran built and funded a network of paramilitary proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, which have carried out sustained conflict against Israel and regional targets.³

That’s not narrative, that’s decades of observable policy.

2) The ideological component documented, not hypothetical

Iran’s system is explicitly rooted in Twelver Shi’a doctrine, including belief in the return of Muhammad al-Mahdi.⁴

What matters is how that belief is operationalized.

Independent analysis from the Middle East Institute shows that within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mahdism has evolved into an activist framework, where “waiting” is reinterpreted as preparation through conflict and geopolitical struggle.⁵

This is reflected in repeated statements by regime connected figures:

Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri tied the Mahdi’s return to conflict with the West.⁶

Ali Saeedi described the IRGC as a tool to prepare for the Imam’s emergence.⁵

Mehdi Taeb identified Israel’s existence as an obstacle to that emergence.⁷

Even at the presidential level, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad openly framed Iran’s mission in terms of preparing for a Mahdist world order.⁸

Peer reviewed scholarship supports this broader shift. Studies in journals such as Middle East Policy, International Journal of Middle East Studies, and Iranian Studies document how Mahdism in modern Iran has moved from quietist theology into political and strategic doctrine, where state action can be framed within an eschatological narrative.⁹

Additional academic work in Security Studies and The Washington Quarterly highlights how ideological frameworks within revolutionary regimes can shape threat perception, risk tolerance, and strategic signaling, particularly when religion and state authority are intertwined.¹⁰

3) Why this matters strategically

No serious analyst claims every Iranian decision maker is trying to trigger apocalypse.

But it is equally unserious to pretend this ideology is fringe, irrelevant, or disconnected from policy.

Because when you combine:

advancing nuclear capability documented by the International Atomic Energy Agency¹¹

a transnational proxy network actively engaged in conflict

and a governing framework where influential actors frame conflict in religious and historical terms

you get a strategic environment that complicates classical deterrence assumptions like Mutually Assured Destruction.

That’s not conjecture, that’s precisely why this issue has been treated as exceptional across U.S. administrations from Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden.

Bottom line

You don’t have to agree with the weight given to ideology.

But dismissing it outright, along with decades of statements, doctrine, and independent academic analysis, isn’t a serious counterargument.

It’s ignoring a critical part of the evidence.

Footnotes and references non governmental and academic

1). Iran–Israel Proxy Conflict

2). Destruction of Israel in Iranian policy

3). Middle East Council on Global Affairs, analysis of Iran’s strategic depth

doctrine

4). Encyclopaedia Iranica, “The Concept of the Mahdi in Twelver Shi’ism”

5). Middle East Institute, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the Rising Cult of

Mahdism

6). Collected translations and reporting on Mirbagheri statements in

independent monitoring outlets

7). Analysis of IRGC affiliated clerical statements on Israel and Mahdism

8). Scholarly and journalistic analyses of Ahmadinejad’s Mahdist rhetoric

9). International Journal of Middle East Studies; Iranian Studies; Middle

East Policy articles on modern Mahdism and Iranian political theology

10) Security Studies; The Washington Quarterly on ideology and strategic

behavior in revolutionary states

11) International Atomic Energy Agency reports on enrichment and

John MacHarg's avatar

I think what you’re saying is that it’s different this time…based on decades of propaganda from a sodomite class that has been caught lying about everything they say.

GKB's avatar

There is only ONE, crazed, terrorist nation, that has used Nukes on a civilian population...We all know which nation that is, don't we.

John MacHarg's avatar

Another Jew hater. What’s with all this antisemitism going on around here? 😉

Milton Farrow's avatar

LISTEN FOLKS I AM TIRED OF DEALING WITH THESE MUSLIM MOTHER FUCKE RS -I CAN STILL GET INTO MY JUMPSUIT---PUT ME IN THE FUCKING LEFT SEAT AND I WILL MAKE

A SILICA FLAT OUT OF THAT FUCKING TERRORIST STATE--WORTHLESS P;IECES OF SHIT ANYWAY

Lynn's avatar

I TOTALLY AGREE.....muslim MF.....Were you a pilot?

Milton Farrow's avatar

the aircraft i hand assembled is still flying out of the Tampa region of Florida its call sign is N7209P-IT WAS SOLD TO COVER MY WIFE'S CANCER CARE COST

the oncologists skinned me alive-- i have no respect for the medical practice and it is worse now than more than ever

Lynn's avatar

I live in Central Florida. Hello, Neighbor :-)

Milton Farrow's avatar

WOULD BE NICE TO GATHER SOME OF US FOR A LUNCHEON OR SOMETHING SIMILAR -WE HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING VIEWS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW I HOPE WE ARE ALL AROUND TO SEE THE CURTAIN CALL!

Lynn's avatar

You taught in the University. What kind of music do you play?

Milton Farrow's avatar

tought as an adjunct professor at sattelite high- and had some 45 students , the majority of whom were plagued with disabilities

All of my kids did well in life-i am very proud of all of them

Lynn's avatar

Right...That would be nice to get together. I like somebody that can tell what's really going on :-) I have communicated with more people on

Substack than I do in everyday life. I have learned a lot, too.

Milton Farrow's avatar

where abouts do you hail from lynn ?--i live in Titusville -it is right on the 9-27 radius like some 60 miles east of Orlando and about 7 miles across

the 2 rivers Indian river and Bananna river separated by Merrit isle ( the barrier isle-i can see the space shots from my front lawn-

Lynn's avatar

WOW....That's great ...what a view to see the space shots from your front lawn!

Lynn's avatar

We live in Winter Park. Near the Advent Health (Winter Park Hospital)

Milton Farrow's avatar

Thats not too far from me- Winter Park is a great community-( as best i remember i used to come over to do some musical events witha big band-- The place is known for great food and great entertainment--i hope it hasn't changed-

Milton Farrow's avatar

I WILL BET WE MUST HAVE HALF A DOZEN WRITERS ON OUR SITE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA-- I AM GONNA TRY TO DO A POLL WHEN I HAVE THE TIME LYNN-THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATE MANNER

Lynn's avatar

I'm so sorry, Milton. I hope your wife is doing better. I agree on the medical practice.

Milton Farrow's avatar

I LOST HER TO A DISEASE THAT THE MEDICAL WORLD KNEW THE ANSWERS TI SINCE 1937 AND WITHHELD IT FOM THE GENERAL PUBLIC----MY IGNORANCE AND WANTING TO BELIEVE IN A PERFECTLY HONEST WORLD WAS MY UNDOING

Lynn's avatar

My Deepest Sympathy, Milton +

Milton Farrow's avatar

it is what it is- putting lipstick on a pig does not make it nice--we live in an ugly world because of a few thousand people who are controlling our lives-IRAN IS A PENETRABLE OBSTACLE THAT MUST BE REMOVED IT HAS TERRORIZED THE WORLD LONG ENOUGH-" JUST GIVE ME THE KEYS "

JJJ's avatar

Sorry for your loss. Just noticed she passed

JJJ's avatar
6dEdited

Brillant Internationally known Master Herbalist Donald Yance, of The Mederi Center, probably the best cancer healer in the world. The only non doctor who gets invited to all doctor medical conferences. Average long term survival about 19 years. Absolutely worth it IF he has a consultation opening..

https://medericenter.org/

Milton Farrow's avatar

BUILT A PIPER COMMANCHE FROM SPARE PARTS AND FLEW IT FOR 30 YEARS WITHOUT INSURANCE NOR ACCIDENT--10,000 HRS RATED IN SINGLE ENGINE COMPLEX GEAR -4000 HOURS TWIN ENGINE CESSNA 402- PLUS SOME JET TIME-- YES I HAVE A LITTLE AVIATION EXPERIENCE--

Lynn's avatar

WOW....YOU certainly, DO :-)

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

Paulie boy, the fat lady has not even changed out of her street clothes,much less gotten on stage in the first act, let alone begun to sing, so, boy, though you have free speech rights, sometime silence is the better part of valor, lest you prove yourself and idiot, as opposed to being suspected of being one.

In other words, patience, my boy patience.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

You continue to show your antisemitism.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

The last thing that we ought to do is follow your suggestions, you know nothing, nothing.

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

calm down Roger...calm down...I have been to Israel 3 times the last year you moron and all at high level government type levels as if you can ever really know who I am and what I do for the government...he he he

Dr. Paul Alexander's avatar

I want peace and no lives lost both sides, I want no Iranians, no Israeli, no Americans killed or harmed and IMO USA first but not as a hegemon, as the leader and mentor and great nation it is and can be...what we do realize is you hate brown people, you hate muslim people, you hate anyone not like you, you may be the white extremist Trump talks about that is so dangerous to the homeland...more than anyone...I never thought this until I read your type of views...you bring nothing to the debate, look at my suggestions, it ensures Israel is safe, USA is safe and Iran people have a chance at future...but not good enough for you...thank God you not in my circle, I may even have to fear you or protect me from you...you seem a bit unhinged...in your hate...you must stop that.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

So I have been to West Africa 13 times in the last 14 years (black people), Nepal 5 times(brown people), Haiti 4-5 times (blacks again), Central America 7 times (red people), Kurdistan twice(Muslims), North Slope Alaska 6 weeks Inuit; about the only nonwhite color I haven’t served mostly with my own money is yellow.

So, tell me how I use my own time and money to serve all these nonwhite that I supposedly hate….. I’ll wait.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

Oh, and your posts are not unhinged, not veiled antisemitic?…..

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

What views of mine are dangerous?

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

And your columns undo anything positive that may come out of your trips.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

I’m sure it was all at invitation of RINOS or Democrats.

Roger Kimber, MD's avatar

Yeah, and so was Benedict Arnold in his day. That & $1.50 will get you a bus ticket.

Bill Rice, Jr.'s avatar

Iran didn’t hit that airport with a missile. That concourse would have been rubble if Iran hit it with one of its missiles. Iran said it was debris from a Patriot missile.

Pete's avatar

Religious fanatics who believe martyrdom is the way to heaven are the exception to MAD as deterrence. Aiding and abetting the enemy is what you have been doing as a disinformation agent.

Kathleen Taylor's avatar

Entirely agree with your first sentence.

Anthony Tasker's avatar

So how many US soldiers have been lost in this Iran thing anyway ??? Hundreds ? Thousands?

Anthony Tasker's avatar

So how many American soldiers have been lost in this excursion to Iran ... hundreds ?, thousands? .

Anthony Tasker's avatar

How many American soldiers have been lost again ??? I can't keep track... must be thousands by now with this "war" going on and on

Anthony Tasker's avatar

How many American soldiers have been lost again ??? I can't keep track... must be thousands by now with this "war" going on and on

Terry Penn's avatar

So close. Keep China entertained. They can't attack the Kuwait airport and get away with it.