US and Israel attack Iran as Tehran retaliates across Middle East US President Donald Trump called for regime change in Tehran, telling Iranians "the hour of your freedom is at hand."
Here's the latest • US and Israel strike Iran: The US and Israel have attacked Iran. Israel said its strikes targeted Iran’s supreme leader, president and head of the armed forces. The US is planning for several days of attacks, sources tell CNN.
• Trump calls for regime change: President Donald Trump described the US military campaign as “massive and ongoing,” and warned American lives may be lost. He also called on Iranians to “take over your government.”
• Iran retaliates: Iran launched an unprecedented wave of strikes toward Israel and US targets across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in the UAE, Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain, where video shows the moment a missile struck a US Navy base.
• Global reaction: The United Arab Emirates called the conflict a “historic moment” in the Middle East, saying world leaders had failed to ensure the region’s stability. The leaders of some US allies expressed concern, while some Arab nations condemned Iran’s retaliation.
One thing I learned by this latest attack on Iran is that "totally obliterated" doesn't carry the same weight it used to if you have to "re-obliterate" it eight months later.
I mean they had to do something and they had to do it NOW am I right?
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Live updates: U.S. and Israel launch major attack on Iran
President Donald Trump urged Iranians to “take over your government” when the strikes are over. Tehran responded by targeting American bases and other targets throughout the region.
What to know
MAJOR JOINT ATTACK: The United States launched "major combat operations" in Iran, joined by Israel, President Donald Trump announced in a video message today.
IRAN'S LEADERS TARGETED: Israel targeted Iranian political and military leaders, two U.S. officials told NBC News, while the U.S. aimed to take out Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
TRUMP URGES REGIME CHANGE: Trump urged Iranians to “take over your government” when the strikes are over. “The hour of your freedom is at hand,” he said.
IRAN RETALIATION: Iran responded by firing missiles at Israel as well as at U.S. bases across the region in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, sending ripples across the Middle East.
TEHRAN WILLING TO TALK: In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was interested in de-escalation and willing to talk if the U.S. and Israel halted attacks. He told Trump that regime change was "mission impossible"
NUCLEAR TALKS: The U.S. built up a massive military presence in the Middle East while holding talks with the Islamic Republic over a new deal to curtail its nuclear program. Araghchi told NBC News that the two sides were close to a deal, decrying the joint strikes while talks were ongoing.
Bessent says Treasury Department reaffirms commitment to 'maximum pressure campaign' on Iran after strikes
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a post on social media, says the department is reaffirming its commitment to Trump's "maximum pressure campaign" after the U.S. struck Iran.
In recent weeks, the Treasury has sanctioned dozens of entities and individuals for what it said were evasions of sanctions that have enabled the regime to sell oil and gas and produce weapons.
Bessent said the Treasury would continue "tracking all illegal funds" and work to retrieve those funds "on behalf of the Iranian people."
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Death toll from strike on Iran girls school reportedly rises as president condemns 'cowardly attack'
The death toll from what Iran says was an attack on a girls school in the province of Minab has risen to 85, according to state news agency IRIB News.
NBC News has not independently verified the claims.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he called a “cowardly attack” on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school, adding that it had "caused deep pain to the hearts of the Iranian nation and all free people of the world."
"This brutal act is another dark page in the record of countless crimes by aggressors against this land and will never be erased from the historical memory of our nation," Pezeshkian said in the statement.
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New explosions heard in Tehran
Reporting from Tehran
New, loud explosions can be heard in the Iranian capital.
The massive blasts come hours after the U.S. and Israel first launched their joint attack on the country.
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Trump and Netanyahu speak after joint Iran attack as president monitors events from Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke after conducting their joint attack on Iran today.
Netanyahu's office shared a photo of the Israeli leader on the phone. The White House confirmed that the pair spoke today about the strikes, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that Trump had monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago alongside members of his national security team.
Trump and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day, Leavitt said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at Mar-a-Lago and has been continually briefing the president, a White House official told NBC News.
One thing I learned by this latest attack on Iran is that "totally obliterated" doesn't carry the same weight it used to if you have to "re-obliterate" it eight months later.
I mean they had to do something and they had to do it NOW am I right?
Absolute lies. But then we expect nothing less. It was only a few months ago they struck and announced the complete annihilation of Iran's capacity to enrich uranium and it prevented their ability to create nuclear weapons.
Wait a few days - this will become "well it's okay because the regime change is justified"
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on targets across Iran on Saturday in an operation the Pentagon has named “Operation Epic Fury.”
In retaliation, Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel.
Bahrain said a missile targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in the island kingdom.
Explosions were also reported in Kuwait, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai as tensions escalated across the Gulf.
Also Read: US attacks Iran LIVE: 1 killed in UAE, fresh blasts heard in Dubai, Saudi's Riyadh amid Iran's counter missile salvo
US military bases in the Middle East Amid the widening crisis, here is a look at major US military bases and facilities across the Middle East:
Bahrain Naval Support Activity Bahrain — It is the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and oversees naval operations in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The base hosts thousands of US military personnel and serves as a key maritime command center in the region.
Qatar Al Udeid Air Base — It is the largest US military base in the Middle East. Located in the desert southwest of Doha, the base serves as the forward headquarters for CENTCOM. It hosts US Air Forces Central and can accommodate over 10,000 troops.
Kuwait Camp Arifjan — The forward headquarters of US Army Central (ARCENT) and a major logistics and sustainment hub southeast of Kuwait City.
Camp Buehring — An Army staging post near the Iraq border, originally built during the 2003 Iraq War and used for deployments into Iraq and Syria.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Al Dhafra Air Base — Situated south of Abu Dhabi and shared with UAE forces, this base is a critical US Air Force hub supporting reconnaissance missions, fighter deployments and broader regional operations.
Jordan Muwaffaq Salti Air Base — Also known as Azraq Air Base, it is located northeast of Amman. The base hosts elements of US Air Forces Central and supports operations across the Levant.
Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan Air Base — A key facility used for air defence operations, fighter deployments and wider regional missions.
Iraq Ain al-Asad Air Base (Al Anbar province) — A major site supporting Iraqi security forces, coalition missions and NATO activities. The US military presence has fluctuated in recent years but remains active.
Wait a few days - this will become "well it's okay because the regime change is justified"
It's the Iraq story all over again. "Saddam has tons of WMD! Oh, he didn't have any? That's okay he was a bad guy anyway."
Only with this administration we'll probably just be told lies and we'll never know the truth anyway. At least we found out the truth about Saddam not having WMD.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I heard from the news last week that the in the negotiations; Iran said that they would not perform any more work on the (3) underground nuke bunkers that were supposedly completely obliterated last year. Iran said that they would lower enrichment levels to a level below where they negotiated with Obama-giving trump a win. Iran supposedly also said that they would give the US access to Iran's oil, gas and rare earth minerals.
Now that it has been made clear that a regime change is a high priority, it makes me question if this attack really was motivated by Iran's nuclear program. Claiming it was obliterated just moths ago and now claiming they were only a week away from having a nuke didn't sound credible from the start.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Russia condemns US-Israel strikes on Iran as 'unprovoked act of armed aggression'
The Associated Press Updated Sat, February 28, 2026 at 9:46 AM EST link
Russia on Saturday condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as “a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state,” demanding an immediate halt to the military campaign and a return to diplomacy.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the Foreign Ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of “hiding behind” concerns about Iran’s nuclear program while actually pursuing regime change.
It warned the attacks risked triggering a “humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe” in the region and accused the U.S. and Israel of “plunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”
Russia has emerged as a key trade partner and supplier of weapons and technologies for Iran, which has faced bruising international sanctions. Though Russia’s Foreign Ministry was quick to condemn the U.S.-Israeli attacks, the Kremlin will likely carefully assess its response following a recent warming of ties between Moscow and Washington.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate an end to the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Washington have discussed ways to revive their economic ties.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russia's Foreign Ministry said. Araghchi briefed Lavrov on Iran’s attempts to repel the attacks and said Iran would seek to convene an urgent U.N. Security Council session, it said. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli strikes and Moscow’s readiness to help broker peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin discussed the situation in Iran with Russia's Security Council via videoconference, but did not give details.
In the Foreign Ministry statement, Moscow called the bombing of nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards “unacceptable” and said it stood ready to help broker a peaceful resolution, while placing full responsibility for the escalation on the United States and Israel.
"Responsibility for the negative consequences of this manmade crisis, including an unpredictable chain reaction and spiraling violence, lies entirely with them," the statement said.
Russia's Foreign Ministry also condemned what it called “the serial nature of destabilizing attacks carried out by the U.S. administration," accusing the U.S. of attacking "the international legal pillars of the world order."
Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.
Iranian forces and Russian sailors conducted annual drills in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean last week aimed at “upgrading operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a broad cooperation pact in January last year as their countries deepened their partnership in the face of stinging Western sanctions.
The West alleges that in 2022, Russia and Iran signed a $1.7 billion deal for Shahed drones after Putin sent troops into Ukraine, and the U.S. also believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles, but neither Moscow nor Tehran ever acknowledged the actions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced support for the strikes on Iran, calling it "an accomplice of Putin” for supplying Moscow with Shahed drones and the technology to produce them and other weapons during its four- year war against Ukraine.
Russia and Iran also pooled their efforts to shore up Bashar Assad’s government during Syria’s civil war, but failed to prevent his downfall after a lightning offensive by the opposition. Assad and his family fled to Russia.
Some observers in Moscow argue that the focus on the confrontation between Israel and Iran could distract global attention from the war in Ukraine and play into Russia’s hands by potentially weakening Western support for Kyiv.
They haven't done squat to claim their own powers to keep trump in check so far. Why would anyone think they're going to suddenly start now?
And let's not pretend we don't know what their main excuse will be. "But this isn't actually a war. It's a military operation." And while we know they'll do anything to make up excuses for trump and will not hold him accountable, trump himself just called it a war.......................
"The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war, but we're doing this, not for now. We're doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission."
One thing I learned by this latest attack on Iran is that "totally obliterated" doesn't carry the same weight it used to if you have to "re-obliterate" it eight months later.
I mean they had to do something and they had to do it NOW am I right?
It was obliterated. The problem is they didn't hear the message and went back to building capability.
We have been treating Iran with kid gloves for nearly 50 years. None of that has worked. All Presidents since President Carter have tried to negotiate, including President Trump. I don't know if this will work or not, but I do know what we have been doing hasn't worked.
I say it is about time. The leaders in that country are zealots. You can't reason with them. Then it gets to that point you have two choices, allow them to do what they want or harvest them.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Trump did this to distract and get his polls up. Listen to past statements he has accused others of wanting to do this for that reason but they never did.
And Putin has been killing tens of thousands of people in Ukraine for four years and is one of the top two threats to us on the globe along with China while trump is still treating him with kid gloves. Trump preys on the weak in a feeble attempt to look strong. That's what all bullies do.
We were currently holding talks with Iran over a nuclear deal. There was plenty of time to allow that to play out. Stop making excuses.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I say it is about time. The leaders in that country are zealots. You can't reason with them. Then it gets to that point you have two choices, allow them to do what they want or harvest them.
There is a long list of dictatorships and governments that are despots and slaughter their population. A shorter list but still substantial - countries that fit this description AND support or sponsor terrorist activity.
I said it when Trump illegally usurped the Venezuelan leader - give me a list now of all the countries you want the USA to go in and take military action against ... do it NOW proactively ... I am sick of the justification AFTER Trump has gone in illegally and taken military action against a country and then when Republicans/MAGA/Trump supporter then somehow tries to justify it with these sorts of rationale. . .
Unless you can give me a list of the regime changes, wars and military actions you want the USA to start NOW then this type of post event reaction simply means your drinking the Bannon/Stephen Miller/Trump [censored] and regurgitating it word for word.
Last edited by mgh888; 03/01/2610:07 AM.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
I say it is about time. The leaders in that country are zealots. You can't reason with them. Then it gets to that point you have two choices, allow them to do what they want or harvest them.
There is a long list of dictatorships and governments that are despots and slaughter their population. A shorter list but still substantial - countries that fit this description AND support or sponsor terrorist activity.
I said it when Trump illegally usurped the Venezuelan leader - give me a list now of all the countries you want the USA to go in and take military action against ... do it NOW proactively ... I am sick of the justification AFTER Trump has gone in illegally and taken military action against a country and then when Republicans/MAGA/Trump supporter then somehow tries to justify it with these sorts of rationale. . .
Unless you can give me a list of the regime changes, wars and military actions you want the USA to start NOW then this type of post event reaction simply means your drinking the Bannon/Stephen Miller/Trump [censored] and regurgitating it word for word.
Bottomline is the USA and Israel are safer today do to the actions taken yesterday.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
So we should attack and conduct a regime change in every nation that would make America safer? If so should we start with Putin?
I mean bottom line and all being considered.
Russia and China are a different level than Iran. These moves made by the US does send a clear message to our enemies. Iran is a ally of Russia and this move definitely sent them a message that the US and the West is not playing any longer and we are strong. No apologies coming from the WH anymore. We are not weak and should not act weak. You have called Trump a bully and he is; the US should be. He is the leader of the free world and some of these countries need to remember our capabilities. Most of the citizens of Iran and the middle east are rejoicing what happened yesterday. Just like the majority of the citizens of Venezuela rejoiced a few months ago. Another enemy of the US Cuba is close to falling after that action. It has been a really good couple month for our country.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
Cuba, yet another weak target that is not capable of striking us back. I never actually thought that being a bully by picking on the little kids would be seen as a sign of strength but here we are.
The fact trump is playing bully to the little kids is not and has never scared the big kids. So now we implement regime changes in every "enemy" when it makes their "citizens happy"?
When does honesty factor into any of this? Trump claimed this was about Iran's nuclear weapons program when it is clearly obvious this was about regime change. Something republicans used to be against. You know, regime changes, installing governments and nation building? Only those on the fringe such as war hawks and those involved in the military industrial complex supported such actions because it served their own self interest.
I would just like to remind you that it was Ike who warned us about this. And Ike was also a Republican.
And speaking of Venezuela and honesty. Trump claimed that was to stop the flow of illegal drugs. Do you have any idea what a small fraction of drugs entering the U.S was coming from Venezuela? When you look at the facts about that, that too was a false premise for a regime change.................
Get the Facts: Is Venezuela a primary drug trafficker to the United States?
Let's face it, trump's goal is to attack and control how nations that are weak and vulnerable run their government's and he will lie about that end game every time.
Picking on the little kids has and will never make the big kids afraid of you. If you take an honest look at it, trump is trying to get Ukraine to reward Putin for attacking them by giving up part of it's country to one of our strongest enemies. That's another thing. Wannabe strong mean actually respect other leaders who they admire and want to be like. Thus the continued leash and support trump gives to Putin.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
You are going to be critical of anything done so who really cares about your opinion anyways. Flexing American muscle and taking out enemies that make ouir country safer on the world stage is always a good thing. Go ahead and continue to cry your liberal tears.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
Nobody cried any tears other than your last response.
But what other choice did you have? When someone brings facts to the table you refuse to engage. When someone points out to you actual things trump said and did you have nothing to refute it.
So instead you say stupid things like "Go ahead and continue to cry your liberal tears."
It's your trademark. The same trademark many of the MAGA bunch use.
But while you're throwing your tantrum I'll drop one more little tidbit for you to get mad about................
"The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties that often happens in war, but we're doing this, not for now. We're doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission." - Donald Trump
Trump called this war. Wars require an act of congress.
The SCOTUS has already shown you trump's disregard for the rule of law by overturning his "emergency powers act" as an excuse to impose global tariffs. They deemed that action illegal. But no matter what he says, no matter what he does, in response you simply call the other side names for pointing it out.
Same as it ever was.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
The regime that is an ally of Russia that sponsors terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, etc... have been taken out. A drug supplier of a communist party that is an ally of Russia was removed. And all we hear is crying coming from the left. If a Democratic President ever had the guts to make America safer and do something like this, you all would be beating your chest in pride. Oh, wait you only beat your chest in pride when some educated dummy says men can get pregnant. Face it your kind is a joke. It has been exposed. In some America cities middle eastern people are in the streets celebrating that a tyrant that has oppressed people, has been removed and nit wits like Jane Fonda and other idiotic liberals are in the streets crying that their oppressive socialist regimes that they so love was removed so easily by real American strength.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
The regime that is an ally of Russia that sponsors terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, etc... have been taken out. A drug supplier of a communist party that is an ally of Russia was removed. And all we hear is crying coming from the left. If a Democratic President ever had the guts to make America safer and do something like this, you all would be beating your chest in pride. Oh, wait you only beat your chest in pride when some educated dummy says men can get pregnant. Face it your kind is a joke. It has been exposed. In some America cities middle eastern people are in the streets celebrating that a tyrant that has oppressed people, has been removed and nit wits like Jane Fonda and other idiotic liberals are in the streets crying that their oppressive socialist regimes that they so love was removed so easily by real American strength.
It's not crying to point out that trump actually made claims about just how many drugs were coming in from Venezuela when this claims were lies. It's not crying to point out that those lies were to cover up trump wanted to make a regime change and get control of their oil. You just call it crying when someone presents facts to you that you don't want to hear and can't refute.
By going after Iran instead of Russia, trump once again picked on the little kid on the playground because he is afraid to take on someone his own size. Your hero is a coward.
Trump said this has been going on since 1989. In case you missed there have been several presidents of both parties since 1989. Not just "Democrats". But don't let facts get in the way of a good rant.
Now you bring "because men can't get pregnant" into it like a good little MAGA.
Now pick up where you left off. I think it was right after you mentioned how the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.....
And now of course you have a fan boy approving if your unhinged rant.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I know that today Russia has 2 less allies in the world and many terrorist organizations lost their allies. Who wins? People who love freedom. Who loses? Losers who like people being oppressed.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
I know that today you have refused to address any of the valid points I made while continuing to repeat yourself. Part of those responses were nothing but rants and name calling.
I know that today you only wish to talk about the end game and not the crooked road taken to get there. And we still have no idea what the future will look like for Iran. But I'm not surprised you're predicting then end game before it ever happens. There's a lot of that going around.
Nobody here is supporting oppressors. They're supporting that we don't become their next oppressors. They're supporting this administration doesn't use stopping a nuclear weapons program they claimed they obliterated just months ago or stopping the flow of drugs as lies and excuses to overthrow regimes and nation build. You must have forgotten how that whole "Shah of Iran" thing worked out last time we tried this. And forgotten how the entire Iraq ordeal worked out when they tried this same deception by claiming WMD as the excuse. And forgotten about Vietnam.
Some of us have learned from experience how futile this entire thing may turn out to be. We have learned the possibilities of how much money and loss of life of our brave combat troops this can cost.
No matter how much you wrap it up in the flag, no matter how much you make it sound like we won something before the end is even near, we've seen this movie before and the ending has never looked quite like what you are describing.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Russians threaten horror strikes on Europe in revenge for Iran - 'Trump untied our hands' It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
157 By Astha Saxena, News Reporter 15:12, Sun, Mar 1, 2026 Updated: 15:46, Sun, Mar 1, 2026 RUSSIA-BELARUS-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY
Russia threatens horror strikes on Europe in revenge for Iran (Image: Getty)
Which Russian expert accused Trump of creating political opportunities?
What risks does US-Israeli operation in Iran pose according to Russia?
Why did Russia urge citizens to leave Iran and Israel?
Russian propagandists have threatened to carry out a horror strike on Europe in response to Iran’s missile attack, as the experts blamed Donald Trump for “unwittingly creating political and psychological opportunities.” On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Russian President called the act "a murder committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law”. Speaking about Russia’s next move, Sergey Karnaukhov, a former president and CEO of The Centre for the National Interest, and Dimitri Simes, a former president and CEO of The Centre for the National Interest, highlighted what needs to be done as he blames Europe for “waging war” against Russia.
In the conversation with Vladimir Solovyov on channel Solovyov Live, he said: “Estonia is waging war against us. I think we should give it some thought that Mr Trump unwittingly created political and psychological opportunities for us, he untied our hands for our Supreme Commander in chief to do whatever he finds appropriate to do for the nation’s security.”
The host of the show continued issuing threats to Europe. Mr Solovyov said: “But we see what is happening..the only language Europe understands is the language of force, and only when the force is used against them. They saw that Oreshnik was used twice and decided they are protected in their little house. It’s clearly time to strike their little house.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry had sharply denounced the joint US‑Israeli military operation in Iran the previous day, describing it as “a pre‑planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state” and a violation of core principles of international law.
The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that the US and Israel are "covering themselves with an imaginary concern to prevent the Iranians from acquiring nuclear weapons," while in fact their main goal, according to Moscow, is "to destroy the constitutional order and destroy the leadership of a state they do not like, which has refused to submit to forceful dictate and hegemonism."
The foreign ministry also appealed to Russians in Iran and Israel to leave these countries immediately if possible.
And I think that many forget the 400 million dollar jet that Qatar gave trump for his use. and the hundreds of millions of dollars that the UAE sunk into trump crypto and the 2 billion that MBS gave kushners private equity firm in 2021. When people brought that up afterwards, it was said that kush would not have any role in future US government . Who was sitting with witkoff at the negotiating table with the Iranians last week-kush was.
And who was lobbying trump to strike Iran-even after they seemed ok with a deal that was better than Obama got.
As I see it, all this was is a payback on a loan to use the United States military might to go after adversaries of the other arab states that buttered trump family bread
President Trump expressed condolences for the slain American troops and predicted there would be more causalities in the coming days. “Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” he said. “That’s the way it is. Likely be more.”
^ Scolds someone for predicting the future while predicting the future by citing the past. ^
Can't make it up!
Too funny!!! But hit the nail right on the head!
Are you and FATE competing to be the biggest loser? Explaining how similar situations have turned out in the past is not predicting the future. It's a cautionary tale some seem destined to ignore.
Carry on......
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
3 American F-15 jets "mistakenly shot down" by Kuwait but all crew safe, U.S. military says
Three American F-15 fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait in a "friendly fire incident," the U.S. military said Monday, but there were no casualties.
The Air Force fighter jets were "mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses," CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that "all six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition."
The jets were flying in support of Operation Epic Fury and crashed in Kuwait amid attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones that the U.S. and its regional allies have been racing to intercept.
CENTCOM said the Kuwaitis acknowledged this incident and that it was grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in the ongoing operation.
Kuwait's defense ministry said earlier on social media that several U.S. warplanes had crashed in Kuwait. A ministry spokesperson said authorities launched search and rescue operations and evacuated the crews to hospitals, adding that they were in stable condition.
The jets were downed on the third day of the Iran war — a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that Israel has dubbed Roaring Lion and the U.S. is calling Operation Epic Fury. Iran has retaliated with missile attacks directed at Israel and Arab neighbors in response.
U.S. Central Command said Sunday that three American service members have been killed and five others were seriously wounded. CBS News learned the casualties were among American personnel based in Kuwait.
The Iranian Red Crescent says 555 people have been killed in Iran.
President Trump said Sunday the joint military operation will continue "until all of our objectives are achieved," which could be up to four weeks.
Hegseth leaves door open for boots on the ground in Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday left the door open for boots on the ground in Iran, but said the United States would not be pulled into an “endless” war similar to Iraq.
Hegseth was asked during a press briefing whether the U.S. currently had troops in Iran.
“No, but we’re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do,” he said.
“I think it’s one of those fallacies for a long time that this department or presidents or others should tell the American enemies, by the way, here’s exactly what, here’s exactly how long we’ll go, here’s exactly how far we’ll go, here’s what we’re willing to do and not do — it’s foolishness,” he added.
Hegseth referenced his experience fighting in Iraq, saying Trump would not repeat the mistakes of the past.
“You don’t have to roll 200,000 people in there and stay for 20 years. We’ve proven that you can achieve objectives that advance American interests without being foolish. Now, will we be bold about it? Are we going to be decisive about it? Put months and months of planning into what kind of effects we want to achieve? Absolutely,” he said.
“But going forward, why in the world would we tell you, the enemy, anybody, what we will or will not do in pursuit of an objective.”
Hegseth said the objectives of the military operation were clear: “destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have nuclear weapons.”
However, it remains unclear whether Trump has a vision for Iran once those military objectives are completed. He has called on Iranians to stage a revolution against the Islamic regime, which has announced new leadership after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Four Americans have been killed so far in the war. Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, who also spoke to reporters Monday morning, said more Americans would likely die before it’s over.
“This is not a single overnight operation. The military objectives that Centcom and the Joint Force have been tasked with will take some time to achieve, and in some cases, will be difficult and gritty work. We expect to take additional losses, and as always, we will work to minimize U.S. losses. But as the secretary said, this is major combat operations,” Caine said, referencing U.S. Central Command (Centcom).
Trump issued a similar warning in a video posted to Truth Social on Sunday.
“We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen,” the president said in a video on his Truth Social platform. “And sadly, there will be likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is.
“[There will] likely be more but we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case.”
Centcom announced Sunday that three American service members have been killed in action, while five were injured and “several” others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions during the operation that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on Saturday.
Early Monday, Centcom said a fourth U.S. soldier had been killed.
Vice President Vance, speaking on Thursday, before Trump launched strikes on Iran, said there was “no chance” that it would lead to a longer war in the Middle East.
“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen,” said Vance, a longtime skeptic of foreign intervention.
“I do think we have to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past,” Vance added. “I also think that we have to avoid overlearning the lessons of the past. Just because one president screwed up a military conflict doesn’t mean we can never engage in military conflict again. We’ve got to be careful about it, but I think the president is being careful.”
Trump’s war in Iran has quickly expanded, with Iran launching retaliatory attacks on Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Hezbollah, the powerful Iranian proxy militia in Lebanon, has also entered the war, launching rockets into Israel, ending a monthslong ceasefire between the countries.
Caine says more U.S. forces being deployed, Hegseth won’t say how long war could last
The U.S. is poised to send additional forces to the Middle East today, military leaders said, while suggesting that the war could continue longer than the four- to five-week timeline that Trump floated a day earlier.
In preparation for possible armed conflict against Iran, the U.S. in recent weeks had preemptively deployed thousands of service members from all military branches, along with dozens of refueling tankers and multiple carrier strike groups, while establishing necessary supply flows, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said at the Pentagon.
“And the flow of forces continues today. In fact, [Commander of U.S. Central Command Adm. Brad] Cooper will receive additional forces even today,” Caine said.
Asked how many troops are currently involved and how many are expected to be sent, Caine declined to be specific.
But he said “more tactical aviation” is entering the theater, and added, “I think we’re just about where we want to be in terms of total combat capacity and total combat power.”
Hegseth then responded to a question about Trump’s remark Sunday that the operations could last around four weeks.
“It’s the typical, typical NBC sort of gotcha-type question,” Hegseth said.
“President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. It could move up. It could move back. We’re going to execute at his command the objectives we’ve set out to achieve,” Hegseth said.
Trump is the one who made the claim it would be for to five weeks. A follow up question to a timeline statement trump made isn't a "typical, typical NBC sort of gotcha-type question"
But then it's Kegsbreath so there's that.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I wonder what success actually looks like? In 5 years 10 years. Next year.
Other than the distraction from the Epstein files, the mid terms, the tariffs ... Do we think a new western friendly government is needed for it to be a success? A new regime that isn't as quite as bad as the one they are replacing ?
Even the most ardent fanboy will accept Trump is a short term, shallow thinking strategist who then shifts things on the fly and BS's his way through what ever crap follows... So does anyone think there's an end game? Pete Hemsworth just said boots on ground are an option... Is that good? Is that what the Republicans want.
As before I'm also still interested in which other bad dictators around the globe do we need to remove and which other countries should we start a war with ??
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
Hegseth then responded to a question about Trump’s remark Sunday that the operations could last around four weeks.
“It’s the typical, typical NBC sort of gotcha-type question,” Hegseth said.
:
I'm a bit surprised that Hegseth didn't respond "TDS TDS TDS" .... it's the normal response from fanboys that have no answer to holding Trump accountable for the things he says and does.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
I wonder what success actually looks like? In 5 years 10 years. Next year.
Other than the distraction from the Epstein files, the mid terms, the tariffs ... Do we think a new western friendly government is needed for it to be a success? A new regime that isn't as quite as bad as the one they are replacing ?
Even the most ardent fanboy will accept Trump is a short term, shallow thinking strategist who then shifts things on the fly and BS's his way through what ever crap follows... So does anyone think there's an end game? Pete Hemsworth just said boots on ground are an option... Is that good? Is that what the Republicans want.
As before I'm also still interested in which other bad dictators around the globe do we need to remove and which other countries should we start a war with ??
I swear sometimes I think that the only reason Democrats are mad about this strike on Iran is now that the Iranian regime is getting dismantled that will leave only the Democrats to chant death to America. Hypocrisy exposed from what Dems were saying in 2011 when Obama was doing the same thing.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
Iran mourns 165 girls, staff killed in school strike during US-Israel war!
Iran has held a mass funeral for 165 schoolgirls and staff killed in what it has described as a United States-Israeli attack on a girls school in the southern city of Minab.
Saturday’s strike came on the first day of the joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran. It was the deadliest incident in the campaign against Tehran so far.
The Israeli military said it was not aware of any Israeli or US attacks in that area. Throughout its genocidal war on Gaza, however, Israel has repeatedly denied responsibility for deadly attacks on Palestinian civilians, only to later backtrack when evidence emerged, often describing such incidents as “accidental”.
The attack in Minab has been condemned by UNESCO and Nobel Peace Prize-winning education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Deliberately attacking an educational institution, hospital or any other civilian structure is a war crime under international humanitarian law.
On Monday, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the two countries “continue to indiscriminately strike residential areas, sparing neither hospitals, schools, Red Crescent facilities, nor cultural monuments”.
I won't argue that the supreme leader of Iran needed gone.... That's kind of a no brainer.
But killing school age kids? This is where having experienced, Thoughtful, smart and knowledgable people in the Department of Defense would have been helpful! With Drunk Hegseth in charge, This is the kind of incompetance you get.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
I swear sometimes I think that the only reason Democrats are mad about this strike on Iran is now that the Iranian regime is getting dismantled that will leave only the Democrats to chant death to America. Hypocrisy exposed from what Dems were saying in 2011 when Obama was doing the same thing.
This is what I expect from your kind. When did Obama do "the same thing"? Or are you trying to compare this all out regime change and bombing of a country to isolated drone strikes? You've been listening to right wing media again haven't you?
This is a full scale bombing on an entire country. Trump even told us that troops will be lost because that's what happens in war. He called it a war himself. You need congressional approval to launch a war. None of this is complicated and your lame excuses and pointing a finger in the other direction doesn't work with the exception of your own brain who simply can't grasp the obvious here.
Because somewhere in that scrambled egg head of yours you call expecting a president to follow the law in getting congressional approval to start a war as the constitution calls for is saying "Death to America"? Dear Lord man. seek help.
What you're advocating is death to the constitution. There's a lot of that going around these days.
The only "death to America" I'm seeing in all this are the corpses of 6 dead U.S. troops. And the democrats didn't send them there. trump did.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Trump went on and before bombing Iran about how we couldn't allow Iran to get any nukes. That the goal was to prevent this from happening. To take out any nuclear weapons programs or development. What was the first thing done when the bombing started? A total attack to wipe out the government. Telling the people of Iran he would take care of that end of things and that Iranians can now take over and replace their government.
Now what is the reason for pointing that out? It's to point out that his main and first priority was not to bomb nuclear sites. Not to wipe out their nuclear program. But to cause a regime change. Now I get it. A lot of you don't care if trump lies to you. You don't care if he deceives everyone as long as you get what you and he wants in the end. None of that matters anymore. But more people care than don't. And before you start your BS that this isn't true, I will keep this simple for you so you can get it...................
Little Donny tells his mom there is no fruit in the house. Little Donny says he needs fruit to maintain a healthy diet. He asks his mom if she will take him to the store so they can buy some fruit. His mom thinks it's wonderful that Little Donny is so health conscious so she happily agrees to take Little Donny to the grocery store to get some fruit.
As soon as they walk into the door at the grocery Little Donny heads the opposite direction away from the produce department, straight down the candy aisle and starts grabbing bags of candy off the shelves.
It wasn't fruit Little Donny wanted at all. It was the candy. Little Donny lied to his mom. Little Donny is a liar and a bad boy.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I swear sometimes I think that the only reason Democrats are mad about this strike on Iran is now that the Iranian regime is getting dismantled that will leave only the Democrats to chant death to America. Hypocrisy exposed from what Dems were saying in 2011 when Obama was doing the same thing.
This is what I expect from your kind. When did Obama do "the same thing"? Or are you trying to compare this all out regime change and bombing of a country to isolated drone strikes? You've been listening to right wing media again haven't you?
This is a full scale bombing on an entire country. Trump even told us that troops will be lost because that's what happens in war. He called it a war himself. You need congressional approval to launch a war. None of this is complicated and your lame excuses and pointing a finger in the other direction doesn't work with the exception of your own brain who simply can't grasp the obvious here.
Because somewhere in that scrambled egg head of yours you call expecting a president to follow the law in getting congressional approval to start a war as the constitution calls for is saying "Death to America"? Dear Lord man. seek help.
What you're advocating is death to the constitution. There's a lot of that going around these days.
The only "death to America" I'm seeing in all this are the corpses of 6 dead U.S. troops. And the democrats didn't send them there. trump did.
I would expect you to be waving the Irain flag soon huh!!! I mean you're kind in the last year or so have waved the Ukraine, Gaza, Mexica, Venezuelan flags. I am sure there have been more. Your side takes sides for every country but our own.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." Margarat Thatcher
This just shows how low you will stoop to undermine someone for advocating our president follows the constitution. But you are a prime example to show that's where we are now. Instead of discussing the topic you go off on some right wing rant. So typical of you.
I had no idea supporting we help stop Russia from invading a democracy was a bad thing. Only in trumplandia.
Where is Mexica? I've never heard of it?
And yes, I object to anyone that carpet bombs entire neighborhoods killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians. I also object to terrorists committing a slaughter against innocent people at a concert. Both things can be true at the same time. Anyone committing terrorist acts or genocide is wrong.
You still can't get it through your head can you? Supporting innocent victims no matter where they live is not supporting their government. Try to let that sink in for a change.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Do you know if that was an American,or Israeli,attack?No you don't.
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
The only reason "I don't know" is because I don't trust anything trump says. But let's not pretend this is coming from the media. The media is doing nothing more than looking at what trump says and reporting on it. Trump himself is taking credit for it. So are you trying to say we shouldn't trust what the media says or we shouldn't trump says? Or both?
Quote
"I got him before he got me," Trump said Sunday night, not long after he announced Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed. "They tried twice. Well, I got him first."
"Nobody else could have done this but me, and you know that," Trump told me.
"The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," Trump said. "It’s not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead."
And at this same link he once again made it plain what this is which he did not get congressional approval for.....
When asked about his statement earlier in the day that there would be more American casualties.
"It’s war and you have casualties in war," he said.
There are a lot of quotes I can provide you with where trump takes direct credit for killing these Iranian government officials if you would like to see them. I just felt this should suffice.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I swear sometimes I think that the only reason Democrats are mad about this strike on Iran is now that the Iranian regime is getting dismantled that will leave only the Democrats to chant death to America. Hypocrisy exposed from what Dems were saying in 2011 when Obama was doing the same thing.
This is what I expect from your kind. When did Obama do "the same thing"? Or are you trying to compare this all out regime change and bombing of a country to isolated drone strikes? You've been listening to right wing media again haven't you?
This is a full scale bombing on an entire country. Trump even told us that troops will be lost because that's what happens in war. He called it a war himself. You need congressional approval to launch a war. None of this is complicated and your lame excuses and pointing a finger in the other direction doesn't work with the exception of your own brain who simply can't grasp the obvious here.
Because somewhere in that scrambled egg head of yours you call expecting a president to follow the law in getting congressional approval to start a war as the constitution calls for is saying "Death to America"? Dear Lord man. seek help.
What you're advocating is death to the constitution. There's a lot of that going around these days.
The only "death to America" I'm seeing in all this are the corpses of 6 dead U.S. troops. And the democrats didn't send them there. trump did.
I would expect you to be waving the Irain flag soon huh!!! I mean you're kind in the last year or so have waved the Ukraine, Gaza, Mexica, Venezuelan flags. I am sure there have been more. Your side takes sides for every country but our own.
Whatever adjustment you just made to your medication... that ain't it.
"I'll take your word at face value. I have never met you but I assume you have a face..lol"
“A war that, in theory, was said to be waged to eliminate Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, bring democracy, and guarantee global security, but which, in reality, seen in retrospect, produced the opposite effect. It unleashed the greatest wave of insecurity our continent has suffered since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
“It is absolutely unacceptable that those leaders who are incapable of fulfilling this duty use the smokescreen of war to hide their failure and, in the process, line the pockets of a select few – the same ones as always; the only ones who profit when the world stops building hospitals and starts building missiles.”
“The government of Spain stands with those it must stand with. It stands with the values that our parents and grandparents enshrined in our constitution.
Spain stands with the founding principles of the European Union. It stands with the Charter of the United Nations. It stands with international law and, therefore, stands with peace and peaceful coexistence between countries and their harmonious coexistence.
We stand with many other governments that share our views, and with millions of citizens throughout Europe, North America, and the Middle East, who ask not for more war or uncertainty, but more peace and prosperity. Because the former only benefits a few. And the latter benefits us all.”
"War is the most profitable business on earth." — Kenneth Eade. "War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it." — George Orwell. "War is hugely profitable. It creates so much money because it's so easy to spend money very fast. There are huge fortunes to be made. So there is always an encouragement to promote war and keep it going, to make sure that we identify people who are 'others' whom we can legitimately make war upon" - Roger Waters
Again - for those waving pom-poms and cheering this illegally started war - what does success look like? If removing bad leaders from office is your agenda which other countries do you want USA to spend money and lives removing ... and please do not tell me you believe Iran was close to having nuclear weapons.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
I'm not trying to excuse what is going... it's simply another example of Trump not respecting rules and laws.
But (once again) it's a bit hypocritical to call out Trump for not going to Congress prior to kicking off a war. Yes, this is the most egregious example of a President not fulfilling the Constitutional mandate of gaining Congressional approval prior to war... and yes, past Presidents at least gave it the window-dressing of calling it something other than war.... but the honest truth is that Trump is doing the same thing that past presidents have done and experienced little to no accountability. This is just another example of our toothless Congress not doing their job and then not holding other branches accountable when they break rules to get around it.
"I'll take your word at face value. I have never met you but I assume you have a face..lol"
Well there is the Congress angle for sure, but as far as international law is concerned, this is an illegal war that was started. That is not refutable. I think it's article 51 of the UN charter or something like that.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
I don't disagree with you that presidents have done this before. Both Vietnam and Korea first come to mind. The thing is we and the world at large understood that's what happened. It was called out and judged as being wrong and actually bordered on criminal.
The thing is we are supposed to learn from history. We are supposed to use it as an example of what not to allow to happen again. All you really said IMO is "presidents have done wrong before so it's not like the first time." And all that really means is we have learned nothing from history if actions are not taken to stop him.
Now in case there is any confusion, as much as I disagree with what trump is doing in Iran, what I'm calling for is a vote in congress to either green light these actions or not. The normal, legal process required for war.
Even if congress approves it I think the American people deserve to know where each of them stand on the matter officially. Elections are coming in November.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Christian nationalism is surfacing in the war on Iran in a shocking way
Some military commanders are reportedly calling the war “biblically sanctioned” and a path to the end times.
President Donald Trump can’t get his story straight on why he launched a war against Iran. But some commanders in the U.S. military are apparently telling service members that they’re on a mission to fulfill biblical prophecy.
The independent journalist Jonathan Larsen reported that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has received more than 110 complaints from service members about their commanders’ religious gloss on the war on Iran. These complaints, according to Larsen’s report, came from every branch of the military, across more than 40 different units, situated in at least 30 military installations. (The Pentagon did not respond to Larsen’s request for comment.)
MRFF president Michael Weinstein told Larsen that the complaints from service members shared a common feature: Commanders are describing the war as “biblically sanctioned” and “clearly the undeniable sign of the expeditious approach of the fundamentalist Christian ‘End Times’ as vividly described in the New Testament Book of Revelation.”
Weinstein added, “Many of their commanders are especially delighted with how graphic this battle will be, zeroing in on how bloody all of this must become in order to fulfill and be in 100% accordance with fundamentalist Christian end of the world eschatology.”
In the absence of any clear explanation from the White House on the purpose of this war, it appears some military leaders may be filling the vacuum with the idea that the United States is on a providential mission that could help bring about “the end times” as prophesied in the Bible. The reported comments track with a Christian Zionist worldview. As Sarah Posner, a journalist and expert on right-wing Christian extremism, explained for MS NOW:
For many “Christians Zionists,” and particularly for popular evangelists with significant clout within the Republican Party, their support for Israel is rooted in its role in the supposed end times: Jesus’ return to Earth, a bloody final battle at Armageddon, and Jesus ruling the world from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In this scenario, war is not something to be avoided, but something inevitable, desired by God, and celebratory.
That some military commanders are reportedly selling American aggression on Iran as a holy war is deeply alarming. Weinstein told Larsen that the complaints violate the Constitution’s separation of church and state. But regardless of its legality, telling American troops that they’re fighting for a Christian god against a Muslim country is medieval madness. It isn’t the role of the U.S., per the Constitution, to promote any religion over another. Furthermore, the reported remarks from these commanders is likely to prompt U.S. service members to dehumanize Iran’s population, and help set the stage for viciousness in combat and human rights violations. The military is not supposed to be a crusading political-theological movement, but a professional defense force.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth bears responsibility. He has led Christian prayer services at the Pentagon. He has attended a Christian media convention where he has traced the U.S.’s origins to the Bible and railed against “dangerous and godless foreign ideologies that sow doubt, confusion and death.” He has invited a pastor to lead a worship service at the Pentagon who, according to CNN, “supports repealing women’s right to vote and believes homosexuality should be a crime.” He openly affiliates with an ultraconservative church associated with Christian nationalism, the idea that the U.S. should be a Christian nation and that its government should take steps to advance that ideal. If any military officers were looking for excuses to make combat with Iran about politics and religion, then Hegseth has given them license to do so.
All war is hell. But unnecessary war surely constitutes a special ring of hell — who wants to die on a battlefield for no particular reason? Perhaps some will find respite in the idea that the whole thing is secretly ordained by God. But such a belief will not redeem this gratuitous violence. There’s nothing that can make the U.S.’s war on Iran holy.
White House Says We Had to Bomb Iran Because Trump Had a “Feeling” Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani Wed, March 4, 2026 at 3:41 PM EST
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday it was necessary to bomb Iran because President Donald Trump had a “feeling” the foreign nation would attack.
“The president had a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the United States, was going to strike our assets in the region, and he made a determination to launch Operation Epic Fury based on all of those reasons,” Leavitt said.
Earlier in the press briefing, Leavitt struggled to explain the “imminent threat” posed by Iran that would justify the U.S. and Israel launching this war.
“You listed a long list of grievances against the Iranian government going back to … 1979,” one reporter noted, referring to the beginning of the Islamic Republic’s rule in the country. “Why is it that you can’t say what the imminent threat against the U.S. was that required us to launch this?”
“I reject the premise of your question,” Leavitt replied.
The White House has spent the last two days trying to clean up a viral quote from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he admitted Israel had pressured the United States into attacking Iran.
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio said Monday.
Leavitt’s remarks Wednesday—that a new war in the Middle East is based on nothing but Trump’s “feeling”—don’t make things any better.
So ... because Israel MIGHT have been going to strike and start an illegal war which **might** have resulted in a strike somewhere/somehow against a US target - the USA joined in the illegal attack? Is that what they just said - in addition to the "feeling" Trump had?
As for the indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu - he has lied for 30 years claiming Iran was approaching ability to have a nuclear bomb ... since 2009 he has maintained they were months (or even weeks) away from having Nuclear capability. He's wanted to start a war with Iran since literally forever.
Some of the highlights:
1992: As an MP, he told the Knesset that Iran was three to five years away from a nuclear bomb. 1995: In his book Fighting Terrorism, he repeated the three to five year timeline (at most seven). 1996: Addressing the U.S. Congress, he stated the deadline was getting "extremely close". 2009: Told a U.S. Congressional delegation that experts believe Iran is one to two years (or even six months) away. 2012: In his famous UN General Assembly speech with a cartoon bomb diagram, he claimed Iran would finish the second stage of enrichment by next spring or summer, leaving them only "a few months, possibly a few weeks" from enough uranium for a first bomb. 2013: Claimed Iran was months away from a weapon. 2015: Denounced the Iran nuclear deal, claiming Iran remained on the "verge" of a bomb. 2024: Warned that Iran was advancing its program toward a timeline of months to a year.
And just for the fanboys ... having a "feeling" does not pass the threshold to legally starting a war. Neither does being worried that there might be reprisals following a military strike by a 3rd party that may or may not have happened without the US.
Last edited by mgh888; 03/05/2604:03 AM.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio said Monday.
So we knew Israel was going to strike Iran because trump forced Israel's hand to strike Iran?
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
It took four days for this administration to come up with a plan to just now begin to try and get Americans out of the mess they knew that were creating?
"Strategery"
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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