Althouse: Sunrise

March 17, 2026

Sunrise — 7:09.

Talk about whatever you like in the comments.

92 comments:

narciso said...: https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ryugu-asteroid-samples-dna-rna.html; 3/17/26, 8:07 PM
Aggie said...: Asteroids are just planet seeds, change my mind.; 3/17/26, 8:10 PM
narciso said...: https://notthebee.com/article/broke-starbucks-employees-ended-strike-but-then-their-store-closed-and-none-of-them-were-eligible-for-transfer; 3/17/26, 8:10 PM
narciso said...: Could be,; 3/17/26, 8:12 PM
Saint Croix said...: I don't like Dirty Harry that much.

(The bad guy is a liberal wienie, and is not scary at all, which undermines the drama).

But I love hearing Werner Herzog talk about Dirty Harry.; 3/17/26, 8:17 PM
narciso said...: They usually were except for magnum force which was essentially a death squad; 3/17/26, 8:19 PM
narciso said...: Callaghan wasnt really right wing he was no nonesense like an old fashioned cowboy

The dialog wirh holbrook which references the regulators of old gives it away; 3/17/26, 8:21 PM
narciso said...: San francisco was descending inti a state of nature in the 1970
It was underwater until recently; 3/17/26, 8:22 PM
narciso said...: Well see how lurie turns out; 3/17/26, 8:24 PM
narciso said...: In a den of lambs the wolves roam free; 3/17/26, 8:27 PM
Mason G said...: Re: Starbucks, from the link:

'Workers United has filed an unfair labor practice charge and will demand to bargain with Starbucks regarding these closures,' the statement said.

The union thinks they're going to be negotiating store closures? File this under: "How To Get Replaced By AI/Robots"; 3/17/26, 8:45 PM
narciso said...: Yeah thats not a smart move , but its seattle; 3/17/26, 8:48 PM
buwaya said...: "Dirty Harry" was prophetic. It was about a precursor condition, general disorder, to a genuine near-failed state where there were multiple villains exactly as in "Dirty Harry". Or worse.
See Talbot, "Season of the Witch"; 3/17/26, 8:48 PM
narciso said...: Like andromeda this plague has soread down both coasr
Like hyde in that time machine film with david warner; 3/17/26, 8:51 PM
Iman said...: Gavin Newsom is Jean-Fraud Van Damme.; 3/17/26, 9:40 PM
Eva Marie said...: I went back and read that Clinton blog post of 8/13/2006 and was reminded of the Lewinsky affair all over again.
The reason, I think, so many people were sympathetic to Bill Clinton - and had a real affection for Hillary Clinton - as well as being mad at Republicans is this:
(At least this was the reaction among the men and women in my parents’ circle of friends.)
A lot of guys cheat on their wives. And the middle-aged wives had a decision to make: get a divorce or stay married. For financial, social, and emotional reasons, they decided to stay in their marriages. Hillary Clinton validated their decision. Here was a smart, well-educated woman who would have done very well without her husband, and she decided to stay. It made the women feel so much better about their own decision.
So the affair elevated Hillary Clinton in their estimation. And the criticisms of Bill didn’t make anyone feel better, because if Clinton was a snake, then so by extension were their husbands. And the husbands didn’t care for the heavy criticisms of Bill because they were guilty of the same thing, essentially. Both husbands and wives were furious with the Republicans for going on and on about it. It brought their own marital problems to mind - problems they really wanted to smooth over and forget.; 3/17/26, 9:51 PM
Jim at said...: But how many of those husbands/wives committed perjury and obstruction of justice while covering up their affairs?; 3/17/26, 9:54 PM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: How many of the liberals complaining about Trump's war with Iran can even find Kharg Island on a map?; 3/17/26, 10:05 PM
Dave Begley said...: Only 36% of Democrats support America per a recent Gallup poll.; 3/17/26, 10:19 PM
Eva Marie said...: Jim at said...
“But how many of those husbands/wives committed perjury and obstruction of justice while covering up their affairs?”
They thought this was about a guy lying about an affair, and no amount of dressing it up in legal language changed that reality.; 3/17/26, 10:25 PM
Jim at said...: They thought this was about a guy lying about an affair, and no amount of dressing it up in legal language changed that reality.

I understand that. And it's why - to this day - I always push back on people who think Clinton was impeached over an affair.

And then I also remind them he was disbarred and lost his law license.

People (not you) can either choose to believe the lie or they can remain ignorant. Neither is a good look.; 3/17/26, 11:01 PM
Ralph L said...: They stay together to retain spousal privilege.; 3/17/26, 11:46 PM
gadfly said...: President Trump claimed on Monday that a former president told him privately that “I wish I did what you did” in attacking Iran and killing its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A reporter asked if it was President George W. Bush, the only Republican on the list, but Mr. Trump said no. That would leave Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joseph R. Biden Jr., all Democrats. He said the former president was one who “happens to like me, and I like that person, who is a smart person.”

Mr. Trump has for years mocked all three former Democratic presidents and their accomplishments in speeches, social media posts, and even in a monument to American presidents that Mr. Trump had installed near the Oval Office last year.

But Israeli F-15 jets attacked the Presidential Palace as part of Operation Lions Roar. The IAF lifted into the air around 7.30am Iran time on Saturday, Feb 28, arriving in position barely two hours later.

Strikes, including Blue Sparrow missiles, aboard the Israeli fighter jets began at 9.40 am. At least 30 precision strikes were launched directly on the ayatollah’s compound. The Blue Sparrow has been adapted for use as an offensive air-to-surface munition because of its high speeds and quasi-ballistic trajectories. Their ability to exit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere increases the difficulty of their interception and allows reduced reaction time from targets.

So the Israelis, not the Donald, killed Iran's supreme leader.; 3/18/26, 1:06 AM
Josephbleau said...: If the US w ts to take over Kargh Island why don’t we mine the ports, no marines needed, subs can lay mines.; 3/18/26, 1:10 AM
Original Mike said...: As to the Strait of Hormuz, Data Republican has an analysis of capability and willingness of our supposed allies. Why should we expend our blood and treasure? We don't need the oil.; 3/18/26, 1:26 AM
Original Mike said...: I guess our Gulf allies need it open, and we need them.; 3/18/26, 1:35 AM
Saint Croix said...: They usually were except for magnum force which was essentially a death squad

That to me was the funny one.

"I hate right-wing vigilantes." Pow, pow, pow.; 3/18/26, 5:41 AM
Saint Croix said...: The Dark Knight is like a remake of Dirty Harry. Except the bad guy is 1000% scarier. Makes for a far stronger movie.; 3/18/26, 5:54 AM
Saint Croix said...: I think The Dark Knight is also inspired by the war on terror. What do you do in the face of crazy?; 3/18/26, 5:56 AM
rehajm said...: and could blow your head clean off, yet it only smudged the guy’s makeup…and that could have been the water…; 3/18/26, 5:59 AM
tim maguire said...: Jim said...But how many of those husbands/wives committed perjury and obstruction of justice while covering up their affairs?

And don’t forget, that perjury was in a lawsuit for sexual harassment. By standing with Bill, Hillary (as she did many times during their marriage) was helping deny justice to an abused woman.

That’s what Eva’s friends are rationalizing and, from an “all that’s necessary for evil to prevail” standpoint, abetting.; 3/18/26, 6:04 AM
Saint Croix said...: It's very hard to topple a government without putting soldiers on the ground. I think what we want is for the Iranians to rise up and take over the government. But they're unarmed.

Ultimately it will probably be Israel that invades Iran with soldiers. That's a subpar outcome, inviting a lot more hatred for Israel. But if the war drags on, and Iran's government fails to surrender? Israel invades the country.; 3/18/26, 6:11 AM
rehajm said...: That incident was constructive I believe as it exposed the Clintons to be the corruptocrats they are and solidified what previously could be dismissed. Also it outed the people who loved that about them. Were it not for that they’d still be leftie gods like the Obamas, with even their opponents, who, as with Barack giving them respect they don’t deserve…

…It’s been forgotten how important morality played as a political weapon back then. It was a factor in elections and Republicans were confident they win on points. I think they were right. Hillary! never took her birthright on the throne, their image…stained even with their supporters. Goofy Ann supports them but loathes<\i> them nonetheless…; 3/18/26, 6:17 AM
rehajm said...: off; 3/18/26, 6:18 AM
john mosby said...: St Croix, the IDF land force, even with all reservists called back up and non-obligated civilians just showing up Hamas-style, is nowhere big enough to invade and hold any part of Iran. And I don't know how they would get there: they have maybe enough airlift for a couple of parachute battalions, no amphibious sealift worth talking about. Put their tanks on trailers and drive across Jordan and Iraq?

Even if mad Jewish scientists have perfected the Star Trek transporter without telling us, sane Jewish generals and politicians realize that Israeli soldiers standing on Persian soil will immediately become targets far in excess of their value as military assets.

Maybe IDF advisers might be invited by whatever successor Persian government rises from the mullah/IRGC wreckage....CC, JSM; 3/18/26, 6:21 AM
Enigma said...: San Francisco was a working class and libertarian shipping port town, and akin to Alaska today, until WW2. From the 1849 California Gold Rush forward, SF was a major shipping access point for inland mining, logging, farming, canals, roads, etc.

The mid-20th-century SF culture followed the WW2 military draft, as it drew a bunch of small-town gays and bohemians through regional bases on their way to fight Japan. The non-conformists found each other and stayed, whereby the old-timey "Barbary Coast" gold miner party culture merged with newcomers.

Dirty Harry happened after Haight Asbury had drawn in hippies and as the Mission district attracted gays. The movie pits no-nonsense traditional views against the recent changes. In the first Dirty Harry Eastwood played a dirty cop and a sadist and chose "the most powerful handgun in the world." As typical for Eastwood films, he wasn't supposed to be a simplistic good guy. He softened greatly in the later films, as Hollywood didn't allow true bad guys to be heroes (see Terminator 1 -> Terminator 2).

There's a story that Frank Sinatra was considered for the Dirty Harry role, and he'd have brought the Las Vegas mafia's form of dirt instead.; 3/18/26, 6:25 AM
tim maguire said...: Saint Croix said...I think what we want is for the Iranians to rise up and take over the government. But they're unarmed.

Ultimately it will probably be Israel that invades Iran with soldiers.

Countries like Iran have different kinds of militaries with different levels of fanaticism. An unarmed people can't defeat the IRGC, but the regular Iranian army can and we already saw during the protests that they are not down with shooting civilians. They are not the dead-enders the Mullahs need them to be.; 3/18/26, 6:38 AM
Leland said...: How many of the liberals complaining about Trump's war with Iran can even find Kharg Island on a map?

Apparently not many since they thought it was in the Strait of Hormuz.; 3/18/26, 6:43 AM
Saint Croix said...: St Croix, the IDF land force, even with all reservists called back up and non-obligated civilians just showing up Hamas-style, is nowhere big enough to invade and hold any part of Iran.

I'm not an army guy. Maybe air drop them into Iran and take over the capital? That might do it.

I think it's possible Iran might ask for peace talks without an invasion.

My suspicion is that Iran will keep fighting until all the war crimes people are dead. The war crimes people have no incentive to give up. They will be killed after a war crimes trial.

Once all the war crimes people are eliminated, the normals (the President?) will ask for peace talks. Maybe.

A basic problem the normies have is that the insane people kill you after the peace talks. See what happened with Sadat. He wins the Peace Prize and then he's murdered. So, whoever signs a peace deal with USA and Israel will probably be murdered at some point by terrorists. But, as with Egypt, the peace deal will hold. I'm optimistic about the future of Iran if we win the war.; 3/18/26, 6:47 AM
Christopher B said...: Following up on the Kent resignation that our local expert in lack of integrity mentioned yesterday, Scott Johnson at Powerline summarizes an article by Park MacDougald published in the Tablet magazine's daily The Scroll that reveals Kent to be an rcocean/ImTay/Tucker Carlson level anti-Israeli nutter who claims Trump has been hoodwinked by Netanyahu into attacking Iran. As Johnson observes, the MSM could turn this into a story about how a raving anti-Semite was placed in the highest levels of the Trump administration but since anti-Israeli propaganda is now part of the Democrat brand, that would be a little inconvenient for them.; 3/18/26, 6:48 AM
Saint Croix said...: Countries like Iran have different kinds of militaries with different levels of fanaticism. An unarmed people can't defeat the IRGC, but the regular Iranian army can and we already saw during the protests that they are not down with shooting civilians. They are not the dead-enders the Mullahs need them to be.

I agree 100%. It was the crazy ones who thought it was a good idea to attack every other Arab state in the region.

Iran is not an Arab state, and they are not Sunni Muslims. So crazy fanatics in Iran think it's fine to attack everybody else. Normal people, like the President, understand Iran needs to be nice to its neighbors.; 3/18/26, 6:59 AM
Saint Croix said...: The IRGC is 125,000 troops.

Regular army is 350,000 troops.

I would hope that we are focusing on the IRGC and decimating them.; 3/18/26, 7:00 AM
Enigma said...: Given the pro-west history of Iran and brutal treatment of its citizens, I suspect that Israel has lots of Iranian volunteers sharing intelligence. They don't need people to invade, rather, they need to support a critical mass to wipe out the leaders one-by-one.

As typical for decades, Israel has effective intelligence.; 3/18/26, 7:01 AM
Enigma said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/18/26, 7:05 AM
Humperdink said...: There is zero chance Israel invades Iran. None, zero, zip.; 3/18/26, 7:11 AM
Saint Croix said...: Zero chance? They invaded Egypt twice.; 3/18/26, 7:13 AM
Curious George said...: gadfly said...
President Trump claimed on Monday that a former president told him privately that “I wish I did what you did” in attacking Iran and killing its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei....

But Israeli F-15 jets attacked the Presidential Palace as part of Operation Lions Roar....

Strikes, including Blue Sparrow missiles, aboard the Israeli fighter jets began at 9.40 am. At least 30 precision strikes were launched directly on the ayatollah’s compound. The Blue Sparrow has been adapted for use as an offensive air-to-surface munition because of its high speeds and quasi-ballistic trajectories. Their ability to exit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere increases the difficulty of their interception and allows reduced reaction time from targets.

So the Israelis, not the Donald, killed Iran's supreme leader."

Cool. So you and all the lefties can shut the fuck up about "Trump's war." Right?; 3/18/26, 7:17 AM
Saint Croix said...: The surgical strikes in this war are pretty amazing.

What happens when there's not enough regime to change?; 3/18/26, 7:25 AM
Breezy said...: Bibi has given the Iranians the green light to go out and celebrate some holiday - new years I think? Anyway, he’s claiming the IDF is watching over and will protect them. Stunning development after only 2.5 weeks.; 3/18/26, 7:26 AM
imTay said...: Whatever you do, don't shine a black light around the chambers of this blog, because the circle jerk to the war porn here is getting out of hand.

Nothing like a surgical strike taking out a girls school! "Nits make lice, right?"; 3/18/26, 7:37 AM
imTay said...: I bet if we kill enough people, we will finally help the Iranians, because this is all about helping the Iranians.; 3/18/26, 7:40 AM
Humperdink said...: “because the circle jerk to the war porn here is getting out of hand.”

Some might say the man with a dozen aliases is getting out of hand by saying the same thing a hundred different ways. We get it - you’re against the war.; 3/18/26, 7:44 AM
narciso said...: But one more vaccine will do the trick (see the problem)
Youre no longer dutch now right?; 3/18/26, 7:46 AM
narciso said...: https://x.com/mathemetica/status/2033958039053832687?s=20; 3/18/26, 7:48 AM
Saint Croix said...: Who is leading Iran?

According to datarepublican...

General Ahmad Vahidi, appointed IRGC Commander-in-Chief on March 1, carries an active INTERPOL Red Notice issued in 2007 at Argentina’s request — he is the named operational planner, per Argentine prosecutors, of the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires (85 killed). He is also, per the NYT’s sources, the key power broker behind Mojtaba Khamenei’s election.

More on Vahidi here. He's the head of the snake.; 3/18/26, 7:54 AM
Saint Croix said...: Here's a profile on Vahidi in Al-Jazeera.

Vahidi has taken command of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at a particularly challenging moment, amid a joint US-Israeli war on his country that has killed more than 1,000 people, devastated Iranian cities, and assassinated much of the country’s senior military leadership.

His is a dangerous job. Qassem Soleimani, the long‑time commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, for example, was killed in a US drone strike in 2020 ordered by US President Donald Trump.

Mohammad Pakpour, the most recent IRGC chief, was also killed during the opening phase of the joint Israeli-US attacks on February 28. Pakpour had been appointed only after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami, during the 12-day war in June 2025.

He's a war criminal and a classic terrorist.; 3/18/26, 8:02 AM
narciso said...: He'll be gone soon, he drew the short straw; 3/18/26, 8:02 AM
Saint Croix said...: Those 30,000 civilians who were killed in Iran? That was Vahidi. He's the top dog at the IRGC.; 3/18/26, 8:07 AM
Leland said...: Congratulations to Team Venezuela.; 3/18/26, 8:08 AM
Saint Croix said...: According to the NYT, it was Vahidi who put Khamenei, who is reportedly in a coma, and missing his arms and legs, in charge. I think he got that idea from the Democrats who propped up Joe Biden as the US president. Anyway, they named a guy in a coma as the head of the country. And Vahidi is running it secretly.

He's been head of the IRGC for eight months, so apparently he's gotten pretty good at avoiding assassination.; 3/18/26, 8:15 AM
narciso said...: I would not take that chair if i were him; 3/18/26, 8:17 AM
tim maguire said...: imTay said...I bet if we kill enough people, we will finally help the Iranians, because this is all about helping the Iranians.

The Iranians seem to think so. And if you were a better person, you might think so as well.; 3/18/26, 8:20 AM
Iman said...: Khaminime in a ka ka koma?!?!

Oh noes…; 3/18/26, 8:24 AM
narciso said...: Its a flesh wound; 3/18/26, 8:25 AM
Saint Croix said...: Opposition to Mr. Khamenei surfaced from unexpected corners. Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s National Security Council and currently the de facto ruler of Iran, told some members of the Assembly of Experts that he believed the country needed a moderate and unifying leader, and that Mr. Khamenei would be a polarizing figure. President Masoud Pezeshkian, a moderate, and several senior officials and clerics also joined the naysayers, according to the senior officials, clerics and Guards members.

Larijani is dead, killed this weekend. But I disagree with the NYT that he was "the de facto ruler of Iran." If he was, why did he lose the succession battle? And clearly the president of Iran is not the guy in charge.

No, it's the head of the IRGC who is running things, the terrorist and war criminal. Ahmad Vihidi.; 3/18/26, 8:26 AM
Enigma said...: This is over when every new potential Iranian official declines the offer, saying "No, after you. No, after you."

When asked for volunteers, everyone awake takes a step backwards.; 3/18/26, 8:26 AM
narciso said...: No one wants to be no 9 (thunderball); 3/18/26, 8:29 AM
Humperdink said...: Maduro in jail and Venezuela wins the World Baseball Classic. It’s been a good year for the citizens of Venezuela and it’s only March.; 3/18/26, 8:29 AM
Mason G said...: "Cool. So you and all the lefties can shut the fuck up about "Trump's war." Right?"

It'll be "Trump's War" as long as there is negative news to be reported. Everybody knows how it works.; 3/18/26, 8:31 AM
Enigma said...: With partisan spin, Afghanistan became "Trump's war" when he decided to leave!; 3/18/26, 8:35 AM
Humperdink said...: Penn State has seven number one seeds (of ten weight classes) in the NCAA wrestling tournament which starts tomorrow. Draft Kings announced they were not taking bets on who would win the championship, only who would finish second to Penn State.; 3/18/26, 8:36 AM
gilbar said...: Saint Croix said...
It's very hard to topple a government without putting soldiers on the ground. I think what we want is for the Iranians to rise up and take over the government. But they're unarmed..

remember O'Bama's pallets of cash?
What Iran NEEDS is: pallets of guns; 3/18/26, 8:37 AM
gilbar said...: after all Biden left BILLIONS of dollars worth of arms for the Taliban

can't Trump give a few billion's worth to the Iranian people?
someone here will say: "BUT! then some will make it to terrorists!"

as opposed to the BILLIONS the Biden gave to the taliban?; 3/18/26, 8:39 AM
Howard said...: FYI. 1) Israel doesn't have enough ground forces to invade Iran 2) if Israel invaded Iran with boots on the ground, the Abraham Accords would be invalidated and the rest of the Muslim world would support Iran 3) Israel doesn't have could not possibly occupy Iran without using genocide.

Iran has a population 10-times greater than Israel. Iran is twice the size of Alaska and is mountainous. Israel is the size of New Jersey.

If Israel invades, Iran then it will be a 100% certainty that US troops will be required not only to save their bacon in Iran but also to provide and backfill the defense of Israel itself.; 3/18/26, 8:41 AM
Saint Croix said...: More on Vihidi and the IRGC at the NYT.

Describing Vihidi as a "hard-line officer with a reputation for brutality."

the Guards are not monolithic. While some members helped to mow down protesters by the thousands in January, it is also a conscript force, so its foot soldiers mirror Iranian society — some disdain the Islamic system. A core group of 2,000 to 3,000 officers, however, are considered hard-liners whose rank and wealth are tied to the organization. They will fight to the bitter end, analysts said.; 3/18/26, 8:46 AM
Don Cherry said...: I don’t think a foreign army can or will invade Iran. The terrain is too unfriendly. too many opportunities to drain patriotism of the population back home. probably two things need to happen. The IRGC are described as the fanatics. The leadership at least will have to be neutralized enough that they are no longer driving force. The soldiers may need to decide not to fight. It sounds like these are the fanatics and that might not be possible through fighting but could be possible through no paycheck. It sounds like the United States in Israel are systematically not only destroying their ability to make war but also their financial resources.

It sounds like the main army is the larger force. Either like in eastern Europe, they will give up when they realize it is a fair accompli Or they will be ordered to murder civilians and walk away or as in the first example with the United States in Israel, taking away their paychecks they may decide if they’re not getting paid there is no reason to suppress their country men and the world seems to be going that direction anyway.

In conjunction with that, I have to believe that we have dropped off light arms to the appropriate people, whether Iranians or curds or the other sub populations.

In contrast to Democrats and the media and the people who hate America here like RCO Kak imtay etc I hope America wins. I hope the West wins. I support Western civilization. I oppose barbarism.; 3/18/26, 8:49 AM
Enigma said...: Invasion is pointless. Iran sits in the middle of the ancient Silk Road and there have been many different tribes and migrations in that the area. Persians are not Arabs and seem to hate some Arab nations "as much as" they hate Israel.

The main question is which tribe will have the edge, and whether control can be sustained. Shades of gray versus other shades of gray. No black, no white.; 3/18/26, 9:00 AM
Aggie said...: The moment approaches for the Iranian people. It will be their responsibility to step up. They've got 50 years of oppression to draw from, and the detailed knowledge of who needs to be dealt with in the fallen government and IRGC. Best let them sort it out and decide what kind of government they want, with minimal oversight to ensure continuity of the national revenue, as in Venezuela.; 3/18/26, 9:00 AM
bagoh20 said...: Let me be honest and stand out from the crowd here by saying I know nothing about waging war in Iran. I have zero inside knowledge of the intelligence, military capabilities of the nations involved, or any experience planning or waging war.
I do know that Iran must be aimed in a new direction, now is the time, and the American and Israeli militaries are amazing.
Our goals are good, and I pray for a quick effective victory, leaving the world far better off than it was.; 3/18/26, 9:03 AM
Saint Croix said...: I bet if we kill enough people, we will finally help the Iranians

That's not our strategy at all. Our strategy is killing the uppity-ups. We're doing our best to avoid civilian casualties.

You want to help the Iranians? Help the people trying to overthrow the tyrants who murdered 30,000 people out in the streets.; 3/18/26, 9:12 AM
Saint Croix said...: The coma is unconfirmed, but I've seen it in several reports. Also that he lost one or both legs.

The vibe I get is that he's a figurehead. That's why he was picked! The real power is the IRGC, and its head, Ahmad Vihidi. The religious army is in charge.; 3/18/26, 9:24 AM
Humperdink said...: Saint Croix said: “ Zero chance? They invaded Egypt twice.”

Big difference. Israel took the Sinai which bordered Israel. I don’t recall any takeover of Cairo. Invading Iran would be logistical nightmare for Israel. To overwhelm Iran, Tehran would have to be taken. Never happen (see Russia /Ukraine).

Even though Iran’s neighbors are thrilled with the current events, I suspect they would a dim view of the Israeli flag flying next door.; 3/18/26, 9:25 AM
Narr said...: "Israel invaded Egypt twice."

Look at a map, please. Israel has invaded all of its neighbors at some point.

But Iran is not a neighbor, and as others have pointed out Israel doesn't have the force or logistics to make a mark in Iran.

No doubt they have special forces in country but they are there for intel and sabotage, not fighting well-armed main forces or leading a popular uprising.; 3/18/26, 9:37 AM
Don Cherry said...: Narr to be fair all of their enemies swore to murder every single living Jew in the country, among their armies to invade and either invaded and Israel beat them back or we’re about to invade, and Israel attack, attacked them to stop that attack from happening.

so yes their enemies tore a genocidal war to murder every single living Jew in the country and they fought back to stop that from happening. I think context is important!; 3/18/26, 9:46 AM
Don Cherry said...: Of course someone like RCO would object and say his preference was to slaughter all the Jews, but he is a really bad person I am religious and believe in the almighty loving G-d. I don’t want to go to the place I am sure RCO is going; 3/18/26, 9:47 AM
tcrosse said...: Arm the women of the worldwide Iranian diaspora and send them to Iran. They would make short work of the Islamic regime.; 3/18/26, 9:50 AM
Narr said...: Of course context is important, Don, and I anticipated just such an observation as yours.

It doesn't change the fact that Isreal has, in its wars for survival, invaded bordering lands. It has no capacity for land-power projection on the scale needed to make a difference in Iran--and everyone knows it.; 3/18/26, 10:17 AM
Narr said...: RIP Len Deighton, 1929-2026.

Another "I didn't realize he was still alive" moment.; 3/18/26, 10:18 AM
Michael McNeil said...: The Iranian civilians are arming themselves, out of blown up IRGC strong points. Beyond that, I don't think most folks here appreciate what an advantage the Iranian counterrevolutionaries will have—whether the Iranian Army joins them or not—with the possessing essentially total command of the air and total air support. Any concentrations of regime security forces which assemble to oppose them will be immediately bombed into oblivion.; 3/18/26, 10:32 AM
Don Cherry said...: Narr - agreed. I don’t think anyone ever considered that Israel has the capability of invading and holding territory except an extremely limited capacity. The Golan is strategically critically necessary to hold. The Sinai is important, but is so large and essentially uninhabitable that it could be made a no man’s land, which is what the peace treaty agreed. In the entry of military from Egypt into the Sinai constitutes breaking the treaty and as an active war, as far as I understand. rhe Sinai is so vast that is a safe treaty because Israel would have abundant time to respond in contrast to golan Gaza etc. or there is no time to respond.

anyway I think everyone agrees with both of us that Isreal has no meaningful way to hold territory except for that which is immediately adjacent to Israel.

also I think no serious person she’s America or the west sending an army in meaningful force into Iran. It’s just not feasible.

it seems to me as a non-military person. The only way for this to work is either for the army to stop fighting against the civilians or for the civilians to be armed. America and Israel have complete air superiority and it sounds like they have drones that are just sitting up in the air waiting for targets. It seems like the Iranian people are eager to help the Americans and the Israel, Israelis target their oppressors. For those that are not ideologically committed to the terrorist regime. It seems that Trump already thought about this and is in the process of removing their assets and taking away their paychecks. When we arming those who are willing to fight, the Iranians, as well as the sub populations as the curds, etc. can help neutralize the government.

again Trump has said that the goal is not regime change although I would think that is the Israeli’s goal. He said, neutralize their ability to project meaningful force to western civilization meaning neutralize their nuclear program and missile program.; 3/18/26, 11:12 AM
narciso said...: The working mans spy (harry palmer); 3/18/26, 12:23 PM
Jim at said...: You want to help the Iranians?

He doesn't want to help the Iranians. He just wants to bitch. All day. Every day.; 3/18/26, 4:33 PM