June 23, 2025
"Mr. Trump had been under pressure from the noninterventionist wing of his party to stay out of the conflict, and was having lunch that day..."
".... with one of the most outspoken opponents of a bombing campaign, Stephen K. Bannon, fueling speculation that he might hold off. It was almost entirely a deception. Mr. Trump had all but made up his mind to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, and the military preparations were well underway for the complex attack. Less than 30 hours after Ms. Leavitt relayed his statement [that he would make a decision about whether or not to strike Iran 'within the next two weeks'] he would give the order for an assault.... Mr. Trump’s 'two weeks' statement was just one aspect of a broader effort at political and military misdirection that took place over eight chaotic days, from the first Israeli strikes against Iran to the moment when a fleet of B-2 stealth bombers took off from Missouri for the first American military strikes inside Iran since that country’s theocratic revolution in 1979...."
From "Shifting Views and Misdirection: How Trump Decided to Strike Iran/When Israel began its assault on Iran, President Trump kept his distance. But within days he was on a path that led to an extensive bombing mission aided by political and military ruses" (NYT).
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86 comments:
There is a straight line between Jimmy Carter's feckless handling of the US embassy hostage situation and today's events.
@R C Belaire, no question about it.
Trump is genuine about not being a natural enemy of Iran and will want to give that impression particularly to Iran.
It's not indecision.
The New York Times has accepted, and is keeping, a Pulitzer Prize for its reporting on the coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia - which was entirely a hoax perpetuated by Hillary Clinton. They have refused to return the Pulitzer.
They are not trustworthy to report on this, or any other story. I don't believe a word of it and neither should you.
That's the sort of thing Vance is too young to know how to do. Vance has principles, and Trump works from conversation.
Somehow, the NYT is trying to make Trump’s action sound bad. I suppose they are bad if - like the NYT - you hate Trump in a crazed and irrational way.
Shifting Views and Misdirection
Trump does subtle? Trump knows how to keep his mouth shut when it’s needful? Who knew?!?
Democrats are complaining that he did not consult them before launching the bombers. Oh puh-leeez! There is no one in the whole of the United States who isn’t completely aware that there is no Democrat politician anywhere in government (Fetterman the sole possible exception) who would not do everything possible — including passing the information briefed to them along to the Iranian government — to sabotage Trump and his administration. I don’t know what the Democrats have to do to win back the public’s trust, but I’m pretty certain it’s more than they think they have to do and way more than they’re willing to do at this point.
R C Belaire said...
There is a straight line between Jimmy Carter's feckless handling of the US embassy hostage situation and today's events.
This, 100%.
And Big Mike is correct: I can't think of a Democrat politician to whom could be trusted with this prior knowledge. Somebody name one.
The NYT ceased to be a reliable news source a long time ago. The only reason to read it is to learn what the left’s current talking points are.
"...chaotic..."
The NYT's go-to when all else fails.
I'm with Bannon. This time. We don't know the results of the bombing just yet. The probability of the bunker busters actually achieving the destruction of the underground facilities is very small. The marginal losses for Iran may not offset the other ramifications, but we won't know that for a while either. We have lost our option of non-involvement.
Bibi has been claiming Iran is close to a nuclear weapon since 1992. Regardless of how close they really were, they have just had another major setback. This is a good thing, but may lead to other not so good things.
I've become very skeptical, even under this administration. The government lies to you. All the time, every day, aways has. Remember the Maine, Gulf of Tonkin, Weapons of Mass Destruction, COVID.
Expect the Iranians to try and seal off the Straits of Hormuz. Trump has already sent several additional carrier groups to the area. We will soon start escorting ships through there like we did during the Reagan administration, which could lead to direct conflict. Expect attacks on all our bases in the region, e.g. Iraq and Syria.
It is nice to see no one helping Iran so far. The press has made the point that Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis have offered no support other than emotional support, but they really can't, since they are the recipient of aid from Iran, which has mostly been destroyed.
I think the timing of the attack has more to do with vulnerability of Iran and its vassal states than the imminent creation of nuclear weapons.
I wonder if Bannon was told that he was part of the misdirection, or was in on it. Something for they NYT/WaPo tools to ponder. Heh.
“In wartime, the truth is so precious that it must be protected by a bodyguard of lies.”
- Winston Churchill
Officials Concede They Don’t Know the Fate of Iran’s Uranium Stockpile ~ NYT
"Both Vice President JD Vance and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, acknowledged questions about the whereabouts of Iran’s stockpile of near-bomb-grade nuclear material."
Netanyahu justified the strike by stating, "Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atomic bombs—nine."
He referenced Iran's stockpile of approximately 400 kg of 60% enriched U-235, which, if further enriched to weapons-grade levels, could suffice for nine to ten nuclear weapons. However, the current location of the highly enriched uranium (HEU) is unknown.
IAEA Director General Grossi reported that Iran has relocated the material. Senator Marco Rubio claims nothing can move in Iran undetected, yet trucks and heavy equipment were observed two days ago sealing tunnels to protect the stockpile sites.
To be fair, some acknowledge that Iran still possesses the material. J.D. Vance suggests they will negotiate with Iran regarding the matter.
But what does it say when two of the most amazing military operations in modern memory are still unable to fully eliminate Iran's nuclear program? I think that's proof that this is tactical brilliance may be in service of a foolhardy strategy.
We should judge this strike by its true purpose, not the legal pretext of preemptive self-defense. If the strike allows the current regime, or a similar one, to remain in power with nuclear capabilities, it will be a strategic failure.
The "non-interventionistalist wing." That pesky little faction!
"Trump is genuine about not being a natural enemy of Iran and will want to give that impression particularly to Iran."
It's just one of those age old problems: how do you convince someone of your sincerity of not wanting to hurt them while also bombing the fuck out of them. It's so easy for "miscommunication" to arise ya know!
boatbuilder, I also noted the Times desperate use of the unflattering word "chaotic". This military strike seemed very well thought out and carried out. I'd say the planning and decision making was deliberate and effectively strategic.
Donald W. McCain
"...political and military misdirection that took place over eight chaotic days..."
The word "chaotic" jumped out at me as well. The legacy media simply can't help themselves.
Trump misdirects the enemy as part of his military strategy. Democrats and the NYT misdirect Americans as part of their political strategy.
The NYT does not and never has had any inkling what “Trump was thinking” or “how he made the decision” so the whole premise is off. I’ll wait for the actual Trump interview to hear his telling. If the interviewer is good enough we’ll hear how he came to his decision in his own words.
Everything else is spin or guesses.
It’s difficult to for me to process why NYT is still treated like a news organization other than its disappearance would leave a hole in the hearts of some…
No one in the Trump admin leaked. That, at least, is good news.
Trump misdirects the enemy as part of his military strategy. Democrats and the NYT misdirect Americans as part of their political strategy.
Excellent summary, sir!
Eight chaotic days.
“ If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you”
Trump’s team wasn’t in chaos. The rest of the world was.
Wince said...
Trump misdirects the enemy as part of his military strategy. Democrats and the NYT misdirect Americans as part of their political strategy.
Perfect summary. Well done.
Summary of the results at Fordow by Lawrence Person:
https://www.battleswarmblog.com/?p=65509
The Instapundit blogger (aka Glenn Reynolds) said in a post yesterday that the strike was successfully kept secret bc no Dems were read in (so no leaks) and that useful idiots like David Frum, Shumer, et alia were encouraged to push their "TACO" meme about DJT which the Mullahs fell for. Whether or not the air strikes were effective only time will tell but the operational security shown here shows that Hegseth has made his bones.
One of my friends from New York gave me this aphorism years ago:
You can not read the NYT and be uninformed, or you can read it and be misinformed.
And that was before the newsroom went woke.
One can understand why the Democrats are angry that Trump didn't confide in them with the plans of the operation. I mean just look at how trustworthy and cooperative they've been when they are informed of planned ICE deportation raids. Oh, wait...
The next day was "within two weeks," so nothing that Trump said was false.
TACO= Trump Always Chickens Out
Given the choice of Trump's allegedly Chaotic Good or the NYT's Lawful Evil, I'll take the Chaotic Good every time.
"...Mr. Trump’s 'two weeks' statement was just one aspect of a broader effort at political and military misdirection that took place over eight chaotic days....."
The NYT is just hopping mad that they're not getting what they thought they paid for, good solid leaked material in advance of events, so it can be broadcast and spun. Now they're left with spinning things after they happen, what a bore. And Steve Bannon, played for chump again. After we've been told by reliable sources that Trump always does what the most recent person told him. Oh, dear....
I've been thinking about this over the weekend.
I think the US bombing Iran is a more honest and forthright foreign policy than cheering on Israel when they do it. I do think it's in the USA's interests that the 14th-century leaders of Iran are removed by their citizenry, and that it's best for the stability of the region that Iran does not have the Nuclear option. Why shouldn't the USA be shouldering the burden if that's what's best for the country?
Similarly, why have this proxy war with Russia via Ukraine?
If the USA wants something done, we should do it ourselves after weighing the benefits and costs. I appreciate that Trump seems to have this same viewpoint.
Talk about chaotic! Democrats have been complaining that Trump did not consult with Democrat leadership before launching the air strike, something that I found very plausible for reasons outlined in my comment at 5:44. But now it appears that Trump did reach out to Messers Schumer and Jeffries. What I understand is that Schumer was informed but Jeffries did not pick up when Trump called him.
So what’s going on? Are Democrats lying? (Is it a day ending in ‘Y’?). Is the news media lying, or were they lied to? Is Jeffries so arrogant that he feels justified ignoring a phone call from the White House? What’s going on on the left side of the political spectrum?
Trump's ability to negotiate with foreign leaders is in the toilet after this. Why would anyone believe him? And if you're the leader of Iran or North Korea or any other minor state, you'd have to worry about the USA killing you during negotations!
I love how 'muricans are high fiving themselves over Trump's brilliant performance. We - the USA- got nothing out of this. Israel is the winner. At best, we got a big bag of crap - at worst another war in the Middle east.
"Trump's ability to negotiate with foreign leaders is in the toilet after this. Why would anyone believe him? And if you're the leader of Iran or North Korea or any other minor state, you'd have to worry about the USA killing you during negotations!"
Iran was stringing him along, and every leader in the world knows it. You're gullible.
Dave Begley said: I suppose they are bad if - like the NYT - you hate Trump in a crazed and irrational way.
It is not personal nor is it irrational, Dave. It is only business - DNC business.
When the NYT doesn't show great hatred towards a Republican, that tells you that the Republican is a squish.
Medvedev comes out and says it:
https://x.com/medvedevrussiae/status/1936725778701701276?s=61
“The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue.
3. A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.
If you look at the betting market action it is clear that no one with knowledge of the attack leaked it to anyone at any point last week. So, I already knew that Trump and his inner circle had not included Congressional Democrats in the decision making.
“3. A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads”
Pure Kremlin bullshit. Under a Biden or Obama, sure. Under Trump, no one is going to take on the consequences for the sake of some batshit Muzzies.
Read this, from Aimen Dean https://x.com/AimenDean/status/1936600903638749655
"Trump's ability to negotiate with foreign leaders is in the toilet after this. Why would anyone believe him? And if you're the leader of Iran or North Korea or any other minor state, you'd have to worry about the USA killing you during negotations!"
I rather think that foreign leaders will no longer assume that Trump is just bluffing.
"Somehow, the NYT is trying to make Trump’s action sound bad."
Bombing Iran? Yes, it is bad, and illegal under the Constitution. This simply reminds us Trump is a criminal, rather than being the decision defining him as one.
To those who may rush in to say, "What about...(names of various and sundry previous POTUS' who have done the same or similar thing)," well...YES! Most or all of our presidents for the past half century or more (if not even farther back) have exceeded their legal powers and have acted criminally.
The simple response to Russia offering Iran nuclear warheads would be for NATO to offer Ukraine same. It won't happen either way.
I appreciate how Commissar Cookie's moral vanity far surpasses his desire to protect America snd its allies.
China just told Iran to keep the Straight of Hormuz open for trade! Winning. So who had Xi doing a tag-team diplomatic move on Tehran on their bingo card for this week?
Cookie couldn't find support for his statement in the Constitution if you offered him $1000 to point it out. What a dumb statement.
How dumb?
Dumber than Dick Nixon saying, "When the president does it it's not illegal."
"No controlling legal authority." -- Albert Gore Jr.
Ignorant or just plain wrong? Well, it depends on how well Cookie can define "imminent" within the context of the War Powers Act, which has no enforcement mechanism even when defined correctly.
Why?
See Albert Gore Jr. above.
Bannon is a Grifter. Now he’s a Useful Idiot too
Then there's the whole sticky subject of exactly what past SCOTUS rulings have said about presidential uses of military power short of declared wars. Like the ladies of the View this subject embodies the useful term "wide latitude."
Obama showered the mullahs with pallet loads of cash.
Trump destroyed their uranium centrifuges and kept Israel safe for at least the next twenty years.
American Jews cover Obama's ass with slobbery kisses, and despise Trump.
People are funny.
Well, obviously, if Iran says minimal damage done, Trump needs to bomb them again. Duh.
If Iraan leadership had half a brain, they would claim everything destroyed.
how do you convince someone of your sincerity of not wanting to hurt them while also bombing the fuck out of them.
You drop a ground-penetrating megabomb on a target the size of a washing machine, destroying a multi-billion dollar underground uranium enrichment facility devoted to the worldwide genocide of the Jews, while harming not a single innocent civilian.
Expect the Iranians to try and seal off the Straits of Hormuz.
They cannot do so, and will not do so. They've been told as much by China, which depends on cheap embargo-busting Iranian oil exported via the strait, and is the only entity with even a small prayer of sustaining its closure.
"Cookie couldn't find support for his statement in the Constitution if you offered him $1000 to point it out."
Under Section 8 of the Constitution, only Congress may declare war. Those who stupidly say "Trump didn't declare war on Iran, he just bombed them...hyuck, hyuck, hyuck!,"bombing or in any other way unleashing violence with weapons on another nation is declaring war! By ordering the bombing, Trump illegally declared war on Iran, and all those who followed his orders are also guilty in his war crime.
Kakistocracy said:
"Senator Marco Rubio claims nothing can move in Iran undetected, yet trucks and heavy equipment were observed two days ago sealing tunnels to protect the stockpile sites."
Observed, but undetected. Ratheresque.
"I appreciate how Commissar Cookie's moral vanity far surpasses his desire to protect America snd its allies."
What make you think we're in danger from Iran?
Cook: “What makes you think we’re in danger from Iran?”
Lloyd Austin stated that Iran and her proxies attacked US personnel and facilities 83 times just during the Biden regime. Then there’s the “Death to America” thing.
We see another illustration from Cook of the proverb, "There are none so blind as those who will not see."
To use a sports analogy, Trump faked 'em right out of their jocks. The Iranian poohbah at the negotiating sessions in Istanbul said it's obvious that Trump and his team are not "men of diplomacy". He said that like it's a bad thing. Well mess with the bull, sometimes you get the horns.
" I also noted the Times desperate use of the unflattering word "chaotic". This military strike seemed very well thought out and carried out."
Well not compared to the silky smooth operation Carter unleashed to go get the hostages Iranian "students" captured. Something like Debacle in the Desert rings a bell.
(In case Mark reads this - that was sarcasm.)
Apparently Cook can't understand my 10:19 comment. There's a lot of legal options presidents have short of war. Maybe he's still operating under the AUMF passed during Bush's term. Same area. Same foe.
[With Trump as POTUS] the left says no action without a declaration of war I pose this scenario:
The Chinese launch ships towards Taiwan. Armaments are detected and LIKELY heading towards our assets in the Pacific but none have hit our troops yet and may not. Do you call Congress to ask for a declaration of war or do you take action as CiC?
Or the NORKs stage a massive incursion into the DMZ in Korea showing no signs of stopping. Do we wait for Congress to declare war?
So what is the trip wire for you?
Iran formally declared war on the United States in 1980.
Cook: “What makes you think we’re in danger from Iran?”
We're not. The rest of the middle east is.
"Apparently Cook can't understand my 10:19 comment. There's a lot of legal options presidents have short of war."
Launching bombs into another nation is an act of war. We have just waged war on Iran.
"Cook: 'What makes you think we’re in danger from Iran?'
"We're not. The rest of the middle east is."
Are they? How so? What data supports that? Even if it were concluded they may be a danger to "the rest of the middle east," that is not sufficient, in itself, to warrant our launching bombs into Iran. Our bombing of Iran is a criminal act.
Robert Cook said...
"Apparently Cook can't understand my 10:19 comment. There's a lot of legal options presidents have short of war."
Launching bombs into another nation is an act of war. We have just waged war on Iran.
**************
Moron. What has Iran been doing to US the past 45 years? Beirut...Al Khobar towers....supplying Houthis with weapons to attack our Red Sea ships.....
And we didn't see you pissing your pants with anguish when Barack dropped bombs on :
Iraq - Part of operations against ISIS
Afghanistan - Continued operations from inherited conflicts
Pakistan - Primarily drone strikes
Somalia - Targeted strikes against terrorist groups
Yemen - Drone operations
Libya - NATO-led intervention in 2011
Syria - Airstrikes against ISIS beginning in 2014
(per AI Claude)
Did you condemn him? Are you claiming we are at war with all those countries to this day?
Just for consistency, Tom Jefferson should be impeached in absentia for the Barbary Wars. Damn those TACO founding fathers.
Under Section 8 of the Constitution, only Congress may declare war.
************
Declaring war is a political act. Waging it w/o a declaration is a presidential power in his role as Commander-in-Chief.
Are you actually so STUPID as to believe the POTUS is powerless to defend this country w/o getting Congress's approval beforehand?
Wanna 'splain why Jefferson didn't get a Declaration of War from Congress before going after the Tripoli pirates?
Per AI: "This [Jefferson's actions] became a precedent for presidential military action without formal declarations of war - Jefferson acted first based on his executive authority to defend American interests, with Congress providing retroactive authorization. The response to a declaration of war was considered "politically more palatable than declaring war"
Robert Cook said...
"Apparently Cook can't understand my 10:19 comment. There's a lot of legal options presidents have short of war."
Launching bombs into another nation is an act of war. We have just waged war on Iran.
Cook is not anti war.
Cook is for Cook having power over other people and Cook taking their stuff.
If he can use support for a war to his advantage he will. If he can use opposition to a war he will. Everything he does and says is based on getting him the ability to take other people’s money.
He really doesn’t believe a single word he says except for raising taxes on people and paying himself.
Putting this in for the close block.
Robert Cook said...
"I appreciate how Commissar Cookie's moral vanity far surpasses his desire to protect America snd its allies."
What make you think we're in danger from Iran?
Cook is right. Iran is more of an expensive irritant.
Everyone notices that every protest is the same group of thugs and thieves. They just get new signs.
The real threat to freedom is the people like cook who want to take our money and freedom from us.
I have no idea why people are arguing with Cook. You can point out countless examples of prior presidents doing similar actions - and more - and it won't matter. He doesn't care.
The military ordnance expert lgv speaks:
"The probability of the bunker busters actually achieving the destruction of the underground facilities is very small."
************
Sez you, based on no supporting evidence at all.
Have you seen the pictures?
Cookie… Cookie… hand me your dome.
As UCLA constitutional law professor Eugene Volokh has observed, no declaration of war is required when a state of war already exists due to foreign attacks on U.S. territory, forces, assets, or shipping.
The present war with the Houthis was started by them. The present war with Iran was started by them.
Someone upthread said that these were "the first American military strikes inside Iran since that country’s theocratic revolution in 1979...." The Jimmy Carter Desert Classic was post-revolution. Trump's strikes were the first SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES since the 1979 revolution.
There are other ways that you could describe "shifting views and misdirection" if you weren't really happy that Trump sold out Vance, Gabbard, Rubio, and Hegseth, and started the war that Bolton, and plenty of others who hate Trump, and who see this as the bank shot that destroys Trump, and gets them their precious war.
Don't worry though, I am the only guy who has been with MAGA since 2016 who feels betrayed by the deception. So it only cost Trump the support of one person. Trump actually called me and asked me if he chose those people, would he have my support, and I am the only person in MAGA world who cares that they all got thrown under the bus for the Fox News blowhards.
That was sarcasm, BTW.
A recent church bombing in Syria occurred on June 22, 2025, at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, resulting in at least 23 deaths and 63 injuries. The attack was attributed to a suicide bomber affiliated with the Islamic State, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the region in years.
Oh, that's the same ISIS head choppers that we put in charge in Syria last month. But don't worry, we are really worried about the people of Iran, we promise, Syrians don't count.
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