The world just became safer because Israel and the United States launched a war against Iran, destroying its nuclear program, disabling its military, and neutralizing its fanatical regime and terrorist network. The Ayatollah and his government have been a destabilizing influence throughout the world, along with Russia, their biggest ally. For decades, Iran’s people have been suppressed, and its oil wealth squandered, to serve a malevolent agenda. Tehran’s most significant export has been terror. Its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, have upended the Middle East, ruined Syria, attacked Israel on October 7 to launch the Gaza war, flooded the region and Europe with millions of refugees, backed Russia’s genocide in Ukraine by providing missiles and drones, and broken sanctions by smuggling cheap oil to China. That’s why there should be no tears for Tehran, as its regime unravels, and its murder and mayhem end. “We stopped the nuclear threat,” announced President Donald Trump. “Iran is the bully of the Middle East… and can choose between peace and tragedy…If you respond, we have more targets left and we will hit them.”
The war will be brief, but it is the result of weeks of coordinated messaging and military efforts between Israel and the United States. Israel alerted the world that Iran was close to building an atomic bomb. Then the Americans offered Iran a diplomatic solution through negotiations designed to prevent it from enriching uranium to create a nuclear arsenal. The Iranians denied the existence of such a program, despite evidence provided by nuclear oversight agencies, and talks ended after months of their bad-faith bargaining.
Israel quickly and unilaterally launched air attacks on Tehran’s nuclear and military facilities and was attacked in return. In short order, the Israeli air force disabled Iran’s air defense capability and gutted its leadership. This was designed to pave the way for the US to drop specialized bunker buster bombs. Trump kept his cards close to his chest, for a change, as the Pentagon prepared to attack. Flanked by protective Israeli air escorts, it was bombs away. Iran’s most dangerous nuclear activities were buried hundreds of feet underground, and 14 American bunker-busters obliterated them.
Europe was also involved. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly praised Israel for doing the West’s “dirty work” by attacking Iran. Then, after the US-Iran talks broke off, Germany, France, and Britain quickly stepped in by offering an alternative diplomatic off-ramp to Tehran.
But talks are unlikely in the immediate future. Iran is now in chaos, both politically and militarily. For the world, this represents a dangerous moment. The Ayatollah hides in a bunker, while his people have no protection, and his inner circle has diminished after the Israelis systematically assassinated his top echelon of military leaders. The Ayatollah, like others, will likely end up fleeing to Moscow, as did Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. But even that is unsafe. In the days leading up to the war launched by Israel, the Arab News reported that al-Assad had been poisoned in Moscow by persons unknown. He is allegedly recovering.
The most significant question at this point is whether the Ayatollah will, like Hitler in his Berlin bunker, order the destruction of Iran’s oil facilities to create chaos in oil markets? Will he attack U.S. military bases in the region to widen the war? Or will his subordinates, like Hitler’s, ignore such orders because their country is losing and to do so would cripple the country’s economy for decades. It’s notable that Iran’s proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon quickly announced that it would not participate in retaliation on behalf of Iran. "Iran is a strong country capable of defending itself; logic dictates that it can confront America and Israel," said a Hezbollah spokesperson.
Another question is whether Russia and China will get involved or continue to stay on the sidelines, despite both being negatively impacted by this turn of events. That’s unlikely because they’ve remained on the sidelines until now, except rhetorically, and especially now that Trump is fully invested in crippling Iran. They won’t dare.
The only good news is that as Iran is besieged, Moscow’s murderous rampage in Europe will end sooner because Putin’s supply of Iranian drones and missiles won’t be available. Likewise, China’s economic pace and tariff battle with the United States will likely subside as Beijing now becomes preoccupied with replacing Iranian oil to keep the lights on and its factories running.
Europe can also breathe a sigh of relief because it was within range of Iran's missiles. It won’t be deluged with refugees, nor will the Arab world, as Iran falls apart. This is because Iranians are not Arabs and won’t be welcome in neighboring countries or anywhere. And America, once more, has assumed the role of the “world’s policeman,” and Trump did not equivocate about his commitment to stay the course. “We have lost thousands as a direct result of their hate. It will not continue.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled off a coup for his country (and region) by convincing Trump to become directly involved. The geopolitical shift is profound: This is no longer Israel’s war against Iran. It is now the West’s “war” against Iran, Russia, and China. In his thank-you speech to America after it openly entered the fray, Netanyahu defined the moral importance of the moment: “This was an awesome and righteous attack.”
For more information and background about the need for regime change in Iran, read my previous newsletter, “Axe the Ayatollah”.
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Brilliant… so concise and complete… nobody does it better!! Unfortunately, you are largely preaching to the converted and the challenge is in bringing the reality you so clearly define and “expose” to every citizen capable of rational thought. My fear is that there are not enough of them!! Thank you so much for doing much more than your share!!
Trump is correct in stating that he, unlike his predecessors, took appripriate action which was well overdue.
How could previous (Democratic) administrations be so naive (corrupt?) to have believed and allowed Iran to continue (a) backing terrorist proxies, and (b) using their oil wealth to develop nuclear weaponry, while sending them billions of - previously sanctioned - dollars?
While I don't believe Iran will retailate by attacking US military and other interests in Iraq and elsewhere, I ask you (Diane) if you think they might have sleeper terrorist cells in America and Europe which will strike against civilians in those countries?