# Speculation for and/or Consequences to the US and Elsewhere for Engaging in the Bombing of Iran and Other Targets **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210 "2026-03-04T22:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/221 "2026-03-21T13:53:39Z")
While I do admire the leaders of NATO countries that are refusing to play ball, I also notice that various world leaders still are showing up at the White House to kiss Trump’s ass and be insulted by him. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/222 "2026-03-21T14:32:33Z")
Yeah, the gleeful promises to inflict collective punishment on the American people as a whole would carry more moral weight if their leaders could even do the bare minimum themselves to stand up to Trump. Unfortunately, looking back at world history over the last few centuries, I think that the new order will please neither the hard liners who want America to become (remain?) an international pariah for the foreseeable future, nor the people who want to restore the old liberal order. My default assumption is that governments will make medium term deals based on economics, not on the actions of old regimes a generation ago. Neither national good will nor opprobrium seems to last for decades and decades. Obviously it’s _possible_ that some countries will continue to blame all of the American people, whether they opposed or supported Trump a long time ago, since there are countries like that that blamed the west even before Trump. But there are counterexamples like Vietnam, who by all rights should hate America the _most_ out of any country, but doesn’t. (In their case, it is because China is a both more ancient and more recent enemy.) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/223 "2026-03-21T14:47:32Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Obviously it’s _possible_ that some countries will continue to blame all of the American people, whether they opposed or supported Trump a long time ago, since there are countries like that that blamed the west even before Trump. Although there is plenty of blame to go around for Americans, it’s not really about blaming the US. Going forward, it’s about not letting the US be so dominant that we have to just sit back and watch while they go around blowing shit up for no good reason (both metaphorically and literally). To do this, we need to decouple from the US as much as possible. Militarily, economically, socially, everything. It will be hard to do, but it must be done. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/224 "2026-03-21T15:01:50Z")
OK, but if there’s a breakup we Americans are keeping Rock and Roll/Blues music. That’s ours. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/225 "2026-03-21T15:05:58Z")
Once decent people are back in charge, they need to remove everything Trump has done. Of course they can’t raise the dead. Get rid of his EO’s. Take his name off of everything but the crimes he has committed. Immediately taking his name off of the Kennedy Center would be a good first step that could be televised. Hell, through a huge party for that. That would be a good impact. To hell with what the MAGA’s think. Let them spew their lies, and laugh at them. Call them out for the racists and bigots that they are. Let them rant and rave. They will eventually crawl back under their rocks. Have the FCC get independent fact checkers for all news. Especially FOX fake news. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/226 "2026-03-21T15:13:28Z")
The next administrative can repair most of the domestic damage Trump has done, but international damage is probably permanently broken. The US will not be trusted again, for at least a generation and maybe more. A new international paradigm must be developed, that doesn’t rely on the wisdom and decency of the US, and hopefully it will be one that respects human rights. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/227 "2026-03-21T16:08:53Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > So I’m thinking, re-open the strait for everything _except_ US shipping. Punish Trump for starting this whole mess Very little of the oil or LNG that comes through the Strait is bound for the U.S. The U.S. mostly supplies its energy needs from Western Hemisphere sources. So this would ease up the pressure on energy markets, which are the primary point of leverage over Trump right now. Sad to say, but the best way of getting Trump to feel pain right now involves all of us feeling some pain. The only way to punish Trump ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/228 "2026-03-21T19:22:52Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > The only way to punish Trump Impeach and imprison him. Get. It. Over. With. The rest of the world may see that there is some sanity left in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/229 "2026-03-21T19:49:20Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > A new international paradigm must be developed, that doesn’t rely on the wisdom and decency of the US, and hopefully it will be one that respects human rights. The direction that Trump is taking the world is one in which regional powers leverage local hegemony to rule over a limited fiefdom. China in Asia; Russia in Eastern Europe; and the U.S. in the Amercias. But I expect the traditional Western powers (Europe, plus countries like Canada and Australia) to push back against this. They will seek a more global order, one which I do expect will honor human rights. I guess the question is which vision will prevail. I wonder if there might be some odd alliance to be had between Western Europe and Iran, at least as far as allowing oil exports goes. And Russia is likely a paper tiger; the best it can manage in Ukraine is a stalemate. Putin may want to rekindle the old Soviet Union, but he doesn’t have the ability to do so. China may also decide that it prefers investing in advancing its society more than war profiteering. Watching America go broke for Pyrrhic victories is surely going to warrant caution. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/230 "2026-03-21T19:59:27Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > China in Asia; Russia in Eastern Europe; and the U.S. in the Amercias. And who, precisely, would the controlling Power be in the Middle East? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/231 "2026-03-21T20:03:14Z")
Israel? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/232 "2026-03-21T20:05:13Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > And who, precisely, would the controlling Power be in the Middle East? I agree with @Dr.Drake . I think Trump defers to Israel on the Middle East. Hence this current war. Netanyahu convinced him that Iran had nuclear ambitions and was “two weeks” away from a bomb (I may be paraphrasing). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/233 "2026-03-21T20:16:28Z")
Considering the focus - and blatant intent - to kill Iranian leadership, I expect one result will be an increasing international willingness to just openly kill the leaders of enemy nations. We’ve been sliding that direction for decades, thanks to national leaders too stupid to think it’ll apply to them. People have been worrying about drone strikes in the US; imagine what could happen if it’s something more like a big bomb under Congress. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/234 "2026-03-21T21:39:05Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > regional powers leverage local hegemony to rule over a limited fiefdom. China in Asia; If you think Asia is all that concerns China you have not been paying attention. Africa is also buddying up to the saner alternative hegemon. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/235 "2026-03-22T03:41:57Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > imagine what could happen if it’s something more like a big bomb under Congress. The US gets a Guy Fawkes holiday? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/236 "2026-03-22T04:00:29Z")
It would be as noticeable as the one that brought the 9/11 hijackers here. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/237 "2026-03-22T05:29:18Z")
I’m assuming [this report](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mojtaba-khamenei-alive-irgc-currently-210109681.html) is about a consequence of the war. > [@](#): > > “The more likely scenario is that the Revolutionary Guards are controlling him, not the other way around,” one well-informed source stated, adding that “in a few days, we will probably know more.” > > The latest assessments from both Israel and the United States suggest that Iranian Supreme Leader [Mojtaba Khamenei](https://www.jpost.com/tags/mojtaba-khamenei) is alive but does not currently hold real control over Iran’s leadership apparatus, two sources told _The Jerusalem Post_. > > According to one source familiar with the details, the balance of power appears to favor the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, rather than [Khamenei](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/khamenei-urges-media-avoid-irans-173550101.html) himself. > > “The more likely scenario is that the [Revolutionary Guards](https://www.jpost.com/tags/islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps) are controlling him, not the other way around,” one well-informed source stated, adding that “in a few days, we will probably know more.” > > Officials in Israel and the US further emphasized that current intelligence indicates Khamenei is wounded but alive, suggesting he remains physically capable of carrying out at least some functions. However, even if he is formally involved in decision-making, his authority – if it exists – is limited and far from absolute. > > It is certainly not comparable to the level of centralized power long exercised by his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/238 "2026-03-22T14:27:48Z")
Just gotta say how much I agree with/wish for pretty much all you suggest. Marginalize the extremists. Of course, I’d like a pony too. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/239 "2026-03-22T17:19:31Z")
Replying to Mijin’s post from another thread so as to avoid a hijack: > I think it’s more than just the regime, I think it’s existential. > Bear in mind that they had the JCPOA with the US first, and now were in the middle of negotiations which the mediators were saying was proceeding very well. > > So regardless of regime, they are going to feel that cutting a deal is going to do nothing to prevent further / future bombing. That’s why they will throw everything at this and may not stop even as the US gets fatigued. > . Yes, absolutely. And the rest of the world is watching, and understanding that negotiating ANYthing with the USA is pointless. They are unreliable opponents. Their word means nothing. Trade negotiations? Treaties? Any negotiations? Completely pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210/240 "2026-03-22T17:33:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And the rest of the world is watching, and understanding that negotiating ANYthing with the USA is pointless. They are unreliable opponents. Their word means nothing. > > Trade negotiations? Treaties? Any negotiations? Completely pointless. So the world re-aligns. Somebody mentioned earlier that China is heavily involved in Africa; I can see China becoming the leading economic superpower of the 21st century. European countries are undoubtedly going to become more militarized. Are they going to begin to exclude the U.S. from their alliances? And what about Canada? I’d think they’d prefer to be with Europe, but does geography limit their opportunity? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-and-or-consequences-to-the-us-and-elsewhere-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210.md?page=13)