# 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:** 3
**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 7, 2026, 6:38pm 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/1028210/41 "2026-03-07T18:38:17Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Are we even getting accurate reports about the status these days? > > Is filtered news routine? 1. No. We’re getting lots of disinformation 2. Yes. War news has always been heavily filtered. ---
**Author:** ![doomtastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@doomtastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomtastic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:03pm 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/1028210/42 "2026-03-07T22:03:36Z")
I’m asserting that they are not specifically invoking Armageddon (absent some compelling evidence to the contrary). Extraordinary claims and all that. It might be surprising for some of you that don’t spend time around religious folk, but there’s a wide variety of opinions on dogma out there! A commander believing that “God is on our side in this conflict” is very different from one believing “this war will bring about the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end of days”. I’m reminded every day when I read these threads of the stupidity and shortsightedness of the human race and my countrymen in particular, but this simply strains credulity. I’ll take it more seriously if a legitimate news source can corroborate the story through independent channels. But so far it seems to be one guy’s claim (that I’ve never heard of) that’s getting repeated breathlessly by everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:51pm 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/1028210/43 "2026-03-07T22:51:15Z")
“God is on our side” is a lot more benign than stuff that went on in that USAF academy fiasco. IIRC a general got a star torn off over that. I have religious friends and relatives (I’m from West Virginia). Some of them believe things as crazy as Armageddon. I’m not assserting anyone in authority invoked doomsday scenarios, but it if it turns out they did, I won’t be shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 1:54am 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/1028210/44 "2026-03-09T01:54:04Z")
Trump has been saying that only unconditional surrender by Iran can end this war. Since this will not happen, this means he has started another forever war. If he allows a real election to happen, the house will certainly shift and, conceivably, the senate too. And maybe force an end to the war, although I am not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 1:57am 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/1028210/45 "2026-03-09T01:57:15Z")
He is decimating our military. By the time we really need it at some point it might be useless. ---
**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 9, 2026, 4:17am 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/1028210/46 "2026-03-09T04:17:59Z")
People have already pointed out that China might take the opportunity to conquer Taiwan thanks to Trump crippling the US military. ---
**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 10, 2026, 5:16am 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/1028210/47 "2026-03-10T05:16:38Z")
[Trump has his own speculation about rising gas prices because of this war.](https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-calls-rising-oil-prices-152532706.html) > [@](#): > > As [the U.S.-Israel war with Iran](https://www.usatoday.com/live-story/news/world/2026/03/09/iran-united-states-war-live-updates/89055802007/) rattles global energy markets, President [Donald Trump](https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/donald-trump/) said that rising oil prices are a “small price to pay,” and suggested that people concerned about them are “fools.” > > In a post on social media on Sunday, March 8, the president criticized the mounting concerns and cast the price hikes as temporary. > > “Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace,” Trump wrote, noting, “ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 11:24am 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/1028210/48 "2026-03-10T11:24:36Z")
Next, he’ll be calling them\* “deplorables.” \*People who voted for Trump but are concerned about rising gas prices. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 12:55pm 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/1028210/49 "2026-03-10T12:55:11Z")
Impossible. He is incapable of telling the truth. I have said more than once that I wished one journalist would ask him in an interview to tell what time it is. Just to see if he can say something that is accurate and true. They never did, so I stick to my assesment: he has never told a thing that is so. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 5:29pm 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/1028210/50 "2026-03-10T17:29:33Z")
_Spy_ magazine once quoted a mobster who’d dealt with Trump, “He’d lie to you about the time of day just to keep in practice “. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 5:53pm 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/1028210/51 "2026-03-10T17:53:57Z")
Why are we talking about global war? Have you seen what the DOW is up to? /s ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 9:08pm 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/1028210/52 "2026-03-10T21:08:56Z")
A post was merged into an existing topic: [United States and Israel are bombing Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran/1028071/694) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 10:07pm 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/1028210/53 "2026-03-10T22:07:36Z")
> [@Reuters](#): > > [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/aluminium-bahrain-says-declares-force-majeure-contracts-2026-03-04/](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/aluminium-bahrain-says-declares-force-majeure-contracts-2026-03-04/) **force majeure** The concept of _force majeure_ is a contractual clause which frees both parties when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties occurs. Personally I have reservations that decisions made for political expedience by Trump/Netanyahu should be categorised as being an act of God. Nor was it a natural event or unavoidable. However, the company Alba, under reasonable commercial interpretation of _force majeure_ can claim that the aluminium has been produced and is ready for sale/shipment as meeting their contractual commitments. Merely that the usual logistics arrangements ie ocean shipment via the Strait of Hormuz in currently not available. Alba’s position would be that _force majeure_ prevents discharge of obligations now, but they can and indeed would prefer to complete the contract when the obstruction is removed and trade flows again. And that, being an island, for Bahrain to move hundreds/thousands of tonnes of freight across the King Fahd Causeway and then on to say Muscat in Oman 750 miles away is impractical, would add excessive cost and be no less likely that the route could be attacked by missiles as the Strait itself. ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:22pm 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/1028210/54 "2026-03-10T22:22:34Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > The concept of _force majeure_ is a contractual clause which frees both parties when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties occurs. > > Personally I have reservations that decisions made for political expedience by Trump/Netanyahu should be categorised as being an act of God. > Nor was it a natural event or unavoidable. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure): > In [contract law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_law), **force majeure** [[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure#cite_note-1)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure#cite_note-principle-2)[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure#cite_note-3) ([/ˌfɔːrs məˈʒɜːr/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [_FORSS mə-ZHUR_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key); French: [[fɔʁs maʒœʁ]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French)) is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from [liability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_liability) or [obligation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obligation) when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, crime, epidemic, or sudden legal change prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract. “War” _is_ on the list. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 10:41pm 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/1028210/55 "2026-03-10T22:41:02Z")
As stated, the company is within their contractual rights to declare _force majeure_ if the smelter had been bombed, if the vessel carrying the shipment had been sunk or disabled, or passage of the shipment through the Strait of Hormuz is obstructed. These are foreseeable commercial consequences to the US for engaging in the bombing of Iran and the aftermath. That decision was not natural, unavoidable or and Act of God. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 10:42pm 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/1028210/56 "2026-03-10T22:42:02Z")
I think one thing that’s probable is that Iran will retaliate with terrorist attacks in the United States. There will be the usual government and military targets plus maybe attacks on Trump owned properties. ---
**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 10, 2026, 10:46pm 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/1028210/57 "2026-03-10T22:46:30Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > These are foreseeable commercial consequences to the US for engaging in the bombing of Iran and the aftermath. That decision was not natural, unavoidable or and Act of God. The war wasn’t “foreseeable”, it was the arbitrary decision of one leader with dementia. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 11:08pm 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/1028210/58 "2026-03-10T23:08:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think one thing that’s probable is that Iran will retaliate with terrorist attacks in the United States. Well yes, there may be. But consider why there were apparently few such attacks after the bombing in June 2025? (and maybe there were and they were all successfully thwarted. But I’d think this Administration would brag) All this ordinance they are launching against neighbouring states and US allies in the region. Why now, not then? Mostly targeted to be of annoyance than consequence and more toward military facilities? This is about resisting regime change. Not destroying the infidel. Yet. They appoint the son to succeed their assassinated leader. What better way to demonstrate continuance of the regime? Rather than appoint another maybe better qualified whom the US might claim to be more acceptable? They have gamed this out, the US has used shock & awe and be home by lunch. Keep this going at a sustainable level for six months. Induce the US to deploy a small contingents of boots on the ground. Push US gas prices above USD6/gal. The US body politic will deliver the win. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 2:33am 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/1028210/59 "2026-03-11T02:33:47Z")
While we’re on the topic, Trump was asked if Americans should be concerned about the possibility of terrorist attacks in the United States. His response: _“I guess. But I think they’re worried about that all the time. We think about it all the time. We plan for it. But yeah, you know, we expect some things. Like I said, some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die."_ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 3:31am 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/1028210/60 "2026-03-11T03:31:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There will be the usual government and military targets plus maybe attacks on Trump owned properties. That doesn’t sound like terrorism. Sinking a cruise ship full of Americans on the high seas, now that’s terrorism. [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=2) [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=4)