# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 1:54pm 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/1028210/161 "2026-03-15T13:54:38Z")
One consequence is that the US has lost the moral high ground with Iran and younger Americans, those that did not experience the hostage crisis, will likely become much more sympathetic to Iran. We’ve come a long way since Bush the Lesser’s “Axis of Evil”. Don’t get me wrong; this silver lining isn’t worth it for all the tragedy of the war. ---
**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 15, 2026, 2:22pm 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/1028210/162 "2026-03-15T14:22:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Isn’t this the purview of intelligence agencies? > > Do we have any anymore?. It was my understanding that the Israeli intelligence organization, Mossad, was providing information. That seems a whole lot more robust than rando social media posts. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 2:36pm 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/1028210/163 "2026-03-15T14:36:02Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > That seems a whole lot more robust than rando social media posts. And our dismantled government. ---
**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 15, 2026, 2:44pm 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/1028210/164 "2026-03-15T14:44:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > That seems a whole lot more robust than rando social media posts. > > And our dismantled government. I know. It’s a frightening thought. I am never sure which agencies still have the bandwidth to maintain a veneer of functionality and which are ready to collapse. ---
**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 15, 2026, 2:55pm 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/1028210/165 "2026-03-15T14:55:24Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > younger Americans, those that did not experience the hostage crisis…. Younger than 60. I remember the hostage crisis, the Iran-Iraq war, and Iranian refugees, but as a kid I didn’t have the experience or context to see these the way an older kid or adult would have. I think for most working-age adults, Iran is just one of those unpleasant countries. We’ll feel about it the way we felt about Afghanistan, but less so because we do remember Afghanistan. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 3:08pm 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/1028210/166 "2026-03-15T15:08:54Z")
Said before by myself and others, people at the top in the USA got the wrong lesson from Venezuela, believing it was a matter of removing the Top Dog and then whoever was left behind would just submit in exchange for remaining alive and in office. The idea that the whole organizational structure is held by committed ideological believers who are perfectly willing to pay whatever price it takes in lives, for as long as it takes, regardless of how many “top commanders” we take out, seems to remain as ever inconceivable to some American politicians. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > If it’s a performance, it’s for an audience who believes it. Yeah and that’s a huge problem for US political stability for the foreseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 4:25pm 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/1028210/167 "2026-03-15T16:25:35Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I am fairly sure, in a war, you do not fight for “King and Country”, you fight for your squad, the soldiers next to you. I met a guy who fought in the Spanish civil war (for the fascists!) because the pay was 25% more than working in a factory. (His buddies all ended up dead; he was lucky.) ---
**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 15, 2026, 4:27pm 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/1028210/168 "2026-03-15T16:27:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > [@Monty](#): > > > > I’m still curious as to how those who know where those folks are will find out about the reward and how they will communicate it to the American governmet > > They’d also have to trust the US to actually pay them, which would be very foolish of them. Very much this. The US is not a trusted nation, and their word is meaningless. ---
**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 15, 2026, 10:10pm 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/1028210/169 "2026-03-15T22:10:58Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to hit the White House with a shoulder fired missile. ---
**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 15, 2026, 10:26pm 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/1028210/170 "2026-03-15T22:26:11Z")
Or they might attack California like the Trumpists have claimed to help support him. The rest of the world isn’t required to pretend that Trump is anything other than an incompetent, and is perfectly capable of recognizing that the longer he stays in power the more damage the US takes. Anyone who wants to actually hurt America will try to keep him in charge, not kill him. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 10:37pm 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/1028210/171 "2026-03-15T22:37:02Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Anyone who wants to actually hurt America will try to keep him in charge, not kill him. Putin saw this a long time ago. As did patriots in America. ---
**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 15, 2026, 10:47pm 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/1028210/172 "2026-03-15T22:47:10Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Putin saw this a long time ago. As did patriots in America. You can go back to Osama bin Laden and Bush at the very least; according to the CIA bin Laden appears to have carefully timed the releases of his various speeches to whenever Bush’s poll numbers flagged to make them go back up because he wanted Bush in power. Despite the attempts by many Americans to pretend otherwise, the enemies of the US have known for literally decades that the best way to hurt the US is to find some way to get the Republicans into power. Iran is more than knowledgeable enough to know this, and if that is their goal they’ll do whatever they can to keep Trump and the Republicans in charge. Keeping Trump and company in charge will hurt us more than anything else they could _possibly_ do, and they’ll _know_ that. Trump holding onto power until he dies is the ideal scenario for them. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 10:56pm 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/1028210/173 "2026-03-15T22:56:21Z")
And the GOP does not realize this. Or, well, It pays well. ---
**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 15, 2026, 11:02pm 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/1028210/174 "2026-03-15T23:02:52Z")
Probably the former, the present GOP is firmly in the camp of “reality is what we want to believe it is” and are unlikely to admit even to themselves that they are bad for the country. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 11:11pm 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/1028210/175 "2026-03-15T23:11:42Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > admit even to themselves that they are bad for the country GOP: Looks at checking account - “What country are you talking about?” Wish I was kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 12:16pm 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/1028210/176 "2026-03-16T12:16:20Z")
The White House is trying to assemble a multinational coalition to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. But [the response from US allies](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/world/middleeast/trump-strait-of-hormuz-iran-warships.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TlA.WxVh.V6IvEVZTdw19&smid=url-share) has been “tepid” and “muted.” Is that any way for our allies to react to 14 months of threats, contempt, lies, treachery, and punitive tariffs? ---
**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 16, 2026, 12:47pm 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/1028210/177 "2026-03-16T12:47:15Z")
You forgot menaces to invade, childish insults, and support for our enemies. > **[No, America is Not Respected](https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/no-america-is-not-respected?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=277517&post_id=191107045&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=203721&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email)** > > Thanks to Trump, we’re held in contempt even by our closest allies ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 12:53pm 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/1028210/178 "2026-03-16T12:53:52Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > The White House is trying to assemble a multinational coalition to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. But [the response from US allies](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/world/middleeast/trump-strait-of-hormuz-iran-warships.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TlA.WxVh.V6IvEVZTdw19&smid=url-share) has been “tepid” and “muted.” Is that any way for our allies to react to 14 months of threats, contempt, lies, treachery, and punitive tariffs? Yes, trying to get NATO allies to participate in a stupid and unnecessary war by threatening them sure sounds like a winning strategy! The stupidity is just palpable. By the time Trump is out the US will have no friends left, just like Trump himself. ---
**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 16, 2026, 1:03pm 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/1028210/179 "2026-03-16T13:03:58Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > By the time Trump is out the US will have no friends left, Which will be an improvement to your current friends Bukele, Milei, Orban and Putin. No friends is better than bad friends. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 2:04pm 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/1028210/180 "2026-03-16T14:04:30Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > You forgot menaces to invade, childish insults, and support for our enemies. Krugman’s analysis just seems so straightforward and unassailable, one wonders how any thinking being could not be seriously impressed by it. Really is impressive how drastically - and quickly - Trump has been able to influence the US’s standing in the international community. Folk talk about him benefitting Putin, but I for ne welcome our Chinese overlords. 🙄 [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=8) [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=10)