# United States and Israel are bombing Iran {for current/ongoing events, past/future have specific threads} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071 "2026-02-28T07:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/382 "2026-03-03T13:18:14Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > White House talking points are that it’s not a war, just “major combat operations”. What a joke! This reminds me of the Russian/Ukraine war early on when Putin banned Russian media and politicians from calling the invasion a “war.” It’s the slimiest kind of semantic manipulation. It’s not a war if you don’t use the “W” word! Trump probably thinks he’s being clever or his corrupt ass is just trying to bypass congressional restrictions. I wonder if his buddy Vlad gave him the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/383 "2026-03-03T13:21:52Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > We are in for a sharp spike in terrorism, especially here in the United States. I’m sure this would suit certain parties just fine. If the populace lives in fear, perhaps they’d approve of a little martial law. Suspend the Bill of Rights. You know, that sort of thing. ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/384 "2026-03-03T13:30:18Z")
It’s exactly like Putin. But unlike Putin, Trump has no wherewithal, no mission, and no planning. It’s all dependent on the moment to moment whims of Trump. ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/385 "2026-03-03T13:35:01Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > So I haven’t heard Trump coherently state what our (US) mission is. Can you believe that? American leaders seldom do, it’s one reason we keep “winning the war and losing the peace”. We don’t _define_ winning in the first place, so we can never win no matter how many victories we achieve since we lack an actual goal to win _at._ Trump is just even more clumsy about it than most, unsurprisingly. Most Presidents would have thrown out more justifications to make it _sound_ like we had a goal, at least. ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/386 "2026-03-03T13:39:47Z")
The reluctance to call this a war by the people who were tripping over themselves to include the word “war” in the renaming of Department of Defense is… oh, I guess typical. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/387 "2026-03-03T13:42:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Link [US embassy in Riyadh hit by Iranian drones as Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon | US-Israel war on Iran](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-embassy-riyadh-hit-iranian-drones-israeli-troops-southern-lebanon) Per my morning email from _The Economist_, Donald has vowed retribution for the attacks on the American embassy. What’s he going to do, bomb Iran? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/388 "2026-03-03T13:43:06Z")
Yesterday Marco Rubio gave his reasoning on why we attacked Iran. It was really a defensive move. > We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties and perhaps even higher those killed > **[Technical Difficulties](https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/03/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks-to-press-6/)** (And, yes, that’s the display when I copied and pasted the link from the State Department website. I think it still works. If not, here’s a broken link: https:// [Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press - United States Department of State](http://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/03/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks-to-press-6/) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/389 "2026-03-03T13:46:43Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties and perhaps even higher those killed Well, we all know what country Trump is really working for here. Of course Israel has also invaded Lebanon again. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/390 "2026-03-03T13:52:03Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Apparently, we learn NOTHING from history. Bush thought his “Shock and Awe” campaign would just overwhelm Iraq, but it turned into years of attrition instead. And even if we just destroy things and leave, you leave an ill and starving population with destroyed utilities. Go USA! 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/391 "2026-03-03T14:15:41Z")
I don’t feel like being magnanimous. I don’t feel any patriotic fervor. I don’t want to do without. Or “keep calm and carry on” on the home front. I come from a huge military family and I want to feel pride for our awesome Military. I can’t feel anything but fear and panic for their safety… For absolutely nothing. What has that man done? ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/392 "2026-03-03T15:39:24Z")
I am worried by Trump’s constant talk about how he is going to hit Iran with the Biggest Thing Ever. They’ve already had bunker busters dropped on them by the dozens. I worry he’s going to find some excuse to nuke them. He wants to see the pretty explosion and he thinks this wins wars. I wonder which half a million people in Iran get to die in a massive fireball proving him wrong? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/393 "2026-03-03T15:42:26Z")
That should keep the senior clerics off balance. CNN Live reporting Link [https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-03-26](https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-03-26) > [@](#): > > Israel struck a compound belonging to the group responsible for electing Iran’s next supreme leader, an Israeli source told CNN on Tuesday, in the latest strike at the heart of the regime on the fourth day of the US-Israeli war on Iran. > > The strike was intended to hit the Assembly of Experts’ compound in the holy city of Qom while its members were voting to elect the country’s next leader, the source said – but Iranian state media has said that the building was evacuated before the attack. > > Images of the strike’s aftermath appear to show that the compound was destroyed, with large plumes of smoke rising from the area. > > The Assembly – a body of 88 senior clerics who will name the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated on Saturday – was expected to soon convene to deliberate over possible candidates before naming Khamenei’s replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/394 "2026-03-03T15:49:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The Assembly – a body of 88 senior clerics One woman with a samurai sword should do the trick. ---
**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 3, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/395 "2026-03-03T15:50:33Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > White House talking points are that it’s not a war, just “major combat operations”. What a joke! > > [@kenklippenstein.bsky.social on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/kenklippenstein.bsky.social/post/3mg4hh2oiec2l) It’s a “special military operation”! 🙄 > [@bobot](#): > > So I haven’t heard Trump coherently state what our (US) mission is. Can you believe that? > Is it regime change? If so, do we have a favorite? > Is it just to see smoke rising in the air? If he doesn’t define an objective, then he can withdraw at any time and make up some bullshit about “mission accomplished”. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/396 "2026-03-03T15:50:44Z")
The school bombing seems to be confirmed ☹ > **[Minab school bombing: how the worst mass casualty event of the Iran war...](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/03/minab-school-bombing-how-the-worst-mass-casualty-event-of-the-iran-war-unfolded-a-visual-guide)** > > A strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh school during the US-Israeli bombing campaign killed up to 168 people. The Guardian has pieced together the incident and its aftermath using verified footage and images from the site ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/397 "2026-03-03T15:56:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > If he doesn’t define an objective, then he can withdraw at any time and make up some bullshit about “mission accomplished”. He’s already set up the future narrative if (actually “when”) things go south : “I set the stage beautifully, but the Iranian people failed to do their part. How is that my fault?” ---
**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 3, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/398 "2026-03-03T16:14:15Z")
They really don’t know what they’re doing. The goal of the war seems to depend on who you talk to and when you talk to them … > If Americans are confused by what’s ahead, it’s not surprising, since the administration keeps [changing its rationale](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/02/politics/hegseth-rubio-trump-iran-messaging) for war. > > Trump has posited regime change and a desire to give Iranians their freedom. He’s pledged to destroy a nuclear program he’d already claimed to have obliterated. Hegseth on Monday stressed the need to avenge Americans killed by Iranian terror attacks or by Iranian-backed militia during the US occupation of Iraq. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that the US staged preemptive war because Israel planned to attack Iran and American troops in the region would face reprisals. > > If this fuzzy reasoning reflects an administration that doesn’t know why it went to war, the campaign could already be in trouble. > [https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/03/politics/analysis-trump-iran-war-outcomes](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/03/politics/analysis-trump-iran-war-outcomes) ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/399 "2026-03-03T16:17:18Z")
It’s apparent at least to me this action in Iran is prim about Israel having an American administration that will go to any lengths in supporting Israeli military interests! Why this is the case I do not know especially seeing that have numerous military bases in the region and the Saudi’s at moment can’t get enough of of us! ---
**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 3, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/400 "2026-03-03T16:25:23Z")
If this ~~war~~ **[Special Military Operation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_military_operation)** or спецопера́ция for short has no goals, how could Iran comply with them? Imagine, for the sake of the argument, that Iran’s government wanted to surrender. How could they do that? They cannot say “we accept your terms and conditions” when there aren’t any. Should they rename their country Canada and say they are the 51st state of the USA now? Should they call Bibi and say they recognize the state of Israel? Sould they call Putin? Should they pay a billion in cash to tanTrump and join the Board of Piece of Shit? I may not have expressed myself very politely, but the question is meant to be serious. What could Iran do now if they wanted to stop this ~~war~~ спецопера́ция? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/401 "2026-03-03T16:28:15Z")
> [@JoePockets](#): > > It’s apparent at least to me this action in Iran is prim about Israel having an American administration that will go to any lengths in supporting Israeli military interests! 🤨 > [@JoePockets](#): > > Why this is the case I do not know especially seeing that have numerous military bases in the region and the Saudi’s at moment can’t get enough of of us! The Saudis, in fact, very much agreed with and pushed for this war. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/28/trump-iran-decision-saudi-arabia-israel/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/28/trump-iran-decision-saudi-arabia-israel/) Like everyone else in the region, they understand not only the threat Iran poses but the active harm it has been doing for decades. In their case, the biggest impact is the Yemeni Civil War and the Houthis, who are an Iranian proxy much like Hamas and Hezbollah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=21)