# 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:** 21
**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, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/402 "2026-03-03T16:32:38Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Imagine, for the sake of the argument, that Iran’s government wanted to surrender. How could they do that? > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I may not have expressed myself very politely, but the question is meant to be serious If this is a serious question as you say, it’s really not complicated at all. Dismantle the IRGC and hand over power to someone in the interim (if they are picking it would probably be Amir Hatami, commander of Artesh, the non-IRGC army of Iran), who can negotiate the terms by which power would be handed over to a civilian government in time for an election. ---
**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, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/403 "2026-03-03T16:34:23Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > The Saudis, in fact, very much agreed with and pushed for this war. The approval of _Saudi Arabia_ is a strike _against_ the war, not for it. ---
**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, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/404 "2026-03-03T16:36:14Z")
And how would Mr. Hatami proceed, who would he negotiate the terms to hand power over to a civilian government with? What could he agree to with whom? What mandate would he have? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/405 "2026-03-03T16:39:16Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Like everyone else in the region, they understand not only the threat Iran poses but the active harm it has been doing for decades. Who has claimed that Iran is not a threat to its neighbours and isn’t doing harm? It still doesn’t justify going to war, hence why no-one has even tried to make the case for this under international law. The best Rubio could come up with, was that with Israel attacking, it was just a matter of time before US assets would come under threat. The kind of logic that could be used to defend any aggression regardless of context. ---
**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, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/406 "2026-03-03T16:43:24Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And how would Mr. Hatami proceed, There’s a reason why neither the US or Israel are hitting Artesh beyond targeting AA sites, warplanes, or ships (used to close the straits); the command structure is for the most part left alone so that they can remain intact for negotiations. > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > who would he negotiate the terms to hand power over to a civilian government with? Maybe I misunderstand the question? The countries Iran is at war with, obviously? > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > What could he agree to with whom? He could agree to no longer execute anyone who talks about replacing the IRGC so that Iranians can come out in the open to discuss what they want to do with their country? The criticism ‘but there’s no one in Iran ready to replace the IRGC’ is true but that’s because if someone in Iran was ready and able to replace the IRGC, the IRGC would _execute them_. That’s why the Reza Pahlavi critique - that he hasn’t been in the country in years - is so silly. Yes, he hasn’t been there in years, because he’s an enemy of the regime and they’d execute him. Exactly. > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > What mandate would he have? He wouldn’t have a mandate, which is why he shouldn’t take over the country in the long term. ---
**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, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/407 "2026-03-03T16:44:27Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > It still doesn’t justify going to war, hence why no-one has even tried to make the case for this under international law. Did international law prevent Iran from spending decades actively attacking its neighbors in the middle east through proxies? If not, what use is it? If international law doesn’t recognize that Iran was already attacking Israel, then it is deeply flawed to the point of worthlessness. And if it does, then obviously Iran is the aggressor here. ---
**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, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/408 "2026-03-03T16:55:53Z")
A watchdog group is getting many complaints that US commanders are telling their people the purpose of the war is to hasten the End of Days. > **[US commanders told troops Iran war is 'biblically sanctioned' in 'God's plan'](https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/200940/american-troops-iran-biblically-sanctioned)** > > A nonprofit U.S. military watchdog said it has received hundreds of complaints about commanders providing religious reasons for starting the Iran war. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/409 "2026-03-03T16:59:33Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > If not, what use is [international law]? To try to keep us from descending into a Hobbesian world of might makes right logic. And it’s worked pretty well since the second world war – yes, there have been some clusterfucks, like Iraq, but generally most of the world most of the time has been peaceful and countless conflicts have been resolved in whole or large part through international negotiation, criminal courts and sanctions. But here we are: just in time for America’s 250th anniversary, we enter a new world of annexation and aggression. The results are in for “the american experiment”. ---
**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, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/410 "2026-03-03T17:01:14Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WMSENfD8BXI/maxresdefault.jpg "LIVE: Trump and Merz hold a bilateral meeting") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSENfD8BXI) Trump is asked if Israel forced him into the conflict, he respond that if anything he forced Israel into the conflict. ---
**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, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/411 "2026-03-03T17:02:03Z")
You’re citing Trump’s words? Might as well cite a monkey and a typewriter. ---
**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, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/412 "2026-03-03T17:03:32Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > To try to keep us from descending into a Hobbesian world of might makes right logic. And it’s worked pretty well since the second world war – yes, there have been some clusterfucks, like Iraq, but generally most of the world most of the time has been peaceful and countless conflicts have been resolved in whole or large part through international negotiation, criminal courts and sanctions. Except that it _was not_ working, because as mentioned, Iran was _actively attacking their neighbors_ for decades through proxy groups. I repeat: > [@Babale](#): > > If international law doesn’t recognize that Iran was already attacking Israel, then it is deeply flawed to the point of worthlessness. And if it does, then obviously Iran is the aggressor here. Also, I find this _very_ telling: > [@Mijin](#): > > yes, there have been some clusterfucks, like Iraq, Iraq is the “clusterfuck” you think of when you think of international law failing? **Iraq**? That’s your most egregious example of “might makes right” in recent years? _Iraq_? ---
**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, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/413 "2026-03-03T17:05:18Z")
Now Iran is actively attacking its neighbors directly because of this war launched with no mission and no plan! Who needs proxies? And a bonus: scores of dead schoolchildren thanks to American munitions. Thanks, warriors! ---
**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, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/414 "2026-03-03T17:05:21Z")
Just out of curiosity, if you don’t mind: what would the most egregious example be that comes to your mind? I can think of several, but am not sure how I would rank them. ---
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/415 "2026-03-03T17:08:45Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > 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? Since Trump has stated that “it’s too late for negotiations” apparently they can’t. Of course this has to be considered in light of the fact that what Trump says varies from one day to another and even one sentence to another. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/416 "2026-03-03T17:11:10Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Except that it _was not_ working, because as mentioned, Iran was _actively attacking their neighbors_ for decades through proxy groups. It was working in terms of the nuclear deal before that got blown up for no reason, and current negotiations. No-one is defending Iran here, just pointing out that the justification for war is nowhere near being met. > [@Babale](#): > > That’s your most egregious example of “might makes right” in recent years? _Iraq_? No, it was just an example that came to mind. But in case this is where you’re going with this: yes I am aware that it’s debatable whether it was legal under international law, that’s why I gave it as an example of a _failure_ of international law. Anyway, I’m too old to chase squirrels, are we going to talk about the supposed justification for these attacks, and whether the US is going to attempt to install a government that won’t support Hizbullah et al? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/417 "2026-03-03T17:15:09Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Trump is asked if Israel forced him into the conflict, he respond that if anything he forced Israel into the conflict. In Soviet Russia, conflict forces Israel into YOU! ---
**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, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/418 "2026-03-03T17:15:34Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Just out of curiosity, if you don’t mind: what would the most egregious example be that comes to your mind? I can easily come up with 10 examples that are far more egregious examples of the failure of international law than a case where the US built a coalition through international diplomacy and toppled a dictator but fumbled the aftermath badly but will not list them here (well I did but then I saw Aspenglow was typing 🤣 so I thought better of it) ---
**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, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/419 "2026-03-03T17:18:43Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Anyway, I’m too old to chase squirrels, are we going to talk about the supposed justification for these attacks, and whether the US is going to attempt to install a government that won’t support Hizbullah et al? Sure: Iran was building up three existential threats to Israel. Their proxy networks, their ballistic missile program, and their nuclear program. Iran was also already using one of those, the proxy network, to actively attack its neighbors, not just Israel. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/420 "2026-03-03T17:20:18Z")
Moderating: Be mindful of this specific topic. Conversation ranging around the effectiveness of international law on past conflicts is understandable, but don’t let it become a hijack to the main discussion about the USA and Israeli bombings of Iran. > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > In Soviet Russia, conflict forces Israel into YOU! The above comment has no place in this discussion. Keep non sequiturs to the Pit. It’s hard enough to keep people on topic in a thread like this without such contributions. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/421 "2026-03-03T17:29:10Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > The school bombing seems to be confirmed ☹ I don’t know how Iranian parents feel, but if a world government was responsible for bombing my daughter’s school and blowing her body to smithereens, I’d definitely make that government and its leadership my sworn enemy and do whatever I could to destroy it, even going so far as to form or join an organization that could possibly inflict violence and death in retaliation. [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=20) [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=22)