# 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:** 4
**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:** [February 28, 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/1028071/62 "2026-02-28T16:43:22Z")
Apparently Iran is closing the Hormuz Strait… > **[US and Israel launch major attack on Iran to trigger regime change as Tehran...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/feb/28/israel-attacks-iran-as-blasts-heard-in-tehran-live-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-69a3161b8f0863f6a3efed3d#block-69a3161b8f0863f6a3efed3d)** > > The US and Israel have launched a joint military operation against Iran, prompting Tehran to fire retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases across the Middle East. | Iran’s foreign minister says Donald Trump’s aim of regime change is ‘mission... ETA: Apparently not “Iran” per se, but elements of the revolutionary guard at least. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/63 "2026-02-28T16:47:25Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > - When did the US decide it was OK to use military force not in response to an actual attack? I suppose there was Vietnam, but Bush’s Iraq invasion was probably the turning point? Dec 11, 1941? April 25, 1898? June 18, 1812? > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > The outcome will probably be disasterous. Did Bush’s invasion result in a stable, prosperous, democratic Iraq? As far as I can see, Iraq has become, if not an actual failed state, a fragile one, with no strong government and a lot of disruption caused by various armed militias etc. I will admit that I have no first hand information about this and would welcome informed data. The main difference is that Iran is a real country with a long historical tradition within the borders of modern day Iran, and more importantly the Iranian people believe in the concept of a unified Iran. Iraq was not like that. It was random lines in the sand drawn by the British and French with little regard for who the people the new country would include are. That’s why Iraq fell apart when ISIS showed up - none of the Iraqis believed in Iraq enough to fight for it. Iran is nothing like that. Also, it seems like your news about Iraq is about 10 years out of date, after ISIS was defeated Iraq really got its shit together. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/64 "2026-02-28T16:57:54Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > the Iranian people believe in the concept of a unified Iran. My middle eastern history is sketchy, but it does seem that Iraq is (was) a largely artificial ‘state’ created by fiat quite recently. I could not guess what Iranian people believe, though. Did they all support the Islamic Revolution, for example? I don’t know… ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/65 "2026-02-28T17:00:18Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Also, it seems like your news about Iraq is about 10 years out of date, after ISIS was defeated Iraq really got its shit together. Sorry, posts crossed. I will freely admit that I have no first hand knowledge of current Iraq. If they have got their shit together, that’s great. Probably no thanks to Bush, though? ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/66 "2026-02-28T17:07:04Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > > > - When did the US decide it was OK to use military force **not** in response to an actual attack? I suppose there was Vietnam, but Bush’s Iraq invasion was probably the turning point? > > Dec 11, 1941? April 25, 1898? June 18, 1812? @Babale , I think you missed the “not” that I’ve bolded. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/67 "2026-02-28T17:09:32Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Dec 11, 1941? Germany declared war on the United States. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/68 "2026-02-28T17:09:34Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > To be fair, they gave it to Henry Kissinger To also be fair, he did negotiate the peace. After massively expanding the war, of course. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/69 "2026-02-28T17:10:13Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > Dec 11, 1941? April 25, 1898? June 18, 1812? > > @Babale , I think you missed the “not” that I’ve bolded If you check, I believe you will find that the American declaration of war on Germany in World War II, the American declaration of war on Spain in the Spanish-American War, and even the American declaration of war on England in1812 all happened without the US being directly attacked first. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 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/1028071/70 "2026-02-28T17:11:00Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I think you missed the “not” that I’ve bolded. It’s a matter for debate. The US seems to have generally had a policy of isolationism and non-intervention for a large part of its history. But we are in danger of getting off-topic: that’s probably a different thread… ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/71 "2026-02-28T17:13:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Germany declared war on the United States. > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > When did the US decide it was OK to use military force **not** in response to an actual attack? Germany declared war on the US but it didn’t directly attack the US between its declaration of war and the US declaring war back. Regardless, yes, that’s the weakest of the three examples. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/72 "2026-02-28T17:13:41Z")
---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/73 "2026-02-28T17:17:01Z")
**Moderating:** > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > But we are in danger of getting off-topic: that’s probably a different thread… Thank you, yes we are. I’m giving the thread a _VERY_ brief pause (5 minutes) so everyone has a chance to read this note and move back to discussing the current situation rather than past situations in _this_ thread. No note directed at anyone, it seemed a benign, organic side track, but please spin off your own thread if you want to discuss historical declarations of war. Though, sadly for the world, speculation on if air war without boots on the ground can effect regime change is on topic. > **How to Reply as a linked Topic** > > Click Reply, in the upper left corner of the reply window is the reply type button, _looks like a curving arrow point to the right_. > > Choose **Reply as linked topic** and it starts a new thread. As an example, you can choose GD, IMHO or The Pit for it. > > That is actually the best method. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/74 "2026-02-28T17:17:14Z")
---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/75 "2026-02-28T17:22:22Z")
Back to the thread’s topic… Iran has been launching missiles at Israel, at American bases in the region, and even at Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh. An Iranian UAV hit a hotel in Dubai, and there’s a report of a death in Abu Dhabi. But they’ve had a hard time doing this. It doesn’t appear that they’ve fully rebuilt their ballistic missile and launcher stocks since the 12 day war, and the launchers they _do_ have are taking heavy fire from Israeli jets as they try to operate again. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/76 "2026-02-28T17:27:22Z")
A direct UAV hit on a multistory building in Bahrain: > **[דיווח על פגיעה כטב"ם בבניין בבחריין](https://www.ynet.co.il/video/MTMwNTI4Ng==?utm_source=ynet.co.il&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy_url&utm_content=vertical_video)** Modern Israeli multistory buildings are built with a central column of reinforced bomb shelters going up the height of the building. In the 12 day war almost all casualties came from people who were out of their shelter for one reason or another - there were a handful of cases where a ballistic missile struck a shelter directly and killed the people inside, but for the most part, if you took proper shelter, you were safe. These Gulf countries do not have the same types of defences. Iran seems to be lobbing most of their missiles at Israel, but the few they send at Arab countries will probably end up causing far more casualties per missile. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/77 "2026-02-28T17:32:58Z")
This military operation strikes me as a blatantly pre-emptive measure, whereas the U.S. used to reach for at least a token offense (e.g. the impressment of our sailors, or the destruction of some ship ) before the President would mount a political campaign of ultra patriotism, followed by some sort of congressional action (even if it was just a general power of the President to attack whenever he might decide it was prudent). It’s surreal that the Democrats in Congress are now calling for a vote to authorize Trump’s use of force. I suppose the intent is to vote it down publicly, forcing him to withdraw. Given American sentiment anytime we start to talk about “the troops”, I doubt that’s assured. > [@](#): > > [Hakeem Jefffries] mentioned a [war powers resolution](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5745037-khanna-massie-war-powers-iran/) spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) that would make Trump remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Iran without congressional authorization. > > “House Democrats remain committed to compelling a vote on this resolution upon our return,” Jeffries said. > > War powers resolutions are privileged parliamentary procedures in the House and Senate, allowing members to bypass House Republican leaders to force floor votes on war powers measures. > > But as of earlier this week, the [resolution was expected to fail](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5756657-democrats-trump-iran-war-powers/) in the House given overwhelming opposition from Republicans and a few Democrats. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), both of whom are supporters of Israel, had announced their opposition to the resolution. Party leaders, though, wanted to get all lawmakers on the record for the vote. Regardless, it surely feels that we’ve witnessed a seismic change in how the U.S. conducts war - Presidents decide to launch it, then Congress just watches the decision - does it even matter if they vote in support? A campaign to rally public support is superfluous. > **[Jeffries: Democrats ‘committed’ to forcing Iran war powers vote in wake of US...](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5760412-jeffries-criticizes-trump-iran-strikes/amp/)** > > House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) pledged that House Democrats will force a vote on limiting President Trump’s war powers in Iran as he criticized the president for striking the countr… ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/78 "2026-02-28T17:35:27Z")
What it looks like to me: US held out hope for internal revolution to happen, but when they saw that was being put down, said OK, plan B: hit the regime hard and see if _that_ motivates some of the power centers to rise with the people to put in something more to our liking. And seeing how the Trump crew works, to him a “win” for “liberty” would be that _what factions **of the same regime** _ end up filling in the vacancies agree to submit themselves to playing nice with him oil-business-wise. See: Venezuela. > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > When did the US decide it was OK to use military force not in response to an actual attack? If we’re allowed to count contrived excuses I’d say “ask the Native Americans”. Or the Haitians or Dominicans if you want to stick to the last 120 years. But seriously it has _never_ really been US policy to not take armed initiative until we are attacked first. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/79 "2026-02-28T17:44:13Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And seeing how the Trump crew works, to him a “win” for “liberty” would be that _what factions **of the same regime** _ end up filling in the vacancies agree to submit themselves to playing nice with him oil-business-wise. See: Venezuela. Yes, basically Trump and Netanyahu have very different motivations. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/80 "2026-02-28T17:57:42Z")
Some thoughts: Apparently this is the first time America is using one way attack drones in combat. Our version of the Shahed drone? Speaking of Shahed drones, I watched a video of one striking a US radar installation in Bahrain. So unlike prior Iranian attacks on American targets, this is not kayfabe, it’s Iran actually doing their best to destroy American targets. I would think this change in strategy reflects the fact that Iranian leadership, unlike many in this thread, does indeed view this operation as posing an existential threat to the regime. Considering the reports that Khamenei has been killed have been out for some time now, with still no refutation from Iranian sources - not even a recorded video of him - I am becoming more and more optimistic that he might truly be dead. Good riddance if so. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/81 "2026-02-28T18:06:54Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Considering the reports that Khamenei has been killed have been out for some time now, with still no refutation from Iranian sources - not even a recorded video of him - I am becoming more and more optimistic that he might truly be dead. Good riddance if so. Remember the old expression about “the fog of war”. Only a few top officials of the regime know the facts about Khamenei’s current circumstances. All else is rumour. And killing him would be mostly symbolic – I don’t think it would have much effect on regime change. This is the problem with this sort of aimless bombing campaign – it has no specific end-goal except the vague hope that the Iranian people themselves will topple the regime, and meanwhile wreaks massive destruction and suffering among ordinary Iranians just going about their business. As I’ve said before, I believe most Iranians are good and decent people with a wonderful culture. Indiscriminately throwing bombs at them is not helpful to anything. [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=3) [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=5)