# 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:** 7
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/122 "2026-02-28T21:31:55Z")
I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m still shocked that “Don’t start a war of choice with idiots in charge and no coherent mission or plan” is somehow a controversial position for many. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/123 "2026-02-28T21:36:12Z")
The Department of War is a strange outlier there. Or it may be a symptom of this maladministration’s lack of coherence and focus. Or they need to cover their insecurities. I find none of those attempts at an explanation reassuring. I also find this maladministration is abusing the habit of doing the unexpected on fridays after Wall St. closes. And I find too little information in the media I usually read, considering the importance of the events developing. Bad signs all around. ---
**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, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/124 "2026-02-28T21:50:58Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > The Department of War is a strange outlier there. There is a distinct element of cognitive dissonance. But the T-man is not known for his subtlety… Sorry again. This is getting very silly. I return you all to the topic; it’s my bedtime. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/125 "2026-02-28T22:01:16Z")
Today’s actions are totally in agreement with Trump’s previous statements on military involvement and foreign interventions. [Sarcasm] > We will stop racing to topple foreign regimes that we know nothing about, that we shouldn’t be involved with. > > We don’t want to have a depleted military because we’re all over the place fighting in areas that we shouldn’t be fighting in. It’s not going to be depleted any longer. > > We will build up our military not as an act of aggression, but as an act of prevention. In short we seek peace through strength. > > We’re nation-building. We can’t do it. We have to build our own nation. We’re nation-building, trying to tell people who have dictators or worse for centuries how to run their own countries. > > Our current strategy of nation- building and regime-change is a proven, absolute failure. We have created the vacuums that allow terrorism to grow and thrive. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/126 "2026-02-28T22:17:53Z")
CIA believes replacement for Khamenei is likely to be hardline: [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/prior-iran-attacks-cia-assessed-khamenei-would-be-replaced-by-hardline-irgc-2026-02-28/](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/prior-iran-attacks-cia-assessed-khamenei-would-be-replaced-by-hardline-irgc-2026-02-28/) Maybe don’t start wars of choice with idiots in charge and no clear mission or plan? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/127 "2026-02-28T22:20:21Z")
In Venezuela, there was a popular candidate who favoured democracy and had won an election and a Peace Prize awarded by non-footballers. However, she did not seem to have the loyalty of the military and much of the Venezuelan opposition is reportely outside of the country. It is unclear Trump is primarily interested in restoring democracy in Venezuela though many would welcome this. In Iran, many in Canada have protested recent killings and waved pre-revolutionary flags. But the Shah was almost fifty years ago. No doubt many young Persians would favour democracy or liberalization. Perhaps older Persians remember the Shah favourably. No doubt many are also devout with varying views on Islamic theocracy. Is there a credible opposition? Is there a realistic chance of the military relinquishing power without boots on the ground? Do a majority of Iranians prefer democracy, given a real choice? I ask these questions out of ignorance in the hope of being better informed. Dropping bombs may or may not help, but would seem to be the easy part. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/128 "2026-02-28T22:23:39Z")
Atlantic gift links; two articles by Sadjadpour who has written extensively on modern Iran, to some fanfare. I am unaware of his potential biases. > **[Trump’s Enormous Gamble on Regime Change in Iran](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/trumps-iran-regime-change-attack-gamble/686190/?gift=FNE9XeXXKzu6Z_8urufLLtM7bKgVQbDb87IC981UD48&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)** > > A few paths to success, many to failure > **[The Epic Miscalculations of Trump and Khamenei](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/02/trump-khamenei-hubris-iran/686182/?gift=FNE9XeXXKzu6Z_8urufLLkk3huXhHkavKA3YUrzsl4Q&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)** > > Hubris has distorted their strategic decisions. > **[The Death of Khamenei and the End of an Era](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/02/death-khamenei-end-era/686196/?gift=FNE9XeXXKzu6Z_8urufLLu5kFEocI53vPfAHfziK_A4&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)** > > His life’s work was to preserve a revolution that is heading for the ash heap. How long before someone says Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/129 "2026-02-28T22:43:36Z")
Will add a giftlink from Frum, a Canadian conservative. He was a speechwriter for Bush. And Applebaum who has won fairly prestigious awards for her culture and political writing. > **[The Paradox of Trump’s Iran Attack](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/trump-iran-attack/686191/?gift=FNE9XeXXKzu6Z_8urufLLj5xajAldpVgAd4Sx0aFUJE&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)** > > When his fantasies unravel, Trump has a habit of abusing power to force his will upon an uncooperative world. > **[Trump Has No Plan for the Iranian People](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/trump-has-no-plan-iranian-people/686194/?gift=FNE9XeXXKzu6Z_8urufLLmzVjsubhWbl9V6GlxBc6LQ&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)** > > The mere act of bombing Iran will not by itself create a stable regime. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/130 "2026-02-28T22:55:53Z")
Ding ding ding. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/131 "2026-02-28T23:00:55Z")
I found this background piece in Reuters (on the structure of Iranian theocracy) reasonable informative given its brevity. [https://www.reuters.com/world/how-does-irans-system-power-work-2026-02-28/](https://www.reuters.com/world/how-does-irans-system-power-work-2026-02-28/) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/132 "2026-02-28T23:07:13Z")
I think most here are aware of the history the US and Iran have but if you don’t or want a quick refresher this is a pretty good article outlining it all. Just here as a data-point. - [The Complex History of US-Iran Relations: A Visual Timeline](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-02-28/us-iran-relations-a-visual-timeline-of-their-fraught-ties) > When announcing that the US had launched “major combat operations” in Iran, President Donald Trump urged Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Islamic theocracy that has governed their country since 1979. The Feb. 28 airstrikes, which were conducted alongside Israel, are the culmination of decades of hostility and mistrust between the US and Iran. Here’s a rundown of major events that have defined their relationship over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/133 "2026-02-28T23:18:36Z")
> [@yendis](#): > > Unfortunately if that is the goal, the method is woefully insufficient. Airstrikes can kill a tremendous number of people but do little to affect regime change. I think Trump is also trying to send a ‘nobody is safe from me’ message to the world. In between the capture of Maduro, the death of mexican cartel leader el mencho, and the supposed death of Iranian supreme leader ayatollah Khamenei, Trump is sending a signal to the world that no matter how powerful you think you are, you aren’t safe from the US military. However this isn’t for good reasons. its to intimidate the world. To intimidate any world leaders, oligarchs or rich people who would criticize Trump. Putin did the same thing when he took over in Russia. He locked up the richest oligarch in a cage to send a message to everyone else in Russia ‘if the richest man in Russia isn’t safe from me, then you aren’t safe either’. This got all the oligarchs to fall in line and obey Putin. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/134 "2026-02-28T23:19:22Z")
Well, this doesn’t sound unhinged at all… [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreid2phnxv3i42rv7343fu6gd7exleei6a42vfy3rzq35onjov63bnq@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreid2phnxv3i42rv7343fu6gd7exleei6a42vfy3rzq35onjov63bnq@jpeg) “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get DEATH”? What the hell does that even MEAN? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/135 "2026-02-28T23:23:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > CIA believes replacement for Khamenei is likely to be hardline: > > [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/prior-iran-attacks-cia-assessed-khamenei-would-be-replaced-by-hardline-irgc-2026-02-28/](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/prior-iran-attacks-cia-assessed-khamenei-would-be-replaced-by-hardline-irgc-2026-02-28/) > > Maybe don’t start wars of choice with idiots in charge and no clear mission or plan? It’s clear that whatever “reason for attacking” the Trumpites come up with will be specious. There is no credible chance of “regime change” as noted in many posts and citations here; kill a thousand of Khamenei’s underlings and there will still be tens of thousands committed to maintaining their theocratic dictatorship. Donald, never bright and lately addled by dementia, no doubt believes that what happened in Venezuela will happen in Iran. Namely: remove the leader and the vice-leader will now be obedient to Donald, out of fear of being deposed him/herself. That’s not remotely possible. Iran is not Venezuela. It seems clear that Donald’s thinking is: - there’s so much bad news lately, from credible reports of my doings with minors in the Epstein files to the Supreme Court defying me; let’s change the subject - it will be great to have the replacement-leader of Iran kiss my butt the way Dulcie does in Venezuela - there are tons of ways to plump up my bank accounts, from bribes from defense contractors to sky’s-the-limit - Zelenskyy just told me Ukraine’s constitution says NO ELECTIONS DURING WAR, and who’s going to stop me from claiming the same is true for our constitution! Alito and Thomas will back me up! No doubt it all looks good to Donald. And what’s a few million dead middle-easterners, anyway??? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/136 "2026-02-28T23:28:01Z")
Can the more knowledgeable here help game out what practically happens next? Fantasy world outcome: popular uprising displaced the hardliners and those with guns pledge their support for a democratic Iran friendly to American interests. Let’s call that one “improbable.” Another hardliner maintains control. Broader regional Gulf State conflict. Oil production slows. Shipments of other products in the region slow. World economy already nervous does a wee stumble. Or? Honestly looking to get educated here. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/137 "2026-02-28T23:28:31Z")
DJT proves my rule once again that people who capitalize the word “country” are always always always assholes. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/138 "2026-02-28T23:28:53Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Do a majority of Iranians prefer democracy, given a real choice? Keep in mind that when America _talks_ about things like “freedom” and “democracy”, what the rest of the world _hears_ is “mass killings and an American-backed dictatorship”. People even make jokes about America “freedoming” countries. We’ve done an excellent job discrediting the terms across much of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/139 "2026-02-28T23:29:31Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s clear that whatever “reason for attacking” the Trumpites come up with will be specious. There is no credible chance of “regime change” as noted in many posts and citations here; kill a thousand of Khamenei’s underlings and there will still be tens of thousands committed to maintaining their theocratic dictatorship. If Trump cared about a better regime in Iran he’d have supported the nationwide protestors a month or so ago trying for exactly that. Then, maybe, a better Iranian government would have been put in place. Instead, he ignored them, 30,000+ Iranians were murdered by their government and the protests ended. NOW Trump rolls in as the savior? What a colossal asshole he is. There is no plan for Iran. Just bomb them. After that just suppose it will all work out (and it never does). ---
**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:** [February 28, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/140 "2026-02-28T23:30:05Z")
I had the impression a religious leader like the Ayatollah was off limits? I’m sure Carter wanted to kill the first one (that lead Iran) during the hostage crises. [But that guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhollah_Khomeini) had tremendous support within Iran and also Muslims outside Iran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei isn’t as important to Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/141 "2026-02-28T23:31:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I had the impression a religious leader like the Ayatollah was off limits? I thought trying to kill the head of state of any country was off limits. Religious or otherwise. Trump doesn’t care. Kidnapping leaders or killing them…all fine in his book. The world just changed today. [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=6) [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=8)