A Few Thoughts on Iran

 

March 3, 2026

FTI Map of described region

A word for those cheering on the US and Israel in their madness.

Let’s see what the US and Israeli unprovoked attacks on the Iranian regime result in - shamefully supported by most, if not all, western nations. Remember that the NATO-led intervention to remove Muammar Gaddafi in Libya resulted in a failed state, characterized by prolonged chaos, civil war, and power vacuums. And a descent into fragmentation, with rival governments in the East and West, militia proliferation, and foreign interference.

Remember the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, aimed at removing Saddam Hussein - on the pretext of weapons of mass destruction - that resulted in long-term instability, sectarian violence, and a fundamental restructuring of the Iraqi state and the dismantling of the Ba'athist apparatus, causing power vacuums, insurgencies, and a transition to a fragmented, often corrupt political system struggling with democracy. From 2003–2011 according to the U.S. Department of Defence, 4,431 Service Members were killed, Over 32,000 U.S. service members were wounded in action. The deadliest years for U.S. forces were 2006–2007, during the height of the insurgency and sectarian violence.

Remember the aftermath in Syria characterized by a mix of jubilation over the end of five decades of Assad rule, serious sectarian security challenges, and a major realignment of regional power, with Turkey, Qatar, and the US holding increased influence, and a nation in still in considerable flux.

Remeber the 20-year U.S. intervention in Afghanistan that ended in a strategic failure, with the Taliban swiftly regaining control following the U.S. withdrawal, which concluded on August 30, 2021. Despite over 2,400 U.S. military deaths, $90 billion in security aid, and nation-building efforts, the U.S. could not establish a stable, self-sustaining Afghan government, leading to the Taliban’s resurgence. In the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021):

• 2,461 U.S. service members were killed

• 13 U.S. service members were killed during the August 26, 2021 Kabul airport attack (these are included in that total)

In addition:

• 3,846 U.S. contractors were killed

• Over 20,000 U.S. service members were wounded

The deadliest years for U.S. troops were around 2010–2012, during the troop surge.

Still, idiots, Israeli apologists and US-Trump supporting warmongers cheer from the sidelines - hoping against ill-informed hope for what exactly? Clearly they choose not to recognize that the fragmentation of the Iranian opposition remains the single most significant barrier to a viable alternative to the current regime in 2026. While nationwide protests and external military pressure may have weakened the Islamic Republic, the opposition remains an "archipelago of political islands" divided by geography, ideology, and deep-seated mistrust.

And that doesn’t even begin to address the validity of the attacks on a sovereign nation in international law, while negotiations were ongoing. Rather like Russia's attack on Ukraine. And BTW don’t you ever, ever complain about migrants from the region in the wake of this Western-created political and humanitarian mess.