Bringing Iran to Its Knees
On the first day of the conflict, dozens in Iranian leadership, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed. With each passing day, more in the ruling class were eliminated, along with the heads of security forces. According to a Pentagon press briefing, the United States and Israel have established air superiority over Iran. Persistent attacks on the Iranian navy have destroyed more than 120 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and regular vessels, as well as 44 minelayers. In response, the Tehran government decided it would retaliate by launching missile and drone barrages at its Gulf neighbors.
That tactic backfired. Gulf states that might have remained neutral became strongly united against Iran. UAE bore the brunt of the attacks, sustaining more than a thousand drone and missile strikes. Many hits were civilian hotels and other non-military buildings, which aggravated the regional neighbors more.
Apparently desperate, Iran has reportedly reached out to the United States to seek an end to the destruction, and President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social (all capital letters are the author’s):
On the first day of the conflict, dozens in Iranian leadership, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed. With each passing day, more in the ruling class were eliminated, along with the heads of security forces. According to a Pentagon press briefing, the United States and Israel have established air superiority over Iran. Persistent attacks on the Iranian navy have destroyed more than 120 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and regular vessels, as well as 44 minelayers. In response, the Tehran government decided it would retaliate by launching missile and drone barrages at its Gulf neighbors.
That tactic backfired. Gulf states that might have remained neutral became strongly united against Iran. UAE bore the brunt of the attacks, sustaining more than a thousand drone and missile strikes. Many hits were civilian hotels and other non-military buildings, which aggravated the regional neighbors more.
Apparently desperate, Iran has reportedly reached out to the United States to seek an end to the destruction, and President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social (all capital letters are the author’s):
“I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN-DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE-DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.”
Trump has in the past said that Iran wants to make a deal, but until this past weekend, there was no tangible evidence to support that claim. It is important to note that the post explained that the talks are conditional. The president does not say there will be a ceasefire, but only that the “power plants and energy infrastructure” will be protected from attacks for five days. The Iranian military, security forces, nuclear facilities, and leadership remain legitimate targets.
Peace May Be at Hand
Previously, Trump said on Truth Social that the United States was getting “close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.” He went on to describe how the air campaign had fulfilled its objectives of eliminating Iran’s missile capability, “launchers and everything else pertaining to them … Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base … Eliminating their Navy and Air Force … Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability.” Last, the United States achieved protection for its Middle Eastern allies and friends. He also announced, “The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!”
What will happen in the five days Trump has allowed for negotiations is unknown. However, Trump’s posts signal that he does not intend for the conflict in Iran to be protracted. The United States has established its planned objectives, and once they are achieved, the mission will be accomplished.
Dave is a retired U.S. Air Force Pilot with over 180 combat missions in Vietnam. He is the former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller and has served in executive positions in the private sector aerospace and defense industry. This article was first published HERE
6 comments:
>"Apparently desperate, Iran has reportedly reached out to the United States to seek an end to the destruction..."
The actions of the Iranians - biffing lots of missiles at Israel and elsewhere - do not strike me as the actions of the desperate!
Teheran denies the claim that they have been negotiating. They have acknowledged receiving the 15-point plan but have rejected it in its current form.
It's pretty obvious to me who is 'desperate' as approval ratings at home tumble.
The last sentence is pie in the sky.
PS For the latest BBC commentary on the war and the 'negotiations', see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdQf71qOFcA
I am not suggesting Tousi TV have the absolute truth but they are rated fairly reliable and give an up to the minute report on the ground of what is going on in Iran and in the rest of the Middle East.
They have an explanation for the confusion
over Trump's 'talks' with Iran . There is no longer a solid official governing body in Iran , (since many are in hiding) I gather to negotiate with but the rebel pro -democracy group are getting stronger. Watch for yourself. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have become pro US and Iranian citizens are giving advice to Israel where to send
drones to wipe our the Islamic regime's operatives.
Patterson say "The United States has established its planned objectives, and once they are achieved, the mission will be accomplished."
Most of the American media beg to differ. They report the stated objectives of the war change depending on who is doing the talking and what day of the week it is. Never mind the matter of regime change and the obliteration of the nuclear threat, according to the Washington Post, reopening the Strait of Hormuz has now become the "paramount objective” of the war. An objective that only became necessary AFTER the start of Trump's war but something that every wargame played by the West predicted would happen.
However, as is so often the case with this administration, it took only a few hours for the White House to backtrack. Trump claimed that Iran and the U.S. “have had very, very strong talks” and that the two sides are negotiating a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST” — a claim the Iranians vehemently denied. "Negotiating with himself" was their pointed comment".
There was no attempt to justify why stuff needed to be blown up, no plan for what victory looks like after they are done blowing stuff up, and no more importantly, no plan for what comes next when there's no stuff left to blow up. At this point, it’s hard to say who is more believable — the Trump administration or the Iranians. One thing is sure though. Patterson's parrotting the Gospel according to Trump is definitely in the ""Yeah. Right" category.
But in the meantime, somebody is making a lot of money playing the markets that react to every desperate Trump announcement. Now, I wonder who that might be?
The BBC commentary itself is full of contradictions.
How can Tehran deny any negotiations have taken place - Yet BBC report that Tehran rejected the 15-point plan with their own demands?
Is that not a "negotiation"?
"Pie in the sky" indeed.
Anon 343:
>"How can Tehran deny any negotiations have taken place - Yet BBC report that Tehran rejected the 15-point plan with their own demands? Is that not a "negotiation"?"
No, it isn't. An intermediary third party took the 15-point plan to Teheran where they looked at it and said, "No way." 'Negotiation' is when you get around the table and start discussing.
>""Pie in the sky" indeed."
Yep. The saying is about wishful thinking and delusion. The sentence reads: "The United States has established its planned objectives, and once they are achieved, the mission will be accomplished."
What planned objectives? Maybe someone should tell DJT about those as he has been vacillating with respect to them. Once achieved, mission accomplished? This is bravado speaking. I was listening to the former boss of MI6 today who claims Iran is winning on points.
Face it, nothing has gone the way it way it was supposed to for the Yanks. Parallels with Viet Nam present themselves in abundance.
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