The big issue emerging from the US’ 22 June strike on Iran – second only to “wither Iran?” – is whether in Trump’s calculus he can “rhetorically impose” the having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme claim long enough to both restrain Israel from hitting Iran...
“Depending on who you ask, the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan was either a smashing success that severely crippled Tehran’s nuclear programme, or a flashy show whose results were less than advertised … In the grand scheme of...
My summary assessment of the missile war over Israel during the 12-day-long first act of the ongoing war between Israel et alia and Iran et alia: The first Iranian counterstrike against Israel (14 June) began with a few hundred drones and relatively...
A few weeks ago I urged President Trump to make a deal with Iran that would satisfy his stated goal of no nuclear weapons production and would allow Iran to continue its lawful pursuit of civilian nuclear energy. The deal on the table, as described by the Iranian...
The CIA has published a "tradecraft review" of the 2016 "Intelligence Community Assessment" which had claimed that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election. The review found what had been obvious to anyone. The 2016 assessment had not followed the...
Donald Trump calls himself a peacemaker. His actions, however, betray his words. When it comes to the Middle East, he is an obvious war president. This begs the question: Does he have a coherent Middle East strategy beyond providing for Israel’s security interests?...
Leaked confidential files indicate the International Atomic Energy Agency was infiltrated by a veteran British spy who has claimed credit for sanctions on Iran. The documents lend weight to the Islamic Republic’s accusation that the nuclear watchdog secretly colluded...
On June 13, 2025, Tel Aviv launched what many international observers and Iranian officials have described as an unprovoked military strike on Iran. Israeli jets bombed military and nuclear sites, while Mossad-run sleeper cells carried out sabotage missions against...
President Trump, to his credit, demanded a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Both countries agreed to it. Then, the president became very angry with Israel because, as he said, “As soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs the likes of...
At one level, Iran plainly “won.” Trump had wanted to be regaled with a reality-TV style, splendid “Victory.” Sunday’s attack on the three nuclear sites indeed was loudly proclaimed by Trump and Hegseth as such – having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment...
It is generally believed that American voters elected Donald Trump president at least in part due to their embracing his lies that he was a peacemaker who would not involve the United States in the pointless wars that have proliferated since 9/11. Trump’s predecessor...
How soon people have forgotten that, earlier this year, the US dispatched two carrier strike groups and a half-dozen B-2s (and other USAF assets) to disarm the Yemeni and open the selectively blockaded Red Sea. They failed. Abysmally. For the second time! First of...
I don’t know why Iran agreed to the ceasefire, but it did. Iranian leaders, in my opinion, are frighteningly naive. Some apparently believe that they can achieve a legitimate negotiated deal with Donald Trump. I suggest the Ayatollah and IRGC commanders read Donald...
The former President and Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev who is one of the most authoritative voices in the Kremlin, wrote on the Telegram channel on June 23 a critique on the Middle East crisis following the US attack on Iran’s three key...
President Trump says it was necessary for him to order US pilots to bomb Iran to prevent that nation’s government from building a nuclear bomb. Wait a minute. Something is coming to me. Just give me a moment. It’s coming into my mind. Oh, yes, I remember: “WMDs! WMDs,...
The IAEA Board’s “Non-Compliance” Resolution on 12 June 2025 was the planned precursor for Israel’s “bolt from the blue” strike on Iran the next day. Israelis say the plan to go to war with Iran was grounded in “the opportunity” to strike, and not the intelligence...
Any moment now I am expecting John Cleese (a veteran of Monty Python) to jump out of the bushes and announce the creation of the Ministry of Silly Wars, with Donald Trump as the deranged leader. For you youngsters out there, Monty Python’s skit, The Ministry of Silly...
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