The take home message from this is that the only way for any country to be secure is to have nuclear weapons.
And not to negotiate with the US in good faith.
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The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
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Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#432I am just befuddled by how much of this violence is directly motivated by religious concerns, both on the side of Iran and on the side of Israel and USA. I have been reading on the topic of shunyata or emptiness in Mahayana Buddhism, and have been uncomfortably observing just how much of the artifacts we take to be real and substantial in the world are just "made up". They don't have an inherent reality of their own…
It had nothing to do with religion, that element is used to distract.
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#433Good. Let them have it!! Free Iran!
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#434special operation
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#435Nothing like a war to boost your popularity just before the elections
> Nothing like a war to boost your popularity just before the elections
If he pulls off a regime change, even a Delcy-style swaparoo, he'll get it, and arguably not undeservedly. It will ultimately come down to Iran's capacity to inflict casualties on American forces.
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#436The most likely and capable retaliation will be cyber/info wars.
Iran has sophisticated influence operations and will likely flood social media with disinformation designed to deepen political divisions and erode trust in institutions.
This advice serves even if you don’t believe the above. Be deeply skeptical of all viral content in the coming days and weeks, especially anything designed to change your opinions, or provoke outrage/fear. Verify before sharing. Expect deepfakes. Stick to primary sources when possible.
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#437I am just befuddled by how much of this violence is directly motivated by religious concerns, both on the side of Iran and on the side of Israel and USA. I have been reading on the topic of shunyata or emptiness in Mahayana Buddhism, and have been uncomfortably observing just how much of the artifacts we take to be real and substantial in the world are just "made up". They don't have an inherent reality of their own…
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Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#438Good. Let them have it!! Free Iran!
Most people's definition of freedom isn't being bombed by the US and Israel.
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#439Nothing like a war to boost your popularity just before the elections
You sure? Seems like a war for no reason is hardly going to get popular support.
Re: The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran
#440How did the US justify this?
1. Iranians protested.
2. Islamists massacred them.
3. Trump said "help is on its way" ( https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/13/trump-promises... )
4. Now is the help.
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Trump also said that when he says things he means them, unlike Obama's red lines in Syria (his words). When he said that, it was pretty clear he couldn't back off of attacking Iran.
I assume it took so long because he's going for regime change, not just a few bombings. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, it took the US 5 months to launch a counter-invasion (mostly because of coalition building).