Comments on: The Great Lie of War https://habitablezone.com/2026/03/05/the-great-lie-of-war/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:56:17 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BuckGalaxy https://habitablezone.com/2026/03/05/the-great-lie-of-war/#comment-54756 BuckGalaxy Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:47:05 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=108509#comment-54756 <blockquote>...So part of what used to drive me crazy about the hawkish prescriptions on Iran from inside Washington and Israel is that either argument led to war. If Iran is really powerful, we must take them out because they must be stopped, because they’re on the precipice of doing something. Or they’re weak, so we can take them out. I do think it bears saying, first of all, that we should have a mind-set that war is bad and should be avoided. That should be a legal and values proposition that there are preferable outcomes to war itself...</blockquote>

…So part of what used to drive me crazy about the hawkish prescriptions on Iran from inside Washington and Israel is that either argument led to war. If Iran is really powerful, we must take them out because they must be stopped, because they’re on the precipice of doing something. Or they’re weak, so we can take them out.

I do think it bears saying, first of all, that we should have a mind-set that war is bad and should be avoided. That should be a legal and values proposition that there are preferable outcomes to war itself…

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2026/03/05/the-great-lie-of-war/#comment-54755 ER Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:42:41 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=108509#comment-54755 Sooner or later, one way or the other, America and Iran were going to war. The Iranians have made Israel and the US the bogeymen in their national story, and we have done the same to them. War is inevitable. At least now, we have gone in with a strong ally and the Iranians are in a very bad shape due to recent hostilities and Israeli action against Hezbollah and Hamas, and no doubt we have plenty of new intelligence on what we missed in the last raids and the dispositions and capabilities of what is left of Iranian defenses. And the Iranians have no nukes on line. At least not yet. Even if the Ayatollahs survive this debacle, it will be decades before they can rebuild their military, political and economic power. And decades from now, the world will be a totally different place. Tehran has also shot itself in the foot by bombing all of its neighbors, even the ones friendly to them, in a pointless attempt that this will somehow pressure them into forcing the US to stop. They are flailing. Iran will emerge immensely weaker, embarrassed, friendless and with severe economic problems and domestic insurgencies to deal with. Putin and the Chinese will realize Trump is crazy and reckless so they will have to rethink their policies vis-a-vis Ukraine and Taiwan. Since we will have to go to war with Iran sooner or later, why not now? The moment offers the least military risk and maximizes the geopolitical potential benefits. Of course, historical experience has demonstrated we are not too skillful at handling military operations in the MidEast, but if things go south (which they have a tendency to do in that part of the world), we'll be able to blame it all on Trump, instead of Biden, Obama, Bush or Clinton. Macho man Trump has stepped on his dick, big time. In fact, if he succeeds in meeting his goals without any setbacks that could be the worst thing for America. The last thing the world needs is a Trumpster with an invincibility complex and an emboldened constituency. There will be collateral damage, of course, even in the best of scenarios. For example, with Europe cut off from MidEast oil, they will have to rely on American and Venezuelan crude (good for us) or start buying Russian petroleum and natural gas (bad for us---and Ukraine). The world will look very different after this kerfuffle is over, it may not be all good news, but at least the Iranian regime will not be in a position to exploit it. Yes, I'm aware of the potential problems and issues connected to Trump playing geopolitical games, especially the constitutional erosion he has injected into American politics and his dismantling of our defensive alliances and trade partnerships. But let us not lose sight of the fact this war was going to be fought anyway, sooner or later, one way or another. At least this way the benefits will be acquired cheaply, with minimum loss of civilian life. And if things fall apart (which they may very well do with Trump in charge) MAGA will lose credibility and the Trump constituency will emerge weakened. Whatever price we may have to pay for this adventure, they will not be able to blame it on the Libtards. Whatever happens now, Trump will own it. Sooner or later, one way or the other, America and Iran were going to war. The Iranians have made Israel and the US the bogeymen in their national story, and we have done the same to them. War is inevitable. At least now, we have gone in with a strong ally and the Iranians are in a very bad shape due to recent hostilities and Israeli action against Hezbollah and Hamas, and no doubt we have plenty of new intelligence on what we missed in the last raids and the dispositions and capabilities of what is left of Iranian defenses. And the Iranians have no nukes on line. At least not yet. Even if the Ayatollahs survive this debacle, it will be decades before they can rebuild their military, political and economic power. And decades from now, the world will be a totally different place.

Tehran has also shot itself in the foot by bombing all of its neighbors, even the ones friendly to them, in a pointless attempt that this will somehow pressure them into forcing the US to stop. They are flailing.

Iran will emerge immensely weaker, embarrassed, friendless and with severe economic problems and domestic insurgencies to deal with. Putin and the Chinese will realize Trump is crazy and reckless so they will have to rethink their policies vis-a-vis Ukraine and Taiwan. Since we will have to go to war with Iran sooner or later, why not now? The moment offers the least military risk and maximizes the geopolitical potential benefits.

Of course, historical experience has demonstrated we are not too skillful at handling military operations in the MidEast, but if things go south (which they have a tendency to do in that part of the world), we’ll be able to blame it all on Trump, instead of Biden, Obama, Bush or Clinton. Macho man Trump has stepped on his dick, big time. In fact, if he succeeds in meeting his goals without any setbacks that could be the worst thing for America. The last thing the world needs is a Trumpster with an invincibility complex and an emboldened constituency.

There will be collateral damage, of course, even in the best of scenarios. For example, with Europe cut off from MidEast oil, they will have to rely on American and Venezuelan crude (good for us) or start buying Russian petroleum and natural gas (bad for us—and Ukraine). The world will look very different after this kerfuffle is over, it may not be all good news, but at least the Iranian regime will not be in a position to exploit it.

Yes, I’m aware of the potential problems and issues connected to Trump playing geopolitical games, especially the constitutional erosion he has injected into American politics and his dismantling of our defensive alliances and trade partnerships. But let us not lose sight of the fact this war was going to be fought anyway, sooner or later, one way or another. At least this way the benefits will be acquired cheaply, with minimum loss of civilian life. And if things fall apart (which they may very well do with Trump in charge) MAGA will lose credibility and the Trump constituency will emerge weakened. Whatever price we may have to pay for this adventure, they will not be able to blame it on the Libtards. Whatever happens now, Trump will own it.

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