'I’m very doubtful that this will be the case. Trump and the Israelis have simply lied too much...' - well said. And about what else, by omission, are they lying, like who it is who gives them the marching orders??
Q: is the President exercising “authority,” in such a way to undercut others? Contrast this to the idea that he is simply carrying out what the donors wanted or is listening to the wrong people/ignorance. (This is a question not a defense or statement)
The bomb targets were likely older/obsolete largely vacated facilities, which intel would know, with no real impact.
Most Important: who is the real audience? That audience would implicitly understand the message.
Audience is the thing, not messaging.
All of these actions have been through the scenario process in the last few years, under Bush, Obama, Biden and Trump. It is a limited scenario process to be sure, unlike what Andrew Marshall used to oversee at ONI. Were the actions taken purposefully limited assuming that response would be limited?
Do Trump and those who influence him understand just how spiritual the rest of the world has become? Who in the West does? See the Supreme Leader’s response related to this.
Is it possible that Trump has some clue on this and it mitigates actions (killing lots of civilians) and he thinks he is undercutting those that want to go further, including the Israelis? (Question, not defense or statement).
How the Chinese, Indians, Russians and others (the real audience?) view and understand these things is interesting to figure out.
The mask is off. Trump was savvy enough to ride the popular backlash to Dem social and cultural insanity only to show that he is just another neocon riding high on exceptionalism.
My Speculation HAIFA To Be Closed Either That or Ashdod - maybe tonight
The Port of Haifa is Israel’s most important open port It handles the largest volume of cargo including about 50 % of maritime traffic, and serves as a critical hub for international trade, passenger traffic, and naval operations. Haifa Port is strategically vital, hosting Israeli naval bases, including Shayetet 7 units and warships, and supporting Northern Command operations.
With Eilat Port already non-operational due to Houthi attacks Ashdod Port handles about 40% of trade
A Haifa closure would create severe shortages of food, fuel, and industrial materials. Panic buying by consumers could exacerbate the crisis. However Haifa may be more protected and Iran may have chosen Ashdod
- well I am of course not sure it would happen tonight but pretty confident it is under consideration - Sunday night - I opine it is a target we shall see.
One thing seems certain Iran China and Russia are coming together for strategic planning.
The Russia Jewish population in Israel is indeed the Wild Card as I noted a day or two ago. Russia inherently desires to protect them.
I opine US will keep antagonizing to divert Iran attention and resources as written in the last post. That Iran's goal is Israel deterrence and should stay Israel deterrence as Iran does have limited resources ( though I believe ample missiles for the task at hand ).
Iran needs to stay the course - for Trump's action/response --- is proof Israel is taking a beating. While Netanyahuu may have turned off all cameras and strictly forbid journalist and media reports without prior Israeli censor - Trump's action I believe is absolute proof. Trump possibly desired to give the 2 weeks - however based on video I viewed it appears Israeli society is Very upset Very much in turmoil - posts I have read they are in and out of the shelters constantly, I am fairly confident there is no meaningful work getting done in Israel everyone is ' on hold ' the economy collapsing. While all indications are Iran society has united and become stronger all indications appear to be Israeli society dividing and weakening.
If I were Iran I would tighten my belt, and keep hitting Israel. The focus on All Ports and Air Ports. Inhibit if not prevent significant amounts of transport. Just a missile a day could close Ben Gurion and keep hitting Haifa - eg: I saw a video where there were a ton of electric vehicles in storage at Haifa that would be a target and cause a fire that would be difficult to put out - I read Israel ordering immediate removal of the cars.
What Iran appears to be doing - appears to be working -- or I do not think we would have had Trumps response. As I also had written day ago
IRAN Must Slow Walk Destroying ISRAEL just as Russia must and has slow walked destroying Ukraine
Too Much Too Quickly may force the adversary to making irrational decision and response
Financially and Militarily This shall be a War of Attrition - Israel and Iran suffering financially but Iran has been through this before and came out on top ( US Iraq bombing Iran 1980 - 1988 )
. All While Following UN Article 51 together with Russia and China - complying with United Nations International Law and thereby maintaining if not growing International Support.
EDIT: That said, I don't see Russia doing anything rash or unmeasured that would jeopardize its standing as the last (outside of China) rational actor on the world stage.
My buddy in Moscow characterizes it as that, among all the polish and erudition of the “Petersburg Three” (Putin, Medvedev and Speaker of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko) and the impeccably-trained (my buddy studied law at the same foreign-service school, arguably best in the word), diplomatic Muscovite, Sergei Lavrov, Medvedev has been tasked with speaking to the ‘nastayascshiy muzhik” (literally, “real peasant,” colloquially, “man’s man”) in every Russian’s soul. Yes, he’s of an elite pedigree, but speaks to all.
Vance: I empathize with Americans who are exhausted after 25 years of foreign entanglements in the Middle East. I understand the concern, but the difference is that back then we had dumb presidents
Unbelievable while I would agree, we have had some lackluster presidents for the last 25 years. We know in reality that those guys were not really calling the shots.
But here we have Trump and JD Vance along with Rubio and Pete Hegspeth Who truly are low IQ.
Vance is a real dunderhead. You don’t degrade the office of the president period. What can you expect from a country bumpkin who ran into “God” at Yale. And finally, quit empathizing, à la Biden-ites!
I just finished listening. It's a very good discussion by Baud, in which he points out how complex it all is. In the final minutes he emphasizes that other countries need to step up and challenge what Trump is doing. Obviously those countries will need to be Russia and China (Pakistan also appears ready to join). His conclusion is basically the same as mine in MAGA--Why It Means War. Trump has shown that, while he may have dissimulated in talking a somewhat different game, in reality he is the same as the US in the past in asserting US hegemony over the entire world. Baud says Trump's lawless actions reduces international relations to the law of the jungle. He also emphasizes how isolated Trump has made the US.
Wars always start as “one and done”. We’ll strike a devastating blow and they’ll have to give up.
Even Vance joined in the duplicity and tried to justify an illegal invasion. None of these people in the Trump administration can be trusted.
“If you look at what we did yesterday John - we did not attack the nation of Iran, we did not attack any civilian targets, we didn't even attack military targets outside of the three nuclear weapons facilities that we thought were important to accomplish our goal of preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapon,' he continued. “
If you have just eaten an entire box of Salerno Mint Creme cookies--because you just came off a fast and are ravenous--and now you feel extremely lousy (the cookies are not made anymore, and so would currently be 50+years old) and want to get the stuff out of you,** try this:
**note: this actually happened to a girlfriend of mine while we were in college in the early 1970s (the cookies were new at the time, but still big trouble when consumed all in one brief sitting).
OK, I blew it. I forgot to add an important factor, which is ...
In contrast to the murder of Soleimani--who was an important and popular official--this time MANY high level and important officials were murdered, including negotiators, scientists, etc. I doubt Iran can let this slide.
Murdering scientists and negotiators! My God, the US phonies sat with these people and talked about a peaceful deal.
Then the US deceivers purposely murdered intelligent scientists--some of Iran's best and brightest--and Iran's negotiators, who willing met the US at the table.
Please provide sources for information about "golden toilets in Persian palaces."
Such a comment reflects a "Thousand and one nights" level of awareness of the reality of Iran.
Wish I could link photos: village near Kang, east, not that far from Herat, Afghanistan; in mountains. Homes literally hang on mountainside, villagers herd sheep; mules for transportation.
In Shiraz, Isfehan, Tehran, not unlike millions of Americans, Iranians live in apartment buildings, tho many have a camp-site in distant, undeveloped land, to spend summers that are extremely hot in cities.
Trump's statement that "everyone has heard 'Isfehan ...' "
Everyone outside Trump's illiterate thug world might recite: "Isfehan is half the world." In the sixteenth century Isfehan was capital of Iran, home to people of many ethnicities and religions; a center for culture, trade, literature. Armenians fleeing genocide in Turkiye found refuge in Isfehan where they now dominate the region of Julfa and built the Christian Cathedral at Vank.
The reference is to the last Shah of Iran and his lavishness. He was a US puppet and the current Anglo-Zionist a**holes want to install his descendant to be their puppet. I do no disrespect to the Ancient Persians or their current Islamist descendants. Although I lived through those times in the 1970s and 1980s and my memories may be a bit foggy, the stories of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, were many and maybe exaggerated. I wish I could point you to specific publications claiming this lavishness, but at the moment I can not.
By the way, I care not for anything that comes out of a Trumps mouth. He has shown the world what kind of stupid, manipulated bastard he is.
I apologize for the harshness. So many emotions come to the fore. My late husband's first job was MIC contractor for Shah. Subsequently visited & learned a lot more about Iran -- seen both Irans so to speak. It is painful to hear the Cruz-level lack of awareness of Iran.
No need to apologize. I well understand how our emotions can take over at times. I have done the same. Unlike the automatons who see us as play things, we are human. I believe Scot Ritter is correct about Iran. I am in awe that you got to travel there, and learn first hand how the people are. The vast majority of people on this planet want to be left in peace. I, for one, believe in a globally diverse world, not one that is a globalized DEI world.
I had the good fortune to have worked with a man, ten years my senior, who was half Iranian. I am not sure in which country Maurice was born, but he was raised in America. His father had been in Army intelligence during WWII and during the regime change in Iran that put the Shah in power. While there, he met and married an Iranian woman. He left the army and became a dentist in Missouri, where my friend grew up.
Maurice remembered his Iranian grandmother well because she came to America with her daughter and son-in-law. Her husband was a guerrilla fighter living in the mountains fighting against the new Shah's regime. So, Maurice and his dad never knew the man. His grandmother never learned English and always fussed at him in her native language when she was correcting his behavior.
We worked together for nearly three years as timber buyers for a large, and at that time publicly traded, wood manufacturing company. Maurice was a great friend and interesting person. I add this comment because I think you might enjoy this story. It is all the little things that make up a world. Things that should not be ignored by those who seek power over us.
Marvin, I remember that...Trump said "Oops!" I cannot forget such callousness, such disregard for human life. He killed Yemenis standing outdoors in an oval--some activity that is part of their culture. I saw the before photo, and the giant depression left in the ground--all lives obliterated--after the hit. The photos must have been taken by a US drone...perhaps the drone that bombed the people.
His approved bombing, and his giggling about it afterward, is reprehensible.
'I’m very doubtful that this will be the case. Trump and the Israelis have simply lied too much...' - well said. And about what else, by omission, are they lying, like who it is who gives them the marching orders??
Mark, I thank you for drawing attention to
Max Blumenthal and his wife Anya Parampil's article "Trump official to The Grayzone: CIA’s Ratcliffe acts as ‘Mossad stenographer’ on Iran":
https://thegrayzone.com/2025/06/21/trump-cia-director-ratcliffe-and-centcoms-kurilla-mossad-stenographers-iran/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
They are good at exposing Zionist skunks.
New rules/narratives in the Digital Paradigm
Q: is the President exercising “authority,” in such a way to undercut others? Contrast this to the idea that he is simply carrying out what the donors wanted or is listening to the wrong people/ignorance. (This is a question not a defense or statement)
The bomb targets were likely older/obsolete largely vacated facilities, which intel would know, with no real impact.
Most Important: who is the real audience? That audience would implicitly understand the message.
Audience is the thing, not messaging.
All of these actions have been through the scenario process in the last few years, under Bush, Obama, Biden and Trump. It is a limited scenario process to be sure, unlike what Andrew Marshall used to oversee at ONI. Were the actions taken purposefully limited assuming that response would be limited?
Do Trump and those who influence him understand just how spiritual the rest of the world has become? Who in the West does? See the Supreme Leader’s response related to this.
Is it possible that Trump has some clue on this and it mitigates actions (killing lots of civilians) and he thinks he is undercutting those that want to go further, including the Israelis? (Question, not defense or statement).
How the Chinese, Indians, Russians and others (the real audience?) view and understand these things is interesting to figure out.
The mask is off. Trump was savvy enough to ride the popular backlash to Dem social and cultural insanity only to show that he is just another neocon riding high on exceptionalism.
My Speculation HAIFA To Be Closed Either That or Ashdod - maybe tonight
The Port of Haifa is Israel’s most important open port It handles the largest volume of cargo including about 50 % of maritime traffic, and serves as a critical hub for international trade, passenger traffic, and naval operations. Haifa Port is strategically vital, hosting Israeli naval bases, including Shayetet 7 units and warships, and supporting Northern Command operations.
With Eilat Port already non-operational due to Houthi attacks Ashdod Port handles about 40% of trade
A Haifa closure would create severe shortages of food, fuel, and industrial materials. Panic buying by consumers could exacerbate the crisis. However Haifa may be more protected and Iran may have chosen Ashdod
- well I am of course not sure it would happen tonight but pretty confident it is under consideration - Sunday night - I opine it is a target we shall see.
.
.
One thing seems certain Iran China and Russia are coming together for strategic planning.
The Russia Jewish population in Israel is indeed the Wild Card as I noted a day or two ago. Russia inherently desires to protect them.
I opine US will keep antagonizing to divert Iran attention and resources as written in the last post. That Iran's goal is Israel deterrence and should stay Israel deterrence as Iran does have limited resources ( though I believe ample missiles for the task at hand ).
Iran needs to stay the course - for Trump's action/response --- is proof Israel is taking a beating. While Netanyahuu may have turned off all cameras and strictly forbid journalist and media reports without prior Israeli censor - Trump's action I believe is absolute proof. Trump possibly desired to give the 2 weeks - however based on video I viewed it appears Israeli society is Very upset Very much in turmoil - posts I have read they are in and out of the shelters constantly, I am fairly confident there is no meaningful work getting done in Israel everyone is ' on hold ' the economy collapsing. While all indications are Iran society has united and become stronger all indications appear to be Israeli society dividing and weakening.
If I were Iran I would tighten my belt, and keep hitting Israel. The focus on All Ports and Air Ports. Inhibit if not prevent significant amounts of transport. Just a missile a day could close Ben Gurion and keep hitting Haifa - eg: I saw a video where there were a ton of electric vehicles in storage at Haifa that would be a target and cause a fire that would be difficult to put out - I read Israel ordering immediate removal of the cars.
What Iran appears to be doing - appears to be working -- or I do not think we would have had Trumps response. As I also had written day ago
IRAN Must Slow Walk Destroying ISRAEL just as Russia must and has slow walked destroying Ukraine
Too Much Too Quickly may force the adversary to making irrational decision and response
Financially and Militarily This shall be a War of Attrition - Israel and Iran suffering financially but Iran has been through this before and came out on top ( US Iraq bombing Iran 1980 - 1988 )
. All While Following UN Article 51 together with Russia and China - complying with United Nations International Law and thereby maintaining if not growing International Support.
.
.
of course it goes without saying Iran bombing military targets
but an absolute Need to Not Bomb Civilian centers
- that would bring in the US Public/provide a wealth of propaganda
.
Medvedev's reaction. Yes, I know he does act, to some degree, as "Putin's anger translator" in expressing supercharged outrage, but wow:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/medvedev-reacts-number-countries-now-ready-supply-iran-their-own-nuclear-warheads
EDIT: That said, I don't see Russia doing anything rash or unmeasured that would jeopardize its standing as the last (outside of China) rational actor on the world stage.
Dmitry Medvedev speaks what people are thinking inside their heads. He expresses reactions, opinions, and facts with emotion.
I like him.
Thanks for posting the link, NFO.
My buddy in Moscow characterizes it as that, among all the polish and erudition of the “Petersburg Three” (Putin, Medvedev and Speaker of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko) and the impeccably-trained (my buddy studied law at the same foreign-service school, arguably best in the word), diplomatic Muscovite, Sergei Lavrov, Medvedev has been tasked with speaking to the ‘nastayascshiy muzhik” (literally, “real peasant,” colloquially, “man’s man”) in every Russian’s soul. Yes, he’s of an elite pedigree, but speaks to all.
I'm really disappointed in Donald Bush Jr.
This is for real, authentic:
Vance: I empathize with Americans who are exhausted after 25 years of foreign entanglements in the Middle East. I understand the concern, but the difference is that back then we had dumb presidents
Unbelievable while I would agree, we have had some lackluster presidents for the last 25 years. We know in reality that those guys were not really calling the shots.
But here we have Trump and JD Vance along with Rubio and Pete Hegspeth Who truly are low IQ.
I am not blaming Trump's words and actions on his IQ, Mr. VPV.
I am blaming his words and actions on his character, on his soul.
The lies, deceit, brags, threats, and killing all come from from a hard and black soul.
DJT showed some spurts of compassion in 2015. Those spurts sputtered out when he completely went over to The Dark Side.
I’m not getting the impression the hillbilly V.P. has an intelligence advantage
Somewhere, GWB is smiling, nodding along.
Vance is a real dunderhead. You don’t degrade the office of the president period. What can you expect from a country bumpkin who ran into “God” at Yale. And finally, quit empathizing, à la Biden-ites!
Apparently, this is what Haifa looks like these days. If genuine, this is not good for Israel.
https://x.com/stiwari1510/status/1936451876318310839
The Israel govt obviously cares nothing for its Haifa citizens, whose jobs and lives have been destroyed because of the Zionist desire for conquest.
The photo reminds me of Dresden, Germany after the Allied bombings.**
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/enormous-360-degree-panoramic-picture-dresden-after-allied-bombing-1945-1484905
**note~the 360° pan did not work for me, but there are still photos as you scroll down.
It reminds me more of somewhere a bit closer to Haifa than Dresden: Gaza
It would explain the Israeli extreme censorship.
The war is coming home to Israel.
LEGALLY BLIND THUS CAPS
REALLY LIKED THIS POST MARK. YOUR WORDS: We need to assume that we’re in this for a long haul that could turn pretty ugly.
LISTEN TO Colonel Jacques Baud INTERVIEW WITH GLENN DIESSEN. PERHAPS COMMENT ON IT LATER TODAY.
I just finished listening. It's a very good discussion by Baud, in which he points out how complex it all is. In the final minutes he emphasizes that other countries need to step up and challenge what Trump is doing. Obviously those countries will need to be Russia and China (Pakistan also appears ready to join). His conclusion is basically the same as mine in MAGA--Why It Means War. Trump has shown that, while he may have dissimulated in talking a somewhat different game, in reality he is the same as the US in the past in asserting US hegemony over the entire world. Baud says Trump's lawless actions reduces international relations to the law of the jungle. He also emphasizes how isolated Trump has made the US.
Thanks, Annie. Will check it out.
Wars always start as “one and done”. We’ll strike a devastating blow and they’ll have to give up.
Even Vance joined in the duplicity and tried to justify an illegal invasion. None of these people in the Trump administration can be trusted.
“If you look at what we did yesterday John - we did not attack the nation of Iran, we did not attack any civilian targets, we didn't even attack military targets outside of the three nuclear weapons facilities that we thought were important to accomplish our goal of preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapon,' he continued. “
If you have just eaten an entire box of Salerno Mint Creme cookies--because you just came off a fast and are ravenous--and now you feel extremely lousy (the cookies are not made anymore, and so would currently be 50+years old) and want to get the stuff out of you,** try this:
Pete Hegseth press briefing, June 22:
https://youtu.be/tOECBrmUdeo?si=4RgZt66hycx5gOKy
**note: this actually happened to a girlfriend of mine while we were in college in the early 1970s (the cookies were new at the time, but still big trouble when consumed all in one brief sitting).
OK, I blew it. I forgot to add an important factor, which is ...
In contrast to the murder of Soleimani--who was an important and popular official--this time MANY high level and important officials were murdered, including negotiators, scientists, etc. I doubt Iran can let this slide.
Makes me feel kind of sick...
Murdering scientists and negotiators! My God, the US phonies sat with these people and talked about a peaceful deal.
Then the US deceivers purposely murdered intelligent scientists--some of Iran's best and brightest--and Iran's negotiators, who willing met the US at the table.
I am heartsick, and I am sick of evil Zionists.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
.....Psalm 121:1,2
F.R.O.G. ~ Fully Rely On God, dear readers.
Well, this misguided attack may prove if Iran already has nuclear weapons. Or, we may see gold toilets being reinstalled in the new Persian palaces.
Please provide sources for information about "golden toilets in Persian palaces."
Such a comment reflects a "Thousand and one nights" level of awareness of the reality of Iran.
Wish I could link photos: village near Kang, east, not that far from Herat, Afghanistan; in mountains. Homes literally hang on mountainside, villagers herd sheep; mules for transportation.
In Shiraz, Isfehan, Tehran, not unlike millions of Americans, Iranians live in apartment buildings, tho many have a camp-site in distant, undeveloped land, to spend summers that are extremely hot in cities.
Trump's statement that "everyone has heard 'Isfehan ...' "
Everyone outside Trump's illiterate thug world might recite: "Isfehan is half the world." In the sixteenth century Isfehan was capital of Iran, home to people of many ethnicities and religions; a center for culture, trade, literature. Armenians fleeing genocide in Turkiye found refuge in Isfehan where they now dominate the region of Julfa and built the Christian Cathedral at Vank.
No golden toilets.
The reference is to the last Shah of Iran and his lavishness. He was a US puppet and the current Anglo-Zionist a**holes want to install his descendant to be their puppet. I do no disrespect to the Ancient Persians or their current Islamist descendants. Although I lived through those times in the 1970s and 1980s and my memories may be a bit foggy, the stories of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, were many and maybe exaggerated. I wish I could point you to specific publications claiming this lavishness, but at the moment I can not.
By the way, I care not for anything that comes out of a Trumps mouth. He has shown the world what kind of stupid, manipulated bastard he is.
I apologize for the harshness. So many emotions come to the fore. My late husband's first job was MIC contractor for Shah. Subsequently visited & learned a lot more about Iran -- seen both Irans so to speak. It is painful to hear the Cruz-level lack of awareness of Iran.
Ritter closed this session w/ McGovern
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45M9q6QnVL0 "If you learn about Iran and meet Iranians it is impossible not to love Iran," and I agree.
It is so sad that so many Americans have been fed -- and willingly ingest -- hogslop about this cultured people.
Thank you again for response.
No need to apologize. I well understand how our emotions can take over at times. I have done the same. Unlike the automatons who see us as play things, we are human. I believe Scot Ritter is correct about Iran. I am in awe that you got to travel there, and learn first hand how the people are. The vast majority of people on this planet want to be left in peace. I, for one, believe in a globally diverse world, not one that is a globalized DEI world.
I had the good fortune to have worked with a man, ten years my senior, who was half Iranian. I am not sure in which country Maurice was born, but he was raised in America. His father had been in Army intelligence during WWII and during the regime change in Iran that put the Shah in power. While there, he met and married an Iranian woman. He left the army and became a dentist in Missouri, where my friend grew up.
Maurice remembered his Iranian grandmother well because she came to America with her daughter and son-in-law. Her husband was a guerrilla fighter living in the mountains fighting against the new Shah's regime. So, Maurice and his dad never knew the man. His grandmother never learned English and always fussed at him in her native language when she was correcting his behavior.
We worked together for nearly three years as timber buyers for a large, and at that time publicly traded, wood manufacturing company. Maurice was a great friend and interesting person. I add this comment because I think you might enjoy this story. It is all the little things that make up a world. Things that should not be ignored by those who seek power over us.
I knew we were done when he murdered 100 Yemenis - joked about it - and no one even cared
Marvin, I remember that...Trump said "Oops!" I cannot forget such callousness, such disregard for human life. He killed Yemenis standing outdoors in an oval--some activity that is part of their culture. I saw the before photo, and the giant depression left in the ground--all lives obliterated--after the hit. The photos must have been taken by a US drone...perhaps the drone that bombed the people.
His approved bombing, and his giggling about it afterward, is reprehensible.
We were shown the man's character.