[lodi90]

This is not enough US military power to topple the regime and the Mullah’s know it. That’s why they are not budging in negotiations. I’m not sure what Trump’s end game is here.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

It’s in the excerpt - No Nukes.

Give it up, and I’m sure that even Israel would accept the Mullahs. Even a new Shah would not be allowed nukes, he may not last.

At least, that is my take.

[Tommy Revolts]

Interesting. Even with Israel and using Diego Garcia? I'm might differ on that opinion.

[Wallace T.]

My guess is that, while the U.S. military cannot topple the regime, we can do enough real damage to Iran's military capacity and their industrial infrastructure that elements in the Iranian armed forces will overthrow the mullahs. I am assuming that our Air Force and Navy are far superior to anything the Iranians have, which is largely their own plus imports from China and Russia. Russian arms have always been inferior to Western arms, going back to the Cold War era. The Russians have struggled against largely Western armed Ukrainians. The Chinese military equipment quality is questionable. During the Twelve Days War, it did not do very well against Israeli and American attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

If my assumptions are correct, President Trump is playing for an Iranian backdown, despite their apparent intransigence.

[PIF]

This is not enough US military power to topple the regime and the Mullah’s know it. That’s why they are not budging in negotiations

—

Fatal flaw: we know were the live. and so are easy to kill. The Mad Mullahs never budge on any negotiations - any appearance of such a thing is quickly undone.

[noiseman]

This is not enough US military power to topple the regime and the Mullah’s know it.

Shirley you’re not series. The mullahs are paper tigers. Tiny Israel has already absolutely crushed their proxies in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as shredding their air defense network and along with the U.S., most of their nuclear production capability. But so long as the mullahs remain in power, Iran will be a constant threat to the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. Just in case you scoff at that last one, Iran has been known for a number of years to be engaging in tests that are very likely related to developing a nuclear EMP capability. They have used test launches of long-range ballistic missiles to explode those missiles at high altitude, mimicking the process for attacking the U.S. with an EMP generated by a high-altitude nuke airburst. It is also believed that they’ve worked on a capability to launch ICBMs or medium range missiles from cargo ships.

Iran is very different from Iraq or Afghanistan in every way. They have a history of being pro-western and modern, the people are not Arabs, there would be no power vacuum if the mullahs are deposed as the son of the former Shah is ready to lead, has a coherent and realistic plan to turn Iran around, and is popular with most of the Iranian people. The crowds chant his name and for his return every time they take to the streets. And he seems a sober-minded, surprisingly humble, and intelligent guy who is determined to save Iran. He proposes that his tenure would only be temporary and transitional, pending a subsequent election, once the country is ready for it, to choose a new form of government and new leaders.

[irishjuggler]

“This is not enough US military power to topple the regime and the Mullah’s know it.”

Don’t let reality get in the way of the wet dreams of the war-cheerleaders amongst us. In their magical world, the US and our sidekick Israel bomb the hell out of a country of 93 million people for a week or two... and then freedom-loving, Americanized-via-social media young people miraculously seize control of the country... and we all live happily ever after. It’s one of the most deranged, unhinged fairytales I’ve ever heard in my life.

[citizen]

You made a *very* definite statement. >> “not enough US military power...”

We will be watching to see if you have a clue about these matters.

[citizen]

Btw, if you did have a clue, you’d realize that military power is but one part of the equation.