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There may be no way to leave Iran in a few hours, Poland says
Iran International ^ | 19 Feb, 2026

Posted on 02/19/2026 7:19:18 AM PST by MtnClimber

Summary

- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Polish citizens in Iran to leave immediately on Thursday, warning that evacuation might soon no longer be possible as security conditions worsened amid rising US-Iran tensions.

- US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday if Iran refuses to make a deal, the United States may need to use Diego Garcia, hinting at possible military action from the strategic Indian Ocean base.

- "There are many arguments one can make in favor of a strike against Iran. President Trump prefers diplomacy. Iran would be wise to make a deal,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

- The United States will deter Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons “one way or the other,” US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday.


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS: cartersfolly; jihad; trumpiran

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1 posted on 02/19/2026 7:19:18 AM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

I hope the citizens can overthrow the mullahs.


2 posted on 02/19/2026 7:19:29 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

“President Trump prefers diplomacy.”

______________________________________________

I’m not sure the Big Stick Diplomacy will play very well. There’s lots of things he can do that are less divisive to his own party than this. Who are the people that have his ear in this issue?


3 posted on 02/19/2026 7:35:23 AM PST by Bishop_Malachi (Liberal Socialism - A philosophy which advocates spreading a low standard of living equally.)
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To: MtnClimber

Firefights involving missiles, drones, B2s, and F-35s can have a negative effect on commercial aviation in that airspace sometimes.


4 posted on 02/19/2026 7:37:32 AM PST by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Bishop_Malachi
I’m not sure the Big Stick Diplomacy will play very well.

I think turning the ayatollah and his IRGC into crispy atoms plays very well.

5 posted on 02/19/2026 7:38:54 AM PST by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: MtnClimber
Lightly armed and unorganized civilians don't overthrow governments, even with foreign intelligence assistance. The military can overthrow the regime and did so against the pro-Soviet Mossadegh government in 1953. When there are civilian uprisings, they succeed only if the army and police stand down, as happened in the Eastern Bloc nations in 1989 and 1990.
6 posted on 02/19/2026 7:41:05 AM PST by Wallace T.
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To: MtnClimber

Oh goody. More war. Northrop and other defense contractors must be tugging on Lindsey’s ear and other lovers of senseless wars.


7 posted on 02/19/2026 7:55:56 AM PST by Hyman Roth
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To: MtnClimber

Venezuela, Greenland, Cuba, Iran...there’s no end to the big projects that President Trump is willing to undertake. But will the outcome in any of them be good?


8 posted on 02/19/2026 7:59:48 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Wallace T.

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.


9 posted on 02/19/2026 8:00:37 AM PST by lodi90
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To: MtnClimber

And the fit is about to hit the shan.

It is very uncomfortable to be a theocratic leader in Iran these days.

Meanwhile, fecal matter obeys the gravitational imperative, and rolls downhill.

Like an avalanche.


10 posted on 02/19/2026 8:04:21 AM PST by alloysteel (Coming in high, hot, blind, dead-stick, wheels up, outta gas, and the glide angle of a brick....)
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To: MtnClimber

I hope all the leaders there carry pagers.


11 posted on 02/19/2026 8:05:52 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: MtnClimber
I hope the citizens can overthrow the mullahs.

Those mullahs wouldn't be running Iran if our government hadn't overthrown the Shah.

12 posted on 02/19/2026 8:08:38 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: MtnClimber

Sorry but there will be huge long term negative consequences for America if Trump attacks Iran. Most Americans oppose America involving itself in another war in the Mideast.The hate America Left, the Islamophiles and the neo isolationists will not support Trump. This might cause catostrophic Republican losses in the 2026 Congressional elections and make it likely that the Democrats will win the Presidency in 2028. The demononic Democratic control of the Federal government, its agencies and power will be a catastophre for the American nation and its people.

Hopefully Trump backs off quickly and lets Iran suffer its own fate .


13 posted on 02/19/2026 8:13:30 AM PST by allendale
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To: ladyjane
Those mullahs wouldn't be running Iran if our government hadn't overthrown the Shah.

Just one more horror Democrat Jimmah Carter gave us...

14 posted on 02/19/2026 8:15:09 AM PST by GOPJ (Trump's a Rorschach: for good or ill people see thier hidden selves in him. Protector? Bully? Savior)
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To: lodi90

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.


15 posted on 02/19/2026 8:18:33 AM PST by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: alloysteel

Feb 17 was the new moon.
Just saying.


16 posted on 02/19/2026 8:19:34 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: MtnClimber

If I were in charge (give thanks I’m not?)
I would take out the Iranian dictators’ nuclear bomb and missile factories (and supplies) FAST. As for changing the evil Teheran regime — not sure how this can be played out...hopefully those in charge have a way to achieve it.
It is very doubtful that ANY change could be worse than the aggressive Satanic regime currently in control there. (What could another one do that this one hasn’t done or tried to do?)

So, some reasonable risk in what follow would seem justified imho.

President Trump has been extremely cautious all along so far but at some point when he’s ready...the skies will glow in Persia. And maybe, just maybe, the winds of freedom will follow. We can hope. Smiles Smiles.


17 posted on 02/19/2026 8:21:35 AM PST by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: Bishop_Malachi

“Who are the people that have his ear in this issue?” The usual suspects . . .


18 posted on 02/19/2026 8:25:01 AM PST by Blurb2350 (posted from my 1500-watt blow dryer)
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To: lodi90
Interesting. Even with Israel and using Diego Garcia? I'm might differ on that opinion.

19 posted on 02/19/2026 8:26:37 AM PST by Tommy Revolts
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To: lodi90
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.

20 posted on 02/19/2026 8:32:54 AM PST by Wallace T.
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