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Glimpsing Victory in Iran
The Atlantic ^ | March 16, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz

Posted on 03/16/2026 5:09:44 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan

Two weeks after the United States and Israel launched their combined military campaign against Iran’s clerical regime, the outlines of victory are beginning to emerge.

Military campaigns of this kind—especially those aimed not only at degrading military capability but also at creating conditions for political change—unfold in phases. The first phase of this conflict was bound to be the most important: stripping the Islamic Republic of its ability to wage war against America and its allies, threaten its neighbors, and intimidate global markets.

The early results are promising, though much remains unfinished.

A regime still reeling from last year’s 12-day war now faces a far more punishing assault. American and Israeli aircraft are operating over Iran with near-total freedom, striking military infrastructure, command nodes, and strategic assets across the country. Iran’s air-defense network has been badly degraded, and its navy reduced to a fraction of its former capacity.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Iran; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bobwillstroll; epicfury; iran; iranwar; israel; war

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Surprisingly factual article in the Atlantic of all places.

Some detail in the status of the phases of the war and what is likely to come.

1 posted on 03/16/2026 5:09:44 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan
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To: MeanWestTexan

Can Shia Islam be extinguished?


2 posted on 03/16/2026 5:13:53 PM PDT by Paladin2 (YMMV)
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To: MeanWestTexan

How’d the Atlantic let this slip through?


3 posted on 03/16/2026 5:19:31 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Paladin2

“Can Shia Islam be extinguished?”
___________________________________________________________

There are 200-300 million Shia Muslims around the world, and Iran has the highest percentage per population center. About 90-95% of Iranian Muslims are Shia, and there are 90 million people in Iran.

You just have to kill about 80 million Shia Muslims in Iran to begin wiping it out.


4 posted on 03/16/2026 5:21:23 PM PDT by Bob Wills is still the king
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To: MeanWestTexan

Bump.


5 posted on 03/16/2026 5:22:23 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Hmmm...
Thought I heard a flock of pigs fly over the house yesterday...


6 posted on 03/16/2026 5:22:56 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is rabble-rising Sam Adams now that we need him? Is his name Trump, now?)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king
There are 200-300 million Shia Muslims around the world, and Iran has the highest percentage per population center. About 90-95% of Iranian Muslims are Shia, and there are 90 million people in Iran. You just have to kill about 80 million Shia Muslims in Iran to begin wiping it out.

Most of those 80 million Shia in Iran want a secular government.

7 posted on 03/16/2026 5:25:32 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: Flaming Conservative

“How’d the Atlantic let this slip through?”

Nobody wants to be the last wrong news outlet. This means the state of the conflict is obvious and the USA is in the driver’s seat. China is looking screwed, an interesting turn of events.


8 posted on 03/16/2026 5:31:19 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
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To: FreeReign

“Most of those 80 million Shia in Iran want a secular government.”
___________________________________________________________

If 90% of Iranian people wanted a secular government, they’d already have a secular government.

Religion corrupts government wherever it becomes entrenched.


9 posted on 03/16/2026 5:33:50 PM PDT by Bob Wills is still the king
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To: Bob Wills is still the king
If 90% of Iranian people wanted a secular government, they’d already have a secular government. Religion corrupts government wherever it becomes entrenched.

Grok says it's about 70% who want a secular government, not 90%. So that's about 25 million fanatical Iranians supported by an armed IRGC.

I don't agree with your response.

10 posted on 03/16/2026 5:41:19 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: FreeReign

You are interacting with one of the biggest anti-American trolls on the site.

Don’t bother.


11 posted on 03/16/2026 5:44:03 PM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: MeanWestTexan

They’re going to have to start taking out civilian power facilities and cut oil supplies.

The lack of power and cash seems to bringing a lot of Cubans out into the street.


12 posted on 03/16/2026 5:44:52 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

“You just have to kill about 80 million Shia Muslims in Iran to begin wiping it out.”

So what’s the problem?

L


13 posted on 03/16/2026 5:52:37 PM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

>> You just have to kill about 80 million Shia Muslims in Iran to begin wiping it out.

Huh? You can extinguish a false religion without killing its adherents.


14 posted on 03/16/2026 5:54:49 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

>> Religion corrupts government wherever it becomes entrenched.

Except if it’s a nation with limited government founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Like America. LACK of Christian discipleship has to some degree corrupted American government, but with the Trump administration we’re making progress at fixing that lack.


15 posted on 03/16/2026 6:00:37 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

I’m surprised they even call it victory


16 posted on 03/16/2026 6:15:00 PM PDT by sopo
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To: Paladin2

From what I heard from reliable sources, the Shia Muslims used to be the persecuted minority and usually the more docile fraction of Muslims.
Until the Khomeini arrived on the scene!


17 posted on 03/16/2026 6:18:48 PM PDT by AZJeep (sane )
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To: MeanWestTexan

“Military campaigns of this kind—especially those aimed not only at degrading military capability but also at creating conditions for political change—unfold in phases.”

There’s never been a military campaign of this kind before.

The author is full of sh!t.


18 posted on 03/16/2026 6:31:52 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: sopo

Refreshing truth from the Atlantic.

Sure to lose readers.


19 posted on 03/16/2026 6:45:23 PM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

“You just have to kill about 80 million Shia Muslims in Iran to begin wiping it out.”
WORKS FOR ME!
Actually all we have to do is kill all the boys and men.
Then treat the women left decently. Lots of lonely guys in the world.


20 posted on 03/16/2026 6:50:00 PM PDT by rellic (No such thing as a moderate Moslem or Democrat )
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