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Victor Davis Hanson: This Is A Surreal War, What Is Actually Happening In Iran Is Not Being Reported
RealClear Politics ^ | March 17, 2026 | Tim Hains

Posted on 03/17/2026 7:27:08 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Victor Davis Hanson weighs in on how the war with Iran is going after two weeks for "The Daily Signal."

Video Transcript Summary

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: We’re just completing the second week of the so-called Iran war — this effort of the United States to bomb the theocracy into submission so they will cancel their missile and nuclear programs and to champion the popular protests on the streets that have some potential to get rid of the regime itself.

But it’s a very surreal war. I haven’t seen — I don’t think any of us have seen — anything like it. It’s only been two weeks and we’re told that it’s dragging on, that it’s a forever war, that we’re losing, that the Pentagon and the Trump administration had no plans. And yet when you look at Iran, this huge country — much, much bigger and with a much larger population than Iraq or Afghanistan — it has no military left.

The Navy is dismantled. The Air Force is dismantled. The Republican Guard — all of these special contingents — are under enormous assault. The command and control is destroyed. The missile defense is destroyed. And yet people say that it’s unconquerable. It doesn’t make any sense. Its output of missiles and drones at the Gulf petrol states and Israel has dropped by 90%.

So what’s going on?

I think part of the problem is that there’s no media coverage. There are no embedded reporters there because we are not on the ground. When you don’t have a ground fight in enemy territory, you don’t have American embedded journalists traveling with the troops who can give diverse opinions and accurate accounts.

All we have are the journalists who are allowed into Iran...

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


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Iran; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: epicfury; iran; timhains; vdh; victordavishanson; war; waronterror; wokejournalists

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1 posted on 03/17/2026 7:27:08 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

VDH gets it!!


2 posted on 03/17/2026 7:29:59 PM PDT by bantam
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It’s a real shame VDH can’t go to Iran and tell us what is really happening on the ground.


3 posted on 03/17/2026 7:31:18 PM PDT by Bob Wills is still the king
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
All we have are the journalists who are allowed into Iran. And that happens to be — guess who — CNN. And they report the party line that comes out of the Iranian theocracy.

That CNN reporter interviewed an Iranian shopkeeper who had some windows blown out by an Israeli or American missile. I almost shed a tear. 😢

4 posted on 03/17/2026 7:34:26 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Vietnam and Afghanistan both lacked a significant air force, navy, or centralized military, yet we still lost:at the cost of trillions of dollars and American lives. Iran has 95 million people who are now unified against the United States. The demographics are against us and Israel, as Europe is becoming more heavily Muslim, and the U.S. has a large Muslim population (thanks to Obama). This will not be won by air power, and the political ramifications of putting troops on the ground will be political suicide.


5 posted on 03/17/2026 7:40:20 PM PDT by pterional
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I thought it was enlightening for VDH to compare how everyone talked about Operation Desert Storm vs how they talk about the Iran war.


6 posted on 03/17/2026 7:41:53 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: texas booster

VDH ping


7 posted on 03/17/2026 7:43:13 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

Hope he is feeling better.


8 posted on 03/17/2026 7:44:44 PM PDT by Churchillspirit (Pray for President Trump)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

“It’s a real shame VDH can’t go to Iran and tell us what is really happening on the ground.”

Actually I’d rather you go.

Hell, I’ll help you pack and offer to drive you to the airport.

Just say when.

L


9 posted on 03/17/2026 7:45:22 PM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: pterional

Clutch those pearls a little harder, and maybe the Orange man will hear you.

/sarc>

CC


10 posted on 03/17/2026 7:47:22 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

Why don’t you go to Iran you effing troll.


11 posted on 03/17/2026 7:48:46 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: pterional
Iran has 95 million people who are now unified against the United States.

That makes anything else you have to say worth ignoring.

12 posted on 03/17/2026 7:49:07 PM PDT by MileHi ((Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: pterional
Iran has 95 million people who are now unified against the United States.

You don't know what you are talking about.

13 posted on 03/17/2026 7:51:16 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: pterional

“””Vietnam and Afghanistan both lacked a significant air force, navy, or centralized military, yet we still lost”””

We could have won Vietnam if not for pearl clutchers like you in our government. Operation Linebacker 2 brought the Vietnamese to the peace table with unlimited naval and air bombardment. The key is unlimited air and naval bombardment.


14 posted on 03/17/2026 7:53:03 PM PDT by jimpick
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To: jimpick
We dropped 15 million tons of bombs on Vietnam , do you think that dropping 30 million would have won the war. s/
15 posted on 03/17/2026 7:57:47 PM PDT by pterional
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To: pterional

“Iran has 95 million people who are now unified against the United States.”

Yeah, sure, whatever you say. >rolls eyes<


16 posted on 03/17/2026 8:01:23 PM PDT by BB62
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To: bantam

He usually does. Smart is an understatement.


17 posted on 03/17/2026 8:01:39 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? On hold! Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🚫💉! 🇮🇱🙏! Winning currently!)
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To: pterional

There is some truth in what you say. Who would have bet on the Colonies in the Revolutionary War? That aside, a continued barrage of attacks until unconditional surrender remains a good approach.


18 posted on 03/17/2026 8:01:43 PM PDT by drwoof
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To: MileHi

We have 330 million and maybe half support this. I do.


19 posted on 03/17/2026 8:03:27 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? On hold! Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🚫💉! 🇮🇱🙏! Winning currently!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

If Iran’s military and terrorist capability is so utterly destroyed, then why can’t oil tankers get through the Strait of Hormuz without the risk of being blown up?


20 posted on 03/17/2026 8:05:50 PM PDT by Carl Vehse (Make Austin Texas Again)
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