Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 03/31/2026 6:35:36 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Military victories are decided on the battlefield—but in modern America, they are too often lost in the politics that follow.
The rare quick and total victory over an enemy at little cost often ensures unquestioned political support in modern consensual societies.
In most cases, however, especially in the Western world, ongoing military success or failure is adjudicated through the lens of politics—in a way sometimes at odds with the reality of the battlefield.
Politicians answer to the people. The best do not drift with the prevailing winds. On the other hand, all must face elections, secure legislative support, and ultimately explain to voters the human and financial costs of a war and whether it was existential or optional—and, in the latter case, whether it was worth the costs.
By any purely military standard, in the current month-long war, Iran has been devastated by the combined air forces of the U.S. and Israel. Both nations achieved air supremacy early on. Iran has no air force or air defenses left. Its major warships are sunk. It has lost the ability to supply its terroristic appendages by air or sea. It has difficulty importing weapons from abroad. The Iranian military and the theocratic chain of command have been devastated. Iran’s population is restive, held in check only by the sheer level of murder carried out by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on a regular basis.
So far, the U.S. military has suffered 13 fatalities and perhaps 300 wounded. Every life is dear. But given the horrific costs of prior fighting in the Middle East, the military has, in amazing fashion, curbed American losses.
If the war lasts the predicted six to eight weeks, it will likely cost between $40 and $50 billion in direct expenditures, a substantial but not excessive amount as conflicts go.
(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
VDH ping
I would add wealth to that.
I just saw a guy whining about billionaires on Fox News Channel.
A relatively consistent principle on the Left, in the United States, is the maxim that the Constitution is outdated. Ways to “work around” the Constitution must be found. Any limits on government are bad when the Left is in power, and good when they are not in power.
This war never had the burst of support that most typically do in the “rally ‘round the flag” moment.
The messaging ever since the first wave of bombing has been scattered at best and has resulted in a diminution of sentiment.
The numero uno "work around" by which to consolidate unaccountable regulatory power with which to bless winners and cull losers has been treaty law.
The messaging ever since the first wave of bombing has been scattered at best and has resulted in a diminution of sentiment.
In addition, the isolationist, anti-Semetic voices have seen the USA betrayed from within (mostly by the old, dominant, Progressive media mentioned above), they find it easy to be against any military action, no matte how necessary or useful.
They seem to want to wait for a mushroom cloud over an American city before any war is justified.
Tojo thought Americans would tire of war, and demand peace.
He was wrong.
Ho Chi Minh thought Americans would tire of war, and demand peace.
He was right.
The current Iran conflict looks more like the second example above. So let’s hope Trump can conclusively wrap things up, and before the November elections.
VDH:
Israel and the U.S. have many shared agendas—not all, but many—and weakening Iran in this operation is certainly at the top of their shared list. We realize that because we are powerful and at a distance from Iran, while Israel is nearer and more vulnerable, it will, from time to time, have different views of and solutions to Iran’s existential threats and must operate for its own national self-interest, as we do for our own.
But when our national interests dovetail—no terrorist entity has killed more Americans in the last half-century than has Iran—then we are proud and lucky to partner with Israel, a democracy and free society with a formidable record of military competency and a larger air force than any of our NATO partners—including Turkey, France, the UK, and Germany.
Media aside, the White House played the imminent threat card repeatedly without ever bothering to substantiate it.
I remember the satellite shots Ambassador Stevenson showed the UN in the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember the yellow cake testimony of Colin Powell.
There has been nada, nothing, and zero shared with the American public by this Administration which would justify the war.
Remember the calls for the Iranian people to rise up? I do, but that lasted about a half hour.
And now the central drama has become dealing with the very predictable closing of the Strait of Hormuz. Only weeks into this war are we actually bringing a special force (albeit a very limited one) into theater.
I’m neither anti-Semitic nor isolationist, but that doesn’t mean that our government gets a free pass on overseas adventures, including the current, indecisive one that, casualties aside, will require $200 billion in funding.
The American Left and Deep State Politicians, as well as the College Faculty and Media are part of the 5th Column for the Iranian War Effort. They always have been.
The Obama/NATO 2011 seven-month bombing of Libya achieved nothing but chaos and death—and led to the Benghazi catastrophe. It entailed 26,000 bombing sorties.
Yet the constitutional lawyer Obama never asked Congress for any authorization for his months-long bombing war, and he didn’t do so either for his drone/targeted assassination war over the Pakistani–Afghan border.
our government gets a free pass on overseas adventures
Some obvious points:
Iran has been at war with the United States for about 47 years.
Iran has repeatedly stated they wish for the United States to be destroyed.
Iran has repeatedly failed to live up to previous agreements.
Iran has been the chief sponsor of terrorism in the world, for decades.
An nuclear armed Iran would have the ability to make good on its threats and anti- Western Civilization ideology by more than a couple of magnitudes of power.
When Iran repeatedly, over decades, shouts “Death to America” and celebrates that chant, we should take it seriously.
A very well thought out argument
Doesn’t Matter
Trump promised no new wars in the Middle East (as well as lower gas prices) when he ran in 2024. So most Americans will believe he lied, which he did.
Liberals have been at war with America for 109 years
Iran has repeatedly stated they wish for the United States to be destroyed.
So have Liberals and about 100 other countries
Iran has repeatedly failed to live up to previous agreements.
Liberals lie about everything
Iran has been the chief sponsor of terrorism in the world, for decades.
So have Liberals, ever hear of ANTIFA
An nuclear armed Iran would have the ability to make good on its threats and anti- Western Civilization ideology by more than a couple of magnitudes of power.
Iran, weeks from getting nukes since 1992
When Iran repeatedly, over decades, shouts “Death to America” and celebrates that chant, we should take it seriously.
When Liberals repeatedly shout much worse we should take it more seriously. Instead, we pretty much handed them the mid terms, just so we can replace one set of Muslims who hate us, with another that hate us less and of course keep the $$ flowing from an so called allies' pac.
Trump promised no new wars in the Middle East (as well as lower gas prices) when he ran in 2024. So most Americans will believe he lied, which he did.
Second, gas prices went down. Now they are up, probably temporarily. I suspect they will be way down by the mid-terms.
I am not convinced “Trump lied”. He uses equivocal and ambiguous language, hyperbolic at times. His announcements can be interpreted many ways. I doubt most Americans will believe he lied. If a fair amount do, they will consider it par for the course for a politician.
President Trump will be judged by the results he produces.
I disagree with your interpretations. There is no need to forget Iran because of the domestic threats we face. Both need to be dealt with. Dealing with one, decisively, makes it easier to deal with the other.
“Iran, weeks from getting nukes since 1992”
There have been many interventions to prevent Iran from getting nukes over the last 34 years. Unfortunately, the Obama/Biden administrations did all they could to aid the Iranians in their nuclear quest.
What constitutes an imminent threat?
Wait until the mullahs have long range ICBMs? We know they have intermediate range missiles that can hit much of Europe.
I’ll go with PDJT’s goals to destroy Iran’s military and navy, prevent nukes and render Iran incapable of exporting terrorism.
But hey, if you wish to see the mullahs continue to threaten civilization, have at it.
All I read was the first paragraph and knew it was you. Broken record.
Didn’t even waste my time with the rest of your screed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.