I’m not sure if this Politico article is meant to slam Israel, since liberals usually take that line, or just information
Israel’s attack on Iran will no doubt set back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. But among many Middle East obsessives, there’s a growing sense that the Israeli operation has the potential to lead to something much bigger: toppling Iran’s Islamist government.
Yeah, I’ll say it. Regime change.
It’s a phrase that normally sends shudders through a Washington and a Middle East chastened by the U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s a concept that has long left President Donald Trump extremely wary; his administration has already put out word it played no role in the attack. And the Israeli government hasn’t declared that regime change is its official objective.
Still, as I’ve listened to Israeli comments on the strikes and learned about their scope, including assassinations of top Iranian military officials, I’ve been struck by how they’re not dismissing the possibility of regime change, either. When you put the moves in the context of Israeli military actions since fall 2023 — strikes that have ousted, helped oust or decimated multiple Iran-allied “regimes” in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria — it doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
Ousting, or at the very least severely weakening, Iran’s regime also is something Israel can arguably do on its own; it doesn’t necessarily need American help on the offensive end.
Would it be such a bad things to get the hardcores out of control of Iran? It would end quite a bit of funding for terrorism in the Middle East. Most of the other nations in the ME would have no problem with calming Iran down. It’s something that should have been done decades ago, and the West had a chance with the Green Uprising, but, the Obama admin blew that off.
In his many-layered initial remarks about the early Friday strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation against Iran “will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” He never limited the definition of that threat to Iran’s nuclear program.
That’s because the Israeli government sees Iran’s regime itself, not merely its nuclear and military infrastructure, as the real danger. Given that Iranian leaders, many of them fervent believers in extreme Shia Islamist ideology, have long threatened to annihilate Israel, that’s an unsurprising conclusion.
Well, there it is. A little underwhelming of an explanation. Iran wants Israel destroyed, so, what is the problem with Israel going after Iran? The question is, where does Israel stop? Destroying Iran’s nuclear ambitions is the clear target. Anything after that is a bonus.
Sure sounds like WWIII ramping up in the Middle East.
Anyway, the Islamist ‘leaders’ in Iran are the problem. In limited conversations with scientists here from Iran, the mass of Iranians disagree with the religious leaders and the religious state. One, a lovely surgeon in Chicago, had drinks with us and explained that the Islamists are different from everyday Muslims, like her.
Yes, regime change would be good for Iranians, the Middle East and the world.
Iran assumes the U.S. was in on the attack, and trump has added to the confusion saying we both had no idea while at the same time knowing fully what was to happen. Classic Don!!
Our optimist from the Ozarks wrote:
It’s also true that the Nazis got just 33% in their top vote-getting election, and the percentage of Germans who were official Nazi Party members was only about 12%. In the end, even the most dictatorial leaders depend upon public support to at least some extent.
The Germans fought strongly and bravely, not only while they were winning, but as they were losing as well, being slowly pushed back by the Red Army and the western Allies. By 1945, Germany was out of just about everything, yet the Germans fought as bravely as they could, street by street, house by house, as the Allies drove in.
The Israeli attacks were necessary, to try to stop the Iranian nuclear weapons program, but they will only harden the resolve of the Iranian people to stand by their government, whether they agree with it or not. We forced regime change on Japan and Germany, but only by devastating their countries, executing their leaders, and occupying them for years; Israel does not have the people to occupy Iran.
The distinguished Mr Dowd wrote:
Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that the United States was notified in advance of the attack, but you can bet your last shekel that, were the dummkopf from Delaware or the kook from California in the White House, that never would have happened.
That’s not classic Don that’s classic misdirection, it confused you didn’t it?
Why is it all of your latest comments make you sound like a communist A Mullah or a moron?
I assume you’ll be operating this weekend and celebrating the birth of the United States Army of which you once claimed membership.
CarolAnn,
We’re not sure you understand how damaged Mr trump is. He used to worry only about surviving the ‘news cycle’, now he just wants to ‘win’ the moment.
You typed:
You’re not making sense. Anyway, actual patriots will be at “No Kings” protesting trump’s burgeoning police state all around the United States today. There are several protest sites planned in the St Louis area alone, including one not 2 miles from our abode!! The trump regime will no doubt have Stasi-like infiltrants there.
The “No Kings” protests were planned to coincide with Mr trump’s birthday Kim Jong Adolf style goose stepping parade. Sieg heils!! Sieg heills!!
Rimjob performing another of his little clown skits.
Loser U.S. Rep. Eric Swallowall (D., Calif.) went so far as to declare, “If we don’t show up, Democracy dies.”
Like Rimjob, Swallowall hasn’t the faintest acquaintance with reality.
.
Bwaha! Lolgf!
In the end, regime change in Iran can only be accomplished by the Persian people themselves.
True.
Saddam Hussein, Bashar Assad, Mohamar Quadaffy, and Viktor Yanukovych could not be reached for comment.