The Iranian regime has killed Americans and fueled chaos across the Middle East for decades. But if the United States is going to war, the American people deserve a clear objective and a plan for what
Over 200 women in the United States have faced criminal charges in the past year for pregnancy‑related events, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or self‑managed abortion…while not a single man named in the Epstein files has been prosecuted in that same period, a contrast that exposes a stark and deeply troubling imbalance in how the U.S. injustice system allocates its attention and power.
Thank you for bringing this up Johan. Living inside the regime in texas is a very scary place for women right now, especially pregnant women. paxton is still trying to go after women and/or their out of state providers for receiving Mifepristone. He is so disgusting. How is he finding out about these private health matters?
Doesn’t it amaze you, they’re all pro-life until the child is born. That’s when these same people cut every program that would help that child. We cut healthcare for the working poor, education for all students and daycare.
Furthermore, I would be interested to know what is happening to the men who fathered these unborn children, are they going to jail with the mother?
Not in the American patriarchy, I can assure you. We can even get rich powerful men held accountable for the Epstein scandal.
I would suspect it is these men that are reporting to the government so they can get their $10,000 bounty. Yes, a bounty! And, I very much agree that they don’t care about these unwanted children. It is these mothers and children that will suffer and society including schools will need to step in and take care of them.
Emotionally I'm glad Iran was hit. Murdering protestors by the thousands is evil, pure and simple. But! I believe Trump hopes this action against Iran will make many people forget the numerous actions he's taken and continues to take against the American people. Don't forget January 6 and be prepared for massive election interference in the November 2026 midterms.
Johan - You are right. Considering that this administration cuts programs for women, children and others in need we all know by now how much they couldn’t care less about them. These “type” of people are only necessary to them when they need them to campaign on. They protect their own while ignoring the plight of others. Also, it’s not okay to bomb a girls school and a gymnasium center full of young women and then say “whoops” as if they are appalled by us being appalled by their actions. Republicans got their way with the horrendous SC decision and as usual they have no plan for anything that comes after. Just compounded misery. Epstein won’t go away until all of the truth is revealed and the perpetrators are held accountable. T started this war (both Epstein and Iran) but seems confused by peoples reactions of actually giving a damn.
May I please add:
We have lost jets again (this time from friendly fire instead of just falling off the ships) and we have lost men/women to another war that was started on false pretenses. I am proud to have one of my children serving in the Navy but I will never wish for a family to become a member of the Gold Star Families. A friend of mine who lost his child says that the thoughts and prayers are not enough of a payment for the empty hole that will never fill in. The casseroles stop coming after about a week after the funeral and the government ignores you as soon as the funeral and posthumous awards are served. Then there’s nothing but silence. I now (understandably) see the shell of my friend and it’s not a position anyone should be in when this is nothing more than a vanity project for a heartless administration(s) who can’t think past their own selfish ambition and doing as much CYA as possible. Sure, Iran’s leadership sucks - but so does ours.
Europe’s response to the US-Israel strikes on Iran tells you everything.
They’re not silent because they don’t have opinions, they’re silent the way you go silent when someone on the street pulls out a knife and starts talking to themselves (I’m from chicago, I’ve seen this happen). You don’t engage. You cross the street. You make sure your own house is locked.
The United States has become that person, and Europe is backing away with the quiet, deliberate calm of someone who has stopped expecting the situation to resolve itself.
The strategic irony is that this accelerates exactly what Russia feared most:
A Europe that stops outsourcing its security and starts building its own.
Every reckless U.S. move: launching a major combat operation against Iran while actively in nuclear negotiations with them, without allied consultation; is another argument for European defense autonomy. Russia bet on Western fragmentation. What it may get instead is a Europe that finally takes itself seriously, no longer anchored to an unpredictable partner.
The honest bottom line: America has spent the credibility it accumulated over 80 years in roughly 18 months. And Europe’s careful silence isn’t diplomatic caution…it’s what you sound like when you’ve stopped expecting someone to return to who they were.
Great analysis Johan. Not enough people see this war for what it really is and certainly not enough of the right people, who have some leverage to do something ( looking at you spineless politicians on both sides of the aisle) to stop it.
Thanks Johan. Yes - and not just Europe. On Feb 17, after Trump dissed the Supreme Court and screamed he'd tariff if he wanted to, Mark Carney said Canada would double its defense spending - adding C$80 billion over the next five years rather than buy from the US. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/17/canada-defense-reduce-us-dependency-00784190 . Brazil is another that could back away quietly.
This would be an incredibly strong ticket. Two highly ethical and thoughtful veterans able to critique current (lack of) military strategy, as well as the evil incoherence in almost every *other* area of our current government would be hard to vote against.
In addition to the service members killed, no one is talking about the 150+ innocent Iranian school girls! So disheartening that we can murder children and no one mentions it😢.
Thirteen years ago Trump REPEATEDLY declared that Obama would launch at attack against Iran in order to rescue his flagging political fortunes, something he never did. In fact, Trump was simply describing what HE would do in Obama's situation. It took a while, but once again he demonstrated himself to be a walking primer on "projection," forever accusing others of precisely what he is guilty of. It's his most reliable personality trait.
"...a walking primer on 'projection'" caught my eye as I thought it would make a great book title for an analysis not only of Trump but also of his minions and/or administration once this nightmare is over. It could be written like those magazines with two front covers, where you flip it over to read the other piece.
Yes, Jordan S, it's what he projected on Obama, and what he had learned from his pal Vlad. Best way to change a likely election loss into a big big win is to start a war. (Vlad's war was in Chechnya.) See documentary (CBC): Inside Putin’s Dark Rise to Power. https://youtu.be/leYExGi5iGo
Thank you for making the crisis more understandable! I am so sad for families going through this without even knowing what may be coming next! Please consider running for president but I believe you could set America on a path to unity! I have always voted Democratic but I do believe you are the man for that job!
I agree Adam is the man for the job, but want us to think outside the box for 2028 as these are abnormal times, and we have to save our Constitutional Republic. Therefore, I would love to see a split ticket (if it's possible), having a Democrat for VP like Mayor Pete or Governor Beshear as loudmouths won't garner votes from former Republicans nor a woman as I agree with Michelle Obama that America isn't ready for one yet.
I'm so praying for safety of our troops in the Middle East. If Trump had just kept the treaty that John Kerry brokered, the unstable Middle East is now on Trump. Not Biden, not Obama.
The whole thing indeed -- yet another Trump Goldberg contraption built with scotch tape, lies, and made-for-tee-vee shock-and-awe fireworks meant only to dazzle and bewilder.
They have not spent ten minutes thinking about what comes next.
Yesterday, POS and his minions were claiming that dropping bombs on a city wasn't a war as they were trying to get rid of the leadership. To them, putting soldiers on the ground is the only definition of a war. Killing students at a girls' school doesn't count. So, I guess 9/11 wasn't a declaration of war either. Odd, Bush and every R was claiming we were at war.
Thank you, Adam. That seems to be everyone’s take on this—what is the end game. So many theories, I still firmly believe that criminal is trying to deflect from the Trumpstein Files. And yes, I believe he has zero regard as to who it harms to protect himself—oh an I am sure there is some financial enrichment for his family as well.
An alternate hypothesis - success will be measured by the ability of Trump-Kushner to build their Gaza resorts without fear of Iranian supported terror (otherwise people won't show up). The Coward in Chief is using our military to clean the place up. "Icing on the cake" is the Epstein distraction.
Won't the tRUMP family see that their Middle East real estate dreams will be bombed? Maybe even tRUMP towers in the US? Oh that's right, Noem is keeping us safe and secure in America. Yeah right!
This is just another planned distraction by the Chief Child Molester. He has no clue what he is doing The SecDef is just an ass kisser so no good advice comes from the Pentagon. A war can not be won only from the air conditioned cockpits of aircraft or the dark rooms aboard ships and subs at see. Now the sleeper cells will awaken. Trump has a huge target on his back. “An eye for ab eye”
Hale - Nothing like conducting plans for a war outside a secure environment. Nothing but some black curtains hanging up in his Florida home (again). As Wire pointed out it couldn’t have been all that secure when his nursemaid (Weiss) wore a smartwatch to the meeting. Let alone the report about overhearing a group of men talking about the impending attack in a bar. Another person commented on how the “undesirables” were left at the White House like children who have to sit at the kiddies table while the “grownups” talk business elsewhere. And we are supposed to have confidence that this will go well?
And Kegsbreath swears this isn’t about regime change. When you kill a country’s leader, his daughter, his grandchild and son-in-law in their home, explain what that is. 🤷♂️
I wish you more directly said this war is wrong and we should back out as soon as possible. You ask that the goals be clearly stated. The clown car we have running the country is incapable of that and a significant objective has nothing to with Iran - it's distraction from Epstein. The plan is more power for Trump (and Netanyahu). Diplomacy, for all it's problems, would have been the better route.
Yes, the Iran regime is evil. That said it would be helpful to understand a little more history, namely the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected leader in 1953 by the US (and Brits) - thank you Pres. Eisenhower. Over what - oil. This instigated the series of tragic events. If the US conducted foreign policy that truly puts human rights first, the world would be more peaceful.
Thank you, Adam , for clarifying this current state of our country. When Hegseth says the American people shouldn’t know what’s coming, I agree, it raises concern. This was spoken by a child man who shared classified info with a many people over an app that wasn’t secure! It seems as though he’s playing at war,
All this not to mention another great distraction from the Epstein nitty gritty.
Over 200 women in the United States have faced criminal charges in the past year for pregnancy‑related events, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or self‑managed abortion…while not a single man named in the Epstein files has been prosecuted in that same period, a contrast that exposes a stark and deeply troubling imbalance in how the U.S. injustice system allocates its attention and power.
America 2026
Thank you for bringing this up Johan. Living inside the regime in texas is a very scary place for women right now, especially pregnant women. paxton is still trying to go after women and/or their out of state providers for receiving Mifepristone. He is so disgusting. How is he finding out about these private health matters?
Hi Cats ( I have two),
Doesn’t it amaze you, they’re all pro-life until the child is born. That’s when these same people cut every program that would help that child. We cut healthcare for the working poor, education for all students and daycare.
Furthermore, I would be interested to know what is happening to the men who fathered these unborn children, are they going to jail with the mother?
Not in the American patriarchy, I can assure you. We can even get rich powerful men held accountable for the Epstein scandal.
I would suspect it is these men that are reporting to the government so they can get their $10,000 bounty. Yes, a bounty! And, I very much agree that they don’t care about these unwanted children. It is these mothers and children that will suffer and society including schools will need to step in and take care of them.
Emotionally I'm glad Iran was hit. Murdering protestors by the thousands is evil, pure and simple. But! I believe Trump hopes this action against Iran will make many people forget the numerous actions he's taken and continues to take against the American people. Don't forget January 6 and be prepared for massive election interference in the November 2026 midterms.
Johan - You are right. Considering that this administration cuts programs for women, children and others in need we all know by now how much they couldn’t care less about them. These “type” of people are only necessary to them when they need them to campaign on. They protect their own while ignoring the plight of others. Also, it’s not okay to bomb a girls school and a gymnasium center full of young women and then say “whoops” as if they are appalled by us being appalled by their actions. Republicans got their way with the horrendous SC decision and as usual they have no plan for anything that comes after. Just compounded misery. Epstein won’t go away until all of the truth is revealed and the perpetrators are held accountable. T started this war (both Epstein and Iran) but seems confused by peoples reactions of actually giving a damn.
May I please add:
We have lost jets again (this time from friendly fire instead of just falling off the ships) and we have lost men/women to another war that was started on false pretenses. I am proud to have one of my children serving in the Navy but I will never wish for a family to become a member of the Gold Star Families. A friend of mine who lost his child says that the thoughts and prayers are not enough of a payment for the empty hole that will never fill in. The casseroles stop coming after about a week after the funeral and the government ignores you as soon as the funeral and posthumous awards are served. Then there’s nothing but silence. I now (understandably) see the shell of my friend and it’s not a position anyone should be in when this is nothing more than a vanity project for a heartless administration(s) who can’t think past their own selfish ambition and doing as much CYA as possible. Sure, Iran’s leadership sucks - but so does ours.
YES - this OUTRAGE MUST STOP!!!!!!!!!!
The Epstein docs are a tool of control for this regime.
They control the levers of power, they control who gets investigated. They control the DOJ, right?
So think about it like this, the Epstein files are a way for them to control the tech oligarchy that funds their regime.
Any wealthy man that speaks out against this regime, most likely they’re in the Epstein files, will get investigated by this regime.
What does that sound like to you?
I think they made a big mistake calling it operation epic fury. Easy to make fun of that name.
Operation Epstein bury
Operation Epstein blurry
Operation Epstein no see
Operation pedo panic pivot
Operation look over there
Operation diversion storm
Operation distract and deploy
Operation memory hole
Operation Epstein eclipse
Or you could call it an IED–– Improvised Epstein Distraction
Europe’s response to the US-Israel strikes on Iran tells you everything.
They’re not silent because they don’t have opinions, they’re silent the way you go silent when someone on the street pulls out a knife and starts talking to themselves (I’m from chicago, I’ve seen this happen). You don’t engage. You cross the street. You make sure your own house is locked.
The United States has become that person, and Europe is backing away with the quiet, deliberate calm of someone who has stopped expecting the situation to resolve itself.
The strategic irony is that this accelerates exactly what Russia feared most:
A Europe that stops outsourcing its security and starts building its own.
Every reckless U.S. move: launching a major combat operation against Iran while actively in nuclear negotiations with them, without allied consultation; is another argument for European defense autonomy. Russia bet on Western fragmentation. What it may get instead is a Europe that finally takes itself seriously, no longer anchored to an unpredictable partner.
The honest bottom line: America has spent the credibility it accumulated over 80 years in roughly 18 months. And Europe’s careful silence isn’t diplomatic caution…it’s what you sound like when you’ve stopped expecting someone to return to who they were.
Great analysis Johan. Not enough people see this war for what it really is and certainly not enough of the right people, who have some leverage to do something ( looking at you spineless politicians on both sides of the aisle) to stop it.
Thank you and completely agree.
Thanks Johan. Yes - and not just Europe. On Feb 17, after Trump dissed the Supreme Court and screamed he'd tariff if he wanted to, Mark Carney said Canada would double its defense spending - adding C$80 billion over the next five years rather than buy from the US. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/17/canada-defense-reduce-us-dependency-00784190 . Brazil is another that could back away quietly.
Definitely tracking and thank you.
If you are interested, take a look at my World Ahead 2026 series—I research geopolitics for a living.
It’s under the posts in my profile when you click on my name.
Thank you Johan. I appreciate your composure. All I can muster is What the F*ck??!!???!!!!!!!
please run for president! 🙏🏻🇺🇸
Mark Kelly needs to run for President.
I like Adam Kinzinger and Mark Kelly both as a candidate. I can think if about 5 others as well. We are very lucky to have good people to consider.
This would be an incredibly strong ticket. Two highly ethical and thoughtful veterans able to critique current (lack of) military strategy, as well as the evil incoherence in almost every *other* area of our current government would be hard to vote against.
Liz Cheney as well
Do you think he could win the nomination in this Dem Party?
In addition to the service members killed, no one is talking about the 150+ innocent Iranian school girls! So disheartening that we can murder children and no one mentions it😢.
Find Robert L. Arnold's Substack.
Many people have mentioned it.
Thirteen years ago Trump REPEATEDLY declared that Obama would launch at attack against Iran in order to rescue his flagging political fortunes, something he never did. In fact, Trump was simply describing what HE would do in Obama's situation. It took a while, but once again he demonstrated himself to be a walking primer on "projection," forever accusing others of precisely what he is guilty of. It's his most reliable personality trait.
"...a walking primer on 'projection'" caught my eye as I thought it would make a great book title for an analysis not only of Trump but also of his minions and/or administration once this nightmare is over. It could be written like those magazines with two front covers, where you flip it over to read the other piece.
Yes, Jordan S, it's what he projected on Obama, and what he had learned from his pal Vlad. Best way to change a likely election loss into a big big win is to start a war. (Vlad's war was in Chechnya.) See documentary (CBC): Inside Putin’s Dark Rise to Power. https://youtu.be/leYExGi5iGo
Thank you for making the crisis more understandable! I am so sad for families going through this without even knowing what may be coming next! Please consider running for president but I believe you could set America on a path to unity! I have always voted Democratic but I do believe you are the man for that job!
I agree Adam is the man for the job, but want us to think outside the box for 2028 as these are abnormal times, and we have to save our Constitutional Republic. Therefore, I would love to see a split ticket (if it's possible), having a Democrat for VP like Mayor Pete or Governor Beshear as loudmouths won't garner votes from former Republicans nor a woman as I agree with Michelle Obama that America isn't ready for one yet.
It’s hard to say who will emerge from this mess to capture our votes.
I'm so praying for safety of our troops in the Middle East. If Trump had just kept the treaty that John Kerry brokered, the unstable Middle East is now on Trump. Not Biden, not Obama.
The whole thing indeed -- yet another Trump Goldberg contraption built with scotch tape, lies, and made-for-tee-vee shock-and-awe fireworks meant only to dazzle and bewilder.
They have not spent ten minutes thinking about what comes next.
Yesterday, POS and his minions were claiming that dropping bombs on a city wasn't a war as they were trying to get rid of the leadership. To them, putting soldiers on the ground is the only definition of a war. Killing students at a girls' school doesn't count. So, I guess 9/11 wasn't a declaration of war either. Odd, Bush and every R was claiming we were at war.
Thank you, Adam. That seems to be everyone’s take on this—what is the end game. So many theories, I still firmly believe that criminal is trying to deflect from the Trumpstein Files. And yes, I believe he has zero regard as to who it harms to protect himself—oh an I am sure there is some financial enrichment for his family as well.
An alternate hypothesis - success will be measured by the ability of Trump-Kushner to build their Gaza resorts without fear of Iranian supported terror (otherwise people won't show up). The Coward in Chief is using our military to clean the place up. "Icing on the cake" is the Epstein distraction.
Won't the tRUMP family see that their Middle East real estate dreams will be bombed? Maybe even tRUMP towers in the US? Oh that's right, Noem is keeping us safe and secure in America. Yeah right!
This is just another planned distraction by the Chief Child Molester. He has no clue what he is doing The SecDef is just an ass kisser so no good advice comes from the Pentagon. A war can not be won only from the air conditioned cockpits of aircraft or the dark rooms aboard ships and subs at see. Now the sleeper cells will awaken. Trump has a huge target on his back. “An eye for ab eye”
Semper Fi
Hale - Nothing like conducting plans for a war outside a secure environment. Nothing but some black curtains hanging up in his Florida home (again). As Wire pointed out it couldn’t have been all that secure when his nursemaid (Weiss) wore a smartwatch to the meeting. Let alone the report about overhearing a group of men talking about the impending attack in a bar. Another person commented on how the “undesirables” were left at the White House like children who have to sit at the kiddies table while the “grownups” talk business elsewhere. And we are supposed to have confidence that this will go well?
And Kegsbreath swears this isn’t about regime change. When you kill a country’s leader, his daughter, his grandchild and son-in-law in their home, explain what that is. 🤷♂️
The only things he knows are at the bottom of a bottle.
I wish you more directly said this war is wrong and we should back out as soon as possible. You ask that the goals be clearly stated. The clown car we have running the country is incapable of that and a significant objective has nothing to with Iran - it's distraction from Epstein. The plan is more power for Trump (and Netanyahu). Diplomacy, for all it's problems, would have been the better route.
Yes, the Iran regime is evil. That said it would be helpful to understand a little more history, namely the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected leader in 1953 by the US (and Brits) - thank you Pres. Eisenhower. Over what - oil. This instigated the series of tragic events. If the US conducted foreign policy that truly puts human rights first, the world would be more peaceful.
With Donald “Bonespurs” Trump, Pete “Wino” Hegseth and Kristi “Dogslayer” Noem running the show, what could possibly go wrong?
Everything! 😝
Thank you, Adam , for clarifying this current state of our country. When Hegseth says the American people shouldn’t know what’s coming, I agree, it raises concern. This was spoken by a child man who shared classified info with a many people over an app that wasn’t secure! It seems as though he’s playing at war,
and excited about all the action!