A U.S./Israel regime change war in Iran is a fitting climax to the two decade-long U.S. foreign policy rumspringa. History will remember our decision to do Bibi’s most recent bidding in the Middle East as the final nail in America’s imperial coffin. Regime change in Iran was always central to Israel’s “Clean Break Strategy” (1996) and the Neocons’ “Greater Middle East” fever dream. However, even the dimmest know that Israel, a nation smaller than Vermont, cannot topple Iran, a country almost as big as Europe, without the direct involvement of their rich Uncle Sam. The bill for 25 years of U.S. foreign policy failures, arrogance and corruption is long past due. Today, America spends almost three times more ($877 billion) on defense than our closest rival (China $293 billion), and the whole world knows that we don’t win wars, much less stand behind our allies. Without clear and obtainable political objectives, the regime-change war in Iran will end like our military and political failures in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Ukraine. If nothing else, in this subliterate age, Trump and his cabinet of Fox News spokesmodels are uniquely qualified to cosplay statesmen, kowtow to Israel, and oversee the fall of America’s collapsing empire. “This time there really is nobody flying the plane,” wrote Hunter S. Thompson at the start of the American imperial experiment in 2004. “We are living in dangerously weird times now. Smart people just shrug and admit they’re dazed and confused. The only ones left with any confidence at all are the New Dumb. It’s the beginning of the end of our world as we knew it. Doom is the operative ethic.”
I'm with Whit above, and I blame the people of Minneapolis for this. Trump needs an excuse to cancel elections and impose a full police state before the midterms or before the 53 Epstein pages leak out. He hoped Minnesotans would riot against ICE and give him the excuse, but they were too disciplined and effective. So now he's praying for an Iranian 9-11. If he doesn't get that, a false flag operation will be his last, risky, desperate play. The military may be pursuing some foreign policy objective in Iran, but Trump isn't.
I love your writings Mike Brock and know they reflect a deep dive mind that expresses a unique world view. As soon as I can, after this Canadian tax season is done, I will become a paid subscriber. You are a jewel on Substack! ❤️
I freely admit I don't know enough about the law on US declarations of war to know whether the US can, under its own law, legally engage in military operations against an adversary that has formally declared war on it without itself having declared war on said adversary.
100% However this goes, and whether or not it's justified, is affective, or just a turkey shoot backed by Israel taking the opportunity to use Trump for their own ends, isn't the point. The point is, this is blatantly unconstitutional and illegal. Just like everything Trump does.
Beyond pleasing the Middle Eastern tyrants who have directly enriched the Trump family by billions of dollars, this attack may have the virtue of inspiring terrorist attacks within the US, rallying the American people behind a Trump declaration of martial law and total suspension of the Constitution. If Iran does not inspire such attacks, surely Trump's people are capable of false flag operations here -- "Trump's people" here broadly including such of his allies as the Proud Boys.
How we -- and the press -- respond to such a potential false flag domestic attack will, should it happen, prove critical.
My thoughts are similar to yours. I think Trump was goaded into this, because Bibi Netanyahu realizes that he has only three more years to be able to talk the administration into anything he wants to do.
Clearly, Trump thinks that like Venezuela, this will be a smash-and-grab quick success story. Sure, he laid the groundwork for preparing Americans for casualties. Still, I suspect that he will lob all sorts of military pyrotechnics at Iran and in a week or so, declare victory (which will be a laugh).
The interesting thing is that Israel will not agree to this delcaration of victory, they want to end the Iranian threat once and for all.
Lastly, one has to wonder what the position and messaging of all of Trumps' regional 'allies', regimes he and his cronies have enmeshed themselves with financially to literally billions of dollars. This is going to hurt Jared's bottom line me thinks.
Agreed. He'll just fling a few more missiles from the comfort and safety of Mar-a-Lago, award himself another peace prize, and call it victory. Operation Epic Distraction is a success. I'd be surprised if he put boots on the ground. Trump is like all bullies, he's only taking on enemies that have a very limited ability to strike back. Countries so weakened by decades of mismanagement that even Hesgeth can't bugger it up. Look at Greenland. The minute anyone put up an ounce of resistance, he chickened out. Back on topic... yes this is totally unconstitutional, and that's the real point here.
A U.S./Israel regime change war in Iran is a fitting climax to the two decade-long U.S. foreign policy rumspringa. History will remember our decision to do Bibi’s most recent bidding in the Middle East as the final nail in America’s imperial coffin. Regime change in Iran was always central to Israel’s “Clean Break Strategy” (1996) and the Neocons’ “Greater Middle East” fever dream. However, even the dimmest know that Israel, a nation smaller than Vermont, cannot topple Iran, a country almost as big as Europe, without the direct involvement of their rich Uncle Sam. The bill for 25 years of U.S. foreign policy failures, arrogance and corruption is long past due. Today, America spends almost three times more ($877 billion) on defense than our closest rival (China $293 billion), and the whole world knows that we don’t win wars, much less stand behind our allies. Without clear and obtainable political objectives, the regime-change war in Iran will end like our military and political failures in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Ukraine. If nothing else, in this subliterate age, Trump and his cabinet of Fox News spokesmodels are uniquely qualified to cosplay statesmen, kowtow to Israel, and oversee the fall of America’s collapsing empire. “This time there really is nobody flying the plane,” wrote Hunter S. Thompson at the start of the American imperial experiment in 2004. “We are living in dangerously weird times now. Smart people just shrug and admit they’re dazed and confused. The only ones left with any confidence at all are the New Dumb. It’s the beginning of the end of our world as we knew it. Doom is the operative ethic.”
Peter, it’s depressing beyond words!
“Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them!”
Do not give in to this fascist regime!
No, I never have. I've been calling bullshit on bullshit since I heard whispers of the Iraq invasion in 2002. Proud member of government watch lists since 2001: https://petermaguire.substack.com/p/subtle-tools-sour-milks-911-memorial
Numbers underwater? Time for a war!
An aside from your live substack. Please publish as much as you like, the more the merrier.
I'm with Whit above, and I blame the people of Minneapolis for this. Trump needs an excuse to cancel elections and impose a full police state before the midterms or before the 53 Epstein pages leak out. He hoped Minnesotans would riot against ICE and give him the excuse, but they were too disciplined and effective. So now he's praying for an Iranian 9-11. If he doesn't get that, a false flag operation will be his last, risky, desperate play. The military may be pursuing some foreign policy objective in Iran, but Trump isn't.
These remarks made about the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro apply here as well: https://bsky.app/profile/cristianfarias.com/post/3mbjlwkmb6c24
I love your writings Mike Brock and know they reflect a deep dive mind that expresses a unique world view. As soon as I can, after this Canadian tax season is done, I will become a paid subscriber. You are a jewel on Substack! ❤️
How is Iran dangerous to the US?
On another note, I suspect some of those conservatives will say "well Iran already declared war on us": https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2025/12/29/iran-leader-says-country-in-full-fledged-war-with-us-israel-europe/
I freely admit I don't know enough about the law on US declarations of war to know whether the US can, under its own law, legally engage in military operations against an adversary that has formally declared war on it without itself having declared war on said adversary.
100% However this goes, and whether or not it's justified, is affective, or just a turkey shoot backed by Israel taking the opportunity to use Trump for their own ends, isn't the point. The point is, this is blatantly unconstitutional and illegal. Just like everything Trump does.
Mike, that is a powerful essay. I completely agree and am sharing with my subscribers tomorrow. Thank you.
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260228-us-israeli-strike-on-iranian-school-kills-more-than-50-students-state-media-says
Current reports out of Iran indicate that a US bombing of a girls' elementary school has left at least 85 dead.
If true, this is a war crime.
Beyond pleasing the Middle Eastern tyrants who have directly enriched the Trump family by billions of dollars, this attack may have the virtue of inspiring terrorist attacks within the US, rallying the American people behind a Trump declaration of martial law and total suspension of the Constitution. If Iran does not inspire such attacks, surely Trump's people are capable of false flag operations here -- "Trump's people" here broadly including such of his allies as the Proud Boys.
How we -- and the press -- respond to such a potential false flag domestic attack will, should it happen, prove critical.
My thoughts are similar to yours. I think Trump was goaded into this, because Bibi Netanyahu realizes that he has only three more years to be able to talk the administration into anything he wants to do.
Clearly, Trump thinks that like Venezuela, this will be a smash-and-grab quick success story. Sure, he laid the groundwork for preparing Americans for casualties. Still, I suspect that he will lob all sorts of military pyrotechnics at Iran and in a week or so, declare victory (which will be a laugh).
The interesting thing is that Israel will not agree to this delcaration of victory, they want to end the Iranian threat once and for all.
Lastly, one has to wonder what the position and messaging of all of Trumps' regional 'allies', regimes he and his cronies have enmeshed themselves with financially to literally billions of dollars. This is going to hurt Jared's bottom line me thinks.
Agreed. He'll just fling a few more missiles from the comfort and safety of Mar-a-Lago, award himself another peace prize, and call it victory. Operation Epic Distraction is a success. I'd be surprised if he put boots on the ground. Trump is like all bullies, he's only taking on enemies that have a very limited ability to strike back. Countries so weakened by decades of mismanagement that even Hesgeth can't bugger it up. Look at Greenland. The minute anyone put up an ounce of resistance, he chickened out. Back on topic... yes this is totally unconstitutional, and that's the real point here.
Thank you, Mike, for supporting our Republic!
Few people do that nowadays!
Even fewer people support our Constitution, including the six (6) fascist Republican members of the Roberts Court!
Cosign.