Tag: Iran

Trump Blinked

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

I am a supporter of Trump, however he just made the two biggest mistakes he will regret.  With all his talk and bluster and egomania he portrays, he blinked.  Israel was two weeks away from total victory in Gaza, ceasefire, Hamas is rebuilding as we speak,  Never did lay down their arms.  Still recruiting, the “Board of Peace” is a joke.  Typical diplomacy.

Here we are in Iran, two weeks away from total victory, another pause.  Iran now feels imbolden, they will hunker down and rebuild.  China and Russia are more than ready to send all the weaponry they need.  

Just minutes after the so-called halt to hostilities, Iran sent multiple missiles into Israel.  Attack also in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.  

It has begun, the re-supply:

China and Russia at the UN announced their intention to provide extensive aid to Iran within the next 24 hours, claiming that it is assistance for the country’s reconstruction and not for the arms industry.

However, according to reports in the Russian media, China has already sent 3 cargo ships carrying weapons, while Russian military aid planes are currently on their way to Isfahan. And military aid planes from Belarus are on their way to Tehran!

Trump’s 15 demands to Iran:

 1. Dismantle all major nuclear facilities

 2. End all uranium enrichment on Iranian soil

 3. Transfer enriched uranium stockpiles out of Iran

 4. Accept intrusive international inspections everywhere

 5. Permanently renounce any nuclear weapons pathway

 6. Suspend ballistic missile development

 7. Stop production of long-range missiles

 8. End drone transfers and military exports to proxies

 9. Cut support to Hezbollah

 10. Cut support to Hamas

 11. Cut support to Iraqi Shiite militias and proxy groups

 12. End weapons transfers to the Houthis

 13. Fully reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz

 14. Stop threatening regional shipping and Gulf states

 15. Accept a broader regional de-escalation framework, including limits on military escalation with Israel

Iran’s 10 demands to Trump:

 1. A binding guarantee that the U.S. and its allies will not strike Iran again

 2. A permanent end to hostilities, not just a temporary ceasefire

 3. An end to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon

 4. Full lifting of U.S. sanctions

 5. Protection for Iran’s regional proxies and allied militias

 6. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian conditions

 7. A transit fee reportedly around $2 million per ship, shared with Oman

 8. Compensation or reconstruction support for war damage inside Iran

 9. Recognition of Iran’s regional security interests

 10. A broader framework for long-term negotiations without immediate surrender of core strategic capabilities

⸻

Insanity is expecting peace from radicals.  If this is signed it just made the US a laughingstock in the world community.  

This may be the last straw for me.  Please let a grownup talk some sense into the President.

Rescue

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

⚡ 48 HOURS IN HELL — THE RESCUE THAT DEFIED A NATION ⚡

There are missions that live in briefings…
And then there are missions that become legend.

This was the latter.

A 48-hour window where time stopped meaning anything. Where survival came down to instinct, training, and sheer refusal to be captured. Where the line between life and death was measured in seconds, altitude, and silence.

🔥 APRIL 3 — IMPACT AT MACH SPEED

It starts violently.

An F-15E Strike Eagle, deep over southwestern Iran, is engaged.
No warning long enough to react. No margin to escape.

A high-speed missile—estimated Mach 2.8—closes the distance.
Not a direct hit. Worse.

💥 Proximity fuse detonation.

The blast tears through the airframe, shredding systems, ripping control authority apart. The jet is no longer a machine—it’s debris still moving forward.

Two men. One decision.

EJECT.

🪂 HOUR 0 — SEPARATION

Both crew punch out into hostile territory.

The pilot lands closer to friendly reach and is recovered quickly.

The Weapon Systems Officer (WSO)… drifts farther.

Alone. Silent. Invisible.

Enemy territory in every direction.

No support. No cover. No guarantee.

🌑 HOURS 1–12 — THE HUNT BEGINS

The moment boots hit the ground, the clock starts ticking.

The WSO moves immediately—no hesitation.
Training takes over. Survival becomes rhythm.

But Iran reacts fast.

🚨 IRGC units deploy within hours.
🚨 Search grids expand.
🚨 Thousands of civilians mobilized.

This isn’t just a search.

It’s a manhunt across an entire region.

Every ridge, every road, every village becomes a risk.

The WSO doesn’t run randomly.
He thinks, calculates, disappears.

⛰️ HOURS 12–24 — THE CLIMB

Fatigue sets in. Hydration drops. Adrenaline burns out.

Still… he climbs.

A brutal ascent to a 7,000-foot ridge—not for escape, but for survival.

Why climb?

Because elevation means:

Fewer patrol routes

Reduced civilian presence

Better observation

Harder capture

Below him, the situation escalates.

💣 US forces crater key roads to slow IRGC reinforcement.
Every destroyed route buys minutes.
Every minute keeps him free.

💥 HOURS 24–36 — THE COST RISES

Rescue operations intensify… and so does resistance.

An A-10 Warthog enters the fight—low, lethal, built for chaos.

But the sky is no longer safe.

🚀 Chinese MANPADS strike.
The A-10 goes down.

Now it’s not one survivor.

It’s more.

And the risk multiplies.

Meanwhile:

🚁 Two HH-60W rescue helicopters are hit.

These are not just aircraft.
They are lifelines.

And now even the lifelines are under fire.

🌌 HOURS 36–48 — THE NIGHT PUSH

There is only one option left:

🌑 Full-scale nighttime extraction.

No half-measures. No delays.

Everything moves under darkness:

Special operations teams

Rescue helicopters

Air cover layered above

The WSO holds position.
No lights. No signals beyond what’s necessary.

Every sound could betray him.
Every second could end it.

Then… movement.

Then… contact.

Then… confirmation.

🚁 APRIL 5 — EXTRACTION

In the early hours before dawn…

💬 “Package secured.”

The WSO is pulled out.

Alive.

Exhausted. Hunted. But unbroken.

🛡️ THE RESULT

Against overwhelming odds:

3 airmen

2 downed aircraft

48 hours behind enemy lines

➡️ All recovered. All alive. All out.

📊 THE BIGGER PICTURE

This wasn’t an isolated moment.

It unfolded within a wider conflict that has already seen:

✈️ 13,000 combat sorties flown

That number tells its own story—
Of scale. Of intensity. Of a sky that never truly sleeps.

⚖️ WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS

This mission wasn’t just about rescue.

It was about:

Trust between crew and command

Precision under pressure

The unspoken promise: no one gets left behind

In modern warfare, technology matters.
Speed matters. Firepower matters.

But in the end…

It still comes down to a single human being
moving through darkness,
choosing not to quit.

🔥 48 hours. One survivor. A nation searching. A team that refused to fail. 🔥

I am so proud to call myself an American. The strength and professionalism of our military is off the charts. God Bless the fighting men and women of our armed forces. God Bless the United States of America. Make America Godly Again! Rh

Update:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Iran

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Rubio was on Fox talking about NATO, state of the war and mostly Iran.

“This is a regime led by people who believe it is their calling and their purpose in life to usher in the end of the world.

Araghchi is a liar.

This guy was on television… denying that Iran had any missiles beyond a certain range — and then they fired two of them.

They were aiming to become the next North Korea — not a North Korea run by a regime that is troublesome and hard to understand, but an Iran run by radical Shia clerics with intercontinental missiles.

We can see the finish line. It’s not today or tomorrow, but it’s coming”.

This is interesting and a conversation worth having.

Secretary Rubio says “since NATO isn’t allowing the U.S. to use their bases then we have to ask, “Why are we in NATO?”

Rubio says the U.S. is “going to have to reexamine the value of NATO and that alliance for our country.”

IMO the elites thought they were on their way to a new world order just a couple of years ago.  Not sure this is what they had in mind.  Europe devastated and worthless, Europe-lite (Canada) worthless and a new Middle East without Iran as the bully with no teeth.  Rubio is the rock star of this administration, and worthy of my apologies over concern about him.  After living in Florida for 10 years, I never thought thought he was like this.  Some people rise to the occasion, Rubio is acting Presidential, with strength but with some tact which is much needed in the White House.  At the present time he is my pick and favorite to continue the freedom march the U.S. has begun under Trump.  America is back, baby!  Rh

Commentary below on what Trump might say tonight in his speech from the White House. From Amit Sega’s newsletter “It’s Noon In Israel”.  Highly recommend you check him out, great updates from inside Israel.

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, Donald Trump is set to deliver an “important update on Iran.” At 4 a.m. Israel time, most Israelis, including the leadership, will be away from their phones, either asleep or still celebrating the first night of Passover. When they eventually wake or finish the Passover meal and check their updates, I am certain they will not be blindsided by the announcement.

Most likely, Trump announces that despite the great victories already achieved, more is required to finish off the Islamic Republic. He confirms that he is still open to a diplomatic settlement, but nothing has manifested so far, and critical infrastructure remains a target. If so, that would suggest he is sticking to the original plan: another two to three weeks of strikes before transitioning to the protest phase.

Least likely, he announces a unilateral end to the war. The uranium is yet to be retrieved or more deeply buried beneath Isfahan; Kharg is still in Iranian hands, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Any one of these facts would cast a shadow on Trump’s declaration of victory; all three make victory difficult to make out. Yet even if Trump chooses to declare victory regardless, Israel more broadly would be surprised, but the leadership would not. As a senior intelligence source told me last week, Israel is prepared for this outcome and still believes it can pull out a win if U.S. forces remain in the region during the protest phase.

Part of his speech will certainly be devoted to calming oil markets. Trump’s rhetoric may have a chaotic tone, but there is a clear rhythm to his comments, balancing between explosive threats and assurances that the war is almost over. So far, he has succeeded. If I had asked an expert at the outset of the war what prices would look like if barely any oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz for almost a month, $100 would be far from the estimate. Since markets are open for two more days, I would imagine Trump’s dovish side will be present tonight.

After 33 days of the closest cooperation in the histories of both countries, I think we can say with confidence that no matter how the media reacts to Trump’s comments tonight, Israel will not be surprised.

Bridge To Ezekiel 38 War

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

The military action we see now in the Middle East is not leading to the Ezekiel 38 war.  That war is with Russia, Turkey, and Iran with  other Muslim nations forming a coalition to attack Israel at a time of relative peace and security.  This war is doing something no other military war or action has done.  Realignment in the Gulf region.

Deterrents and consolidations.  The US, along with Israel is taking its rightful place as the moral force to deter forces of evil.  Iran has raged a proxy war on Israel for years, and on America for 47 years ever since the taking of the Embassy in Tehran.  The radical Ayatollahs have spewed hatred and death to Israel and the US.  Calling us both tools of Satan.  That is the pot calling the kettle black

A shift is happening, MBS (Muhammad Bin Salim) Saudi  Arabia’s crown prince has publicly called for Trump to not stop until Iran is defeated. UAE has espoused similar assertions.  Terror proxies  have been deterred, new alliances have been made and old partners are showing their cowardness.  NATO may well be finished as Trump declares he is watching and taking notes. Trump made the statement recently that one European PM told him “this is not our war”, to which Trump replied “neither is Ukraine our war”.  Point counter point.  Russia is lurking.

War is chaotic and causes confusion, but it ultimately brings peace and realignment.  Arab neighbors are forgetting old tribal grudges and looking toward a new stability and prosperity in the Gulf region.  Netanyahu has been pushing the idea of a pipeline from Saudi Arabia across Israel to export oil, making piracy and closure of the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz a mute point.  Seems MBS may be ready to explore that plan.  Funny how the enemy of your enemy becomes your friend.  Arabs are finding out Israel is not the problem. With new alliances, comes new prosperity and that is good for the entire region.  

Sometimes it takes a war to clear out the rats as they scurry to find protection.  War is chaos.  The military is designed to bring fury on the enemy, but the aftermath could, hopefully bring old combatants together. Let’s pray for that.  God is able to bring change and new directions out of the fog of war aftermath.  After all He created the world out of emptiness, nothing is impossible.  Could this conflict bring about the peace and security that Israel craves and set the stage for Ezekiel 38??  

IMO the next war in the Middle East will likely be the Ezekiel 38 war.  The Russia, Turkey & Iran coalition will attempt to move on Israel as the world looks on and hopes for diplomatic means to end the next crisis in the Middle East.  But this time it isn’t a nation, but Almighty God who crushes the Gog and Magog alliance with large hailstones from heaven!  It all makes sense to me. Prophecy given, prophecy fulfilled.  This conflict isn’t the big one, but most likely the next one will be Ezekiel 38.  

Look up your redemption draws near.  Maranatha! Rh

*Update* Spain, Italy, UK, France and Poland have told the US they will not be a part of any help when it comes to the conflict in Iran.  Including the strait of Hormuz.  NATO is falling apart right before our eyes.  They seem very cocky for a bunch of cowards who run to America for help every time Putin sneezes in their direction.  Rh

Boot Prints on Kharg Island??

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

To the casual observer of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran it seems we are on the verge of destroying Iran and declaring total victory.  In one sense that is a factual statement.  On the other hand there are still outstanding objectives.  

This is the third time I have seen a major escalation of the military in the Middle East.  I remember Bush Sr. stopping troops on their way to Baghdad.  Bush Jr. wanted to spread democracy in the Middle East.  Air superiority is wonderful, but to really conquer a country in today’s stealth environment of terror proxies, it will probably take boots on the ground.

After being of draft age during Viet Nam, that statement of ground troops is chilling to me.  Limited in and out scenarios work best for the American people, and let’s be real, all war and actions militarily need the support of the citizens back home.  Every politician looks at polls and the ever changing attitudes of the American people.

With that being said I fully expect troops to be deployed over Kharg Island, and also possible in Isfahan where the supposed nuclear material was secretly stashed by Iran.  Some at 60% enrichment, far above any civilian use. When you throw in the Strait of Hormuz, vitally important, these are the choke points that cause Iran to think they can hold out.  remember as Trump has said, “they are great negotiators”.  Their great negotiation positions come from not caring about their people and the willingness to sacrifice everything to hang on to power. Plus they lie and stall while waiting out their adversaries.

With all that said, we must finish the job or this happens again.  Do what it takes to effect regime change and give the Iranians a chance at a real life.  Ground troops are all that I foresee to be the answer.  Holding Kharg Island and clearing the Strait, makes Iran’s ability to hang on dissipate quickly.

One final note: expect to see something dramatic, (ground troops?) after the present halt for negotiations.  We aren’t ready yet to go in, but to me, knowing I am not a military expert or one who served, but one that follows the experts who analyze, it seems to be the likely scenario.

My prayer is that this can be done without boots on the ground and that negotiations would cause Iran to give up.  Well the devil never gives up, neither does his allies.  Iran is noted for their lying and the ability to camouflage their intentions.  They are master negotiators only because the western mind doesn’t understand their tribal religious mindset.  Western governments have aided and abetted Iran too long, including our previous Presidents.  Obama and Biden left a total mess for Trump.  Probably their intention.  

We are at a tipping point.  America’s future and the future of regional geopolitics in the Middle East rely on what happens next. I can’t wait to see how this all plays out. What a time to be alive.  

We are “Living in Prophetic Times”.  Pray for our troops and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Maranatha!  Rh

A few key takeaways from earlier today from President Trump and his team:

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

▪️ We have destroyed Iran’s military capabilities in recent weeks.

▪️ This is a display of power and capabilities the world has never seen.

▪️ We are crushing their missiles and their production capabilities-their navy is gone. We are eliminating close to 90% of their launchers.

▪️ We have destroyed most of the missile and drone factories.

▪️ Iran is begging to make a deal-not me.

▪️ They are poor fighters but good negotiators.

▪️ I don’t know if we’ll reach a deal.

▪️ The Iranians are sick, and they had a plan to take over the entire Middle East.

▪️ Their navy has been sunk, their air force is gone, and all of their air defense capabilities are gone.

▪️ These Iranians are sick, even satanic people.

▪️ Britain has disappointed me greatly-so has NATO.

▪️ We would come to NATO’s aid-they are not coming to ours.

▪️ Now they all want to help-they should have come before the war, not now.

▪️ I told them, “Thank you very much, but it’s not necessary.”

▪️ Britain’s aircraft carriers are toys compared to what we have.

▪️ 154 Iranian ships are now at the bottom of the sea.

▪️ Iran has been defeated. There is no way for them to recover from this. They now have an opportunity to make a deal.

▪️ We’ll see if I can make the right deal-open the Strait of Hormuz.

▪️ They have an opportunity to permanently give up their nuclear ambitions.

▪️ Iran must reach an agreement or face continued American attacks.

▪️ As far as Iran is concerned-we will continue doing what we are doing.

▪️ This war is a test for NATO-the United States will remember this.

▪️ The Supreme Leader is no longer with us. It’s very sad-we should have prevented him from blowing up the world.

▪️ These people will kill as many Americans as they can when they have the opportunity, and if they obtain nuclear weapons, they could kill millions of Americans. That is a risk that should not be allowed to continue as long as we have this president. – Marco Rubio

▪️ We’ll see where things are going-whether we can convince Iran that there is no better alternative than a deal. – Steve Witkoff

▪️ There are strong signs that a deal can be reached. – Steve Witkoff

▪️ Here is a fact you’re not hearing on your networks: many of the Iranian factories and military bases we are systematically destroying were funded by piles of American cash that Barack Obama flew into Tehran. – Pete Hegseth

▪️ We welcome a deal, and we have the ultimate dealmaker to achieve it-but in the meantime, as I said yesterday, the Department of War will continue negotiating with bombs. – Pete Hegseth

▪️ Reporter: “Will you go in and take the uranium?”

▪️ Answer: “Let’s just say-whether yes or no-why would you think I’d answer that? It’s a ridiculous question. It’s not like I’m going to tell you ‘tomorrow at 3.’”

▪️ When I heard the German Chancellor say, “This is not our war,” I respond: “Ukraine is not our war.”

▪️ I’m considering canceling the federal fuel excise tax.

HOLY SMOKES!! Sec. Marco Rubio just delivered a mic drop moment in the Cabinet room

“What I’m talking about is not the people of Iran. The people that run this country are RADICAL, SHIA CLERICS. These are religious FANATICS. Look what they are doing now at their WEAKEST point!”

“This is the weakest Iran has ever been, and look at what they’re doing. They’re attacking embassies. They’re attacking hotels. Imagine what these people would do if they had a nuclear weapon!”

“That is an unacceptable risk for the world. By the way, the president’s not just doing a favor to the United States and to our people. This is for the world!”

“He defined very clearly on the first night of this operation what the goal was. We were going to destroy Iran’s navy, and that is happening. We were going to, if it hasn’t already happened, I’ll let Pete speak to the specifics of it, we were going to destroy their missile launching capabilities.”

“We’re well on our way to achieving that goal. We were going to destroy the factory so they couldn’t make more missiles and more drones. And that is moving forward.”

“Every single objective the president clearly laid out on the first night of this operation is being effectuated.”

“For 47 YEARS, Iran has been killing Americans and attacking Americans across this planet. And other presidents had an opportunity to DO something about it, and they all warned about how Iran was dangerous, but they refused to act.”

“And THIS president’s not someone that’s going to refuse to act. He’s not going to leave a danger like this in place. He’s going to address it, and that is what he is doing.”

You make us PROUD, MARCO 🇺🇸

WOW! Truth Bomb

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Rare moment of truth at the UN from brave Kuwaiti dissident Jasem Aljuraid, invited by UN Watch:

Mr. Chair,

I heard the term “colonizers.” But who are the real colonizers? A Jewish Kingdom ruled in Judea for a thousand years. We, the Arabs, took this land.

Who Arabized Egyptians, Phoenicians, Persians and Amazighs? It was us, the Arabs.

So why does the council enshrine a lie by keeping a permanent agenda item on Palestine, while ignoring the indigenous heart of Israel returning home?

Let us be clear about who is actually defending our sovereignty. Today, Israel is a fighter for peaceful nations, freeing Gaza from Hamas and saving Iranians from the Islamic Republic.

What Israel is doing to the IRGC — stopping a genocidal regime from acquiring nuclear weapons — is a gift to humanity.

There are 57 Islamic countries and only one Jewish state, Israel. Despite the ongoing hateful desire to eliminate it, Israel has not only survived, it has thrived.

I don’t believe in miracles, but this is one.

So I ask the UN: when will you end the ritual of condemning Israel?

Is it not time, instead, to learn from Israel? How to defeat terror, defend free societies, and pursue peace.

Thank you.

(UN Watch)

I hope he survives, however there are more Arab states that privately understand this reality. Iran is not a friend of anyone except terror groups. Saudi Arabia and other somewhat “moderate” states understand Israel has no intention in their destruction. They do fear Iran as witnessed by their missile and drone attacks. Rh

Trump Statement

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

President Trump:

I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East. Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

President Donald J. Trump

Interesting, who blinks first?  Obviously Iran needs a deal regardless of what they may put out for public consumption.  Trump has declared to destroy oil infrastructure soon.  Don’t think Trump is bluffing, but obviously complete and total surrender with the US getting all the processed uranium out of Iran might just stop this war.  America has to make sure Iran is defeated and can not develop more nuclear material or work on ballistic missiles.  That should be a given.

Following Trump’s announcement of talks, markets reacted immediately. Oil prices dropped by 8%, but futures rose by 2-3%.

The back and forth continues. Please Trump don’t stop until you have all the objectives accomplished,  Don’t Bush this wart, by stopping too soon and have issues in the future!

  • Fars News Agency quotes an Iranian source: “There are no direct or indirect negotiations with Trump. He backed down after hearing our threats.”  Not sure if true or not, but Iran is notorious for lying about talks and negotiations.  So take it for what it is.
  • Reuters: Washington updated Israel on its talks with Tehran, and Israel is likely expected to follow the US and suspend any attacks on power plants and energy infrastructure in Iran.

Trump on Iran

  • “Well, they’re gonna have to get themselves better public relations people. We’ve had very strong talks. Mr Witkoff and Kushner had them. They went perfectly.” – Trump on Iran denying that any talks happened.
  • Trump: “If we have a deal with Iran, we will go down to the nuclear facilities and take the uranium ourselves”. 
  • We want no enrichment, and we also want the enriched uranium.
  • If this happens, it is a great start for Iran to build itself back.
  • We want the nuclear dust. We’re going to want that, and I think we’re going to get that. 
  • We’ve agreed to that—yeah, we’re going to; we’ve agreed to that.

Well there you have, it if Trump is telling the truth he just doubled down on his requirements to end the war.  I have no reason to doubt him, but….remember Iran is a bunch of lying extremists.  Their religion allows them to lie for the greater good of Islam.  Stay tuned.  Rh

Long Range Iranian Missiles: Trump Vindicated On Going To War

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Under the “watchful and ever vigilant”, sarcasm alert, eye of the international community, Iran has far surpassed what all the experts declared they were capable of doing.  The launch toward Diego Garcia was telling.  The International Atomic Energy Commission, UN, fleckless and worthless diplomats and Presidents declared Iran was not a threat.  Let’s play nice with them and they won’t bother us, wrong!!  Or as Obama did let’s send them pallets of money. After all, bribery is done best under democratic administrations.  This  group of despots and thugs are out to take over.  Their very ideological view is Jihad, struggle and kill the infidel, namely anyone who doesn’t agree with the view on the world.  Iran has practiced the art of delay and compromise all the while spending billions on terror group proxies and underground missile production.  Rh

If the Diego Garcia strike report is accurate, then one of the central assumptions about Iran’s missile program has just collapsed. For years, the accepted ceiling was around 2,000 kilometers. A ballistic missile reaching Diego Garcia suggests something in the neighborhood of 4,000 kilometers, which pushes it out of the medium-range category and into the intermediate-range class (IRBM). That is a strategic leap.

The real story is not whether the missile was intercepted. It is that Iran may have demonstrated reach far beyond what much of the world believed it possessed. A 4,000-kilometer capability changes the map. Major European capitals begin to enter the conversation. Paris comes into range. London moves much closer to the edge of vulnerability depending on launch point and payload. This would mean the missile threat is no longer confined to the Gulf, Israel, or parts of South Asia. It would mean the radius of deterrence, defense, and fear has expanded dramatically. If confirmed, Diego Garcia was not just a target. It was a message.

Iranian sources claim they launched two missiles toward Diego Garcia – at a distance of roughly 4,000 km. Assuming these reports are accurate, several conclusions can be drawn:

1 – The launch is largely a message to Europe: “Almost your entire continent is within range of our missiles – including Western Europe.”

This comes after several European countries signaled willingness to send naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz – though no final decision has been made.

2 – The Iranians are likely closer than previously assessed to achieving an ICBM capability – a long-range ballistic missile that could threaten the U.S. East Coast and major population centers such as New York, Washington, and Boston.

This was a central factor in Trump’s decision to enter the campaign – and it has now been reinforced.

3 – Iran’s capability at these ranges remains limited – no missile hit its target.

According to the Wall Street Journal, one failed and fell short, while another triggered the launch of an SM-3 interceptor from a U.S. destroyer. It is still unclear whether the interception was successful or if that missile also failed independently.

4 – It is possible Iran used Khorramshahr-4 missiles with a reduced warhead to extend range – lowering payload weight and increasing fuel capacity.

The original warhead of the Khorramshahr is very large – around 1,500 kg – allowing significant flexibility in weight-range tradeoffs.

This is one of Iran’s most advanced missile systems – though they are believed to possess only a limited number.

Earlier this week, a Khorramshahr missile was launched toward Israel for the first time in the current campaign.

Update

Europe is STUNNED after realizing Trump was right, many of their capital cities may be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles after they targeted Diego Garcia

Cities that could be at risk include

– London

– Berlin

– Paris

– Munich

– Rome

– Oslo

I am sure congratulations will be forthcoming from the European Union.

The Signals Are All Pointing In The Same Direction: Victor Davis Hanson

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

𝗩𝗗𝗛: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡.

Victor Davis Hanson has spent fifty years studying how wars end. When he says the tide is turning, it’s worth listening to why.

His argument isn’t based on what the Pentagon is saying. It’s based on how everyone else is behaving.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀. VDH’s rule: Europeans never agree to go anywhere near a conflict unless they think the winning side has already been determined. They didn’t help in the early days. Now they’re starting to move. That movement is not idealism. It’s a calculation. They’ve looked at the battlefield and decided which way this ends.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼-𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. The Saudis, the Emiratis, the Qataris — these governments have survived for generations by reading the regional climate with precision. When they expel Iranian military attachés, when they intercept Iranian missiles over their own capitals and say nothing about American strikes, when the UAE reaffirms its $1.4 trillion investment commitment to the United States mid-war — they are not making ideological statements. They are placing bets. And they are betting on the United States.

𝗔𝗹 𝗝𝗮𝘇𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗮. This is the one that should stop you cold. Al Jazeera — the Qatari state media network, historically critical of American military action, the network Tucker Carlson and the anti-war right love to cite against Israel — is now calling the U.S. bombing campaign brilliant and effective, and saying it has been underestimated. When the media outlet of a nation that hosts both the largest American air base in the Middle East and a Hamas political office starts praising American military effectiveness, the message is unmistakable: 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘯.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹. A-10 Warthogs and Apache helicopter gunships are now flying strike missions in Iranian airspace at will. VDH’s point: you only deploy those aircraft when there is effectively no air defense left to threaten them. They are slow, low-flying, close-support platforms. Their presence confirms what the Pentagon has been claiming — Iran has no meaningful air defense remaining.

Iran’s strategy now is rope-a-dope. Run out the clock. Wait for American public opinion to shift. Hope the midterms create political pressure on Trump to stop. It is the only play they have left.

VDH’s conclusion: if Trump sees it through — and he believes he will — the regime falls. Not in years. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

Great points! This guy is very intelligent, I think he is right over the target with his commentary. Rh