Timothy Snyder spoke briefly on Instagram. In sum, he said the war has no purpose.
It does distract attention from the Epstein Files.
Trump said on Twitter in 2012 that Obama would start a war to divert attention from his sagging poll numbers.
Will this war help Trump’s numbers?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The war has indeed got purposes. The intents are to install Israel/USA as a military planetary hegemon by controlling the Strait of Hormuz, thus controlling the shipping of oil and trade; to install another puppet government in Iran; to thereby surround all of inner Asia militarily; to marginalize and trivialize NATO; and to impose a Christo-Judean fascist state on the planet.
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This!
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“and to impose a Christo-Judean fascist state on the planet.”
Bingo, Bango, Boingo. . . We have a winner!! Give that fine good looking young lady a Kewpie Doll!
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Saudi Arabia was part of the decision-making triad. The other Arab states also gave their approval. Strange way to impose a “Christi-Judean fascist state,” with the active collaboration of the leading Muslim states.
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The Washington Post described Saudi Arabia’s support for the bombing:
“President Donald Trump launched Saturday’s wide-ranging attack on Iran after a weeks-long lobbying effort by an unusual pair of U.S. allies in the Middle East — Israel and Saudi Arabia — according to four people familiar with the matter, as Israeli and U.S. forces teamed to topple Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei after nearly four decades in power. ”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made multiple private phone calls to Trump over the past month advocating a U.S. attack, despite his public support for a diplomatic solution, the four people said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, continued his long-running public campaign for U.S. strikes against what he views as an existential enemy of his country.
”The combined effort helped lead Trump to order a massive aerial campaign against Iran’s leadership and military, which in its initial hour led to the death of Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials.”
Trump listened to Bibi and MBS, didn’t bother to inform Congress, which violates the law.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/28/trump-iran-decision-saudi-arabia-israel/
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Don’t get the logic of anyone who think Martha’s analysis is so brilliant.
So is Putin part of this new “Christo-Judean fascist state” or not? Is the wonderful Putin going to save us from the “Christo-Judean fascist state”? Or maybe China?
Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” includes countries like Sadia Arabia, UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, as well as Israel.
The LEADERS do want to control oil. But not for religion – for POWER and AUTHORITARIANISM.
And what about China and India and all the other non-Muslim, non-Christian, non-Jewish countries? Are they part of this big conspiracy or not?
Instead of leaning in to the antisemitism because Trump has found a like-minded authoritarian leader like Netanyahu, instead of ignoring how many Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders oppose Trump, this ridiculous piece of right wing propaganda analysis of the goals is part of why we are in this place.
The new world order is simply about might makes right, using whatever religion is convenient in whatever region to keep their leaders in power. Using whatever lies is necessary about the “other” to keep their leaders in power. Putinism spread everywhere.
Trump has power because of the American voters who enabled him in 2016 and 2024 – the ones who voted for Trump, and the ones who devoted themselves to spreading right wing pro-Trump propaganda about how Trump is no worse than the evil Democrats. Trump has power because of the people who – knowing that there was a vacant Supreme Court seat that would tilt the Supreme Court to enable democracy or authoritarian rule – either wanted authoritarianism, or weren’t bothered by the idea of authoritarianism. In 2016, voters could have voted for a country where the Citizens United decision was history. They chose to prevent a Democrat from filling a vacant seat on the Court who would help strengthen democracy. Trump could not have done it without them. Some loved him, some loved Putin and pretended they were not Trump fans, yet have defended him from all criticism through both terms.
Maybe those Trump-empowers didn’t particularly support the goals of a racist, authoritarian leader who trafficked in lies, but having a racist authoritarian leader with total power didn’t bother them enough to stop amplifying the lie that having a racist authoritarian leader would be no worse than a Democrat.
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Martha,
Why does Saudi Arabia want a “Christo-Judah state?”
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For the money and power. Iran is a big prize, with a lot of oil. Our Gulf allies are not nice people – recall the Khashoggi murder – and they have paid off the historically corrupt Trump family with lucrative contracts, an airplane we taxpayers have bought, and god knows what else. There is no goal of Iranian self-determination. Iranian democracy threatens the actual goal: regime replacement favorable to purchasers of U.S. policy. United Arab Emirates investments and Saudi and Qatari gifts bought this war, as did the mission to turn Israel, the US, and their allies into the Asian hegemon. Saudi Arabia strongly supports the Trump administration (as of late 2025/early 2026), marked by plans for up to $1 trillion in investments, significant defense deals, and collaboration on technology, AI, and regional security. Saudi Arabia is planning to increase investment in the U.S. to nearly $1 trillion, focusing on semiconductor chips, data centers, and technology. The U.S. agreed to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to the Kingdom, with defense partnerships described as stronger than ever. Saudi Arabia joined a Trump-led “board of peace” for the Gaza Strip and aligns with U.S. efforts to counter Iranian influence. he Kingdom seeks to leverage U.S. partnerships for its own economic diversification, particularly in AI, space exploration, and manufacturing.
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That ignores the fact that many of the Muslim countries that surround Iran have been pouring money into the Trump family fortunes including UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qutar. They have hoped for years that the disruption and unrest funded by Iran would be stopped. Trump has been known to use the power of his presidency to reward those who make donations. He has openly rewarded donors with citizenship and pardons. This attack serves many purposes, rewarding mideast businees partners and donors, supporting Netanyahu, and distracting us from the Epstein files. Follow the money when it comes to Trump.
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As I articulated in detail in a reply to Diane, as of early 2026, Saudi Arabia maintains a very strong, transactional, and strategic partnership with the second Trump administration, characterized by massive economic investments and defense cooperation. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has strengthened ties, with Saudi Arabia planning to invest up to $1 trillion in the U.S. and purchasing advanced defense technology. Trump officially designated Saudi Arabia a “major non-NATO ally” in late 2025. The administration approved the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. It’s commerce over theology. And the Sunni and Shia have been at war for about 1300 years. This moment furthers that conflict.
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Martha and all the other nutcases on this blog hate the United States more than they dislike the Islamic theocrats in Iran. What a strange alliance: fundamentalist Islam and alleged liberals, especially feminists who prattle on about misogyny in America. The Islamists would throw Diane Ravitch off a high roof the first day she was in Iran.
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Hey Zach Sherrod troll: Here are 2 NON liberal Republicans who hate Trump’s war: Margie Taylor Greene said: “The Trump admin actually asked in a poll how many casualties voters were willing to accept in a war with Iran???,” the MAGA firebrand and former close Trump ally wrote. “How about ZERO you bunch of sick f***ing liars. We voted for America First and ZERO wars.”
Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson also decried the attack, calling it “absolutely disgusting and evil,” ABC’s Jonathan Karl reports.
Rand Paul: “As with all war, my first and purest instinct is wish Americans soldiers safety and success in their mission,” Paul wrote. “But my oath of office is to the Constitution, so with studied care, I must oppose another Presidential war.”
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Zach,
I love the USA. I am a patriot.
I appreciate your concern for my well-being. I promise you I have no plans to visit Iran in the near future.
But I’m concerned about you. If you go to Iran and they find out you are a Trumper, they will put a bullet in your head.
Be careful!
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This is not a sports event requiring fans to choose one side or the other. Calling out an unprovoked military attack by our country does not = hate for our country, nor support for Islamic theocrats in Iran. I suspect most regular commenters—silent for the moment—are like me. Imbibing the available news, digesting it, trying to arrive at some sort of position, while hoping for more and better info on which to base a position.
For my part, I’d like much more intel on whether & how close Iran is to developing nuclear weapon capability. From what I could learn last June, there seems to be enough intel to suspect they’re working on developing it– perhaps even close. And too little intel on how far our joint attacks with Israel then set them back. I’d also like much more info to support the view of some experts that Iran is far from developing long-range missiles that could hit targets in US.
The outrage about prez taking unilateral action (i.e., without Congressional approval) is, well—I get it—but doesn’t hit me below belt. Yes GWB got Congressional approval for attacking Iraq. But both the wars in Korea and in Viet Nam were initiated by presidents without that approval. Clinton put boots on ground in Bosnia without it. As did Reagan in Grenada. We do not have a solid record on enforcing that law. What I expect from Congress at this point is to step in and provide firm boundaries for further aggression/ escalation.
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Iran has been “weeks away” from developing a nuclear weapon my whole adult life.
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There is no reason for a war now except that it moves us closer to a world where great powers have only to exercise their judgment to act. They need not consider laws or morals. They need not consider allies.
We will see how this works out.
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Trump’s illegal war has no actual benefit to the US, but it serves some of Trump’s own personal interests. It is a distraction from his sagging poll numbers and the Epstein files. It reinforces the strong man illusion for his cult, lines the pockets of the military-industrial donors, pleases Israel and most of the donors to AIPAC.
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These are all Communists. Not “people who are to my left are commies.” Actual Communists. Just search for CUNY Internationalist Clubs and the other names on those signs. The ideological soulmates of 99% of this blog’s commenters.
https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2028136074522862079?s=20
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It’s so easy to forget, with Epstein and Greenland and Venezuela and even hockey of all things, that the war started on October 7, 2023 hasn’t ended. I for one was delighted last week to see The Daily Show roast edu-entrepreneur extreme Bill Gates for tactlessly apologizing to the employees of his foundation for weakening their resumes with his penis. Finally, the shine is off that guy’s trombone. It is, however, a distraction from the world circus’ main attraction.
So easy to forget that Sunni Saudi Arabia was about to normalize relations with Israel before October 7, 2023 which would have severely weakened Shia Iran economically. Iran helped make sure that didn’t happen with the Hamas attack. Now Netanyahu will use Trump to help him kill the men who join and the men who help Hamas and Hezbollah, as many as possible with Gaza in shambles and Syria weak. Iran made itself a soft target to be in 2023.
There’s no plan for the future of Iran just as there’s no plan for the future of Gaza. The only plan is war.
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Worth noting too that Iran is hitting Iraq with missiles.
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