“The Iran War Has Only Just Begun: The Fantasy of Regime Change Lives On”

There’s a tragic familiarity in watching the architects of global power repeat the same failing rituals, as though force alone has ever been enough to compel surrender in the face of ideology and nationalism. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the sudden flare-up between Israel and Iran, which is a confrontation decades in the making and infinitely more dangerous than most will admit. After America’s bombing campaign last night, which saw the destruction of Iran’s three largest nuclear facilities, a victorious Donald Trump released a message calling for peace. Supporters of the action are drunk with perceived triumph. For others with the ability to remember past the previous news cycle, the fear that this win is the start of a bloody and expensive new season of “nation building” is inescapable.

Israel and America’s opening salvos have taken a major toll on Iran, especially in regard to the country’s nuclear ambitions. While not being discussed as much, Iran’s ballistic missiles have been blowing right through Israel’s celebrated air defenses, and few in Tel Aviv will publicly acknowledge how much damage is really being sustained. Regardless of the nuclear setback, there is no rationale behind the assumption that these attacks will subside. If anything, the recent punch in the mouth suffered by Iran could serve as a catalyst for even more severe attacks.

Here’s the question no one dares ask on camera: Are we prepared to level Iran the way Gaza was leveled? Israel could get away with that kind of devastation in a densely packed enclave of two million. In contrast, Iran is a nation of over 90 million people. Even setting morality aside, the logistics of carrying out such an act are difficult to imagine.

Read the full essay on Substack!