TRUMP’s BLUNDER: BACKING WAR-HAPPY ISRAEL IN ITS FOOLISH ATTACK ON IRAN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 23, 2026) — Shifting war = shifting assessment.
THE PLANET supported the Trump Administration’s first strike in Iran in June. Certainly, we knew when we issued that determination that this story had legs, as we say in the business, and that things would change daily. The same holds true for this column. Again, this protoplasmic matter won’t yet be pinned down.
The war with Iran resembles a billboard reading “Donald Trump’s biggest foreign-policy blunder.” Two things stand out: (1) This was a war of choice, not necessity. (2) This is Israel’s war, and for some reason, the Trump Administration went along. What does Netanyahu have on Trump? It must be pretty good. Why do U.S. leaders kowtow to the Israeli lobby to the detriment of everyone outside of Tel Aviv? And if you want to know which Middle East country has the most aggressive history of war, it’s Israel. God’s chosen people? Heaven help us.
———- ooo ———-
This isn’t Venezuela. This is Iran, a large country with a million-strong army and the largest supply of ballistic missiles in the region. The U.S. military’s Shock and Awe easily overwhelmed the dinghies and cap guns of Caracas, but in Iran, Uncle Sam ran into a nation resolved to resist, capable of doing it, and able to prolong the war as long as it wishes.
Israel and Trump believed decapitating Iran’s leadership would lead to a quick downfall of the regime, two weeks tops. Regime change didn’t happen. Far from it. Iran simply replaced its assassinated leaders with a “next man up” strategy. In fact, the mullahs hold all the cards. They control traffic in the Straight of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil and 30% of its fertilizers traverse. Four weeks into this mess, and the war is just beginning. Escalation could lead to the unthinkable.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions were going well, so well, in fact, that it prompted a panicked Netanyahu to attack. Successful talks are the last thing Israeli hard-liners want.For the reason why, look to October. That’s when Israel will hold new elections, and it reveals the true intent of this dangerous game–a huge risk to run for political, not military, objectives.
Moreover, the United States does not have the law behind for foolishly joining Israel. There can be no reasonable justification for this level of attack, as our European allies have forcefully demonstrated.
———- ooo ———-
SANITY MADE SIMPLE: Aphorisms, Epigrams, and Other Parsed Phrases, is available now at amazon.com or at any Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Just $14.95 for the paperback, $4.95 for the e-book. Your purchase will help support a Pittsfield-based small business.
Trump has been oxymoronic on this issue:
- In June last year, after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, the President declared that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been obliterated. Not so, or why would he go back in on Feb. 28?
- A week into the conflict, Trump declared the war won. Now, he’s requested an additional $200 billion from Congress to continue fighting.
- On Saturday March 21, he issued an ultimatum. Iran had 48 hours from 7:44 p.m. EST to open the Straight of Hormuz or the U.S. would take out the country’s power grid. Iran called his bluff saying that if that happened, they would escalate horizontally and do the same to any U.S. facility in the Middle East. Suddenly, at 6 p.m. Monday, just 90 minutes before the deadline, Trump backed down.
- Out of the blue on Monday, Trump made claims about current talks and said the two sides (minus Israel) had made dramatic progress. Iran, though, said no talks had taken place.
- On Tuesday, Trump said of talks, “Nobody knows who to talk to[in Iran], then literally in the next breath said “But we’re talking to the right people.”
Trump: He’s up. He’s down. He’s in. He’s out. Of course, that’s long been his deal-making strategy. It generally works because it keeps the other side off-balance. They never know what he’s thinking or what he’ll do. In this case, however, it’s clear at least to THE PLANET that Israel, Netanyahu specifically, forced America’s hand. Not only should we not have partnered with the Israelis in Iran, but we should have used our financial leverage over Israel to forbid the attack.
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“Our love, exposed, bid us to shake, and, shattered, leave our hidden wreckage on a hundred coasts” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2026 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
After September 11th (USA) and October 07th (Israel), it is clear that the nuclear threats of Middle East extremist national regimes have to be destroyed or else they will destroy the USA and Israel alike.
How could blogger Dan Valenti write about Trump and Netanyahu without stating the above existential realities that the USA and Israel would react to in a would-be nuclear war by a future Iran?
Iran’s extremist regime is violent and dangerous.
Nonetheless, blogger Dan Valenti made some good points. His heart is in the right place.
March 25, 2026
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
I received an UGLY campaign mailing yesterday. It smeared John Sununu, who is running for U.S. Senator in New Hampshire. It linked Sununu to the late Jeffrey Epstein and NH tech mogul Dean Kamen, among listing other negative items such as John Sununu’s connections to big insurance companies, as well as Middle East political groups that are adversaries of the U.S.A.
When politics turns so UGLY as the attack mailing on John Sununu, it brings me back to the close to 30 years of conspiratorial persecution that I have had to endure by my Enemy #1 named Andrea Francesco Nuciforo Junior, who used me as bait to try to hurt my dad, Bob, who is a former Berkshire County Commissioner from 1997 – mid-2000.
What purpose does UGLY politics and smear campaigns serve? How does attacking John Sununu help New Hampshire, as well as the U.S.A.? How did Nuciforo and his political network’s mean-spirited and abusive actions against me since I was 20 years old in the Spring 1996 to today help Massachusetts?
I hate half-truths, vicious rumors, smear campaigns, UGLY politics, conspiratorial persecutions of good people, and so on. I have had to live almost all of my adult life reacting to it, even after I relocated from the Berkshires to New Hampshire 22 years ago.
I am a compassionate person. I hope to help to STOP these unusual events from happening to people, including in politics. Nuciforo is fortunate that I am a good person. Nuciforo never apologized for his hurtful actions against my dad, Bob, and I. It would be good if the people who smeared John Sununu would have better character than Nuciforo by apologizing to him.
Best wishes,
Jonathan A. Melle
You’ll be happy to know your state championship pocket pool trophies are still on display at phs. Can you help me get a free government bag to.
Give it a break. Same drivel, different day. We all know you love Andy. Why not take a drive down to Dalton Ave, smoke a bowl with him and just ask him out?
The news that is not compromised is suggesting that American war dead are FAR higher than what we are being told. And if you consider that Iran has been pounding Americas 17 military installations in the mid-east, housing thousands of American soldiers, it is hard to believe only 13 have been killed.
And the idea of sending in Marines or Airborne troops to take over Kharg Island should scare the shit out of every combat veteran. There is a mountain abutting it with countless caves and fortified positions. One hawkish general is saying that YES we will lose a lot of people, but we can do it.
For what?? For fucking what????
MAGA equals Eyes Wide Shut syndrome. Don’t wanna know bout it. If Biden did it you can tell us though but not the king…don’t wanna know
Thank you. You created space here. Real space. You gave the opposition something they rarely get anymore, a chance to respond without immediately being drowned out. A small opening to actually have a discussion and maybe, just maybe, find some common ground.
We don’t have to agree on everything. That was never the point. The point is being able to stand somewhere together without getting insulted, without empty jabs that add nothing of value, from people like Markus and Sir Chaz instead of real, honest, authentic conversation.
That’s exactly why the comment section loses any real value. Not because people disagree, but because too many people don’t know how to do anything beyond perform.
When you step outside of that and lead differently, it shows. And when you do, those same guys either fall in line or suddenly go quiet.
Please remember that moving forward, especially if you want to give people the sense that you’re actually interested in quality discussion.
Thanks, VAL. Carving out a space, modest as it is, where people can have a real say, is mainly why THE PLANET continues. My aim all along has been to create a forum for debate and discussion. I had no illusions going in that the combination of (a) cyberspace (b) anonymity and (c) the highest hand possible on editorial monitoring would be the diminution of “quality discussion.” That said, we do have more than I expected, including your posts.
As you say, “we don’t have to agree on everything.” Agreement is not the point. Wrangling with and thrashing out the matters of concern–that’s the point. It takes a fair amount of time to plan, write, edit, then publish THE PLANET, time taken from my day job (writing books). Then there’s the technical side, which, given the blurring speed of today’s internet, needs constant tweaking and updating. We do have tech support, of course, but still …
Thing is, when you publish so regularly and for so long, people take the site for granted, especially when it’s free. We considered and rejected a subscription model. The aim never was to make money or have THE PLANET as an income generator. At two different times, we ran ads via Amazon then Google. Those platforms generated dollars, but when they got into censorship, we pulled the plug.
At some point, THE PLANET will end. All things must pass, as George Harrison sang. For now, though, it’s onward and (we hope) upward.
I understand your position. I’ve never been shy when I disagree, so it would be intellectually dishonest not to be just as vocal when I happen to agree. Consistency, after all, is the bare minimum of credibility.
I bet you have a Totenkopf on each ass cheek.
So much for “quality discussion.”
It was a nice thought, but she’s not entitled to it.
KP
It’s that kind of thinking and unwillingness to hear anything not in your echo chamber that makes- You – a big part of the problem.
Thank you for proving my point.
You sound hot are you into guys.
That’s rude.
The planets opinion, suggests Iran would become a peaceful nation.
The planet fails to address:
America has been under attack for 47 years, tCarter, failed to properly manage, the evil regime , encouraging increased attacks.
Iran even after the 12 day war, continued its nuclear weapons program, to become even more dangerous.
Dan seems to be influenced by the antisemitism, of lunatics like Sucker Carlson, Joe Knut, Megan Smelly and Candice Owen’s.
Let’s explore why these the nutcase wing, should be ignored
Sucker and Kunt , are infected by
Qatar-
Sucker is a bitter, failed talking head.
Fired for attempting to use Gox News , to pedal , Guitars anti-somatic ideology.
Kunt remarried Heather and illustrator for Al Jazeera, April Home, pro radical Islam propaganda outlet.
That Trump used the to useful , idiots to set up first, attack, obviously.
Smelly is bitter over her “only Rose O’Donnell” when Trump began, putting the media in its proper place. lol
Like Kamala nobody knew Smelly, till she was on her knees. She should have learned her lesson, but hubris.
Candace seems to have suffered some , post postpartum break with reality. Her antisemitism is troubling being what Dennis Prager and Ben Shapiro did for her career.
Iran has but 2 choices, submit to America’s reasonable demands, or perish.
Much like Venezuela, they will pay monetarily, for their transgressions, against our nation.
The Tanker was presented as a goodwill gift.
I assume Trump will take over the Strait of Harmas, and begin tolling traffic, to pay for security. I expect the same with the Panama Canal. Which also will bring China to its knees
Dans opinion lacks information, intelligence and imagination- also fails fundamental facts.
One has to wonder,how and why?
I suggested the exposition, would be over by Easter, that Trump extolled “ do it for Jesus” yesterday, is his typical gloating,
To the victor , goes the spoils…
Bring on the midterms,…
About time America, takes its due- we have earned it.
3/24/26@6:20 am
Tom
Dan is the poster child for all things Trump plain and simple. The Clown (Trump) in all probability has set the r/ party back decades.
How long after Iran had nuclear weapons until it killed most of the Israeli population? With no air defense Iran is done, their million-strong army is just a collection of body parts that haven’t been detached yet, but they don’t care if their whole country is destroyed as long as they can make their enemies suffer. That just proves that Israel was right, deterrence doesn’t work
They were even more on the verge of hitting 50000 long range missiles which would put them past the turning point for military containment.
I bet the dead Ayotallah is wishing he made a deal, and his emasculated son is somewhere hiding, from us of course, but probably also from the IRGC too.
Iran’s missile facilities are for the most part underground, protected. Moreover, their manufacturing capabilities, according to intelligence reports, remains robust. Estimates put it at 600 to 800 ballistic missiles per month.
Which means we acted at the last minute. I doubt who takes the helm next will not want to waste their treasure like that.
I seriously doubt they ever could make them that fast, and less likely now in secret.
Trump sons have a start up drone manufacturing company and intend to make billions rather quickly. Drones are one of wars new expensive high tech weapons and they have a very inside track to get government contracts. Whoda thunk it?
And these guys have every reason to hope this war goes on and on and on and on. Daddy could make that happen by sending in ground troops like happened in Iraq and Afghanistan and Viet Nam etc.
P.S. In Viet Nam if a patrol was ambushed and took casualties the Hueys could usually come in and do a med-evac. But today those Hueys would be knocked out by a drone within seconds. And how will they be resupplied once they get in with out resupply being downed right away? Assine on the face of it to put ground troops in. The geography is a sniper’s paradise.
Trump sons investing in domestic drone production businesses – ABC News
Your city is screwing you over. Don’t believe what you see or hear at these budget sessions. The man oil the audience keeps bobble heading Lumpy and Links every word. Pleeeease. Tax bills over five thousand. Can I bust revenue is crap. There is much that can be cut out of the schools budget. The city need to health insurance percentage.
I agree. Predictable Pittsfield politics pounds people’s purses. Earl and the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics are all BIG spenders of taxpayer dollars. The people should tell them off at the municipal and public school budget hearings this Spring 2026.
Respectfully disagree 100%.
Thanks, JOE. There are arguments to be made on all fronts.
Cut the health insurance co- pay and discontinue health insurance post city council,tenure…. especially when not serving. Councilors like lunk heads Dumpster and Voltron always complain about pay compensation also, but look if you don’t like the pay and you do like the insurance after your tenure then stop complaing and don’t run for office ! And get rid of those reset teachers. Our teachers in the classroom don’t even want them.
Spineless Jimmy Carter should have done this job 47 years ago.
The Mullahs have been killing Americans since then with relative impunity.
Barry Sotero even gave them palllets of $$$ to fund terrorism, with an unenforceable “agreement” as a premise.
The Ayatollah is now with “THE GREAT SATAN” he often spoke of. I wonder what Lucifer has provided for 72 “Virgins”?
I don’t want any American troops on the ground but……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsLh2LPRPAA&list=RDPsLh2LPRPAA&start_radio=1
I think we are now seeing why neither Carter, Obama or Biden opened this pandoras box. None of our business. Who was it that said he was not getting involved in the mid east? Was it the same guy would bankrupted three casinos?
This war is the kind of can of worms only an idiot would open. Someone, who on national television, with a nationwide audience including children, looked smugly and straight into a solar eclipse right after the announcer said, ‘DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN”
Now he wants to reenact Custers Last Stand with other people’s sons and daughters while his own sit back and run short deals with the stock market. you can’t make this shit up.
He is currently controlling the ups and downs on Walpole Street with his daily diatribe and deliberate misinformation. How can he be having talks with Iran if he doesn’t know if the Ayatollah is alive. Who’s he negotiating with? Bebe ?
On your homefront lumpy this is my said he had to raise property taxes because they needed money so you just raise it because you can and where do they get the 30 40 percent assessed increase from,is that even legal ?
Carter couldn’t attack – they were actively conducting mock executions of our hostages in Tehran. Invading would result in their murder.
Sounds like you need to get your kids and grandkids down to the recruitment office and help trump save America huh? Loyal maga guy like you?
Dan, for another day soon? Fascinating story on lower front page of the Friday, Mar 20 Eagle. Titled Lanesboro Employee. Blaring horns on why audits, particularly forensic audits, are a critical part of any entity handling large sums of money. If a family friend will rip you off then who can you trust?
Makes one wonder why the city of Pittsfield is so sure they would not benefit from one. Somehow nothing like this could happen in that burg? No chance at all? Don’t wanna even look?
Fund the t s a already. What’s the problem. Trumps not giving up I c e.
Nobody reads that rag.why the thumbs up. It was in I Berkshires buffoon. Can fritz tell us where he buys his gasoline?
Aside. Look deceased Judge Paul Perachi’s,who was a fine man… obituary comment section. Someone in the news states he was a troubled youth who learned a valuable lesson. EVIDENTLY NOT…
When you don’t sell any books ya gotta sell out right Dan.
Wouldn’t know, DB. Our books are selling like hot dogs at the ballpark!
Dan, we normally agree on most, but I think you missed the mark on this one. I added a couple of links you should take a look at. Susan Kokinda does an excellent job explaining how President Trump is ending the British Empire and their proxies and forever wars, taking out Iran.
Susan Kokinda on X: “Remember when criticizing NATO meant you were a Russian agent? When questioning Israel’s strategy made you antisemitic? When suggesting the British Empire still pulls strings got you laughed out of polite company? Well, welcome to March 2026, where Donald Trump publicly told https://t.co/U6RBPqvVk4” / X
To better the point:
Susan Kokinda on X: “Ever wonder why the British, the EU and NATO were always up to their eyes in Mideast negotiations, which never solved anything? President Trump has a better idea. https://t.co/OKS6iXgtac” / X
If the Autopen Administration has taught any true blooded MAGA member one thing, American MSM is nothing more than a DNC talking point. Never offer a solution to anything, just “Get Trump.”
Thanks for sharing, MARK. I shall check them out carefully.
I agree with Susan Kokinda that negotiations with Middle East countries typically aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. But apparently, full-blown attack meant to decapitate the regime and topple it doesn’t work. Perhaps there IS no answer to the Middle East problem. Maybe the U.S. should just keep within its own borders.
The last two times negotiations were going on trump and bibi ambushed the Iranians right in the middle of them. The Iranians do not trust that there is any possibilities of a good faith discussion and have been backed into a corner where they have to take matters into their own hands the only other option they have.
In fact there is not a person (or animal) alive on the planet that truly trust anything that comes out of trumps mouth including his own kids.
Trump has loosened restrictions on eligibility to join the American forces. Age requirement has been raised to 42. Some drug convictions will be waivered. The only reason a full-blown draft has not been instituted is the upcoming election, but the day after the election it will hit like a ton of bricks and ICE will be gathering up the reluctant sons and daughters and hauling them off to a two week boot camp before shipping to the mid-east for cannon fodder.
Decapitation is a persistent process. The first wave gets rid of a mix of career and often incompetent corrupt care. The subsequent ones start to impact the organization.
Metaphors mainly don’t work for real events.
I like that last sentence, CHAZ!
This Saturday, the left-loon a$$holes will be back out in full force for their “No Kings” rally.
Berkshires Gear Up for No Kings 3 / iBerkshires.com – The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
At first glance, I thought the Cultural Competency Coach’s sign said, “Save My Grift.” Seems like the all-expense paid vacations, aka-the ARPA money, is gone.
A true “think-tank,” group will be at this event: Shirl, Meanwhile, Mayor Lumpy, Wimpy White, VendettaChatGPT, Jonathan Melle, and the keynote speaker herself, the Illegal Aliens State Rep, Tricia Farley-Country Buffet (d-illegal aliens).
You know, the usual America last democRATS.
MARK
No kings? Correct. We got rid of our 250 years ago. The pussyhats throughout the four kings in the deck and replaced them with Jokers, se real of whom you have mentioned!
Idiot
All those you mention are cool. But you left out the biggest disappointment. L grande l’orange. No not Rusty Staub.
They’re all so cool, I’m call them culo.
Not the shallowest comment you have ever made Markus but still gets and eight out of ten rating. Keep up the good work and I will look around in my recycling bin and see if I can’t find something I can make a medal out of for you.
Do you prefer paper or plastic?