WHAT IN THE CARDS WITH IRAN? NO ONE KNOWS, BUT IRAN HOLDS THEM
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 27-9, 2026) — I ran.
Might that be what Uncle Sam will say with respect to the tarpit of Iran? That’s one outcome, that President Trump gets the heck out and declares “victory,” the way Nixon claimed in Vietnam. Tarpits trap the biggest mastodons.
Other possibilities include continuance of negotiations and escalation.
As to the first, Iran says the time for talks has long expired. They deny Trump’s claim that the two sides are talking, and it seems clear that Trump has inflated third-party discussions (Pakistan and Iran, Turkey and Iran) to give the illusion of diplomatic progress. Besides, in both June and on Feb. 28, the U.S. blindsided Iran while diplomatic efforts were in progress. Why should Iran trust that it won’t happen again if talks resume?
Insanity, writ large
Iran just rejected the latest U.S. plan, a 15-point proposal. The “deal” included demands for the country to give up its enriched uranium, stop manufacturing ballistic missiles, and promising never to obtain nuclear weapons. Those have been deal-breakers in the past and continue that way. And why should Iran agree? It’s a sovereign nation that knows the only countries safe from America’s adventurism are the ones with nuclear arms.
———- ooo ———-
THE PLANET predicts military escalation. Why else would Trump send an entire armada to the region along with thousands of Marines? Just to watch Popeye cartoons? On Monday, he gave Iran another five days to open the Straight of Hormuz. With the clock ticking down to Saturday, Trump gave Iran another 10 days, to April 6, or else.
Or else what? Iran failed to capitulate to U.S. demands, and it has America fumbling and bumbling. An extra 10 days? Just like that? That’s as straight an admission of failure that you will get from Trump that he made a huge error in joining a war-happy Israel in this foolish enterprise.
It’s clear that the U.S. thought the initial shock wave and decapitation of Iran’s leadership would cause the government to collapse and lead to an uprising of the people. They were so sure, in fact, that they had no plan B. It was a colossal intelligence failure to misunderstand the Islamic theocracy. Iran has spent decades preparing for this attack. They have built a decentralized government, a “next man up” strategy for the government. You can kill as many ayatollahs as you wish. Another will take his place.
Militarily, the command structure of its sophisticated army relies on flexibility and fluidity. When top officers die in battle, the framework empowers regional commanders to resume operations. Personnel changes but the playbook remains the same. Rigid training ensures no loss of performance.
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.
Iran holds most of the cards in this deadly game. It has bottled 3,000 ships in the Straight of Hormuz, allowing only ships from friendly countries (e.g., Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India) to pass. This huge country with 90 million people owns the eastern coast of the straight, and its heavily armed along the entire coast.
Far from this mess ending in a week, as Trump thought, this war is only beginning. The possible consequences could be catastrophic.
On that happy note, THE PLANET invites everyone to have a great weekend.
——————————————————–
“There’s no medals for trying” — Bill Parcells.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Saturday’s anti-Trump protest marches will support an end to war against Iran.
The irony is that Iran’s extremist regime is authoritarian, while the USA is a democracy.
Inflation is increasing. There will also be Earl and the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics record-breaking municipal budget proposal soon.
The Kapanski’s are heading for the financial cliff (Nilan).
I am so glad you are getting good information on this subject and relaying it to your people Dan. This involves the future of our children and grandchildren who will be sucked up into this mess.
Mean
Its been a month, relax.
Disinformation Dan musings are akin to a possibly dangerous mushroom, and should be taken cautiously.
They Could result in permanent TDS
What’s Dans background…? Obviously not history or Military service…
3/27@2:25pm
Tom
We’ve seem to have forgotten what these religious fanatics are capable of and they are not going away. Look what they did with planes on 911. Killed thousands of innocent people. If the Mullah’s and followers had Nukes, they will most definitely use them on us should they attain them. Iranians had lied all along that their Nuclear ambitions were only for
peaceful use in Iran.
Those evil Mullah’s won’t go…..Out quietly…they will go out kicking, screaming and lying.
Getting out of Vietnam was a victory. Nixon deserves credit for unwinding us.
It was a horrible thing to do to our soldiers making them fight for the Vietnamese army that was not our friend, and no else’s either.
The Iranian government tried to assassinate a President on US soil no less. As a result, WE deal the cards. I wouldn’t bet against the House. This war has only just begun, barely 1 month in, and all the IRGC has today is what boots they can hope will show up to fight and a furious and hurt population that want a piece of them.
WE are not dealing any cards these days bub. Get a clue already.
trump did start dealing (off the bottom of the deck) but now Iran has trump ;by the balls and is squeezing pretty hard. Most of the world is enjoying the american humiliation by the way. This is what trump has done to the USA.
A whole new world order is on the horizon.
ps Denying the reality is not going to change anything but if it makes you feel better go for it. Just don’t be dragging others down with yhou.
Meanie, did you take note that Iran has long range missiles? They fired some at the base on Diego Garcia.
Think they might have nuke tipped missles now if their facilities did not get destroyed last year. They were actively trying to recover what was enriched from the bombed out sites. Sites financed by pallets of cash Sotero gave them.
False Flag. Iran did NOT send missiles to Diego Garcia. They were being set up in an effort to drag the Europeans into backing us in the Hurmoz strait. Lots of Psyops going on in the background.
Not saying they do not have long range. Saying they did not do the Diego Garcia shoots. But this:
China needs lots of oil to keep its economy thriving. It gets some from Russia as well as Iran. It was getting some from Venezuela and had heavily invested in its oil drilling infrastructure. Trump pissed on that angering the Chinese.
China, Russia and Iran are linked economically as well as militarily. They all consider America a threat to them and so have linked up. And they knew this was coming sooner or later and so have been preparing fastidiously for a year now. Iran does not have military satellites to target their missiles. But who does? China and Russia. And this is one of the big reasons trump was wrong thinking he was doing another Venezuela cakewalk. China and or Russia are providing targeting coordinates to the Iranians. They may have been delivering missiles for months.
And if trump continues to escalate by sending in ground troops, Russia and China will escalate with whatever means they can behind the scenes. We are already seeing signs of cyber warfare.
Stock up on beans and powdered milk cuz this might not end the way trump is telling you. He is already starting to put the blame on Hegseth, as if he had the final say.
That’s not true. They launched two stage missiles- stratosphere. 4000 km. One failed, the other lost. That means they have converted conventional satellite tech to military. They have been testing hardened re-entry capsules to make nuclear ICBM’s.
The launch TB refers to was directed at a distant British base in the Idian Ocean. Very real flag.
Yes. The launch in question demonstrated Iran has missiles with longer range than known. They jerry-rigged commercial satellite tech to the military hardware. The inaccuracy is secondary. They will learn much about this hack and refine the application.
Mean
No cards?
Why the 8 tankers?
Think you may be confused, who’s gripping the sack..
Mean your suffering Trump Derangement Syndrome, may have left you delusional, please seek care.
3/27@2:15pm
Tom
Why did the US move their aircraft carriers 1000 miles out to sea, away from the gulf? Try something other than Fox.
Latest update: Trump, Rubio & Iran war: Retaliation, oil shock & global crisis
“Most of the world is enjoying the american humiliation by the way”
Why are you making this about you?
I just do not want to see another generation of American kids slaughtered in the mid-east for no good reason. How about you take yourself to one of the many VA psych wards and visit with some of the living, but not really living, brain damaged veterans who spent time in one of Americas forever wars, for no real reason. How about today? Pack a lunch and take a road trip. And take the whole family because this is something every American needs to see.
But many of those vets were targeted by the IRGC. Soleiman. Why do you assume the US military plans to send a meat attack? Those leading this operation are the same that demolished ISIS. I don’t know, but, maybe, some soldiers and vets would be offended by your statement.
The above addresses your tangent. Your implied altruism is a legitimate concern, but your comment focused on fear of humiliation – that is personal.
Spot on Sir Charles. The USA is beating the shit out of them as Trumpmstated in his cabinet meeting yesterday.
Sir Chaz. Sir Charles is a real knight.
THE PLANET showed that years ago when we dubbed him Knight: “Be brave and loyal.”
I’m happy that Iran does not have a nuke, yet. Because they are crazy enough to use one. They also have no problem slaughtering their own people and have threatened to assassinate our POTUS.
I don’t know what the solution is but bombs are one thing and boots on the ground is another.
We should develop our own energy sources and be independent of crazies 1/2 a world away.
The oil companies made a killing jacking up prices from oil already paid for and refined. If Congress gave a dam they would do something about that. Much of the oil is produced from lands owned by the government. Heating oil went from ~$3.20 to over $5 a gallon. Most dealers require minimum 100-gal delivery and many people don’t have that much cash on hand.
Mad
You hit the nail, right on the thumb.
Why let a 47 year old cancer continue to fester?
Trump didn’t kick the can down the road, he is crushing it, to protect future generations of not just America…
Tom
When the armada began to appear there, I filled up my tank. I feel bad for the ones who didn’t anticipate, but life is a constant challenge of change. This was not unpredictable.
I filled both tanks on the truck and 2 5-gal cans when this all started, $2.92/gal. I should have filled more cans.
Not enough spare $ to fill the oil tank but still have wood to heat things with.
I have to do These things if you didn’t have a F up for president
I couldn’t really do that ever under Biden. Oil was just too expensive.
Trump has been boasting that America is ENERGY INDEPENDANT thanks to him. But the truth is that oil companies operating in America can sell their oil anywhere in the world they want. And right now, there are many countries desperate for oil and are willing to pay through the nose for it. So, much of American drilled oil is being shipped to Europe and elsewhere. Does not seem right does it.
And guess who owns a ton of oil company stock? It is the same guy who has been fighting renewable energies like solar, and wind. And guess which companies are doing awesome right now on the stock exchange? It is the oil companies trump has been protecting. The ones that pay no taxes and in fact get government subsidies.
wtf
When comedy is reality
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1KHQCqDFEr/
Dan the Defeatist
Again misses completely; despite his wishful thinking, Trump is proving the prior military leaders, were indeed inept political morons.
lets review
Bush wasted 23 American soldiers , with botched Panama raid.
JFK”s Bay of Pigs fiasco-is still the biggest failure in military history.
Dan must of failed history, or skipped it altogether.
Iran gifted not the 1 I knew of 3/25 but 8 tankers of oil, to Americas strategic reserve- why the gift- if they are not in negotiations?
The IRG is in the throughs of death, as they refused Trumps initial offer of immunity, now its certain death by American or Iranian patriots hands. I’m of the mind, of arming the tortured women, enslaved for decades, Hell hath no fury, as a women scorn.
The Straight will be controlled by America, collecting 2million$ toll per cargo ship, Its fully open or fully closed-possibly permanently 🙂
Its being destroyed, is to Americas benefit. SCORCHED EARTH -Hiroshima Nagasaki style.
Closure will leave Middle east and China in stone age darkness.
America with Venezuelan oil is fine- Trump is holding the straight ransom, expect many more gifts of tankers weekly.
Iranian leadership is now targeting the IRG, for eradication, look for increased targeting of large groupings of fanatics to die, next 10 days…
I’m not Nostradamus, or anything more than a Yankee farmer- I cannot understand the credentialed classes, absolute lack of commonsense.
Education is not intellect- beginning to believe only thing taught in college is Hubris 101
Lets see how long the Planet strategically delays comment.
3/27/26@2:10pm
Tom Betit
I thought Paul Dowd had slapped some sense into him years ago.
A story that’s gone from legend to myth. True apotheosis!
The consequences for Shittsfield could be catastrophic too, the way the city pisses money away. Somebody, aka The Effeing Mayor, needs to cut the budget, biggly. All it takes is some balls.
Mayor thinks he’s a woman.
What makes you think that I’m a woman?
“Marchetti says legal action has been threatened if the Pittsfield High School report is released”
By Greg Sukiennik, The Berkshire Eagle Greg Sukiennik, March 27, 2026
PITTSFIELD — The release of a redacted version of the independent report on alleged faculty misconduct at Pittsfield High School appears to be in limbo over the potential for legal action against the schools if it is made public.
“We have received written communication from a lawyer representing an individual who is a subject in this report that they will ‘pursue all available legal remedies,’” said Catherine VanBramer, the public information officer for Mayor Peter Marchetti, in response to whether the city had been “clearly and imminently threatened” with legal action.
“In addition, we have received notice from school unions that have indicated they will consider all appropriate legal actions,” she said.
In January, the School Committee voted to release a redacted version of the full report following its review of its redactions. But in March, rather than releasing the report, the School Committee went into executive session “to discuss strategy with regard to litigation.”
When the investigation began in December 2024, the previous School Committee — most of which stepped down at the end of 2025 — said it would release the report to the extent legally allowed.
But the district’s legal counsel later advised against that, saying even a redacted release would cause an “unwarranted invasion of privacy” and have a chilling effect on witnesses’ willingness to come forward in future investigations.
Instead, executive summaries of allegations against current and former employees — not identifying any of them by name — were made public and posted on the district’s website. The report, and the state Department of Children and Families, concluded the bulk of the allegations were “unsupported.”
Later, the state Office of Public Records determined that the report, which cost the city nearly $155,000, was exempt from the public records law as it “falls within the core categories of personnel information.”
Asked Wednesday if the city’s legal counsel has advised against releasing the report at all, Marchetti declined comment.
During Wednesday’s School Committee meeting, a vote to enter executive session to discuss the matter triggered an argument between Marchetti and School Committee member Ciara Batory, who pursued public release of the report as a private citizen before being elected last fall.
In that exchange, Batory said the committee had already voted to release the redacted report without voting on it again, while Marchetti insisted that the committee had agreed upon a School Committee review of its contents before making it public. They went back and forth several times, with Marchetti ruling Batory out of order and Batory refusing to yield the floor.
The argument started when, as the School Committee was about to vote on entering executive session, Batory raised a point of order. “Can we just clarify whether there’s an active litigation or a specific legal claim?” she asked.
“There are threats,” Marchetti said.
“Okay, so then that’s just a threat. That’s not an actual legal claim,” she said
Pending litigation is one of 10 reasons a public body may go into executive session. But it must clear a bar set by the state’s open records law: that “litigation is clearly and imminently threatened or otherwise demonstrably likely.”
A review of the PCTV footage of the Jan. 28 meeting shows Batory making the motion to release the report, about 20 minutes into the meeting. In making her motion, she said “I’d like to add that the School Committee reviews [the report] before it is released to the public to make sure there is enough to present to the public.”
Carolyn Barry seconded that motion and the committee approved it 6-1 with Daniel Elias opposed.
The minutes from the Jan. 28 meeting read that the School Committee “review the Pittsfield High School Investigative Report with required redactions and approve it before it is released to the public.”
What appears to be in question is whether the committee would vote again after reviewing the redacted document. Batory noted in an email to The Eagle that no one offered such a formal amendment to her motion at the time.
“Additionally, the questions and discussion were not directed to me as the maker of the motion, which contributed to confusion and, in my view, led to my motion being interpreted in a way that was not consistent with what was actually stated,” she said.
“To be clear: my motion did not call for a re-vote. The intent was that a version of the report would be released, and I deliberately did not attempt to micromanage that process,” she said.
“My approach has been intentional — not reckless, but fair. The public deserves answers, and those answers can be provided responsibly through appropriate redactions,” Batory said. “We’ve seen other institutions, like Miss Hall’s School, choose transparency by releasing their full report. That demonstrated a commitment to honesty and to taking these matters seriously.”
Failing to follow through risks eroding trust even further, she said. “After everything parents have been through, trust is not optional — it has to be earned through action.”
As for the threat of legal action? “We were told there was significant legal risk, yet no action was taken when a summary was released,” she said. “At some point, we have to separate legitimate risk from fear-based decision-making — because the public deserves transparency, not speculation.”
Thanks for posting, JON. Mayor Lumpy is stonewalling release of the report, breaking the law, since the SC voted 1/28 to release the redacted report. This is typical chickenshit behavior. Batory should be lauded for her courageous stance on behalf of The Kapanskis. As for the rest of the SC? Piss poor.
The report first of all with the non transparent finding because of legal issues is basically exonerating any decisions on future defendants in the matter. Because it said there was no finding.
It’s essentially a form of blackmail. Pay for a report with no finding and it will all go away. But if you release the report you could be sued…..oooooooh
Very strong act On CB – nit yielding the floor. Pete Marchetti does use his chairman position to shut down challenges. Glad to see her own the Point of order too. She’s learning fast.
Just watched the video of the School Committee meeting. Evidently our women hating Mayor learned nothing from his pending lawsuit while he was working at Pittsfield Coop. His hostile behavior towards Ciara Batory the other night is totally uncalled for! He basically dismissed her like she was a piece of garbage. Showed that he does not care about the law or rules. He totally disgusts me. Who is he protecting? Hope Victoria May’s lawyers watched his interaction with Ciara the other night, it shows what Victoria went through with his behavior. He also got red faced and blew a gasket at the City Council meeting the other night. Seems like he needs some Anger Management therapy!
Thank you Ciara for standing up for the taxpayers. Thank you for doing your job as an elected official. I am sorry that you were treated so rudely.
M&B
We watched it as well. We too thought of the misogynistic aspect of the May lawsuit in viewing the Batory-Lump exchange. She stood her ground and, in the parliamentarian sense, owned him. The mayor’s only recourse was to in essence slam the gavel. Not a good look for the chair.
Advice to Tiger Woods. Get a Driver…….just sayin…”
Who is perpetrating these 100 of millions dollar trades on Wall Street,last minute by the way?
Ask the Mayor, Peter Marchetti, for a FORENSIC AUDIT. See what he says.
Release the REPORT, Mr. Mayor BIG Beer Belly!
The futures market for Brent Crude is predicting a rapid fall in price starting this summer. Of course, futures contracts are often wrong but Iran has a very weak hand. It needs oil to survive and needs the straights open. Unlike Vietnam there is virtually no support in the population for the Islamic thugs who have the weapons but little else. I think this will end well but the thugs might cause some more causalities.
Price of oil is driven by speculation. There is no real shortage and oil producers are selling. Hope you’re right about the resolution – it is truly a now or never point to attack that government. One or two assasination attempts here, mass murder on a call anywhere, and a second popular revolt hit with 40K civilians murdered, teenagers hanged in public in the dead of night makes this war almost too late but absolutely justified.
The Cold War never ended, we did not in any fashion ‘win it’, and actually went from Nixon’s detente to a strategic rise of the malevolent enemy threatening all out war.