LOTS OF QUESTIONS, NOT MANY ANSWERS ON IRAN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2026) — In 1973, with the Vietnam War reaching Act IV given the Paris Peace Accords and another two years left until the disastrous exit from Saigon (remember those helicopters being thrown overboard?), Congress passed the War Powers Act in a legislative attempt to wrestle control from the Oval Office over the power to launch war.
The Act has proven toothless, with the rise of an imperial presidency, Congressional infighting, and the parsing of the word “war.” The most recent example is President Donald Trump’s invasion of Iran. It’s not a “war.” It’s a “limited military operation” begun for “national security purposes.”
Right.
Sounds like Vladimir Putin’s excuse for his Ukraine jaunt, now in its fifth year. Of course, everything being politicized today, the Other Side of the Aisle isn’t buying it, claiming that Trump Iran’s nuclear threat was “exaggerated” to supply the pretext for military intervention. More troubling to THE PLANET is something Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. He told the press that U.S. intelligence learned that Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu was about to attack Iran. Rubio said this would have caused retaliation on U.S. interests, and that’s why America acted in a preemptive way. All well and good, but why allow Israel to yank America’s foreign policy chain?
Which is it?
There’s no question about the evidence. Iran has been the global agent for funding terrorism (Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, The Taliban. Can nothing short of the total destruction of Iran’s militant Muslim theocracy affect global terror?
One can select the political framing for this modern-art canvas: The right will say that Trump gave Iran plenty of opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement. The left counters that Trump’s negotiations were simply a cover for a predetermined invasion. Right: Trump is giving Iranians a chance to “take back their nation.” Left: Trump has broken international law by assassinating the head of a sovereign nation. Right: This is about freedom. Left: This is about oil.
Is it war? Yes. Has regional stability worsened. Yes. Has the world become safer? No. As of press time, six U.S. soldiers have been killed. The State Department has urged Americans in the Middle East to leave.
So where does all this leave us?
- Trump says the war — yes, let’s call it that — will continue for “several weeks,” four or five, but says he’s ready “to go far longer than that,” leading THE PLANET to wonder about the exit plan. Is there one, and if so, what?
- We must assume U.S. intelligence has an adequate if not accurate assessment of Iran’s military capacity to fight back, and that won’t be shared with the public.
- Rubio said “The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now.” Ground troops?
- This move will have dramatic long-term consequences. That’s certain, but what will they be for America and the world? Good or bad? Up or down?
- The nuclear capabilities of Iran have been unquestionably hampered, but what of their conventional military abilities? Already, many Middle East countries have come under fire from the mullahs, including the once safe-haven of Dubai.
- How long will nuclear-armed China, Russia, Pakistan, and North Korea be patient and uninvolved?
- You’ve heard the cliche “the fog of war?” We got a huge taste when our ally, Kuwait, mistakenly shot down three F-15E Strike Eagles. All six pilots ejected and are hospitalized in stable condition.
- In Tehran, Iran’s top security official made it clear on X: “We will not negotiate with the United States.”
- World markets have gone jittery, especially after Iran aircraft began attacking the oil refinery stations in the Persian Gulf and natural-gas production facilities in Qatar. European natural gas prices shot up 40% overnight. In the Hormuz Straight, through which passes 20% of the world’s oil, several ships came under attack from bordering Iran. Crude prices rose 6%. Trump said he may use the Navy to escort commercial ships through the Straight, with America picking up the insurance.
Is America’s main aim “nation building” in Iran? No says Defense Secretary Pete Hesgeth: “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”
Perhaps so, but since Bush Lite declared the War on Terror 23 years ago, the United States has spent countless trillions in the Middle East and many lives.
What have we gained in all that time, except that the jinn has been let out of the bottle.
We invite your comments.
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“The ‘War on Terror’ is a war that can’t be one nor can it be won” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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World War One was supposed to be the war to end all wars. It led to…
World War Two saw the most deaths in human history.
World War Three will be about survival of the U.S.A. Superpower State.
President Donald Trump knows that going to war with Iran and others is the only way to maintain American Supremacy in the world.
The world cannot survive without the U.S.A. leading the way. The U.S.A. cannot survive without being a Superpower State.
There’s a song out there from the 80’s called “Don’t try to live your life in one day” – by Howard Jones. This has been going on since the late 70’s. Thomas Jefferson is frequently referenced for his 1801 decision to send the U.S. Navy to fight the Barbary pirates. Trump is taking decisive action.
If, God forbid, Iran ever used a nuclear bomb, the Dems would pivot and say that Trump is responsible for the deaths of millions. Remember 9/11 when they kept up the constant line that George Bush was asleep at the wheel and should have prevented the attack. It happened on his watch so he is responsible. George Bush was reading stories to children when the attack happened the Dems said constantly. Here we have President Trump trying to prevent a massive loss of life and all we hear is that we already have dead military and will be involved in an endless war and President Trump is a dictator according to the Democrats.
Thanks, PAT.
I agree that a political extremist country such as Iran should NEVER possess nuclear weapons.
The Democrats are alleging that Trump’s military conflict against Iran is to distract us from him being named in the Epstein Files.
Jeffrey Epstein is believed to be an Israeli-American SPY who is said to have written about Trump going to war against Iran.
Similar to the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky blow jobs scandal from 30 years ago, the Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein scandal of today is a distraction.
Putin may use all of the above distractions to his advantage. China wants to invade and take over Taiwan.
I quoted your second sentence below and wanted to add a few comments to it.
JM: “The Democrats are alleging that Trump’s military conflict against Iran is to distract us from him being named in the Epstein Files.”
I performed a VendettaChaptGPT and ran that sentence through an AI program and asked why democRATS sat on their asses and the files during the ENTIRE Autopen Administration, but now it’s a “big deal.”
VendettaChatGPT: “Only a$$holes and idiots, also known as today’s democRAT party, still believe this is true. It’s much like the Nancy Pelosi/DNC staged January 6th insurrection. None of the people being let into the Capitol be uniformed and non-uniformed federal employees, were armed. Nobody was ever charged with insurrection, but a$$holes and idiots (democRATS) still believe it and post about it, like it is fact.
Wow, VendettaChatGPT, it really does work. Maybe I haven’t given you enough credit for posting all your AI-generated posts. Good job, Dude!!
Reallty? These are a few of trumps first kills..in his first bombing hour…targeted kills to show what a badass he is
More Than 100 Reported Killed in Strike on Girls’ Elementary School in Iran. Here’s What We Know
ADD TIME ON GOOGLEby
Rebecca Schneid
and
Roxana Saberi
Mar 1, 2026 4:25 PM ET
A strike on a girls’ elementary school in the opening salvo of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday killed more than 100 children, according to Iranian officials and teachers inside the country.
The strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, a city in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran, on Saturday morning, the start of the school week in Iran, when children were in class.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on reports that the initial strikes from Israeli and United States forces on Iran struck a girls’ school, killing up to 175 people, most of them schoolgirls between the ages of 7 and 12 years old.
“Not that we know of,” Leavitt responded when asked during Wednesday’s briefing if the Trump administration was aware of the apparent strike, and appeared to suggest the reports were “propaganda” from Iranian state media.
We all fully understand your elevator doesn’t quite reach the top few floors, by your posts on The Planet.
So, with that being said Meanwhile, I’m giving you a chance to redeem your Anti-American self.
Cut and paste when you posted on The Planet about Iran killing 30,000+ of their citizens, because I don’t recall you EVER posting about it. I read all your anti-American, TDS posts, on here daily.
I even provided you with a link to read up on it:
https://time.com/7357635/more-than-30000-killed-in-iran-say-senior-officials/
You are incapable of responding to anything without using the TDS term, Nazi.
47 years Iran has terrorized the world!
Barely a hundred hours into this conflict, and Iranian Shite fanatics are now facing Saudi and Kurdish forces.
The Kurds are the lions of Middle East, and will feast on their enemies, problem will be stopping the slaughter.
The Kid gloves are off, it will be a very interesting weekend.
IRG is rightfully panicked, about uprisings.
They are about to be the hunted:)
Conflict will most likely, end before Easter.
The Iranian Banty rooster , lost its head, upon decapitation- had a last extinction burst- typical at slaughter.
wont be the last- but the coop is
Dan
The 3 Objectives, are public- you’re fast becoming Hanoi Jane.
3/4/26@1:30p
Tom
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/81922/Lt.-Maddalena-Named-Chief-of-Police-in-Pittsfield.html
Breaking news in Pittsfield: Marc Maddalena is the new Chief of Police.
I know. Try to contain your shock.
This was clearly the result of a long, rigorous, completely unpredictable selection process that absolutely wasn’t quietly decided months ago. The mayor definitely didn’t have a preferred outcome sitting in a folder somewhere while the rest of the city went through the motions.
No, no. Pure merit. Pure coincidence.
Now before the pearl-clutching begins, this is not a personal dig at the new chief. By all accounts Marc Maddalena is a decent guy. That’s not the point.
The point is the same old Pittsfield system. Or as some of us like to call it… “Petesfield.”
The same good-ol’-boys pipeline where the ending is written long before the public show begins. The same insider choreography where everyone pretends to be shocked when the exact person who was expected to win… wins.
Just like the last time.
Pittsfield has perfected a special forms of civic theater. Step one: write the ending. Step two: stage a “process.” Step three: hold a press conference and ask everyone to clap like we just witnessed a miracle.
The public is supposed to believe this was a competitive race. A nail-biter. A true battle of qualifications.
Sure.
About as competitive as a marathon where one runner started at the finish line six months ago.
And half of you will happily ignore it because you personally like Maddalena. That’s the funny part.
When your guy benefits from the backroom system, suddenly corruption isn’t corruption anymore. It’s just “how things work.” But let a Black candidate, a trans candidate, or a loudmouth woman land in that same seat and you’d suddenly rediscover your deep passion for fairness and merit.
Funny how that works.
Anyone paying attention has been saying since last fall exactly how this story would end.
And look at that.
Another Pittsfield miracle./
The script worked perfectly.
Again.
Thanks VAL. The mayor said he offered the job to the #1 exam placer, but he said he couldn’t take the job because of personal issues. What do you think? Do you buy that?
Kristi Noem available?
Let me try this again, slowly, because apparently the concept keeps flying right over some heads.
Murphy was never trying to become chief. Not for a second. His role in this little production was very simple: show up, take the test, and create the illusion that there was an actual competition.
Nothing more. Why bother with the theater? Because last time they ran this play, it backfired. When Wynn retired and they wanted Dawley in the chair, nobody bothered to show up and “compete.” The whole thing looked exactly like what it was… prearranged.
So this time they adjusted the script.
Enter Murphy, stage right, to provide the appearance of a race so the public could watch the show and pretend the outcome wasn’t already decided months ago.
I have explained this repeatedly, but some of you still seem determined to miss the point. At this stage I’m not sure if it’s confusion… or selective comprehension.
Again, thanks for the comments. Well written, well expressed.
How do you know he’s a good guy? First of all nobody I know likes cops. It’s funny, I was talking to a young man who wants to be a fireman. I said why don’t you apply for a police. He says,no way,there not liked at all.
Oh it’s absolutely true. Nobody wants to be a cop anymore. Not here. Not anywhere. The profession that once carried some level of respect and authority has been dragged through the mud so thoroughly that now half the public sees a badge and thinks “government-issued criminal.”
Trust in policing didn’t just erode… it collapsed.
So when people ask where I’d place him on the scale, here’s the honest answer.
If 1 is “criminal with a badge” and 10 is “trusted public servant,” he probably lands somewhere around a 7.
Which, in the current climate, actually puts him on the better side of the roster.
That’s not sainthood. Let’s not get dramatic. He’s made his share of mistakes like everyone else in that building. There are legitimate reasons some people dislike him.
But compared to some of the other personalities floating around that department… he’s hardly the villain people want to pretend he is. I give him 2 years before he “retires”.
An accurate assessment, VV.
Nice guy? Ain’t what I’ve heard.
When will the Healey Administration follow the voters direction and have an outside audit done to find all the waste?? So far it’s been 1 1/2 years and still nothing. How long do you think the income tax to 4% will take?
The voters overwhelmingly (72%) approved an audit of the State Legislature, Since then Healey, AG Campbell, and the Leadership have been fighting the state auditor, who has been trying to force the crooks to comply with the vote. Of course, this is the Matriarchy of Massachusetts (MOM), and MOM has been anti-taxpayers for pro-illegals and welfare bums.