The FT is getting much better with it's paywall and I'm having to update the bypass paywalls clean extension almost daily but here's a taste of the sagacious Gideon Rachman in the FT. I shall provide an archive as is my wont if I can. https://www.ft.com/content/04f6c510-47a8-4e05-99d5-5372fceeb395?syn-25a6b1a6=1 Of course, there are still many “known unknowns”, to quote Donald Rumsfeld, an architect of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The intervention of US land forces would be a dramatic escalation. It is possible that the social and economic pressures within Iran will eventually cause the regime to implode. But, so far, it looks remarkably resilient. Some of those who detest Trump, Israel or Saudi Arabia will enjoy the sight of the Islamic republic turning the tables on its enemies. But that is very short-sighted. The Iranian regime has sponsored violent Islamist groups across the Middle East and massacred its own people in the streets — as well as providing vital support for Russia in its war on Ukraine. If it emerges from this war embittered and emboldened, that will be bad news for global security, the world economy — and the Iranian people themselves. Unfortunately, that currently looks like a plausible outcome.
