Here are my takeaways:

1. Soviet/Russian and by extension, Chinese AD is worthless in the face of mutli layered properly planned strikes. This bodes ill for Chinese desires to unify Taiwan.

2. Israel is our attack dog. If you are going to have an ally to help you do your dirty work, have the best and the only military in the world that compares is us. Maybe the Finns and ROKs and a couple of Brit Regiments. In todays world, Israel stands out. They are basicly doing our work (1200 strikes vs 900, they use air we use missles.)

NOTE: 24/7 air coverage has been announced over Iran. That means there is no AD at all. That means we control the skies.

3. #2 relates to point 1. Mossad is everywhere. What they dont know, we do. Im sure Kim is worried. Vlad isnt happy either.

4. Europe blew it. They should have joined in backslapping then extracted some concessions on Ukraine. Irans defeat helps Ukraines. Thats because there is no Europe, only feuding little countries.

5. Hitting Dubai was a huge mistake.

6. Saudi Arabia will have a peace treaty in a year with Israel.

21 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Soviet/Russian and by extension, Chinese AD is worthless in the face of mutli layered properly planned strikes. This bodes ill for Chinese desires to unify Taiwan.

The much hyped latest Chinese anti-stealth radar turned out to be junk. This sends a message to East Asia as well. Get your F35s now. American systems, even older F16s, come with a system wide advantage over anything China or Europe produces. Dumb move by Thailand going with the Gripens over the F16s. Thailand will now be on the outside of the American air defense network looking in.

7 minutes ago, John Drake said:

The much hyped latest Chinese anti-stealth radar turned out to be junk. This sends a message to East Asia as well. Get your F35s now. American systems, even older F16s, come with a system wide advantage over anything China or Europe produces. Dumb move by Thailand going with the Gripens over the F16s. Thailand will now be on the outside of the American air defense network looking in.

The way the Israelis are modifying the F35s is sure to find its way down the supply chain too.

Its not just the hardware, its the thousands of combat trained pilots, technicians and maintenance crews we (and the Israelis) have.

15 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

The way the Israelis are modifying the F35s is sure to find its way down the supply chain too.

Its not just the hardware, its the thousands of combat trained pilots, technicians and maintenance crews we (and the Israelis) have.

If these systems are so superior, how do you explain Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan? Hint; Wars are won on the ground.

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

Dumb move by Thailand going with the Gripens over the F16s.

I recommend that you do your homework before you make a statement like this. Thailand is not a NATO member.

Gripen is for TH definitley the better choice.

gripen vs f16

AI:

Key Comparisons:

• Cost & Logistics: The Gripen E/F has significantly lower hourly operating costs (approx. $4,500/hr) compared to the F-16 Block 70 (approx. $7,000/hr). It is designed for rapid turnarounds and requires a smaller, less specialized ground crew.

• Performance: The Gripen excels in low-drag, high-agility, and supersonic speed, even when fully armed. The F-16 holds an advantage in maximum weapons load and thrust-to-weight ratio.

• Sensor & Avionics: The Gripen E/F features advanced, integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems. Its ISA radar provides superior, precise, and fast target detection.

• Suitability: The F-16 is ideal for nations with existing US-based infrastructure and looking for high compatibility with NATO. The Gripen is highly suitable for nations prioritizing cost-efficiency and superior, independent EW capabilities.

1 minute ago, Schoggibueb said:

Gripen is for TH definitley the better choice.

Unless you are fighting China. You could use Cessnas on Cambodia and Burma

Vlad has good reason to be worried. He's losing his friends one after another. I'm sure he's wondering who'll be next in line.

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

The much hyped latest Chinese anti-stealth radar turned out to be junk. This sends a message to East Asia as well. Get your F35s now. American systems, even older F16s, come with a system wide advantage over anything China or Europe produces. Dumb move by Thailand going with the Gripens over the F16s. Thailand will now be on the outside of the American air defense network looking in.

Sure if you want to live under the boot of the US, They US can disable those jets whenever they want. F that.

21 minutes ago, swissie said:

The "west" has not yet understood that it is not the Ayatollas that run the country. It's the "revolutionary guards" that run the country (politically and economically). A powerful state within the state. To eliminate them, it will take ground forces.

Not our boots

3 minutes ago, swissie said:

It's the "revolutionary guards" that run the country (politically and economically).

The Revolutionary Guards, at least the faction that controls the cash, are tired of seeing their legitimate business activities hit by sanctions simply because of the mullahs' ideological intransigence and their suicidal mission of "death to America, death to Israel."

Trump claims that 48 leaders have been killed in attacks on Iran, including the former president Ahmadinejad.

Such a remarkable achievement would not have been possible without dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Iranians government insiders who volunteered information on the whereabouts of their leaders, and planted bugs and GPS trackers all around them.

I'm willing to bet that neither the CIA nor the Mossad had to pay a cent for their collaboration. They volunteered solely out of despise for the Ayatollah's regime.

5 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

The Revolutionary Guards, at least the faction that controls the cash, are tired of seeing their legitimate business activities hit by sanctions simply because of the mullahs' ideological intransigence and their suicidal mission of "death to America, death to Israel."

Trump claims that 48 leaders have been killed in attacks on Iran, including the former president Ahmadinejad.

Such a remarkable achievement would not have been possible without dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Iranians government insiders who volunteered information on the whereabouts of their leaders, and planted bugs and GPS trackers all around them.

I'm willing to bet that neither the CIA nor the Mossad had to pay a cent for their collaboration. They volunteered solely out of despise for the Ayatollah's regime.

I agree.

But not to forget, the revolutionary guards have managed to catapult themselves into a "privileged class". Financially and otherwise. Like every privileged class, they will defend their privileges with vigor, knowing if they lose, they lose everything.

Takeaways from The Iran Strike, The regime is attacking innocent countries and people.

This is what State sponsored terror looks like.

google ai overview:

Indiscriminate Attacks on Regional Sovereignty: The Iranian regime launched waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting multiple countries across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Israel. These actions were described by neighboring Arab nations as a "flagrant violation" of their sovereignty, targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas.

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

Takeaways from The Iran Strike, The regime is attacking innocent countries and people.

Innocent countries, as in those who provide logistical support for the attacks, and those that were vocally supporting the attacks?

Cry me a river comes to mind.

Trump isn't smart enough, or simply does not care, what this unnecessary war will incite.

More important than his base turning against him, or new critics like Ted Cruz have called Trump's justification spurious, or Rep Thomas Massie Tweeted, "PSA: Bombing a country on the other side of the globe won’t make the Epstein files go away, any more than the Dow going above 50,000 will,", is another likely outcome or two.

When faced with strategic superiority, the victims feel impotent. They build a need to find some way to strike back and inflict pain on anyone remotely responsible in their minds. Expect many more random attacks against westerners all around the world. One will prompt others. Someone will stab a dozen people somewhere, and others will play copycat. Lots of Iranians in Pattaya, and lots of fat old westerners, who would be easy targets. It won't just be Iranians, either. Other Shi'a will join. Eventually Sunni populations in Gulf countries will view this as a war against Moslems, and they will take it out on their own leadership, monarchs who are complicit in this attack. The entire Middle East, which was never particularly stable, is going to become a lot less so. The Neocon clowns who predicted taking out Saddam would unleash democracy across the entire Moslem world did not get that too right.

As I wrote elsewhere, a famous saying in the Arab world is "Me against my brother; my brother and I against you".

As for Iran itself, it's a nation of 93 million, where the "approval rating" for Khamenei was about equal to Trump's approval rating in the US. That means maybe 30+ million Iranians are now angry. More will join as they see an outside power destroying their already difficult lives. A million of those at least are in the Revolutionary Guard. They won't just "lay down their weapons". Trump is eventually going to have to make a choice of putting boots on the ground, which would result in more deaths than Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The American people, even those who support Trump, like clean wars where nobody on our side dies. Any boots on the ground obviates that. When planeloads of body bags hit Dover, people might remember what Gen Kelly swears by: Trump called the dead in previous wars and battles "suckers and losers". He's making money while young servicepeople die.

One final point. Even leaders in "s-hole" countries are not stupid. They see "Iran attacked; North Korea not attacked". The difference is not "love letters", but nukes. Everyone is going to wants their own nukes now. They will develop them if they can, or hit the open market and buy from China, North Korea, Pakistan, etc. Nuclear scientists are going to be able to command the signing bonuses common to AI experts.

It's a bit too early to declare "Mission Accomplished".

Trumps making a lot of Iranian friends recently. I notice they're not chanting biden era "death to America" now. The world loves Trump as do most, EXCEPT for the haters-losers. Must truly suck deeply witnessing Trumps accomplishments and people thanking him as he delivers on his mission for peace and freedom in the gulf region.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-01/photos-l-a-s-iranian-american-community-celebrates-in-westwood

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15602459/iranians-america-white-house-celebrations.html

15 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Soviet/Russian and by extension, Chinese AD is worthless in the face of mutli layered properly planned strikes. This bodes ill for Chinese desires to unify Taiwan.

To what extent were/are the Iranian Air Defense systems provided by, trained by and even advised (manned) by Russia or China. How modern are they, the latest systems or 40 year old "export spec" Soviet systems?

I don't know, I'm far from current in such matters, you seem to be, perhaps you can explain?

15 hours ago, John Drake said:

The much hyped latest Chinese anti-stealth radar turned out to be junk. This sends a message to East Asia as well. Get your F35s now. American systems, even older F16s, come with a system wide advantage over anything China or Europe produces. Dumb move by Thailand going with the Gripens over the F16s. Thailand will now be on the outside of the American air defense network looking in.

The system advantage is that it can be bricked by US (probably not literally)! 🤣

These guys look tough.

The masks look menacing.

The scarves not so much though.

Here is your President:

In a video noting the deaths of 3 military members so far, he tossed out the usual pabulum about "ultimate sacrifice", and finished by saying "There will likely be more [deaths], as "that just the way it is" in a totally un-empathetic, non-Bruce Hornsby & the Range kind of way and in a nonchalant manner.

Right after that, at a time when the US is at war and the Middle East is on fire, Trump posted a boast of how Lady Gaga's father voted for him in 2024.

When someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder also suffers from dementia........

12 hours ago, swissie said:

The "west" has not yet understood that it is not the Ayatollas that run the country. It's the "revolutionary guards" that run the country (politically and economically). A powerful state within the state. To eliminate them, it will take ground forces.

You are right, it's a system. The most influential institution is likely the Guardian Council.

40 minutes ago, boganJoe said:

Trumps making a lot of Iranian friends recently. I notice they're not chanting biden era "death to America" now. The world loves Trump as do most, EXCEPT for the haters-losers. Must truly suck deeply witnessing Trumps accomplishments and people thanking him as he delivers on his mission for peace and freedom in the gulf region.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-01/photos-l-a-s-iranian-american-community-celebrates-in-westwood

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15602459/iranians-america-white-house-celebrations.html

You must have missed it.

More than 100K people marched in Isfahan chanting "Death to America". The same thing happened in other cities.

By the way, why aren't you volunteering to be a boots on the ground and go help those Trump lovers in Iran? Bone spurs got you?

4 minutes ago, Wingate said:

In a video noting the deaths of 3 military members so far, he tossed out the usual pabulum about "ultimate sacrifice"

I'm surprised he didn't call them losers because they couldn't stay alive.

Don't worry, everything is under control.

1 hour ago, Wingate said:

Here is your President:

In a video noting the deaths of 3 military members so far, he tossed out the usual pabulum about "ultimate sacrifice", and finished by saying "There will likely be more [deaths], as "that just the way it is" in a totally un-empathetic, non-Bruce Hornsby & the Range kind of way and in a nonchalant manner.

Right after that, at a time when the US is at war and the Middle East is on fire, Trump posted a boast of how Lady Gaga's father voted for him in 2024.

When someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder also suffers from dementia........

I also watched that and i could not beleive how blase the grifter was when he was speaking. I really do think he does not give a ff about anyone at all except himself.

1 hour ago, Wingate said:

Bone spurs got you?

People that lost their minds over the fake news that Trump mocked a disabled person, are openly mocking someone for their disability.

Have we reached peak stupidity yet?

3 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

People that lost their minds over the fake news that Trump mocked a disabled person, are openly mocking someone for their disability.

Have we reached peak stupidity yet?

No, you MAGA guys continuously push the boundaries on that.

Takeaways from the attack on Iran:

If starting a war, have clear objectives. Sounds elementary, but when the nation that starts it is run by moronic clowns, such obvious stuff might be forgotten, as this was is a prime example of.

'Trump has no realistic plan for Iran’s future'

https://www.ft.com/content/437130e7-ed4e-4919-8bf3-ac38c2eed6af

https://archive.ph/aXsHX

"The US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003 underlined the dangers of “regime change” wars. But those operations look meticulously planned, compared to the current US and Israeli assault on Iran. In both Afghanistan and Iraq, the US and its allies were prepared to deploy ground forces — first to overthrow the government and then to restore order and oversee a transition to a new political system.

Trump is now committed to a process for which there is no real precedent: regime change brought about by air power alone."

Takeaways from the attack on Iran:

If taking out the leaders, don't kill those you have picked as replacements. Again, elementary, but if you elect clowns, expect a circus.

Jonathan Karl, chief Washington correspondent for ABC News:

https://x.com/jonkarl/status/2028299468223676673?s=20

Takeaways from the attack on Iran:

If you're using negotiations as a tactic to take out those you pretend to negotiate with, expect not to be trusted, ever again.

Iran agreed to basically every demand the US gave them, and they bombed the Iranians when the Iranian leadership gathered to discuss the latest proposals.

Takeaways from the attack on Iran:

If you're gonna tell bald faced lies, at least be coordinated and consistent.

'Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first, sources say'

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pentagon-tells-congress-no-sign-that-iran-was-going-attack-us-first-sources-say-2026-03-02/