Israel vs Iran: This War Has Been Decades in the Making

[Richard D]

Last edited Wed Jun 18, 2025, 02:02 PM - Edit history (2)

As requested, here is a "why this is an important video."

I used NotebookLM to make a briefing doc as to why this video is important:

The current state of conflict between Israel and Iran is the culmination of decades of rising tensions, rooted in a radical ideological shift within Iran following its 1979 Islamic Revolution. This revolution transformed Iran from a secular, pro-Western nation into a fundamentalist Islamist theocracy with a core mission of exporting its ideology and eradicating "little Satan" (Israel) and "big Satan" (the United States). This ambition has manifested through the financing of proxy armies, international terror plots, and a covert nuclear weapons program, posing a direct existential threat to Israel. Israel's recent actions, described as "Operation Rising Lion Kilvi," are presented as a necessary response to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities and degrade its terror network, aiming to secure Israel and the broader Western world.
II. Historical Context and Ideological Transformation

Pre-1979 Iran: Prior to the Islamic Revolution, Iran, under figures like the Shah, was characterized as "modern, secular, and relatively open to the world," maintaining "diplomatic relations with the West, including with Israel." Women were "educated and active in public life," fostering "stability and… freedoms."
The 1979 Islamic Revolution: This pivotal event "overthrew the Sha and replaced him with a fundamentalist Islamist theocracy led by Ayatollah Kumeni." The new regime fundamentally altered Iran, transforming it into an "authoritarian, anti-western, anti-democratic, anti-women country."
Core Ideology: Exporting the Revolution and Ushering in the 12th Imam: The central tenet of the new regime is "exporting its Islamist revolution and Sharia law throughout the Middle East and beyond." A key component of this ideology, specific to Shia Islam, is the belief in "the return of the Maddi, the 12th IM." This belief posits that the 12th Imam is "still alive and waiting to take over the entire Muslim world and eventually the entire world." Crucially, adherents "believe that you must be proactive in ushering in the 12th imam specifically by initiating an apocalypse with the little Satan which is Israel and the big Satan which is the United States."
The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC): The "designated military" of the Islamic Republic, the Revolutionary Guard, was "created in order to maintain the religious integrity" of the regime and is "mandated with a mission of jihad in Allah's way." Israel is explicitly "perceived as the greatest obstacle to the reappearance of the 12th IM. You must eradicate Israel in order for the Imam to reappear."

III. Iranian Aggression and Proxy Networks

Hostage Crisis (1979): Within months of the revolution, the regime "seized the US embassy into Iran and took 52 American diplomats hostage," holding them for "444 days."
Establishment and Funding of Proxy Armies: The Islamic Republic "started importing its Islamist agenda all over the world. They created and financed proxy armies all over the Middle East," including "Kamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen."
Attacks on U.S. Interests:2019: "Iran-backed militias stormed the US embassy in Baghdad."
2023: They "launched more than 170 drones and rockets attacks on US forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan wounding dozens of Americans."
International Terrorist Activities: Iranian operatives have been implicated in numerous international attacks:
Bombings of Israelis in India, Georgia, and Thailand.
Bombing of Saudi oil refineries in 2019.
1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina.
1994 Jewish community center attack in Argentina.
Recent foiled plot to "bomb the Israeli embassy in London."
Plot to assassinate "President Donald Trump" in the US.

IV. Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

Covert Development: By the early 1990s, "Israel had identified covert and reach facilities and missiles development that pointed towards a military use."
Syrian Nuclear Reactor: Iran "built a nuclear power plant in Israel's neighboring country Syria which Israel eliminated in 2007."
Deception and JCPOA (2015): Iran "lied to the international community" while advancing its nuclear program. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) "allowed Iran to keep more than 5,000 centrifuges" and, according to the source, "gave the regime a pathway to nukes."
Post-JCPOA Withdrawal (2018) Escalation: When the US withdrew from the deal, "Iran responded by accelerating everything. They enriched uranium beyond the deal's limits, stockpiled more than 20 times the allowed amount and moved operations deeper underground."
IAEA Confirmation: The IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, has "confirmed what Israel has been saying all along: Iran has been lying to the international community and they now have enough enriched uranium to build 10 to 15 nuclear bombs."

V. Israel's Rationale and Current Actions

Existential Threat: The source emphasizes that "Israel did not have a choice anymore. This was a direct threat." Iran has been "publicly promising to destroy Israel and the United States for decades," "building armies around Israel," and its "ideological extremist religious doctrines calls for the eradication of Israel and the US."
Operation Rising Lion Kilvi: This is described as a "historic campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program and degrade its terror regime."
Not About Internal Iranian Oppression: While acknowledging that the "Islamic Republic of Iran is occupying its own people," oppresses women and the LGBTQ+ community, and targets dissidents, the source clarifies: "this is not why Israel attacked… This war is not about that. It's about the safety and security of Israel, America and the West. The Islamic Republic of Iran's pursuit of nuclear bomb must be stopped."
Hamas and October 7th: The source asserts that "On October 7th, 2023, with Iran's backing, Hamas lit a match that spread across the Middle East." However, it paradoxically claims, "what Iran didn't understand was that this wasn't the beginning of their war. It was the beginning of their end."

VI. Outlook and Regional Implications

Iran's Weakening Position: The source suggests that the Iranian regime is "weaker than it has ever been before. Its economy is collapsing. Its proxies are weakening or non-existing. And its people are no longer afraid."
Opportunity for a New Middle East: This moment is framed as an opportunity to build a "new Middle East… one that is not built on terror but on peace." The source indicates that regional actors like "the Saudis… The Emiratis… Everybody knows this."
Call for Iranian Concession: The conflict can end "right now if it comes to the table." Israel's actions are presented as beneficial to the broader region, with the concluding remark: "And you can thank us later to peace."

[Richard D]

3. Didn't watch the video . . .

Did you?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. Of course not,

he just went into blame Israel mode for everything, not acknowledging that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism directed at Israel and other countries through their proxies, IE, HAMAs, Hizbollah, Houthis, and other various terrorist org.
Very transparent.

[LexVegas]

6. Anti-zionism is antisemitism. nt

[Duncanpup]

13. Bullshit I do not hate Jewish people nor do I hate the Iranian people

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181009-about-netanyahus-lies/
Netanyahu lies have been consistent over the years.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

15. And Iran's lies haven't?

[Duncanpup]

18. Let them do this on their own.

No more cash to Israel. Especially after genocide in Gaza the I.D.F. is not an army it’s an armed mob intentionally targeting civilians.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

22. I'm all for letting Israel and Iran slug it out between themselves without direct US forces involvement,

what I won't sign on to is cutting off US aid to Israel, that's a game stopper for me.

[Duncanpup]

38. That $40 billion a year.

Would sure help out here domestically. What has Israel done for us in return for our welfare nothing only constant strife and instability in region.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

42. Israel is the source of constant strife and instability in the region?

That's fucking laughable at the least, you're showing your true colors here, and again, I notice that you don't say anything about Iran's arming and financing terrorist org. to constantly attack Israel, or Iran being the biggest source of constant strife and instability in the region.

Thank you for being so transparent.

[cyclonefence]

55. Why won't Israel allow humanitarian aid to get to Gaza?

That's approaching genocide imo. Israel is approaching comparison to Germany in the 1930s. Israel, of all people!

I love the Jews--hell, I'm married to one--but Netanyahu has destroyed any enthusiasm I ever had for helping Israel in any way.

I also love the Palestinians--and they were there first.

[Goddessartist]

57. They want to starve them.

And I echo your message, as I'm also with a Jew.

[moonscape]

45. Would help in a normal admin. With this

one it would just go into private pockets.

[Richard D]

25. This is so true, and thank you for saying it . . .

. . . well, true according to Hamas and Qatar's propaganda arms. I find it so tragic that so many of the people here are knee-jerk believers in whatever Hamas says, and calls whatever Israel says lies. It will be the downfall of the Democratic party, which is already becoming known as the party of Antisemites. This is tragic.

[atreides1]

39. Well

Israel does lie!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

49. And Iran doesn't?

Can you tell us what govt. doesn't lie to their citizens?

[Duncanpup]

21. It's B.S.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181009-about-netanyahus-lies/
Same old song and dance.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

24. If you say so.

Very telling that you say zip about Iran's funding and arming their proxies attacking Israel, yes, very telling.

[Duncanpup]

29. It's from 2015

Same lies for a decade.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

33. I don't give a flying fuck what year it's from,

it's still very telling that you say zip about Iran arming and financing terrorist org. to constantly attack Israel.
Look buddy, your talking to a man who was married to a former IDF soldier who was involved in combat during the 6 day war, during her career she and her fellow soldiers were constantly sniped at by these terrorists, so don't try to bullshit me, I ain't buying it.

[Richard D]

35. Thank you

I am so glad that there are still truth-speakers here.

[Duncanpup]

36. Yet BIBI

Allowed Qatari cash to flow to Hamas.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

37. Again, I don't give a flying fuck what you think is relevant,

it's still very telling that you don't say shit about Iran, for decades, has been arming and financing terrorist orgs. to attack Israel and Iran's stated goal is to wipe Israel off the map.
Well, for Iran, the chickens are coming home to roost, and they deserve whatever Israel is delivering.

[Duncanpup]

40. Bibi allowed Qatari cash.

To arm Hamas terrorist that attack Israel on 10/7/24.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

43. Yeah, you already said that and I ain't buying the crap. nt

[Duncanpup]

46. Yes Bibi allowed funds to flow.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/middleeast/qatar-hamas-funds-israel-backing-intl
Our people do not need to be involved.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

47. ...

Our people do not need to be involved.

That is probably the only thing we agree on with this issue, but as far as cutting off aid to Israel, that's a no go from me.

[Richard D]

27. Well . . .

. . . maybe that source is BS propaganda. Sure looks like it.

But enlighten me. What in that video is BS?

[Duncanpup]

30. The video is from 2015

The same Bibi bull for a decade.

[LexVegas]

26. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism, the movement for the self-determination and statehood of the Jewish people. nt

[tritsofme]

9. lol, you say Zionist like it's a dirty word. I am a proud Zionist!

I am also proud that Israel is a Jewish state, and that Jerusalem is her eternal and indivisible capital!

[Duncanpup]

16. Zionist I think in the same sense as I refer to MAGA

Yet we do not to be involved.

[tritsofme]

17. That is pure nonsense. Your thinking is extremely distorted.

Do you think Israel has a right to exist?

[Duncanpup]

19. Yes.

Of course yet we do not need to be involved in Netanyahu folly.

[tritsofme]

31. Then you are a Zionist.

[Eko]

60. Maybe not.

I support the state of Israel's right to exist in peace but I support that for any country. What makes that Zionism?
"Zionism is a movement and ideology to reestablish and support the existence of a Jewish state in the Biblical Land of Israel. A Zionist is someone who supports Jews’ right to self-determination in their historic homeland and Israel’s right to exist."
"Notably, anti-Zionism — the belief that the Jewish people do not have the right to a national home in their ancestral homeland (e.g. that the State of Israel should not exist) — is itself widely believed by Jews and non-Jewish allies to be a form of antisemitism."
https://www.ajc.org/translatehate/Zionist
While I fully support Israels right to exist I dont believe that they have more of a right than other people already there. Zionism says that they have a right to the Biblical Land of Israel. It says nothing about the other people there. While you may think that the other people there have just as much of a right to live there in peace plenty of people who are Zionist's dont think that as is shown by the settlers taking over land and the Israel Government either supporting them or temporarily turning a blind eye to it quite often with the intent of pushing Palestinians out. So no, I am not a Zionist. You could even say I am an Anti-Zionist as I dont believe the Jewish people have a right to all the Biblical Land of Israel. I believe they have a right to a Nation that has peace equal to but not above what the other people there do. I also dont believe that someone who has not ever lived there has a right to land there over the other people already there.

[Duncanpup]

23. Bibi spewing lies for over decade

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181009-about-netanyahus-lies/

[Cuthbert Allgood]

28. I 100% think they do. Does Palestine have a right to exist?

[tritsofme]

32. Yes, I believe in a 2 state solution. However the Palestinians are a defeated people.

Given the option for peace, they chose war, and lost.

Over and over again.

If they truly want peace, they need to sue for it, on Israel’s terms.

[Richard D]

41. The so called two state solution

. . . died on October 7, at least for the foreseeable future. There are several reasons for this, the most important being that they showed their true intention toward the Jewish people, which remains to kill us all. While there may be a small minority of Gazans who wish to live in peace, the parades and celebrations that occurred in Gaza and much of Judea and Samaria showed that they can not be decent neighbors.

Peace can never be made with those who are committed to your destruction. If that truly changes, and I am unsure what metrics could effectively demonstrate that change, perhaps there may be a possibility. But certainly not until then.

[tritsofme]

44. I agree completely. We are nowhere near the point that a Palestinian state could be a viable option.

I believe it is possible, but 10/7 sent us barreling far away from there.

[Duncanpup]

51. I'm not insensitive to one miseries.

Last edited Wed Jun 18, 2025, 01:48 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/middleeast/qatar-hamas-funds-israel-backing-intl
This goes back to Abraham as we know. Yet what do you think is solution. We all hope for a peace from both sides and alls we see is more killings.

[Duncanpup]

58. I answered your question on does Israel have right to exist.

Here’s my question do you feel Palestine has the right to exist.

[tritsofme]

59. My response to that same question is in post 32.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220409956#post32

[Duncanpup]

11. Yes I watched your video.

Yet firstly a lot of parents have skin in game active duty or draft age children
This will be an air war if we do have players on the ground definitely our Tier 1 operators.
After seeing the I.D.F. in Gaza it’s not army it’s a mob and as soldiers you don’t need to mess with civilians.
Asymmetrical warfare yes . Yet I.D.F. Intentionally targets civilians.
10/7/24 was sickening yet Bibi allowed Qatari $ to flow into Palestine. https://www.972mag.com/netanyahu-hamas-october-7-adam-raz/
We do not need to be involved yet we are. And these things can go sideways and escalate into mission creep.

[Renew Deal]

2. And it's effectively over within days

Because Iran is incapable of mounting a defense.

Aside from that, the video is propaganda.

[Richard D]

20. Propaganda?

And no, it's not effectively over until it is over.

What in the video is not true?

[Renew Deal]

61. Propaganda doesn't have to be false

It is meant to influence, and she is an influencer.

[Ping Tung]

4. Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Isaac Asimov

[Richard D]

5. Didn't watch the video . . .

. . . did you?

[Ping Tung]

12. I did watch it and saw a talking head trying to justify war. aka violence.

See the 58,000 dead in Gaza for a display of Israel's intentions.

Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons. Israel does. When will it disarm?

[Richard D]

14. I guess you didn't watch the whole video

that is explained in the video.

[Ping Tung]

34. I died watch it all. Did you?

She rightfully condemned the Iranian government several time for their treatment of women. She also praised Saudi Arabia for their joining Israel against Iran. She didn't bother to praise Saudi Arabia's treatment of women.

I dismissed the whole video as an example of pro war propaganda.

There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.
Howard Zinn

[Richard D]

48. 58000 . . .

. . . is quite possibly a fabrication of the GHM. And, it is on Hamas. They could have released the hostages at any time and laid down their weapons, faced the consequences, and the war would have been over. At any time since 2005, when Israel left Gaza, they could have had peace negotiations. They could have spent the billions upon billions they received on helping bring Gaza into the 21st century. Instead, well, October 7, which can never be forgotten or forgiven. Sorry, it's not Israel's fault.

[Ping Tung]

52. "They do it so we do it" is a piss poor excuse for committring war crimes.

Are the Iranians, like the Palestinians, and the Israeli hostages, doomed to be "collateral damage" in the name of some greater cause?

[Richard D]

54. I'm so sorry . . .

. . . I find your responses irrational. Ending the conversation.

[purple_haze]

8. excellent post

thank you.

[Richard D]

10. Thank you!

Many people are uninformed about what is really happening there. It's a shame more won't watch this.

[purple_haze]

50. Willful ignorance

Has been an issue for a very long time.

At least it looks like the Iran problem will be getting handled.

[Deep State Witch]

53. Exactly This

The Shah's regime was friendly towards Israel. When the Shah was overthrown and the mullahs took over, they used the presence of Israel to whip up Islamic sentiment against the invaders. They have a specific branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps called the Quds Branch - al Quds being the Arabic name for Jerusalem - that funds anti-Israel terrorist groups like Hizaballah and HAMAS. They also fund Shia Islam-associated groups like the Houthis and various militant groups in Iraq. They are also active against Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. So, no, it's not in response to "Zionism". If anything, Netanyahu was elected in response to Iran causing trouble throughout the Middle East.

The IRGC also has a very robust international media propaganda effort. So, take everything you hear about the "Big, Bad, Israelis beating up on the poor Iranians" with a huge grain of salt.

[maxsolomon]

56. This should be in the video forum.

Or you should include a synopsis of why it's worth anyone's time to watch it.