There seems to be a lot of delusional thinking here

[Melon]

and in other liberal leaning Internet forums on Irans current position in the conflict and their ability to somehow extract victory out of the ashes.

There is an inability to differentiate between the actual performance of the US in the conflict and
our inner anger at the justification for the war.

Anger at the existence of the war should absolutely not cloud our understanding of how the war is going. Wishes should not become facts that the war is somehow going good for Iran.

They are not waiting for the US to run out of missiles or offensive weapons. That is simply not going to happen. They are unable to coordinate any kind of either offense or defense to protect them selves. They have no ability to meaningfully fight back.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. And yet, the US does not have control of Iran on the ground

And it’s unlikely the Kurdish surrogates will gain control either.

[Nictuku]

5. Why would the Kurds Trust the US, after (under TSF), they were so terribly Betrayed??

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/05/will-america-betray-kurds-again/

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. I don't know that they trust the US

But so far they have gotten a ton of free weapons from the CIA.

If they will carry out their assigned mission remains to be seen.

[Melon]

7. The Iranian people need to rise up

There are not enough Kurds and they are at the border. The Iranian people need to somehow fill the vacuum.

[dpibel]

19. What vacuum?

Your OP says it's all over. Why do the Iranian people need to rise up?

We've WON!!!!

That's what you said in the OP.

[Fiendish Thingy]

22. The Revolutionary guard is organized and well armed

Haven’t heard any reports of them losing control of the streets in the major cities.

“Rising up” may take some time, if it happens at all.

[pat_k]

27. And the Basij is vast

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221070279

[pat_k]

26. There is NO "vacuum." Do you understand that the IRGC/Basij is a vast military, industrial, economic conglomerate...

... deeply embedded in every segment of the Iranian society. The oppressive power of the IRGC / Basij is effectively independent of the rule of the Ayatollahs.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221070279

[Melon]

29. There is a vacuum in high level leadership for the mikitary

The communication lines are cut. If a coupe were to occur, it’s not usually the people fighting the military. It’s portions of the military personnel and leadership rising up to fight their government.

[pat_k]

30. No. There isn't.

Last edited Fri Mar 6, 2026, 01:40 AM - Edit history (1)

The Artesh (regular army) is about 600,000 strong. Key positions maintain levels of succession. They are a fairly conventional territorial defense.

But the IRGC/Basij is a COMPLETELY different animal.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221070279

[gab13by13]

2. When will we be greeted with rose petals?

[sheshe2]

28. Two weeks. nt

[KentuckyWoman]

48. Duzy. nt

[choie]

57. You forgot the candy.

[Nictuku]

3. I had some difficulties differentiating between Russia's rhetoric (vs Ukraine) and the US propaganda to

I had some difficulties differentiating between Russia's rhetoric (vs Ukraine) and the US propaganda to justify its attack on Iran (Russia, even after 5 years, does not call it a 'War', it is a SMO - Special Military Operation. US is saying this is not a War, but a Special Combat Operation.

War is War. Propaganda is Propaganda

MAKE LYING WRONG AGAIN!

[NewHendoLib]

4. you mean the superfluous war that orange asshole started to take the focus off Epstein?

[PufPuf23]

16. IMHO Epstein's connection to Likud's version of Israel requires closer inspection.

Epstein activities with arms trade, dark money and blackmail in the ME to favor Israel date back to Iran-Contra.

Time to rip off the bandage.

[bdamomma]

62. War in Iran

is a distraction for Epstein files and possibly to cancel the US mid-term elections among other things Bibi is dirty too. Just like DJT. Just my two cents.

The other underlying thing is the Christian White Nationalists who want Armageddon in the area for the rapture. They are that mentally sick.

[CentralMass]

8. The issue is that one man made the decison to enter the country into a war.

He did not seek Congressional approval.
the Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war under Article I, Section 8. The founding fathers intent was the that the people, throught their proxy, Congress, have to give their approval to go to war. I'm certainly not rooting for Iran and support our military but it is unknown what kind of clusterf'k the Mango Malefactor has gotten us into and what the blowback and consequences will be.

[pat_k]

9. Bombing the shit out of a country does not "regime change" make.

I don't know where you are getting the notion that people here think the war is "going well" for Iran. I've seen no analysis or assertions that suggest that.

What I've seen is a lot of analysis and recognition that it is a shit show, and was destined to be such from the outset.

I've seen clear-eyed analyses from people with substantial expertise -- people like Tom Nichols -- that point to there being numerous paths to things getting WORSE, and a near zero chance of "regime change" for the better.

I've seen recognition of the fact that this war of aggression is a violation of international law and deeply immoral, not to mention that is is being prosecuted without the approval of Congress. (And NO, failure of the war powers bill to reign in the felon does NOT constitute authorization.) And in light of that, how "well" or "badly" the war is "going" for the United States or for Iran is irrelevant to the epic WRONGNESS.

The notion that decapitating the Iranian regime would somehow be sufficient was insane from the get go. And if you disagree, perhaps consider this post:

Let's talk about the magnitude of the IRGC/Basij military, industrial, economic conglomerate
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221070279

[msongs]

15. when iranian's lives are more miserable due to trump than the ayatollahs what then nt

[Melon]

36. War of aggression is what people down south

Use to call the Civil War. They’d call it “ The war of Northern Aggression…”.

[OldBaldy1701E]

70. There are still people who refer to it with that term.

I know of one that is a freaking History teacher!

[vanessa_ca]

10. Good Lord!

Off to the trash with this nonsense

[Melon]

12. 🙄 .... What nonsense....

[Melon]

20. Agreed. They rarely are.

Iran does have some modern weapons. They were using s-400 missile systems which China also uses. With that…they didn’t shoot down a single plane. Israel and the US are flying openly around Iran now with no return fire.

But the posts that Iran is saving there best technology or secret missiles etc is just fantasy. They are almost out of the bare basics which are truck mounted launchers.

They have a bunch of drones. They are slow prop driven drones with a cheap two stroke engine. Very slow and loud but cheap. The US sets up C-Ram gatling defense systems and other cheaper defense systems for these.

[Prairie Gates]

13. If only everybody were as clear-sighted as you!

[Nictuku]

14. Think about this: How would the World's Catholics react if Iran Killed the Pope?

The Ayatollah was the Spiritual Leader for, not Just Iran, but for all Shia Muslims WORLD-WIDE. The Quest for Revenge Against Americans has not even begun in the chaos of War.

This is a Huge Mistake on the Part of Americans, especially if it comes out that the US did it at the prodding of Israel.

Stupid Motherfuckers is all I can say. This will not end soon. Especially if his Son retains the seat as the new Ayatollah. The US/Israel attack did not only kill his Father, but they also killed his wife and children. Revenge is the Word of the Day, to be realized all too soon, I fear. Not on our Dear Leader who lies more than he breathes, but to Americans now in danger all across the globe.

Idiots

[Prairie Gates]

25. "There still be opportunities for gorilla actions"

The military expert, ladies and gentleman. Gorilla actions.

[SamuelTheThird]

38. 'gorilla actions' lol

No one thinks Iran can 'win' militarily. What they can do is inflict global economic pain, which they are. Just -for example- look at Qatar stopping natural gas production, and just how much of the world depends on that.

[displacedvermoter]

61. Or if we bombed Mecca or Rome?

Qm is the religious center of the Shiite faith, and Israel is routinely bombing it now. I am sure noone in Iran is tucking that away for future reference.

[dpibel]

17. Yeah, dude! Afghanistan was helpless against our might, too!

I think you should talk to GW Bush about the premature hanging of "Mission Accomplished" banners.

[newdeal2]

35. Now that's the real point in all of this

25 years of war and American democracy
and look at Afghanistan now. Why will Iran be different?

[Melon]

37. Afghanistan now is trying to attract tourist dollars

They also don’t want terrorism. It’s bad for business.

[True Dough]

51. Enjoy your vacation

in Kabul!

[yaesu]

18. I hate everything ours and Iran fascist regimes does but you are right

Iran is a paper tiger militarily, no air force, no navy to speak of, about the only sea threat is a dozen or so miny 7man subs that can take out shipping, freighters, maybe a lone navy ship outside a carrier group. They have a large standing army only good for human wave assaults, aka, suicide missions.

[pat_k]

34. There is a distinct difference between the Artesh (regular army) and the IRGC / Basij

Discussion seems to assume we are dealing with the type of military we are familiar with -- a "regular" army.

In Iran, that is the Artesh.

But the true oppressive power is in the vast military/industrial/economic might of the IRGC / Basij

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221070279

[Cosmocat]

21. Its not all or nothing either way

I do agree that people can be in a space where they are overly critical of the US military and over stating Iran's position, Im kind of fighting that personally.

The US is going to dominate the air and waters. At the same time Iran has been preparing for this a long time and are like all the others in the ME - highly patient, pragmatic, and 1,000% committed.

But, the US can't "win" this because DT either simply won't put boots on the ground in Iran or if he does it will be even worse than Afghanistan or Iraq.

.

[LeftInTX]

31. Trump will likely cut and run when he gets bored, price of oil gets too high or congress pushes him.

Generally he has 60 days.

He will likely need congressional approval for ground troops.

[SamuelTheThird]

32. You've been demonstrably wrong about the war

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21071828

'Iran is only a threat to the Straits verbally at this point. ' that was your claim

Yet Iran has successfully attacked tankers with missiles and a drone boat. Hence the huge downturn in traffic.

[Prairie Gates]

67. March 6: US and Israel bombing sites in Bandar Abbas, presumably to prevent more hits on shipping

in the Strait of Hormuz.

Link to RAI Italia

I guess the OP was wrong about that, too.

[LudwigPastorius]

39. Since you brought up "victory", let me ask you two questions.

What constitutes victory for the United States? And, what defines victory for Iran?

[LudwigPastorius]

41. I would bet against that happening.

Bombing and killing people tends to make them put aside their internal differences and focus their wrath on the outsiders doing the killing.

Also see historic precedence: Somalia in the 90s, Afghanistan post-9/11, Libya post-Gadaffi, Iraq (grade it "incomplete" for having the trappings of a democracy, but still a corrupt and failed government)

[dpibel]

42. As the OP said:

A lot of delusional thinking going on here.

[moniss]

44. I rec'd based on the hope but would

point out we don't even have that here in the US.

[AloeVera]

55. "Democracy " is the imaginary clothing worn by the Emperor.

Visible only to the naive and delusional, make-believe to the complicit. The rest of us can see the Emperor/Empire has no clothes.

[Scrivener7]

64. Just like what happened in Iraq, right?

Look how well that turned out.

[scipan]

46. (running out of missles) is simply not going to happen? Tell the Atlantic

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221074139

I am really sure that we have more capabilities. But that doesn't mean it will be easy to just conquer Iran.

[BidenRocks]

47. We are winning their hearts and minds, right?

Right?!

[SonOfNebanaube]

56. 90 million new terrorists birthed is what I see as an outcome...

N/T

[betsuni]

49. Yesterday DU was called a pro-war board, today we're delusional about Iraq. What's next, we're ugly?

[Whip-poor-will]

50. Really

INVINCIBLE

Bow Down to US ..we own death and aren't afraid to use it.

Sow the wind reap the whirlwind means what ?

[._.]

52. I agree

There is delusional thinking here, and it's coming from Melon!

[Scrivener7]

63. Well - it's coming from somewhAIre.

[pecosbob]

53. There are 90 million people in Iran...I don't think bombs alone will make them do much of anything.

We don't have enough boots to occupy the country in a meaningful way.

[Cosmocat]

58. And the topography

It isnt flat like Iraq.

These idiots have absolutely no ability to see even one step ahead of things.

[J_William_Ryan]

54. "They have no ability to meaningfully fight back."

Which reinforces the fact that Iran was never a ‘threat,’ rending Trump’s illegal war reprehensible, wrong, and unwarranted.

[rzemanfl]

59. There is one thing here I always read.

[Buckeyeblue]

60. You're right. Iran has no real defense against our air assaults

Their defense is to attack other countries, which reminds of Sadam's scud missile attacks against Isreal during Desert Storm. The difference is that some of Iran's missiles are finding targets.

The problem is that Trump started this conflict with no real objective. I'm not clear why we are bombing Iran. They were years from a nuclear weapon, so that can't be the reason.

I do know that if he puts boots on the ground it's going to be an absolute mess, just like Iraq was, with lots of casualties, so I hope he doesn't do that.

[Prairie Gates]

69. Two days ago Trump was all about Kurd boots on the ground, yesterday he said ground action

would be a waste of time.

I guess the Kurds and Iraqis told him to pound sand in the interim.

[Buckeyeblue]

71. Probably. And he has to know that if he sends our troops in it'll be very unpopular

[maxrandb]

65. Your simplistic OP explains how a circus clown fascist got control of the most powerful military in the world

I served almost 30 years in the United States Navy. I am neither "wishing and hoping" for an Iranian "victory", nor am I denying the overwhelming superiority of America's military might. I witnessed it myself for over 28 years of service.

I know in your "tik-tok, Instagram fight reel, Playstation War, attention span of a flea" social media world, you must feel exactly like Hegseth, that the "real story"...NO...THR ONLY story worth telling is the "glorious military victory" story. Heck, we're already basking in the glorious victory in Venezuela, as if the people of Venezuela will have no say in their longterm future.

We'll be greeted as liberators, right?

I mean, I am sure they will be super cool as their resources are raped by an imperial clown king.

We've seen this before.

Germany swept through about a dozen European countries in a little over a year. If we had social media at the time, I am sure there would have been millions of 15-second Facebook "war-porn" clips of ships and buildings being blown up.

Rah-Rah...look at the "glorious Christian victors". I imagine Musk, Zuckerberg and Bezos would have made a pilgrimage to Berlin, like the three Wise Men to genuflect and kiss the ass of the "boy king".

It's as if you think 'MuriKKKa has a monopoly on national pride and self-determination.

Let me put it in terms even MAGAt chicken hawk dipshits might understand.

Suppose an overwhelming military force came for America. Suppose they bombed the shit out of us, killed our children, imposed their will. Hell, you might even say we'd "submit" just to make it stop.

Would you consider it "over", or would you do everything in your power to resist and fight back. Would generations of Americans give-uo the fight, or would our children's, children's children still burn with the desire to be free?

Our military has the capability to go through country after country like crap through a goose, but like Alexander the Great learned; "all glory is fleeting".

It is the very epitome of patriotism to ask; "What's Next"?

[Torchlight]

66. I try to avoid the default position

that anyone disagrees with my opinions is delusional. Doing so tends to reflect poorly on my character more than it does strengthen, or even address the argument I'm making.

[Quiet Em]

68. Christiane Amanpour spoke with Jon Stewart on Iran

She discusses the complete lack of planning by the con's administration, and the uncertainty that remains.

War In the Middle East, Again w/ Christiane Amanpour & Amb. Wendy Sherman (Transcript)

https://singjupost.com/war-in-the-middle-east-again-w-christiane-amanpour-amb-wendy-sherman-transcript/

[Ferrets are Cool]

72. It seems to me that they are doing a damn good job at fighting back. I am not the delusional one here.

[BootinUp]

73. The Iranian regime is going no where fast. nt