Israel and US hit Iran

Both Republicans and Democrats as well as US lawmakers are currently questioning on what legal authority Trump decided to strike Iran and what was his rationale. Article 1 of the US constitution lists Congress powers to declare war. Article II that the president has authority to use military force but only under "certain circumstances"- usually interpreted as "actual or anticipated attacks" or to "advance other national interests".

This is a classic Trump belligerent decision but this time the risks are on a higher scale than ever before. What is it he expects next after the strike not made clear and not thought through- just like Venezuela. The worry with the Iran attack however is what might be the fall out?

Does Trump really expect that there will be minimal civilian casualties and a smooth transition to democracy with regime change? That didn't happen in Iraq- instead brought years of bloodshed and chaos and most likely will be the case in Iran also.

The risk of Iran retaliating by attacking US forces, Arab neighbours and Israel is another highly probable risk.

This from a man who so recently was elected on a platform of "peace" and not involving the US in any unnecessary wars. FIFA's December 2025 Peace prize awarded to Trump looking decisively deluded.

It's important to know that not all Iranians are celebrating.
They may not want the US and Israel invading their country.
Perhaps they know of the mess the US hav made of many other countries.

It's not 'relishing' GG13, why would it be?
It's knowing your history and worrying.

I would imagine that many ordinary Iranians will be extremely uncomfortable with Benjamin Netanyahu, of all people, telling them what to do in their own country.

LizzieDrip

I would imagine that many ordinary Iranians will be extremely uncomfortable with Benjamin Netanyahu, of all people, telling them what to do in their own country.

Iran are the primary source of funding for Hamas.

Iran is not a friend of Israel, neither countries trust each other.

I hope very much that America has a handle on any sleeper cells waiting for the call in the USA.

I would be very careful if I was an American and travelling in the Middle East.

What a mess.

GrannyGravy13

LizzieDrip

I would imagine that many ordinary Iranians will be extremely uncomfortable with Benjamin Netanyahu, of all people, telling them what to do in their own country.

Iran are the primary source of funding for Hamas.

Iran is not a friend of Israel, neither countries trust each other.

I think that is true. My worry is that neither side is conciliatory either. It could very easily get out of control with tit for tat actions which will escalate into a much bigger war.

Wyllow3

keepingquiet

Someone else will have taken charge- maybe someone worse?

Are we all being slightly naive?

Yes. people danced in the streets in Iraq

for a while.

Don't believe everything you see ( I'm sure you don't Wyllow)

Whitewavemark2

I hope very much that America has a handle on any sleeper cells waiting for the call in the USA.

I would be very careful if I was an American and travelling in the Middle East.

What a mess.

I very much doubt it.
The commission on the twin towers bombing found that every agency failed miserably

GG13I am very opposed to both Trump and Netanyahu as leaders of their respective countries but I am most definitely not anti Israel nor anti American. Same applies to Iran, I despise their current regime but am in no way opposed to most of the people who live there and who desire a more liberal and democratic government.

foxie48

*GG13*I am very opposed to both Trump and Netanyahu as leaders of their respective countries but I am most definitely not anti Israel nor anti American. Same applies to Iran, I despise their current regime but am in no way opposed to most of the people who live there and who desire a more liberal and democratic government.

Perhaps I should have said the current leaders of the countries rather than the countries themselves foxie48 👍

Yes, sorry to be so pedantic, GG13 but so many times opposition to the actions of one group is seen as support for a second group (eg substitute Israel's government and Hamas for group in the previous sentence) when it is nothing of the sort. It was being done on this thread, again completely inaccurately. This attack by the US is putting many lives at risk not just those of innocent Iranians. An Iranian missile came within a few hundred yards of British troops in Bahrain and we are now shooting down Iranian drones in a defensive action. Where is Trump? Probably at the 10th hole at Mar a Lago! I utterly despise this vile man.

How many Iranians were killed recently by the Iran state?

Tell us ronib? Define recently too, then a realistic comparison will be possible.

ronib

How many Iranians were killed recently by the Iran state?

Well that was one of the arguments put forward as a reason to take out Saddam Hussein wasn’t it? And look how that turned out. Will we never learn from past mistakes?

In excess of 36500 in two days in January 2026. Killed by the Iranian State.

This talk of " taking out" the Iranian leader reminds me of the most wanted Iraqi set of playing cards.

It's not a game, something to be enjoyed and celebrated. It's a hateful and ill thought out attack by a mad man.

ronib

In excess of 36500 in two days in January 2026. Killed by the Iranian State.

Yes, exactly, there will be no comparison as only a few hundred dead in Iran at the moment, almost all members of the regime.

sixandahalf

This talk of " taking out" the Iranian leader reminds me of the most wanted Iraqi set of playing cards.

It's not a game, something to be enjoyed and celebrated. It's a hateful and ill thought out attack by a mad man.

Pity you can’t say that to the 36,500 dead Iranians killed recently and hear what they had to say.

Oreo

sixandahalf

This talk of " taking out" the Iranian leader reminds me of the most wanted Iraqi set of playing cards.

It's not a game, something to be enjoyed and celebrated. It's a hateful and ill thought out attack by a mad man.

Pity you can’t say that to the 36,500 dead Iranians killed recently and hear what they had to say.

OK, You win.

There are no winners

ronib

In excess of 36500 in two days in January 2026. Killed by the Iranian State.

That is truly awful ronib. But regime change enforced by outside powers doesn’t have a good track record. And if Trump and Netanyahu can start a war without going through any of the proper channels and face no real penalties for this, what next??
It seems no country can oppose what the US or Israel decide to do. And whatever your opinion is, that is really not a good thing.

The US and Israel have broken international law many times.
Without these safeguards none of us are safe.
We might as well go back to the wild west when violence ruled.

Regime change won’t be enforced by the US, they have set the scene for it is all.Iranians themselves will decide what comes next.They were unable to even think that before this weekend.

Oreo

ronib

In excess of 36500 in two days in January 2026. Killed by the Iranian State.

Yes, exactly, there will be no comparison as only a few hundred dead in Iran at the moment, almost all members of the regime.

36,500 dead in two days. Which shows how ruthless the Iranian regime is towards it's own people when they rebel. If the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stays loyal to the current regime and there is no indication that it won't, they will kill very many more than 36,500. Add to that the Quds Force (special operations) and the Basij paramilitary militia plus the thousands of reservists and the current regime has a very powerful means of controlling unarmed protesters. Regime change relies on at least some of the military changing sides and up to now there has been little evidence to suggest they will. Trump's huge error is suggesting regime change when there is little practical choice for rebellion except standing in front of armed men and asking for it. Sadly we've already seen how that plays out.