
Larry C. Johnson
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What Must Happen Before Trump Strikes Iran /Larry Johnson & Lt Col Daniel Davis
Summary
The video discussion centers on escalating tensions involving the United States, Iran, Russia, China, and Ukraine, highlighting diplomatic, military, and geopolitical dynamics. It critiques U.S. foreign policy rhetoric and actions under former President Trump and explores potential consequences of military strikes, particularly against Iran, while assessing the broader global impact on negotiations with major powers and the risk of wider conflict.
Key Insights
Iran’s Diplomatic Overtures:
Iran has recently reached out to the U.S. seeking negotiations, reportedly tired of ongoing U.S. pressure and hostilities. A meeting is being arranged, but military action might precede it depending on unfolding events.Military Preparedness and Constraints:
- No U.S. carrier task force currently in the region means no imminent strike on Iran.
- A strike would require substantial military support including fighter bomber squadrons and hardened or evacuated U.S. bases in the Gulf (Qatar, Bahrain).
- Iran has warned it would retaliate immediately against U.S. facilities if attacked.
Iran’s Defensive Improvements and Strategic Depth:
Iran has significantly improved its military readiness since June, bolstered by cooperation with Russia and China and the presence of Russian personnel and equipment. It has dispersed ballistic missile sites widely, complicating any strike’s effectiveness.Potential Economic Impact of Conflict:
Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which 72% of OPEC oil exports pass, causing severe global economic disruption.U.S. Rhetoric vs. Reality:
The video criticizes Trump’s aggressive rhetoric as reckless, highlighting a disconnect between his statements and actual U.S. military capabilities and strategic constraints. Historical parallels are drawn to the Iraq War’s “shock and awe” campaign, which failed to quickly topple Iraq.Global Geopolitical Ramifications:
- Russia is reassessing negotiations with the U.S. and Ukraine following failed assassination attempts on Putin and attacks on Russian nuclear facilities.
- Putin faces domestic pressure to escalate from a “special military operation” to a full war declaration.
- China observes U.S.-Russia tensions closely while maintaining close ties with Russia.
Nuclear Escalation Risks:
A retaliatory war with Iran, especially if involving Israel, could escalate dangerously, potentially prompting nuclear threats or usage. The possibility that Iran may have developed nuclear warheads for such contingencies cannot be ruled out.U.S. Military Overextension:
The U.S. currently lacks the military capacity to decisively intervene in multiple global hotspots simultaneously, as shown by the protracted buildup near Venezuela and inability to secure ground in such operations.Ukraine Situation:
- Kyiv faces deteriorating conditions with blackouts and water shortages, prompting evacuation calls from officials.
- Urban survival is becoming increasingly difficult due to infrastructure collapse.
- Russian strategy may include making cities unlivable to reduce civilian casualties during offensives.
Western Media and Propaganda:
The video highlights Western narratives framing Russia, China, and Iran as aggressors while ignoring or minimizing U.S. military actions abroad. It critiques the lack of balanced perspectives in U.S. mainstream media.
Timeline of Key Events and Developments
| Timeframe | Event/Development |
|---|---|
| Yesterday (relative) | Iran officially called to negotiate with the U.S. |
| June 12 (previous year) | Baseline for Iran’s military preparedness before recent upgrades |
| Recent months | Russia experiences multiple attacks on nuclear facilities and leadership assassination attempts |
| Last 12 months | U.S. military buildup in multiple regions, including Venezuela |
| Current | Potential meeting being arranged between U.S. and Iran |
| Next month (expectation) | Possible conclusion of New START (Art 2) nuclear arms reduction talks |
Comparative Military Presence
| Country | Overseas Military Bases (Approximate) | Military Aggression in Past 12 Months (Outside Ukraine) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 700+ | Approximately a dozen countries attacked or threatened |
| Russia | Less than 10 | Zero |
| China | Less than 10 | Zero |
| Iran | Not specified | Zero |
Core Concepts and Themes
- Diplomatic Engagement vs. Military Action: The tension between Iran’s willingness to negotiate and the U.S.’s readiness or recklessness about using force.
- Strategic Military Realities: The complexity of launching strikes against Iran given dispersed missile sites, allied support, and geographic size.
- Geopolitical Domino Effect: How U.S. actions impact negotiations with Russia and China and risk escalating into broader wars.
- Nuclear Threat: The dangerous potential for conflict escalation involving nuclear weapons and the global consequences.
- Propaganda and Narrative Control: The influence of Western media framing on public perception of international conflicts.
- Humanitarian and Urban Warfare Issues: The challenges civilians face in warzones like Kyiv amid infrastructure collapse.
Conclusions
- Iran’s desire to negotiate signals potential diplomatic openings but is shadowed by the risk of premature military action.
- The U.S. currently lacks the full military capacity to effectively conduct comprehensive strikes against Iran without significant risks.
- Iran’s enhanced capabilities and alliances with Russia and China complicate any military options and raise the stakes for global conflict.
- Escalation in the Middle East could trigger serious economic disruptions and increase the risk of nuclear confrontation.
- U.S. foreign policy under Trump is portrayed as reckless, undermining trust and complicating international negotiations.
- No credible American political voices advocating de-escalation are perceived by Russia and China, reducing chances for diplomatic conflict resolution.
- The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is deteriorating living conditions, with evacuations underway and strategic implications for Russian military tactics.
- Western media narratives contribute to a one-sided view that obscures the complexity and mutual provocations in global conflicts.
PART 2
The CIA/Mossad Operation to Spark a Color Revolution in Iran has Failed
The CIA/Mossad plan to spark a color revolution in Iran, which has attracted global attention and a tsunami of propaganda pieces portraying the Iranian protests as a massive, unstoppable popular movement, has failed. Yes, protests continue in some parts of the country, but Iranian security forces have taken off the gloves and are fighting back. Casualty estimates are all over the board… Ranging from hundreds to thousands dead. Iranian officials have announced that the alleged ringleaders of the violent protests will be publicly executed starting Wednesday.
While Trump is now promising to try to come to the aid of the protestors, his promise appears to be more rhetorical than substantive. According to a report by the Jerusalem Post:
US President Donald Trump is expected to assist Iranians who are protesting nationwide against the Islamic Republic regime, several sources familiar with the details of the discussions held in recent days told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
“Trump has essentially decided to help the protesters in Iran. What he has not yet decided is the ‘how’ and the ‘when,’” they said. . . .
“The spectrum ranges from a military option, namely strikes against regime targets, to cyber support against the regime, to providing Starlink systems to help protesters,” one source told the Post.
“While the Trump administration does not believe that the Iranian regime is collapsing, it definitely sees problems and cracks that did not exist a week ago,” the source added.
However, the British newspaper, The Telegraph, dampens expectations that immediate military action is on the agenda:
US media reported that officials would on Tuesday give Mr Trump options for a number of non-lethal measures, including amplifying anti-government criticism online and deploying secretive cyber weapons against Iranian military and civilian sites.
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, and General Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, are expected to attend the briefing.
Commanders in the region have told officials that they need to “consolidate US military positions and prepare defences” before carrying out any military strikes against security services responsible for the bloody crackdown on demonstrations.
A report in the Washington Post corroborates The Telegraph report that the Trump administration is just starting to weigh courses of action:
Options under review, the Journal reported, could include deploying cyberweapons against Iranian military and civilian sites, imposing additional economic sanctions on the Iranian government and launching military strikes.
While CIA front groups continue to supply the Western media with reports of large protests in cities such as Mashhad, the reality on the ground is otherwise. Here’s a video from Mashhad recorded earlier today (nighttime in Iran) of pro-government elements filling the square:
The CIA and Mossad seem to have forgotten that in order to effect a successful regime change they must have the military and the security services under control. Let’s assume that there were a total of one million protestors scattered among the cities of Iran. That’s still only a little more than 1% of the total population of Iran. While many Iranians are angry or disillusioned with the government of President Pezeshkian’s mishandling of the Iranian economy, that does not mean the majority of Iranians are ready to blame the Ayatollah Khameni.
What are the indicators that the US will strike Iran? The US should have at least one carrier task force in the region, at least a couple of squadrons of fighter/bombers, and the hardening or evacuation of US military bases in the region. So far, there is no sign of such activity.
Here is my recent interview with Kim Iversen:
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