1). “How US Forces are Trying to Open the Strait of Hormuz”, Mar 24, 2026, Anon, Cappy Army, duration of video 24:08, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2). “David Cay Johnston: Trump Doesn't Have A Way Out Of This”, Mar 24, 2026, Mark Thompson interviews David Cay Johnston, The Mark Thompson Show, duration of video 34:03, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
3). “US Dangerously Misunderstands Iran /Lt Col Daniel Davis”, Mar 24, 2026, Lt Col Daniel Davis interviews Lena Petrova, Daniel Davis / Deep Dive, duration of video 14:39, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
4). “Jeffrey Sachs: Iran is the Graveyard of American Hegemony”, Mar 25, 2026, Glenn Diesen interviews Jeffrey Sachs, Glenn Diesen, duration of video 32:36, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
5). “US Plays With Total War Insanity | Patrick Henningsen”, Mar 24, 2026, Pascal Lottaz interviews Patrick Henningsen, Neutrality Studies, duration of video 57:35, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
6). “Iran War: US Paratroopers On Their Way /Robert Pape & Lt Col Daniel Davis”, Mar 25, 2026, Lt Col Daniel Davis interviews Robert Pape, Daniel Davis / Deep Dive, duration of video 52:20, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
7). “Pentagon prepares to send another 3,000 troops to Middle East: The decision to move the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the region heightens the possibility U.S. troops will enter Iran”, Mar 24, 2026, Paul McCleary, Politico, at < https://www.politico.com/news/
~~ recommended by desmond ~~
Introduction by desmond: The U.S. Empire, as led by the current President, Donald Trump, is lashing out at Iran, largely at the behest of Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu IMHO. Netanyahu has been trying to get the U.S. to involve itself in a serious attack on Iran since at least 1978. The U.S. was never strong enough to invade and occupy Iran, the terrain is far too rugged favoring defense and guerilla tactics. Now significantly weaker than it was at the peak of its power the U.S. ruling is risking the stability and generally favorable (for them) socioeconomic conditions that have prevailed over the past few decades. A Rally round the flag response is likely in the short term in the U.S., but after the buffeting the great majority of the population has suffered over the past few years they should not expect too much patience and patriotic solidarity.
Item 1)., “How US Forces ….”, provides some interesting commentary about how the military campaign has proceeded so far and what are likely difficulties and opportunities ahead. The Iranians destroyed or heavily damaged the bulk of their 21st Century radar and computer control systems; a situation the article does not address. In fact the U.S. military had depended on that high-tech equipment for organizing their efforts in the air campaign, this continues with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against targets in Iran being monitored by 1970s technology such as the AWACS planes.
Item 2)., “David Cay Johnston: ….; Item 3)., “US Dangerously Misunderstands Iran ….”; Item 4)., “Jeffrey Sachs: Iran is ….”; and Item 5)., “US Plays With ….”, all discuss larger scale issues about why the U.S. is unlikely to prevail against Iran in this war. Johnston in Item 2). is always of the opinion that Trump is not aware of or particularly interested in issues such as how the political process works in Iran and always thinks he can “make a deal”. To a large extent the U.S. military and political leadership do not understand Iran or how it fits into the region. Items 3). and 4). look at the ways in which the U.S. has developed a superiority complex where the Middle East is concerned. Led by glib pronouncement from Israelis and U.S. Israel-First Zionists the U.S. forces will learn some hard lessons if they actually try to occupy some key areas in Iran. There are leaders advocating for the U.S. to occupy a place like Qeshm Island that is a relatively large Island that would allow for a U.S. garrison to occupy it and oversee the Strait of Hormuz controlling the flow of tankers and cargo vessels through the strait. (see map 1 below).
Another potential place for U.S. forces to attack and occupy is Kharg Island, that island has the facilities that fill oil tankers with 90% of the oil and natural gas that they transport to the rest of the world. There are clearly advantages to the U.S. to occupying and controlling Kharg Island, but it seems unlikely that it can be easily done. (See map 2 below)
Item 6)., “Iran War: US Paratroopers ….”; and Item 7)., “Pentagon prepares to send ….”, both discuss the troops that are being mobilized and sent to Iran. The first contingent of Marines some 2,500 ground troops, sent to the region in U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ships will arrive tomorrow. Troops airlifted into the area, including those from the 82nd Airborne Division, are already there now. The Second contingent of Marines, another 2,500 ground troops will arrive in about a week. So most, but not all, of the U.S. soldiers will already be in the Middle East when the “No Kings” rallies and protests are taking place on Saturday, March 28. Trump will no doubt loudly opine that protesting against his unilateral war is treason. This whole situation grows more dangerous as time passes by. But it is very unpopular among the U.S. populace and there is a chance for developing useful political alliances and working groups in protesting Trump's policies.
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1). “How US Forces are Trying to Open the Strait of Hormuz”, Mar 24, 2026, Anon, Cappy Army, duration of video 24:08, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2). “David Cay Johnston: Trump Doesn't Have A Way Out Of This”, Mar 24, 2026, Mark Thompson interviews David Cay Johnston, The Mark Thompson Show, duration of video 34:03, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
3). “US Dangerously Misunderstands Iran /Lt Col Daniel Davis”, Mar 24, 2026, Lt Col Daniel Davis interviews Lena Petrova, Daniel Davis / Deep Dive, duration of video 14:39, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
4). “Jeffrey Sachs: Iran is the Graveyard of American Hegemony”, Mar 25, 2026, Glenn Diesen interviews Jeffrey Sachs, Glenn Diesen, duration of video 32:36, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
5). “US Plays With Total War Insanity | Patrick Henningsen”, Mar 24, 2026, Pascal Lottaz interviews Patrick Henningsen, Neutrality Studies, duration of video 57:35, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
6). “Iran War: US Paratroopers On Their Way /Robert Pape & Lt Col Daniel Davis”, Mar 25, 2026, Lt Col Daniel Davis interviews Robert Pape, Daniel Davis / Deep Dive, duration of video 52:20, at < https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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Pentagon prepares to send another 3,000 troops to Middle East
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Domestically built Iranian missiles are displayed as part of a permanent exhibition in Tehran, Iran on March 24, 2026. | Vahid Salemi/AP
The troop increase comes a month into U.S. military airstrikes against Iranian military forces and infrastructure, and amid spiraling gas prices as Iranian officials block access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees the effort, said Tuesday that U.S. aircraft and missile attacks have “destroyed more than 9,000 military targets” inside Iran since the attacks started on Feb. 28. Military officials have said the strikes targeted Iran’s missile launchers, navy and its defense industrial base. Strikes have also killed dozens of the regime’s leadership.
The U.S. already has 50,000 troops in the region. The increase suggests the potential for more involvement, such as taking control of the strait by force. The defense officials who confirmed the deployment were granted anonymity to discuss internal planning.
The New York Times first reported that the Pentagon was considering deploying the 82nd Airborne Division.
Iran continued its drone and ballistic missile attacks on Israel and other countries in the region on Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump announced he was pushing back threatened attacks on Iranian power plants due to “productive talks” toward a peace deal. Tehran has denied any direct talks.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday reported an increasing downturn in public support for the war, with 35 percent of Americans approving of the U.S. strikes. The poll last week found 37 percent of Americans supported it. Overall, 61 percent of respondents disapproved of the strikes, compared to 59 percent a week ago.
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