US Attacks Iran 2026

[temporal1]

I believe that he means wiping out the Iranian government, not Iranian civilization. Seems like it would benefit the President to clearly say that. To say that the US is going to wipe out a civilization is really something. We should be praying for peace today, and for the success of negotiations.

I don't even see how that's possible. Even with two atom bombs, the U.S. didn't wipe out Japanese civilisation. Not to mention Persians have a large diaspora.

Exactly. It's clear that is not what he meant. Regardless, the threat seems like a potential large-scale loss of life of some kind. I think it is most likely a wildly overstated threat that may result in the destruction of a large amount of heretofore untouched dual-use infrastructure such as railways, bridges, roads, power plants, and so forth, that supports both Iran's military and civilian population. But still, it is very stunning language.

i expect you’re correct.
For his part, he might wonder how often he has to repeat himself?

But in this hostile world, unfortunately, the answer must be: repeat yourself every time, “or else”.

The world is in infancy wrt social media. i hope it matures.

[mike]

I don't even see how that's possible. Even with two atom bombs, the U.S. didn't wipe out Japanese civilisation. Not to mention Persians have a large diaspora.

Exactly. It's clear that is not what he meant. Regardless, the threat seems like a potential large-scale loss of life of some kind. I think it is most likely a wildly overstated threat that may result in the destruction of a large amount of heretofore untouched dual-use infrastructure such as railways, bridges, roads, power plants, and so forth, that supports both Iran's military and civilian population. But still, it is very stunning language.

i expect you’re correct.
For his part, he might wonder how often he has to repeat himself?

But in this hostile world, unfortunately, the answer must be: repeat yourself every time, “or else”.

The world is in infancy wrt social media. i hope it matures.

We understand at a time like this that leaders are purposely vague and threatening without being specific in order to disguise strategy. I am pretty sure we will wake up tomorrow and be like, 'so that's all that was about.' But STILL.

[Jazman]

I second Skye's call for christian leaders to do the small action of calling out a latest low (but now maybe eclipsed by something even lower in the last 1/2day or so?) Can american christians do a moral non-political thing by saying the Easter morning post was wrong/foul/blasphemous? I wonder if every Christian here could do that as well? (Skye's point about the danger of invoking God's endorsement of your preferred candidate is timely as well...).

Praying for the millions of innocent Iranian civilians caught in the middle of this. May God's angels be with them through this valley...

[QuietlyListening]

When I posted earlier, I realize our president won't have the entire population eradicated but to make the threats he is, to speak as he is- this is just very disconcerting that the head of a powerful nation would be saying things like this. Even Truman did not speak like this. And many people will be killed including the ones he says he is trying to save. you can't pick and choose who will be hit by bombs. There are too many factors.

Have been praying that something happens to stop this and our president can learn to tone down his inflammatory rhetoric.

[Szdfan]

Guess I would love for our president to explain why he started the war. Supposedly to remove those in power and help those who have been protesting. But now he is threatening to remove a whole civilization - which I am assuming will mean bombing/killing many of those he said he wanted to help/to save.

I have interpreted this to mean that a "civilisation" that seems to be entirely based around running a mafia-like entity that has its stated goal to exterminate the state of Israel (based on some mission from God), develop nuclear weapons, missiles, and drones, and brutally suppresses any dissent.

Eventually, other civilisations aren't going to like such a civilisation and will get rid of. Iran decided to spend last night raining down destruction on Saudi Arabia.

I believe that he means wiping out the Iranian government, not Iranian civilization. Seems like it would benefit the President to clearly say that. To say that the US is going to wipe out a civilization is really something. We should be praying for peace today, and for the success of negotiations.

Regardless of what Trump meant, this is bad, counterproductive rhetoric. Reportedly the US and Iran were in indirect talks through Pakistan, but the Iranians have pulled out in response to these threats. Trump seems to think his bluster gets people to bend to his will. The Iranians are responding by hardening their position.

At its worst, Trump is threatening genocide. At best, it’s ineffective diplomacy.

[Bootstrap]

Suppose it were the other way around. Suppose the leader of Iran said they have weaponse we do not know about, and that they will send the United States back to the stone age. Would we be pontificating what he meant by that, and whether to take it seriously? Is this just the way leaders talk?

Suppose they were bombing our schools and power plants, and we were the ones without power, unsafe living in our own homes in most cities, and our roads and bridges were being destroyed. Would we be saying that's no big deal, we can live without, clearly they must not have intended to bomb our schools?

Suppose Pete Hegseth spoke like the religious fanatic leaders in Iran .... well, maybe he does ...

[Valerie]

Suppose it were the other way around. Suppose the leader of Iran said they have weaponse we do not know about, and that they will send the United States back to the stone age. Would we be pontificating what he meant by that, and whether to take it seriously? Is this just the way leaders talk?

Suppose they were bombing our schools and power plants, and we were the ones without power, unsafe living in our own homes in most cities, and our roads and bridges were being destroyed. Would we be saying that's no big deal, we can live without, clearly they must not have intended to bomb our schools?

Suppose Pete Hegseth spoke like the religious fanatic leaders in Iran .... well, maybe he does ...

Well chanting death to Israel and Death to America by them does somewhat indicate why we are trying to destroy their potential, doesn’t it? We know they have no regard for their own people either. Quite an evil government there.

[Valerie]

How soon we forget the horrors of 9/11 on innocent lives and October 7 innocent lives by terrorists with an ideology to wipe out Jews and Christians.

[Bootstrap]

Suppose it were the other way around. Suppose the leader of Iran said they have weaponse we do not know about, and that they will send the United States back to the stone age. Would we be pontificating what he meant by that, and whether to take it seriously? Is this just the way leaders talk?

Suppose they were bombing our schools and power plants, and we were the ones without power, unsafe living in our own homes in most cities, and our roads and bridges were being destroyed. Would we be saying that's no big deal, we can live without, clearly they must not have intended to bomb our schools?

Suppose Pete Hegseth spoke like the religious fanatic leaders in Iran .... well, maybe he does ...

Well chanting death to Israel and Death to America by them does somewhat indicate why we are trying to destroy their potential, doesn’t it? We know they have no regard for their own people either. Quite an evil government there.

And how do our leaders talk about them? How have we treated them and their government since the 1950s?

Seriously, don't our leaders threaten them EXACTLY the way we complain about when they do it to us?

[Bootstrap]

How soon we forget the horrors of 9/11 on innocent lives and October 7 innocent lives by terrorists with an ideology to wipe out Jews and Christians.

Sure. Afghanistan attacked us in 2001, 25 years ago, therefore we should obliterate a completely different country now in revenge?

Do you think Americans are doing a good job of showing that we care about the lives of Muslims? Either Muslims in their own countries or the Muslims who have fled from some of these countries to come here? Doesn't a lot of our rhetoric indicate we hate them and want to destroy them, just like the rhetoric we complain about when they do it to us?