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Victor Davis Hanson: Iran’s Nightmares
American Greatness ^ | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 04/25/2024 5:30:38 AM PDT by MtnClimber

The Iranian attack on Israel seems a historic blunder. It opened up a new chapter in which its own soil, thanks to its attack on Israel, is no longer off limits to any Western power.

Details of the recent limited Israeli retaliatory strike against Iranian anti-aircraft missile batteries at Isfahan are still sketchy. But nonetheless, we can draw some conclusions.

Israel’s small volley of missiles hit their intended targets, to the point of zeroing in on the very launchers designed to stop such incoming ordnance.

The target was near the Natanz enrichment facility. That proximity was by design. Israel showed Iran it could take out the very anti-missile battery designed to thwart an attack on its nearby nuclear facility.

The larger message sent to the world was that Israel could send a retaliatory barrage at Iranian nuclear sites with reasonable assurances that the incoming attacks could not be stopped. By comparison, Iran’s earlier attack on Israel was much greater and more indiscriminate. It was also a huge flop, with an estimated 99 percent of the more than 320 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles failing to hit their planned targets.

Moreover, it was reported that more than 50 percent of Iran’s roughly 115-120 ballistic missiles failed at launch or malfunctioned in flight.

Collate these facts, and it presents a disturbing corrective to Iran’s non-stop boasts of soon possessing a nuclear arsenal that will obliterate the Jewish state.

Consider further the following nightmarish scenarios: Were Iranian nuclear-tipped missiles ever launched at Israel, they could pass over, in addition to Syria and Iraq, either Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza, or all four. In the cases of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, such trajectories would constitute an act of war, especially considering that some of Iran’s recent aerial barrages were intercepted...

(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Iran
KEYWORDS: iran; vdh; victordavishanson

1 posted on 04/25/2024 5:30:38 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

I am sure there is more to come from Iran.


2 posted on 04/25/2024 5:31:02 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
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To: texas booster

VDH ping


3 posted on 04/25/2024 5:31:49 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
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To: MtnClimber
Iran’s roughly 115-120 ballistic missiles failed at launch or malfunctioned in flight.

Were they covered under any warranty?

4 posted on 04/25/2024 5:34:11 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Uncle Boozie was eaten by cannibals....)
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To: MtnClimber

The Iranian attack on Israel seems a historic blunder. It opened up a new chapter in which its own soil, thanks to its attack on Israel, is no longer off limits to any Western power.

_______________________________________________________

This isn’t the first time that Israel has attacked Iran, so I’m not so sure what is “historic” about it.


5 posted on 04/25/2024 5:38:38 AM PDT by Bishop_Malachi (Liberal Socialism - A philosophy which advocates spreading a low standard of living equally.)
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To: MtnClimber

[I am sure there is more to come from Iran.]

Ezekiel 38 IS coming.


6 posted on 04/25/2024 5:45:56 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: Bishop_Malachi

He’s not saying that Israels’ attack on Iran was historic. He’s saying that Irans’ attack on Israel was historic in it’s failure.


7 posted on 04/25/2024 5:50:46 AM PDT by Shoefus
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To: Hot Tabasco

That’s the maddening thing: they were offered the extended warrant, but failed to buy it. Let that be a lesson!


8 posted on 04/25/2024 6:30:50 AM PDT by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/10/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: Shoefus
He’s not saying that Israels’ attack on Iran was historic. He’s saying that Irans’ attack on Israel was historic in it’s failure.

Exactly. Demonstrating to the world that your weapons are ineffective is a bad policy.

They probably have been believing their own propaganda.

9 posted on 04/25/2024 6:39:26 AM PDT by marktwain (The Republic is at risk. Resistance to the Democratic Party is Resistance to Tyranny. )
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To: 5th MEB; 6ppc; agondonter; Alberta's Child; Alouette; AndyJackson; Aria; artichokegrower; ...
Ping! Out to the Victor Davis Hanson list

Its failure to stop a much smaller Israel response, coupled with the overwhelming success of Israel and its allies in stopping a much larger Iranian attack, reminds the Iranian autocracy that its shrill rhetoric is designed to mask its impotence and to hide its own vulnerabilities from its enemies.

FR Index of his articles: Victor Davis Hanson on FR

Town Hall: Victor Davis Hanson on Town Hall

American Greatness: Victor Davis Hanson on American Greatness

His website: Victor Davis Hanson

Please let me know if you want on or off this new VDH ping list.

As a reminder, Professor Hanson has asked that we do not post the full article of his writings. Thank you for following the link to finish his article.

Content created by the Center for American Greatness, Inc. is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a significant audience.

10 posted on 04/25/2024 6:40:21 AM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: MtnClimber
I see two scenarios for the future:

1) Iran says: "We now have nuclear weapons! We have tested them, and they work! We will now bomb Israel and the US! Prepare to be amazed!"

2) Iran says: "We are days away from nuclear weapons! Our plan is to attack Israel and the US and devastate them!"

If it was always bluster and nothing but bluster, that's one thing. But now Iran has launched missiles (however badly). If they issue threats, then a pre-emptive strike is really required, in my opinion.

11 posted on 04/25/2024 6:48:54 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (It's not "Quiet Quitting" -- it's "Going Galt".)
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To: MtnClimber

Good summary by VDH detailing that Iran showed it’s just a loud barking dog with no bite.


12 posted on 04/25/2024 6:50:05 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: j.havenfarm
That’s the maddening thing: they were offered the extended warrant, but failed to buy it. Let that be a lesson!

I think you can buy the extended warranty over the phone from a guy named Abdul.

13 posted on 04/25/2024 6:50:17 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trumpp. A)
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To: MtnClimber

This is where the rats in congress start applying their DEI logic and appropriating huge give a ways to mad mo, reasoning their incompetence resulted from racism rather then their 7th century murderous depravity.


14 posted on 04/25/2024 9:08:22 AM PDT by Track9 (If you want to know about human nature, read a power tool user manual. )
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To: MtnClimber

I read Iran is trying to negotiate for updated Russian surface to air defenses. If I recall ifs called the S-400. I am not sure Russia has any to spare, or how long it would take to deploy, or if it is reliable. If I recall Russia installed some older types (S-300) in Syria but may have never activated them - probably because there are or were half a dozen countries in Syrian airspace and didn’t want any conflict with US or UK or Israel (or its own aircraft). It’s also possible those systems don’t work so they didn’t want to turn them on and show the world their anti aircraft/anti-missile systems suck.


15 posted on 04/25/2024 10:26:24 AM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: Hot Tabasco

Were they covered under any warranty?

Yes. Allah Insurance Agency. Under the “non performance,” Mohammed clause.

Inshallah.

5.56mm


16 posted on 04/25/2024 10:36:13 AM PDT by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho have got to go. )
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To: MtnClimber

IIRC, the Israeli base that Iran targeted is near an Israeli nuclear facility, too?

Granted that as small as Israel is, everything in Israel is “kinda close together”.


17 posted on 04/25/2024 2:18:14 PM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: Hot Tabasco

They forgot to renew their MissleShield account.


18 posted on 04/25/2024 2:21:00 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Is it me, or all of a sudden have the buried trolls come out on FR like cicadas? It's all noise.)
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To: MtnClimber
"Were Iranian nuclear-tipped missiles ever launched at Israel, they could pass over... Gaza"

ISWYDT, VDH!

19 posted on 04/25/2024 5:02:21 PM PDT by rx
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