Will Iran regime fall, or just another umpteenth fail of protesters? (rerun hobbies)

[Syne]

Is Mojtaba on one of those ambulances? First thought was if the regime doesn’t have the medical wherewithal to prevent the Ayatollah from dying and now the US has been asked to save his hide? Be a strange twist.

Yeah, I just instantly thought of the possibility that would make the story more interesting.

Maybe the mullahs selected him to be a sacrificial scapegoat?

[Magical Realist]

Iran has a long history of conducting or sponsoring terrorist attacks and violent operations, frequently targeting U.S. forces, Israel, and dissidents, with a significant surge in activity occurring between 2020 and early 2026. These actions are often executed through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proxy groups like Hezbollah, Kataib Hezbollah, and Hamas.
Major Attacks and Operations (2020–2026)

    2023–2025: Regional Escalation: Iran and its proxies conducted over 180 attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan between October 2023 and November 2024, including a January 2024 drone strike on the Tower 22 base in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members.
    2020–2023: In 2020, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraq's Ain al-Asad Air Base, injuring over 100 U.S. personnel, followed by further attacks on U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq in 2022 and 2023, causing fatalities.
    Assassination Attempts: Throughout this period, Iran was linked to plots targeting former U.S. officials and Iranian dissidents in the U.S..

Historical Context (Pre-2020)

    Regional & International Attacks: Historically, Iran-backed groups were responsible for major bombings, including the 1983 Beirut embassy, 1996 Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and the 1992 and 1994 attacks in Buenos Aires.
    Iraq Conflict: Iran was implicated in the deaths of over 600 U.S. service members in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.
- Google AI

You make a good case for taking military action against Iran. I wasn't aware of their history of sponsored terrorist attacks. Getting rid of this troublesome regime might actually be the best thing for everybody.

[Syne]

Iran has a long history of conducting or sponsoring terrorist attacks and violent operations, frequently targeting U.S. forces, Israel, and dissidents, with a significant surge in activity occurring between 2020 and early 2026. These actions are often executed through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proxy groups like Hezbollah, Kataib Hezbollah, and Hamas.
Major Attacks and Operations (2020–2026)

    2023–2025: Regional Escalation: Iran and its proxies conducted over 180 attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan between October 2023 and November 2024, including a January 2024 drone strike on the Tower 22 base in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members.
    2020–2023: In 2020, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraq's Ain al-Asad Air Base, injuring over 100 U.S. personnel, followed by further attacks on U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq in 2022 and 2023, causing fatalities.
    Assassination Attempts: Throughout this period, Iran was linked to plots targeting former U.S. officials and Iranian dissidents in the U.S..

Historical Context (Pre-2020)

    Regional & International Attacks: Historically, Iran-backed groups were responsible for major bombings, including the 1983 Beirut embassy, 1996 Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and the 1992 and 1994 attacks in Buenos Aires.
    Iraq Conflict: Iran was implicated in the deaths of over 600 U.S. service members in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.
- Google AI

You make a good case for taking military action against Iran. I wasn't aware of their history of sponsored terrorist attacks. Getting rid of this regime might actually be the best thing for everybody.

Holy shit! MR changed his mind.

Good on you.

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The Netherlands, along with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, said they are prepared to support “appropriate measures” to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The six nations welcomed the start of “preparatory planning” by involved countries.
- https://nltimes.nl/2026/03/19/netherland...g-tensions

As usual, it's all just talk.

Reality check: The statement does not include any commitment to send naval vessels or other resources to make that happen. For now, it's largely a gesture to placate President Trump, who has railed against allies for declining to help secure the strait and warned that a failure to do so could undermine the future of NATO.
- https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-...atement-uk

[Yazata]

Captured the new ayatollah? He was presumed to be in pretty rough shape.

Is Mojtaba on one of those ambulances? First thought was if the regime doesn’t have the medical wherewithal to prevent the Ayatollah from dying and now the US has been asked to save his hide? Be a strange twist.

I wish.

My assumption is that they medevac'ed the most seriously injured Americans, and maybe some from allied Gulf states, for top level medical care here in the States.

[Zinjanthropos]

Captured the new ayatollah? He was presumed to be in pretty rough shape.

Is Mojtaba on one of those ambulances? First thought was if the regime doesn’t have the medical wherewithal to prevent the Ayatollah from dying and now the US has been asked to save his hide? Be a strange twist.

I wish.

My assumption is that they medevac'ed the most seriously injured Americans, and maybe some from allied Gulf states, for top level medical care here in the States.

Heard Moj originally taken to Russia. I glanced at an AI comparison of American and Russian amputee medical services and the USA was deemed far superior, in fact a global leader, but again that’s just AI. Sounds as if Moj would be much better off at an American hospital for his injuries.

[Syne]

I'm betting Mojtaba is in a coma or already dead. Otherwise they'd figure out some way to prop him up as a show of strength, resilience, etc..

[Zinjanthropos]

I'm betting Mojtaba is in a coma or already dead. Otherwise they'd figure out some way to prop him up as a show of strength, resilience, etc..

Don’t put any money on him winning an ass kicking contest any time soon.

[Yazata]

[Image: HD4JsnTWIAAkRMi?format=jpg&name=medium]

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Reports say that Chuck Norris was rushed to a hospital in Hawaii where he died at the age of 86. My speculation is that is just a cover story and in reality Chuck has been sent to Iran where he could easily substitute for a 2,000 man Marine Expeditionary Unit.

[Image: HD3D9SBXcAAslL3?format=jpg&name=360x360]

[Magical Realist]

Chuck Norris in "The Expendables"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-6bhdcQqUg

[Yazata]

Not only are two Marine Expeditionary Units totalling 5,000 Marines on the way to the Middle East, there's rumors that elements of the Army's 82'd Airborne have been told to prepare to move out as well.

And this morning, Israeli missile defenses failed to intercept two Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at southern Israel's Negev desert. One of them struck Dimona (pop about 39,000), which is the home of Israel's nuclear weapons program. The missile failed to hit any nuclear facilities and instead struck in a high density residential area filled with what look like apartments and townhomes. The other missile struck the nearby city of Arad (pop about 29,000), again hitting a similar residential neighborhood.

Early reports suggest there may be about 150 dead and wounded in these two places, though most of the injuries are reportedly minor. Search teams are looking through the rubble for more, though most residents appear to have been in shelters.

In Arad

[Image: HD9vfuBbQAAlM2P?format=jpg&name=small]

[Image: HD9iqe3b0AAq8fz?format=jpg&name=small]

Dimona

[Image: HD80qgpbUAEmEXo?format=jpg&name=900x900]

[Image: HD85VmxbYAA-TC_?format=jpg&name=small]

What's more, Iran fired what are reported to have been two intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) at Diego Garcia, home of a US base and (supposedly) UK territory (though they have been doing everything they can to get rid of it). Both Iranian missiles missed the island. This is the first report of Iran making use of an IRBM, though it was known that they were working on them. The significance is that possession of IRBMs puts most of Europe (including Paris and Berlin) in range of Iranian missiles. (Just imagine if they had nuclear warheads for them).

[Image: HD5TB07WYAAGeX2?format=jpg&name=small]

Britain is preparing for petrol and diesel rationing if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.