Iran, not the US, currently has the strategic upper hand

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-14/united-states-iran-war-donald-trump-middle-east-strategy/106436200

If there ever was a strategy behind Donald Trump's decision to blow up the Middle East, it is lying in tatters as the second week of the Iran war draws to a close.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20260314053257/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-14/united-states-iran-war-donald-trump-middle-east-strategy/106436200


Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

175 points · 27 comments · view on lemmy.world

27 Comments

JoMiran@lemmy.ml · 59 pts · 172d (7 replies)

nymnympseudonym@piefed.social · 33 pts · 172d (5 replies)

... or the USA

Or China

And Omg the helpfulness of Russia to its former allies this past year has been breathtaking

Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 172d (1 reply)

Replace Russia with the Russian state mafia and it makes more sense

Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 172d

No Russia will do

DaddleDew@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 172d

"China is asshoe!"

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 172d (1 reply)

Or China

This is Peak Whataboutism

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 2 pts · 172d

What about peat though?

Hawke@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 172d

And here I thought “never start a land war in Asia” was the perfectly-fitting quote.

AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 37 pts · 172d (2 replies)

As a renowned 20th-century American philosopher said, everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth

Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 172d (1 reply)

"Micheal! Did you eat the chicken I had in the freezer?"

"No, I ate MY chicken in the freezer!"

"Micheal, I specifically bought that for me! I even put a note on it"

note says "please don't touch"

"I saw that note, but the chicken had my name on it. It said Tyson Chicken. When you get chicken with your name on it, that's yours, but this chicken said my name!"

"That's just the brand! It was made by Tyson Foods corporation"

"Yeah, and it was made for me. That's why they devoted their whole business in my name. So I'd always have chicken. Plus, I pay all the bills around here, so maybe a freeloading ghost like you should shut the fuck up, or start paying bills."

Good4Nuthin@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 172d

Loved that show. RIP Pigeon.

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 27 pts · 172d (6 replies)
[ removed ]
ryannathans@aussie.zone · 29 pts · 172d (3 replies)

Israel owns the US govt and until that changes they will always have the upper hand

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 172d (1 reply)

Israel owns the US govt

Israel and the US have been co-conspirators in a Cold War against Iran going back 47 years.

They didn't ask us to do anything we weren't eager for

ryannathans@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 172d

That's what happens when AIPAC funds all the politicians on both sides

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · -4 pts · 172d

Such a concaveman take.

Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 172d (1 reply)

I’ve tried explaining this to people but it doesn’t get traction.

Israel wants to be the major power in the Middle East, the only way that’s possible is to keep Iran as low powered as possible.

Sure, in theory they would want the Iranian people to thrive, but that would require the Iranian economy to thrive and Israel would see that as a competition.

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 172d

Sure, in theory they would want the Iranian people to thrive

Like they encourage Egyptians and Jordanians to thrive?

TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 172d (5 replies)

OP, I know you're the sole moderator here, but you should know that ABC News works differently from most outlets: their opinion articles are tagged "analysis", which you can see by looking at their category "Analysis & Opinion" (that's just a name for them; they're all marked "analysis"). Thus, the post needs an '[Opinion]' prefix per the guidelines, as ABC dressing it up under a different name doesn't change its nature.

BrikoX@lemmy.zip MOD · 17 pts · 172d (4 replies)

Thanks for the information. Looks like they do differenciate between opinion and analysis per https://www.abc.net.au/edpols/differentiating-between-factual-reporting-analysis-and-opinion/13644726.

Based on those definitions this article wouldn't fall under opinion. It was posted by ABC editor and ABC is claiming responsibility for that content.

TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 172d (3 replies)

Understandable to take them at their word, and I wouldn't begrudge you for keeping the title as-is given that page, but the page is complete BS – at least for their website.

If you again look at "Analysis & Opinion", you'll see there's not a single article labeled "Opinion", articles marked "Analysis" like "Are we outsourcing our souls to artificial intelligence?" are blatantly opinions, the sidebar on ABC's website lacks any "Opinion" section, and even within this article, "X has the upper hand in this conflict" is an opinionated stance.

Saying "they differentiate between analysis and opinion" is untrue because they literally don't have material marked as "Opinion".

BrikoX@lemmy.zip MOD · 11 pts · 172d (2 replies)

I haven't checked all their content but at least going through the latest articles all of them are either by ABC editors or paid freelancers. From what I can see they don't do guest op-eds where they shirk any responsibility for the content.

Saying "they differentiate between analysis and opinion" is untrue because they literally don't have material marked as "Opinion".

It's possible they used to do them, but no longer does.

The motivation behind [Opinion] prefix is to avoid accrediting content to publications that they don't explicitly endorse. In this case it looks like they do.

That said, I don't disagree that the whole approach is confusing.

TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 172d

The motivation behind [Opinion] prefix is to avoid accrediting content to publications that they don't explicitly endorse. In this case it looks like they do.

That makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate the rationale. Thanks!

podian@piefed.social · 1 pts · 172d

As a regular ass reader, I agree. The best news is hardly distinct from avowed and evidence based journalism and research. In short, good faith and competence.

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 3 pts · 172d

Re "single perspective": make that at least two.

According to a big German news podcast on Friday:

  • the USA have neither a plan nor the upper hand
  • Israel are scared shitless the USA could pull out - or even lose - before Iran is properly fucked

The Don definitely has no clue, but he's gloating about killing mullahs etc. Btw, it costs the USA about $1billion per day. And they're buying oil from Russia again. Let that sink in, LOL (<-sarcasm)

Heikki2@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 172d

I have an idea that may help exponent involved. We tell Trump a new McDonalds in Bam wants him and his administration to be there for thier grand opening.

US wins by getting rid of this corrupt administration, Iran wins by reciveing the US war criminals, and Mc Donald's win for its help of ending a war and keeping its goal of killing people who consume its food regularly.

SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml · -2 pts · 172d (1 reply)

Putin told him to. That's it.

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 172d

The devil Putin Made Me Do It