Bombed Iran

Plus: 3 Americans killed in retaliation, former President Bill Clinton testifies about Jeffrey Epstein, and more...

Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. Airstrikes have killed the 86-year-old supreme leader of Iran, prompting a wide range of reactions both internationally and at home.

No friend of freedom should weep for Khamenei, a wicked dictator whose 37-year reign was marked by brutal crackdowns on dissenters, the fostering of Islamic extremism as the dominant form of government in the country, and stubborn conflict with America and its allies. This was an evil man, and the people of Iran would be better off with better leadership.

But that does not mean Khamenei will be succeeded by better leadership. The CIA's assessment was that an equally rapacious figure would be likely to replace the ayatollah. One may hope that the people of Iran will rise up, overthrow the regime, and install a freer system. But if the previous 25 years of U.S. involvement in the Middle East are any lesson, American dreams of seeding democracy in the region often come up short.

Perhaps intervention-skeptical Americans—a significant faction of MAGA among them—would be reassured if they knew that President Donald Trump had a plan. Unfortunately, the president has offered very little justification for these strikes and has said practically nothing about what he expects to happen. War-weary voters drawn to Trump by his promise of "no new wars" and his rhetorical break from the Bush-era GOP's neoconservatism must be feeling whiplash. Overthrowing Khamenei was a goal of Republicans like Dick Cheney, John McCain, and John Bolton—figures who Trump clashed with, insulted, and eventually marginalized. Yet now Trump is channeling Cheney like Luke Skywalker communing with Obi-Wan Kenobi's ghost as he blows up the Death Star. Trump hated McCain, but it was McCain who was known for singing "Bomb Iran" to the tune of "Barbara Ann."

Trump did not bother to consult Congress over this attack, and few people in the legislature seem to care. Reps. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) continue to be virtually alone in even attempting to demand that their branch of government have a say.

Given all this, it shouldn't surprising that even some dedicated defenders of Trump are manifesting mixed feelings about the attack. The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh, ordinarily a reliable backer of the president, warned MAGA to withhold its knee-jerk acquiescence to another regime-change war:

If you're a proponent of this war, so be it. Make your case. But lecturing skeptics for not "trusting Trump" is the dumbest argument you could possibly make. It is perfectly reasonable for American to be skeptical of regime change wars in the Middle East. Trump himself was…

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 1, 2026

Appearing on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast, Erik Prince expressed similar reservations. Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene—onetime allies of Trump who have broken with him over foreign policy and other issues—also sounded alarm bells.

It's also impossible to avoid the conclusion that many conservative figures who have sided with Trump on this would have slammed a Democrat for taking similar actions. Trump has surrounded himself with political figures who routinely castigated foreign interventionism in the Middle East and elsewhere: Vice President J.D. Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and others. Trump himself once complained that then–President Barack Obama would attack Iran out of desperation. Look like that's a bipartisan temptation.

Three U.S. troops have already been killed in retaliatory attacks by Iran. The soldiers had been deployed to Kuwait. The government did not immediately release additional details about their deaths, but Trump said in a statement that he had anticipated attacks on American service personnel abroad.

"And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends," said Trump. "That's the way it is. Likely be more, but we'll do everything possible where that won't be the case."

---

Scenes from Washington, D.C.: Iranians celebrated the death of Khamenei in the Georgetown neighborhood on Saturday:

M Street and Wisconsin in Georgetown taken over by a large crowd of celebrating Iranians, chanting USA USA … not what I was expecting during my run today. pic.twitter.com/b0LirAQqIM

— Thomas Rid (@RidT) February 28, 2026

QUICK HITS

• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran, was among those killed in the strikes.
• Former President Bill Clinton testified before Congress about his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.
• The AI company Anthropic is now in a major dispute with the Trump administration over military use of the technology.
• Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D–Tex.) in the Texas Senate primary.
• Paramount has apparently defeated Netflix in the war to acquire Warner Bros.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Trump did not bother to consult Congress over this attack...

Lacking any incentive to do so.

[mad.casual]

What are they gonna do? Take away his budget?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

It isnt even a correct assertion. There is evidence Vance met with the gang of 8 the morning of the attacks and the WPA requires congressional notice within the first 48 hours after the attack.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

A gang of 8 doesn't have a quorum. And is no substitute for Congressional approval.

[mad.casual]

You're getting pretty "pedantic" in a "MUH DEW PROCESS!" fashion here.

It requires [quote]notification[/unquote], not obtain approval from a quorum or inform no less than two thirds or whatever.

If he'd gone to an empty chamber on Capitol Hill and said, "It's happening!" you might have a case that Congress was not informed. If you had evidence that he said to the 'gang of 8' that they were to tell no one else, maybe you've got a point, but the WPA specifically says "notification" and "within 48 hours" with the explicit intent of them reeling things in within 60 days after the fact.

Moreover, it's not like going to Congress well ahead of time with a vial of anthrax is much better.

You're wishing the WPA said something different than what it actually says.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 is not pedantic. Congress, not the president, soley has the power to authorize war (including AUMF). I believe in a strong Republic.

Your wishing the Constitution doesn't say what it says.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Congress passed the WPA overriding Nixon's veto. Informing the gang of 8 has been sufficient notification ever since. These protocols were created by Congress and have not been particularly controversial when used by Democrat presidents. Who exactly has standing to challenge the WPA? The Congress that wrote it into law?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Trying to educate people on statutory and constitutional requirements has become tiring. Here is turley laying out what is required, but sogn wont read it.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-trump-strikes-iran-precedent-history-his-side

It is one thing to argue against a policy, law or precedence, but to argue as if a policy or precedence doesnt exist just shows a lack of care for one's argument.

[Social Justice is neither]

No, it shows them to be a dishonest person not interested in reality.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Nope. I just think the president shouldn't be starting wars the peoples' representatives didn't authorize. My stance has been consistent across multiple admins.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

I just dont understand the viewpoint that in a republican nation a single individual declares what is constitutional or not, especially given the vagueness of certain clauses.

I further dont understand railing against precedence that goes back to the founders.

We have congressional notes and federalist papers discussing the split of military use between article 1 and article 2. We have instances of early article 2 use of military not declared a war.

But some want to argue from both ignorance and under the belief that their ignorant viewpoint is the only viewpoint.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

I'm against the WPA, I'm against the idea Congress can delegate its Constitutional powers to the president except in limited and specific laws which sunset. Why you don't understand that, which I've stated multipletimes. And yes, I did read the linked article.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Then your gripe is with Congress not Trump.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

My gripe is with both.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

He's a TDS-addled steaming pile of lying shit, so you can expect whining any time Trump is involved.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Obama's war against Libya and Syria were also unconstitutional.

So I guess I'm also a racist too. Oh no, some presidential sycophant is calling me names because they can't stand criticism of their guy, whatever shall I do.

[Super Scary]

I'm still waiting for a district judge to rule on how I should feel about this whole thing.

[Fist of Etiquette]

This was an evil man, and the people of Iran would be better off with better leadership.

I sense a but coming.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Not would be better off , are better off without him.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Nyt claims he was a moderate.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Nyt claims Stalin's trials were proper.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

NYT never made mention of the Holomodor.

[Ajsloss]

HOLD THE DOOR!

[Scooter]

Never bothered to return Duranty's bullshit Pultzer for deliberately lying about the Soviet Union, either.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Them and wapo refuse to return the ones for Trump Russia as well.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

According to Pipes, lying for Stalin paid very well. Duranty returned to the US pretty well set.

[Moonrocks]

...but, he was an austere religious scholar?

[Bertram Guilfoyle]

He enjoyed Persian poetry.

[Kungpowderfinger]

I didn’t see any “THANK YOU BENJAMIN NETANYAHU” posters in pics of Iranian protests, what’s up with that?

[Idaho-Bob]

You chose not to look.

https://x.com/theHubTVke/status/2028089832350605313

[Kungpowderfinger]

Fucking A, incredible times

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

^+1!

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D–Tex.) in the Texas Senate primary.

Another example of how stupid she is.

[Mike Parsons]

Black woman who was promoted far beyond her station while being a functional retard but ticks diversity boxes, endorses other black woman promoted far above her station while being a functional retard but ticks diversity boxes.

Maybe they can both grab lunch with Ketanji Brown Jackson for the trifecta

[I, Woodchipper]

if anything KJB might be the least intelligent of the three.

[Mike Parsons]

Based on her various arguments in court, this is actually possible. I think this lady legit has a sub 90 IQ

[Fist of Etiquette]

The CIA's assessment was that an equally rapacious figure would be likely to replace the ayatollah.

Didn't they already kill that guy? They'll be down to the intern soon.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Top 48 apparently killed.

They may have to choose between AOC and Omar.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Either would be an IMPROVEMENT!?

[Social Justice is neither]

Their aim is to destroy the USA so would be funny having them suddenly become super competent.

[Bertram Guilfoyle]

They'll be down to the intern soon.

How far down the succession list is mtrueman?

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

As usual, he’s on the bottom.

[Idaho-Bob]

Beware of immigrants wearing "Property of Allah" shirts.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

He was wearing an Iranian flag shirt under it.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/02/us/austin-mass-shooting-ndiaga-diagne-wwk-hnk

[Fist of Etiquette]

If you're a proponent of this war, so be it. Make your case. But lecturing skeptics for not "trusting Trump" is the dumbest argument you could possibly make.

TRUMP GOT MATT WALSH TO DEFEND THE MULLAHS!

Just kidding. The case is self evident but probably should be articulated (if it actually hasn't been already).

[mad.casual]

TRUMP GOT MATT WALSH TO DEFEND THE MULLAHS!

Director and lead actor of "What Is A Woman?" skeptical of facts and authority!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Iranians celebrated the death of Khamenei in the Georgetown neighborhood on Saturday.

A lot of Georgetown residents making calls to ICE that day.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

2 shootings in bar areas on Saturday. Both by migrants.

https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2026/03/01/two-dead-in-texas-as-muslim-migrant-with-quran-shoots-up-bar-cops-search-for-motive-n4950114

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

A rag head terrorist? That's unpossible

[Scooter]

I mean, that "Religion Of Peace" doesn't seem all that peaceful.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

I always thought the interpretation was off. It’s supposed to be “religion of pieces”.

[I, Woodchipper]

they all have to go back. it's that simple.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

And the man in the back said everyone attack and it turned into a ballroom blitz.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran, was among those killed in the strikes.

JUST TELL ME HIS MEMBERS ONLY JACKET SURVIVED.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Asking for Nick Gillespie?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Wapo and NYT show their love of imams... again.

James Woods
@RealJamesWoods
This is how the Washington Post eulogized the dirt bag who murdered 40,000 innocent civilians this month. This is not satire:

"With his bushy white beard and easy smile, Ayatollah Khamenei cut a more avuncular figure in public than his perpetually scowling but much more revered mentor, and he was known to be fond of Persian poetry and classic Western novels, especially Victor Hugo’s 'Les Misérables.' ... Some Iranians who knew Ayatollah Khamenei before he became supreme leader described him as a 'closet moderate'' ...

And NYT

https://x.com/redsteeze/status/2027955271369134413

[Moonrocks]

Geez, I was just joking further up the thread, but they really did go all austere religious scholar.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

They cant help it.

Compare this to their descriptions of Charlie Kirk.

[Mike Parsons]

They genuinely thought Charlie Kirk caused more damage

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Well, to the left, Charlie Kirk did do a lot of damage.

[Scooter]

Or Scott Adams (R.I.P.)

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Hitler was a quiet man, known to be a health conscious vegan who expressed himself with his watercolor paintings.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

And didn't he make the trains run on time? (joking)

[mad.casual]

With his bushy white beard and easy smile, Ayatollah Khamenei cut a more avuncular figure in public

Thanks, Grok:

'Twas the night of Feb. 28th, when all through Tehran,
Not a protestor was marching, not even a plan;
The banners were furled by the faithful with care,
In hopes that the Supreme Leader soon would appear.

The guards were all drowsy, their rifles laid low,
While visions of power kept sleep nice and slow;
And Khamenei in his robes, with his beard long and white,
Had just settled his frame for a long, peaceful night.

When out on the rooftop there rose such a roar,
He sprang from his chair to the window once more;
Away to the balcony he flew in a dash,
Threw open the doors with a furious flash.

The stars o'er the city shone cold and severe,
When what to his wondering eyes did appear,
But a streak from the heavens, a missile so bright,
Bearing down with a vengeance, precise in its flight.

With American steel and a guidance so true,
He knew in an instant the end had come through;
More swift than the falcon, more fierce than the gale,
It came without warning, without fail.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the palace the warhead it sped,
And the Ayatollah was lifted like down from his bed.

And then, in a flash, with a thunderous sound,
The roof and the walls came tumbling down;
As he turned in alarm, with his hands to his face,
The blast caught him squarely, erasing his place.

It was wrapped all in fire, from its nose to its tail,
And its fury was dressed in a shimmering veil;
A bundle of fury flung high in the air,
And the Supreme Leader floated, weightless and bare.

His eyes—how they widened! His mouth opened wide!
His cheeks were like ashes, his terror untried!
His droll little beard was singed black in a puff,
And the shockwave around him was more than enough.

The stump of a prayer died quick on his lips,
As smoke encircled his head like eclipse;
He was chubby and proud, a right haughty old man,
But he shook like a leaf in the palm of a hand.

He spoke not a word, but was swept in the gale,
Blown high o'er the city, beyond hill and dale;
And laying his turban aside with a twist,
Up, up like a thistle he rose in the mist.

He sprang to the heavens, to the dark gave a flight,
And away he was carried like down of the night;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he vanished from sight—
“Curse you, America! This isn't polite!”

Happy Feb. 28th to the free world, and to all a good night!

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

+1, worthy of Chumby.

It’s finally payback for 1979, motherfuckers!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Former President Bill Clinton testified before Congress about his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

What on earth does this have to do with the thing Trump is going to do after bombing Iran?

[Fist of Etiquette]

The AI company Anthropic is now in a major dispute with the Trump administration over military use of the technology.

Not today, Skynet.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Churchill statue defamed with antisemitic messaging.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/outrage-after-churchill-statue-in-parliament-square-defaced-with-antisemitic-messages/

[mad.casual]

UK to allow US to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iran

Good to see a Muslim country getting involved.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

France is still holding out. They must be Shia.

[Mike Parsons]

Absolutely begrudgingly though.

2Tier-Kier all but preemptively apologized to the muslims on behalf of the bad whites and made 15 caveats for how the brits were forced to help out, not that they wanted to.

[mad.casual]

It's all still very telling regarding Greenland and the dissolution of NATO.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D–Tex.) in the Texas Senate primary.

Who could possibly give a fuck.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Bad bunny?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli

@USAttyEssayli
GUILTY: A Los Angeles federal jury just returned guilty verdicts against two defendants for stalking an ICE deportation officer.

Cynthia Raygoza, 38, of Riverside, and Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado, were found guilty today of stalking.

On August 28, 2025, Raygoza and Brown followed the victim from a federal building in downtown Los Angeles to his home.

The defendants livestreamed their pursuit on their Instagram accounts, provided directions as they followed the victim home, and encouraged viewers to share the livestream.

Upon arriving at the victim’s residence, the defendants shouted to bystanders while livestreaming that their “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.” They also shouted racial slurs at the victim’s wife. The victim’s children witnessed the incident.

Raygoza and Brown each face up to five years in federal prison at their June 8 sentencing hearing.

We thank the jury for bringing justice to these agitators who violated the law and endangered the safety of this federal officer and his family.

Peaceful protests are protected by the Constitution, political violence and unlawful intimidation are not.

https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/2027584816229888499

[Super Scary]

"The defendants livestreamed their pursuit on their Instagram accounts, provided directions as they followed the victim home, and encouraged viewers to share the livestream."

I'll never understand the impulse behind filming your own crimes.

[Idaho-Bob]

I'll never understand the impulse behind filming your own crimes.

Narcissism. I'll bet they both got a lot of likes.

[Scooter]

Criminals are usually pretty stupid people.

[SRG2]

The ones who get caught, yes.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Forget it. It is California town.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/convicted-child-sex-offender-run-office-california

Nobody shocked by pedophiles running as democrats.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

The spying on trump under Garland and jack Smith is unraveling. In a warrant where the FBI claimed the lawyer if Wiles agreed to be recorded, it turns out to be false. As lawyer denies it. So Garland and Smith were spying on calls between citizens and their lawyers.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/susie-wiles-lawyer-denies-consenting-to-record-their-phone-call/

One would think reason would be interested in this story.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Too local

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

What difference, at this point, does it make?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

True. So will add.

And then nothing happened.

[Mike Parsons]

For all the "worse than watergate" cliches out there, how is this not actually one

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Because in Democrat math…

Watergate = J6/(9-11 * Trump)

[mad.casual]

For any x:
∞ <= x ^ Trump

Pardon my racism.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Marjorie Taylor Greene has never been an ally of anyone. She changes her opinion and mannerisms based on the audience. She has take both sides of every issue. Saying she is for or against something is about as valid as telling me the direction of the wind 2 weeks from now

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

She is an ally of Code Pink now.

[Bertram Guilfoyle]

After getting her 15 minutes of being Hitler, the left has taken ownership of her.

[tracerv]

https://x.com/i/status/2028257577038147789

Iranian women go viral dancing and celebrating Khamenei's dɛath with the Trump dance

Let's trade 100 wimmen for one of her!

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Jewfree says this is all AI video.

[tracerv]

THIS is an AI video. Might be why it was invented.

https://x.com/i/status/2028343294598742250

Gangsta Trump. Awesome.

[Super Scary]

Is this the first time we've had a president with a signature dance move? I remember when some football players were doing the dance as a touchdown celebration a few years ago.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

"Joe Biden: Border crossings were lower, economy better when I was in office"
[...]
"Need a reminder why former President Joe Biden is our former president, with a heavy emphasis on the word "former?" He's back to remind you.
In a speech Friday, Biden pointed to the economy (good grief) and the border (good grief, squared) as reasons his presidency was significantly better than Donald Trump's.
And, in typical Biden fashion, he made sure to emphasize that this was no joke, his word as a Biden, etc.
Biden began by ridiculing the length of Trump's State of the Union speech, which probably wasn't the wisest idea, inasmuch as reminding people about the current president's stamina and the former president's lack of it is not exactly going to endear him to anyone..."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/joe-biden-border-crossings-were-lower-economy-better-when-i-was-in-office/ar-AA1XghWZ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=69a32f5ae1b34a42bf0c50f78f706c34&ei=13

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Surprisingly harsh language from msn.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

900M taken from California solar program and dumped into NGOs to fund voting for democrats.

https://now.solar/2026/02/27/900m-taken-from-solar-panel-program-and-pumped-into-dem-voting-activism-cal-doge-claims-new-york-post/

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Missing from the roundup
"kmw writes the most retarded article ever published by reason"

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

It was epic.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Goddamn, that had to have been the worst thing I’ve ever read here, and that includes the drivel from Jeffy, Sarc, Tony, Molly, JewFree, White Mike, Shrike, and the other idiots. It was worse than most of the shit from Sullum and Boehm, and it managed to put Matt “Red Wedding” Welch to shame.

[mad.casual]

I'll take "Recursively Retarded" for 1000, Alex.

A: Reason Magazine.

Q: What an article about what an article about abortion and removing a live, but unwanted baby from the womb have in common by ENB and an article about ICE and China's one child policy have in common from KMW have in common?

[Longtobefree]

"Unfortunately, the president has offered very little justification for these strikes . . . "

Sorry to hear your internet is broken - - - - - - - - - -

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Robby needs to plug in, and not to his twink.

[tracerv]

Ha! Magic 8 Ball says not likely.

[I, Woodchipper]

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D–Tex.) in the Texas Senate primary.

Shocking!

The fake black woman endorsing the fake ghetto black woman.