Beware the Ides of March

It is said that Caesar, the Roman general and dictator, received a similar message on March 15, 44 B.C. He did not take the warning to heart and was assassinated by a group of senators. The plot, led by enemies-turned-friends Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, was carried out in the Senate House in Rome. It is said that those who took part in Caesar’s killing believed it would save the Roman Republic. Others have speculated that Caesar’s calendar reform and the rejection of long-held Roman traditions led to his demise.

We are all being figuratively stabbed in the back. The foolish war of choice with Iran is hastening the end of the US empire. Considering our behavior that isn't a bad thing, except for US citizens who will end up paying the price. Additionally, the Ukraine war we engineered has also backfired. Of course as Orwell taught us, TPTB want continuous war. “The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia, but to keep the very structure of society intact.”
― George Orwell

You would think TPTB would consider the ramifications of starting a war with Iran and the resulting shut down of the Strait of Hormuz. Unfortunately, thinking is not our way. No we prefer bellicose blabber and self proclaimed superiority, and now we're mired in a mess of our own making.

Today I've provided a collection of interviews with people I've come to trust. For the most part their predictions in the past have been spot on. However, the fog of war is real, and some speculation is needed to peer into the realities of the situation across Western Asia. To my mind the following analysts are providing the best look into this mistaken war.

Alastair explains the situation in the strait...He lays out his perspective of the asymmetrical nature of Iran's strategy. I found it one of the most insightful interviews I heard this week.

(57 min) Iran's Asymmetrical War /Alastair Crooke & Lt Col Daniel Davis
Iran’s naval strategy is based on asymmetric warfare, not a traditional Western-style navy. Instead of large warships, Iran relies on coastal missiles, submersible drones, fast attack boats, and 25–35 mini-submarines capable of launching anti-ship missiles. These systems make the Strait of Hormuz difficult to defend and allow Iran to threaten oil tankers and military vessels. Even occasional successful attacks could frighten commercial shipping and effectively shut the strait.
Because the strait is only about 21 km wide near Iran, Iranian artillery, missiles, and naval drones could control the passage. Protecting tankers would require large convoy operations and possibly ground forces securing vast coastal territory, something analysts say would be extremely difficult.
The discussion argues that Iran’s strategy focuses on long-term disruption and logistics, while the U.S. and its allies expected a short war. Rising oil prices show the economic pressure building. Iran may also expand the conflict through allies such as the Houthis, potentially threatening alternative oil routes in the Red Sea.
Overall, the argument is that Iran planned for a prolonged asymmetric conflict, aiming to strain Western logistics, global energy markets, and political pressure rather than win through conventional military battles.

Pepe calls Trump the baboon from WAR-a-lago. He used to call him neo-Caligula.

(63 min) Pepe Escobar: Iran Just Served the U.S. an “Eviction Notice” — What Happens Next?
This interview explores the geopolitical struggle behind rising tensions in West Asia, arguing that the conflict is largely driven by control over global energy markets. The discussion highlights Iran’s role as a resilient regional power that has survived decades of sanctions while building strong military and technological capabilities. It also examines the strategic involvement of Russia and China, the shifting balance of power in Eurasia, and the potential impact on alliances such as BRICS. The conversation suggests the conflict reflects deeper global rivalries, energy politics, and the decline of traditional Western dominance in the region.

Update: Iran Wins Strategic Dominance. US Out of Options. | Prof. Steve Starr

(54 min) March 13 Iran War Update: Prof. Steven Starr presents the news from the kinetic war with an overview of targeted and disabled US military installations and a discussion on the Iranian capacity and strategy as discernible after 2 weeks of warfare.

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs : What Hath Trump Wrought?

(29 min)

I enjoy the two Larry's

(54 min)Larry Johnson & Col. Wilkerson: U.S. KC-135 Down — Carrier Abraham Lincoln Hit by Missiles & Drones

Col. Douglas Macgregor: The TRUTH About The War In Iran

(40 min) Macgregor argues that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten a significant portion of the world’s oil supply, with cascading effects for global markets, the petrodollar system, and geopolitical alliances. The conversation explores the limits of U.S. military power, Iran’s missile strategy, the risks of regime change narratives, and why the energy shock from this conflict could send oil prices dramatically higher.
0:31 – Iran Conflict and the Strait of Hormuz Oil Threat
2:30 – How the War Escalated and Its Global Economic Impact
4:12 – Iran’s Missile Strategy and Military Capabilities
7:20 – Oil Supply Risks and the Potential Collapse of the Petrodollar
10:37 – Economic Fallout and Pressure to End the War
13:25 – The Role of the Gulf States
15:07 – Why the War Lacks a Clear Strategy
19:30 – Nuclear Escalation Risks and Israel’s Position
20:14 – The Reality of Regime Change Campaigns
24:28 – Nationalism Inside Iran and Political Consequences
31:16 – Munitions Shortages and the Modern Missile Economy
34:45 – Industrial Capacity and the Future of Warfare
37:27 – Where to Follow Macgregor’s Analysis
38:26 – Investment Implications: Oil and Rare Earth Supply Chains

The Israel Lobby: 20 years later w/ John Mearsheimer

(75 min) International relations scholar John Mearsheimer joins The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal to discuss the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking book with Stephen Walt, "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy." The discussion takes place against the backdrop of a US war on Iran which appears to have vindicated the Israel Lobby's thesis.
Max Blumenthal will also be joined by Aaron Mate to discuss the US-Israeli war on Iran and it sends the global economy spiraling into disaster and Trump struggles to explain the war's objectives to an increasingly angry American public.

We have certainly adopted Israel's approach to war targeting schools and hospitals...
Max Blumenthal : Trump’s War: Bombing a School and $8 a Gallon Gasoline

(31 min)

What about our other war in Ukraine?
US weapons, particularly missiles, are being gathered from bases around the world to be sent to Israel. That is leaving Ukraine in a lurch.

Ukraine faces weapons shortages as Russia expands operations w/ Stanislav Krapivnik

(39 min)
00:45 Overview: Ukraine and the Middle East
01:52 Latest Developments on Ukraine's Front Lines
06:41 Focus on Konstantinovka: The Cauldron Situation
14:27 Spring Weather and Battlefield Conditions
18:09 Russian Encirclement Tactics & New Fronts
23:35 Ukraine's Equipment and Manpower Crisis
25:11 Western Arms Shortages & Impact on Ukraine
29:44 Ukrainian Strategy, Artillery, and Shell Production
33:03 Manpower Issues and Press Gangs in Ukraine
36:22 Will This Be the Last Year of the War?
39:24 Postwar Scenarios for Ukraine and Europe
40:03 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Stanislav

Strike on Russian Arms factory
Russia has blamed Britain for a deadly missile strike launched by Ukraine on a vital munitions factory, which reportedly killed seven people.
Kyiv claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on one of Russia’s “most important military factories”, the Kremniy El plant in the border city of Bryansk. It said that British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles had been used in the assault.
Asked whether there would be a military response to the use of British missiles against sovereign Russian territory, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would take any British involvement into consideration, without going into specifics.
“It is obvious that the launch of these missiles was impossible without British specialists,” he told reporters. “We are aware of this, we know it well, and we naturally take it into account.

So will Russia hit the storm shadow factory in the UK? I think Putin is being pressured to do something.

Let's wrap up the news today with a walk and talk by Alex...
US hits Kharg Island, 5000 Marines deployed. Trump rejects Putin offer. Zelensky meets Fresh Prince

(42 min)
00:00 Introduction & Location Update
00:45 Breaking Down US Strikes on Car Island
02:05 Trump's Warning and Iran's Response
04:05 The Strait of Hormuz & Rising Tensions
05:30 Comparing Kharg Island to Snake Island
07:10 Car Island's Strategic Importance & History
09:00 Boots on the Ground: US Military Escalation
11:15 Is it a Bluff? Trump's All-In Strategy
12:20 Contradictory Messaging & Bounty on IRGC Leaders
13:35 Iranian Leadership Still Visible
14:05 B-52 Bombers Assembling in the UK
15:00 Turkey and Europe Reject US Requests
16:55 Iran Strikes US Assets in the Gulf
18:01 Iran Allows Tankers Only if Paid in Yuan
19:40 Force Majeure Looms in Gulf Oil Exports
20:45 The Cycle of Escalation in the Gulf
21:50 Trump Rejects Putin's Uranium Proposal
23:17 Missed Off-Ramps & Failed Negotiations
24:58 Iran's Unexpected Resilience
26:00 Where Is Netanyahu? Rumors Swirl
28:10 Energy Crisis: Europe's Dilemma
30:10 Russian Strikes Intensify in Ukraine
31:20 Media Appearances & Visible Tensions
33:35 Vance's Unclear Stance on Iran War
35:00 Trump's Language and the Clown World Segment
38:00 Closing Thoughts & Outro

Amidst all the war, death, and destruction the natural cycles continue unaffected. Spring has sprung here on the mountain, color is everywhere. Last week we went to the pocket...a wildflower showcase. The spring show has just begun. We'll try to return next week also.

Here at home the redbud and cherry trees are in full bloom, the daffodils are past peak. Forsythia, spirea, and quince provide a colorful backdrop down at the garden. I think it is important to focus on nature and give the wars, politics, and the economy a rest. If, like me, you become disgusted with the state of our nation and its actions, I recommend getting outside and taking a walk surrounded by growing living things. Somehow when I get back home, my mind feels cleared and refreshed.

We've got challenging times ahead as the US empire continues its decline. Let's continue sharing the news and events and help one another cope with these times.

I always welcome your thoughts, stories, and ideas in the comments below. The thread is open..