The Fall of Levar Stoney 

The Fall of Levar Stoney 

A rising star in the Virginia Democratic Party plummets to earth.

Richmond celebrates the dedication of Arthur Ashe Blvd and the state's 400th anniversary exhibition Determined: The 400-year Struggle for Black Equality.

The story of Levar Stoney was not supposed to end like this. 

The fast-rising, homegrown Democratic talent who rose to became the youngest mayor in the history of Richmond at 35 conceded his bid to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor on Wednesday. Though the final margin of his primary loss to Democratic State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi was narrow, it was within the Richmond city limits Stoney governed for two terms that he was handed his worst results. 

Hashmi defeated Stoney by only 3,500 hundred votes statewide. In Richmond, however, Hashmi bested Stoney by more than 10,000 votes. The result was a bitter pill for Stoney. He had won reelection to the mayoralty in 2020 months before race riots devastated American cities. Richmond was no exception. Thousands rallied beneath the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue, demanding the Confederate general’s likeness and other Confederate statues in the city be removed from public property. Stoney joined with protesters and eventually made good on their requests, but not before city officers teargassed activists, a move that would come to mar Stoney’s tenure. 

The young mayor, who grew up in Hampton Roads, Virginia, apologized for the response by city officers, but the damage had been done. Thousands descended upon Richmond City Hall the next day, creating a chaotic scene in which Stoney was repeatedly shouted down as he attempted to navigate the tricky situation. In the end, the statues came down, but Stoney, who campaigned as the “millennial who took down the Monuments,” was remembered as an establishment player who refused to throw his full support behind the protesters. 

Then came the proposed $562 million Richmond Grand Resort and Casino. Stoney pushed for the Richmond-area casino project throughout his tenure, but was twice rejected by voters, the second time by a wider margin than the first. “I’ve sat down with those who were operators and casinos who wanted an opportunity to build in Richmond, and I negotiated with them,” Stoney said. “The voters had a say twice, and they said no.”

Stoney claimed the casino, which was to be located off I-95 south of Richmond, would bring good-paying jobs for low-wage black workers in the area, and voters in the southern part of the city voted in support of the project. Those same voters also selected Stoney for lieutenant governor on Tuesday night. But the typically whiter and wealthier citizens of the west and north ends of Richmond, the ones who hold the real political power in the city, organized and voted overwhelmingly against the project. Many of the voices and voters who criticized Stoney’s ham-handed response to the statues were definitive “nos” against building out gambling in the capitol and again on Stoney’s bid for statewide office. 

Had Stoney’s failures only amounted to what Democratic voters viewed as an unacceptable lack of enthusiasm for the removal of Confederate statues and a botched casino push, he very likely would’ve carried enough support in Richmond to defeat Hashmi on Tuesday night. But there was a third, more pressing issue that doomed Stoney’s bid for higher office: the water. 

Richmond has suffered two boil-water advisories in the last 12 months. Though both advisories occurred under the stewardship of the newly elected Mayor Danny Avula, the criticism fell on Stoney. The first advisory, in January of this year, left Richmonders without drinking water for six days during a major ice storm that coated the city and made transportation difficult. Stoney’s administration was criticized for failing to address the city’s aging infrastructure and for the poor communication during a disaster. And though the second boil advisory happened under Avula’s watch in May, the issue haunted Stoney on the campaign trail. Speaking in Alexandria days before Tuesday’s primary, Stoney blamed the water issues on the former Mayor Dwight. C Jones: “This came out of the administration before me. Do we wish that the prior administration would have gotten it done so we didn’t have to deal with it? Obviously, we wish that.”

Stoney’s deflection on the issue failed to convince voters in the city. “It was here in the City of Richmond that cost him his dream of being a lieutenant governor,” explained WTVR political analyst Bob Holsworth. The man who was considered the protégé of former Gov. Terry Mcauliffe and who was once tapped as the future of the Democratic party in Virginia lost in humiliating fashion, squarely undone by the very city that helped launch his political career.

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It’s Time to Get Out for Good

It’s Time to Get Out for Good

Trump must not let Netanyahu and the neoconservatives invent new objectives.

US Marines In Iraq

Credit: Lance Cpl Nathaniel Sapp/Getty Images

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon” has been Trump’s much-repeated message, and after last night’s bombing of the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, the president declared his mission accomplished. Declaring the operation a “spectacular military success,” he called for Iran’s leaders to return to negotiations. “Now is the time for peace,” he wrote on his Truth Social site. Americans must hold him to it. 

Iran, of course, will have a say in what happens next. Tehran will inevitably retaliate. It has many options, including targeting U.S. military personnel in the region, disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, or executing cyber or terror attacks in the Middle East or outside it. So far, Iran’s response has been moderate. Tehran has indicated that damage caused by U.S. strikes is reparable and limited. There are also reports that Washington gave Iran advanced warning that this was intended to be a limited strike. It is possible that Iran might calibrate its response to avoid American casualties. 

As Iran’s leaders weigh their options, Trump should take clear and decisive steps now to encourage Iran toward deescalation, offering commitments that U.S. military action was indeed a “one-off” and not the start of a longer American campaign. First, Trump must back away from the “deal or bombs” threats he continues to make toward Iran, including in his triumphant speech to the nation following the strikes. After hitting Iran’s nuclear facilities and setting back its path to a nuclear weapon, there is no urgent threat to the United States that would require either a quick deal or additional U.S. military action. In fact, giving Iran ultimatums to return to negotiations only increases the risk of deeper U.S. military involvement because it will create political pressure on Trump to act if diplomacy fails—as is likely in the short term. After all, Iran has no reason now to believe that diplomacy will protect it from future airstrikes and little incentive to compromise in the near future.

Instead, Trump should reiterate the limited nature of the U.S. military action and declare clearly that, despite recent social media posts, the United States does not seek regime change in Iran. After twice undermining his own diplomatic outreach to Iran’s leaders—first by letting Israel strike Iran and then by authorizing U.S. bombs—Trump’s words may carry little weight. Still, his assertion that political change is not on the U.S. agenda could make a difference, especially when amplified by other U.S. political leaders. Trump might also enlist the assistance of regional partners like Saudi Arabia, allies in Europe, and even Russia to communicate the message that the United States will not interfere in Iran’s domestic politics.

Second, while immediately moving U.S. servicemembers out of the region might leave them vulnerable, Trump should immediately order recently surged fighter aircraft and air tankers back to their home bases and redirect the second carrier strike group back to Asia. He should also recommit to plans to withdraw forces from Syria and Iraq on their planned timeline and look for other opportunities to reduce U.S. military presence in the region as soon as it is safe to do so. This would reinforce his promise to the American people not to become embroiled in another endless Middle Eastern war and offer Iran assurances that the United States is not planning further military involvement.

Netanyahu and the neocons will not rest on their laurels for long. Washington’s “one-off” has only whetted their appetite. They are already discovering more secret nuclear facilities to target and still aiming for regime change. Trump’s preferred diplomatic pathway to a dismantled Iranian nuclear program has already been derailed by Israel’s unilateral attack and subsequent U.S. military action. Twice he has let his instincts for peace be overruled by calls for war. He must resist pressure to let it happen again.

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Trump Once Again Does Not End Democracy

Trump Once Again Does Not End Democracy

The “No Kings” hysteria over the military parade was as overblown as the anti-Trump hysterias of yesteryear.

National,Harbor,,Md,,Usa-,February,24,,2024:,Donald,Trump,Speaks

Credit: image via Shutterstock

I purposefully held off writing anything until now because none of it happened. None of the apocalyptic predictions came true even a little bit. We had protests, we had a parade, and then on Monday morning we all went back to work or school. The panic was simply because of the left’s unnatural desire to hyperinflate anything Trump does into the republic’s endgame to get those endorphins pumping. Time passing shows it best.

In Hawaii, many of the signs read “One King, No Dictator” at the “No Kings” anti-Trump protest. That’s because here the extreme left are still protesting the late 19th century overthrow of the beloved Hawaiian monarchy by the United States. They do want a king—just not Trump. That was the broad theme; maybe we do need to do something about immigration, but just not Trump’s way. But unless Trump left office between the time I’m writing this and the time you are reading it about 10 days later, you can see how well all those signs worked out. Same for the MSM commentary on the protests and their evil twin, the Washington DC military parade.

It was supposed to be a big weekend, the one for “No Kings” day. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) had just been wrestled out of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Noem’s press conference; this was called a “red line for democracy.” ICE and the Marines were on the streets of LA, and everyone knew the next step was a hair’s breadth away: martial law, Insurrection Act, suspension of habeas corpus, all that.

But the kicker was the military parade in Washington, on Trump’s birthday and, it turns out, J.D. Vance’s wedding anniversary (which nobody had on their conspiracy bingo card). That was trumpeted as the end of democracy in America itself. Pundits claimed the tanks would take up positions around the White House after the parade to enforce a coup, leaving Trump sole dictator. The parade was a ruse ahead of, again, martial law, and at the very least a sign of the increasing politicization of our military: the crowning of Trump as its authoritarian leader, like Putin and Kim Jong Un, and, of course, Adolf Hitler.

Back to those “No Kings” protests. The crowd I saw was well behaved, and the nearby cops looked bored. An interesting twist from earlier protests was the replacement of pro-gay signs with pro-transgender signs, with their extra rainbow-flag stripes. Gay has become passé (never mind BLM)—just that newly married couple down the street—and despite the attempts by Pride-month organizers to whip up anti-Trump sentiment, nobody seemed to care. Same with abortion; when Roe went away we were told so many horrible things would happen, but it seems like they got the scale all wrong, and it is yesterday’s protest topic.

So now the meme is something about transgender people, seemingly centered on the one real thing Trump did to them, push them out of the military. You’d think this affected tens of thousands of people based on the protest crowd’s zeal. In reality, the number of trans troops is far lower than estimates by advocates, which ran up to 14,000 people. The Defense Department said actually 4,240 service members, or only about 0.2 percent of those in uniform, have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Some of them may not even like the military and are satisfied to get out early. Nobody in the protest crowd seemed to care, because a great bad thing by Trump had been done, and thus democracy was at risk. More than one person warned me that after Trump was done with the trans people he might come after me. They all knew that poem.

The sun was very hot the day of the protest, and things broke up early.

The military parade was a complete failure, as democracy survived. Not one TV commentator I heard mentioned the inspiration for the thing was Trump attending a Bastille Day military parade in France, a democracy equally proud of its martial past. Instead the comparisons were all to Russia and China and North Korea and of course, the Nazis. The problem was that we did not have a Nazi parade. Our soldiers, instead of paying tribute to the leader, mugged for the cameras, waved at kids from atop tanks, and otherwise stuck to marching, somewhat out of step. They are our sons and brothers, not stormtroopers. If anything the parade was boring; the cameras caught Secretary of State Marco Rubio yawning, Melania appearing to fall asleep at one point, and Trump looking more tired than dictatorial.

Afterwards the tanks went back to wherever they came from with habeas intact. The whole affair looked much like a super-sized version of what you’d see on the Fourth of July in many towns, albeit without the local high school marching band and the mayor waving from an open car. The roads in Washington, DC even looked like they survived in decent shape; the mainstream media, desperate to find things to criticize, warned for weeks that armored vehicles would tear up the asphalt and stick the taxpayers with a big repair bill.

That is the whole point of this belated commentary on the protests and parade. None of what the mainstream media told you was going to happen happened. Not even close. It just took a bit of time to see clearly that their end-of-the-world predictions were, in retrospect, just wrong. Same as happened during Trump 1.0, when we were constantly warned of the Third World War, told that America had reached its Reichstag moment, bombarded with messages about Russiagate, the Pee Tape, and so on.

It seems like only yesterday the New York Times wrote that the point of the military spectacle was to “generate footage of tanks massed on the streets in numbers more often seen in countries where a coup is underway” and to “create optics that support his claim that public dissent constitutes an existential threat to the nation. He also apparently seeks to get the American public used to seeing our armed forces in a new light…. Rather, it should be viewed as an institution that serves at the behest of a leader and his ideological and political agendas.” Branching off to sweep in ICE doing its job in L.A., the Times explained Trump was “flooding our screens with images that habituate us to a new reality of federalized state militia members standing opposite civilian protesters.”

The ever-skittish Washington Post writer Jonathan Capehart took to “neutral” PBS to fearmonger about the insidious plan behind Trump’s actions in L.A. and Washington: 

I think they’re creating the political conflict because — I interviewed Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison in the run-up to the anniversary, the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. And he [Ellison] brought up on his own the rumor that the president was going to pardon Derek Chauvin. And the attorney general said that the president might do that as a distraction to larger goals. And one of the larger goals that the attorney general mentioned that has always been in the back of my mind is to create the conditions that would allow the president to invoke the Insurrection Act. And once the president invokes the Insurrection Act, all sorts of powers are handed to the president, you know, suspending elections, and other things…. That is among the reasons why I am so concerned about what we’re about to see tomorrow [the parade].

Trump did not pardon Floyd’s killer Derek Chauvin, did not invoke the Insurrection Act, and did not cancel any elections as Capehart had been given a national platform to proclaim. There was just a parade. By now the Democrats and the mainstream media have mostly moved on from the stories and end-of-world scenarios listed above and are focused on new stories and end-of-world scenarios that will prove equally as false and empty. Read them now as you would read them in a couple of weeks, after the fact, and see how silly it all sounds.

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Texas Delivers Spectacular Blow to Woke Public School Teachers – Slowly We Are Bringing God Back to America

Texas lawmakers are close to scoring a major victory in America’s culture wars by enacting a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms.

The bill is currently awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature and would affect over five million students statewide.

Senate Bill 10 was passed by both the Senate and the House, according to Texas Legislature Online, prompting some school districts to already start preparing.

“Obviously, I’m a believer and I don’t have a problem with the Ten Commandments,” Dr. John Kuhn, Abilene ISD superintendent, said, according to KTXS-TV.

“If there’s a law that says we must post the Ten Commandments in our classroom, we’re gonna abide by that law. We’re not lawbreakers.”

If signed, every public classroom in Texas would be required to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments measuring at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, KXAN-TV reported.

A similar law passed by Louisiana in 2024 was the target of litigation by the American Civil Liberties Union and is currently on appeal in the Fifth Circuit.

The ACLU has promised to pursue the Texas law with the same vigor, saying on its website, “S.B. 10 is blatantly unconstitutional. We will be working with Texas public school families to prepare a lawsuit to stop this violation of students’ and parents’ First Amendment rights.”

Yet what about the rights of those who wish to display the tenets upon which our country was founded? Is free speech only limited to topics the far left cares about?

When children are encouraged by these ten life lessons not to steal, lie, and to honor their parents, radical liberal organizations declare war on all of Christianity.

The commandment they most likely fear, however, is the one concerning false idols.

Worshipping at the altar of Critical Race Theory or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is perfectly acceptable by the ACLU’s standard. When sowing seeds of division and hate, organizations like these — aided by radical Democrat lawmakers — have no complaints about the effect on students or parents.

Those who stand against Christian influence work vigorously to keep the Bible out of the classroom, yet in the same breath, they fight to keep their preferred form of indoctrination alive, even in the face of intense cultural backlash.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a video back in 2023, highlighting various instances in which Texas teachers were pushing woke ideologies as if they were a sacred religion.

There was a “non-binary” teacher who expressed pride for “indoctrinating” her students, school boards barring parents from attending public meetings, young minors being exposed to pornographic books, and stories of children being encouraged to switch genders by their educators.

This sheds light on a shocking truth. Not only are these acts being used to brainwash students, but they distract children from subjects that matter, tanking educational standards throughout all of Texas. One parent in the video said only 19 percent of the Texas curriculum is at grade level, and only 30 percent of students can read at grade level. Clearly, the fundamentals of education have fallen by the wayside as schools prioritize the indoctrination of kids into woke ideology.

But if you encourage the teachings of Jesus like forgiveness, conscience and moral order; you’re crossing the line. In what world does this even remotely make sense?

As the Bible says in the book of Peter, “Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

The Ten Commandments may be just what the country needs to set us on the path of true north and offer children a road map for life, rather than a set of depraved talking points that can only lead to misery.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi: US Will Have to Take Full Responsibility for Its Attacks on Iranian Nuclear Facilities

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was fortunate enough to be out of country on Saturday night during the US strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites.

On Saturday night the United States military under the direction of President Donald J. Trump bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran in Operation Midnight Hammer.

The US dropped 14 bunker busting bombs on Iran’s largest nuclear site in Fordow. It was the largest ever attack by B-2 stealth bombers by the United States. It was also the longest flight the bombers have made since 2001.

The US strike involved more than 125 US aircraft.

Following Saturday night’s historic attacks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi lashed out at the United States.  Araqchi is in Turkey for the OIC meeting in Istanbul.

Iranian Tasmin News reported:

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the US will have to take full responsibility for the consequences of its attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying Tehran reserves the right to resort to its own options for reaction.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of an OIC meeting in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said the US has violated all international rules and regulations by striking Iran’s nuclear sites.

The US must accept full responsibility for the dire consequences of such an aggressive measure, he warned.

Highlighting Iran’s entitlement to self-defense under the UN Charter, Araqchi said Tehran reserves the right to take a series of options to respond to the US attacks.

Araqchi, or Araghchi, condemned the US actions on X earlier today and said, “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

Abbas Araghchi: The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations. The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.

Here is the tweet.

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From Tehran to Jerusalem: The Escalating Proxy War and Nuclear Standoff.

from-tehran-to-jerusalem-the-escalating-proxy-war-and-nuclear-standoff.

Since the 1990s, Israel has been wary of Iran’s pursuit of a “nuclear program for peaceful purposes” that includes uranium enrichment. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime — led by its Ayatollah — has repeatedly voiced its aspirations to «Liberate Al-Quds (Jerusalem)» from what it calls the Zionist state.

During the Obama administration, a deal was reached between Iran and the so-called “group of five plus one” (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council along with Germany) to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.

Verification of the agreement was entrusted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, IAEA inspectors have repeatedly cited Iran for violations related to its enrichment program and for concealing sites from inspection.

President Trump later withdrew the United States from the agreement, aiming to impose stringent sanctions designed to cripple the Iranian economy. While some observers had long doubted the effectiveness of earlier sanctions, President Trump combined them with an unprecedented clause: any government or multinational company engaging in trade or collaboration with Iran would be banned from conducting business in the United States.

The immediate impact was severe, triggering dramatic currency devaluation, soaring unemployment, and staggering inflation in Iran.

Fast forward to the Biden administration, which offered Iran a brief reprieve. During this period, Iran managed to resurface along with its proxies in the Middle East and accelerate its nuclear program. Iran’s strategic blueprint became evident through the activities of its proxies.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aimed to secure its influence over the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, through its Houthi proxies in Yemen, Iran sought leverage over the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea.

A second strategic objective involved connecting Iran to the Mediterranean via a “Shia crescent” stretching from western Iran, across northern Iraq and Syria, and into Lebanon. By 2022, it was clear that Iran maintained substantial proxy influence over parts of Iraq, most of Syria (with the Assad regime consolidating power), and Lebanon (where Hezbollah has significantly undermined formal governmental institutions).

On October 7, 2023, Israel and the West as a whole received a wake-up call when Hamas, an Iranian proxy, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. Soon after, on October 8, Hezbollah openly entered the conflict, with the Houthis following shortly thereafter in Yemen. As Iran’s plan unfolded, it became apparent that Israel was the primary target.

In response, Israel decisively attacked Hamas and Hezbollah forces, even toppling the Syrian regime’s capabilities while targeting air defense networks throughout Syria. This operation effectively cleared the airspace between Israel and western Iran for the Israeli Air Force. Amid these developments, the United States initiated negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions. During these talks, Iran granted the IAEA access—albeit limited—to some of its facilities.

On June 9, 2024, the IAEA reported traces of synthetic uranium particles at three undeclared sites (Varamin, Marivan, and Turquzabad). Iran, however, denied requests for inspection at these locations. As Israeli intelligence reported a marked acceleration in both uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development, alarms were raised. President Trump had originally given Iran 60 days to reach an agreement. When that deadline passed without success, Israel acted on the 61st day.

Since October 7, 2023, observers, analysts, and intelligence agencies have increasingly acknowledged that the roots of this conflict trace directly back to Tehran. While Israel has focused on curtailing Iran’s nuclear program, the broader threat looms larger. Iran retains the capability to disrupt both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, and its ballistic missiles can reach as far as Israel—nearly 1,800 kilometers away—with some capable of extending up to 4,000 kilometers.

Israel has also initiated offshore gas production near Haifa and advanced the “East-Med Pipeline” project—a plan to connect the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe via pipelines. As the Abraham Accords expand, potentially incorporating Saudi Arabia, inland oil and gas pipelines could connect to the Mediterranean, ultimately supplying Europe. This development would diminish Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and relieve countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and Qatar from the Ayatollah’s grip.

Iran’s ballistic missiles, aside from posing a direct threat to Israel, could potentially target Europe—and possibly the United States in the future. The ongoing negotiations with Iran boil down to three core objectives:

1. Dismantling its nuclear program

2. Halting the production of ballistic missiles

3. Suspending support for its proxies, or at least significantly curtailing their capabilities

Israel now stands at a point of no return, while the U.S. administration maintains daily reiterations of its demands. Meanwhile, Western leaders are more inclined to favor a ceasefire, negotiations, and the immediate implementation of agreements.

Iran continues to waver between clinging to its national pride and heading towards a self-destructive confrontation with Israel, the United States, and their allies. For many Iranian leaders, the prospect of losing power looms larger than the potential sacrifices in lives or capabilities. Although they may view any significant setback as a blow to Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution of 1979, the ideological foundation remains intact, poised to resurface in a renewed form.

The ultimate military objectives are clear: dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and cease ballistic missile production. While the air campaign has significantly damaged the NATANZ facilities, the deeply embedded Fordo facility—located almost 240 feet underground—remains a formidable challenge for the Israeli Air Force. Despite extensive destruction of launch facilities, there is no conclusive evidence that key production facilities are either operational or completely decommissioned.

Rumors regarding a potential regime change in Iran continue to circulate in Middle Eastern media. While these claims may seem far-fetched, the U.S. and its allies might need to consider this possibility seriously. The deeply ingrained ideology of the Ayatollah and his adherents will likely sustain the regime as long as the clerics continue to propagate their beliefs.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of Gateway Hispanic.

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Why Iran’s Threats Ring Hollow: An Analysis of Tehran’s Limited Retaliation Capabilities After Operation Midnight Hammer By Antonio Graceffo

Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E. Prompt and concept by Antonio Graceffo

 

With Operation Midnight Hammer, the United States has successfully degraded Iran’s nuclear program. While Iranian officials are threatening retaliation, Tehran lacks any meaningful options for an effective counterattack.

Yesterday’s coordinated U.S. assault marked the most significant direct American military action against Iran in modern history. The operation involved seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flying an 18-hour round-trip mission from Missouri, supported by over 125 total aircraft in what Pentagon officials described as the largest B-2 operational strike ever conducted. The targets—Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—were hit with 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator “bunker-buster” bombs and dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

President Trump announced that Iran’s “key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” a statement corroborated by Pentagon assessments reporting “extremely severe damage and destruction” at all three sites. The operation was highly classified, with only a handful of people in Washington aware of its timing or nature. It achieved complete tactical surprise, no shots were fired at U.S. forces.

Notably, the strike came just days after President Trump had publicly stated that he would take two weeks to decide whether or not to launch an attack. Tehran, familiar with the pattern of previous U.S. administrations, assumed American threats were hollow and that Washington would never go as far as conducting a direct military strike.

For many in the United States, however, this attack was seen as long-overdue retaliation for 1979, when Iran’s Islamic revolutionaries stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage and holding them for 444 days. That crisis marked a tremendous humiliation for the U.S., and the 45 years that followed, absent of any direct retaliation, emboldened Iran to believe it could attack U.S. interests or thwart American policy without consequence.

Iran’s response has been predictably dramatic but strategically hollow. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened strikes on U.S. forces in the Middle East, claiming that “the number, dispersion, and size of U.S. military bases in the region are not a strength, but have doubled their vulnerability.” Iran’s Parliament also voted to approve closure of the Strait of Hormuz, though the final decision rests with the Supreme National Security Council.

These threats reflect desperation more than capability. While Iran possesses short-range missiles that can reach some regional U.S. bases, defense analysts agree that its ability to sustain military action is limited. Its options are described as minor “potshots,” not serious strategic retaliation. Israeli strikes in recent years have degraded Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure and decapitated portions of its military command. Iran lacks the capacity for large-scale, sustained attacks on U.S. assets.

U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have raised fears of global energy disruptions, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows. While Iran has the capability to mine the strait, seize vessels, or stage harassment attacks, past incidents—including the 1980s Tanker War and more recent ship seizures—have shown that such disruptions are typically brief and met with swift U.S. naval response. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, remains a powerful deterrent.

Moreover, there are practical constraints on Iran’s threat to close the strait. Much of the waterway lies in Omani territorial waters, and the strait is too wide for Iran to close entirely. Even a partial blockade would provoke devastating retaliation and alienate countries that currently oppose broader sanctions on Iran. Most critically, such a move would cut off Iran’s own economic lifeline.

That lifeline is already fragile. Approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports go to China via heavily sanctioned “shadow fleet” tankers and small “teapot” refineries. These transactions are conducted in yuan, bypassing the Western financial system. Since this oil trade already operates outside formal global markets, threats to disrupt global oil flows lack credibility. Iran cannot cut off supplies it’s not widely selling. New U.S. Treasury sanctions on Chinese firms involved in this trade also show Washington’s ability to further choke Tehran’s limited revenue streams.

Finally, Iran stands alone strategically. Neither Russia nor China has offered meaningful military support. Russia’s deputy security council chair issued verbal condemnation of the strikes, and China has provided only generic diplomatic statements. Neither power appears willing to escalate on Iran’s behalf. Without international backing, Iran is isolated and strategically boxed in.

The reaction in the U.S. has been largely supportive. While some anti-interventionist conservatives voiced concerns, mainstream Republican leaders quickly rallied behind the strike. Speaker Mike Johnson praised Trump’s “strength, precision, and clarity,” Senator Lindsey Graham called it “the right call,” and Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker said Trump made a “deliberate—and correct—decision.” Even anti-interventionists like Steve Bannon suggested they might ultimately support the move. This unity undercuts any Iranian hope that domestic political divisions might restrain further U.S. action.

Strategically, Iran’s options are limited and increasingly symbolic. Their nuclear program has been crippled, their military command degraded by Israeli strikes, their economy under maximum sanctions, and their international support virtually nonexistent. Any attempt at retaliation, whether through regional harassment, missile attacks, or proxy strikes, would provoke overwhelming U.S. countermeasures without advancing Tehran’s objectives. Trump’s warning that “many targets remain” if Iran escalates underscores Washington’s upper hand. Iran’s threats may persist, but its ability to follow through remains constrained by military, economic, and geopolitical realities.

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(VIDEO) B-2 Bomber Pilots Return to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri After Iran Nuclear Facility Strikes – President Trump: “Damage to the Nuclear Sites in Iran is Said to be ‘Monumental’”

B-Roll of B-2 Spirit. (U.S. Air Force)

The B-2 Spirit Bomber pilots, who executed last night’s attack on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities, returned to the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Sunday at approximately 5 pm after an 18-hour trip from Iran. 

The U.S. bombed Iran on Saturday night, striking its three nuclear sites in the first ever use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator “Bunker Buster” bombs.

President Trump cheered their safe landing on Truth Social this afternoon, thanking them for “a job well done.”

Via Matt Evans:

The President addressed the nation last night, hours after the attack, which he called a “spectacular military success.” He further threatened Iran that “there are many targets left” and “we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill” if they retaliate.

As The Gateway Pundit reported earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hengseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine held a press conference this morning following the Saturday U.S. strikes on Iran nuclear facilities.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” was a highly classified

The 18-plus hour mission was “the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history, and the second longest B-2 mission ever flown, exceeded only by those in the days following 9/11,” said General Caine.

The strike involved more than 125 US aircraft.

WATCH: “Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER” – Hegseth and Gen. Caine Detail Highly Classified and Sophisticated Iran Operation and Use of Decoys to Maintain Element of Surprise in “Longest B-2 Spirit Bomber Mission Since 2001”

Hegseth and the General could not confirm that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were destroyed, but “all of our precision munitions struck where we wanted them to strike and had the desired effect,” Hegseth said.

President Trump declared on Truth Social earlier that the damage on Iran’s nuclear sites was “monumental.”

The damage to the Nuclear sites in Iran is said to be “monumental.” The hits were hard and accurate. Great skill was shown by our military. Thank you!

Watch the Secretary Hegseth and General Caine detail the operation during their press conference below:

The post (VIDEO) B-2 Bomber Pilots Return to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri After Iran Nuclear Facility Strikes – President Trump: “Damage to the Nuclear Sites in Iran is Said to be ‘Monumental’” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

(VIDEO) Paris Music Festival Descends into Chaos: 145 Report Being Pricked in “Syringe Attack” – Reportedly 1,500 Injured, 371 Arrested

Via Metz Mayor François Grosdider on Instagram

Millions were in the streets across France on Saturday for a music festival, known as the Fête de la Musique, when chaos broke out in the streets with reported brawls, clashes with police, and stabbings, leaving hundreds or thousands injured. 

145 people were reportedly assaulted in so-called “syringe attacks,” with the suspected intention being to intoxicate one with a date-rape drug.

A local mayor said the festival had “broken all attendance records” as the FC Metz soccer team was playing in a play-off match.

Per France 24, “Nearly 150 people reported being assaulted with syringes across France during its annual “Fête de la Musique” summer festival, with Paris police reporting 13 cases in the capital alone. Twelve suspects in the attacks were arrested, the interior ministry said. More than 370 other people were detained nationwide on various other charges.”

Additionally, unconfirmed reports circulating on social media suggest that there was massive violence, leaving 1,500 injured.

Per Remix News, six were stabbed with one in critical condition, 371 were arrested, 13 police officers were injured, 51 cars were set ablaze, and 1,500 were injured.

One clip shows a large mob throwing trash down what appears to be a subway entrance before dispersing rapidly as police in riot gear begin to deploy gas or smoke grenades:

Another clip shows a massive crowd stampeding away from smoke and what looks like a fire in the background:

Details on the rioting and mass brawling are still unclear.

However, Metz Mayor François Grosdider confirmed in an Instagram post that “two individuals, including an attacker with a syringe,” were arrested.

“On social networks, a call for syringe assaults has been launched during the Music Festivals in major cities. At 21h15 [9:15 pm], a first assault of this type was reported to us on Rue du Palais. About fifteen young girls (aged 14 to 20) were victims of this in Metz,” the post continued.

“The municipal police also intercepted, in Bonne Ruelle, an individual who slapped a young girl National and municipal police quickly controlled a few brawls at night and had to intervene on the effects of alcohol.”

INSTAGRAM:

More from France 24:

Before the party, posts on Snapchat and other social media had called for targeting women during the festivities.

The interior ministry said 145 victims reported being stabbed with needles across the country, with Paris police reporting 13 cases in the capital.

Officials did not specify if they were cases of so-called needle spiking with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB, used by attackers to render victims confused or unconscious and vulnerable to sexual assault.

“Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,” the ministry said.

In Paris, investigations were opened after three people including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, reported being stabbed in three different locations in Paris, prosecutors said.

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Los Angeles County Sheriffs Receive Major Backlash Over RIDICULOUS Statement on US Bombing of Iranian Nuclear Sites – Update: Tweet Deleted!

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs received major backlash over an absurd statement on the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.

President Trump on Saturday night after he announced the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday.

According to reports, B-2 Bombers dropped at least 6 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs on the Fordow nuclear plant. The US claims it totally obliterated the underground plant.

The US only targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, however, the Los Angeles Sheriffs said their hearts go out to the “families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran.”

LASDHQ’s full statement:

Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran. While this tragic event occurred overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state, and federal partners.

At the moment, there are no known threats to Los Angeles County. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are increasing patrol checks at places of worship and other sensitive locations throughout the county.

The safety and security of our communities remain our top priority. We will continue to assess and respond to any developments as they arise.

If you see something, say something.

Update: The LASDHQ deleted the tweet but TGP has a screenshot of the original statement:

LASDHQ statement on Iran bombings

The LASDHQ received backlash from angry citizens.

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