Holy heck, I was out most of the day away from my phone and what do I see here ? seems like Iranian SHORADS have been extra-busy, my gosh never in a million years did I suspect it was still *that* active , organized, alert and operationnal, they litterally didn't miss any shot bar maybe that C-130. Hitting both a fighter then *also* its rescue chopper ? I almost don't even care about the bonus satisfaction of a double takedown, the mere event alone means disastrous revision of the US combat posture and puts a very dark shadow over their upcoming ground assault, if that is to be a thing anytime soon. Downside is, Orange seems to have literally, neurologically lost it and is a complete puppet of the neocons in charge around him getting directives from Bibi now... that shyte show could hold of a other "Karraj events" in the couple weeks to come that could prove extremely devastating for Iran as a country, not just as a military force..
As a lot of people said over the past hours, a conflict has to end somehow, specially if civilian attrition menas diminishing returns and more importantly : more deaths of innocent Iranians. I do not want them to become adjustment parameter in the strategic game. So far the negative impact on the US image both politically and strategically, and a testimony of Iranian military resilience. Entire books will be written on their crucial and transformative contributions they made to contemporary Mosaïc Defense in military academies for decades to come.
They truly made history and I'm proud of that as a citizen. But now , just like Ho Chi Minh was smart enough to navigate the country of the active phase of the war and allow for his cabinet and generals to smoothly end it 2 years after his passing, a similar impetus has to be given by somebody now. Qalibaf, Araqchi, anybody honnstely. Time to show some negotiation space; Being too rigid ad this point risks overplaying a very good hand that Iran has made marvelous use so far and hurt the US standing to the maximum degree possibly imaginable. Trump's presidency and the republican party is dead in the water from now on, hte midterms is the least of their worry, so missions accomplished on that front.
Iran has a lost a lot humanly and materially, but is standing strong where it matters, not pulling its punches, and performing devastating jabs in each opening, but could also start to lose VERY big industrially (look at the metal plants... that's years and years of recovery ahead) and past a certain threshold it could nullify part or even whole of everything they accomplished now. Let's hope current dynamics don't lead to a slow-burn of the nation...THey still have a LOT to lose that they can otherwise preserve if they play it right. Vietnam had to endure 2 harrowing weeks of Operation Linebacker II right before the end of their national liberation war. Let's hope Iran does not get the same "fake victory lap before running out", one shouldn't underestimate the rage of a 79-year old senile, demented man-child's rotting brain.