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Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Al Jazeera op-ed praises US-Israel operation against Iran, says Dems, media critics are wrong.

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Muhanad Seloom, an assistant professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, authored the piece.

"When you look at what has actually happened to Iran's principal instruments of power " its ballistic missile arsenal, its nuclear infrastructure, its air [defenses], its navy and its proxy command architecture " the picture is not one of US failure. It is one of systematic, phased degradation of a threat that previous administrations allowed to grow for four decades," he continued.

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"that previous administrations allowed to grow for four decades"

That include 2016-2020? HUH??

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-17 05:06 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

media.licdn.com

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-17 05:14 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I like how "Op-Ed" is conveniently missing from the headline.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-17 05:17 PM | Reply

"I spoke to one of the former presidents who I actually like. ... And he said, I wish I did what you did.'"

Reporters pressed Trump both times he told the story to reveal which president he spoke to, but Trump refused to say.

People close to each of the four living former presidents - George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden - all denied that the former commanders-in-chief had spoken with Trump since the war began.

Trump said he spoke to a former president about bombing Iran. Four denials suggest otherwise.

www.nbcnews.com

Trump Claims an Ex-President Confided His Regrets on Iran. But Who?

The New York Times reached out to people close to President Trump's predecessors. They disputed Mr. Trump's claims.

www.nytimes.com

#4 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-17 05:25 PM | Reply

The OP-ED does make some interesting points and I hope for the sake of the world that he is correct.

His basic argument is that America and Israel are degrading Iran's offensive capability-i.e. destroying missiles and navy etc.

Obviously, there is some truth to that, the level of bombing will inevitably lead to the degradation of those assets.

However, I think he way overstates that destruction. The dispersion of military assets, the pace of attacks by Iran would indicate that Iran can sustain for a substantial time.

I also think he completely mischaracterizes the closing of the strait including with simply incorrect statements.

Iran has actually increased its export of oil. Iran closing the strait of Hormuz is far easier than he implies. All it takes is the threat of attack to keep ships out (Iran hit a ship just yesterday).

Ships have to be confident they can traverse the strait load and exit without damage. That will take assurances that the owners of those tankers will not received.

On top of that he makes no mention to the short and medium term damage done to ALL of the gulf state oil production. He claims China is angry about the situation, that is anything but true.

So, the OP-ED basically puts for the Trump/Hegseth argument that we are destroying their military. Again, there might be some truth to that, but I don't think that the scenario is near as rosy as he frames it

#5 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-03-17 05:54 PM | Reply

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