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Thursday, August 27, 2026

Robert Kagan: The dominant power in the Middle East from now on will not be the U.S. or Israel but Iran.

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"Iran has, with American help, completely reconfigured the power structure of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf," Robert Kagan argues. The world will now "discover what Iran unleashed looks like."

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-- The Atlantic (@theatlantic.com) 3:15 AM · Aug 24, 2026

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"The regional adjustment has begun," writes Kagan. "Gulf rulers who once counted on an American security guarantee must now make their peace with the power that proved capable of defeating their protector."

Saudi Arabia's rejection of the U.S.- and Israel-backed Abraham Accords in favor of a strategic compact with Pakistan and Turkey hints at the shape of the future. The Abraham Accords represented the consolidation of Israeli power and influence in the region and the further containment of Iran. The Mecca pact is something else entirely. Neither Pakistan nor Turkey regards Iran as a major threat; Pakistan, like Iran, has close relations with China; Israel regards Turkey as a regional threat second only to Iran. Instead of an American-Israeli order, this will be an alignment less implacably hostile to Iran, less friendly to Israel, and more independent of the United States. The signatories also have nuclear weapons in common: Pakistan has them, and the Turks and Saudis want them.

#1 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-08-24 10:20 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"The effects will extend far beyond the Middle East," Kagan believes.

American allies in Asia and Europe can see that a relatively brief war against a second-rank power has consumed much of America's supply of the weapons needed for missile defense. They can see that the United States began a war it could not finish, exposed its partners to retaliation, and then stopped when the costs became too great. Beijing's conclusions about Taiwan, and Moscow's conclusions about Europe, may be impossible to know. But America's allies will inevitably be asking whether Washington has the weapons, stamina, and political will to sustain another major conflict. In fact, they already are.

#2 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-08-24 10:22 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

As soon as I saw the title "Iran Unleashed," I immediately knew this was an Atlantic hit piece.

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-08-24 01:21 PM | Reply

This is some of the stupidest ---- I've ever heard.

#4 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-08-24 03:43 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I like how Liberals chirp that Iran is stronger than ever. The sadder part is that is what they want. Never mind that their military is gone as well as their economy. The miscalculation that this administration made was thinking right after the first invasion that the people of Iran would rise up and take over. It will happen but obviously will take longer than expected.

#5 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-08-27 12:23 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

#5

Faux history... the mistake Iranians made was believing your Cult Leader when he told them that if they rose up he would support them militarily.

He instead sat on his tiny hands as they rose up and tens of thousands of them died for nothing.

Worst President Ever... ask any Presidential Historian.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2026-08-27 12:30 PM | Reply

#5 | Posted by fishpaw

And an American-friendly regime has been installed, the Strait of Hormuz is open, the nuclear dust has been taken, US military bases haven't been evacuated, Iran is begging for a deal, has nothing left to fire, oil prices are dropping like a rock... right?

#7 | Posted by Derek_Wildstar at 2026-08-27 12:35 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Why does the American mainstream media continue to recycle the opinions of these devious, Israel-first analysts? Robert Kagan is a co-author of PNAC which jumpstarted all of this nonsense in the Middle East nearly 30 years ago. He was a leading supporter of the Iraqi invasion by BushCo. back in 2003.
He has not done nothing but harm American strategic interests for 30 years.

He is and always will be an Israel-first Zionist and anything he bleats should be immediately discredited when it comes to the direction of future American foreign policy in the region.

#8 | Posted by pumpkinhead at 2026-08-27 12:46 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

#8 That's the left, politics over country. They moaned and groaned about not getting intel ahead of time because they couldn't leak it to Iran leadership so we would get soldier's killed just so they could blame it on Trump.

#9 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-08-27 01:07 PM | Reply

#8 That's the left, politics over country. They moaned and groaned about not getting intel ahead of time because they couldn't leak it to Iran leadership so we would get soldier's killed just so they could blame it on Trump.

#9 | Posted by fishpaw

Your cult decided to attack democracy and the consitution (and the capitol) rather than admitting they lost an election.

#10 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-08-27 01:11 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

And an American-friendly regime has been installed, the Strait of Hormuz is open, the nuclear dust has been taken, US military bases haven't been evacuated, Iran is begging for a deal, has nothing left to fire, oil prices are dropping like a rock... right?

#7 | Posted by Derek_Wildstar at 2026-08-27 12:35 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

I said the mistake was thinking the people of Iran would stand up earlier. And as of oil prices if we didn't drill more they would be double.

#11 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-08-27 01:13 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Your cult decided to attack democracy and the consitution (and the capitol) rather than admitting they lost an election.

#10 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-08-27 01:11 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

And Hillary claimed she won, so what's your point.

#12 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-08-27 01:15 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Fishpaw, you're someone who only sees things in terms of "left vs. right" since, like, forever. What a useful fool you have been.

America wouldn't have attacked Iran or Iraq if it wasn't for the likes of Robert Kagan and his Israel-first comrades (like Bill Kristol) manipulating you and soulless morons like your buddy Trump.

You will have to learn and understand that greatest enemy of America's continued existence is Israel and its influence. Otherwise, you will always be a part of the problem.

#13 | Posted by pumpkinhead at 2026-08-27 01:16 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Obligatory.

x.com

#14 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-08-27 01:21 PM | Reply

And Hillary claimed she won, so what's your point.

#12 | Posted by fishpaw

No she claimed russia helped trump. WHich was true. Then she conceded and went home.

Trump claimed he won, attacked democracy, conspired to overturn the election, fomented a coup, and still hasn't conceded, permanently damaging the country and faith in democracy.

You know all this and are pretending not to.

Unless you're stupider than we thought.

#15 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-08-27 01:23 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#8 That's the left, politics over country.
#9 | Posted by fishpaw

Have the doctors diagnosed your condition? You just waking up from something?

12 posts in and you're talking about Hillary Clinton. Bless your heart.

#16 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-08-27 01:32 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

-Fishpaw, you're someone who only sees things in terms of "left vs. right" since, like, forever. What a useful fool you have been.

Wow, that really separates him from 95% of the regular posters here.

#17 | Posted by eberly at 2026-08-27 01:40 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Unlike you, right, Beverley.

Always a Bipartisan Voice of Reason.

Always on the Fence.

Except for Trump, Right?

You say you don't like his Policy or Persona.

Then defend his every Crime.

#18 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-08-27 02:15 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1


Your cult decided to attack democracy and the consitution (and the capitol) rather than admitting they lost an election.
#10 | Posted by SpeakSoftly

SpeaksLikeAnIdiot, just type "F10" .. we'll know what you mean, and it will save you a lot of time, and misspellings.

#19 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-08-27 02:26 PM | Reply


12 posts in and you're talking about Hillary Clinton. Bless your heart.
#16 | Posted by Dbt2

R2D2, reading is fundemental (RIF)

It's in response to only 10 post in of SpeaksLikeAnIdiot talking about J6, democracy, and misspelling the Constitution.

That's not a record for him, but it's close.

#20 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-08-27 02:30 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Here's a hint: nothing has changed; it's just been exposed.

#21 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-08-27 02:31 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Here's a hint: nothing has changed; it's just been exposed.

#21 | Posted by oneironaut

That's a change numbnuts.

Kind of like how russia's military incompetence got exposed when they invaded ukraine.

Trump did the same favor for the USA.

It's a loss of power and influence. AKA - a change. Idiot.

#22 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-08-27 02:44 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

SpeaksLikeAnIdiot, just type "F10" .. we'll know what you mean, and it will save you a lot of time, and misspellings.

#19 | Posted by oneironaut

Cult member holds internet commentators to higher grammatical standards than he holds statements from the president of the united states.

#23 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-08-27 02:45 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

This is some of the stupidest ---- I've ever heard.

#4 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Which means it's probably spot on.

#24 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-28 04:02 AM | Reply

I like how Liberals chirp that Iran is stronger than ever.

You can't even accurately paraphrase something.

It's as strong as it was, the balance has just shifted because the counterweight is no longer there.

If reporting is accurate, US military capabilities in the ME are essentially gone. Iran has the global economy by the balls and unstable, impulsive "leadership" in the US has fractured if not shattered alliances that were the core of the counterweight.

The sadder part is that is what they want.

Gotta love that projection. The only people acting as if their preferred but obviously false narrative is reality are MAGA morons like you, s*&^heap. You're too f*&^ing stupid to know your s*&^ worldview has broken our world and too f*&^ing cowardly to admit it even if you could grasp it.

Never mind that their military is gone as well as their economy.

Their military is quite obviously not gone. But thanks for your dutiful repetition of the slop your consume as "news" that comes straight from Trump handler's mouths.

The miscalculation that this administration made was thinking right after the first invasion that the people of Iran would rise up and take over. It will happen but obviously will take longer than expected.

#5 | Posted by fishpaw

As always, MAGA idiots like you will refuse to see the gross incompetence that is right before your eyes. You'll cling to "it's just over the horizon" for the next three years, if not longer.

But here's the sad truth, dumbf*&^, it's not just over any horizon. This mess won't be fixed until someone else takes power and dumb f*&^ing morons like you will blame that person to spare your spray tanned calf the humiliation he deserves.

#25 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-28 04:09 AM | Reply

That's the left, politics over country. They moaned and groaned about not getting intel ahead of time because they couldn't leak it to Iran leadership so we would get soldier's killed just so they could blame it on Trump.

#9 | Posted by fishpaw

I'm at the point where the only thing I can hope for at this point is as rapid a loss of this segment of the population as possible.

This idiot is so fantastically, moronically, ridiculously, absurdly over the top stupid that the only thing that will save us from people like him is for them to not be around anymore.

He's never going to get it. He's never going to magically be unstupid.

The only option is he stops wasting good oxygen to produce sharts like this.

Maybe when Trump finally chokes on a Big Mac they'll show ear diaper-like solidarity by choking on one as well.

#26 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-28 04:14 AM | Reply

And as of oil prices if we didn't drill more they would be double.

#11 | Posted by fishpaw

LOL this f*&^ing idiot is delusional. Nothing he says or thinks is remotely reflected in reality.

Oil companies haven't been drilling, idiot.

And production throughout the Biden years was at record levels.

The only reason prices aren't "doubled" is because Trump gave away our strategic reserve to save his political skin.

You and your ilk have irrevocably broken the United States.

#27 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-28 04:16 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#22 | Posted by SpeakSoftly

Onelumpofs*&^ likes to act like he has these deep, insightful opinions and understandings of things when in reality he's just the Miss Cleo of the DR. Something happens and his response is 'yeah, I knew that was coming, duhhhhh LuMpErZ!".

Meanwhile, everything else he says is laughable wrong.

#28 | Posted by jpw at 2026-08-28 04:19 AM | Reply

JPW @ #27

Well said.

#29 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-08-28 05:17 AM | Reply

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