Iran and Asymmetric Warfare

As is well known, Donald Trump is preparing for war with Iran. There are possibly fifty thousand American military personnel in the Middle East, located within numerous bases in the area. These bases are located in countries which are considered to be allies of the United States, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qater, Iraq, Turkey and UAE, United Arab Emirates. 

Trump thinks he can count upon these countries to support him, in his war with Iran. Trump is mistaken. 

In preparation for that war, Trump has sent numerous military ‘’assets’’ to the Middle East. These include an ‘’aircraft carrier task force’’, among other things. A second such task force is reported to be on its way. Each carrier is home to numerous aircraft, including fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft. The ship that carries these aircraft acts as a water based, mobile airfield.   

There can be no doubt that the American military is among the most powerful, best equipped, well trained forces in the world. God help any army which chooses to challenge them, in a conventional war! They would very likely not live to regret it!

For that reason, the Iranians are not about to defend themselves, against an American attack, by ‘’symmetrical’’ methods. On the contrary, for many years, they have been developing alternative weapons. These include various missiles and drones, as well as submarines and surface boats, designed specifically with the coast of Iran in mind. This is referred to as ‘’asymmetrical warfare’’. 

Iran lies next to a body of water referred to as the Persian Gulf, which connects through a narrow strait, called the Strait of Hormuz, to the Arabian Sea. This Strait is referred to as, ’’A narrow chokepoint through which a significant portion of the worlds oil supply flows every single day.’’ In fact, a fifth of the oil supply of the world flows through that Strait, each and every day. Cutting off the Strait of Hormuz would cause a significant increase in the price of petroleum, including gasoline.

In case of war with America, the Iranians plan to lure the American warships into the narrow Strait of Hormuz. There is far less room to maneuver, and the Strait is quite shallow. The Iranians have developed surface boats and submarines, in order to take advantage of those features.

This brings us to the subject of missiles. Iran has a vast assortment of missiles, including those which are classified as ‘’short range’’, in that they can travel 1,000 kilometres, or 600 miles, medium range, which can travel 1,000 to 3,500 kilometres, or 600 to 2,200 miles, and long range, 3,500 to 5,500 kilometres, or 2,200 to 3,400 miles.

As well, some of these missiles  are classified as ‘’cruise’’ missiles, which is to say that they are equipped with radar, so that they are able to ‘’follow the terrain’’, to fly at ‘’low altitude’’ and at ‘’moderate speed’’. In this manner, they are better able to avoid detection by radar. 

Then there are ‘’hypersonic missiles’’, which is to say missiles that can travel faster than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5, in that Mach is the speed of sound. They are also able to maneuver during flight, making them almost impossible to intercept.

As well, Iran has a vast number of drones. Tens of thousands of drones, of various types. All are classified as ‘’Military Drones’’, or ‘’Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’’, UAV’s. Some of them are used strictly for reconnaissance, in that they are able to spy on the enemy and send that information back to their base. The vast majority are ‘’combat’’ drones, in that they carry ‘’ordnance’’, which is to say explosives, possibly in the form of bombs or missiles. The bigger drones are capable of firing off missiles and returning to base. The smaller drones, also known as ‘’Kamikaze’’, or ‘’Suicide’’ drones, are designed to strike a target and explode. They are far more numerous, cheap and expendable.

Iran has made it abundantly clear, to their neighbours in the Middle East, that in case of a war with America, any country which collaborates with the Americans, will be considered to be an enemy. All American bases in the region, will be subject to attack. Any country which allows the Americans to even use their air space, will be subject to attack. Any such war will not be a ‘’limited’’ war. It will be a ‘’Regional’’ war. 

As well, both Russia and China have sent warships to the Region. They too, are engaging in ‘’war games’’, with their Iranian friends. This is to say that any ‘’Regional’’ war could expand beyond the Middle East. World War 3.

There is considerable speculation, among military theorists, concerning the possibility that the Iranians could seriously damage, or even sink, an American aircraft carrier. Most are of the opinion that they cannot, as those ships are closely guarded by smaller surface warships, generally referred to as destroyers. True! It is also true that those destroyers are prepared to shoot down any drone or missile threatening that carrier. Yet there are a limited number of missiles on board any destroyer, and those missiles cost many millions. As opposed to drones, which cost a mere few thousand. Do the math!

As the Iranians are not entirely stupid, it only makes sense for them, in case of war, to send dozens, or even hundreds of drones, against the carriers. Of course, many of them would be shot down. But it is reasonable to expect many others to penetrate those defences and inflict some serious damage on the carrier. Even if it was damaged to the extent that it could not use the flight deck, that would be serious. As well, the supporting destroyers would no longer have any missiles to defend the carrier. 

That would leave the carrier practically helpless, unable to defend against missiles, either cruise missiles or hyper sonic missiles. Such missiles carry a most impressive warhead, very massive, very powerful. Further, travelling at very high speed, hitting the carrier, it is only reasonable to expect them to penetrate the armour on the carrier, and explode deep inside the ship, at the point where the missiles, bombs and gasoline are stored. This would no doubt give rise to a most massive explosion. 

Without doubt, the Iranians could sink a multi billion dollar aircraft carrier, mainly with the use of drones, which cost a mere few thousand. And rest assured, that is precisely their plan!

This brings us to the other major problem the American military is facing, that of ‘’logistics’’. According to the internet, ‘’logistics in the military’’, is defined as ‘’referring to the planning, execution and management of the movement and maintenance of forces, encompassing supply, transportation, and support services necessary for military operations’’. 

As previously mentioned, America has numerous military bases in the Middle East. Each and every one of these bases is located in countries which are thought to be strong allies of America. Yet most of them are ruled by feudal monarchies. The monarchs of such countries are completely devoid of principle. They are concerned only with themselves. They will not hesitate to turn against an ‘’ally’’, to ‘’stab them in the back’’, if they think it is in their best interest to do so. 

Now that Iran has established itself as a regional power, possibly capable of sinking an American aircraft carrier, the monarchs who formerly knelt down to the Americans,  are having ‘’second thoughts’’. Some of them are in the process of giving the Americans their ‘’walking papers’’. Yankee go home!

This, in turn, is creating a logistical nightmare for the Americans. In particular, the long range bombers require a re-fuelling mid-flight. This is provided by aircraft referred to as KC-135 and KC-46 ‘’air tankers’’, in that they can carry massive amounts of gasoline. This significantly extends the range of the American bombers. 

Aside from the air bases located within the Middle East, the closest base is located in Diego Garcia, approximately 3,800 kilometres or 2,400 miles away. No doubt the Americans are counting on this distant air base to provide the air support for long range bombers. 

Even though this air base is far removed from Iran, that does not mean that it is safe from Iranian attack. They have also developed ships and cargo containers, to carry drones and rockets, over long distances. Some of these ships may appear to be merchant vessels, while carrying containers filled with drones and missiles. As soon as such a ship comes within proper range, the roofs of the cargo containers may open up, and a swarm of drones and missiles may be unleashed. The Iranians have learned a great deal, from the experience of the Ukrainians!

We can expect this tactic to be successful against American warships, as well as logistic centres, such as Diego Garcia.

As I write this, the mainstream press is reporting that negotiations, between representatives of the American and the Iranian governments, will soon take place. Be that as it may, it is not clear that the members of the IRGC, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp, will honour any commitment made by a representative of the Iranian government. After all, this most powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces, is independent of Iran’s army and answers only to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. That remains to be seen.

Strangely enough, even though America may soon find itself engaged in a major war, the mainstream press is making little mention of this. For that matter, even the Leftist press is largely glossing over the subject. 

Instead, all branches of the press are largely focused on the government shut down, the Epstein Scandal and the uproar taking place in Minnesota, as well as in other states, largely as a result of the actions of ICE.

These issues are certainly important, and should be properly covered, just as the anticipated war in the Middle East should be covered. As well, the common thread linking all of them is the fact that they are the natural result of monopoly capitalism, imperialism. That is the ‘’not so little detail’’ that no journalist, either mainstream or Leftist, is about to mention!

Yet Lenin covered this supremely well, in his work Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. He showed that, around the beginning of the Twentieth Century, capitalism reached the stage of monopoly, referred to as imperialism. At the same time, the so called ‘’Great Powers’’, succeeded in ‘’dividing up’’ the world, between them. As Lenin stated, ‘’As there are no unoccupied territories- that is, territories that do not belong to any state- in Asia and America…we must say that the characteristic feature of this period is the final partition of the globe- not in the sense that a new partition is impossible- on the contrary, new partitions are possible and inevitable- but in the sense that the colonial policy of the capitalist countries has completed the seizure of the unoccupied territories on our planet. For the first time the world is completely shared out, so that in the future, only re-division is possible; territories can only pass from one ‘owner’ to another, instead of passing as unowned territory to an ‘owner’’’. (italics by Lenin)

There is a reason that both Russia and China are conducting ‘’war games’’ in the sea, with their ‘’Iranian allies’’. They are supremely well aware that Iran is now a ‘’Regional Power’’, challenging the authority of the American imperialists. In popular terms, they can be thought of as ‘’sharks that smell blood’’, now circling, preparing to attack. 

The American imperialists consider the Middle East to be part of their ‘’Sphere of Influence’’, as they phrase it. Their various military bases, in the Region, are meant to drive this point home. As the Iranians are no longer paying strict attention, stronger measures are required. Hence, the aircraft carrier task force. The message is clear: The Middle East belongs to America!

As for those who may object, quite reasonably, that the countries of the Middle East are hardly colonies, may I suggest that these countries are referred to, by Lenin, as ‘’semi colonial’’. As Lenin stated, ‘’The semi colonial states provide an example of the transitional forms which are to be found in all spheres of nature and society. Finance capital is such a great, it may be said, such a decisive force in all economic and international relations, that it is capable of subordinating to itself, and actually does subordinate to itself, even states enjoying complete political independence. …Naturally, finance capital finds it most ‘convenient’, and is able, to extract the greatest profit from a subordination which involves the loss of the political independence of the subjected countries and peoples.’’

It is these ‘’semi colonies’’ of the Middle East, that are the current ‘’bone of contention’’, of the competing imperialist powers. The American imperialists are determined to keep control of those countries, while the Russian and Chinese imperialists have other ideas. They appear to be convinced that the Iranians are about to give the Americans their ‘’walking papers’’, to kick them out of the Region, possibly with the assistance, a little ‘’nudge’’ on their part. Such a ‘’nudge’’ could escalate into Regional war, if not World War.

This is not too surprising, because as Lenin stated, the world has long since been divided up, between the imperialist powers. Now it is a matter of a redivision, which is not only ‘’possible’’, but also ‘’inevitable’’. Such a ‘’redivision’’ is possible only through war.

Now it is our duty to assist the people of Iran, in their struggle against the imperialists, of all nationalities. As the country is quite highly industrialized, there must be a sizeable working class, a proletariat. It is also very likely that they are reasonably well cultured, with access to various digital devices, so that they can also access the internet. Those who speak Farsi can communicate with the common people of Iran, both workers and farmers, and encourage them to download the essential works of Marx and Lenin, especially State and Revolution, by Lenin. I offer that as a mere suggestion. The one thing we cannot and must not do, is to offer support to any of the competing imperialist powers.

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings,

Gerald McIsaac

The Insanity of Donald Trump 

As is well known, President Donald Trump is under extreme pressure, due to the recently released Epstein Files. It is clear that Trump was closely ‘’associated’’ with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, one who literally made a career of ‘’trafficking’’, which is to say selling, underage girls. This begs the question: How closely was Trump involved with Epstein?

Epstein was certainly a pedophile, which is a child molester, as well as a ‘’human trafficker’’, which is a polite way of describing someone who sells people, a slave trader. Such people are among the lowest forms of humanity. Which is not to say that they are completely stupid. Certainly, no one ever accused Jeffrey Epstein of being stupid.

On the contrary, Epstein was a shrewd business man, a most astute capitalist. All capitalists are constantly looking for ‘’opportunities’’, to use their expression, and Epstein was no exception. He merely identified a ‘’market’’, for underage girls, among the class of people, commonly referred to as multi billionaires, or monopoly capitalists, or imperialists, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie. Mind you, they generally refer to themselves as ‘’entrepreneurs’’. As if changing the name changes the nature of the beast!

This brings us to that which the capitalists refer to as the ‘’law of supply and demand’’. After Epstein identified this ‘’market’’, that of underage girls to be raped, by the ‘’filthy rich’’, he decided to meet that ‘’demand’’, with his own personal ‘’supply’’. 

Epstein was a typical capitalist. Even though he was aware that selling these underage girls would ruin their lives, that did not concern him. Not in the slightest! It was strictly a business matter. That was precisely the same opinion of those who bought those girls. Nothing personal. Just business.

Over a period of many years, it is estimated that over a thousand underage girls, children, were ‘’trafficked’’, which is to say sold, to a great many very rich men. Those men are every bit as guilty as Epstein! Pedophiles, one and all. As yet, not one of them has been brought to justice. And if Trump has his way, they never will be!

It is most encouraging that a great many women, who were raped as children, are now coming forward, demanding justice. They certainly know the identities of the ‘’rich and powerful’’ men who raped them. They are equally well aware that such men are prepared to go to great lengths to ‘’protect their reputations’’. God forbid that anyone should accuse them of being pedophiles!

Yet the Epstein Scandal just will not ‘’go away’’. Despite the finest efforts of President Trump, it continues to ‘’make headlines’’. Clearly, drastic measures are required. Measures that will replace the Epstein Scandal headlines, with a different set of headlines. And nothing creates headlines like war!

In an attempt to divert the attention of the public, the common people, from the Epstein Scandal, Trump ordered the military to first invade the sovereign country of  Venezuela, to kidnap President Maduro and his wife, and bring them to America, to face charges. Trump then set himself up as the ‘’Acting President of Venezuela’’, and plans to extract the oil in that country. That is one sure way to start a war!

Trump also plans to ‘’annex’’ Greenland, ‘’one way or another’’. Preferably by war, no doubt, as that creates more headlines. As Greenland belongs to Denmark, and as Denmark is a member of NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that would mean going to war with Denmark, and possibly other European countries. It would also mean the end of NATO. Better yet! More headlines! Less ‘’nonsense’’ concerning the Epstein Scandal!

Trump has also sent massive military ‘’assets’’, including an aircraft carrier task force, to the Middle East, in preparation for war with Iran. More headlines!

This has caused deep concern among various countries, within the region. They have the utmost respect for the military ability of Iran. Their concern is that such a war, between America and Iran, would spread throughout the whole area. Their fears are well grounded. 

Iran has made it abundantly clear that a war with America would not be limited to Americans. They plan to strike American bases in all parts of the Middle East. Those who ‘’harbour’’ or shelter American bases, are effectively ‘’fair game’’. 

One of the largest American air bases in the region, is that of Udeid, located in the country of Qatar. There are possibly as many as ten thousand military personnel on that one base. It is no secret that Iran has that base ‘’in their sights’’, so to speak. In case of war with America, Iran will give Udeid the attention it deserves. As well as the country of Qatar, if necessary.

There are numerous other American military bases in the region. And rest assured, the Iranians are fully prepared to strike each and every one of them, in case of a war with America.

The countries which host these American military bases, are well aware of this. They are also well aware that the Iranians are not to be under estimated. For many years, they have been developing projectiles, mainly in the form of drones and missiles. This makes so much more sense than challenging their enemies, including the Israeli’s and Americans, in terms of air power. After all, at some point, all aircraft have to land. It is the American air bases and war ships that are weakest.

Those same countries, which are thought to be American allies, are now ‘’considering their options’’. For the most part, their leaders are feudal monarchs, self proclaimed kings, every bit as determined to remain in power, as are the clerics of Iran. They are now focused on ‘’self preservation’’. If they get the idea that Iran is about to win a war with America, they will not hesitate to evict Americans from those air bases, and even join the Iranians, in the war against the Americans, as it is in their best interest to do so.

The recent Twelve Day War with Israel, provided the Iranian military with a great deal of practical experience. They succeeded in penetrating the Israeli air defences. Now they know how it is done. Israeli or American, it makes no difference. 

It is also a fact that the Iranians used but a fraction of their military hardware, in their war with Israel. Some of their finest missiles were kept in reserve. These include missiles which are extremely fast, accurate and very powerful. One well placed, powerful missile could be enough to wipe out the most powerful warship. The American military would be well advised to bear this in mind.

Trump is using the excuse that the Iranians are killing their own people, as a pretence for war. As there is a Revolution going on in Iran, the government is determined to crush the rebellion. Their response is supremely brutal, as is characteristic of all feudal monarchies. Not that the current regime in Iran is a feudal monarchy, but a clerical dictatorship, one which has evolved from such a monarchy. The method of rule is similar.

Yet it is also true that a Revolution is currently raging in America. As a highly industrialized country, their method of rule is somewhat different. The American response to that which they refer to as ‘’wide spread protests’’, is not so blatantly brutal. It tends to be more subtle, although there is still the occasional instance of cold blooded murder. The shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37 year old mother of three, was one such instance. Even though her murder was video recorded, the officer involved, a member of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, has yet to be charged.

Of course, the mainstream press is not pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump. To condemn the government of Iran, for shooting down peaceful protesters, while condoning the shooting death of an American protester, is the height of hypocrisy. But then, this is typical of the mainstream media. It is not reasonable to expect anything better from them. 

Strangely enough, the ‘’alternative press’’, which refers to itself as the ‘’Leftist press’’, is also remaining silent on this issue. This brings into question, just how Leftist they really are.

As is well known, Trump is using a modified version of the Monroe Doctrine, which he refers to as the Donroe Doctrine, as the legal justification for invading Venezuela, as well as taking over Greenland. Then too, he has plans to go to war with Columbia and Panama. As well, he plans to ‘’annex Canada’’, making it the ‘’Fifty First State’’. As all of these countries are in the western hemisphere, they are ‘’covered’’ by the ‘’Donroe Doctrine’’. But Iran? A country in West Asia?

His ‘’legal justification’’, for going to war with Iran, lies with the ‘’Emergency War Powers Act’’. This grants the President ‘’special powers during times of war or national emergency’’. 

The astute reader may wonder just what the Iranian Revolution, that Civil War, has to do with an American national emergency? The answer is, nothing whatsoever!

As regards the American government response to the current American Revolution, Trump is also determined to crush this rebellion. The movement is so powerful, that the local police have refused to take part in any attempt to control the ‘’protests’’. For that reason, Trump has sent in federal agents, to ‘’restore law and order’’. These include agents from ICE, FBI, Border Patrol, Homeland Security and ATF, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. 

The legal ‘’justification’’ for this extreme ‘’show of force’’, lies with the ‘’Insurrection Act’’. Under this Act, the President has the authority to ‘’call upon the military to address situations of insurrection, domestic violence, or unlawful combinations that obstruct federal laws. It serves as a significant exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the military from acting as a police force within the United States’’.   

Strictly speaking, these federal agents are not members of the military. Yet there are possibly over two thousand of them, within the state of Minnesota alone. They are facing fierce resistance, from the residents of that state. So Trump is giving serious consideration to sending in federal troops, in order to assist them. 

Yet the Governor of Minnesota has a different set of priorities. He takes a ‘’dim view’’, of his citizens being manhandled, arrested and even shot, by federal ‘’goons’’. It is reported that he is giving serious consideration to calling out his own military, in the form of the Minnesota State National Guard. 

This gives rise to the very real possibility of American troops going to war with American troops! Full scale Civil War!

As a result of this, it is perhaps not too surprising, that numerous high ranking government officials are now seriously considering the option of invoking the Twenty Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, as a means of stopping Trump. He is determined to provoke several wars, with numerous countries, to be fought on different fronts. Not to mention a Civil War, within the country!

As I have covered the Twenty Fifth Amendment in a previous article, there is no need to repeat it here. Suffice it to say that previously, there were a great many people who questioned the sanity of Trump. Not any more. With his latest actions, he has managed to remove all doubt!

Yet in all seriousness, as the preceding was meant as a rather poor joke, the mental health of Trump is not the issue. He may or may not be suffering from a form of mental illness. And rest assured, mental illness is not a joking matter. Neither is the fact that he is determined to engage in war, on numerous fronts, including within the country of America!

The fact must be stressed that, as Lenin stated in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, ‘’the political features of capitalism are reaction all along the line, and increased national oppression, resulting from the oppression of the financial oligarchy and the elimination of free competition’’. 

Legally insane or not, Trump is certainly a typical imperialist, in that he is completely reactionary. It is characteristic of reactionaries, that they love war. As far as Trump is concerned, the fact that war also leads to headlines, which tend to divert the attention of the common people, from the Epstein Scandal, is merely a bonus. 

Yet it is also clear that the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are deeply divided. Many of them are not in favour of the policy of Trump, that of creating numerous wars. 

As the Communist Manifesto describes it, they are in the ‘’process of dissolution’’. It goes on to state that this is ‘’characteristic as the class struggle nears the decisive hour’’. Now we can expect a ‘’small section’’ of the bourgeoisie to ‘’cut themselves adrift’’, and join the working class, the proletariat, the ‘’revolutionary class’’, the class that ‘’holds the future in its hands’’. 

With that in mind, may I suggest, for the benefit of these newly minted revolutionaries, these Scientific Socialists, that they take to heart the advice of Marx. As far back as 1852, he stated that ‘’the class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat’’.

I have deliberately placed that in italics, in order to stress the importance. Building upon that which Marx stated, Lenin went on to say that, it is simply ‘’not possible to reform the basis of imperialism’’. 

I also placed that in italics, as a means of stressing the fact that monopoly capitalism, imperialism, must be smashed, the existing state apparatus destroyed, and replaced with a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

There are countless Utopian Socialists, who most emphatically disagree with that previous statement. They are socialists in name only. Bear in mind that anybody can call themselves socialists. There is no law against that. Yet only true Scientific Socialists call for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the ‘’touchstone of a true Communist’’, according to Lenin.

In America today, the DSA, Democratic Socialists of America, are spearheading the attempt to ‘’reform the basis of imperialism’’. This is mere deception, a ‘’pious wish’’, grovelling before the bourgeoisie, as it is simply not possible to reform imperialism!

The fact must be stressed that the DSA is not committed to socialism. In their mission statement, they admit that they are focused on fighting for democracy and reforms! If they were honest, they would call themselves the Democratic Reformers of America, DRA.

It is the duty of true Scientific Socialists, Communists, to draw a clear distinction between ourselves and the Utopian Socialists. That distinction lies with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

As countless working people are just now becoming politically active, it is only to be expected that they should become confused. That is the reason a clear distinction must be drawn.

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac     

America At War With Iran

On June 22, 2025, President Trump ordered the military to attack the sovereign country of Iran. In particular, three nuclear sites were attacked, those of Fordow, Natanz and Estefan. 

The ‘’key’’ site of Fordow, which is deep underground, was hit with ‘’bunker busting bombs’’, which is to say bombs which weigh fifteen tons, and are capable of striking deep below the ground. For that reason, American B2 Stealth bombers were used, as each can carry two such bombs. The Israeli military has no bomber capable of carrying such a payload.

As well, the two other nuclear sites, that of Natanz and Isfahan, were reportedly hit with thirty tomahawk cruise missiles, fired from an American submarine. 

Trump is now gloating, that the nuclear ability of Iran has been ‘’completely and totally obliterated’’. He even issued a statement to that effect, which included the words, in capital letters, ‘’NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE’’. 

Either Trump has completely lost touch with reality, or he is on drugs! To even suggest that peace can be secured, by going to war with another country, makes absolutely no sense! And rest assured, dropping bombs and firing missiles on a country, is an act of war! It is not, as the mainstream press is reporting, a mere ‘’conflict’’.

It is also a fact, that the Iranian government officials are saying something far different. They are reporting that, in the case of the Fordow nuclear site, those massive ‘’bunker busting bombs’’ inflicted only minor damage, in that the entrance and exit tunnels were damaged.

This is not at all surprising. It is common practice, for the spokespeople of two countries which are at war, to give conflicting versions, of the same event. In popular terms, we say that there are ‘’two sides to every story’’. 

In this particular case, that of the war against Iran, involving Israel and America, it is safe to say that the spokespeople for all sides, will ‘’slant the story’’, in favour of their country, to put it politely. More accurately, they will not hesitate to ‘’lie through their teeth’’, if they consider that to be in the best interests of their country.

Yet, it is very likely that the Iranian spokesperson was indeed telling the truth. The reason I say this, is because of a remarkably candid statement, issued by an Iranian official, immediately before the bombing, of those nuclear facilities. 

On June 20, two days before the attack, he stated that, ‘’We have already relocated all materials before hand. We have no materials there. All the materials are still in our hands. Secondly, the scientists are still in our hands. Years of experience in those factories where we produced nuclear materials. We still have those factories.’’

All too often, countries which are at war, consider their enemies to be supremely stupid. Wishful thinking! The Iranians are anything but stupid! They clearly anticipated the bombing of their nuclear facilities, and ‘’relocated’’ the important materials. Along with the scientists and factories! Very likely, in preparation for creating a nuclear bomb!

Years ago, Iran signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, the NPT. As best can be gathered, they have since honoured the terms of that Treaty. But now that the Americans have attacked, they will likely ‘’exit’’ the NPT, as Article 10 of that Treaty, allows exit if ‘’supreme national interests are jeopardized’’.

The American attack, on their nuclear facilities, qualifies as placing their ‘’supreme national interests’’ in ‘’jeopardy’’. 

Even more disturbing, is the opinion of scientific experts, that Iran is a mere fifteen days away from producing a nuclear bomb! 

It is to the credit of the Iranians, that they hold Trump, and Trump alone, responsible for provoking this war. They clearly have no quarrel with the American people. That being said, now that the two countries are at war, they are fully prepared to hit all American bases in the Middle East. There are possibly a total of fifty thousand American troops stationed in the area. Well within the range of Iranian missiles!

There can be no doubt that Trump and his administration, are grossly under estimating the Iranians. In fact, there is a ‘’method to their madness’’.

At the start of the war with Israel, a mere few days ago, the Iranians faced the fact that Israel possessed one of the finest air defence systems in the world. It is referred to as the ‘’Iron Dome’’, and includes a series of computer controlled, missile defence systems. The trajectory of the incoming missiles, detected on radar, are determined by the computer, which then fires off a missile, to intercept and destroy it. Extremely high tech, and equally expensive!

For that reason, if no other, it is simply not possible for the Israelis to have a huge stockpile of missiles on hand. They simply cost too much. 

On the other hand, drones are ‘’dirt cheap’’, at least by comparison. As well, missiles which are not computer controlled, are also reasonably inexpensive. And rest assured, Iran has a great abundance of both!

For the first few days of the war, Iran bombarded Israel with swarms of drones and missiles. This forced Israel, in turn, to fire off countless high priced missiles. Most of the ‘’incoming projectiles’’ were shot down, but a few managed to get through. As a result, various military targets, within Israel, were destroyed. This includes radar and missile launching sites. Their air defence system is now somewhat compromised. 

As a result, military experts are convinced that the Israelis will run out of missiles, within perhaps ten days, possibly sooner. 

Now that the Israeli missile defence system has been damaged, the Iranians have ‘’followed up’’ with new, faster, more powerful, truly accurate missiles. Some of these missiles can even maneuver, or ‘’dance in the sky’’, so that it is impossible for the computers to track their trajectory. These missiles are almost impossible to shoot down.

As can be well imagined, many of these missiles are penetrating the Iron Dome, or the ‘’Iron Sieve’’, as the wits phrase it. This has resulted in some serious damage, especially to the industrial centre of Tel Aviv, and the port city of Haifa. Yet the Iranians have plans for much worse. 

As they stated, before the American bombing:

‘’First, we have used less than 30% of our operational capacity, and under 5% of our latent potential. We have new missile capabilities that will be employed in the coming days. Secondly, we have not used our ground or naval capabilities at all. We have kept hold of the ‘’oil card’’, and the ‘’Strait of Hormuz card’’.

This is their way of saying that they have a great many drones and missiles, in reserve. As well, some of those ‘’new’’ missiles have just been unleashed. They are most impressive. Powerful, accurate, fast, maneuverable and supremely effective.  

The Iranians have yet to deploy their army or navy, or to close the Strait of Hormuz. This can be accomplished, quite simply, by mining that narrow strip of water. As a high percentage of the worlds supply of oil passes through that Strait, to close it would be a serious economic matter. Among other things, the price of oil would rise, quite dramatically.

The Iranian narrator went on to say:

‘’Our friends in many countries surrounding the occupied territories have announced their readiness to act. We asked our friends not to act. We said, for now, we will act ourselves. We controlled our friends, because we are managing the situation.’’

That is the reason other enemies of Israel, including the Houthis and Hezbollah, have not joined in the attack on Israel. Or at least, not yet! This was requested by the Iranians. 

The narrator then went on to refer to the Americans:

‘’The US cannot interfere meaningfully, Their only discussion is that to destroy our Ferdow nuclear facilities, they need specific bombs. Even if the Americans  wanted to intervene, they can only do some of this, but they cannot get Israel out of this corner. No way. Because they have already given Israel every opportunity they had. They have already provided Israel with everything, THAAD missile defences, reconnaissance aircraft, and even F35’s. The US cannot help Netanyahu and the Israeli army any further, it is now in a corner. They have already given them everything they have.’’

It is clear that the Iranians have a rather low opinion of American intervention, in the war with Israel. The bombing of the Ferdow nuclear facilities has just taken place, as the Iranians anticipated, and now it remains to be seen if the Americans can get Israel ‘’out of a corner’’.

The narrator then turned his attention to Israel:

‘’Israel has only three options. First, via a ceasefire and dictated peace. Second, drag America into the war. Third, capitulate and confess its wrongdoing, promising not to repeat the insecurity in Iran.’’

Clearly, Israel has chosen option two, that of ‘’dragging America into the war’’. We will see if that saves them.

He then went on to express his concern for civilian casualties:

‘’We have repeatedly announced that civilians should evacuate the areas surrounding military sites, intelligence facilities, and command centres of the Israeli army and government. Their people need to run. We truly do not want any civilians to be killed. The gradual escalation, the slow rising of the missile wave, is partly to allow Israeli civilians to flee, to evacuate. So leave now, flee.’’

That helps to explain the ‘’gradual escalation’’, as opposed to lightning warfare. Thoughtful of them. He then proceeded to summarize:

‘’Dozens of our missiles have managed to penetrate all the layers of their defence systems and inflict damage on the enemy. The enemy’s first day shock only ignited a storm ten times stronger than Al Aqsa flood. Israel is currently in a major crisis. The nations of West Asia, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and others, totalling 25 countries with Pakistan among them, can establish a grand coalition to assume responsibility for peace and security in our region. If Iran is victorious, this union will be formed, and we will play an important role in it. All other countries will consider the creation of this alliance and the expulsion of Israel and the US as a triumph for the Iranian people.’’

The plan, of the Iranians, is to conquer Israel and then ‘’establish a grand coalition’’, a union of twenty five countries, responsible for ‘’peace and security’’, in the region. The country of Israel is to cease to exist, and American interference is also to disappear.

By contrast, Trump plans to secure peace by going to war with Iran. As that may involve also going to war with twenty five other countries, this is what we refer to as a ‘’tall order’’. More accurately, it is pure madness, complete insanity, or perhaps simple stupidity. Not about to happen!

Now to return to the response of Iran, immediately after the attack by the Americans.

On June 21, within hours of the bombing of their nuclear facilities, Iran responded with a massive missile barrage.

Quite reasonably, they focused on Tel Aviv, the industrial centre of the country, as well as Haifa, the primary port city. It is a naval base, as well as a centre of trade and logistics. It is also crucial for energy, imports and exports. In fact, it handles the majority of food that comes into the country.

Iran took ‘’revenge’’ for the American assault, with some of their ‘’latest and greatest’’ missiles. As these have a 1500kg warhead, they did some serious damage. As the wits phrase it, Iran has turned Haifa into Gaza!

The international response, to the American bombing of Iran, should be a cause of deep concern, to the Americans. Their closest ally, the United Kingdom, UK, has just ‘’broken ranks’’. They now say that they were not involved with the bombing, of the Iranian nuclear facilities. 

The Russian Foreign Minister says that we are now ‘’close to World War 3’’. As well, an aide to Putin mentioned the possibility of giving nuclear weapons to Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Minister says that this attack, by the Americans, is a ‘’breach of the United Nations Charter’’. He is appealing to the UN, to take sanctions against the United States. As the US is a permanent member of the Security Council, with veto power, that is not about to happen.

This brings us to the ‘’home front’’, so to speak.

The New York Times, one of the most highly respected, bourgeois newspapers in the country, is reporting that some of the closest allies of the US, in the Middle East, are now supporting Iran. These include such countries as Iraq, Egypt and Jordan. It is anticipated that military bases in the region are to be attacked, perhaps by militia, armed with weapons from Iran.

Incidentally, the militia is defined as ‘’a military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement the regular army’’. In this way, the government of the country can deny any involvement with the militia.

There are also early reports of an ‘’uproar’’ in Congress. Even certain Republican Members of Congress are concerned. One such Member, Thomas Massey, has reportedly said that this attack on Iran, is ‘’not Constitutional’’. The president has no right to go to war, without the approval of Congress! Further, Article 2 of the Constitution allows the president to take military action, but ‘’only against an imminent threat’’, which Iran was not! Iran has no nuclear bomb!

The Democratic Members of Congress most emphatically agree! They maintain that Trump is dragging America into another war, one which could ‘’last for generations’’. A war which they could not possibly win! 

This is true! It is also true that their suggestion, that of impeaching Trump, would do absolutely no good! It has not worked before, it will not work again!

The astute reader may consider the current political situation, as complete and total mass confusion! Chaos! A pure muddle! And so it is. Precisely that which Marx and Engels predicted, in the Communist Manifesto.

As they stated: ‘’Finally, in times when the class struggle nears the decisive hour, the process of dissolution going on within the ruling class, in fact within the whole range of old society, assumes such a violent, glaring character, that a small section of the ruling class cuts itself adrift, and joins the revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands. Just as, therefore, at an earlier period, a section of the nobility went over to the bourgeoisie, so now a portion of the bourgeoisie goes over to the proletariat, and in particular, a portion of the bourgeois ideologists, who have raised themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole.

‘’Of all the classes that stand face to face with the bourgeoisie today, the proletariat alone is a really revolutionary class. The other classes decay and finally disappear in the face of modern industry; the proletariat is its special and essential product.’’

The current ruling class, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are deeply divided, or in the ‘’process of dissolution’’, as the Communist Manifesto describes it. 

As well, the ruling classes of other countries, or the ‘’whole range of old society’’, are also deeply divided. As predicted by the Communist Manifesto!

That same Manifesto tells us what to expect. Certain of the ‘’bourgeois ideologists’’, those who are capable of honesty, are about to ‘’cut themselves adrift’’, and join the revolutionary proletariat.

All other classes are being wiped out by the bourgeoisie. The family farmers are now reduced to burning their crops, as they cannot afford to harvest those crops. Bankruptcy is ‘’right around the corner’’.

As for the middle class, all businesses but five are ‘’Too Small To Succeed’’. That class too, is ‘’going the way of the dodo bird!’’ They have every reason to join the revolutionary class of proletarians.

These class conscious intellectuals are a most welcome addition to the working class. In the process of ‘’raising themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole’’, they cannot help but embrace the Scientific Socialist, revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin.

Now it is their duty to bring this awareness to the working class, the proletariat. After all, the working class is not aware of itself as a class, with its own class interests. 

Nor is it aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Not too surprising, as these theories are taught only in University, and then only with a view to distorting them. Very few working class people are able to attend University.

At the same time, a clear distinction must be drawn, between the utopian socialists, and the Scientific Socialists, true Marxists, Communists. Only those who call for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat are true Communists. Lenin refers to this as the ‘’touchstone of a true Marxist’’. 

As I write this, it is now June 23. It is encouraging that protests have broken out, mainly in New York City and Washington, DC, but are spreading across the country. 

An indication of the heightened level of awareness, of the working class, is the fact that they are now openly accusing the mainstream press of lying, in an attempt to support Trump, in his war with Iran. They are so right!

From the signs and posters, it is clear that much of these protests are being organized by the Party For Socialism and Liberation. From their website, it is clear that they are utopian socialists, as they do not call for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

This is merely one example of a political Party which claims to be socialist. As long as they do not claim to be Marxist, Communist, merely utopian socialist, that is not a problem. We can certainly work with them, as long as we are free to put forward our own political demands, which include overthrowing the ruling class of multi billionaires, smashing the existing state apparatus, and setting up a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

On the other hand, we cannot work with those who claim to be Marxists, while denying the necessity for revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

It is absolutely necessary to draw a clear distinction between ourselves, true Communists, and those who are revisionists, denying the necessity of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

After all, those who are just now becoming politically active, are bound to become confused. We must explain to them that there is a principle involved. The social chauvinists are merely determined to take over the existing state apparatus, at the time of the revolution, and set themselves up, as the new rulers. Completely unacceptable!

At the same time, the task of raising the level of awareness, of the working class, has never been simpler or easier. There is no longer any need for leaflets. The internet has made it possible to communicate with countless people, instantly. Bear in mind that the working class is now highly cultured. The vast majority are literate, with access to digital devices.

It helps that the essential works of Marx and Lenin are now available on the internet, and can be easily down loaded. Workers should be encouraged to read State and Revolution, by Lenin, as that is most relevant.

The opposition to the war with Iran can be expected to increase dramatically. Yet as long as the working class remains unaware of themselves, as a class, with their own class interests, it is bound to remain an anti war movement. It is necessary to raise the level of awareness of the working class, to the point that it becomes a movement for Scientific Socialism. 

With that in mind, may I suggest flooding social media with calls for Scientific Socialism, for revolution, for overthrowing the class of multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, for smashing the existing state apparatus, and replacing it with a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

We will know that we are successfully raising the level of awareness of the working class, when the posters and signs call for revolution, class warfare, overthrow of the bourgeoisie, and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. May I suggest the following slogans:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Peace! Democracy! Socialism!

Scientific Socialism!   

Israel and American Imperialism Under Attack

The mainstream press is reporting deep concern, over the possibility of the current ‘’conflict’’ in the Middle East, expanding into a ‘’Regional War’’. Their fears are well grounded! 

The ‘’conflict’’, to which they are referring, is nothing other than a series of wars, which are raging in the Middle East, against the state of Israel. 

For over a year, within the tiny Gaza Strip, an area occupied by Israel, the Israeli Defence Force, IDF, has been trying to wipe out the political party known as Hamas. Unsuccessfully, I might add, as the resistance continues, with over forty thousand residents killed, most of whom are civilians. These people are referred to as Palestinians.

To the north of Israel, in Lebanon, the group known as Hezbollah, has been firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel. The IDF has responded by sending in jet aircraft, bombing suspected Hezbollah sites. As well, they recently sent troops into Lebanon.

Yet another group, known as Houtis, based in Yemen, has been active mainly in the Red Sea, firing missiles at cargo ships, disrupting the shipping in that vital Sea. There have also been reports of missiles being fired at American warships. The Americans have responded by bombing suspected Houti camps, in Yemen.

These groups, or ‘’Islamic Resistance Parties’’, are considered to be ‘’proxies’’ of Iran. They are thought to be armed and equipped by Iran, and supposedly operate on behalf of the Iranian government. 

Then on October 1, the Iranian military confirmed the worst fears, of western analysts. The country launched nearly two hundred ballistic missiles, at Israel. Many of these missiles ‘’pierced’’ the Iron Dome defence system, causing considerable damage to military installations, airfields, radar sites and intelligence centres. 

Without doubt, Iran has spent many years developing a most impressive arsenal of ‘’projectiles’’, drones and missiles of various sorts. Some of these drones may even have adapted ‘’stealth technology’’, in that they may be ‘’invisible’’ to enemy radar. Many of them have managed to fly into Israeli airspace, undetected. 

The American military has responded to this, by sending in their own missile defence system. This is referred to as ‘’Terminal High Altitude Area Defence’’, THAAD, complete with American personnel, to man the system.

This is referred to as having ‘’boots on the ground’’. American boots, on Israeli ground, subject to attack by ‘’enemy combatants’’, which is a reference to Iran, or any one of their ‘’proxies’’. Truly, this could well lead to Regional War!

The question that naturally comes to mind, is just why America is so determined to defend Israel. In order to properly answer that question, we must first face the fact that capitalism, which came into existence with the birth of the industrial revolution, was at first competitive, and possessed certain progressive characteristics. As I have covered this in earlier articles, there is no need to repeat it here.

That changed, and changed quite dramatically, at the time that capitalism reached the stage of monopoly, around the beginning of the twentieth century. The bourgeois economists of the day, knew that something had changed, that it was no longer the old time competitive capitalism, which they had learned to know and love. This ‘’new capitalism’’ was referred to as ‘’imperialism’’, otherwise known as ‘’monopoly capitalism’’.

The task fell to Lenin, to examine this new stage of capitalism, and explain its features. This he did in 1916, and wrote a masterpiece, titled Imperialism, the Highest State of Capitalism. 

There is one passage, which I have chosen to quote, as it is of particular significance. It explains the behaviour of the warring imperialist parties. In reference to the colonial policy of the capitalist countries:

‘’As there are no unoccupied territories – that is, territories that do not belong to any state….we must say that the characteristic feature of this period is the final partition of the globe – not in the sense that a new partition is impossible – on the contrary, new partitions are possible and inevitable – but in the sense that the colonial policy of the capitalist countries has completed the seizure of the unoccupied territories on our planet. For the first time the world is completely shared out, so that in the future only re-division is possible; territories can only pass from one ‘owner’ to another, instead of passing as unowned territory to an ‘owner’’’. (italics by Lenin)

The United States, America, claims the Middle East as ‘’their own’’. The country of Israel is nothing other than their ‘’proxy’’. They use Israel to ‘’exert their influence’’, throughout the Region. 

Now the people of Palestine are in revolt, demanding national independence. Their friends and allies, in neighbouring countries, are offering their assistance. All are determined to wipe out the illegal state of Israel, as well as driving out the American imperialists. 

The country of Iran has distinguished itself, as one of the few countries in the Middle East, to stand up to American imperialism. It has further distinguished itself, in the tactics it is using. The missile attack it launched, against Israel, focused on military and intelligence targets, rather than civilians. This is to their credit. Way to go, Iran!

There is a strong possibility that this war will escalate, to a ‘’Regional War’’, involving all of the Middle East. As there are United Nations troops in Lebanon, American troops could find themselves fighting UN troops! As well, several North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, NATO, have openly sided with Iran. This could lead to Americans fighting the very organization they founded!

Now the various countries within the Middle East, many of which are feudal monarchies, are ‘’considering their options’’. They very likely see the ‘’writing on the wall’’, that Iran is about to drive out the Americans, and that it is ‘’prudent’’ to ‘’jump ship’’, to ‘’throw in their lot’’, with the Iranians. Hence the diplomatic maneuvering. 

Now it is up to American citizens, common people, both middle class and working class, to ‘’do their part’’, and not just as a show of support for the people of Palestine. After all, those ‘’local wars’’ could soon become a ‘’Regional War’’, with American troops and ships attacked. It is also entirely possible that nuclear weapons could be used. 

At the risk of being accused of being a ‘’panic monger’’, bear in mind that the Korean Peninsula could also break out into open warfare, at any time. The tensions are reported to be ‘’extremely high’’, with the military forces on ‘’high alert’’. There are thousands of American troops in South Korea.

That brings us to the ‘’self proclaimed’’ island ‘’country’’, of Taiwan. China maintains that Taiwan is nothing other than a part of China, and fully intends to ‘’bring it back into the fold’’. The Americans are equally determined to keep it separate from China. The American fleet is stationed close by, in case of a ‘’Chinese invasion’’. This could happen at any time.

It is entirely possible that Americans could soon find themselves fighting a war, on three fronts! All in the interests of securing the profits of the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie. American working people are expected go to war with people they do not even know, with whom they have no quarrel, just so that the country can control those colonies!

This is to stress the sense of urgency in the current situation. As I have documented in previous articles, there are various ways that people can become active.

Among other things, these include becoming involved in Councils, or Soviets, assisting, arming and training working people, in preparation for the insurrection. The ‘’presidential election’’ should be challenged, on Constitutional grounds. Join the two mainstream political parties, as card carrying members, and run for office. Celebrities can publish videos, calling for Scientific Socialism. Take part in the creation of a true American Communist Party, Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

As I have gone into this, in more detail, in other writings, there is no need to repeat it here. Suffice it to say that the imperialists have to be defeated, before they drag the country into a devastating war, one that could bring America to ruin.

Now that the capitalists have blessed us with the internet, and the subsequent ‘’social media’’, it is only proper that we should express our gratitude, by using this new technology, against them. We no longer have to rely on pamphlets, posters and banners, to get our message to the public. We can use emails and videos, which tend to be far more entertaining. May I suggest flooding social media with calls for:

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Prepare For Insurrection!