Hosted by The New Atlas (previously Land Destroyer) · EN
🇺🇸/Iran: Iran Mission Creep and the US-Imposed "Distant Blockade" on China US is bringing in another carrier and additional warplanes as existing hardware approaches maintenance walls indicating intentions to continue the war for at least another month.With the long desired distant blockade now implemented on China and the clock ticking on China's 100 day reserves, the US is likely to continue surging forces into the region to keep the war going and energy exports stopped. The US does not care about its Arab proxies. It does not care about Europe. It does not care about Israel or Ukraine or Japan or South Korea.It doesn't even care about the American public. The window is closing on containing China, China fully aware of all of this and already speeding toward permanent escape velocity.The US is making its move now.The US knows it will be causing immense global damage and damage to itself but believes it has the best chance of weathering it and emerging the strongest on the other end - or at least the best chance it will ever have....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzumIgmldxU
🇺🇸🇮🇷🇨🇳 The US War on Iran is a US War on China▪️US planners likely realized as a result of attrition in its proxy war on Russia and considering the outcome of ongoing war with Iran in the Middle East, that even a "distant blockade" in the Asia-Pacific against China was unlikely to succeed; ▪️Degrading or toppling Iran was already a prerequisite to further isolating Russia and then China, thus attacking Iran and shutting down energy exports from the entire region, no matter the cost, has effectively implemented the "distant blockade" on China at the very source of most of China's energy imports; ▪️At the same time, the US continues expanding its international blockade against the so-called "shadow fleet" through maritime drone strikes attributed to "Ukraine" and the interdiction and seizure of vessels by US proxies and in the case of Venezuela, by the US itself. This can be expanded to target ALL Russian and Chinese maritime shipping - not just energy shipments; ▪️Note that the US invaded and captured Venezuela, halting energy exports to China in the lead up to this second war of aggression targeting the majority of China's remaining energy imports from the Middle East. ▪️The US CIA continues carrying out long-range drone strikes into Russia targeting energy production specifically to degrade both Russia's own economy and its ability to export significant amounts of energy to China. These operations will only continue to increase in scale and scope with likely operations moving to target pipelines into China directly; ▪️The US is also carrying out terrorist strikes on China's Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in Pakistan and Myanmar, specifically striking at alternative routes for energy used to bypass a potential Asia-Pacific blockade. These type of attacks can be organized and directed at whatever infrastructure China attempts to use next to mitigate the US-imposed shortages China now faces.This is a systematic global war to strangle China; ▪️China has prepared for this for years - building out a massive 100+ day reserve and scaling out renewables, nuclear power, and coal-to-liquid energy production domestically. It will still likely take years to replace dependency on the Middle East - about 5 years - a closing window the US knew was closing - prompting this reckless war of aggression now taking place; ▪️The US has also built-up and armed proxies in the Asia-Pacific region including Japan, the Philippines, and the island province of Taiwan - not to "beat" China - but to use long-range missiles/drones to strike and degrade domestic efforts to circumvent the US-imposed blockade - such as striking refineries, data centers, energy infrastructure, etc. just as the US uses "Ukraine" to do so against Russia - all while avoiding a direct confrontation with China itself; ▪️The US believes that rapid "initiative" can overcome the growing number of disadvantages the US has created for itself and faces due to China's rapid rise (like modernization, and surpassing of the US in terms of industry, military, and technology).It hopes that is willingness to indulge in globally-destabilizing war of aggression is greater than China and the rest of the multipolar world's ability to unite and meaningfully fight back. The US also believe that the wars it has ignited across the planet will primarily destabilize Eurasia leaving North America - just like during WW2 - relatively insulated. So far that has been true. While Americans are suffering, the corporations driving these policies are still thriving. Russia and China know about all of this. They have made their own plans. Only time will tell who planned better....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNbuzgSlTjA
- US-led air and missile strikes continue across Iran while Iran continues region-wide missile and drones strikes including on high-value US targets; - Both sides face ticking clocks including Iran’s supply of missiles and launchers and the resilience of its “mosaic” defense strategy and America’s missile inventories as well as maintenance walls its aircraft will reach by the end of the month; - Victory for the US requires toppling the Iranian government; - The US would also settle for a temporary pause to reorganize and attempt another round of aggression;- Victory for Iran in at least this phase of the war is simply surviving; - US objectives for this conflict are focused on eliminating a Russian/Chinese ally, cutting China off from oil in the region, and allowing the US to consolidate resources toward encircling Russia and China themselves; References: CNN - Radar bases housing key US missile interceptor hit in Jordan and UAE, satellite images show (Mar. 6, 2026): https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/05/middleeast/radar-bases-us-missile-defense-iran-war-intl-invsRaytheon - RTX's Raytheon delivers 13th AN/TPY-2 radar for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (May 2025): https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2025/05/19/rtxs-raytheon-delivers-13th-an-tpy-2-radar-for-the-u-s-missile-defense-agency#:~:text=News%20%7C%20RTX's%20Raytheon%20delivers%2013th,U.S.%20Missile%20Defense%20Agency%20%7C%20RTXRAND Corporation - Extending Russia (2019): https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR3000/RR3063/RAND_RR3063.pdfUS Naval War College Review - A Maritime Oil Blockade Against China (2018): https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1735&context=nwc-reviewBrookings Institution - Which Path to Persia? (2009): https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_iran_strategy.pdfThe New Atlas - 2011 - Year of the Dupe: One year into the engineered "Arab Spring," one step closer to global hegemony (2011): https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011-year-of-dupe.htmlWhere to Find My Work: Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailandTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerleticRumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlasPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyerPromptPay: 0851547235...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qraZe2Iajfo
🇺🇸🇮🇱The US is not Fighting Iran "For Israel" Western empire going back to Roman times sought control of the Middle East in pursuit of greater primacy. The British Empire sought control over the region in pursuit of GLOBAL primacy - and the US has simply picked up where the British left off. The US seeks primacy over the ENTIRE planet - the Middle East is part of the planet - thus the US seeks primacy over the Middle East as well as the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Israel was a joint US-British creation as a means of facilitating this regional control just as both nations have created proxies around the globe throughout history up to and including now with nations like Ukraine, the island province of Taiwan, etc. The US seeks control over the Middle East to control its oil - specifically to deny it to China. This is a stated objective spanning years of policy papers. It also seeks to topple Iran as a member of the multipolar world as a means of whittling it down. If/When the US topples Iran it will then pivot to further encircling Russia and China. ALL of these conflicts are connected - including through the US strategy of using regional proxies to advance its interests. In Europe it is Ukraine, in the Middle East is it Israel, Jordan, and the Persian Gulf states, in Asia-Pacific it is the island province of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. For those citing munition shortages and other symptoms of US imperial overreach during this current conflict as "proof" it is suffering instead at the expense of "Israel" - munition shortages and energy crises began with the US proxy war in Ukraine years earlier.Some other facts: AIPAC spending is dwarfed by US arms manufacturing lobbying alone saying nothing of big-oil, big-pharma, big-tech etc.; Israel is entirely dependent on US arms, munitions, joint military industrial production, air and missile defenses, ISR, and both political and financial support - support that Israel would blow away in the wind without; Last year the US literally used Israel to trigger its war on Iran to absorb the blame and retaliation in full from the resulting conflict - as per US policy papers proposing doing so as early as 2009; This year Israel again absorbs the brunt of the retaliation - and thanks to useful idiots - sole blame for the conflict instead of Wall Street and Washington; IMPORTANT: Pointing this out does not somehow "defend Israel" or negate Israel's crimes any more than Ukraine being a US proxy negates its many and multiplying crimes. The US and its proxies are all guilty. It is important to hold EVERYONE involved in injustice accountable.It is most important to deal with a global threat at its root and that root lies in Wall Street and Washington - not an artificially created country completely dependent on both....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdD1Lx5XSk
🇺🇸/IRAN: 1 Week in - Still too early...US-led strikes on Iran are ongoing, Iranian missile retaliation continues (for 1 week now) but several clocks are ticking;▪️Iranian missiles and launchers:The US and Israel are actively hunting Iranian missile launchers which, if sufficiently neutralized, negates whatever extensive stockpiles of missiles Iran might have. Iran's rate of fire has already been on the decease. I hear many reasons why that might be, but one of those reasons might be loss launchers. If rates drop, then come back up, this means there are other reasons for drops in rates. Keep a close eye on this. A full loss of Iranian launch capabilities would alleviate pressure on US anti-missile defense munitions and allow the US to extend its war significantly.However, Iran would still be able to resist with drones and anti-shipping missiles as well as simply resist by maintaining internal stability regardless of US bombing (as Afghanistan and Vietnam did). Iran will have lost significant leverage to force a shorter war and will then be required to fight on in a much longer one. At this point however, Iran is still launching missiles. ▪️US anti-missile munitions: The US and its proxies may run short of anti-missile munitions before mid-March (shorter than they already were). If Iranian missile and drone strikes continue, even as a trickle, this may lead to an increase in damage to regional US military infrastructure compromising its ability to continue its war.The depletion of defensive and offensive US weapons also inhibits the many other wars and proxy wars of aggression it is waging or preparing for; ▪️Maintenance wall for US/proxy aircraft: Around mid to late March, maintenance requirements will significantly impact sortie rates, forcing either a drop in operational tempo or a major rotation of aircraft into the region including possible rotations of aircraft carriers. This is might be why the US keeps talking about a "4-5 week operation";▪️US-Israeli ISR drones: These are expensive long range drones (like Hermes and Reapers) used to find targets across Iran. Iran has already shot down dozens of them with Israel likely having around 100-200 of these drones available in total and the US having 200-300 (but not all in theater).Iran won't be able to shoot them all down, but continued attrition will also impact operational tempo and effectiveness;There are other metrics at play including the potential outcome of almost certainly planned US ground operations involving US special forces and US-armed terrorists previously used to topple Libya, Syria, and fight in both Lebanon and Iraq. Iran has "mosaic" defense strategy for its missile, naval, and internal security operations that has so far proven resilient and effective despite unprecedented US aggression. Modern warfare, especially when an offensive passes from initial momentum to a sort of equilibrium, involves attrition more than simple initiative.It is still too early to tell regarding any of these metrics.If the US runs out of anti-missile munitions we will see significantly more damage to US targets.If Iran runs out of launchers, we will see a steep drop off of ballistic missile launches even after maintenance walls and loss of IRS drones impact US operational tempo hunting those launchers.Ultimately, the US must either topple the Iranian government or use an exit ramp for another pause to win or end its war of aggression this round.Iran simply has to survive to win this round.A significantly weakened Iran, however, will need to rebuild and prepare faster than the US for the next round to avoid cumulative attrition and eventual collapse.Iran has demonstrated so far that it can - it may be easier for Iran to rebuild with Russian/Chinese help than for the US to replace the missiles it is expending. Finally, the war on Iran is not a war "for Israel." It is a US war on multipolarism and its result will determine the next phase of US aggression against Russia, China and the rest of the multipolar world.Obsessing over the US proxy Israel is like believing the war in Ukraine is being fought for "Kiev" and will not impact or spread to US targets of aggression beyond it....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WBrkfQUEs
🇺🇸🇮🇷 Americans beating their chests over sinking a single Iranian warship returning from joint drills with India are missing the point.Iran has warships. They are useful for specific tasks, valuable, and losing them costs Iran.But Iran's strategy for defending itself against a US war of aggression did not include these ships. It depends on 1000s of small boats with anti-ship missiles and other capabilities to create a naval version of its "mosaic" defense strategy.Instead of consolidating Iran's naval capabilities into a handful of large expensive ships easy to track and sink, it has distributed these capabilities across many more, harder to find and target, easier to replace boats.It remains to be seen how effective Iran's strategy is - but sinking Iranian warships at dock or in non-combat transit is symbolic, not symptomatic....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIY_3B5BZLM
As America bombs abroad and rots at home, China continues to build... From People's Daily: "The CR450, the world's fastest bullet train, has completed over half its operational evaluation, achieving a single-train speed of 453 km/h along with excellent performance in noise and energy consumption indicators, showcasing China's world-leading high-speed rail technology." Not only does China make the fastest passenger trains on planet Earth, it also produces and operates the most powerful freight locomotives. Lots of things are possible when you invest in your nation and your people rather than invading others and killing them....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY00mSS9Lio
- The US is now talking about the possibility of backing an armed proxy invasion of Iran using militias; - The US is also not ruling out US boots on the ground in Iran; - Both options were laid out in detail along with backing terrorism inside Iran, using Israel to attack Iran by proxy, and the launching of an extensive US air campaign against Iran in the 2009 Brookings paper, "Which Path to Persia;" - These are all options the US prepared for ahead of time and is only piecemeal selling to the public to make it appear that developments are "organic" rather than premeditated; References:Fox News - Trump exploring backing militias in Iran to topple weakened regime following strikes: reports (Mar. 3, 2026): https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-exploring-backing-militias-iran-topple-weakened-regime-following-strikes-reportsBrookings Institution - Which Path to Persia (2009): https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_iran_strategy.pdfWashington Post - U.S. won’t rule out sending ground troops into Iran (Mar. 4, 2026): https://archive.ph/yWDx6#selection-227.0-230.0CNN - CNN Exclusive: After Ukraine, Biden administration turns to Musk’s satellite internet for Iran (2022): https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/21/politics/white-house-musk-starlink-iran-protests-ukraineWSJ - U.S. Smuggled Thousands of Starlink Terminals Into Iran After Protest Crackdown (Feb. 2026): https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-smuggled-thousands-of-starlink-terminals-into-iran-after-protest-crackdown-69a8c74fPolitico - The Iranian exile group that played Washington for this moment (Mar. 2026): https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/03/the-iranian-exile-group-that-played-washington-for-this-moment-00808052Where to Find My Work: Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailandTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerleticRumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlasPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyerPromptPay: 0851547235...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36YC2QeQeGE
Meanwhile Over Iran... Iran is shooting down dozens of US and Israeli ISR drones operating over Iran using a number of dispersed, cheap, numerous, and effective anti-air systems including 358 loitering missiles with passive IR sensors capable of detecting drones and striking before the drone itself detects the loitering missile.Because all they require is rudimentary launch platforms and do not require radars or command centers, they are easier to hide, move, and use. If this continues daily, US-Israeli drone ISR capabilities will begin to severely degrade and impact operational momentum....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XtTzMPK3n4
- Iran's mosaic defense strategy continues to enable regional long-range missile and drone strikes on US and proxy military and now economic infrastructure; - Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz also indicates that initial US decapitation strikes have failed to disrupt well-prepared mosaic defense operations; - The US is now bombing internal security facilities in Iran hoping to shape the ground ahead of US-backed terrorism inside Iran aimed at toppling the Iranian government; - However, Iran also has organized internal security against this threat into a mosaic defense strategy, only time will tell if it will overcome US plans in the hours, days, and weeks ahead; - China is not intervening in the US war on Iran for realistic logistical and military limitations and has, instead, supported Iran in a number of other important and more effective ways economically, industrially, and in terms of military support; Iran Mosaic Defense Post on X: https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/2028665307330666679Chinese Aid to Iran Post on X: https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/2028380002799231139Where to Find My Work: Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailandTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerleticRumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlasPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyerPromptPay: 0851547235...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMQQr-St-08