End of Feb Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Saturday, February 28, 2026
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16 comments
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About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
Follow Steven on
Twitter and/or
BlueSky.
He’s done it, I didn’t want to invade Iraq simply because going to war led by a feckless twit like W seemed like a really bad idea. Now we’re at war led by Trump.
@gVOR10:
ohshitohshitohshitohshit
May God preserve the Navy
Woke up this morning with the predictable in the news. And a huge sense of frustration and anger driven by the fact that none of my representatives gives a shit what I think or anyone else for that matter. The only thing that gives me hope is that enough Americans will feel as I do and that may have an impact.
Yes, I will write another fucking letter and make that fucking phone call and wait for the non answer from those interns that they hire.
Iranian misiles now incoming on mutltiple targets.
US 5th Fleet HQ Bahrain hit.
Missile attacks also on UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar.
This is a massive escalation.
None of those states were particpants in the US/Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iran has gone even more nuts than Trump.
@JohnSF:
Were they not? Haven’t looked at the details of the strikes but don’t these countries provide bases, flyover rights, etc that support the strikes. I hardly think they can say they are innocent.
Well, we have crossed the river.
Now, which empire shall fall?
@Scott:
The initial strikes seen to have been Israeli, and perhaps US carrier.
Hitting non-strike bases is an escalation, and a major one.
Fly-over, still more.
If Jordan is therefore a target, so is much of Europe
This is likely to get the Arabians to greenlight a full-scale counter.
This was reckless; though hardly enormously surprising, given Iranian indications of “regional esacaltion”.
But it means the Arabians will likely now push for full destruction of Iranian missiles.
“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.”
@JohnSF:
@JohnSF:
Yup
Saudi Arabia has now stated that, in response to Iranian missile strikes, they are now joining the US operation against Iran.
ie de facto declaration of war.
Iran has made a very serious mistake.
@Scott: I wish to apologize to our hosts and fellow commentors for the swearing this morning. It is not normally my nature or habit to do so in a public forum like this. There really is no excuse when I can edit my words.
@Scott:
I, for one, am highly offended by your word choices.
Totally cool with the person(s) who act on my behalf starting a war—no moral qualms about that.
But your language is unacceptable.
Songwriter-singer Neil Sedaka, 86, has died. RIP.
February is Black History Month.
I’m sure there’s a verse in Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind that goes like:
“Yes, and how many wars must one man start
before he gets the Peace Prize?”
The last time the U.S. had boots on the ground against Iran was in 2022, when the U.S. struck first but Iran had chances to draw level during stoppage time (93rd, 98th minutes) in Qatar. Iran appealed for video review of a late skirmish in the box, but the evidence against the U.S. was insufficient.
Iran is scheduled to battle on U.S. soil in 3-1/2 months, when they will go against New Zealand, then Belgium, and then Egypt. The first two matches will take place in Los Angeles. The third will be in Seattle on the same day as Pride events in the city, and both Iran and Egypt have filed objections to that day’s soccer match having any connections to LGBTQ Pride themes.
Iran will live to fight another day if they are in top half of their group after those three matches, in which case they will go against another country in either Seattle or Dallas.
@CSK: “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and “Love Will Keep Us Together” are classic hits.