Travis
@someforeignfield.bsky.social
USAID, refugee resettlement, and humanitarian assistance veteran.
Missile and tank weirdo, posts stuff about missiles, the Middle East, and why it matters at https://substack.com/@someforeignfield
Missile and tank weirdo, posts stuff about missiles, the Middle East, and why it matters at https://substack.com/@someforeignfield
Pinned
Travis
@someforeignfield.bsky.social
· Dec 18
The Myth of Israeli Military Independence (Part 3)
The Bottom Line
someforeignfield.substack.com
The US military has been actively participating in the war Israel has unleashed across the Middle East since day 1. And, due to the US military's extensive capabilities, it acts as a force multiplier that enables Israel's offensive actions to be far more destructive than if Israel was acting alone.
Reposted by Travis
I read this article so you don’t have to. The writer speaks to a few activists and university professors, including very prominent and credible scholars of Iran like Janet Afary and Shahrzad Shams.
@galbeckerman.bsky.social: ”In my conversations with these Iranian exiles, I heard deep frustration ... The Iranian protesters stepping fearlessly into the sights of government snipers are being seen by the American left with more suspicion than sympathy.”
The Silence of the Left on Iran
As the Islamic Republic massacres protesters, exiles are dismayed by the lack of sympathy from the American left.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:53 PM
I read this article so you don’t have to. The writer speaks to a few activists and university professors, including very prominent and credible scholars of Iran like Janet Afary and Shahrzad Shams.
The dissonance comes from the fact that protests are designed to pressure our government to do something. What else can they do at this point but bomb? Few but the most psychotic Pahlavists want American bombs killing Iranian civilians.
@galbeckerman.bsky.social: ”In my conversations with these Iranian exiles, I heard deep frustration ... The Iranian protesters stepping fearlessly into the sights of government snipers are being seen by the American left with more suspicion than sympathy.”
The Silence of the Left on Iran
As the Islamic Republic massacres protesters, exiles are dismayed by the lack of sympathy from the American left.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:52 PM
The dissonance comes from the fact that protests are designed to pressure our government to do something. What else can they do at this point but bomb? Few but the most psychotic Pahlavists want American bombs killing Iranian civilians.
Iran's borders are actually the oldest in the middle east by a substantial margin. Iran's border with Turkey is perhaps the oldest still-in-use border demarcation in the world.
Speaking of artificial borders, has Israel officially announced what its borders actually are? No? Hmm.
Speaking of artificial borders, has Israel officially announced what its borders actually are? No? Hmm.
Opinion | A Fractured Iran Might Not Be So Bad
Its borders are artificial, and a breakup would frustrate the interests of Russia, China and others.
www.wsj.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Iran's borders are actually the oldest in the middle east by a substantial margin. Iran's border with Turkey is perhaps the oldest still-in-use border demarcation in the world.
Speaking of artificial borders, has Israel officially announced what its borders actually are? No? Hmm.
Speaking of artificial borders, has Israel officially announced what its borders actually are? No? Hmm.
If you didn't cry when Pirouz died you should stay quiet on Iran tbh
So cool that I'm seeing liberal (chicken)hawks saying Trump not bombing Iran today is him TACOing.
I need Americans to experience what it feels like to be defenseless beneath relentless airstrikes at least once before they advocate doing it to others.
I need Americans to experience what it feels like to be defenseless beneath relentless airstrikes at least once before they advocate doing it to others.
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 AM
If you didn't cry when Pirouz died you should stay quiet on Iran tbh
It's always "get rid of the stuff you can use to defend yourself against Israel" and not "democracy" or "human rights" or "reduce economic corruption"
Nobody gives a shit about any of that in Iran. Nobody.
Nobody gives a shit about any of that in Iran. Nobody.
Witkoff's four demands:
-Ending nuclear enrichment
- cut back on missile inventory
-Getting rid of the nuclear material that they have, which is roughly 2000 kilograms enriched anywhere between 3.67% and 60%
-Ending support for the proxies
-Ending nuclear enrichment
- cut back on missile inventory
-Getting rid of the nuclear material that they have, which is roughly 2000 kilograms enriched anywhere between 3.67% and 60%
-Ending support for the proxies
January 16, 2026 at 4:47 AM
It's always "get rid of the stuff you can use to defend yourself against Israel" and not "democracy" or "human rights" or "reduce economic corruption"
Nobody gives a shit about any of that in Iran. Nobody.
Nobody gives a shit about any of that in Iran. Nobody.
Ayatollah Khamenei announces that he is resigning his position for health reasons. He is exiled to Egypt, where he eventually passes away and is buried in the al-Rifai Mosque in Cairo.
Reza Pahlavi returns to Tehran on a chartered Air France flight. When asked how he feels he replies, "Nothing."
Reza Pahlavi returns to Tehran on a chartered Air France flight. When asked how he feels he replies, "Nothing."
January 16, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Ayatollah Khamenei announces that he is resigning his position for health reasons. He is exiled to Egypt, where he eventually passes away and is buried in the al-Rifai Mosque in Cairo.
Reza Pahlavi returns to Tehran on a chartered Air France flight. When asked how he feels he replies, "Nothing."
Reza Pahlavi returns to Tehran on a chartered Air France flight. When asked how he feels he replies, "Nothing."
So cool that I'm seeing liberal (chicken)hawks saying Trump not bombing Iran today is him TACOing.
I need Americans to experience what it feels like to be defenseless beneath relentless airstrikes at least once before they advocate doing it to others.
I need Americans to experience what it feels like to be defenseless beneath relentless airstrikes at least once before they advocate doing it to others.
January 15, 2026 at 4:43 AM
So cool that I'm seeing liberal (chicken)hawks saying Trump not bombing Iran today is him TACOing.
I need Americans to experience what it feels like to be defenseless beneath relentless airstrikes at least once before they advocate doing it to others.
I need Americans to experience what it feels like to be defenseless beneath relentless airstrikes at least once before they advocate doing it to others.
This is a very low priority question that doesn't demand an answer, but for whatever reason the one group/cause that regularly and systematically employs suicide bombers that ISN'T demonized by avg westerners is militant Kurdish nationalism. Indeed, they get a Hillary Clinton-produced TV series.
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
This is a very low priority question that doesn't demand an answer, but for whatever reason the one group/cause that regularly and systematically employs suicide bombers that ISN'T demonized by avg westerners is militant Kurdish nationalism. Indeed, they get a Hillary Clinton-produced TV series.
Reposted by Travis
The Merkava tank used by the IDF may be made* in Israel, but it's very much paid for by John and Jane Taxpayer.
*Assembled
*Assembled
US may provide up to $2bn for Israeli tanks: Report
Financing for a new armoured-vehicle production plant in Israel could come from the US, documents reveal
www.middleeasteye.net
January 13, 2026 at 6:38 AM
The Merkava tank used by the IDF may be made* in Israel, but it's very much paid for by John and Jane Taxpayer.
*Assembled
*Assembled
The Merkava tank used by the IDF may be made* in Israel, but it's very much paid for by John and Jane Taxpayer.
*Assembled
*Assembled
US may provide up to $2bn for Israeli tanks: Report
Financing for a new armoured-vehicle production plant in Israel could come from the US, documents reveal
www.middleeasteye.net
January 13, 2026 at 6:38 AM
The Merkava tank used by the IDF may be made* in Israel, but it's very much paid for by John and Jane Taxpayer.
*Assembled
*Assembled
It's really cool how many people who make decisions or have big followings have been completely co-opted by an ethno-nationalist fascist movement
January 12, 2026 at 5:45 PM
It's really cool how many people who make decisions or have big followings have been completely co-opted by an ethno-nationalist fascist movement
Deleting a bunch of posts because honestly I don't want that smoke
January 10, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Deleting a bunch of posts because honestly I don't want that smoke
What a source lol, also this creep's original citation (Radio Farda) has deleted the post. We've really got to be careful with sourcing on this topic as the Iranian twitter space is probably the biggest online influence operation in the world.
January 10, 2026 at 4:11 PM
What a source lol, also this creep's original citation (Radio Farda) has deleted the post. We've really got to be careful with sourcing on this topic as the Iranian twitter space is probably the biggest online influence operation in the world.
In all seriousness, Bsky is functionally useless for actively following news outside of the US. For better or worse (worse I guess), Twitter and Telegram is where that happens. It's tough to separate signal from noise, but there's still signal there and not a ton here. Hoping that changes.
January 9, 2026 at 5:07 PM
In all seriousness, Bsky is functionally useless for actively following news outside of the US. For better or worse (worse I guess), Twitter and Telegram is where that happens. It's tough to separate signal from noise, but there's still signal there and not a ton here. Hoping that changes.
With Reza Pahlavi now calling for US military intervention in Iran (after saying it was unnecessary just 3 days ago), let's look at a recent example of what foreign airstrikes did to protest activity in Iran.
There were functionally no protests in Iran during the 12 Day War.
There were functionally no protests in Iran during the 12 Day War.
🗯️ Public protest demonstrations in Iran
#️⃣ Daily turnout observed from visual evidence
23 JUN: 0 ⬅️ (tentative)
• Eleventh day of War period saw no evidence of street protesting
📊 10 day line chart ⬇️
🧵 Thread 1/6 ⬇️
#️⃣ Daily turnout observed from visual evidence
23 JUN: 0 ⬅️ (tentative)
• Eleventh day of War period saw no evidence of street protesting
📊 10 day line chart ⬇️
🧵 Thread 1/6 ⬇️
January 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
With Reza Pahlavi now calling for US military intervention in Iran (after saying it was unnecessary just 3 days ago), let's look at a recent example of what foreign airstrikes did to protest activity in Iran.
There were functionally no protests in Iran during the 12 Day War.
There were functionally no protests in Iran during the 12 Day War.
Look I'm not like some big Xihead or whatever but we've basically eaten our own lunch at this point but don't even know it wrt Westpac. This current admin is walking itself into a hubris-fueled fucking disaster if we try some shit over there
January 8, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Look I'm not like some big Xihead or whatever but we've basically eaten our own lunch at this point but don't even know it wrt Westpac. This current admin is walking itself into a hubris-fueled fucking disaster if we try some shit over there
There's too many countries right now where a well-placed General or Minister could pretty much become a new Nasser.
2026 is the year the Cold War state forge will have fully gone cold, and we reenter a time of entropy.
2026 is the year the Cold War state forge will have fully gone cold, and we reenter a time of entropy.
January 8, 2026 at 7:27 PM
There's too many countries right now where a well-placed General or Minister could pretty much become a new Nasser.
2026 is the year the Cold War state forge will have fully gone cold, and we reenter a time of entropy.
2026 is the year the Cold War state forge will have fully gone cold, and we reenter a time of entropy.
Palestinian kids tragically die in unattributed blasts and nice white moms are "lost"
What is it in the mind of powerful liberals that refuses to say why all these innocent people are being murdered?
What is it in the mind of powerful liberals that refuses to say why all these innocent people are being murdered?
Renee Nicole Good was a mother of three, including a 6-year-old boy who is now an orphan.
Renee was deeply loved by many. Her mom described her as “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”
This is who we lost yesterday.
Renee was deeply loved by many. Her mom described her as “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”
This is who we lost yesterday.
January 8, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Palestinian kids tragically die in unattributed blasts and nice white moms are "lost"
What is it in the mind of powerful liberals that refuses to say why all these innocent people are being murdered?
What is it in the mind of powerful liberals that refuses to say why all these innocent people are being murdered?
I am immediately reminded of Parnia Abbasi, the 23 year old Iranian poet killed alongside her entire family by an Israeli bomb in June. This nihilistic murder spree across the planet by the Axis of Misery must be stopped.
January 8, 2026 at 2:59 PM
I am immediately reminded of Parnia Abbasi, the 23 year old Iranian poet killed alongside her entire family by an Israeli bomb in June. This nihilistic murder spree across the planet by the Axis of Misery must be stopped.
I've been hating on my European brothers and sisters a lot lately and, well, that ain't stopping soon.
My friend, this happens in Europe every day. Let's see those crucifixions!
My friend, this happens in Europe every day. Let's see those crucifixions!
January 8, 2026 at 2:40 PM
I've been hating on my European brothers and sisters a lot lately and, well, that ain't stopping soon.
My friend, this happens in Europe every day. Let's see those crucifixions!
My friend, this happens in Europe every day. Let's see those crucifixions!
This was clearly a joke but a Europe considering fully withdrawing from a US security and MIC architecture is going to lead to some interesting places. What major European defense products don't rely on US supply chain at some point? If they need air sovereignty capabilities NOW... Where do they go?
Denmark set to acquire 80 J-35As and 120 J-20s in "stunning" upset to European defense context
January 8, 2026 at 4:17 AM
This was clearly a joke but a Europe considering fully withdrawing from a US security and MIC architecture is going to lead to some interesting places. What major European defense products don't rely on US supply chain at some point? If they need air sovereignty capabilities NOW... Where do they go?
With the UAE apparently pulling out of Socotra am I finally going to stop getting astroturfed white girl influencers "discovering" Socotra in my Instagram feed
January 8, 2026 at 4:11 AM
With the UAE apparently pulling out of Socotra am I finally going to stop getting astroturfed white girl influencers "discovering" Socotra in my Instagram feed
Denmark set to acquire 80 J-35As and 120 J-20s in "stunning" upset to European defense context
January 8, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Denmark set to acquire 80 J-35As and 120 J-20s in "stunning" upset to European defense context
James Cameron's Avatar (2009)
need to put on a comfort watch and have already burned through LotR and the Fugitive in the past week
January 8, 2026 at 2:46 AM
James Cameron's Avatar (2009)
Bruh I fuggin hate living in DC 😭😭😭 what does this MEAN
January 7, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Bruh I fuggin hate living in DC 😭😭😭 what does this MEAN