The Middle East is once again engulfed in the familiar chaos of war, but this time there's a particularly bitter irony at play. Israel's surprise strikes on Iran, taking out two top military brass and a bunch of nuclear scientists, followed by Iran's predictable missile retaliation, has left Tehran in a pretty dire spot. Meanwhile, Trump's sitting on the fence, probably enjoying the drama while deciding whether to let loose those massive B-2 bombers with their bunker-busting toys on Iran's underground nuclear facilities.
But here's the thing that's really grinding my gears about this whole mess – Iran's current predicament isn't just bad luck or superior Israeli firepower. It's the direct result of decades of misguided pro-American thinking that's left them vulnerable when it matters most.
Missing the Chinese Fighter Jet Express
Let's start with the most glaring military blunder. Iran's air force is still flying around in American F-14A Tomcats from the Shah's era – we're talking about jets that are pushing 50 years old. With US sanctions making spare parts rarer than hen's teeth, these aging birds are supposed to face off against Israel's shiny new F-35I stealth fighters. It's like bringing a musket to a gunfight.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Remember when Pakistan's Chinese J-10CE fighters made headlines by downing Indian Rafales with those nifty PL-15 missiles? That same J-10 fighter was on offer to Iran way back in 2008 at the Zhuhai Airshow. Pakistan grabbed the opportunity, but Iran? They turned their noses up at it.
The Western media back then was having a field day dismissing Chinese military tech. The Wall Street Journal was busy calling China's air show a "public performance" and claiming their jets had "over 50 problems". Guess what? Those same Western "experts" who said China wasn't a real military superpower are now watching Chinese sixth-generation fighters take to the skies while America's still stuck with PowerPoint presentations.
The Pro-American Trap That Never Pays Off
But the military hardware is just part of the story. Iran's real problem runs deeper – it's got a chronic case of wanting to please America, despite getting nothing but hostility in return. The country's political scene has been this endless ping-pong match between hardliners and pro-American moderates, with the latter constantly promising that if they just bow low enough, Uncle Sam might throw them a bone.
Take the current president, Pezeshkian, who's firmly in the pro-American camp. The guy probably thought he could sweet-talk his way into better relations with Washington. But as I've been saying for years, it doesn't matter how pro-American you are if America doesn't want you to be pro-American – especially when Israel's got a say in the matter.
The suspicious helicopter crash that took out hardliner President Raisi in 2024? That timing was awfully convenient for those who wanted a more pliable leader in Tehran. But being pliable hasn't exactly worked out, has it?
When Weakness Invites Aggression
Here's the brutal reality that pro-American Iranian politicians refuse to acknowledge: the more you signal weakness and desperation for American approval, the more you paint a target on your back. Netanyahu didn't accidentally time his airstrikes for when US-Iran talks were heating up – he did it because he knew Iran's divided house would struggle to respond effectively.
The fact that Israeli intelligence could pinpoint those two generals suggests Iran's got serious internal security problems. When you've got that many people internally hoping for American approval, some of them are bound to be sharing more than just political opinions with foreign intelligence services.
As Xia Baolong brilliantly put it during Hong Kong's National Security Education Day: "America cannot stand to see Hong Kong prosper... If anyone thinks they can beg America for mercy in exchange for peace, this is extremely naive. Betraying the motherland will not lead to a good outcome."
Iran's tragedy is a perfect case study in this dynamic. They've spent decades trying to prove they're worthy of American friendship, only to find themselves more isolated and vulnerable than ever. The cruel irony is that their attempts to appear reasonable and moderate have only made them look weak to their enemies and unreliable to potential allies.
The lesson here isn't just for Iran – it's for any country that thinks kowtowing to Washington is a viable long-term strategy. Sometimes the best way to earn respect is to stop begging for it.
Lo Wing-hung
Bastille Commentary
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