i need to reiterate that i think the united states can completely wipe out the irgc in less than 12 hours and that it isn't restrained by the kind of cultural considerations that the russians have been in declining to target ukrainian politicians. the americans can, should and probably will just wipe them out.

what happens next is likely to be messy and take a while to sort out, but there's no particular reason why the americans need to get involved at the outset. it is probably in america's long term interest to let iran figure it out and call washington when they've got their shit in order.

this is actually an algorithm and a policy that i would support in a number of theatres, if clear guidelines are set around the characteristics of the governments being annihilated. in order for a government to qualify for overnight liquidation by the united states, it would need to be sufficiently authoritarian (theocracies would be the worst offenders) and demonstrate sufficient human rights abuses against it's own people.

the iranian government is the worst state actor on the planet and clearly most deserving of liquidation by the american world police. there are other states in the mena that are deserving of liquidation, and a few in southeast asia.