Personal Reflections: The Attack on Iran

Like many others, I was not surprised that the US and Israel attacked Iran. However, I did not expect the attack so soon, given the apparent progress made during the last round of negotiations. Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, had reported positive movement after the most recent discussions between the US and Iran on 26 February, adding that the two sides would resume talks in near future. Instead, the US and Israel attacked Iran early on 28 February.

Like many others, I was horrified by some of the details. The death — some would call it assassination — during the missile strikes of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was certainly alarming. While I was never a great admirer of the Grand Ayatollah, the violent death of any political leader during armed conflict must give us give us pause.

At least 153 young girls were killed when missiles struck an all-girls primary school in Minab. This is far more appalling, as I am sure that any parent who has lost a child can attest. Shakespeare worded it far more tragically in Act IV, Scene 3, lines 51-56 of King John after the death of Prince Arthur:

All murders past do stand excus’d in this;

And this, so sole and so unmatchable,

Shall give a holiness, a purity,

To the yet unbegotten sin of times;

And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest,

Exampled by this heinous spectacle.

Finally, the real question: why NOW? I am afraid the answer lies not in diplomacy or politics, but in simple greed. Polymarket (for those unfamiliar with the term) is “the world’s largest decentralized prediction market,” where people can effectively wager on virtually anything using cryptocurrencies. Jake Johnson’s article, “‘Insane This Is Legal’: Bettors Make Huge Profits From Suspiciously Timed Wagers on Iran War,” tells the full story. I’ll present just a couple of highlights and leave the url below.

1) Both the Justice Department and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission had been investigating Polymarket. However, under the Trump regime, the investigations were precipitously halted.

2) Donald Trump Jr.’s firm had invested heavily in Polymarket. The precise amount is unknown, but the consensus figure is “double-digit millions.” Trump Jr. also sits on Polymarket’s advisory board!

3) Six accounts, all created in February, made millions of dollars by betting that the US would attack Iran on 28 February.

Suspicious? Draw your own conclusions. If this is not the MOST corrupt (as well as criminal) regime in our history, I hope someone can identify which one was. Here is the link to the full piece: https://www.commondreams.org/news/insane-this-is-legal-bettors-make-huge-profits-from-suspiciously-timed-wagers-on-iran-war?utm_source=Common+Dreams&utm_campaign=2f61536300-Top+News+%7C+Sun.+Feb.+8%2C+2025_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-c56d0ea580-601496760