The Strike That Changed Everything

A surgical blow to Iran’s nuclear program—and the one thing America usually gets wrong suddenly done right.

B-2 at Andersen AFB, Guam

Ok. I am stunned.

Not because Trump and his team ordered a deep strike on Iranian nuclear facilities—I’ve been calling for that move for a while. Not because I was caught off guard—I’ve been tracking the buildup of U.S. assets in Europe and the Middle East for days.

I’m stunned because Trump went into this with an exit strategy. The one thing the United States almost always bungles. I don’t know what they’ll do in the next seven days. But up to this point, everything they’ve done has been calculated, methodical, and backed by a clear, executable off-ramp.

In four and a half years of Trump, this is only the second time I’ve quietly sat back, clapped my hands, and said: “Good work.” The first was Operation Warp Speed. The second is what the Trump administration just pulled off.

The execution was nearly flawless.

And it could’ve gone very wrong. There’s no real structure around Trump. Who’s the National Security Advisor? No one knows. Who’s the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? Does he even matter? Pete Hegseth is Defense Secretary. Tulsi Gabbard is Director of National Intelligence—though reports say Trump had her locked out of this. And while this chaos unfolded, MAGA propagandists were attacking him, trying to rally the base against any strike on Iran. The landscape was full of landmines. Optically, it was a double-edged sword.

But he still came out on top.

Before we dive into the logic, execution, and potential exit ramps, let’s be clear: Iran does not have nuclear weapons. Yet. But they were getting close—maybe a year away, possibly less.

And for all the self-styled experts now screaming that this was reckless, that it endangers global stability—can they pause for a second and explain why German Chancellor Merz said Israel is "doing the direct work for all of us"?

After they’re done twisting Merz’s statement, maybe they can explain this:
Why didn’t the G7 pressure the Trump administration not to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities? Why did they instead focus on one thing—the endgame?

It’s that very endgame the Trump team is now signaling, and that’s what’s starting to earn my respect.

The Execution:

The United States let Israel do all the dirty work first.

They waited while Israeli forces systematically dismantled Iran’s command-and-control systems, took out missile launchers, and grounded their air defense and air power. Iran’s ability to respond was eroded piece by piece.

At the time, the U.S. had just one carrier strike group in the region. Then another was moved in. Then a third. Three full strike groups. While Israel pounded away, Washington used that window to build up overwhelming force.

And it worked. Iran was already weak. Not just unable to attack—but barely able to defend.

Then came the B-2 bombers.

Take a look at this:

The United States dropped a dozen 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs —on a single site: Fordow.

Why does that matter?

Because Fordow isn’t just any facility. It’s buried nearly 90 meters (about 300 feet) beneath a mountain. And it’s where Iran has been enriching uranium in secret, beyond IAEA oversight, well past the levels needed for civilian use. Without this strike, Iran was on track to build a bomb—within a year, possibly sooner.

Let’s be blunt: only one country on Earth has the capability to destroy Fordow. Not Israel. Not NATO. Not anyone but the United States. No one else has the bombers, the payload, and the satellite coordination required to punch through that kind of depth.

Absent this option, the only alternative would have been an Israeli special forces incursion—boots on the ground. That’s not a surgical strike. That’s ground war. That’s hostage scenarios, heavy casualties, and an Iranian regime that suddenly gains the moral high ground.

Instead, the Trump administration let Israel soften the battlefield—crippling Iran’s air defenses, blinding their radar, and degrading their response capacity. Then the U.S. moved in— deliberately—amassing three carrier strike groups, bomber wings, and other assets until the region tipped into military imbalance.

And then they struck all of Iran’s known nuclear facilities in a single night. Now, with Iran's nuclear program buried under rubble, the message is simple: make a deal.

What should the United States do from here?

Sue for peace.

Yes, peace.

Do not press the advantage.

Iran knows it’s cornered. And here’s the cardinal rule of statecraft: never humiliate a cornered enemy. Never force him to fight to the death. Keep the exit clear. Leave the door open.

The United States has already succeeded. The single most immediate threat — a nuclear-armed Iran — has been neutralized. Now it’s time to let Middle Eastern leaders step in. Let them talk to Tehran.

And they will. Make no mistake — Israel’s ability to operate freely across Jordanian and Syrian airspace was no rogue move. Saudi Arabia and Jordan both gave the green light. That quiet regional consensus is already in place. Now is the moment to activate it.

Israel should continue its strikes — but at a slower, more deliberate pace. The U.S. should hold its forces in place, shift to an active defense posture, and push hard for diplomatic talks behind closed doors.

So far, the execution has been sharp. For once, they’re truly on top. And with that power comes responsibility. Now they need to use it wisely.

What happens in the next seven days will tell us everything about where this goes next.

Don’t push for regime change.
Not now.

They’ll fall on their own. Let time do the work.

The Concis needs your support. I can’t write stories like this without your backing. The first goal is to cross 10,000 subscribers—that’s when visibility increases, and stories like this start reaching the people who need to see them. Your support will help The Concis fly the flag of democracy a little stronger, and a little higher.