The war clock ticks and oil prices are surging: Trump administration poised to join Israel in catastrophic strike on Iran
By ljdevon // 2026-02-18
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The United States stands on the precipice of initiating a devastating, unauthorized war in the Middle East, driven by a manufactured crisis and hidden from public view. According to a new report from Axios, the Trump administration is actively preparing for a massive joint military campaign with Israel against Iran, with operations potentially beginning imminently. This push for conflict comes despite intelligence community assessments finding no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon, revealing a dangerous agenda to justify aggression through fear. With a second U.S. carrier group steaming toward the region and Congress distracted, the American people are being led blindly toward a conflict that could eclipse the quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan. Key points:
  • Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing sources close to the Israeli government, reports the U.S. is "closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realize."
  • The planned operation is described as a "massive" joint U.S.-Israeli campaign aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities, far broader than last year's conflict.
  • This military escalation is proceeding with zero Congressional debate or public oversight, bypassing the constitutional requirement for a war declaration.
  • The war push persists even as indirect diplomatic talks show some progress, with Iran requesting two weeks to formulate a detailed proposal.
  • Oil prices surged on the news, highlighting global market fears of a conflict that could spiral into a years-long regional catastrophe.

A manufactured crisis for an illegal war

Let’s be clear: The official pretext for this rush to war—preventing a nuclear-armed Iran—is a fraud. The intelligence agencies, the very entities tasked with knowing the facts, have repeatedly stated there is no evidence Tehran is pursuing a bomb. This isn't about security; it's about creating a phantom menace to validate a pre-planned attack. The Biden administration previously unlocked billions in frozen assets for the Iranian regime, fueling its capabilities, and now the political establishment seeks to clean up its own mess with American blood and treasure. This is the same playbook used for decades: fund and enable a problem, then present yourself as the only solution, demanding endless war and the surrender of your liberties. Now, with the public's attention manipulated and divided, the war architects are moving in the shadows. The Axios report chillingly notes that "with the attention of Congress and the public otherwise occupied, there is little public debate about what could be the most consequential U.S. military intervention in the Middle East in at least a decade." Where is the declaration of war? The Constitution is not a suggestion. For a sitting president to move toward a conflict of this scale without Congressional approval is an impeachable offense, a blatant usurpation of power that makes a mockery of the republic. They fear debate because the truth cannot survive sunlight.

Diplomatic theater as the missiles are readied

While the Pentagon prepares for battle, a thin veneer of diplomacy is being staged. Indirect talks in Oman and Geneva have occurred, with mediators claiming "good progress." Iran has asked for a mere two weeks to craft a detailed proposal. But this is likely a desperate attempt to buy time against an impending surprise attack. The question every American should ask is: why the frantic hurry to war if diplomacy is working? The answer lies in the political need for a crisis. A president facing political headwinds historically seeks a "wag the dog" moment—a foreign conflict to rally support and distract from domestic failures. Sending a second carrier group to the region isn't a move for peace; it's a provocation. The global oil market, that great barometer of geopolitical fear, reacted instantly, with prices jumping on the Axios report. The deep state and its corporate partners in the military-industrial complex salivate at the prospect of another endless conflict, another river of taxpayer dollars, and another step toward total control. The American soldier is once again set to be used as bait, stationed in harm's way to justify the retaliatory strikes that the war planners already have on the drawing board. We must see this escalation for what it is: a criminal conspiracy to launch an illegal war, sold to the public through a tapestry of lies. The cost will be measured in thousands of lives, a shattered global economy, and the final erosion of what remains of our constitutional governance. Sources include: Zerohedge.com Axios.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai
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