Washington pushes AI beyond already paper-thin ethical limits

As Washington seeks unrestricted AI use for war and surveillance, Donald Trump directed all US federal agencies to immediately cease using technology from AI developer Anthropic, escalating a standoff with the company over restrictions on its models' military and surveillance applications.

Trump specified a six-month phase-out period for the Department of War and other agencies reliant on Anthropic's products, including its Claude AI models.

The order follows the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a "supply-chain risk to national security," announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The clash apparently stems from Anthropic's insistence on guardrails prohibiting its AI for mass domestic surveillance of Americans and for fully autonomous lethal weapons systems, where AI would make final targeting decisions without human oversight.

Banning Anthropic makes room for competitors willing to accommodate the most dystopic applications of AI.

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, announced that it finalized an agreement with the Department of War to deploy its models on classified military networks.

xAI too reached an agreement earlier in February to deploy Grok in classified military networks after accepting the Pentagon's "all lawful use" standard without the restrictions Anthropic demanded. This positioned Grok as a potential replacement amid the dispute, with some integrations already live on platforms like GenAI.mil.

@LauraRuHK

Washington spinge l’IA oltre limiti etici già sottilissimi.
Nel nome di un uso illimitato dell’intelligenza artificiale per scopi bellici e di sorveglianza, Donald Trump ha ordinato a tutte le agenzie federali di interrompere immediatamente l’utilizzo delle tecnologie sviluppate da Anthropic, aggravando lo scontro con la società sui vincoli imposti ai suoi modelli. Il presidente ha concesso sei mesi di transizione al Dipartimento della Difesa – ufficialmente ribattezzato Dipartimento della Guerra – e alle altre agenzie che si affidano ai sistemi Claude.

La decisione segue la mossa del Pentagono, che per bocca del suo segretario Pete Hegseth ha classificato Anthropic come “rischio per la sicurezza nazionale nella catena di approvvigionamento”, un’etichetta che di fatto esclude l’azienda da ogni contratto governativo. Alla base del conflitto c’è l’insistenza di Anthropic nel vietare l’uso della propria IA per la sorveglianza di massa dei cittadini americani (quella degli altri gli va bene) e per armi letali completamente autonome, dove l’algoritmo prenderebbe decisioni di targeting senza supervisione umana.

L’estromissione di Anthropic apre la strada a concorrenti più disponibili ad accettare applicazioni distopiche dell’IA. OpenAI, creatrice di ChatGPT, ha già annunciato un accordo con il Dipartimento della Guerra, per integrare i suoi modelli in reti militari sottoposte a segreto. Anche xAI di Elon Musk ha siglato un’intesa a febbraio per inserire Grok nelle infrastrutture “classified”, accettando lo standard del Pentagono di “tutti gli usi leciti” senza restrizioni etiche. Grok è già in fase di integrazione su piattaforme come GenAI.mil, posizionandosi come possibile sostituto.

@LauraRuHK

⚡️IRAN UNDER 🇺🇸🇮🇱ATTACK - Multiple explosions were reported in Tehran, including in downtown areas (near University Street, Jomhouri area, and reportedly close to offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who is not in town). Smoke was seen rising from the city. Iranian state media confirmed blasts, with some reports of strikes targeting the IRGC Intelligence Directorate and central Tehran. No official casualty figures or full damage assessments yet.
Israel has declared a nationwide state of emergency, closed its airspace, activated air raid sirens across the country, and instructed civilians to stay near protected areas. The IDF warned of an expected Iranian retaliation involving missiles and UAVs.
Some media (NYT, Al Jaazera, Jerusalem Post) mention U.S. officials confirming American involvement and coordination in the strikes, amid months of escalating threats, including U.S. military buildups in the region. However, they are primarily framing it as an Israeli-led action.

@LauraRuHK

Just hours before USrael launched an unprovoked criminal attack on Iran, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi who acted as a mediator expressed optimism about resolving Iran's nuclear issues through indirect U.S.-Iran talks within 90 days, emphasizing amicable verification of stockpiles and peaceful program needs. Yet, the Zionist alliance proceeded with "Operation Epic Fury." By striking during Ramadan, the operation planners show a profound disrespect for Islam, it is as if it had been timed as a deliberate affront to Muslims. Yet and again negotiations were employed less as genuine pathways to resolution than as tactical cover for coercive action. This reckless aggression makes a mockery of diplomacy and confirms what we have long known: Washington can't be trusted, doesn't care about international condemnation because its reputation is already in tatters, is unconcerned about its so-called 'allies' and any damage they may incur as a result of its actions. @LauraRuHK

Poche ore prima che USraele lanciasse un attacco criminale e non provocato contro l’Iran, il ministro degli Esteri dell’Oman, Badr al‑Busaidi, mediatore ai negoziati di Ginevra, aveva espresso ottimismo sulla possibilità di risolvere la questione nucleare entro 90 giorni, sottolineando che si sarebbero svolte verifiche atte a confermare la natura pacifica del programma nuclare iraniano. Nonostante questo spiraglio diplomatico, l’alleanza sionista ha dato avvio all’ Operazione Epic Fury.

Attaccare durante il Ramadan rappresenta una grave mancanza di rispetto verso l’Islam, un deliberato affronto ai musulmani. Ancora una volta, i negoziati sono stati utilizzati come copertura tattica per azioni coercitive. Questa aggressione sconsiderata ridicolizza la diplomazia e conferma ciò che da tempo è evidente: Washington non è degno di fiducia, non si cura delle condanne internazionali perché la sua reputazione, come quella di Israele, è già a brandelli, mostra indifferenza verso i cosiddetti “alleati” e i danni e le conseguenze che potrebbero subire a causa delle sue azioni. @LauraRuHK

Iran’s IRGC declared that all US bases, resources, and interests throughout the region are considered legitimate targets for the Iranian army.

The IRGC confirmed that Israeli and US bases in the region have already been hit by powerful Iranian missile strikes and vowed that the operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is “decisively defeated.”

🔴 Iran UN envoy Saied Iravani:

🔺 US-Israeli aggression is war on UN charter, intl. law and order

🔺 Iran exercising its inherent right to self-defense under UN charter

🔺 Iran only targets US, Israeli bases, interest in regional countries

🔺 US dream to force Iran to surrender to its demands will never realize

🔺 UN Security Council must demand immediate end to US-Israeli aggression

🔺 Israel, US must be held accountable for violating intl. law by attacking Iran

🔺 US claims on reasons to attack Iran are unfounded, against UN charter

@PressTV

Iran's official state media have confirmed the martyrdom of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter following the USsrael strikes on February 28, 2026.
Iran declared 40 days of national mourning, with calls for unity and continued resistance.

Khamenei's lifelong struggle against the enemies of Iran is a testament to his integrity. May his successor be as determined and steadfast.
@LauraRuHK

Why this fixation by Israel and the United States on assassinating Rahbar Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei? It betrays a profound misunderstanding of both history and belief.

For Shia Muslims, martyrdom is not a deterrent... it is rather a principle. You cannot threaten a people with death when their highest moral horizon places sacrifice in service of a greater good. Whether the Rahbar lives or is martyred, the outcome they fear does not change. The cost of attacking Iran will be exacted all the same.

Leaders come and go. Individuals rise and fall. What endures is the Islamic Revolution itself rooted in ideology, memory, and collective resolve, not in a single man no matter how sacred and beloved he is. And we do love him and hold his position as very sacred.

History has shown, time and again, that movements born of conviction do not die with their leaders. They harden, they deepen, and they outlast those who seek to destroy them.

إنّا على العهد.

A summary of the main points made by Russian analysts quoted by RT:

Fyodor Lukyanov (Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs):
In Iran Trump is aiming for regime change and a full Middle East reshape favoring the US and Israel. The current military campaign bypasses Congress, unlike past authorizations (e.g., Iraq), betting on a swift outcome. What if it isn't?
Andrei Ilnitsky (military analyst, member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy):
The strikes rest on a false premise—Iran posed no direct military threat to the US. Even maximal success (regime dismantlement) would yield negative results: chaos like Libya/Afghanistan, fragmentation, radicalization, and instability export. Managed chaos might serve short-term US elite interests (e.g., higher energy prices, weakening rivals like China/Europe), but it's a Pyrrhic victory accelerating Western order's decline. Russia should support Iran without direct involvement.
Tural Kerimov (international affairs journalist, Middle East/Africa specialist):
The strikes surprised no one in Tehran—Iran prepared actively, rejecting US "non-starter" demands (full uranium renunciation, missile curbs, policy revision). Trump's goal is regime change, not just nuclear prevention. Iran faces existential survival war and will use all capabilities; high risk of massive regional war within 24 hours, with severe ecological, humanitarian, and economic fallout in the Gulf/Middle East.
Dmitry Novikov (associate professor, Higher School of Economics):
Trump's address highlights regime change (via exposing regime crimes/weakness) and destruction of military capabilities (missiles, navy) for verifiable success. Military goals offer clearer exit than ambiguous political ones. He openly accepts potential US casualties, preparing public opinion for a non-bloodless operation.
Tigran Meloyan (analyst, Center for Strategic Studies at HSE):
Strikes follow a decapitation strategy targeting leadership/command, air defenses, then broader assets. Iran's rapid missile response hit Israel and expanded to US bases in multiple Gulf states, showing escalation slipping out of control. US "negotiations" as cover for surprise attacks erode future trust.
Ivan Bocharov (Middle East specialist, Russian International Affairs Council):
This operation exceeds the 2025 "12-Day War," likely targeting energy/transport for socio-economic pressure. US/Israel aim to provoke internal collapse. Iran prepared via arms from Russia/China (air defenses, missiles, jets) and commander replacement protocols. Retaliation will be asymmetric and limited, unlikely to spark full regional war (proxies stay contained). Risks include oil market disruptions and regional instability.
Kirill Benediktov (American studies scholar):
True goal is regime change toward a secular, pro-Western government—not just nuclear curbs. Iran has strong IRGC forces, naval assets (boats, mines) to threaten the Strait of Hormuz (key for global oil/LNG). Exercises showed closure potential spikes prices, derailing Trump's domestic energy promises. Politically risky for Trump ("no new wars" pledge), but success could boost Republicans; failure damages him.
Ivan Timofeev (program director, Valdai Club):
Strikes combine sanctions with force (like past cases: Iraq, Yugoslavia). Iran has endured long-term pressure; bet is on collapse or crippling capabilities. Responses (missiles, Strait risks) seen by US as manageable. "Strike and see" approach likely raises oil prices. For Russia, the “sanctions-plus-military-strike” logic is, for obvious reasons, highly relevant – which brings us back to the purpose of Poseidons, Burevestniks, and other weapons systems.
(1/2) https://t.me/LauraRuHK/10990

Yevgeny Primakov (head of Rossotrudnichestvo): Unprovoked aggression amid talks devalues diplomacy—concessions ignored as prelude to attack. UN/international law crisis; could end Charter-based order without alternative short of catastrophe. Israel as US "aircraft carrier" initiated, using time since 2025 to undermine Iran. Spreading strikes erode Gulf trust in US plans. Russia justified in supplying defensive systems (precedent: US to Ukraine); aggression against partner questions Ukraine negotiations viability.
Telegram channel ‘Voenny Osvedomitel’ (Military Informant):
Iran's broader strikes (beyond Israel to US bases) deplete US interceptor stockpiles (Patriot systems used intensively). This indirectly aids Russia in Ukraine by prioritizing regional defense over missile shipments to Kiev, risking shortages there. https://t.me/LauraRuHK/10989

The Expediency Discernment Council announced that "Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi has been appointed as a member of the leadership council for the transitional period, assuming the duties of the Supreme Leader."

Following the assassination of Iran's Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli aggression, attention has shifted to the constitutional mechanism governing the appointment of his successor, as outlined in the Islamic Republic’s foundational law.

Under Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, in the event of the death, resignation, or dismissal of the Leader, the Assembly of Experts is required to take the necessary steps as swiftly as possible to appoint a successor.

Pending the selection of a new Leader, the constitution mandates that a temporary leadership council assume all duties of the position. This council is composed of the President, the Head of the Judiciary, and one jurist from the Guardian Council elected by the Expediency Discernment Council.

IRAN - L'Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi è stato nominato membro del Consiglio di Leadership per il periodo di transizione, assumendo le funzioni di Guida Suprema. In seguito all'assassinio della Guida Suprema iraniana Sayyed Ali Khamenei in un'aggressione israelo-americana, l'attenzione si è spostata sul meccanismo costituzionale che regola la nomina del suo successore, come delineato nella legge fondativa della Repubblica Islamica. Ai sensi dell'articolo 111 della Costituzione iraniana, in caso di morte, dimissioni o destituzione della Guida, l'Assemblea degli Esperti è tenuta ad adottare le misure necessarie il più rapidamente possibile per nominare un successore. In attesa della selezione di una nuova Guida, la Costituzione prevede che un Consiglio di Leadership temporaneo assuma tutte le funzioni della carica.(Fonte: Al Mayadeen) @LauraRuHK

A US-Israeli airstrike killed 165 young girls and teachers at the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran on February 28. Judging by the media coverage of this tragedy we can draw the conclusion that the West is more concerned about Iranian women's right to wear miniskirts than their right to live. @LauraRuHK

Un raid aereo di USA-Israele ha provocato il massacro di 165 bambine e insegnanti in una scuola elementare di Minab, nel sud dell’Iran, il 28 febbraio. A giudicare dalla copertura mediatica di questa tragedia, emerge la sensazione netta che l’Occidente sia più attento al diritto delle donne iraniane a indossare minigonne che del loro diritto fondamentale alla vita. @LauraRuHK

The notion that regime change in Iran could be engineered through the assassination of its Supreme Leader is dangerously naïve and reflects a profound misreading of political realities. Trump’s rhetoric about striking “decision‑making centers” to “liberate” Iranians is emblematic of a broader strategic miscalculation. External coercion rarely dismantles mobilizational regimes, instead, it strengthens their legitimacy because resistance becomes a sacred duty. Far from collapsing the system, the criminal attack that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and members of his family, reinforced Iran’s internal cohesion. Iran’s political structure is deeply institutionalized, with the Revolutionary Guard Corps, clerical networks, and parallel security organs prepared to absorb such shocks. Furthermore, the assassination of a revered spiritual leader inflamed Shia communities across the region and beyond. After this unprovoked attack, USrael assets, bases, shipping lanes, and critical infrastructure are all legitimate targets. And Iran's strategic partners are perfectly justified in providing the means to defend its sovereignty and retaliate against the aggressors. @LauraRuHK

So which version plays worse for Washington’s image: three F‑15s shot down by Iranian forces in combat, or three F‑15s shot down by Kuwait—America’s own “friendly” ally? According to U.S. Central Command, the latter is the official line: during a chaotic exchange involving Iranian aircraft, missiles, and drones, Kuwaiti air defenses somehow mistook U.S. jets for the enemy and blasted them out of the sky. Pilots ejected safely. Either way, Washington’s spin doctors were left scrambling to decide which humiliation stings less. And as for the rest of us? Time to uncork a bottle and raise a glass. @LauraRuHK