[News] Top Iranian military commander killed by air strikes

[knocky1]

Israel would kick the nuclear shit out of them long before they had the chance.

True and very worrying.

 

[Eeyore]

The aftermath is predictable. Iran would not strike directly at US interests. But it will by proxy. The outcome is more of the same.

As usual, this event has taken things nowhere.

 

[vegster]

The Iranian Quds are responsible for various targeting of American bases in Iraq as well as giving operational and logistical support for the likes of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to attack Israel whenever they can.

Iran knows it can’t openly take on Israel because although Iran is a much bigger country , Israel is tiny in comparison about the size of Wales, but it has a very sophisticated airforce and navy as well as a nuclear capability.

Short term this strike takes out a threat to the region but he will be replaced soon but likely to be someone less experienced in gureillia warfare so yes it’s a win as far as America , Israel and the stability of the region is concerned.

I would be very surprised if This strike was carried out unilaterally, it’s likely to have been a joint intelligence effort between America & Israel with probably input from France and possibly UK as they all share high level Middle East intelligence along with a few other European countries plus Australia.

On a separate point, had Corbyn been elected I doubt whether the other countries would have shared intelligence with him due to his ‘ track record ‘

looks like Johnson's "track record " ruled him out of being in the gang as well, would he have tipped off his Russian Tory donators if he had been in the loop ?

" Qasem Soleimani: Boris Johnson not told about US airstrike "

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50981719

 

[Blue3]

The best we can hope is that our Government condemns the US actions and sides with France to maintain the peace process with Iran, I for one think the world should apply sanctions to the USA

 

[JC Footy Genius]

No word yet from Johnson ? Has Cummings not bothered to distract our Prime Minister from his Christmas gorging ? A serious world crisis is nigh and ….. nothing.

Don't worry Veggie our esteemed Foreign Secretary is on the case ...

“We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qasem Soleimani,” he said. “Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.” - D Raab

In an alternate reality your preferred PM would have probably already invited his good mates from Hezbollah round to number 10 offering his sincerest condolences while promising to go to Soleimani's funeral ..

 

[Stat Brother]

Qasem Soleimani: Iran vows 'severe revenge' for top general's death

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-50986185


Nothing to see here.

 

[Wellesley]

This is 100% Electioneering by Trump - Everyone with half a brain know it.

Saying that about 50% of trump Voter don't have half a brain - So the Iranians could ''box clever'' here and just not respond at all.

They could simply condemn it and not respond in any way with force. Just state that they are a nation of Peace and that Trump is a ''war monger'' and that they won't rise to his ''bait''. That way there would be no ''rallying cry'' to the Trump Voters without that half a brain. Then if he then goes on to try and provoke even more then more people will see it for what it is.

If Iran don't respond then guaranteed he will do something else to try and provoke them in the next 11 months. Thats all they need to try and hold out for

So obvious that the more intelligent Trump haters would jump to this conclusion. Strange that this targeted attack had the full support of the Democrats too.

 

[mikeyjh]

So obvious that the more intelligent Trump haters would jump to this conclusion. Strange that this targeted attack had the full support of the Democrats too.

Really?

Democratic presidential candidates condemn killing of Iran general: - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/03/iran-general-killing-democrats-reaction

Lawmakers not told of attack, democrats warn of costly war:- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...t-told-attack-qassim-soleimani-top-democrats/

U.S. strike on top Iranian commander sharply divides Congress:- https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/03/iran-us-war-powers-congress/

 

[SeagullinExile]

United Arab Emirates would be first on their list

Bahrain? Pretty important navel base. And Iran has some pretty tasty anti ship hardware.

 

[knocky1]

So obvious that the more intelligent Trump haters would jump to this conclusion. Strange that this targeted attack had the full support of the Democrats too.

Hoisted with his own petard...

 

[portlock seagull]

What keeps you in Power are ''short victorious wars'' - However, given that Trump only needs to get past the next US Election that is what he is aiming for. The only issue for him now is though. He has picked a fight with the wrong Nation.

Iran is a sort of law unto itself - In that region they are very powerful and they could strike at other smaller Muslim Nations in that region who support the US and virtually wipe them off the face of the earth. They could also start to fund Terrorism around the world and if they do that then it lands on everyones doorstep around the World.

This being the case it just goes to show the Trump is happy for his reign in the US to be knee deep in the blood of just about anyone. I said in a post months ago that he would start a War when he was due for re-election and so it has proved.

I now feel sorry for the families of the next wave of victims killed in Terrorist Attacks - Yes we will all rally against the terrorists but their blood will be spilled in retaliation. I feel sorry for this World now.

We say the West is Civilised ? - What Trump has done is not civilised. It is Barbaric and Reckless and no one signed up for this when we Elect leaders of Countries in the Western World. You can't run a Country like the US like you run a TV show like ''The Apprentice'' and say ''You're Fired'' and shoot someone dead like he has just done.

Nothing barbaric about killing a terrorist. Even one in uniform. Unless of course he's on your side, in which case he's a freedom fighter as they say. But if you want to be objective, Trump hasn't started a war, neither conventional or otherwise because the latter by-proxy one has been running since 1979. No change there then. And Trump's administration has caused the death of far fewer in that region than his predecessors and several of our Prime Ministers too. Not that's anything to celebrate, just pointing out. Even so, that's dwarfed by those killed by Iran and Iraq's conflicts which runs into millions. Agree Iran being a law unto itself though, has been since Shah. You'll recall that Iraq was too until the coalition busted Saddams' regime.

It's impossible to bring peace to that part of the world. Stability perhaps, as there has been - albeit fleetingly - in the past. Therefore I genuinely don't think today's news is as bad as western press and Iran are would like you to believe. Simply because there's always a war in some guise, in some part, going on in that part of the world which every regional country's involved in in some way. Today's assassination is just another day in the life of that - it hasn't 'shattered' any existing peace has it? Because there's never been peace. It's merely turned up the media (and our) attention to what's going on there. That's all.

Regardless, I don't think you can argue the case for no action in case of retaliation. The threat is ever-present. Iran is always plotting some sort attack so it makes no difference whether the Americans killed him or not. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. The middle east is that in a nutshell. The idiocy of the situation really. You'll never be able to say with any certainty the next attack was because of this. Simply because there's always a next attack regardless.

 

[GT49er]

All civilised nations should unite against Trump IMHO. The orange muppet is a far bigger threat to world peace than any of the so-called rogue states.

Not a fan of the 'orange muppet' - far from it. But to regard the so-called ('so-called'?) rogue states, some of whom tacitly, or even actively, support IS and other purveyors of extreme conservative Islam, as less of a threat beats me.
Sorry, Trump is horrid, but I know which lot I'd rather have in charge and running my life!

 

[Blue3]

So obvious that the more intelligent Trump haters would jump to this conclusion. Strange that this targeted attack had the full support of the Democrats too.

Not sure where you got your info from as the Guardian reports

Democratic presidential candidates have condemned the targeted killing of Iran’s top general in a US airstrike in Iraq as reckless, with frontrunner Joe Biden accusing Donald Trump of having “tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox”.

The former vice-president joined other White House hopefuls in criticizing the president’s order, saying it could leave the US “on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East”. Republicans in Congress largely backed the move.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

All the backstory on the Orange Oaf's conspiracy to go to war with Iran ( click for thread) is in Seth's book.

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1173276830633201664?s=19

 

[Wardy's twin]

Not a fan of the 'orange muppet' - far from it. But to regard the so-called ('so-called'?) rogue states, some of whom tacitly, or even actively, support IS and other purveyors of extreme conservative Islam, as less of a threat beats me.
Sorry, Trump is horrid, but I know which lot I'd rather have in charge and running my life!

Do we only have a choice of two things?

 

[symyjym]

Blow Israel or Saudi to smithereens

Only if they wanted to be turned into glass.

 

[knocky1]

Not a fan of the 'orange muppet' - far from it. But to regard the so-called ('so-called'?) rogue states, some of whom tacitly, or even actively, support IS and other purveyors of extreme conservative Islam, as less of a threat beats me.
Sorry, Trump is horrid, but I know which lot I'd rather have in charge and running my life!

Of course, you would rather have Trump in charge.

Just the man the Middle East needs.
Iran have lost thousands of men fighting ISIL. Trump’s enemy.
Saudi supported IS financially. Trump’s ally.

 

[Hastings gull]

Do we only have a choice of two things?

Probably not so what would be your third choice. or whatever?

 

[Hastings gull]

Not a fan of the 'orange muppet' - far from it. But to regard the so-called ('so-called'?) rogue states, some of whom tacitly, or even actively, support IS and other purveyors of extreme conservative Islam, as less of a threat beats me.
Sorry, Trump is horrid, but I know which lot I'd rather have in charge and running my life!

Yes, the lesser of two levels, but as with yourself, I would rather align myself with the US, warts and all, as opposed to a nasty dictatorship extolling religious extremism.

 

[Wellesley]

Not sure where you got your info from as the Guardian reports

Democratic presidential candidates have condemned the targeted killing of Iran’s top general in a US airstrike in Iraq as reckless, with frontrunner Joe Biden accusing Donald Trump of having “tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox”.

The former vice-president joined other White House hopefuls in criticizing the president’s order, saying it could leave the US “on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East”. Republicans in Congress largely backed the move.

Radio 5 this morning. You got your information from The Guardian. No left wing anti Trump bias there then.