Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Ron on January 02, 2020, 10:52:29 PM
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We droned him and some Iraqi militia leaders.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/rockets-baghdad-airport-injuries-reported
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I note he was killed at the airport rather than his plane shot down. Also, the militia guys were targeted also. Seems to be a high profile action to send a message. Were they involved in the rocket attacks and the "protest" against our embassy?
We will see where this goes.
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Really getting our money's worth out of that 2001 AUMF. =|
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Really getting our money's worth out of that 2001 AUMF. =|
While that one is horribly abused, I'm fairly certain the War Powers Resolution of 1973 is sufficient to deal with a response to a provocation like attacking our embassy.
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In response crude oil is skyrocketing, as is home heating oil and gasoline.
WTI is up $2.45 a barrel, and I expect it to go a lot higher, and wholesale gasoline is up 6.4 cents a gallon.
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In response crude oil is skyrocketing, as is home heating oil and gasoline.
WTI is up $2.45 a barrel, and I expect it to go a lot higher, and wholesale gasoline is up 6.4 cents a gallon.
All that cash rolling into American frackers....
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I'm actually not sure where I stand on this. I'm sure I've heard Soleimani's name in the past, but it never stuck, so I really know nothing about anything he has done previous to his death. I think I can be reasonably sure that Trump didn't know much about him either, and that this all came about via advisors.
Maybe it's a good thing to have done, maybe not. I can't help but think there will be many retaliatory acts by either Iran, their surrogates, or just amateur pro-Iranian goat herders looking for "vengeance".
EDIT: I'll also add - I wonder if it wouldn't have been better for this guy to die of a "heart attack" versus the high profile blowing up thing. Just seems like there's a high potential for martyr status.
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I think I can be reasonably sure that Trump didn't know much about him either, and that this all came about via advisors.
You never know, maybe after this interview he hit the books and did some research on the guy. :laugh:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-hugh-hewitt-quds-kurds
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While that one is horribly abused, I'm fairly certain the War Powers Resolution of 1973 is sufficient to deal with a response to a provocation like attacking our embassy.
Attacking an embassy is not nothing.
The war drums against Iran were getting louder and louder though, even previous to the most recent events.
It just feels like events are bring manipulated in such a way where war with Iran happens.
Did Iraq roll up any of the embassy attackers and confirm they were actually connected to Hezbollah/Iran etc.
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Some of the dems are upset Trump didn't "consult" with congress first.
If they feel that way then maybe they should call for his impeachment. Oh wait...
Anyone care to guess how long that would have taken and I'm pretty sure Schiff would have publicly run his mouth off about what we were planning on doing even if Soleimani stayed in one spot long enough.
“But Congress didn’t authorize and American people don’t want a war with Iran. All steps must now be taken to protect our forces against the almost inevitable escalation and increased risk.”
Schiff’s statement was echoed by other Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
“Tonight’s airstrike risks provoking further dangerous escalation of violence," Pelosi said in a statement. "America – and the world – cannot afford to have tensions escalate to the point of no return."
She added that the strike was undertaken without consultation with Congress. "Congress must be immediately briefed on this serious situation and on the next steps under consideration by the Administration," she said.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/adam-schiff-says-americans-dont-want-war-with-iran-after-airstrike-that-killed-iranian-general
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EDIT: I'll also add - I wonder if it wouldn't have been better for this guy to die of a "heart attack" versus the high profile blowing up thing. Just seems like there's a high potential for martyr status.
I suspect the President wanted to send a clear message. A couple of Hellfires raining down upon you after you disembark your plane would certainly do so.
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Well I would say his heart definitely gave out.
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I suspect the President wanted to send a clear message. A couple of Hellfires raining down upon you after you disembark your plane would certainly do so.
No, I get that. I'm just wondering if the Russian method might not have been better in the long run.
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I'm actually not sure where I stand on this. I'm sure I've heard Soleimani's name in the past, but it never stuck, so I really know nothing about anything he has done previous to his death. I think I can be reasonably sure that Trump didn't know much about him either, and that this all came about via advisors.
Maybe it's a good thing to have done, maybe not. I can't help but think there will be many retaliatory acts by either Iran, their surrogates, or just amateur pro-Iranian goat herders looking for "vengeance".
EDIT: I'll also add - I wonder if it wouldn't have been better for this guy to die of a "heart attack" versus the high profile blowing up thing. Just seems like there's a high potential for martyr status.
Ben, I think a "heart attack" wouldn't have sent as clear a message.
Woody
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The leftists are really upset.
That's usually a good sign.
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Some of the dems are upset Trump didn't "consult" with congress first.
What, so they could have issued a warning to Soleimani? Because you know that's what would have happened, even if it was by press conference, facebook post, or twitter.
As for the ramifications of killing a terrorist leader - didn't Israel somewhat tamp down instances of terrorism some years back by targeting numerous terrorist leaders?
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Perspective:
Since this was started by Iran, what we did was retaliation. Anything further Iran does is not retaliation. It will be escalation. :old:
And, what Stolthemoni was doing was likely under orders from the Supreme Leader Khamenei. I would expect escalation while the powers that be still be.
Woody
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(https://oi1179.photobucket.com/albums/x383/WLJohnson1/News%20items/e271edbe915298de8fc489b944ed0b69_zpszsldixv4.jpg)
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I read he was in a car, travelling with all the other militant leaders who were killed. (Including the #2 for Hezbollah, nice!).
I was hoping they killed them all at the plane and destroyed the plane, too. Just as an extra bonus. Ah, well.
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No, I get that. I'm just wondering if the Russian method might not have been better in the long run.
I wonder if we have the personnel and technological assets to carry those sort of actions out. The Soviets and then the Russians maintained a robust chemical, radiological and biological offensive program, as witness the various chemical and radiological poisonings in recent years. Theoretically the US renounced those programs.
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The leftists are really upset.
That's usually a good sign.
Yep
Dear #Iran, The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us. #Soleimani pic.twitter.com/YE54CqGCdr
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) January 3, 2020
https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2020/01/03/you-do-not-apologize-for-me-rose-mcgowen-dragged-like-weve-never-seen-dragged-before-for-off-the-charts-insane-dear-iran-tweet/
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Did Iraq roll up any of the embassy attackers and confirm they were actually connected to Hezbollah/Iran etc.
Even if they had, would you believe them?
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Dear #Iran, The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us. #Soleimani pic.twitter.com/YE54CqGCdr
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) January 3, 2020
Well, according to Hillary Clinton I'm deplorable. According to Rose McGowan I'm a 48 percenter (since I certainly do not apologize to Iran, humbly or otherwise, for blowing up your terrorist-in-chief). But I'm confused -- does this mean I have sunk lower in the societal order, or have I risen?
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Even if they had, would you believe them?
Truth being the first casualty of war ...
Your point is well taken.
It's hard for me to be very upset about this assassination, Trump has been hawkish towards Iran at least since he started his presidential campaign.
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The leftists are really upset.
That's usually a good sign.
Meh. It's all standard contrarian politics.
Trump accused Obama of wanting to start a war with Iran for re-election purposes in tweets back then.
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Just flashed on the news that the 82nd Airborne is heading to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, at CNN, the whining is of epic proportions. This analyst thinks that the strike has now made all Americans targets...
Gee, I wonder what she thought Americans were before? Stupidest damned thing I've ever heard, really, from the "news" network that brings you more bullshit than any other...
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/01/03/americans-targets-iran-vinograd-sot-newday-vpx.cnn
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Meh. It's all standard contrarian politics.
Trump accused Obama of wanting to start a war with Iran for re-election purposes in tweets back then.
I wonder if, like helping the economy and reshaping the judiciary, this will be another thing that Obama tried to do and Trump succeeds at.
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I'm thinking that assassinating lots terrorist leaders is far preferable to open war.
That is what LawDog taught me.
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Just flashed on the news that the 82nd Airborne is heading to the Middle East.
For clarity: We didn't deploy the whole Division. We sent the Immediate Response Force (1 battalion, approx 700 paratroopers. What used to be called the "Global Response Force"). We are mobilizing the rest of that Battalions parent Brigade (that's the 4000 troops number you see thrown around the news). The 82nd Airborne Division has two more full Infantry Brigades, a Combat Aviation Brigade, a Sustainment Brigade, and Division Headquarters that aren't coming*. Still, an extra IBCT (if the whole thing comes) is significant combat power.
*There are some Aerial Delivery units attached to the 82nd that were already here if you start checking which units are deployed.
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I'm thinking that assassinating lots terrorist leaders is far preferable to open war.
That is what LawDog taught me.
Don't forget: The enemy get's a vote.
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I wouldn't be surprised if they tried some sort of suicide attack on Trump. They know places that he frequents such as golf courses
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Meh. It's all standard contrarian politics.
Trump accused Obama of wanting to start a war with Iran for re-election purposes in tweets back then.
Trump said that in an old interview as well, listened to a bit of it this morning.
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"For clarity: We didn't deploy the whole Division."
WHAT? CNN inferred that the who division would be going! I just don't understand how they could get something like this so wrong!
Oh... CNN... never mind... +
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I wonder if, like helping the economy and reshaping the judiciary, this will be another thing that Obama tried to do and Trump succeeds at.
I'm in a wait and see what happens holding pattern.
Obviously, as I've posted ad nauseam, I want us out of the ME. This doesn't seem to be conducive to us disengaging.
These are geopolitical moves that look to me to have more than six degrees of separation from our national interest.
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I went to bed last night after reading some Book of Faces posts about how some people were afraid they would wake up this morning and we would be at war with Iran. Well IMO we have been at war with Iran since 1979 (or at least they have been at war with us) so I guess they did wake up and we were at war. I try to get people to understand by pointing them at Operation Ernest Will and Operation Praying Mantis, I use those because I lived them.
bob
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God, the hand wringing and whining from the left is getting close to being epic. CNN is getting to the point where they're going to give themselves a fit of the vapors.
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God, the hand wringing and whining from the left is getting close to being epic. CNN is getting to the point where they're going to give themselves a fit of the vapors.
IMPEACH!!!
Have they accused Trump of acting under Russian orders yet?
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Guess who is going to stop Trump
So what if Trump wants war, knows this leads to war and needs the distraction?
Real question is, will those with congressional authority step in and stop him? I know I will. https://t.co/Fj9TMossEW
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2020
https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2020/01/03/sorry-about-your-bff-ilhan-omar-gets-all-big-and-bad-after-soleimani-death-claiming-shell-stop-trump-and-it-goes-so-wrong/
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Anyone seen what the Iraqi government's reaction to a strike at their airport was? Did they approve it beforehand? Or condone it after the fact? Or are they upset about it?
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They're on it, sounds like they got Trump. He was eating ice cream!
President Trump dined on ice cream as news of the airstrike broke https://t.co/iP5fbnSfDH pic.twitter.com/SmrqI6zN0Y
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 3, 2020
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But wait there's more
An airstrike Friday hit two cars carrying members of an Iran-backed militia north of Iraq's capital, Baghdad, killing five people, an Iraqi official told The Associated Press.
The official added that the identities of those killed were not immediately known. It was not immediately clear who launched the strike, but a U.S. official told AP the attack was not an American military attack.
Airstrike kills 5 members of Iran-backed militia, Iraq official says
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iraq-airstrike-iran-backed-militia-official
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Round Blow up the usual suspects.
I approve of this, a pox on them all.
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nm
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Dan Crenshaw put out a statement about the killing yesterday. He can be a war hawk I guess.
https://crenshaw.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=194
“Tonight’s strike was historic and America is better off because of it. One of the world’s most pre-eminent sponsors of terrorism, Qassem Soleimani, is now dead. He spent more than 20 years spreading death and destruction across the region, to include engineering and providing IEDs to Shia militias in Iraq that were used to kill hundreds of Americans.
“Abu Mahdi al Muhandis was also killed. He was the leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia beholden to the Iranian Quds Force and responsible for attacks against Americans, most recently the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on December 31, 2019.
“While this swift and decisive act is welcome news, we must also prepare for a response from a desperate and embattled Iranian regime. Now is the time we must come together as a country to confront Iranian aggression and defend the tenets of freedom, like we always have. This should be the first item of business for Congress in the new year. Domestically, we must be unified and objective as we address the reality of the current situation and not look to lay blame for the past. Globally, we must be a leader and support our allies who are on the front lines and directly face the Iranian threat.
“Tonight is a good night for America, Iraq and the region.”
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https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1212955403077767168?s=19
This has video supposedly showing Iraqis celebrating the death of the Iranian general. I have seen this talked about elsewhere.
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Anyone seen what the Iraqi government's reaction to a strike at their airport was? Did they approve it beforehand? Or condone it after the fact? Or are they upset about it?
That last one.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/soleimani-death-aftermath
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Still not knowing enough to give a valid opinion, it seems there are a lot of Iranians that are happy about his getting smoked.
As far as affecting global oil and economies, I saw that an hour before the market opened on Friday, DOW futures were ~-400. Market ended up closing about 200 down. My BP stock barely budged up a few cents. On the other hand, Aerovironment jumped almost five bucks. Seems like warfighting was more of a concern from the money side than was oil.
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Babylon Bee hits a good one again.
https://babylonbee.com/news/john-bolton-cant-believe-he-quit-just-before-war-with-iran
John Bolton Can't Believe He Left White House Just Before War With Iran
Not really one good sentence to quote, but the short story is clever. =D
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Still not knowing enough to give a valid opinion, it seems there are a lot of Iranians that are happy about his getting smoked.
As far as affecting global oil and economies, I saw that an hour before the market opened on Friday, DOW futures were ~-400. Market ended up closing about 200 down. My BP stock barely budged up a few cents. On the other hand, Aerovironment jumped almost five bucks. Seems like warfighting was more of a concern from the money side than was oil.
The oil market seems to go into a panic every time someone passes gas in the ME. If it lasts more than 2 weeks, we will see. Of course, I would be curious to see who is making money off the market instability.
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https://babylonbee.com/news/people-who-tweet-in-support-of-foreign-wars-to-be-automatically-enlisted-in-armed-forces
Report: Internet Users Who Call For Attacking Other Countries Will Now Be Enlisted In The Military Automatically
Strangely, as soon as the policy was implemented, 99% of saber-rattling suddenly ceased.
I will say if this guy did half of what people say, he had it coming. Along with the fact he seemed to be coordinating attacks on US and allied forces from Iran. However, I can't stop thinking that most of the people I see commenting had no idea who the guy was 2 weeks ago. So I get tired of seeing some of these people beating the war drums.
IMO, this is the ME. The best way to avoid war is to show strength and demonstrate your determination to exterminate anyone who opposes you. I think if we try to be diplomatic and nice like some of these leftists want, we WILL end up in a war. At this point, I have to trust Trump to know how far to push it.
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Dems need to make their minds up. Susan Rice says the Obama Admin would have taken him out if only they were presented with the opportunity. Doesn't sound like they would have checked with congress first.
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/04/this-is-a-lie-susan-rices-claim-about-the-obama-admin-and-soleimani-sets-off-bs-detectors-everywhere/
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Another funny tangent:
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/04/selective-service-says-spread-of-misinformation-caused-traffic-surge-that-crashed-their-website/
Somehow all the SJWs started a panic regarding the draft being reintroduced. TDS everywhere.
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Dems need to make their minds up. Susan Rice says the Obama Admin would have taken him out if only they were presented with the opportunity. Doesn't sound like they would have checked with congress first.
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/04/this-is-a-lie-susan-rices-claim-about-the-obama-admin-and-soleimani-sets-off-bs-detectors-everywhere/
How? By dropping a pallet of money on him?
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Another funny tangent:
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/04/selective-service-says-spread-of-misinformation-caused-traffic-surge-that-crashed-their-website/
Somehow all the SJWs started a panic regarding the draft being reintroduced. TDS everywhere.
Been seeing tweets and comments on FB proclaiming that Trump has started WW-III.
Maybe the SJWs will finally make their long over due run for Canada
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How? By dropping a pallet of money on him?
I would say 2000 lb bombs and missiles cost quite a bit. Obama was just trying to cut out the middle man. =D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJjHZOr6mXY
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At this point watching twitter and Fb we may well end up in WWIII. It's okay though because the memes are gonna be lit.
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At this point watching twitter and Fb we may well end up in WWIII. It's okay though because the memes are gonna be lit.
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.funnyisms.com%2Fdfad74a2-3096-4c30-8d8b-00bfc85e2ae3.jpg&hash=fbcc7d5d17fd682969f1f55e52207d0aa58d4987)
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Aaaand we got anti war protesters in town. Not many but still.
https://www.wdrb.com/news/louisville-protesters-voice-concerns-over-rising-u-s--iran/article_eccc3b94-2f38-11ea-8c02-1757662080aa.html
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wdrb.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/fe/2fec7420-2f39-11ea-bd65-1f6a08d32273/5e11039f72af1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C422)
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wdrb.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/da/4da713ee-2f39-11ea-9b6c-0bcb98aa185d/5e1103cb7c9d7.image.jpg?resize=750%2C422)
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And the stupid train keeps on rolling
Trump decided to kill Iran's General Soleimani in part to appear stronger than Obama was on Benghazi: Report https://t.co/YZLYbBuyJT
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 4, 2020
But I like this response
The only people dead after this embassy attack are Iranians.
— Brian Cartwright (@blcartwright) January 4, 2020
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I certainly don't want war with Iran.
But Iranian agents sneaking around blowing up American servicemen should be blown to bits.
It's only fair.
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Trump decided to kill Iran's General Soleimani in part to appear stronger than Obama was on Benghazi
One would certainly hope so.
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One would certainly hope so.
Yeah but I don't think he meant it as a complement but I know what you mean
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The Democrats just can't let up, not even for a moment.
https://apnews.com/75944e42ccc66ac08ee5122e080d7f33
The series of tweets came as the White House sent to Congress a formal notification under the War Powers Act of the drone strike on Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a senior administration official said. U.S. law required notification within 48 hours of the introduction of American forces into an armed conflict or a situation that could lead to war.
The notification was classified and it was not known if a public version would be released. ...
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The notification document sent Saturday to congressional leadership, the House speaker and the Senate president pro tempore was entirely classified, according to a senior Democratic aide and a congressional aide. The aides and the senior administration official were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and requested anonymity.
In a statement, Pelosi said the “highly unusual” decision to classify the document compounds concerns from Congress.
“This document prompts serious and urgent questions about the timing, manner and justification of the Administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran,” Pelosi said and reiterated her call for a full briefing for lawmakers.
My take-away on this is that Pelosi is unhappy the notification was classified because that means she can't talk about it to the media. IMHO that's entirely proper. A situation that could result in a war should be debated seriously by the appropriate parties in the government, but it should NOT be used for a series of sound bites during the run-up to a presidential election.
Note to Nancy: SHUT UP, and just do your job.
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(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wdrb.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/fe/2fec7420-2f39-11ea-bd65-1f6a08d32273/5e11039f72af1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C422)
What does Mercedes-Benz have to do with anti-war protests?
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What does Mercedes-Benz have to do with anti-war protests?
Damned Germans are always starting *expletive deleted*it.
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(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wdrb.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/fe/2fec7420-2f39-11ea-bd65-1f6a08d32273/5e11039f72af1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C422)
That one is ripe for a photoshop.
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Ohhh, mannnn.... I hope my 2S draft classification is still valid. Glad I kept my old draft card, like they said to.
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Ran across this interesting link from Reuters. Dateline July 2018:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-threat-idUSKBN1KG16V
I'm not losing sleep over this guys demise.
I still want out of the ME on principal though.
Is there a case to be made where going to war with Iran is in our national best interest? I read a lot and haven't seen a compelling one myself.
It's all "world safe for democracy rhetoric" that has been exposed as nothing but lies for globalist inside dealers.
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The only real case is that Iran has a history of sponsoring various terrorist groups around the region and the world. They also provide them with pretty sophisticated arms (Drones, shaped munitions, MRBM's, stuff like that). Were Iran to get a functioning nuclear weapon manufacturing ability, it is *very* likely that one of those weapons would find it's way into the hands of a terrorist group somewhere. Note: not the first bomb, or even one of the first ten, but if they have the ability to make weapons on demand, those weapons generally find their way to Muslim terror groups. Iran is pretty open about using Jihad by small non-state actors as their method of spreading Islam, and exacting revenge for slights (real or perceived).
Whether that is enough of a case for you is up to you.
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Iran is pretty open about using Jihad by small non-state actors as their method of spreading Islam, and exacting revenge for slights (real or perceived).
And I reckon, whether we're in the ME in a great capacity, limited capacity, or out altogether, we, the great satan, will still be potentially subjected to the acts of those actors just for breathing and having a different philosophy than them.
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As if they were actually largely observing it anyway
Iran abandons nuclear deal over US killing general
https://www.wave3.com/2020/01/05/iran-abandons-nuclear-deal-over-us-killing-general/
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VDH has his typically erudite take on things.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/iranian-analytics/
dogmush, I was down with the common consensus on the right and trusted our intelligence services for decades.
I know better now and will adhere to my broad principles until I see a compelling reason to change my mind. My trust in the system is pretty low right now, with good reason.
Hanson is framing Trumps policy as disengaging from the region with guns blazing. So I'm in a wait and see mode.
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https://twitter.com/qasam_soleimani/status/1213704656851021824?s=12
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Not sure if this is connected or not
A U.S. servicemember and two American contractors for the Pentagon were killed at the Kenya Defense Force Military Base used by U.S. forces Sunday after a pre-dawn attack by the al-Shabab extremist group, officials said.
Kenya attack by al-Shabab militants kills US servicemember, 2 American contractors
https://www.foxnews.com/world/kenya-military-base-used-by-us-kenyan-troops-attacked-by-al-shabab-4-attackers-reported-killed
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Aaaand we got anti war protesters in town. Not many but still.
https://www.wdrb.com/news/louisville-protesters-voice-concerns-over-rising-u-s--iran/article_eccc3b94-2f38-11ea-8c02-1757662080aa.html
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wdrb.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/fe/2fec7420-2f39-11ea-bd65-1f6a08d32273/5e11039f72af1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C422)
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wdrb.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/da/4da713ee-2f39-11ea-9b6c-0bcb98aa185d/5e1103cb7c9d7.image.jpg?resize=750%2C422)
I don't want war either. I prefer obliteration. It's simple, fast, and relatively cheap.
Woody
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Impeachment has been delayed so that democrats can attend memorial services in Iran.
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Impeachment has been delayed so that democrats can attend memorial services in Iran.
:laugh:
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If I was Trump I would have sent sympathy cards to all the Dems “Sorry for your loss” 😂
It’s funny how all Republicans are just a bunch of “literally Nazis” but a regime that murders gays, dissidents, etc and sponsors terrorism is a group to be white knighted for and defended
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggh41aHxYeU
I came across this video showing 82nd Airborne preparing for an exercise. At about 45 seconds in I was wondering if leftists would get mad at them for wearing blackface. =)
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From twitter:
BREAKING: Democratic Presidential Candidates are suing Iran over right to use ‘Death to America’ as 2020 Campaign slogan
=)
Great News!! Guess who finally quit smoking today?? ... Qassim Soleimani.
:laugh:
Also, someone made a twitter account called Qasem Soleimani, Obvious Parody @Qasam_Soleimani
https://twitter.com/Qasam_Soleimani/status/1213704656851021824?s=19
Thank you to all the brave Americans who are standing with the glorious Islamic Republic of Iran during this trying time.
We never had anywhere near this support back in 1979, and are grateful that you realize that hanging gays and killing women is superior to Western ideals.
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Also, someone made a twitter account called Qasem Soleimani, Obvious Parody @Qasam_Soleimani
https://twitter.com/Qasam_Soleimani/status/1213704656851021824?s=19
See reply #72.
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Interesting article on the BBC News website...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50982298?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world/us_and_canada&link_location=live-reporting-story
It discusses, in part, why Soleimani was in Iraq...
I didn't realize that the current Iraqi government was a close to Iran as it apparently is.
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See reply #72.
Credit to you. It didn't mention that he quit smoking.
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He was probably smoking for a while after the airstrike.
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BTW, it was racist of course
There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism.
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 4, 2020
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I'm sure the media/dems will run wild with this
Deeply disturbed by reports that Iranian Americans, including U.S. citizens, are being detained at the Canadian border with WA State.
My office has been working on this all morning. Please contact us with information on directly affected people at WA07PJ_casework@mail.house.gov.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 5, 2020
If you or someone you know has been targeted or detained by CBP officials, please contact my district office at 510-763-0370.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 5, 2020
CBP calls FAKE NEWS on Dem Reps’ ‘reports’ about what’s happening to Iranian Americans (but not before they got THOUSANDS of retweets)
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/06/cbp-calls-fake-news-on-dem-reps-reports-about-whats-happening-to-iranian-americans-but-not-before-they-got-thousands-of-retweets/
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... and once again, the Bee is closer to reality than the mainstream media:
https://babylonbee.com/news/democrats-call-for-flags-to-be-flown-half-mast-to-grieve-death-of-soleimani
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I'm sure the media/dems will run wild with this
CBP calls FAKE NEWS on Dem Reps’ ‘reports’ about what’s happening to Iranian Americans (but not before they got THOUSANDS of retweets)
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/06/cbp-calls-fake-news-on-dem-reps-reports-about-whats-happening-to-iranian-americans-but-not-before-they-got-thousands-of-retweets/
If Iranian Americans were getting extra scrutiny at the border during a time like this, wouldn't that be a prudent thing to do? Not jailing them, but extra scrutiny on who and they are and where they are going. They can fly to Iran from Canada I believe.
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If Iranian Americans were getting extra scrutiny at the border during a time like this, wouldn't that be a prudent thing to do? Not jailing them, but extra scrutiny on who and they are and where they are going. They can fly to Iran from Canada I believe.
Oh I agree but the fact is apparently they're trying to push false news (surprise!) for political gain
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Is Iraq a sovereign nation at this point, not a nation under occupation of the united states?
If so, what exactly are we doing preforming extrajudicial executions there? Under what authority?
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Is Iraq a sovereign nation at this point, not a nation under occupation of the united states?
If so, what exactly are we doing preforming extrajudicial executions there? Under what authority?
I think Iraq falls under the 2001 (?) AUMF. Yeah, this execution was probably a stretch.
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I think the Pakistanis were asking exactly the same questions about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
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Is Iraq a sovereign nation at this point, not a nation under occupation of the united states?
If so, what exactly are we doing preforming extrajudicial executions there? Under what authority?
https://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1213675053381865472
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As long as these terrorists know there is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, I'm good with it.
Woody
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I think the Pakistanis were asking exactly the same questions about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
We have been giving Pakistan a lot of money/support in exchange for supplies passing through to Afghanistan. I imagine there was some polite conversation about "we won't make a fuss about you supporting/hiding OBL for years in Pakistan if you don't make a big deal out of us killing him in your country."
Also, I imagine they made some money selling debris from that helicopter we lost there to China or Russia.
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Is Iraq a sovereign nation at this point, not a nation under occupation of the united states?
If so, what exactly are we doing preforming extrajudicial executions there? Under what authority?
Iraq IS a sovereign nation. US forces in Iraq are there at the invitation of the Iraqi Government.
This operation fell under the umbrella of the request from the Iraqi Government to help with ISIS (circa 2014). Part of that agreement included the right to conduct offensive opwerations in immediate defense of US bases and soldiers in Iraq.
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Interesting article on the BBC News website...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50982298?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world/us_and_canada&link_location=live-reporting-story
It discusses, in part, why Soleimani was in Iraq...
I didn't realize that the current Iraqi government was a close to Iran as it apparently is.
It has been since it was first constituted
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(https://oi1179.photobucket.com/albums/x383/WLJohnson1/Humor/Screenshot_20200105-143146_Facebook_zpsqtyzi2xf.jpg)
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Meanwhile in Iran
Soleimani funeral stampede in Iran leaves at least 40 dead, state TV reports
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-stampede-soleimani-dead-injured-kerman-mourners
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Bernie says Trump did the equivalent of Putin assassinating dissidents.
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/06/unbelievable-bernie-sanders-compares-trump-approving-strike-on-soleimani-to-putin-assassinating-dissidents-zero-pushback-from-cnn-host/
I saw a good quote this morning (paraphrasing): The greatest outrage, anywhere in the world, including Russia and China, regarding us taking out Soleimani, is coming from US democrats and democratic presidential nominees.
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(https://oi1179.photobucket.com/albums/x383/WLJohnson1/Humor/Screenshot_20200105-143146_Facebook_zpsqtyzi2xf.jpg)
:rofl:
"Please don't throw me into that briar patch ! " --Br'er Rabbit.
Terry, 230RN
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https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-006a
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is sharing the following information with the cybersecurity community as a primer for assisting in the protection of our Nation’s critical infrastructure in light of the current tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States and Iran’s historic use of cyber offensive activities to retaliate against perceived harm. Foremost, CISA recommends organizations take the following actions:
Adopt a state of heightened awareness. This includes minimizing coverage gaps in personnel availability, more consistently consuming relevant threat intelligence, and making sure emergency call trees are up to date.
Increase organizational vigilance. Ensure security personnel are monitoring key internal security capabilities and that they know how to identify anomalous behavior. Flag any known Iranian indicators of compromise and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for immediate response.
Confirm reporting processes. Ensure personnel know how and when to report an incident. The well-being of an organization’s workforce and cyber infrastructure depends on awareness of threat activity. Consider reporting incidents to CISA to help serve as part of CISA’s early warning system (see Contact Information section below).
Exercise organizational incident response plans. Ensure personnel are familiar with the key steps they need to take during an incident. Do they have the accesses they need? Do they know the processes? Are your various data sources logging as expected? Ensure personnel are positioned to act in a calm and unified manner.
Okay, my awareness has been heightened. Now what?
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https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-006a
Okay, my awareness has been heightened. Now what?
https://youtu.be/Vywf48Dhyns?t=142
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(https://i0.wp.com/politicallyincorrecthumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/tweet-chris-murphy-one-senator-two-tweets-days-apart.jpg?resize=515%2C464&ssl=1)
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Spoiler alert: It's all Trump's fault. Everything was bed and roses before Trump
How to Talk to Your Kids About the Situation With Iran
https://time.com/5760199/how-to-talk-kids-iran-soleimani/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=world_&linkId=80220737
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Have any of you known parents who would actually refer to Time magazine to see how to explain something to their kids?
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Have any of you known parents who would actually refer to Time magazine to see how to explain something to their kids?
Sadly, yes.
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Sadly, yes.
Those poor kids.
I grew up in a map dot named Syria. Imagine my 3 year old concern that tanks were coming to my house when I saw the TV in 1978. That's where I would start explaining it to my kid, go back a bit for our propping up of the Shah, drop back a few centuries for why muslims are so cranky etc. But in my lifetime it has been non-stop. If a Trump-like figure had been there instead of Carter we might not still be screwing with them. But instead we got exported missiles and terror, the tanker war, USS Stark, USS Samuel B. Roberts, an Iranian airliner shot down, lots of dead troops from Quds force meddling, etc. Even in "peacetime" I was way too close to the Iranian navy a lot.
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(https://i0.wp.com/politicallyincorrecthumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/tweet-chris-murphy-one-senator-two-tweets-days-apart.jpg?resize=515%2C464&ssl=1)
He misspelled Obama in the first one
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Well, hell has been unleashed, U. S. Defense Dept. says 12+ missiles were launched by Iran and have hit facilities used by American forces in Iraq. Atleast two Iraq bases have been hit.
According to Fox News, this has been expected and preps were undertaken when Iran's head terror-master was blown to smithereens this past weekend.
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So far I've not seen any indication they hit anything but sand but it's early. Hopefully no casualties
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CNN is reporting up to 30 ballistic missiles launched. Prayers for our troops with boots on the ground, and anyone in uniform if this keeps escalating.
And with reports/fears is sleeper cells...heads on swivels boys and girls. Lube your carry guns, and carry spare mags.
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U.S. Air Force performs huge show of strength with 52 fully-armed F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters - the same number of Iranian targets Trump has announced - taking off in a single wave from Utah base
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7858943/U-S-Air-Force-launches-F-35A-Lightning-II-stealth-fighters-Utah.html
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/07/01/23081598-7858943-image-a-40_1578359825605.jpg)
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I've bowed out of paying attention to ME politics for a few years in general disgust at US politics and screaming beardism.
But someone please explain for me:
How can a uniformed general of sovereign nation 1 (Iran), there at the behest and acknowledgement of sovereign nation 2 (Iraq), be droned by sovereign nation 3 (US)... and that general is labeled a "terrorist" by nation 3?
Weren't all his attacks against nation 3 directed against uniformed soldiers of nation 3 or clearly designated agents of nation 3?
This seems to be encroaching on language manipulation here, redefining what "terrorist" has meant for a good while.
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Adding to the fun: apparently a 737 crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff, with 180 aboard:
https://twitter.com/davidinglestv/status/1214750797998649344?s=21
Could just be a coincidence, of course ...
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Initial assessments showed "no U.S. casualties," a U.S. military official in Baghdad told Fox News.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/missile-attacks-target-us-forces-in-iraq-senior-military-source-says-iran-suspected
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I've bowed out of paying attention to ME politics for a few years in general disgust at US politics and screaming beardism.
But someone please explain for me:
How can a uniformed general of sovereign nation 1 (Iran), there at the behest and acknowledgement of sovereign nation 2 (Iraq), be droned by sovereign nation 3 (US)... and that general is labeled a "terrorist" by nation 3?
Weren't all his attacks against nation 3 directed against uniformed soldiers of nation 3 or clearly designated agents of nation 3?
This seems to be encroaching on language manipulation here, redefining what "terrorist" has meant for a good while.
The "uniformed general" has been engaged in terrorist activity for over three decades in the mideast, that's "how come."
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I've bowed out of paying attention to ME politics for a few years in general disgust at US politics and screaming beardism.
But someone please explain for me:
How can a uniformed general of sovereign nation 1 (Iran), there at the behest and acknowledgement of sovereign nation 2 (Iraq), be droned by sovereign nation 3 (US)... and that general is labeled a "terrorist" by nation 3?
Weren't all his attacks against nation 3 directed against uniformed soldiers of nation 3 or clearly designated agents of nation 3?
This seems to be encroaching on language manipulation here, redefining what "terrorist" has meant for a good while.
No.
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Well, hell has been unleashed, U. S. Defense Dept. says 12+ missiles were launched by Iran and have hit facilities used by American forces in Iraq. Atleast two Iraq bases have been hit.
According to Fox News, this has been expected and preps were undertaken when Iran's head terror-master was blown to smithereens this past weekend.
So far Hell is pretty anti-climactic. It's not even that hot right now. 2/5 would not recommend.
Seriously though, right now we are all kinda waiting to see what CinC wants us to do, and whether Tehran can keep a leash on the *expletive deleted*it Militia Groups, who still want blood.
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Makes me want to create a Facebook page for him and mark it "Quesem Solimani has been marked NOT SAFE from Reaper Drones...
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I've bowed out of paying attention to ME politics for a few years in general disgust at US politics and screaming beardism.
But someone please explain for me:
How can a uniformed general of sovereign nation 1 (Iran), there at the behest and acknowledgement of sovereign nation 2 (Iraq), be droned by sovereign nation 3 (US)... and that general is labeled a "terrorist" by nation 3?
Weren't all his attacks against nation 3 directed against uniformed soldiers of nation 3 or clearly designated agents of nation 3?
This seems to be encroaching on language manipulation here, redefining what "terrorist" has meant for a good while.
The “Uniformed General” was not allowed to leave Iran per UN directive for being a terrorist as acknowledged by UN directive. He also was responsible for terror and Jihadic Militia violence in probably every country in the Mid East. This wasn’t just a US thing with him. Also he was apparently responsible for the recent killing and wounding or US soldiers and a US citizen contractor. Then the attack on the embassy in Iraq.
I’m not particularly interested in a war with Iran, but I would shed not tears if some sites in their country were hit by many large bombs. They have been a bad actor around the world since the “revolution”. Also it wasn’t like there was a single provocation recently. There was kidnapping our soldiers/sailors in the Hormuz Straights no too long ago. Seizing various commercial vessels in the same area. Continued arming and support of various terrorist organizations. Rocket attack against Saudi Arabian oil facilities. Etc., etc. I’m probably forgetting or unaware of many many more incidents. Much of these were supposedly directed by the “Uniformed General” himself.
Oh and last but not least he supposedly killed a few thousand Iranian protestors too. Probably why the western MSM is treating him like Che Guevera. Their version of Che, not the real version.
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From the armchair (and news reports), it would appear this was more of a typical ME "saving face" attack. We know that Iran can do precision strikes, but they pretty much couldn't hit the broad side of a barn here and AFAIK, no casualties.
Culturally, they need to show they are tough dogs. Practically, I don't think they want to face upscaled retaliation resulting from the death of even one US citizen.
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Oh, also: MSNBC had an Iranian news source tell them 30 Americans were killed. They also had official US sources tell them zero Americans were killed. Guess which one they went with in their headlines?
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/07/shocker-msnbc-helped-spread-baseless-iranian-propaganda-about-u-s-military-deaths-from-missile-strikes/
EDIT: Also, CNN says, "hello and hold my beer".
https://twitchy.com/brads-313037/2020/01/07/cnn-turns-to-iranian-hostage-taker-to-serve-as-on-air-expert-of-the-mid-east-conflict-and-be-critical-of-president-trump/
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From the armchair (and news reports), it would appear this was more of a typical ME "saving face" attack. We know that Iran can do precision strikes, but they pretty much couldn't hit the broad side of a barn here and AFAIK, no casualties.
Culturally, they need to show they are tough dogs. Practically, I don't think they want to face upscaled retaliation resulting from the death of even one US citizen.
I would not draw that conclusion. They fired a limited number of projectiles at a large target. The accuracy wasn't as bad as the pundits have made it seem.
Imagine if you fired a 00 buck round at a 2'x2' piece of plywood from 50 yds. You could hit the target with 10 f 12 pellets and not do catastrophic damage to the plywood.
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Oh, also: MSNBC had an Iranian news source tell them 30 Americans were killed. They also had official US sources tell them zero Americans were killed. Guess which one they went with in their headlines?
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/07/shocker-msnbc-helped-spread-baseless-iranian-propaganda-about-u-s-military-deaths-from-missile-strikes/
That's odd. I didn't know MSNBC wanted us to wage war on Iran.
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Fact check: The @USArmy is NOT contacting anyone regarding the draft.
Text messages currently circulating are false and are not official Army communications.
Read more: https://t.co/csGpTQNfQc
— U.S. Army Recruiting (@usarec) January 7, 2020
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I would not draw that conclusion. They fired a limited number of projectiles at a large target. The accuracy wasn't as bad as the pundits have made it seem.
Imagine if you fired a 00 buck round at a 2'x2' piece of plywood from 50 yds. You could hit the target with 10 f 12 pellets and not do catastrophic damage to the plywood.
I heard someone speculating they may have been trying to bait Trump into more escalation. Not sure I know enough about it to say that.
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I heard someone speculating they may have been trying to bait Trump into more escalation. Not sure I know enough about it to say that.
My read is this was a face-saving measure. They are actually afraid of what Trump might do if they succeed in killing more Americans, so they fired off a bunch of missiles, with the intent of avoiding killing Americans.
It's possible that the preparations that the military has made over the past few weeks were responsible for the lack of casualties, as well, but this really looks like bluster to me.
It appears that is Trump's take as well, given he isn't responding with "fire and fury" like he did to their threats recently.
Notice, also, that the Iranians weren't coming out with "AND YOU'LL GET MORE OF THAT IF YOU MESS WITH US!", but are (publicly, at least) acting like this was enough of a payback. For taking out their top general.
Again, makes me think it's about saving face, while being seriously frightened of angering and further provoking the U.S.
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Slight tangent, but in reading, it's my understanding that there were no anti-missile defenses at the targets because they are in short supply and apparently not something the US thought was a high priority for the area.
I'm wondering if Iran has intel on which bases have (and have not) missile defenses and chose accordingly, or if they just did "eenie meenie minie moe".
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Slight tangent, but in reading, it's my understanding that there were no anti-missile defenses at the targets because they are in short supply and apparently not something the US thought was a high priority for the area.
I'm wondering if Iran has intel on which bases have (and have not) missile defenses and chose accordingly, or if they just did "eenie meenie minie moe".
They targeted the bases in Iraq that we launch drones from. Specifically (probably) the drone that launched the strike on Soleimani.
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My read is this was a face-saving measure. They are actually afraid of what Trump might do if they succeed in killing more Americans, so they fired off a bunch of missiles, with the intent of avoiding killing Americans.
It's possible that the preparations that the military has made over the past few weeks were responsible for the lack of casualties, as well, but this really looks like bluster to me.
There's no indication that this was planned to limit casualties. They were specifically going for the drones we have in Iraq.
Also, I really hate cable news.
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Also, I really hate cable news.
:laugh:
I've been trying to limit what I come away with to whatever official statements they get from the gov, and the retired Generals they always pull out of the woodwork when this stuff happens. I think a lot of the latter pull stuff out of their ass though.
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There's no indication that this was planned to limit casualties. They were specifically going for the drones we have in Iraq.
Also, I really hate cable news.
The other option, then, is that they are terribly inept and are happy just to have it on the record that they tried.
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Adding to the fun: apparently a 737 crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff, with 180 aboard:
https://twitter.com/davidinglestv/status/1214750797998649344?s=21
Could just be a coincidence, of course ...
Could be more to this
Iran is refusing to hand over the black box of the doomed Ukrainian airliner to Boeing amid an investigation into what caused the crash that killed all 176 people aboard the flight out of Tehran early Wednesday, according to a report.
Ali Abedzadeh, the head of Tehran’s civil aviation organization, told Mehr news agency in Tehran that Iran has not made a decision on which country or international authority it would send the black box to for its data to be analyzed, Reuters reported. rt
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-refuses-give-black-box-ukrainian-plane-boeing-tehran-crash
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The other option, then, is that they are terribly inept and are happy just to have it on the record that they tried.
I quote myself:
I would not draw that conclusion. They fired a limited number of projectiles at a large target. The accuracy wasn't as bad as the pundits have made it seem.
Imagine if you fired a 00 buck round at a 2'x2' piece of plywood from 50 yds. You could hit the target with 10 f 12 pellets and not do catastrophic damage to the plywood.
I think they were hoping for more. I don't think the attack was inept by any means. People get to used to Tomahawks just working, missiles are actually kinda tricky.
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I quote myself:
I think they were hoping for more. I don't think the attack was inept by any means. People get to used to Tomahawks just working, missiles are actually kinda tricky.
That's fine to hold that opinion, but as far as I can tell, the attack failed. The Iranians claim they killed 30 Americans (they didn't) and are happy (publicly, at least) to say they achieved their goal.
IF they were interested in retribution, they'd try another attack, if, as you suggest, it was just a case of not very good missiles.
It's not the fact that they didn't cause a lot of casualties. It's the fact that they are making noises that this was enough satisfaction for them that makes me think it was about the show of force, not actual results.
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Oh, it was a show of force. They are hoping that we take the out and don't hit back.
Where you are incorrect is the opinion that it was inept, failed, or was specifically trying to limit casualties..
They weren't as many have said, avoiding casualties. It's just that where their targets were parked doesn't tend to have a bunch of folks hanging out in the middle of the night.
Their missiles weren't 100%, but they weren't the crappy Katyushas that the militias use either.
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I, for one, would be thrilled if both sides would call it good and not continue military escalation.
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It seems as if the CinC is going to let it lie here for now. Sanctions and a new, crappier for Iran, nuke deal. (I suspect no cash will be involved in this one). He also kinda laid down the gauntlet on our NATO, China and Russia to step up and help us with keeping Iran non nukey. No word of leaving Iraq at all.
The big question over the next couple days will, I think, be if Iran can control the terror groups it has backed, and get them to back off. A bunch of them are screaming for blood, and I'm not sure we'll be satisfied with proxies now. Iran brings the dogs it made to heel, or they might end up owning their actions.
Still, it doesn't look like we're launching tonight, and that's always good.
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Satellite Photos Reveal Extent Of Damage From Iranian Strike On Air Base In Iraq
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/08/794517031/satellite-photos-reveal-extent-of-damage-at-al-assad-air-base
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Satellite Photos Reveal Extent Of Damage From Iranian Strike On Air Base In Iraq
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/08/794517031/satellite-photos-reveal-extent-of-damage-at-al-assad-air-base
"at least five" buildings, it says.
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For me, the most amazing aspect of all of this is the effect the attack is having on crude oil prices.
Last night when the first reports of the attack came out, crude futures soared, gaining as much as 5%, with WTI pushing over $68 a barrel and Brent pushing over $70 a barrel.
Yet, as the news came out about the limited nature of the strike, futures began to slip.
Then, as it looked like there wasn't going to be an immediate US military response, prices began to fall steadily. Now that Trump has said that there's no indication of furthering activity by the Iranians, crude has plummeted, losing as of a few minutes ago 4.6%, or $2.89 a barrel for WTI. WTI is now trading below $60 a barrel for the first time in awhile.
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The big question over the next couple days will, I think, be if Iran can control the terror groups it has backed, and get them to back off. A bunch of them are screaming for blood, and I'm not sure we'll be satisfied with proxies now. Iran brings the dogs it made to heel, or they might end up owning their actions.
Yeah, it sounds like the Trump admin plans to lay blame for any attacks by any fringe groups right at Iran's feet.
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For me, the most amazing aspect of all of this is the effect the attack is having on crude oil prices.
Last night when the first reports of the attack came out, crude futures soared, gaining as much as 5%, with WTI pushing over $68 a barrel and Brent pushing over $70 a barrel.
Yet, as the news came out about the limited nature of the strike, futures began to slip.
Then, as it looked like there wasn't going to be an immediate US military response, prices began to fall steadily. Now that Trump has said that there's no indication of furthering activity by the Iranians, crude has plummeted, losing as of a few minutes ago 4.6%, or $2.89 a barrel for WTI. WTI is now trading below $60 a barrel for the first time in awhile.
I can't help but think part of the "meh" reaction is due to US oil production and us needing ME oil less and less.
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I can't help but think part of the "meh" reaction is due to US oil production and us needing ME oil less and less.
This also doesn't involve territory used to transport oil. Syria/Turkey and northern Iraq have oil pipeline networks that transport crude to Europe. Damaging the transport infrastructure drives prices up everywhere since the demand in Europe gets met by diverting supply from North America via tanker ship.
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"I can't help but think part of the "meh" reaction is due to US oil production and us needing ME oil less and less."
You'd be on to something... IF the absolute opposite hadn't happened when drones hit the Saudi oil shipping depot some months ago and prices spiked, HARD. And stayed spiked.
"This also doesn't involve territory used to transport oil."
That's not the point. The fear involves a broader conflict that escalates into the Straits of Hormuz. Iran has repeatedly broadcast its intentions to, if a larger conflict breaks out, do its level best to shut the Straits of Hormuz. And given Iran's known stockpile of highly capable ship killing missiles, which are both land based and emplaced on fast patrol boats, they likely could do it for a time until US and other naval assets could neutralize that threat.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/08/oil-prices-to-jump-above-100-if-iran-blocks-the-strait-of-hormuz-analysts.html?&qsearchterm=hormuz
Remember, just because the US is producing a lot more oil doesn't mean that our prices would remain low while the rest of the world's prices soar. Oil is an internationally priced and traded commodity, meaning pricing activities are felt world wide, even though production is regional.
21% of the world's current crude supply travels through the Straits. The pipelines into Europe are realistically at capacity, and if I'm not mistaken, much of the capacity of those pipelines is taken up in transporting distillates, not crude.
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And Oh Goodie! The Dems are currently holding a press conference on the situation in the middle east.
Wanna bet that it's just X minutes of ORANGE MAN BAD! ORANGE MAN DERANGED! ORANGE MAN WANTS WAR!
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It's interesting to note that the Iraqi government seemed to have no issue with Iran implementing missile strikes on their sovereign soil . . . .
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And Oh Goodie! The Dems are currently holding a press conference on the situation in the middle east.
Wanna bet that it's just X minutes of ORANGE MAN BAD! ORANGE MAN DERANGED! ORANGE MAN WANTS WAR!
Have they had a press conference since 2016 that wasn't Orange Man Bad?
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And Oh Goodie! The Dems are currently holding a press conference on the situation in the middle east.
Wanna bet that it's just X minutes of ORANGE MAN BAD! ORANGE MAN DERANGED! ORANGE MAN WANTS WAR!
I caught the CinC's speech, but missed that press conference. Did they say anything useful and/or interesting?
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"Did they say anything useful and/or interesting?"
You think I actually watched that *expletive deleted*it festival?
But, to answer your question tangentially, have they ever once said anything useful or interesting?
Every day I'm reminded more and more just how much I HATE the left.
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https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-shot-down-by-mistake-by-iranian-anti-aircraft-missile-pentagon-officials-believe
Oops.
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There's pictures posted on twitter of a SA-15 seeker head found on the ground near the crash site. Looks like someone was a little jumpy that night.
https://twitter.com/airplusnews_EN/status/1214979183845289984
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But Iran has stated categorically that it wasn't missile, so ...
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How many witnesses were on that plane that could testify against Hunter and Joe ... [tinfoil]
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When are they going to start building these airplanes so they can take a little missile?
First the Airbus 300 that was shot down over the Gulf by the USS Vincennes, then the 777 knocked out of the sky over Ukraine and now a 737. I will give Airbus a pass because that was a mighty American missile but Boeing, really, not even hardened up enough to take a little Rooskie missile, they need to step up their game and harden up those passenger planes a bit. ;)
bob
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I guess there were casualties from the Iranian Missile attack Tuesday night.
Those casualties were: 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three Britons. =|
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My biggest question is who thinks it is a good thing to allow civil aviation to fly around an area where missiles are being shot. I would think someone would think about suspending flight ops until daylight or sometime well after missiles have stopped flying over international boundaries. But hey, that is just me.
bob
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When are they going to start building these airplanes so they can take a little missile?
First the Airbus 300 that was shot down over the Gulf by the USS Vincennes, then the 777 knocked out of the sky over Ukraine and now a 737. I will give Airbus a pass because that was a mighty American missile but Boeing, really, not even hardened up enough to take a little Rooskie missile, they need to step up their game and harden up those passenger planes a bit. ;)
bob
If you are going back a ways, include that US airliner shot down in the North Pacific near Russia in the 80's.
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If you are going back a ways, include that US airliner shot down in the North Pacific near Russia in the 80's.
You are right about that but that was an air to air encounter as was the Soviet shoot down of another KAL flight in 1978. I guess the Koreans didn't learn from the 1978 one. =|
bob
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US satellites apparently picked up the launch of two ground to air missiles in the area shortly before the plane crashed.
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My biggest question is who thinks it is a good thing to allow civil aviation to fly around an area where missiles are being shot. I would think someone would think about suspending flight ops until daylight or sometime well after missiles have stopped flying over international boundaries. But hey, that is just me.
bob
Was pretty far away from launch areas being in Tehran. The real cynic in me wonders if it was a Putin sized finger to the Ukrainians. Reality is that once you kicked the hornet's nest every shadow in your air defense system is a shadow from Whiteman, Missouri.
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Was pretty far away from launch areas being in Tehran. The real cynic in me wonders if it was a Putin sized finger to the Ukrainians. Reality is that once you kicked the hornet's nest every shadow in your air defense system is a shadow from Whiteman, Missouri.
They expected retaliation and got trigger happy.
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The way I understand the TOR is it can be run manually or automatically and I would think every one would prefer to let it do its thing. Much more accurate and much much faster than a human trying to engage multiple or single targets. I do believe this was an accident, they were fired up awaiting the incoming to crater the runway and someone forgot to turn one of them off. It saw a return in its target sector and said "Oh look, a target, time to go to work", and it does.
bob
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Even Trudi doesn't think this was equipment failure:
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/01/09/canada-accuses-iran-of-downing-a-plane-in-tehran-killing-176?cid1=cust/dailypicks1/n/bl/n/2020019n/owned/n/n/dailypicks1/n/n/NA/375620/n (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/01/09/canada-accuses-iran-of-downing-a-plane-in-tehran-killing-176?cid1=cust/dailypicks1/n/bl/n/2020019n/owned/n/n/dailypicks1/n/n/NA/375620/n)
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Interesting. I'd like to see it verified, but it sounds legit:
GregGutfeld
✔
@greggutfeld
"Love or hate him, Trump has used military force less than any other president since Jimmy Carter." -- today's Times.
(which is why when he uses force, critics need to latch onto it and hysterically amplify it - because it's rare).
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/01/10/reality-checks-incoming-greg-gutfeld-brit-hume-truth-nuke-dem-attempts-to-make-trump-look-like-a-warmonger/
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Cruz apparently took a Senate resolution from 2011, commending the military (including their commander-in-chief) for taking out OBL, and edited into a resolution commending the strike on that dead Iranian sucker. No Democrats would sign on.
https://thefederalist.com/2020/01/10/not-one-senate-democrat-joins-resolution-commending-u-s-military-for-soleimanis-death/
With the support of 42 other GOP senators, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas introduced a resolution yesterday afternoon to commend the president for ordering “successful operations” in Iranian terrorist Qassam Soleimani’s death and to honor the members of U.S. military and intelligence agencies who aided in the targeted killing of “a terrorist responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people across the Middle East, including 603 US service members....”
Cruz’s resolution is deliberately modeled after the language used in Reid’s resolution. Indeed, a side-by-side comparison of S. Resolution 159 and Cruz’s Soleimani resolution indicates that the main method for penning Cruz’s resolution was substituting words, swapping the crimes of bin Laden for the crimes of Soleimani and subbing Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for al-Qaeda.
I know a resolution is just symbolic, but what this symbolizes is rather disturbing.
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Whiteman, Missouri.
Is that as racist as White Settlement, Texas?
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Someone needs to name a town Orangeman
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I told my wife yesterday that if it was Trump who had been president during the Bin Laden raid the democrats would be over the top apologizing for it
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Someone needs to name a town Orangeman
:laugh:
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Someone needs to name a town Orangeman
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/northern-ireland/articles/who-are-the-orangemen-and-what-is-the-orange-order/
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Old joke I heard: "Donald Trump confuses the people of Northern Ireland because he's both a republican and an orange man."
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https://www.npr.org/2020/01/10/795480690/iran-unintentionally-shot-down-ukrainian-jetliner-killing-176-people?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&fbclid=IwAR180pnWnptBSlEm_O88hzggU4ZZS4zb71bBZiTwBkrbEJB0gg2-Fll4wS0&fbclid=IwAR06de0cg3YOTSOlPk8PE97JACq2THUygbaAczBBXO16BQabEOxIKPSV_aw
Iran admits they unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian 737. I bet Bob is right, and someone flipped the Master Fire Control switch from 'manual' to 'auto'.
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I am actually impressed that they admitted it as opposed to continuing with their denials. Yeah, they still blamed the US for it, but still.
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Is that as racist as White Settlement, Texas?
Well, we let black airplanes out of it to blow up other neighborhoods, so you may be on to something.
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Well, it appears Iranian super special forces took out the Capitol and killed our president:
https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2020/01/11/iranians-blow-up-capitol-dome-storm-white-house-and-kill-big-fish-president-trump-in-bloody-new-propaganda-video/
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(directed by Rian Johnson)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDpdG6hSL7s
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^
Heh. That's a "civil discussion of political topics?"
Has he been watching too many of Greta Watsername's videos?
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More rockets
No word yet if any US casualties or if any airliners are missing
Eight Rockets Hit Iraqi Military Base Housing American Troops
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2020/01/12/eight-rockets-hit-iraqi-military-base-housing-american-troops-n2559382
Katyushas according to this
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - Four people were wounded on Sunday in an attack on Balad air base in northern Iraq which houses U.S. personnel.
The Iraqi military said in a statement that eight Katyusha rockets had been fired at the base, about 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, and that the four wounded included two officers.
Military sources identified the wounded as Iraqi soldiers. They said seven mortar bombs had hit the base’s runway.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-base/four-wounded-in-attack-on-iraqi-military-base-that-houses-u-s-forces-idUSKBN1ZB0I0?il=0
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Apparently the Iranians are pissed off at the UK too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7e3rE1snkQ
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They might want to pull their horns in a little and their militias too. The airliner really underscores the amount of friends they don't have.
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Maybe they'll get crazy enough to do something to the ruskies for some slight and we can sit back and watch. Though the dems would demand we go to war to protect the poor Iranians from Trump's buddy Putin.
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https://www.jns.org/opinion/donald-trump-and-the-mythmakers/
Donald Trump and the mythmakers
For the past 40-odd years, two narratives have guided American Middle East policy. Both were invented by the Carter administration. One relates to Iran. One relates to Israel.
Both narratives reject reality as the basis for foreign policy decision-making in favor of delusion. Over the past two months, President Donald Trump has rejected and disavowed them both. His opponents are apoplectic.
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It's looking more and more like there may be enough senate votes to pass the house resolution limiting Trump's unilateral ability to act against Iran.
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It's looking more and more like there may be enough senate votes to pass the house resolution limiting Trump's unilateral ability to act against Iran.
How many do they need for that? Simple majority? I'm curious what Rs will be jumping to the D side on it.
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How many do they need for that? Simple majority? I'm curious what Rs will be jumping to the D side on it.
For that matter, that is something Trump would have to sign correct?
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How many do they need for that? Simple majority? I'm curious what Rs will be jumping to the D side on it.
Simple majority, I think. But, you're right, it wouldn't survive a Presidential veto. The house might overturn the veto, but getting the 2/3rds required in the Senate would be a long shot.
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"Hundreds of thousands"
Snopes: Mostly true
Iranian Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda: U.K. Ambassador Should Be Chopped into Pieces; Hundreds of Thousands of U.S. Soldiers Were Killed in Our Missile Attack; Iranians Who Refused to Step on Flags of Israel, U.S. Should Be Court-Martialed, Executed pic.twitter.com/38bp0ED6Gw
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) January 15, 2020
https://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2020/01/15/iranian-cleric-says-uk-ambassador-should-be-chopped-into-pieces-for-attending-vigil-for-plane-shootdown-victims/
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AP is reporting 11 American service members injured. Note: It's the AP
They did not give an exact number, but a U.S. military official said 11 service members were hurt.
I find this part a bit amusing though
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed “American clowns” who he said pretend to support the Iranian nation but would stick their “poisoned dagger” into its back
11 U.S. service members injured in last week’s Iran missile attack, military official says
https://www.wave3.com/2020/01/17/us-service-members-injured-last-weeks-iran-missile-attack-military-official-reveals/
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Talk about walking on eggshells
Celebrity chef is arrested in Iran for posting a recipe for roast cutlets on the third anniversary of General Suleimani’s death - seen as a reference to the regime tyrant being blown up by US drone
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11606145/Celebrity-chef-arrested-Iran-recipe-cutlets-anniversary-Suleimanis-death.html
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I wonder how they would have reacted had he posted a recipe for blackened steak?