Posted on 01/02/2020 11:06:26 PM PST by knighthawk
““President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox.” “
Translation:
President Trump just proved the democrap candidates are all girls or girlymen. He did the right thing, I just can’t say that, according to the playbook. I have to stick with the “orange man bad” narrative, no matter what.
Isn’t it funny that the Democrat candidates’ sound bites and the Legacy Media’s headlines all contain the exact same “escalation” talking point?
The dim candidates continue to show how stupid each and every one of them are. About as useless as a eunuch at an orgy.
“ Joe Biden calling the attack “a hugely escalatory move”
I guess it would have been better to send them another airplane full of cash, huh Joe...
What I find a bit troubling is that even here on FR, I see no analysis of the bigger picture as it relates to this action by our forces. Ok, I have not read every comment on every thread about Gen. Soleimani going to his virgins, but...
President Trump has by word and (somewhat) in deed been clear that we need to pick and choose our battles wisely. Under Obama, Syria, Libya, and most all of the so-called “Arab Spring” were unwise decisions. Iraq under Bush and then especially Obama was badly handled. However, this world no longer permits us to shrink back to the North American continent and then wait for threats to become evident. IMO, that is eventual suicide.
In this case, the background is that we can NOT allow Iran to obtain nukes. That leads to a ME nuclear arms race, funded by oil (a lot of that oil going to China, Japan, Europe, etc.) Add in other WMD’s if you like. Add in Iran’s long history of fomenting trouble basically anywhere they can, and the Saudi are not much better, all this tapping into religious zealotry.
If Iran obtains nukes, then a best case scenario is that before the various players ramp up too far (say, Iran has ~20 nukes deliverable to targets within 1000 miles, Saudi has same, a couple other countries in the region have a handful of weapons, and Israel and Pakistan increase their capabilities a bit), nuclear hostilities break out in a conflict (at least the nuke delivery part) limited to the ME. Israel manages to ward off all incoming WMD, nuclear and other, but some areas get significant fallout drifting in. Under 1000 Americans in the region (military or otherwise) are killed, with considerably more receiving fallout as well. Fallout beyond the region is moderate, but quite significant. Trade activity (mainly petro) is cut by 2/3 for well over a year. That last may not directly impact the US badly, but the indirect impact will be harsh globally. Oil prices quadruple. Many US friends’ economies are severely harmed, Japan’s may even be devastated. Other conflicts (Japan - China, anyone?) break out over petro.
That’s the rosy scenario!
Worse is that it takes longer for the nuclear war to occur. (Does any FReeper think that given the players, it will not, eventually? That notion is just not even rational!!) Nuclear inventories will be higher, say, Iran and its regional allies have 100 nukes, and Saudi and its regional allies have somewhat over 100. Some weapons have intercontinental range. Given the stakes, the odds of major outside players becoming involved increase toward certainty. Effects of this war, globally, are much worse than my “rosy” scenario. The US will be severely impacted.
President Trump knows all this, in spades. He also knows there is some chance naïve fools (or worse) will be in charge of the US by 2021. The Iranian leadership have proven they will not give up their goals, even under the pressures of severe sanctions. Therefor, we must act soon. The Iranians have so far promptly and reliably given us sufficient reason to escalate, plus they are weakened by our sanctions, which have also created significant unrest in Iran. The Iranians are now promising further revenge. Though there is risk in it, and some US lives will likely be lost, quick Iranian retaliation is exactly what we want.
These are the harsh realities good Presidents confront, instead of making much worse by kicking down the road or even abetting. We shall see if Iran “cooperates”.
“Happy New Year” seems a bit grim in 2020, no? There’s a cold rain falling outside, and the song “Circle of Hands” is playing in my mind...
Talk about a vivid policy juxtaposition.
Typical of today’s American “Liberals”, Biden can admit the man was an international criminal supported by a government that commits international crimes all the time, but wants the U.S. hands tied by “international conventions” when it comes to doing anything.
That argument cares not for the truth of any obvious grounds for U.S. independent action, and thinks it gives a green light for other nations to take independent action WHEN THEY HAVE NO GROUNDS just excuses. Why would they accept that? They refuse to argue the excuses are just excuses, or even to argue that we are right when we are right. They enable the tyrants and are always giving their excuses equivalence with our well considered, well understood legitimate action.
Same here.
Our media sure is swell. Once we killed Osama Bin Laden, they had to keep the names a secret or we might kill another asset of “theirs”. (evidently the U. S. Media’s asset)
I may be wrong, but I think they do have some (near) silent running diesel subs.
I checked, and here is a resource I found.
They do have “some” capabilities, and could thus be an annoyance to be sure.
https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/iran-submarine-capabilities/
I know, isn’t that priceless.
What is “No”?
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