Iraqi Parliament Expels Foreign Militaries From Iraq
Updated throughout - 16:06 UTC
As predicted here, here and here:
The National @TheNationalUAE - 14:34 UTC · 5 Jan 2020
Iraqi Parliament has voted for ending the presence of foreign troops in Iraq, limiting arms to the Iraqi states and to lodge an official complaint against the US at the UN.
From the National report:
Parliament voted on a five-point action plan that would require the Iraqi government to end the presence of foreign troops in the country, and withdraw its request for assistance from the anti-ISIS global coalition. This would require new legislation to cancel the existing agreement.Parliament also called on the government to ban the use of Iraqi airspace by any foreign power.
The Iraqi foreign minister has been directed to head to the UN to lodge an official complaint against the US strike.
The Iraqi Prime Minister and the whole cabinet supported the resolution.
Before the vote Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi told the parliament that he was scheduled to meet with Soleimani a day after his arrival to receive a letter from Iran to Iraq in response to a de-escalation offer Saudi Arabia had made. The U.S. assassinated Soleimani before the letter could be delivered by him. Abdul-Mahdi also said that Trump had asked him to mediate between the U.S. and Iran. Did he do that to trap Soleimani? It is no wonder then that Abdul-Mahdi is fuming.
The Prime Minister's letter to the General Secretary of the UN and the Secretary of the UNSC is here.
Foreign troops in Iraq included about 5,000 from the U.S. as well as a number of other NATO countries engaged in training Iraqi troops. There are also Turkish troops in north Iraq who fight against the PKK. Those will also have to leave but may not do so voluntarily.
Without any bases in Iraq the U.S. position in Syria will become untenable.
Elijah J. Magnier @ejmalrai - 14:40 UTC · Jan 5, 2020
#Iran #IRGC commander #QassemSoleimani managed to reach with his death what he couldn't reach when he was alive. That is his last spectacular act for Iran and for the "Axis of the Resistance": legislation forcing the US to withdraw and cease all kind of collaboration.
It is somehow ironic that the U.S. has spent lots of lives and money to "spread democracy" in Iraq only to be kicked out through an Iraqi parliament vote.
There is a clear danger in this act. The Trump administration is now likely to see Iraq as completely in the Iranian camp. That never was and never will be true but that is how it will be seen. The U.S. may therefore again start to pay (with Saudi money?) Sunni extremists, i.e. ISIS, to change the current situation to its advantage.
That is one reason why I recommend to Iraq to invite Russia to train its army.
Posted by b on January 5, 2020 at 15:09 UTC | Permalink
next page »IMO this likely means Civil War in Iraq.
IMO USA will not leave Iraq. USA is not wanted in Syria, yet they stay "to fight ISIS". They will stay in Iraq for the same reason (under UN 2249).
IMO USA will continue to attack Iraqi PMU leaders (assassinations) based on supposed attacks against US facilities/personnel. This will effectively be supporting the Sunni/ISIS side in the Civil War.
IMO the Iraqi Civil War makes it very difficult for Iran to continue to support Assad. Something USA+Israel are happy to see.
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 15:23 utc | 2
"We have learned today from #Iraq Prime Minister AdilAbdl Mahdi how @realDonaldTrump uses diplomacy:
#US asked #Iraq to mediate with #Iran. Iraq PM asks #QassemSoleimani to come and talk to him and give him the answer of his mediation, Trump &co assassinate an envoy at the airport."
https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1213833855754485762
Posted by: Fec | Jan 5 2020 15:23 utc | 3
Oh dear, Donald, what have you done? This situation is looking increasingly dangerous. Apart from the usual bunch of psychotic neo-con hawks, the insane Satanyahu and the usual MIC suspects I find it very hard to understand who benefits form this whole Iran scenario - although given that we live in a world where might is right and money is king (and hang the consequences) perhaps its simply enough that the aforementioned get their desires and if lots of brown people die, what the hell - they're only brown people after all.
I think now would be a good time to reflect on the words of a REAL American hero - General Smedley Butler....'war is a racket'...
https://richardhennerley.com/2019/10/25/war-is-a-racket-said-a-true-american-hero/
I am sure it has been discussed here before but I missed it. It would seem to me that there has never been a better time for Izzreal or Saudi for that matter to stage a false flag and get Iran dealt with once and for all. The opportunity may never be this ripe again.
Posted by: jef | Jan 5 2020 15:26 utc | 5
They just voted for ending the presence of all foreign troops. Russians would be foreign troops too.
Posted by: Andrew Subbotin | Jan 5 2020 15:27 utc | 6
That is the only thing they could do? Yikes the americans must be shaking...
Isnt it this demand Syria have put forth for 8 years when it comes to american troops inside Syria?
UN resolution, for what reason? All western nations would support the move by the US. Perhaps even Russia/China.
Demand US to close its embassy!
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 15:29 utc | 8
Population of south Gulf coast right now is sh*****g bricks.
Will US voluntarily leave Iraq? I doub't. But they have no capabilities to safely bring massive ground reinforcements via sea through Iran's waters.
And if KSA tries with ISIS v2 it may find itself under attack from Houthis again.
Posted by: Abe | Jan 5 2020 15:32 utc | 9
Fec
#US asked #Iraq to mediate with #Iran. Iraq PM asks #QassemSoleimani to come and talk to him
Wow. Iraqis was used by Israel/US/Saudis to make the Solimani assassination possible. There were no talks planned with the saudis, it was trap, just to get Solemani to Iraq so he could get killed.
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 15:33 utc | 10
Great heavens - Donald Trump has turned into a liberal Democrat!!
I mean, if I had wanted Hilary Clinton to be president, I would have voted for her!
Posted by: TG | Jan 5 2020 15:40 utc | 11
Will Trump Comply?
One thing I do know is that he is surrounded by people who will insist that he ignores the Iraqi govt by calling them all 'Iranian proxies' and 'take the oil'. After all, we need some way to pay for all of the munitions we use to kill native born Iraqi's, the people we call 'proxies'.
Posted by: Christian J Chuba | Jan 5 2020 15:41 utc | 12
Trump-Kushner is no different than Hillary, Schumer, Nadler, Schiff, Epstein, Maxwell, Weinstein, Wasserman-Schultz, Bibi. Trump is no friend to American citizens just like all of Congress.
There will be no draining of any swamps. Trump-Kushner just another Bibi lackey.
Posted by: Jerry | Jan 5 2020 15:48 utc | 13
BERLIN (Reuters) - The U.S. strike in Iraq that killed Iran Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani was a reaction to military provocations by the Islamic Republic, a German government spokeswoman said on Friday.
“The American action was a reaction to a series of military provocations for which Iran is responsible,” Ulrike Demmer said during a regular government news conference.
“We also see with great concern Iran’s activities in the region. We stand before a dangerous escalation,” she said, adding that Germany would work to de-escalate the situation.
------
Now USA can stop Nord Stream militarily, destroying ships or German business leaders giving a string of economic provocations with security implications. Bundestag is a tame creature after all.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 5 2020 15:48 utc | 14
So... he wanted to deliver Iran's responsible to Saudis, to de-escalate and have peace?
I wonder who would've wanted that stopped at all cost (cough Israel cough)
Posted by: A | Jan 5 2020 15:51 utc | 15
Impeachment with GOP support could be just around the corner. And who lost Iraq??? He would be a dead man walking in that case. I can't see the evangelical crowd saving him. President Pence. Might have to get use to that.
Here is a link to a twitter account with a good video of massive crowds on the streets of Mashhad awaiting the arrival of Qassem Suleimani. Very powerful.
https://twitter.com/sonofnariman/status/1213792565075550208
Posted by: Tom | Jan 5 2020 15:55 utc | 16
There will be no draining of any swamps. Trump-Kushner just another Bibi lackey.
Posted by: Jerry | Jan 5 2020 15:48 utc | 13
1. Draining swamps was a marker of progress in the past. >>Wiki:But in the late 1960s and early 1970s, researchers found that marshes and swamps "were worth billions annually in wildlife production, groundwater recharge, and for flood, pollution, and erosion control." This motivated the passage of the 1972 federal Water Pollution Control Act.<<
2. To recognize this vital role, parties should adopt more acquatic symbols. Caymans are a bit too similar to alligators, but, say, Alligators vs Snapping Turtles?
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 5 2020 16:02 utc | 17
A video which says it all...
Gen. #Soleimani, enemy of Daesh and Trump!Trump has threatened #Iran with destroying its cultural sites but that is not his only similarity with Daesh, they both hated General Soleimani.
https://twitter.com/PressTV/status/1213804505537679362
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:02 utc | 18
Posted by: Tom | Jan 5 2020 15:55 utc | 16
Yes, it might just be that this debacle provides the extra impulse to get him removed. Can't say I can even imagine what that would look like, but there would seem to be a good argument now that he must be restrained somehow. Somebody needs to tell Pompeous to stop digging the hole deeper (shutup) too.
Posted by: Bemildred | Jan 5 2020 16:02 utc | 19
Pence was in the team advising this "solution", as reported by Sputnik..he is equally culprit...or more...
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:04 utc | 20
Now we need for Trump to assassinate Lavrov in Berlin after inviting him for nuclear disarmament talks to create a Russian martyr that would cause Germany to end the SOFA and throw the US occupation out after 75 years!
These latest revelations that Soleimani had been invited on behalf of the USA to Bahgdad shows how depraved and satanic the USA has become. The latest Douma "chemical weapons" revelations and the following Trump cruise missile retaliation illustrates how entire chains of fake action/retaliation are created. I think we have to assume that the entire Katayusha rocket attack and the "dead contractor" were faked/staged. The retaliation bombing was true, but its justification was faked. The attack on the US Embassy was clearly staged by US agents provocatuer who were allowed into the green zone.
These plausibly deniable war provocations have an long history. In Germany's case in 1939 it was Polish atrocities like Bromberg:
Germany, like Iraq, still has a constitution crafted by the usual suspects during their occupations. Iraq, like Germany, will never get rid of the Yankee parasites without a fight.
Posted by: Hoot | Jan 5 2020 16:07 utc | 21
They are calling him the "Commander of Hearts"...some mages which explain this fact...he was always so close to the people...this is why there is no equivalent military or political figure in the US to retaliate...simply, there is no one humble enough...
Not just a commander but a national figure who conquered hearts of millions...
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:12 utc | 22
I doubt Jared will be doing much, (if any) shuttling around the middle east anytime soon. Actually, I doubt he leaves the continental U.S., he would be my prime target.
Just a tip for Iran, easiest targets in the world would be any Trump property. Rent a room, hotel go boom. Vacancies abound at all Trump properties. U.S. would be hard pressed to justify military action because one of his hotels go boom. Then hit Jared.
Life has shown me, that sometimes, you just have to go toe to toe. I think Iran is at that point. I also don't think Russia will allow U.S. to use nukes. If they do, the world deserves to be de-populated.
b4real
Posted by: b4real | Jan 5 2020 16:14 utc | 23
This does not mean Iraq is now in Iran´s side, but in its own, an normal act of sovereignty.
The US can understand whatever they want, we are accustomed at their fake evidence and fakke news, and their twistting of reality and facts.
It´s the atrocity of the assasination by treachery and ambuss of Soleimani has united Iraq and Iran, the whole Ummah, and I would say the whole world, since there is nobody in its cabals who can understand, less tolerate this, except for a bunch of criminals in Washignton and Tel Aviv.
not oly Iraq, but the wordl must say ENOUGH!
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:18 utc | 24
I posted this earlier on the Saker's site, once I heard that Soleimani was travelling to Iraq as an envoy. Then I checked here and B was already posting another great article.
So Yes, if we take this as truth, which I see no reason to deny as it comes straight from the horse's mouth (PM of Iraq himself), then this could be the reason why Israel targeted Soleimani's convoy at the airport.
Think about it, they either gave the US the coordinates and a US drone/helicopter took the shot OR the Israeil drones did the deed themselves. Why? Well if in fact there was a Saudi or US plan to mediate with Iran through Iraq, that would be a nightmare for Bibi (he doesn't get his war against Iran while at the same time already being charged for corruption at home and therefore can't be saved from possible prison time). War is the only thing that'll allow him to continue staying in power and not head to jail.
Also, think further, murdering Soleimani benefits no one more than Bibi. The only next logical question is who exactly pulled the trigger? If indeed Israel (which I currently am leaning more towards) then Trump jumped in and took the blame only to shield Israel (he is after all a good friend based on his actions of MIGA)... but why would he put his neck on the line? Well, for one he knows that the MENA would explode if it was found that Israel murdered Soleimani and co. On the other hand Trump (maybe if true in his 'drain the swamp' talk) is planning to use this opportunity to pull out troops from the Mideast.
I, like so many of us here on these boards, (and believe me I've been losing so much sleep these past 3 days simply by staying glued to my screen following every word said and written about the most recent developments), we are not privy to the behind the scenes happenings. Fortunately we have great individuals such as the Saker or Bernhard, as well as so many others who have some connections and insight to help us understand the situation better.
I guess we will learn more as we move forward.
Just as a side note, I have spent these past 3 days since the murders happened to try and respect the calls for mourning for Suleimani & Muhandis. No drink, no smoke, and I even went to a local Orthodox church and lit 2 candles this morning in memory of the recently deceased. I'm not a religious person and I never attend service, but being baptized at birth into the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith I felt this was a unique moment. If God were to hear my prayer this one time, by doing what I did he'd understand how important this prayer was for peace and safety for all those innocent in this world.
May we all go forward as brothers and sisters, put aside any petty beef between Muslim and Christians, and cease to allow ourselves to be divided by those who truly are evil!
Posted by: Forward | Jan 5 2020 16:23 utc | 25
Posted by: b4real | Jan 5 2020 16:14 utc | 22
Iran and "proxies" have clarified that targets will be military and civilians not touched.
They are meticulous about the moral high ground.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 16:23 utc | 26
Retwitted by Mark Sleboda...Sen Rubio claiming for the creation of a independent Kurdish state, so as to show, as this commenter poins out, that the problem goes beyond Trump,...
https://twitter.com/JasminMuj/status/1213856214880280576
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:27 utc | 28
"That is one reason why I recommend to Iraq to invite Russia to train its army."
Russian troops in Iraq would not be accepted by the usa and would be regarded as casus belli. The third world war would be the consequence.
B, do not delude yourself that the u.s. leadership will stop at anything.
Posted by: Pnyx | Jan 5 2020 16:28 utc | 29
Probably a coincidence, but the next morning
Trump got an offer on his DC Hotel ...
Posted by: anon | Jan 5 2020 16:30 utc | 30
Also retwitted by Mark Sleboda, largest crowd ever seen in Ahvaz, Iraq/Iran border, an area allegedly, by the US stablishment, largely opposed to Iran...waiting for Soleimani and Al Muhandis to arrive...
https://twitter.com/AmirAminiMD/status/1213828930458804224
What will be in Mashhad, cannot imagine...
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:32 utc | 31
Both Iraq and Iran should call this festive day "Suleimani Day".
Posted by: bjd | Jan 5 2020 16:35 utc | 32
Posted by: Bemildred | Jan 5 2020 16:02 utc | 19
I don't think that would happen, Bush proved you could be a total fuck-up and as long as you were killing brown people you had the backing of both sides.
Posted by: Tobi | Jan 5 2020 16:36 utc | 33
This is truly shocking: Trump assassinates diplomatic envoy he himself arranged for..
Posted by: bjd | Jan 5 2020 16:40 utc | 34
Iraq needs some Russian "diplomacy" - the S400 and related Defensive systems. Iraqi soldiers could go to Chechnya, RU for training.
Posted by: lgfocus | Jan 5 2020 16:40 utc | 35
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 5 2020 16:02 utc | 17
I agree, draining the swamp would be an ecological desaster.
How about a racoon riding an alligator versus a star nosed mole?
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 16:41 utc | 36
If the U.S. lured Soleimani to Iraq with a promise of negotiations with the Iraqis as mediators and then proceeded to kill him, surely that would be an impeachable offense. Particularly in view of the failure to brief Congress.
Posted by: lysias | Jan 5 2020 16:41 utc | 37
Posted by: Tobi | Jan 5 2020 16:36 utc | 32
"I don't think that would happen, Bush proved you could be a total fuck-up and as long as you were killing brown people you had the backing of both sides."
Well, I can't really dispute your point, but I have seen them exercise prudence in the past, when their own asses were on the line.
Trump already put a target on his own back, no need for others to follow along. But we will see, I make no predictions at this point.
Posted by: Bemildred | Jan 5 2020 16:43 utc | 39
I've read a report that it was Israeli intelligence that supplied the U.S. with Soleimani's coordinates. I wonder if they're the ones who supplied the intelligence about the allegedly imminent attacks.
Posted by: lysias | Jan 5 2020 16:45 utc | 40
Pat Lang has closed the comments section from view, unless you register, most probably to avoid reading all the schadenfreude he so usually spends with all the peoples in the world, especially European....
Very brave from his part...
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 16:48 utc | 41
@Tom (16) I think that you do not understand the mindset of right wing Christian evangelicals. They pray for a world-ending conflagration that will usher in the second coming of their messiah. Hence, what appears to rational people as a foolish and incredibly dangerous action by Trump appears to these evangelicals as an action to fulfill God’s plan. I expect them to be very supportive of God’s president in every way that they can.
Posted by: Rob | Jan 5 2020 16:51 utc | 42
Iraq will have to ask another country to provide air support. Iran can't do it. But
Russia has those capabilities. I wonder if relations b/w Iran + Russia will warm in 2020.
Posted by: David | Jan 5 2020 16:51 utc | 43
b.
There is a clear danger in this act. The Trump administration is now likely to see Iraq as completely in the Iranian camp. That never was and never will be true but that is how it will be seen. The U.S. may therefore again start to pay (with Saudi money?) Sunni extremists, i.e. ISIS, to change the current situation to its advantage.
That is one reason why I recommend to Iraq to invite Russia to train its army.
1. Kurdistan will try to internationalize the conflict and get the upper hand in contested areas - see here.
2. Iranian weapons are a lot cheaper.
3. If Saudi tricked Suleimani by getting Iraq to "mediate" (Iraq's prime minister was expecting a message by him on the mediation when he was assassinated), Saudi will get targeted.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 16:52 utc | 44
There is a clear difference to "expel all foreign troops" and "expel all US troops".
Clearly the former includes the latter.
But does the former include mercenaries/civilian combatants?
Does it include civilian non-combatants, such as advisers?
How will al these subtleties be explained by the different parties?
Posted by: bjd | Jan 5 2020 16:57 utc | 45
The Russians would agree to train Iraqi forces because they do the training, as they have with the Donbass battalions and the Syrian Army, back in Russia. They won't put boots on the ground in Iraq because they don't want any spreading their force structure across two wild battle zones, Syria and Iraq.
Also, with the agreement will be the diplomacy Russia will insist on. They can also direct humanitarian assistance (alongside China's input), which will ameliorate any GRU, SVR presence in Iraq. Perhaps, Wagner or other PMC might be inserted for securing Russian technicians needed to upkeep and train maintenance on Russian weapons systems.
Ultimately, the logic is for Iraq to obtain S-400 defense systems and some EW, which could also integrate with Syrian systems.
Posted by: Red Ryder | Jan 5 2020 16:58 utc | 46
Red Ryder @46
Yes, S400 is big part of Russian diplomacy. As Putin says "If everyone isn't safe, no one is safe".
Posted by: lgfocus | Jan 5 2020 17:03 utc | 47
I see there is another person using the moniker "Tom". Very well, I'll be "Tom_LX"
Posted by: Forward | Jan 5 2020 16:23 utc | 24
... then Trump jumped in and took the blame only to shield Israel (he is after all a good friend based on his actions of MIGA)... but why would he put his neck on the line? Well, for one he knows that the MENA would explode if it was found that Israel murdered Soleimani and co.
I know I'm stretching this one but could the Jeffrey Epstein Data Base be one of the skeletons that might be used against Trump to make him dance as necessary ? That story has become a none story faster than spring shower.
Posted by: Tom_LX | Jan 5 2020 17:06 utc | 48
I am reposting this because the recent developments all point finger to this. BTW, in no way am I excusing Trump as a victim.
The Ziocon-Deep State-Kosher Nostra Mob has the disposable President, aka the Orange Man aka Drimpf by the balls. The Mob was going to get its war with Iran anyway - most likely after the re-election of Drumpf. But now Satanyahu desperately needs a war to stay out of prison. So the ZOG neutered Drumpf by impeaching him out of thin air (while ignoring many legitimate grounds). Drumpf now needs every vote in Senate, and the war with Iran is the ticket. With this war Drumpf just lost his practically guaranteed reelection chance. Of course this is the preferred outcome for the Mob anyway. Now the Mob will have its cake and eat it too. It will get its preferred President (another Bush or another Obama or another Clinton - of either gender, etc. ).as well as have its Iran war.
Posted by: Nathan Mulcahy | Jan 5 2020 17:06 utc | 49
Posted by: bjd | Jan 5 2020 16:57 utc | 45
And do they have the power to implement it?
It does not matter. Iraq has become unsafe - and illegal - for NATO troups. It has also become unviable for Western interests. There is nothing left to "win" there.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 17:07 utc | 50
IMO this likely means Civil War in Iraq.Your fear is incomprehensible. Who would be fighting Who? The Sunnis have had it as a fighting force.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 15:23 utc | 2
What is likely to be happening, as you're right that the US will not quit Iraq willingly, is increasing public and armed resistance to the US, as indeed happened under Bush, but very probably more. There's no doubt that the US can hold out for a while, but a renewed US full military occupation would not be appreciated back home, not the body-bags implied.
b's estimate is right. When, as I understand it, the US public largely applauds the slaughter of Sulaimani, and any US acts against Iran in consequence, they're thinking of casualty-less, cost-less, air-strikes. Not ground military operations. Things though have already diverted from that vision, and ground combat is in prospect as US troops hole up in their bases, with only helicopters and aircraft being a secure route in or out, and roads necessary but increasingly dangerous.
Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 5 2020 17:09 utc | 51
We ignore the fact that the U Sis a rogue state and have been for decades. The US since creation was always beyond the law but there were opposing forces that questioned its rogue state status which does not exist currently. Since Iraq or Syria does not posses the power to expel US forces just like they dont like in the occupied golan or Syria or kurdistan etc.. The US will never leave.. Not willingly.. Massive drain on resources and force will be necessary to make the US leave where the prospect of large scale annihilation soon to follow. Betting the US tries to gage Iranian defences soon.. With more to follow like what they do with Syria.. Overwhelming responses will see iran destroyed so they need to act smarter and wait.. Actually all responses towards Israel no matter what will make the US fly out on the first ship sailing.. Sure israel can use nukes if it does not want to exist any longer..
Posted by: Igor Bundy | Jan 5 2020 17:09 utc | 52
NATO members have “suspended” their training programs in Iraq, and their response to the demand foreign forces leave will be a strong indication of future force realignments. The official German response suggests that they may try to ride out the immediate visceral reactions to position as the calm mediator and retain the troop presence. i.e. the Americans went “rogue” in alliance with Israel, and it will require neutering that influence to move forward. A trump impeachment may come into play as part of a western realignment or restructuring of mid-east position.
Posted by: jayc | Jan 5 2020 17:10 utc | 53
Now what? It would be really smart for all U.S. forces to immediately leave Iraq. Unfortunately, the U.S. .Gov seems to have a severe allergy to smartness.
So then what? Simple! About a hundred other countries that are now occupied by U.S. forces will immediately demand that those forces must leave too. Bad mojo indeed.
Comrades of the world, and especially of my beloved Middle East, yeah, after these days of lack of sleep and mourning, finally, and in spite of the mean of the world,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To all the fallen...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HnIpcAoEUQ
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 17:14 utc | 55
Tom_LX @ 48
I don't think that "Jeffrey Epstein Data Base" is in the least bit irrelevant.
Posted by: Evelyn | Jan 5 2020 17:14 utc | 56
This is beginning to look like we may have actually entered WWIII - the war where the World actually unites to take on the Evil Empire and its vassals.
These words keep propping up in my head “There are decades when nothing happens, but there are weeks when decades happen”,
Vladimir Lenin.
Posted by: lgfocus | Jan 5 2020 17:14 utc | 57
@24 Forward. Nice post, me too.. Amen & Alhamdilulaye.
Posted by: Lozion | Jan 5 2020 17:20 utc | 58
Wow the iraq PM office just stated that The US government had asked Iraq to invite Soleimani to iraq for face to face deescalation talks with the US then murdered in the airport. Even by outlaw empire standards this was insane they murdered a diplomat on talks they invited him to. US diplomacy has been on decline for decades but this is reckless terrorist diplomacy, with a single action the US has lost the middle east and killed the value of US assurances and diplomacy
Posted by: Kadath | Jan 5 2020 17:23 utc | 59
Here is a story making the rounds which perfectly fits in the "Should I Stay or Should I Leave" US Middle East Swamp.
How the Pentagon Was Duped by Contractors Using Shell Companies By David Voreacos and Neil Weinberg
January 4, 2020, 2:00 PM GMT+1
https://www.cryptogon.com/?p=57055
$21 Trillion Missing – U.S. Government a Criminal Enterprise – Catherine Austin Fitts
By Greg Hunter On October 1, 2017
Posted by: Tom_LX | Jan 5 2020 17:24 utc | 60
Some people mentioned a risk for civil war in Iraq, as expected the iraqi gov. forces want to protect american embassy to every degree was just warned by Kata'ib Hezbollah to stop doing just that.
Iraqi Kata'ib Hezbollah warning Iraqi Security Forces should stay away from US bases starting Sunday evening.
https://twitter.com/aldin_ww/status/1213516878070632453
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 17:25 utc | 61
The Soliemani assassination now looks even more abhorent. Now it looks like one of the oldest and most abhorent types of war acts: a fake parley turned into a murder zone. What the people who seem to have arranged this - presumably the US and Israel and maybe Saudi Arabia - apparently did not expect was that Soleimani was to become a martyr in the eyes of his people.
Mercouris suggests that Soleimani expected and planned on exactly this: that he would become a martyr and a unifying symbol in the end. Presumably he did not know when it would happen exactly, or perhaps he did have a sense. Several people here suggested as much and it doesn't seem so farfetched now. I'm reminded of Martin Luther King's death, though of course Soleimani was far from being a man of peace as MLK was. MLK seemed to know that he was soon to become a martyr and he seemed to accept this as a necessary thing, even as perhaps the best way for him to continue his work. Obi Wan Kenobi lol! ,
But there is a correlating thought I don't see anyone picking up on yet. If this was indeed an ambush, possibly, then it was preplanned. Trump's reported veiled references to people at his resort ('something huge is coming') also seem to point to this. In that case it seems even more likely that the initial rocket attack was itself a false flag operation.
Posted by: paul | Jan 5 2020 17:27 utc | 62
lgfocus
What are you talking about. Who havde distanced themselves from Trump?
Have France? UK? Germany? Nato? No, no one has which is horrible in itself.
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 17:27 utc | 63
Ah the text book case from the British Empire..
They invited all the Tibetan leaders to attend the peace conference.. As a gesture of respect, everyone removed a single shot from their rifle which left the Tibetan security guards single shot muskets defenceless when the British opened fire and ended the tibetan political power and started drawing the new borders.. After a while the communists took over when the british left and a leaderless tibetan homeland as their own.. China is one third the Tibetan empire.. It was taken without any resistance at all.. China in 5000 years was never able to conquer Tibet.. But like the US helping exterminate christians world wide.. The british helps other cultures get destroyed..
Posted by: Igor Bundy | Jan 5 2020 17:31 utc | 64
3. If Saudi tricked Suleimani by getting Iraq to "mediate" (Iraq's prime minister was expecting a message by him on the mediation when he was assassinated), Saudi will get targeted.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 16:52 utc | 44
More likely, Saudi will be pissed off at Israel enough to have a serious impact on their relations! All the more reason to patch up with Iran and go for the HOPE plan.
All the attention is focussed on how Trump has messed up so badly, which he has - but Israel has messed itself up even more badly.
Posted by: BM | Jan 5 2020 17:33 utc | 65
Some background on the Iraqi vote:
Posted by Naijaa_Man at the Saker site on January 05, 2020 · at 9:58 am EST/EDT
“From Iraq Prime Minister’s speech in Parliament, I gathered that:
(1) Trump told the Prime Minister that he will attack Iraqi PMU Militias, The Prime Minister objected and Trump ignored him
(2) After the US Embassy protests ended, Trump called the Prime Minister and thanked him for successfully persuading Iraqi PMU Militias to withdraw from Embassy grounds and Green Zone. Trump refused to apologize for defying the Prime Minister’s request to respect Iraq Sovereignty and strike the PMU militias
(3) Trump asked Iraq to be a mediator between USA/Saudi axis and the Iranians. The Prime Minister agreed and communicated the message to Iran. The Prime Minister asked Americans to stop conducting helicopter overflights above PMU military bases, Trump ignored him
(4) With respect to the mediation issue, Qassem Solemani was in Iraq to deliver a personal message from Ayatollah Khamenei to the Prime Minister when the Americans assassinated him.”
This has led to, 170 Iraqi lawmakers sign draft bill to expel US military forces from country
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/01/05/615421/Iraqi-lawmakers-draft-US-forces
Note : there is a process to be followed. The lawmakers will now seek parliamentary approval.
http://thesaker.is/soleimani-murder-sitrep-funeral-and-vote/
So technically, The Iraqi parliament voted to “ask” the Iraqi government to end the security agreement with the US, end the presence of foreign troops & the international coalition’s mandate against ISIS, even in Iraqi air space “for whatever reason.”
There will be a lot of negotiation required before any significant withdrawal of US troops. It is noteworthy that there were only 180 US troops in Iraq 2014.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_Iraq_(2014%E2%80%93present)
The surge in US forces only occurred following the 2014 defeat of ISIS in the battle for Latakia, Syria where the Obama Administration backed islamists (many imported from Libya) were relocated into Iraq and joined former Saddam military forces to roll back Iraqi Shia forces.
http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISIS_Governance.pdf
As discussed in the latest Grayzone 2 hour discussion it was Qassem Soleimani who was key to the defeat of the US/Israeli/KSA/UAE backed ISIS forces.
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/01/03/us-war-iran-iraq-rania-khalek/
For more coverage see RANIA KHALEK’S twitter site:
https://twitter.com/RaniaKhalek?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
As reported in RT, “Iraqi parliament has voted to have foreign troops removed from the country, heeding to a call from its caretaker prime minister. The move comes after US assassination of a top Iranian general and a commander of Iraqi militia…The resolution, which was passed anonymously, instructs the government to cancel a request for military assistance to the US-led coalition, which was issued in response to the rise of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). With IS supposedly defeated, Iraq will not need foreign troops to fight the jihadists and can close its airspace to coalition aircraft.”… According to Press TV, some Western military presence may remain for training purposes. The resolution says Iraqi military leadership has to report the number of foreign instructors that are necessary for Iraqi national security…At the same time, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that Baghdad had turned to the UN Security Council with complaints about US violations of its sovereignty…The interim prime minister said after the incident that it was clear it was in the interest of both the US and Iraq to end the presence of foreign forces on Iraqi soil…Mahdi said Soleimani was on his way to meet him when the US airstrike killed the Iranian general https://mobile.twitter.com/janearraf/status/1213823941321592834
…Influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stated in a letter that Iraq should go further and shut down the US embassy.”
https://www.rt.com/news/477515-iraq-parliament-foreign-troops/
More specifically, Sadr issues a statement saying the partial end proposal was weak anyway, with demands:
• close the US embassy
• end security deal immediately
• close US bases in a humiliating way
• protection of Iraq should be handed to the Resistance militias
• boycott of US products
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001051077952584-iraqi-shiite-cleric-sadr-calls-for-international-resistance-legions-as-mps-vote-to-oust-us-troops/
Meanwhile, “Iraq’s (Kurdish) President Barham Salih has threatened to step down rather than approve a candidate for prime minister put forward by Iran-linked political parties, pushing Baghdad deeper into political turmoil after nearly three months of anti-government protests.”
“Protesters have demanded that the next prime minister be someone unconnected to political parties they accuse of corruption. Yet the Iran-linked Binaa parliamentary voting bloc has nominated Asaad al-Edani, a former minister and governor of oil-rich Basra province. Binaa’s bloc is mostly made up of the Fatah party led by militia leader turned politician Hadi al-Ameri, who is close to Tehran. The rival Sairoon bloc, headed by populist Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, said it would not participate in the process of nominating a new premier.”
https://www.ft.com/content/50f09fe4-27f4-11ea-9a4f-963f0ec7e134
However, “Out of an eagerness to spare blood and preserve civil peace, I apologize for not naming Edani prime minister,” the letter continued. “I am ready to submit my resignation to parliament.”
https://time.com/5755588/iraq-president-resignation/
My take is that the best way to minimize further violence would for the US to accept Muqtada al-Sadr demands.
In other blowbacks from the murder of Soleimani the Qatar leaders are fuming over the use of a Qatar based reaper drone to launch the missiles and were controlled remotely by operators at the US Air Force base in Creech, Nevada. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1608386/middle-east
The picture of the meeting between the Qatar FM and the Iranian FM showed the Qatar flag with the red replaced by black in respect.
https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/04/01/2020/Qatar-Foreign-Minister-meets-Iranian-counterpart-in-Tehran
It should be noted that Qatar owes a debt of honor to Iran for supplying need food goods to survive a blockade by KSA and the UAE. Likewise, Qatar has close ties with Turkey due to the presence of a couple thousand Turkish troops that prevented a KSA invasion and has been supplying a lot of LGN fuel to Turkey.
Today, the first blowback came as Al Shabab (backed by Qatar and the UAE) attacked for the first time a US base in Kenya which came a few hours after the Qatari FM visited Teheran. Link:
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/01/05/us-aircraft-destroyed-no-troops-injured-in-jihadi-attack-on-base-in-kenya/
It is not only Shia and some Sunni that oppose US/Israeli aggression in the Mideast but also Christians:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdZgkGI5h0A
On a related note, Putin is scheduled to visit Turkey on January 8, 2020 to “officially” open the Turkstream pipeline. Putin had better have extra security given the many murders conducted for geopolitical gain by Western powers and their agents!
I close with a visionary French rock opera Starmania “story of an alternate reality where a fascist millionaire famous for building skyscrapers is running for president on an anti-immigration policy, and where the poor are getting more and more desperate for their voices to be heard.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78LytR-6Xmk
See also Dimash’s renderation of the Starmania final song S.O.S
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hTy2MqmwLk
Pray for peace…
Posted by: krollchem | Jan 5 2020 17:39 utc | 66
Posted by: BM | Jan 5 2020 17:33 utc | 65
What you describe is fictional. Saudi continues to have a huge problem in Yemen, which is his backyard.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 17:41 utc | 67
Is there any confirmation of Magnier's reporting about Soleimani as a peace envoy? I haven't found any.
Magnier previously mused that Trump offered Iran the killing of a US 4-star General to compensate for the killing of Soleimani. That is nonsense.
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 17:45 utc | 68
Well that didnt take too long Marco Rubio (little Marco) is already calling on the US to ignore the parliament’s resolution and support a break away kurdistan in northern iraq
Posted by: Kadath | Jan 5 2020 17:46 utc | 69
Trump is real clear. He has a target list of 52 sites. They will be hit if Iran does anything at all. Or if Iran does nothing they will be hit. Paranoids invent slights and offenses. So the bombs will fly, soon.
The only questions are what delivery systems, what armaments, how good are Iran's air defences? I suspect Iran's air defences are quite good and plenty gets through anyway. So is it nukes or "only" mini-nukes on the first round? Any way you look at it there will be a second round. And then the next question. Can anyone or anything put the brakes on this sequence of events?
Trump is just a second string gangster. The gangsters who are firmly in his camp are also second string. The big boys have largely been absent, they don't much care who is US President or how the little squabbles go. Wondering here if Rockefellers and Rothschilds and the older families have good means for quickly getting a Hollywood rewrite on all these antics or if the avalanche is now unstoppable.
As for the new information that Soleimani was lured and ambushed --- why would anyone do diplomacy with US again? Even Lavrov has to wonder if he is safe anywhere. Ordinary diplomats and functionaries at UN have to wonder if they are safe. Who would want to be so much as a consular assistant?
Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 5 2020 17:46 utc | 70
Laguerre @52: Your fear is incomprehensible.
"Incomprehensible?" LOL.
Kadath @70:
Well that didnt take too long Marco Rubio (little Marco) is already calling on the US to ignore the parliament’s resolution and support a break away kurdistan in northern iraq
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 17:54 utc | 71
Forward @24. I believe yours is the correct interpretation. Israeli fingerprints are all over this. Its the only thing that makes sense. Trump may have averted all hell by claiming credit, but the truth will soon be out. And you can bet the farm that Iran already knows the truth. This has already backfired spectacularly in uniting Sunni and Shia against the US/Israel/Saudi. And we are still in the period of mourning. It hasn't begun yet.
Posted by: cdvision | Jan 5 2020 18:01 utc | 72
@ oldhippie # 71 who wrote
"
Trump is just a second string gangster. The gangsters who are firmly in his camp are also second string. The big boys have largely been absent, they don't much care who is US President or how the little squabbles go. Wondering here if Rockefellers and Rothschilds and the older families have good means for quickly getting a Hollywood rewrite on all these antics or if the avalanche is now unstoppable.
"
I am of the opinion that what is going on is part of the elite script for our world and only would be proven wrong if they go nuclear. This circus we have been seeing is the throw America under the bus ploy while global private finance get to cull the heard and stay in charge of human finance.....I hope they fail but having read The Shock Doctrine, I have had this scenarion in my head for quite some time. Look at this forum and how many are of faith....If the faith leaders back the God of Mammon core then think about how hard it would be to eliminate......in spite of China's growing example.
It doesn't slow down from here, IMO, so we should have a pretty good read of what is playing out in 6 months or so
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 5 2020 18:04 utc | 73
Especially in times like these, people should remember what drives US foreign policy more than anything else: maintaining the reserve-currency status of the US dollar. It's no coincidence at all that the countries that the US establishment considers its biggest adversaries are those countries which are resisting the dollar hegemony the most. The US establishment may stop at nothing to maintain the dollar hegemony. Certainly it won't shy away from such underhanded tactics as those employed in the assassination of Soleimani.
It's entirely predictable that the Iraqi parliament would order the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. And it's entirely predictable that the US will ignore that order. Likewise, it's predictable that Iran will respond in some way against US military targets in the Middle East, which will trigger US airstrikes against targets in Iran (as Trump has already promised). At that point, it's war, plain and simple. Iran will most likely declare war on the US after the airstrikes and then launch an all-out missile attack against as many US and allied targets in the Middle East as possible. What happens beyond that is more difficult to see. It may well become a case of "Apres nous, le deluge."
Posted by: Cynica | Jan 5 2020 18:06 utc | 74
"Before the vote Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi told the parliament that he was scheduled to meet with Soleimani a day after his arrival to receive a letter from Iran to Iraq in response to a de-escalation offer Saudi Arabia had made. The U.S. assassinated Soleimani before the letter could be delivered by him. "
So if this report is correct, is there any word on whether the Saudi regime still stands by this offer, and has Mahdi received it yet by another channel?
As for the vote, I've predicted in the last several threads that the US clearly is throwing down the mask completely, will never abide by legal demands to leave, and will resort to straight brute violence in an attempt to hold onto the country as a staging ground for war. They'll try to force regime change if they can (though now that such a coup would be directly engineered by the abominable occupier, it's hard to see what significant number of Irakis would support it and serve in a puppet government. It would be like the fake, zero-supported Mussolini retread regime the Germans installed after invading Italy in 1943.
Failing that, the US will try to wreck the place completely, turn it into total chaos.
Thank you Iraq!
This is very good news.
NATO as such will leave even if the US doesn't, and even if the UK or Germany and possibly France for some insane reason doesn't (but I do believe they will all leave too as far as bases, training, and official status goes).
If anybody stays they will do so without any legal justification just as is the case in Syria.
A future sensible step for Iraq will be to break diplomatic relations with anyone who doesn't leave and let the Swiss represent them just as Iran does.
Other countries could end up doing the same.
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Jan 5 2020 18:07 utc | 76
If Suleimani was essentially a peace envoy of some sort, I think we would have heard about it immediately after his death, not 3 days later.
Suleimani was not a diplomat or a messenger boy.
I'm waiting for the transcript and confirmation from Iran.
I'm concerned that there may be disinfo ops intended to stoke tensions and start a war. US offering a 4-General to be killed for a "proportionate response"? Iran rebuking phony peace overtures?
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 18:14 utc | 77
Of course USA has threatened many times to nuke many contries, North Korea and China were threatened many many times from the Mc Arthur times (1950) to just recently; of course North Vietnam was repeatedly threatened with devastating nuclear attacks, and many others have been subject to the same bully tactics that never ever worked and could have medium term consequences, in the american citicens, difficult to predict.
Any nuclear unprovoked first strike attack of the USA to another country, to put it on their kness, will be follow for a complete nuclear proliferation of nuclear weapons and delivery systems all around the world by nations and terrorist groups, and I think in few years it is nos unthinkable some nuclear devices could explode in some american cities (by unknown people).
China and Russia will prepare themselves all their allies for that eventuality bigly
Why do they think nuclear threats will work now with people with a martyrdom mentality like Iran if it did not work in the past? why do the american military thinks the iranians are so easy to scare? what do they think Iran and every Shia group in the world will do next in the case of a nuke attack on Iran soil?
The world will be x1000 more dangerous for the american people.
Even nuking failed made Japan surrender, in fact was Zhukov crushing defeat of the japanese Manchuria army and the fear that would be the Soviet Union who invades Japan and put a red flag in the emperor's palace (you know uncle Joe was less fearful of soldiers' losses than the americans counterpart).
Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 5 2020 17:46 utc | 71
This is not about US first strike capability. They have that. They will be able to hit mainly civilian sites though (therefore the "cultural" I suppose), as Iran has a superb mountain range. The military stuff is deep in the mountains.
The issue is Iran's second strike capability - they have that - see superb mountain range.
Google the map of US military installations and personnel surrounding Iran - they will throw everything at them and a lot of it will burn for a long time.
And imagine the aftermath in a region with a sudden power vacuum. And a world depending on their energy.
The US will survive this minus their army. US stock market will crash. It will be global warming on steroids - have a look at what is happening in Australia just now.
An all out first strike is not an option. What is an option has been happening, economic sanctions, targeting of Iranian, Iranian-linked proxies, Iranian allies, tit for tat.
Trump has been tricked into a military escalation without an off-ramp but has nothing left to escalate without full-out war. It is extremely dangerous.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 18:20 utc | 79
WOW.
Seems you were right indeed, though even Elijah was sceptical it would happen.
But like JR said: This may mean civil war in Iraq.
Spectecular seems appropriate.
Sadly with Syria: Trump will prefer the Turks taking over the oil fields. So Erdogan will be tempted to betray also the last agreement with Putin and push through south..
I hope i am wrong though.
Another thing: Pat Lang has now closed his site for comments. We will see if this is just one of his monthly borderline impulsive actions, of for real.. ;)
Anyway, i need to pop a bootle to celebrate this tonight..
Posted by: DontBelieveEitherPr. | Jan 5 2020 18:36 utc | 80
Last post at SST on the "legal" implications of the iraqi parliament vote, they are stating that according to the agreement reached with the Iraqi government on Us assistance to fight ISIS, the US should withdraw in the spam of a year after notice...
Yeah, but one would wonders, why the Iraqi government should respect any clause of an agreement widely violated, and even pissed on, by the US by assasinating a foreign official in diplomatic mission, called preciselly by the US as an ambush, plus one of his own army, to which we should add the around 50 PMU militias assasinated in US strikes justified on basis of a false flag whose unique victim we have never seen dead?
Posted by: Sasha | Jan 5 2020 18:38 utc | 81
Iran takes final JCPOA step, removing last limit on nuclear program
The statement by the Iranian government regarding the measure reads:
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, in the fifth step in reducing its commitments, discards the last key component of its limitations in the JCPOA, which is the "limit on the number of centrifuges.”
As such, the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear program no longer faces any operational restrictions, including enrichment capacity, percentage of enrichment, amount of enriched material, and research and development.
From here on, Iran's nuclear program will be developed solely based on its technical needs.
If the sanctions are lifted and Iran benefits from its interests enshrined in the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic is ready to return to its commitments.
Iran's cooperation with the IAEA will continue as before.
I see Iraq as nothing more than a US territory. Like Guam or Puerto Rico. Or Europe for that matter. What MoA stated about reigniting ISIS and Sunni extremists is a more likely scenario. I feel Trump will not exit the country. We will still be there way into his second term.
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Jan 5 2020 18:56 utc | 83
According to The Sun newspaper, a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine, armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, is in striking position of Iran.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/01/05/615458/UK-Military-Submarine-Attack-Iran-
The western nations now prepare to wipe Iran off the map, hopefully Iran have S300, they will be needed.
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 19:01 utc | 84
Trump has not tweeted in 14 hours which even without the current circumstances seems like a long time.
Posted by: TJ | Jan 5 2020 19:08 utc | 85
With reference to Iran's defense capability, it has been noted elsewhere that Iran purchased the Russian S500 system which is currently being rolled out. Inquiring minds would predict that delivery is accelerated. Also, Iraq was considering the S 400 system and, again this could be predicted to be an unpublished immediate decision. Looks like Erdogan was right to stand his ground regarding the S400s.
Discussions appear to assume that Iran is relatively isolated politically. Perhaps forgetting that they are allied in a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, are an applicant for the Shanghai Cooperative Association and a dialogue partner with the BRICS. This covers considerable ground geostratically with players who are reflective, disciplined and play a long game in attaining their goals. More probably than not engaged in dialogues which are never revealed in media voices. Retaliation and revenge will be international, ranging far beyond the middle east.
Posted by: abierno | Jan 5 2020 19:19 utc | 86
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Jan 5 2020 18:56 utc | 84
An election campaign with US soldiers getting killed by Iranian proxies with a decentralized command structure? With a big explosion in October? Considering a "surge" AGAIN?
I think the most stupid redneck would notice.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 19:20 utc | 87
"I'm concerned that there may be disinfo ops intended to stoke tensions and start a war."jackrabbit@78
Any such disinformation operation would be competing with yours. Once again your 'insights' add up to an apology for imperialist policy.
The haste with which you shoot down Magnier's important information that the killing began as a false parlay, tricking the Iranians in much the style to be expected of a man mentored by the Mafia lawyer Roy Cohn, confirms what has long been obvious about your contributions.
Posted by: bevin | Jan 5 2020 19:21 utc | 88
bevin @89
I'm not shooting them down. I'm saying we should be cautious. I gave my reason for why I think caution is advisable.
The personal animosity between us wouldn't be coloring your view, would it?
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 19:33 utc | 89
@ jackrabbit
why are you so against elijah magnier?
Iraqi PM Mahdi sad so, magnier reported it. He didn't invent it, didn't speculate, didn't do anything else but do his job as a journalist.
?
Posted by: albagen | Jan 5 2020 19:34 utc | 90
I rather doubt it was a false parley - first, because it would have been unnecessary, Soleimani traveled openly and you did not have to lure him. And second, because Trump could not know who will Iranians send. I just cannot imagine Trump saying "Hey, and I would love if Iranians sent Soleimani". More likely, a coincidence resulting in terrible optics.
Given that they apparently did not know they are also shooting at Iraqi general, they are lucky prime minister did not meet Soleimani personally - THAT would generate interesting headers...
Posted by: Andrew Subbotin | Jan 5 2020 19:36 utc | 91
@78 Jackrabbit
Suleimani was not a diplomat...
Really? I'd say he was a great military leader and just as great a diplomat to accomplish what he did.
Soleimani unfurled the Syria Russia strategy in Moscow
How do you think Soleimani organized, sustained and coordinated his Resistance Militias in different countries turning them into a formidable military offensive resistance strategy? With strategic military and diplomatic savvy.
Soleimani was sent as an envoy to Russia by Iran's Supreme Leader at a critical time in the Syrian war and also at Putin's request.
If Soleimani was lured by the U.S. and Saudis on a pretext of peace to be assassinated by a U.S. drone this proves just how depraved Trump is. This strategy is right out of the Zionist dirty tricks playbook and Trump has proven in every way he is all in with Zionists and is one of them.
Posted by: Circe | Jan 5 2020 19:42 utc | 92
I think the most stupid redneck would notice.Posted by: somebody | Jan 5 2020 19:20 utc | 88
If they were from Texas A&M they would cheer Trump for the chance to put their boots on the ground in the middle of the desert. That's why Pompeo on Apr 16, 2019 felt so at home there when he visited. Strutting his stuff he told them how he learned to lie which was itself a lie which got him lots of applause from the audience. But hey, the moment Pompeo was born he started to lie and hasn't stopped since on his way to the top of the food chain.
Posted by: Tom_LX | Jan 5 2020 19:47 utc | 94
As reported by krollchem @ 67 and by b in this and the following post, the involvement of Trump directly in premeditated murder cannot be absolved, and the circumstances are abhorrent to any patriotic American citizen. May God have mercy on the souls of the peace makers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
I take the Iraqi Prime Minister at his word, and reassert the need for Trump and his administration to be impeached on treasonous grounds. Where that will lead in terms of the rest of the US government I cannot say but VP Pence is also impeachable here, so it is difficult to see who is least culpable in this. It may mean that there is need for a provisional government to be put in place - not party organized. If impeachment proceeds apace as it should, behind the scenes such a people's approved peaceful citizens coalition needs to be considered. This cannot stand as official US government policy. It is heinous.
I too, as forward @ 24 has done, sent prayers for the souls of the departed Iran general as well as his friend from Iraq and their companions this morning in my home chapel. It is the Sunday before Christmas, old calendar. May the Lord bring them and so many others before them to a place where the just repose.
Posted by: juliania | Jan 5 2020 19:53 utc | 95
Neocons are so happy today,
Ex-CIA Head Lauds Soleimani Killing, Says It’s ‘More Significant’ Than bin Laden, al-Baghdadi Deaths
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001051077953862-ex-cia-head-lauds-soleimani-killing-says-its-more-significant-than-bin-laden-al-baghdadi-deaths/
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 19:58 utc | 96
As I expected, Iraq cant even name the US, but call on ALL foreign foces from using Iraq against another country:
-End presence of ALL foreign forces and to prevent any country from using Iraq against another countryhttps://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1213842071364231169
The US soldiers will be kept in Iraq.
Adding to the idea of a new civil war. Shia vs Sunni, Israel, Saudi, Nato.
Posted by: Zanon | Jan 5 2020 20:04 utc | 97
Jackrabbit's mandate is to instil Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt about any positive outcome being reported by our host b, but dont take my word for it, just use the search engine provided by this blog to read the hare's posts and formulate your own opinion..
Posted by: Lozion | Jan 5 2020 20:12 utc | 98
The empire feeling it necessary to burn its assets like our resident bunny's credibility by forcing the spin control beyond its limit is an indication of desperation (thank you bevin @89 for bringing attention to that)
We can take pleasure from circumstances spinning out of the evil empire's control, but keep in mind that means the empire's behavior will become more desperate and irrational the further control slips from its grasp. More irrational and psychotic behavior from the empire puts all of humanity in danger. It also makes analysis of that behavior more of a challenge.
I fear oldhippie @71 might be correct. Even if Iran does nothing, the empire's psychotic delusions are now so intense that America may lash out spastically anyway.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 5 2020 20:14 utc | 99
Lozion | Jan 5 2020 20:12 utc | 99: Jackrabbit's mandate ...
Oh please. Your assertion is without evidence because there is none. Among other things, I have:
And not just for a few weeks but for YEARS. Anyone is welcome to look back at my contributions here.>> been consistently warning that Trump was a faux populist like Obama.
>> fought with pro-Empire trolls.
>> decried the lack of Democracy in the West and argued for pro-Democracy and anti-War Movements.
Maybe THAT's why some here are bitching about me?
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 5 2020 20:21 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
the other day my enemy
looked me in the eye
I cried DEFENSIVE ACTION!
then shot him till he died
I heard there was a warrant
out for my arrest
I decided to de-escalate
and bought a bullet-proof vest
when the SWAT team came
to take me from my home
I declared my hope for peace
and launched a lethal drone
the incendiary device
took the SWAT team out
peace had been achieved
of that I have no doubt
so if you have an enemy
who exhibits mal-intent
take quick, defensive action
with wrath that's heaven sent
Posted by: lizard | Jan 5 2020 15:21 utc | 1