Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
March 13, 2020

Why Is The U.S. Launching A New War On Iraq?

On January 3 the U.S. assassinated the Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani and the deputy chairman of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al Muhandis near the airport of Baghdad. In response to the infraction of Iraq's sovereignty the parliament voted to evict all U.S. and coalition forces from Iraq. The U.S. rejected the request to leave.

On March 11, the birthday of Qassem Suleimani, unknown guerilla fired 18 Katyusha rockets against a joint base at Camp Taji, about 17 miles north of Baghdad. Two U.S. and one British soldiers were killed by the strike and twelve others were wounded.

Only hours later the U.S., or one of its allies, responded by striking ten targets near Bukamal with drones. Bukamal is a border crossing where Iraqi units aligned with Iran are guarding the Syrian-Iraqi border. While some sources claimed that 18 people were killed in those strikes others denied that there were any casualties.

Last night the U.S. hit five additional targets in Iraq.

It claimed that these airstrikes were aimed at Khatib Hizbullah, one of the PMU units that is supported by Iran. It said it 'believes' that Khatib Hizbullah was responsible for the rocket attack. But neither the targets nor the casualty list is not consistent with that claim. Three soldiers of the 19th Commando Division of the Iraqi army were killed and four more wounded. Two men from the Iraqi Federal Police were killed and two more wounded. Five Khatib Hizbullah members were also wounded.

One of the targets was a former military airport near Karbala which is one of the Shiite holy pilgrimage cities. The airport is supposed to become a civilian one and is currently under renovation. Its main building is now destroyed (vid). One civil worker sleeping at the site was allegedly killed as were two soldiers who were guarding the place.

The U.S. either has no information where Khatib Hizbullah units really, or it is intentionally targeting sites and units that will further inflame Iraq's Shia majority:

Another Iran-backed militia, Harakat al-Nujaba, accused the United States of hitting militia and Iraqi army headquarters, as well as a civilian airport. In a statement early Friday, it said that further strikes could prompt retaliation involving an “eye for an eye.”

The group did not elaborate on what that might be, and it was not immediately possible to confirm the U.S. statements that the strikes had only targeted militia facilities, or the militia claim that a civilian-related location had been struck.

Grand Ayatollah Sistani condemned the attack.

The 'western' media depict this war as if it were between Iran and the United States. But the U.S. troops involved are in Iraq without the consent of the Iraqi government. They are occupiers against whom resistance is legitimate. They are bombing official Iraqi government troops on Iraqi ground.

That is at least how the majority of Iraqis see it and that is why they will respond until the U.S. has left their country.

Why the U.S. is doing in Iraq what it now does is beyond me.

Posted by b on March 13, 2020 at 12:26 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Trump wants the oil. Start a new war, destroy Iraq once more then take the oil.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2020 12:37 utc | 1

Simple reason: Main object of US of North A world strategy is to promote LAND DESTRUCTION. That is: To destroy state functions in independent states.
Those states are no good at doing so themselves, so the US of North A sends out its Warcorpse volunteers to assist those states in self- or us-induced demolishitioning ("development").

Posted by: Oū Sī / 區司/ Usman | Mar 13 2020 12:40 utc | 2

Iraqi people should close down any access to any US base: no roads, no water, no oil. Shipping toilet paper by plane from Turkey, not to speak of water, food and other stuff, becomes a costly business for the occupiers.

Posted by: marcel | Mar 13 2020 12:44 utc | 3

The U.S. is "responding" like that because it refuses to admit it has been defeated, once more. It is occupying Iraq illegally because it cannot stay there legally, another defeat. And the Iraqi/Iranian militias will keep harassing the occupiers like the Vietcong did, with the same results. We are merely witnessing a countdown to the eventual pull-out of troops that are flailing about aimlessly.

Posted by: Ernesto Che | Mar 13 2020 12:56 utc | 4

They think that heavy-handed revenge for the attack against the US base will make the locals afraid to do it again and also use it as an opportunity to interfere with the border with Syria being open.

The US occupation forces are not too concerned about having good relations with the locals....they are there for bigger reasons.

Posted by: aqualech | Mar 13 2020 13:11 utc | 5

Why Is The U.S. Launching A New War On Iraq?

Its a Long War for the maintenance of Israel in the Middle East. They need to remove threats before they become significant. And it dovetails with US need to control world oil trade. Think tanks have been working on this for a looong time. I think that the pro-Israel think thanks are more focused than the Oil think tanks, but that is up for discussion.

Posted by: mpn | Mar 13 2020 13:20 utc | 6

Perhaps this U.S. regime attack has something to do with the Golan?

Posted by: SharonM | Mar 13 2020 13:21 utc | 7

To deflect from domestic issues like COVID-19. After all, he wants the oil revenues from the Shi'a crescent to pay for his Trillion dollars budget.

Posted by: Yul | Mar 13 2020 13:24 utc | 8

"Why the U.S. is doing in Iraq what it now does is beyond me."

Xymphora doesn't refer to cowardly, mendacious AmeriKKKan warmongers as The Assholians because they're lovely people. He calls them Assholians because only assholes would do the insanely evil things AmeriKKKa does (in countries the "Israel" Lobby's haters hate).
That's why Trump singled out "America's wars in the Middle East" as the biggest waste of US Taxpayer's money.

"6 Trillion dollars...6 Trillion! We could have rebuilt this country twice! And we're gonna put a stop to it. Simple as that."

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 13 2020 13:29 utc | 9

I wondered what sort of fuckery the administration would be up to with the US public distracted by the epidemic...this has gone pretty much under the radar, where it would have been a major news item just weeks ago.

Posted by: ralphieboy | Mar 13 2020 13:38 utc | 10

Why? What about 'Great Satan' is there to not understand? The USA has no strategy. The General Staff is a bunch of Viagra-addled old men whose fantasies of glory are wet-dreams of impotence. US Empire is a reactionary, and quite stupid entity flailing about like a barnyard chicken with its head cut off. Think of tales of Atlantis. This Empire is going down. And taking billions of innocents with it. The survivors will tell a cautionary tale of greed, and promise never to do it again. Same as it ever was.

Posted by: gottlieb | Mar 13 2020 13:41 utc | 11

Gangsters break legs when they don't get what they think they're "owed"...

Posted by: Joe | Mar 13 2020 13:45 utc | 12

OFF TOPIC

British Government 'Cobra' Meeting yesterday discussed "Bank Holiday" in April. It was reported as discussing the forthcoming Easter 'Bank Holiday / Spring Break', but as we watch the financial markets melt and the US inject c.$1Trillion to prop them up, it may be that the Brits (anf the US too?) are planning a Bank Shutdown in April.
Keep watching, and prepare accordingly.

Posted by: Uncle Bob | Mar 13 2020 13:47 utc | 13

New war? It’s the same war that was started in 2003 and subsequently expanded to Libya, Syria and Yemen.

The US will keep occupying and terrorizing Iraq until they are given the heave to Saigon 1975 style. Once the American military sets up shop in a country it never leaves voluntarily.

Posted by: Daniel | Mar 13 2020 13:53 utc | 14

Daniel 15

"It’s the same war that was started in 2003..."

1991.

Posted by: Russ | Mar 13 2020 14:01 utc | 15

A fresh start in Iraq for CENTCOM. Perfect.

Now the Iraqis have a purpose, plenty of targets, a unifying spirit that will result in a government coordinating with Iran an insurgency against the Occupier.

The US needs to suffer deep disaster, hundreds of casualties, embarrassing losses before it will be forced to leave.

This is the Soleimani War the General planned and spoke of. He knew it was not necessary for him to lead.

The only resistance to an Iraqi uprising against the Americans is the millions of dollars of corrupt monies coaxing some officials to side with the Hegemon. But, that will be overcome. A few assassinations will change that resistance.

As in Afghanistan, the US finds itself fighting against what it built in Iraq.

The CIA and Saudis, Qatar were able to divert the last insurgency (that formed into ISIS) and sent them against Mosul and into Syria to establish the Caliphate in Raqqa.

That won't happen again.

The insurgency will bleed the Americans. Trump can bomb all he wants. The blood river won't stop until the Americans leave.

Posted by: Red Ryder | Mar 13 2020 14:03 utc | 16

Empire is a fat stinking toad squatting on the land of others. They have gone full Israel.

Posted by: Linda Jean Doucett | Mar 13 2020 14:06 utc | 17

gottlieb @12

Exactly. The Beast is dying and lashing out in its death throes.

Posted by: JasonT | Mar 13 2020 14:09 utc | 18

My guess: Israel said so. Also it is perfect timing with Iran being devastated by the virus. How long til the bombs start flying at Syria? Pity is we should be bringing the troops home, so as to bring their medical personnel back home to heal deal with our pandemic.

Posted by: Old and Grumpy | Mar 13 2020 14:13 utc | 19

JasonT @19 has got it. the govt has no rationale for this - none is possible.

Posted by: douglass truth | Mar 13 2020 14:29 utc | 20

Perhaps it is simply that the mask is now off. The US is occupying Iraq and now that the Iraqi government has asked the US to leave the fig leaf is gone and the occupation will now be of the in your face variety.

Posted by: Othello | Mar 13 2020 15:24 utc | 21

Is this yet another attack on Iranian advisors to get Iran to retaliate so Israel will get its war against Iran?

Posted by: frances | Mar 13 2020 15:33 utc | 22

Just a correction: It is Kata'ib Hezbullah, not Khatib Hizbullah.
Indeed كتائب must be transliterated as Katāib ...

Posted by: NoName | Mar 13 2020 15:59 utc | 23

another case of "don't let a crisis go to waste". a self-inflicted "crisis" but that never matters. the hammer is always looking for an iranian nail so anything that happens is an excuse to act like assholes. they see iraq less as a country and more as a giant drone base with annoying muslims living in it. they also know that outside of the region most observers will think "oh well, they all look alike" so any nuance regarding actual allegiance or nationality is moot.

iraq was always supposed to be the first "domino" and now that syria and iran are being totes unfair and not letting the west rape them it's time for a good old fashioned dying empire temper tantrum.

ever seen someone with full blown alzheimer's go into a senseless rage? that's the US.

Posted by: the pair | Mar 13 2020 16:01 utc | 24

Dear excellent b. the reason you don't understand what murka wants in iraq is that you are a decent person. Of course it's the oil, baby, as with venezuela and iran - but the biggie is The Green Zone. Largest murkan "embassy" in the world. More daily flights in and out than most major civilian airports. It's the hub for all the gangster commerce = dope from afghanistan, weapons from where ever to where ever. And the darker stuff no doubt as well - human trafficking. Murka is not going to give that up.

Don't change b. we love you the way you are - but them's the facts max.

Posted by: Miss Lacy | Mar 13 2020 16:10 utc | 25

I would think there is coming a point when the “Axis of Kindness” decides it's best to pull out of Iraq and drop blanket sanction on the 4.4 m/b/d Iraqi oil, to save the American shale industry the financiers holding their debt, and Saudi Arabia.

Posted by: Gregory P | Mar 13 2020 16:22 utc | 26

@ B
I believe the reasons for your lacking the usual astute and informed analysis might include:
- You are overwhelmed by dramatic, complex, pressing and distressing events.
- Your mind does want to accept what your senses are telling it - your mind is trying to make the data fit what you believe that you know about the world, the paridigms which form the bais of your understanding of the world. Confusion reflects an open mind. Sometimes understanding is not readily attained and many will pretend understanding when they have not yet achieved it. Once one claims to have understanding, one becomes less receptive to data which conflicts with what they know and tries to defend their understanding.

I am not astute in these areas, but based on what I am reading the reasons for US actions in Iraq likely include:
- profit by some
- desire for conflict with Iran
- need to disrupt to prevent re-surgence of competitors
- retaliation
- feeling of domination - fun
- strategic objectives re. political/miltary influence
- because they can
- need to appear in control
- bombing was by Israel
- a distraction from other issues (Ukraine and virus and economy)
Its a matrix of motivations, there is likely no single driver.
Perhaps as with the virus and everything else in the US, it is a sign that there is no one in control.

The US is currently adrift. This lack of compass makes it easily manipulated by the owners and by outside interests.

Posted by: jared | Mar 13 2020 16:50 utc | 27

The (bureaucracies of the) west is attacking its own interests - its self.

Posted by: jared | Mar 13 2020 16:57 utc | 28

Iraqi people should close down any access to any US base: no roads, no water, no oil. Shipping toilet paper by plane from Turkey, not to speak of water, food and other stuff, becomes a costly business for the occupiers.

Posted by: marcel | Mar 13 2020 12:44 utc | 3

I agree, and hope it will happen asap.

Posted by: Per/Norway | Mar 13 2020 17:36 utc | 30

Who or what has the influence to certainly prevent any Middle East-related action proposed to the Commander-In-Chief for his final decision to proceed?

That question is answerable.

Posted by: chu teh | Mar 13 2020 17:47 utc | 31

These Popular mobilization units are legitimate parts of the Iraq military and the Iraqi Prime Minister is responsible for them, it is intolerable for the US to occupy Iraq when they have been asked to leave, but the US are very arrogant and will never leave by asking them nicely. One problem in the American's favour is they have all Iraq's oil sales cash [29 billion in US Banks] plus their gold, that money keeps the Iraq government operating for several months at a time, there may be some Iraqis who will fold to the US because of that, if they do they will be US slaves forever.

Posted by: Harry law | Mar 13 2020 17:59 utc | 32

C'mon B you perfectly know why:
They are fighting "terrorism", spreading "freedom", protecting "human rights", defending "the weak", helping "minorities", advancing "democracy", helping "prosperity", etc... to help all the people of the World...(with the voice of John Wayne and a hollywoodean background music)
As Smedley Butler would say: "Those are the reasons why they invented the Marine Corps" (and other Imperial Storm Troops)

Posted by: DFC | Mar 13 2020 18:26 utc | 33

Iraq condemns U.S. air strikes, warns of consequences

KERBALA, Iraq/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq condemned overnight U.S. air strikes on Friday, saying they killed six people and warning of dangerous consequences for what it called a violation of sovereignty and targeted aggression against the nation’s regular armed forces.

President Barham Salih said repeated such violations could cause Iraq to unravel into a failed state and revive the Islamic State militant group. Iraq’s foreign ministry announced plans to bring a complaint to the United Nations.

Posted by: b | Mar 13 2020 18:49 utc | 34

b 34 "Iraq’s foreign ministry announced plans to bring a complaint to the United Nations."

Like a little kid running off to tell teacher. Politically or officially, Iraq will not put up any resistance to the US.
Quite likely something similar to what Putin said was happening in Ukraine. Iraq government figures all have money stashed in US banks.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2020 18:57 utc | 35


"Why the U.S. is doing in Iraq what it now does is beyond me."

Ignorance, stupidity and vengeance

and because it can

Posted by: michaelj72 | Mar 13 2020 19:03 utc | 36

Isn't this the same set-up Bolton and the Zios used before? "Someone" fires rockets and kills a US type. The US overreacts and deliberately massacres forces that have no connection to the rockets but is sure to inflame the Iraqis. Protest at embassy is blamed on Soleimani who is promptly set up for death. Then Iran bombs Al-Asad, and Trump was supposed to start a completely self-defeating war on Iran.

Only he stood down instead. Maybe that is one of the only things he should get credit for.
So, the Zios start is all over again.

Posted by: casey | Mar 13 2020 19:04 utc | 37

b@34

"....President Barham Salih said repeated such violations could cause Iraq to unravel into a failed state and revive the Islamic State militant group...."

as many here have noted, the Empire of Chaos (I believe Pepe Escobar may have started using that phrase) does these kind of criminal, nefarious and wicked things simply to create imbalance and disturbances within nations which would otherwise be strong and independent actors on the regional or international scene. all part of what Naomi Klein called Disaster Capitalism too.....

also, I am sure the US would love to see ISIS resurgent to further add to the murder and mayhem in poor Iraq and Syria


Posted by: michaelj72 | Mar 13 2020 19:11 utc | 38

Let's not all hold our collective breath awaiting Iraq's response to the U$A's illegal terrorism directed against them.

Until the reserve currency issue changes, NOTHING changes, anywhere...

Posted by: ben | Mar 13 2020 19:21 utc | 39

Another paradigm change is taking place also in the EU...whose strams may bot hold this one...

It is not that the Chinese are promoting thier Belt and Riad initiative, no, it is that thye had pity of us...

European Union: words and "warning touches", but France and Germany stop exporting medical supplies to Spain and Italy.

Brussels has had to give a touch of attention to European partners such as Germany and France who announced a few days ago that they prohibited the export of medical devices. There they produce, for example, Dräger, one of the big treas manufacturers of respirators that are used in Spanish hospitals together with Philips and Hamilton. None of these companies wanted to comment on the situation ...

https://twitter.com/VictorGGuerrero/status/1238420314180194305

This is in the heights of lack of solidarity and of greed and a pathetic show of what neoliberalism has brought to us. Of course, both Italy and Spain, once this ends, should reconsider which showed to be a more reliable provider at hard times, even when being located so far away, plus being hit the first and most.

Posted by: H.Schmatz | Mar 13 2020 19:32 utc | 40

Wanted to mean "whose seams may not hold this one", sorry. Very tired.

Posted by: H.Schmatz | Mar 13 2020 19:34 utc | 41

You can delete comments 40 and 41, poste here by error. Sorry.

Posted by: H.Schmatz | Mar 13 2020 19:47 utc | 42

>Germany and France who announced a few days ago that they
>prohibited the export of medical devices.

Spain and Italy must be punished for threatening to leave the EU a few years ago. Greece is still being punished for disobedience a decade ago. I wonder if Germany and France will export to UK, or are they to be punished as well.

Posted by: Trailer Trash | Mar 13 2020 19:50 utc | 43

Why attack Iraq ? Quite simply Money.
1) Remember that the US (it may have been ONLY Trump) wanted half (50%) of all Iraq's oil revenue. In exchange for a "defense" of patriot missiles and the continuation of "development" and "reconstruction" in Iraq. (of which the US contractors would be the biggest beneficiaries anyway?)
This was refused by the Iraqii Prime Minister. (who would not have lived long if he had accepted).
(A subplot would be "regime" change in Iraq)

2) The US attacks targetted a soon to be opened Civil airport (Ex military). Not a "weapons" depot.
3) the US attacks targetted the Kata'ib Hezbullah. (Lebanese Herzbullah are a different group) without any proof. They are/were a big part of the anti-ISIS effort in Iraq. Who supplies ammunition and arms to ISIS or whatever they have changed their names to?

4) The US has stated that one "option" for them would be to join the Anbar region to their illegally held "east of the Euphrates" in Syria. This would be to block any land contact between Iran/Iraq and Syria/Lebanon. The territory could be useful, mainly because the US has moved their nuclear warheads out of Turkey and sent them to Poland and an unamed "Baltic" state. They obviously think that their "freedom" to attack neighbours from Turkey might be compromised by Erdogan. A "colony" under US control might make up for the loss.

(Aside note; Which Baltic state, does anyone know? The 57 Nuclear warheads joined to the Aegis missile launching system give the US "first strike capability". As they are placed directly on the Russian border, the possible "reaction" time for the Russians would certainly be less than ten minutes. The Pentagon might dimly understand that any nuclear war would be expected to kill 93 million peole in the first 45 minutes of fighting. They do not seem to understand that a war would not be limited to Europe. There are nice targets in the US, Chile, Patagonia or Paraguay, UK and Israel etc. which would also be "taken out".)


Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 13 2020 20:02 utc | 44

Things are going to go much worse as election times draws closer. People in the Middle East know Trump does not want soldiers coming home in body bags as election time comes round. They will likely try to take advantage of that, this is explored by Pam Ho How Much Do You Suck (To lose a popularity contest with Saddam Hussein)

Posted by: Kali | Mar 13 2020 20:27 utc | 45

Stonebird 44

The 57 "nuclear warheads" are not freestanding warheads that can be fitted to missiles loaded into an Aegis controlled system. They are an integrated part of an aircraft delivered B-61-12 bomb. They need particular hardware in the aircraft and a F-16 can be upgraded (as the TAF aircraft were) and I don't know if there are any F-16s in eastern Europe that can actually deliver them.

The USAF just needed them out of Turkey asap and there were not many places in NATO they could be sent.

Posted by: JohninMK | Mar 13 2020 20:40 utc | 46

Daniel 15
"It’s the same war that was started in 2003..."
1991.
Posted by: Russ | Mar 13 2020 14:01 utc | 15

Try August 1914. First overseas deployment in WW1 by Brits was to Basra. For Queen and Country, well at least the elites.

Posted by: Tom | Mar 13 2020 21:13 utc | 47

@JohninMK | Mar 13 2020 20:40 utc | 46

Still fits - almost, as both Germany and Belgium have F -16's already adapted. (Maybe other countries with F-16's too). Although you say that they "cannot" be fitted to missiles, this is the "official" US line, so there may be a smidgin of doubt.

They could have sent them to Italy as they have 80-88 bases there ..... ohh wait....

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 13 2020 21:49 utc | 48

The Outlaw US Empire looks Westward from Iraq and sees:

"Russia is building a giant base east of the Euphrates similar to the base of Hmeimim, and this indicates that the decision to liberate East Euphrates was taken, but it needs little patience."

That would include air defense systems capable of defending Western Iraq, too.

Regarding control of Iraqi oil, if the Outlaw US Empire controls it, then why not drastically reduce extraction so to raise oil price and save its domestic frackers?

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 13 2020 22:11 utc | 49

Appears the airport 'carefully' targeted by the USA military police action (technically their status)destroyed the construction site office.

TØM CΛT
@TomtheBasedCat
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Some more images, archived from August 2018.

It's when they poured the foundation for the basements of a firefighting building, a communications center, and a checkpoint.
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TØM CΛT
@TomtheBasedCat
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https://twitter.com/TomtheBasedCat/status/1238559278220423172?s=20
related.
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Video showing the extent of the damage at the airport:
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TØM CΛT
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https://twitter.com/TomtheBasedCat/status/1238560249738596352?s=20
So we're clear. What was actually hit last night was the site offices for the airport.

The reason for the building being made of temporary materials is just that - the actual workspace is ACROSS the street and off-screen.
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TØM CΛT
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Second video.
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continued from previous

So what was Coalition thinking? That a building randomly stood up a few years ago was a weapons storage? Did they not check the progression of this area to see the additional construction going on even if it was intermittent?
TØM CΛT
@TomtheBasedCat
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Some plumbing work from March 2nd.
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TØM CΛT
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https://twitter.com/TomtheBasedCat/status/1238553053701300224?s=20
So no it was not a "makeshift terminal", let me go ahead and correct myself here after recovering some imagery and videos.

Posted by: powerandpeople | Mar 13 2020 22:49 utc | 50

Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2020 12:37 utc | 1: Trump wants the oil.

He told us so himself, saying that he wouldn't be in the Middle East, but if he was ... he'd take the oil.

!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Mar 13 2020 23:41 utc | 51

https://sputniknews.com/us/202003131078561665-trump-orders-us-strategic-oil-reserves-to-be-filled-up-to-the-top-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/
""Based on the price of oil, I’ve also instructed the Secretary of Energy to purchase... large quantities of crude oil for storage in the US strategic reserve. We are going to fill it right up to the top. It puts us in a position that’s very strong, and we are buying it at the right price", Trump said."

Having the strategic reserves full would be handy if Trump is about to start a war in the middle east.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2020 23:43 utc | 52

Jackrabbit

During his election campaign and since he has stated a number of times that US should have taken the
Iraq oil and has said the US may still get the chance to do so.
The thing is, most prefer to ignore Trumps military build up and his statements about taking the oil and prefer to think instead Trump ia bringing the troops home. No troops were brought home from Syria - simply redeployed and same will be true if Trump pulls out of Afghanistan. Troops from Afghanistan if they are moved will be redeployed around the Persian Gulf oil patch.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2020 23:52 utc | 53

There is no American media. It is all jewish media. It is all owned by jewish zionists and anglo zionists. All of our media is owned and controlled by them. Nothing more and thus, what is said in Hareetz or the Jerusalem post will appear in the Jew York Times and other affiliate news media. Once you understand, you understand.

Posted by: Tonymike | Mar 14 2020 1:36 utc | 54

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2020 23:43 utc | 53

I think Trump has found a way to get MbS some needed cash there, the Saudis are leasing as many mega-tankers as they can find ...

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 14 2020 1:54 utc | 55

Peter AU1 #54

Troops from Afghanistan if they are moved will be redeployed around the Persian Gulf oil patch.

US and UK troops landed in Aden, Yemen yesterday according to reports posted by YNMS on twiiter.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 14 2020 2:58 utc | 56

Bemildred and uncle tungsten

Thanks. I guess Saudi's would be a good cutout for funding some projects. Over the last year or so, Trump has overseen a constant steady build up of forces in the region. No widely publicised build up like for the Iraq war, but its happening.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 3:08 utc | 57

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 3:08 utc | 58

Yes, there was a piece I saw today bragging on our "rocking two carriers in the region now" or some such.

UAE is invading Socotra too.

And claims there is a lot more oil in Hadramaut than has been reported.

Between that and paranoia about control of Bab al Mandeb you can see what they want. I think they have given up on dislodging the Houthis any time soon.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 14 2020 3:20 utc | 58

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 3:08 utc | 58

Scratch that, the Houthis may well be what the carriers are for.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 14 2020 3:24 utc | 59

Bemildred

Trump looks to be trying to destroy Iran's allies before tackling Iran itself. I think we will see a lot more of Trump's intentions after this election, though if he thinks there is a chance he could lose or that actions may boost his chances he may kick things off before the election.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 3:52 utc | 60

another policy choice that will fail , called blow-back. Remember that word?


Elijah remarks:

https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1238511581073473537
Elijah J. Magnier @ejmalrai
#US central command's objective to destroy all Kataeb Hezbollah's military capability reminds me of #Israel 2006 war on #Lebanon's objective to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli objective failed and Hezbollah is more equipped than ever.
Expect the same in #Iraq.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Mar 14 2020 4:51 utc | 61

Why continue the 29 Year Occupation and Suppression?

IRQ had the cheapest Petroleum Extraction Costs; and Saddam Hussein Publicly Announced he was tryin of to sell Petroleum and NatGas in Euros.

Posted by: IronForge | Mar 14 2020 5:01 utc | 62

michaelj72

I think with the US attacks on Iraq, The Iraqi Hezbollah will quickly grow as I believe they will be the ones to lead the fight against US and others will be drawn to them. I doubt there will be any formal Iraqi political or military action to push the US out other than running off to tell the UN that the yanks are naughty boys.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 5:03 utc | 63

Kali @ 45 says:

People in the Middle East know Trump does not want soldiers coming home in body bags as election time comes round. They will likely try to take advantage of that,...

considering the fact that the previous four US administrations have bombed Iraq, meaning they've been bombing Iraq for the last almost 30 years, i'd say the Iraqis could give a rat's ass who the Americans elect as president.

Posted by: john | Mar 14 2020 8:12 utc | 64

This is straight out of the Nazi WW2 playbook. Any resistance to the invaders is termed "terrorism". And for each Nazi trooper killed by people resisting the occupation there will be a random and disproportionately high number of executions of Iraqis. Incredible to think that The USA and allies have exactly copied tactics that they once tried Germans for as war crimes. Our morality has done a 180.

Posted by: Guy THORNTON | Mar 14 2020 9:37 utc | 65

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 3:52 utc | 61

"Trump looks to be trying to destroy Iran's allies before tackling Iran itself."

Well, that's been the approach up to now. You fail in one place, you look for someone weaker to bomb. That's how you wind up losing in Yemen. I've been watching that process since it was clear we were failing in Iraq under Bush the Lesser. Although the Second Lebanon War was somewhat out of order, and quite a shock I suppose. Some parties in the defense bidness have an infinite faith in bombing, preferably from aircraft with pilots with big dicks. Iraq, Lebanon, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, and so on with Iran, Russia, China in the background all the time. Can't say they don't try to think big. Some little places like Moldova, Macedonia, etc also in play. They did manage to destroy Yugoslavia and Libya.

No concept of strategy that I can see, all tactics, one step at a time, with lots of money all the way.

Nobody has been able to convince themselves that Iran was going to work out so far, and a good thing too. Assad just said he'd be happy to help attack Israel if anybody gets froggy. Saudi and all it's infrastructure is on the table too. "Nobody move or the Bunny gets it." Which is really whats holding things up, the Iranians and their allies have "deterrence", they can hit back.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Mar 14 2020 4:51 utc | 62

"reminds me of #Israel 2006 war on #Lebanon's objective to disarm Hezbollah

Yep, that's it.

Posted by: john | Mar 14 2020 8:12 utc | 65

"i'd say the Iraqis could give a rat's ass who the Americans elect as president."

Yep, but we need to think that they do.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 14 2020 9:37 utc | 66

Re: #24: "They see iraq less as a country and more as a giant drone base with annoying muslims living in it." Oh ouch, how the naked truth can sting!!

Posted by: Billosky | Mar 14 2020 10:32 utc | 67

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-usa-iran-retaliation-mi/iraq-condemns-u-s-air-strikes-warns-of-consequences-idUSKBN2101AD?il=0
"“These locations that we struck are clear locations of terrorist bases,” said Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the U.S. military’s Central Command.

“If Iraqis were there and if Iraqi military forces were there, I would say it’s probably not a good idea to position yourself with Kataib Hezbollah in the wake of a strike that killed Americans and coalition members,” he told a Pentagon news briefing."

And now a second rocket strike on the Taji base.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202003141078563708-rockets-hit-base-housing-us-troops-for-second-time---iraq-security-officials/
"According to a statement, a few rockets hit the coalition quarters while several others fell on a runway used by Iraqi forces."

Looks like things will ramp up fast in Iraq. The more the US hits Iraq, the more the US forces there will be targeted. Iraqi Hezbollah would have learned a trick or two from Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran so perhaps some barracks bombing type events in the not two distant future.
Though that may be what Trump is banking on to give an excuse for major strikes on Iraq and an oil grab.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2020 10:39 utc | 68

re *b*, last line: "Why the U.S. is doing in Iraq what it now does is beyond me."

*b*, You are a really 'nice guy' and, as I've observed extremely pleasant when choosing your words for 'the bad guys'.

So, let me try to help-out here.
The american gov't has been held-hostage since 1913, at a minimum, by a certain group of banksters.
These banksters are gangsters with ties & a suit. Their 'off-the-books'-subdivisions include the *Kosher Nostra* with it's *Kurdi Nostra*-Barzani Family in Iraq.

Yeah.
Barzani, not to be confused with the Mario Puzo's fictional character *Luca Brasi*.
Now which Barzani shall we talk about?
Mustafa Barzani or his son Masoud Barzani ?
Regardless which 1 one picks, these Barzani's along with other family members have been working with these same banksters-gangsters for 90+ years.
(note: remember I've mentioned the *un-known Sassons of Baghdad*?)
And since the creation of *Isn'treal* directly with the mozzad.
Yeah.

Here's a nice group photo of MOSAD’s Head Meir Amit, Israel Defence minister Moshe Dayan, Molla Mustafa Barzani, Rehavam Zeevi and Mahmud Osman
More info and many photos showing the isen'treal-kurdish connection can be found here:
Mullah Mustafa Barzani in Israeli .
And HERE .
So.
The *Eretz Isn't-real Project* has included the establishment of an independent Kurdistan.
The jUSA and neocohens will not give-up Kurdistan.
Not as long as their puppet-in-chief Tronald Dump is prezz.
That's why Tronald was put in place.
X-

Posted by: Veritas X- | Mar 14 2020 10:57 utc | 69

Likely now would be the most opportune time to confront the US.
The US knows this is the case.
It responds with fear and frustration.
The trajectory of US is toward collapse, being sucked dry.
Its a battle of endurance.

Posted by: jared | Mar 14 2020 11:02 utc | 70

Many suggestions already and they're all likely to be right but I completely understand anyone's reluctance to be convinced by it (and even less in any way be impressed by any of it). Still it might boil down to a US government internal need for attention and relevance; internal self-justification/self-delusion. Whether the attacks and responses are real or not matters less to the US government than continuing their own narrative, at the very least internally. Then all the usual stuff latches on as has already been mentioned.

The way I'm seeing b's question is whether there could be more to it than that, anything genuinely important.

Beyond the continued desperation of attempting to provoke change (for the worse) in any way I can't see any. The US government is incapable of understanding that their approach is what created the problems and that they're continually successful in changing things for the worse for themselves.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 14 2020 11:53 utc | 71

Trump downplays coronavirus because ...? .. in iraq, venezuela, and iran ..it's the oil - <=but=> the biggie is The Green Zone. Largest murkan "embassy" in the world. More daily flights in and out than most major civilian airports. It's the hub for all the gangster commerce = dope from afghanistan, weapons from where ever to where ever. And the darker stuff no doubt as well - human trafficking. Murka is not going to give that up. them's the facts max. by: Miss Lacy @ 25 <=Did you say largest $/day money laundering operation in the world?

Saudi and all it's infrastructure is on the table too ..by michaelj72 @62

Trump has found a way to get MbS some needed cash there, the Saudis are leasing as many mega-tankers as they can find ... two [USA] carriers [< to make cannon fodder of the Houthis?].. Bemildred @ 56 + @59 + @60 <=Do you mean ..taken-$0/bbl oil (flows thru Saudi leased vessels enroute to American; where American taxpayers purchase the oil at full market price and store it for future USA use? I'll bet the democraps would like to know that?

@ veritas X- @70 <=Suit clad bangangsters have used the USA to hold-Americans hostage since 1913, .. explains independent Kurdistan.

to me its the money laundering green zone.. and the Saudi oil for petrodollar exchange that explains all of this..

Posted by: snake | Mar 14 2020 11:59 utc | 72

The attack of today proofs the us did exactly what they were supposed to do and the need for more escalation.
The call from Bibi for a united government predicts preparations for a war.

Posted by: gary | Mar 14 2020 12:52 utc | 73

Veritas, 70

That does help explain a lot.
Thanks.
The wretched Kurds, yet again?

Posted by: Emily | Mar 14 2020 13:31 utc | 74

Posted by: snake | Mar 14 2020 11:59 utc | 73

Let's try it again ...

Re oil etc.: Buy low, sell high, with no oversight to speak of. They then pump it back into the ground.

I concur that it is the law-and-oversight free overseas playgrounds the Pentagon/Spooks REALLY don't want to give up. The US military has always been a fountain of graft, that is why the political class loves them.

Every gang needs a hideout. Militarily the "lily-pads" are stupid, fat ill-protected forward targets. Only in a colonial enterprise against genuinely impotent adversaries does that sort of thing work, and you will still take casualties. There are damn few places left where the natives don't know how to make IEDs and EFPs and such things. Now we can add drones to the mix. As one can see, they cannot even control Afghanistan, as many (e.g. Nguyen Vo Giap) predicted at the time. Petraeus was the moving force behind the special forces/lilypad concept.

Speaking of Mike Davis: Buda's Wagon -- Mike Davis

Jonathan Schell's "Unconquerable World" has some nice historical/philosophical perspective on this issue, going back to Napoleon's failure to control Spain 200+ years ago.

https://sniggle.net/TPL/index5.php?entry=15Feb09

I am very fond of Mr. Schell, who is unfortunately no longer with us.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 14 2020 14:13 utc | 75

The USA is a cuntry run by a death cult,and they just have to sacrifice some real human lives every day,hence the car bombs,suicide missions etc.Look at Pence,I do not consider him to be a human being,just infect trash.
This is going on for decades,and I'm really wondering why the american people let it happen.

Posted by: willie | Mar 14 2020 15:16 utc | 76

@ Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 14 2020 11:53 utc | 72

Regarding Bs lack of answer for this one.
It seems to me that B likes to think in terms of strategy and good vs evil. It makes his analysis kind of reassuring - one would wish to believe that he is right.
But I fear that good has nothing to do with it and many times the bad guys win.
Good and God are only what we make of them. I believe.
They dont exist and look after us its the other way around.
So we are faced with a 900 lb monster with seemingly unlimited resources. What to do.

Posted by: jared | Mar 14 2020 15:16 utc | 77

The US War on the Iraqi people continues. The unconsented to presence of foreign troops is a hostile act creating a state of war unless one already existed. The unconsented to bombing is likewise an act of war and creates a state of war. It's difficult to calculate how many countries the US has created a state of war with.

Posted by: stevelaudig | Mar 14 2020 16:44 utc | 78

"the U.S. assassinated the Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani"

What was that Islamic terrorist even doing there?

Are you islamophiles?

Posted by: niceguy | Mar 14 2020 17:47 utc | 79

My comment was badly written, what I said about not being impressed was meant to be about US machinations and not any of the comments or suggestions of possible US motives.

Jared: or maybe just some convincing purpose.

About "what to do" my own opinion is that the US has already defeated itself (as an example using the term "superpower" to describe the US seems to have almost magically disappeared, at least outside the US) and that the only reason they're still around in a recognizable form is that China and Russia and likely others too do not want any sudden collapse. This does not mean that there is nothing one can do, for example (in my opinion at least and of course I could be wrong) opposing US wars in any way one finds possible and sensible is actually helping everyone including the US.

Spreading more nuanced and sympathetic views about the "villains" in the US narratives is another. One probably shouldn't try to convince anyone but only make the views and information more commonly available so that people have something to contrast US government fantasies against.

Deconstructing US propaganda is also very helpful. Increasing awareness of all the manipulation.

Sharing information and views. Trying to figure things out. Arguing.

Essentially Moon of Alabama! :)

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 15 2020 2:01 utc | 80

MoA asks why the US military is in Iraq. They told us in 2006:

“The Zionist Plan for the Middle East, also known as the Yinon Plan, is an Israeli strategic plan to ensure Israeli regional superiority. It insists and stipulates that Israel must reconfigure its geo-political environment through the balkanization of the surrounding Arab states into smaller and weaker states.

When viewed in the current context, the war on Iraq, the 2006 war on Lebanon, the 2011 war on Libya, the ongoing war on Syria, not to mention the process of regime change in Egypt, must be understood in relation to the Zionist Plan for the Middle East. The latter consists in weakening and eventually fracturing neighboring Arab states as part of an Israeli expansionist project.

Greater Israel” consists in an area extending from the Nile Valley to the Euphrates.

Israeli strategists viewed Iraq as their biggest strategic challenge. This is why Iraq was outlined as the centerpiece to the balkanization of the Middle East and the Arab World. In Iraq, on the basis of the concepts of the Yinon Plan, Israeli strategists have called for the division of Iraq into a Kurdish state and two Arab states, one Shiite and the other Sunni.

••• The Atlantic, in 2008, and the U.S. military’s Armed Forces Journal, in 2006, both published widely circulated maps that closely followed the outline of the Yinon Plan. “ •••

[ Note that Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) members have proposed plans that align with Yinon — The Biden Plan promoted by Cheney and Biden and Tulsi Gabbard’s “Three State Solution”]


Sources:
Muslim Village 8-13-2014 The Yinon Plan For Greater Israel,Syria, Iraq and Isis
Global Research 2-4-2020 ”Greater israel the zionist plan for the middle east”

Posted by: deneicy | Mar 15 2020 10:45 utc | 81

Source: Oil Empire new map

Search: “Biden - Cheney plan to partition Iraq:
ethnic cleansing to control the oil 2019 update: Joe is the establishment's Presidential candidate, with more public support than his 2007 campaign.”

related page: “Biden and Cheney support redrawing borders using ethnic conflict to control oil: the Empire's New Middle East map”


“ In 2007, Senator Biden had little, if any, traction with his Presidential quest. His primary issue for the primaries was his support for breaking up Iraq into three new countries -- using ethnic conflict to control the oil, the same goal that Dick Cheney had when he launched the war on Iraq. Biden's Presidential campaign was essentially his audition to be Vice President.”

Also

“ The Empire's New Middle East Map
ethnic cleansing and petroleum geography”. Oil Empire

using religious and ethnic divisions to split Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia to control their oil rich provinces

In June 2006, Armed Forces Journal published map from Ralph Peters, a prominent war strategist. It shows the method to the madness -- creating ethnic tension and civil war in order to redraw the boundaries. Most of the existing borders were imposed by Britain and France after World War I - and conveniently (for the US and Europe) divide most of the Arabs from most of the oil. Note that their new "Arab Shia State" would contain much of the oil, separating governments in Riyadh, Baghdad and Tehran from what is currently the main source of their national wealth.

Youtube 2018: Lt. Col. Peters speaks out against Trump
"Ex-Fox News analyst: Trump is a danger to the US"


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