Iraq/Iran Megathread - Latest: U.S. to close Baghdad embassy

[BigSerg]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216120362230067202?s=19

[Omega21]

Trump

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216114167108849665?s=19

I must say, I am pleasantly surprised that Trump is addressing them in their own language.

[ji_scott]

Edited out by an alert staff member:

But it's OK with the Uighurs by China.

[BigSerg]

https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1216124137518915584?s=19

[Fuzzy Bear]

Trump really came out of this clean as a whistle.

Yes, Badger, he really did.

Trump almost started World War III. Trump almost catalyzed the entire destruction of the Kurds. Trump almost started war with North Korea. Trump almost started a full-blown war between the Palestinian-Arabs and the Israelis. Trump almost devastated the economy by slapping tariffs on Chinese goods. See how much heavy-lifting the word “almost” is doing? It’s utterly bizarre, because these predictions never happen.

The word’s subjunctive quality has become a shield for the media as they predict wild policy outcomes that have no grounding in the facts. When President Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, we were essentially promised insurmountable bloodshed and the irrevocable destruction of any hope at peace in the region. Thankfully, we got neither. But that didn’t stop reporters from sheepishly convincing themselves that, although their prediction never achieved fruition, it still could have happened.

That is the same dance being rehearsed now  on Iran. Our firefighting media know the steps so well. The beauty of almost – and its ugly step-child could have – is that these reporters never have to be right for something to be almost true.

The media is part of the forces that actively seek to drive Trump from office.  There are good reasons for ordinary, non-TDS Americans to be skeptical of what the MSM churns out.  It's not "journalism" anymore; it's "narrative construction".

[BP🌹]

Trump really came out of this clean as a whistle.

Yes, Badger, he really did.

Trump almost started World War III. Trump almost catalyzed the entire destruction of the Kurds. Trump almost started war with North Korea. Trump almost started a full-blown war between the Palestinian-Arabs and the Israelis. Trump almost devastated the economy by slapping tariffs on Chinese goods. See how much heavy-lifting the word “almost” is doing? It’s utterly bizarre, because these predictions never happen.

The word’s subjunctive quality has become a shield for the media as they predict wild policy outcomes that have no grounding in the facts. When President Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, we were essentially promised insurmountable bloodshed and the irrevocable destruction of any hope at peace in the region. Thankfully, we got neither. But that didn’t stop reporters from sheepishly convincing themselves that, although their prediction never achieved fruition, it still could have happened.

That is the same dance being rehearsed now  on Iran. Our firefighting media know the steps so well. The beauty of almost – and its ugly step-child could have – is that these reporters never have to be right for something to be almost true.

The media is part of the forces that actively seek to drive Trump from office.  There are good reasons for ordinary, non-TDS Americans to be skeptical of what the MSM churns out.  It's not "journalism" anymore; it's "narrative construction".

Trump and MSM are both garbage and upholders of the status quo.

[Hollywood]

Essentially, with one single action, President Trump severely weakened Iran’s ability to wage war through their proxies, caused the world to see just how impotent Iran really is, and proved to the revolutionaries within Iran that America stands with them.  They even warned Iraq of their pending missile attack, knowing full well they were also warning the United States. Now their proxy governments in Iraq and Lebanon are facing severe pressure from grass root protests and minorities Iran seeks to oppress with Shia Nationalism, the plan to make Syria a proxy wasn't finished, and the crucial leader behind Iran's all of our issues in the Middle East is dead.  Even Al Jazeera thinks Democrats have a completely ludicrous opinion about Trump's decision to strike Suleimani in Iraq.  https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/soleimani-anti-imperialist-hero-200105211451136.html. 

Everyone should be feeling safer today than they did at the beginning of the administration, and stop deluding yourself with fantasies of WW3.  Honestly, some of the people on this forum are complete looney tunes.   

President Trump’s actions are all part of a grand strategy that eludes all leftist, as well as many others while keeping his campaign promises of no never-ending wars. Those not intelligent enough to see what a grand plan this was whimper about offending Iran and causing our allies to wonder what will happen next. They are sheep, led to slaughter, through their own ignorance.  This was the plan:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/01/29/op-ed-trump-national-defense-strategy-marks-near-peer-rivals-return.html

This was how Iran used proxy wars to humiliate the U.S. under Bush and Obama, both whom allowed him to conduct attacks on our troops under Iranian field commanders in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., without having to expend any manpower. 
https://my.nps.edu/documents/105858948/106279825/Ostovar_Grand+Strategy+of+Militant+Clients_Iran_Oct18/eef1b728-2aa8-4be0-a4db-e0e371819656

[Meclazine for Israel]

Great post Hollywood.

What do you think the effect of the plane being shot down does in the context of your comments?

[BigSerg]

🥰

https://twitter.com/mohmd_mozafari/status/1216303243829170178?s=19

[Hollywood]

Great post Hollywood.

What do you think the effect of the plane being shot down does in the context of your comments?

I think the reaction within Iran and the rest of the Arab world are pretty self-evident.  Shooting down a plane with your people on board completely wiped away most of the outrage among Muslims, especially when you take into account the protests in Tehran.  What can Iran actually do anymore?

Iran made a play in Africa with one of the militia groups they support, but the United States and Saudi Arabia have recruited the Horn of Africa and Red Sea countries. The Democrats are mocking Trump for his comments about the Nobel Prize for playing a role in the piece between Eritrea and Ethiopia.  That isn't even the half of it. The peace between Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopa, Djibouti, Sudan, and Egypt were a direct result of plan devised by Trump and King Salman of Saudi Arabia to create a "Middle East Strategic Alliance" against Iran and its proxy wars.  At least give to King Salman of Saudi Arabia. 
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...vive-arab-nato-to-confront-iran-idUSKBN1KH2IK

Saudi Arabia brokered the deal between the Red Sea States across from Yemen, creating a choke point to blockade Iran from supplying proxies, in addition to, controlling trade through the Suez Canal. The U.S. mediated the Nile River deal between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, as well as control bases in Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya were they've been blasting the Iranian-supported Al-Shabbab militia that caused instability in the region. 
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1593511

[Koharu]

https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1216252081029271557?s=21
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1216252086154776576?s=20
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1216252087379447809?s=20

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

https://mobile.twitter.com/nytimes/status/1216400481007939587

Perhaps a bit of a sensationalist headline, but it's still a bit concerning that people in the administration don't seem to be on the same page. 

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

https://twitter.com/adamdavidson/status/1216340422492139520

[BP🌹]

the Iranian-supported Al-Shabbab militia

Liar.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

These polls are UGLY for Trump.

https://twitter.com/theplumlinegs/status/1216331951222788096?s=21

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://mobile.twitter.com/nytimes/status/1216400481007939587
Perhaps a bit of a sensationalist headline, but it's still a bit concerning that people in the administration don't seem to be on the same page. 

There is virtually no chance that the Secretary of Defense would not have been aware of intelligence that was provided to the President.  This just confirms that Trump was making it up.

[Badger]

Trump really came out of this clean as a whistle.

Yes, Badger, he really did.

Trump almost started World War III. Trump almost catalyzed the entire destruction of the Kurds. Trump almost started war with North Korea. Trump almost started a full-blown war between the Palestinian-Arabs and the Israelis. Trump almost devastated the economy by slapping tariffs on Chinese goods. See how much heavy-lifting the word “almost” is doing? It’s utterly bizarre, because these predictions never happen.

The word’s subjunctive quality has become a shield for the media as they predict wild policy outcomes that have no grounding in the facts. When President Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, we were essentially promised insurmountable bloodshed and the irrevocable destruction of any hope at peace in the region. Thankfully, we got neither. But that didn’t stop reporters from sheepishly convincing themselves that, although their prediction never achieved fruition, it still could have happened.

That is the same dance being rehearsed now  on Iran. Our firefighting media know the steps so well. The beauty of almost – and its ugly step-child could have – is that these reporters never have to be right for something to be almost true.

The media is part of the forces that actively seek to drive Trump from office.  There are good reasons for ordinary, non-TDS Americans to be skeptical of what the MSM churns out.  It's not "journalism" anymore; it's "narrative construction".

Trump and MSM are both garbage and upholders of the status quo.

Oh, well if a respected non-ideological driven Source like the Federalist says it, and basically uses the fact it didn't start a full-on armed conflict with Iran and possible World War 3, yet, as its Baseline for success..........

[Badger]

https://mobile.twitter.com/nytimes/status/1216400481007939587

Perhaps a bit of a sensationalist headline, but it's still a bit concerning that people in the administration don't seem to be on the same page. 

When Trump's own secretary of defense is not willing to make the case that evidence shows American lives were in imminent danger, the fact that this entire Fiasco is turning more and more likely caused solely because Trump feared having his own Benghazi appears all but a fait accompli.

[PSOL]

Iranian Taekwando champion has defected

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Not sure if it's related, but anyhow:

https://mobile.twitter.com/NYDailyNews/status/1216424152711729154

[American2020]

Some tweets

https://twitter.com/Wolff4MMT/status/1216440229365633024

https://twitter.com/Garou_Hidalgo/status/1215534891292614656


Beware the alt-left propaganda, which is as toxic as the alt-right propagnada.

[Gass3268]

https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/1216331951222788096?s=20

[Progressive Pessimist]

https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/1216331951222788096?s=20

The Democratic nominee absolutely has to incorporate this into their campaign, even if they don't want to focus on foreign policy too much.

"Trump made the country less safe." It's a great, and accurate, attack.

[BigSerg]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216506722153639942?s=19

[Old Broken Down Pile Of Crap]

This coming from the political party that in early 2017 tried to make it legal to hit protesters with cars.