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Remember that Iran Deal? The one that Obama, John Kerry, and Ben Rhodes snuck around and put together? The one they assured us would mean Iran is never going to build nukes? That ‘pallets of cash’ one? Iran has never complied and lately has issued new threats. Threats worrisome enough that the U.S. has ordered non-emergency personnel out of Iraq.
“Event: The U.S. State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. Government employees from Iraq, both at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil. Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq.
Actions to Take:
Depart Iraq by commercial transportation as soon as possible
Avoid U.S. facilities within Iraq
Monitor local media for updates
Review personal security plans
Remain aware of surroundings
Review the complete Travel Advisory for Iraq
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas”
This comes soon after four oil tankers (two of them Saudi) were attacked and damaged off the coast of the UAE, and just after Yemen Houthi rebels attacked two oil-pumping stations in Saudi Arabia and declared they had launched seven or more drone attacks on the pipeline.
“The conflict in Yemen is a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Meanwhile, the United States and its allies are increasingly at odds with Iran following the Americans’ withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and subsequent tightening of U.S. sanctions against Iran. In retaliation, Tehran declared last week that it would restart enriching uranium at higher levels if the international powers do not negotiate fresh terms for the deal.”
First of all, Iran has never complied with the original deal. We’ve noted that many times. Secondly, if you think that Iran completely shuttered its uranium enrichment program after the deal was struck? I’ve an oasis on the moon to sell you. Third, given what we’ve known about the untenable economic situation in Iran, where did they spend all that money? Oh golly gee, perhaps it was spent on their nuclear program and providing monetary support to terrorists. Fourth, Iran just ended some of the Iran Deal commitments giving Iran the ability to reach weapons-grade plutonium in ONE YEAR.
Needless to say, it isn’t good news that tension is high and we are having to bring home non-emergency personnel from Iraq.
Here’s the thing, Iran wants the deal back on track… THEIR way. The EU seems to be caving in to their demands. However, if the deal isn’t crafted just the way Iran wants, Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom told the media “there will be consequences from our side.”
I’d err on the side of better safe than sorry given that threat. And it is a threat. Run the deal our way or you will pay is the implication.
“Iran is certain to continue to pursue its regional strategy, unless and until its adversaries are willing or able to blunt Iran’s efforts,” the authors of a new report by the The Soufan Center, a global security research center, wrote. “Rolling back Tehran’s regional influence will require an equally nimble approach combining diplomacy, smart counter-terrorism policy, and a nuanced understanding of how and why Iran’s soft power efforts have been successful so they may be effectively countered.”
‘Certain to continue?’ They haven’t stopped. Just went underground for awhile. Meanwhile others are trying to spin this as all Trump’s fault. He’s war-mongering!
In this interview @timkaine basically accuses the Trump admin of intentionally attempting to provoke Iran into some kind of military exchange as a pretext for war.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) May 15, 2019
Ilhan Omar had something to say about this.
This is chilling. Trump and John Bolton are openly laying the groundwork for another war.
The only thing we’re relying on to prevent this is Congressional authority and Donald Trump’s sanity. We can’t rely on the latter, so we need to move on the former. https://t.co/pP723mq20h
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 14, 2019
Then again, she has been defending Iran so….
Leave it to Ilhan Omar to trust Iran more than US Intelligence. https://t.co/gFdqeeABnz
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) May 9, 2019
Iran is and always has regarded the United States as the enemy. They made that abundantly clear when they took over our embassy and held Americans hostage for 444 days and have never wavered from that conviction.
War with Iran is something NO ONE wants. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared in case it happens. That doesn’t mean we should ignore what Iran is saying and doing.
Obama’s Iran Deal emboldened Iran. The events of today are the result.
Feature Photo Credit: The Bulletin photo, cropped and modified
Mike-in-Keller says: List of strategic targets.
One strategic target taken out, every half hour. On the dot. Predator drone, F-35, cruise missile, depending on the target.
Also, serious thought should be given to government decapitation.
Obama had the chance. In 2009, he could have aligned with the protestors. Of course, Obama, displaying his Islamic sympathies, sided with the government.
GWB says: Iran is and always has regarded the United States as the enemy.
Since 1979, anyway. And, the difference in 1979? The muslim fundamentalists took over.
This is chilling. Trump and John Bolton are openly laying the groundwork for another war.
This is a standard Democratic trope. But, you really should lay the groundwork for a war, shouldn’t you? Even if it’s one you hope to avoid? Or a defensive one?
All of us have a responsibility to view their claims with skepticism.
Well, I’ll agree with Ilhan on this one. Especially after the 2009-2017 time period.
However, we also know – unless you’re willfully ignorant or a liar – from all sorts of open intelligence sources that Iran (the gov’t thereof, that is) is a bad actor and wouldn’t mind torching the entire world if it brought about islamic judgment day.
BTW, I recommended shortly after 9/11 that we actually invade Iraq (because we were still at war with them and needed to finish that), then turn to the east and go over land into Afghanistan, telling Tehran, “Yeah, we’re coming through, and if you screw with us we’ll simply stop in your country and break everything and kill the folks in charge before we go grind Afghanistan into dust.” (I also advocated not stopping in Afghanistan, but proceeding into Pakistan, all the way to the Kashmir border, tipping our hats to the Indians when we packed up and went home.)
And, yes, I would have GONE HOME.
GWB says: Oh, if Omar and her ilk desire to lay a coming war at any President’s feet, any honesty* would compel them to blame Jimmah. We wouldn’t be in this mess if he hadn’t ousted the Shah.
(* Yeah, I know.)
David Byler says: Once upon a time, there was a song, a parody of another song, a Beach Boys song, which went “Ba
Ba, Ba, Ba Barbara Ann.” The song I’m remembering went “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb ____,” rhyming with “Barbara Ann.” Am I the last one alive who remembers that song?
GWB says: Nope, I remember it. Though it was more just something we all said (what I remember) than an actual parody song.
SFC D 
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