White House officials are ratcheting up the rhetoric over Iran’s recent ballistic missile test, accusing it of being “highly provocative” and threatening non-specific action, which might include military force, against Iran over the incident.
National Security Adviser Michael Flynn announced that the Trump Administration is “putting Iran on notice” over the test, saying that the test threatens stability across the region and “places American lives at risk.” Other officials said a lot of options were under consideration.
In practice very little happened to provoke this reaction. Iran’s single test of a medium-range ballistic missile almost certain did not violate the P5+1 nuclear deal’s restriction on testing nuclear-capable missiles, and Iran has insisted the design was purely defensive, with no consideration of carrying a nuclear payload.
Indeed, some analysts have noted the ballistic missile ban is largely irrelevant at this point, with Iran having only a small civilian nuclear program left. The Obama Administration had similarly gotten riled by such conventional tests in the past couple of years, but wasn’t being nearly so aggressive as today’s comments.
With President Trump making clear his intention to try to renegotiate the P5+1 nuclear deal, these new threats may be an attempt to scare Iran to the table. At the same time, putting the US on a war-footing on the first pretext after the inauguration risks putting the international community on Iran’s side over the matter, particularly with so many already concerned the Trump Administration is deliberately trying to sabotage the deal.
I think you’re overthinking this, Jason- that’s old school, pre-Trump. New school is this: the world does what Trump says- or else. The process will be very simple. Trump will transmit his demands. Iran (or Mexico, or China, or Australia, or Japan, or South Korea, or the EU) will either capitulate, or Trump will attack.
And that’s about it. That’s the new diplomacy.
Is that the new strategy for getting NATO members to spend more on their militaries? Threaten to invade them?
Dictatorial Narcissism!
“Capitulate or Trump attacks” Is pure bluff! Trump doesn’t have the brains or the manpower having lost the Iraq war and after signing SOFA
its obvious that whatever weapons he thought US had that should have provided some advantage Israel has long since sold to ‘the enemy’ Iran’s ability to hack and bring down US drones and China been manufacturing US engine parts for years.
Even bluffing, if that’s what it really is, carries a huge cost to keeping peace in the world. Be aware of that.
luv from Canada.
Yeah, these ‘geniuses’ think rhetoric has no impact on what nations decide to do (ie arms races).
After 16 years of bushbama, it is tiresome that we still get served Saudi/Israeli mindcontrol, even ranker than before.
The UK can’t say a bad word about the Saudis least they stop spending $$$$ on UK Aircraft. Trump will do the same and go cap in hand if needs be
KSA will soon run out of money to pay for weapons.
And I wish it happens sooner than later.
Something about the GOP and their little men who have to wage needless wars to make them feel all big and tough. I think Trump would like nothing better than to start a war with Iran. Hello $5 a gallon gasoline and home heating oil with a world wide recession for the topping. Of course Trump loves economic downturns. His companies can then pick up foreclosures for pennies on the dollar.
Flynn is an odious gas-bag who appears to have wandered off-set during a B-grade remake of “Doctor Strangelove”
(Emphasis mine). Well, one can hope.
Under obama– and for forst few years– US was saying that all options to be taken against Iran are on the table. Israel also threatened to at attack Iran during those years.
Then for years no threat was issued against iran by US [not sure ab. Israel]
But we have repeat of it under Iran. I do not think US will attack Iran militarily for some time yet if ever.
A lot of Americans are tired of wars which world Jewry and its money like.
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I also advise DT and Gladimir to stay out of the Iraqi inter-ethnic, inter-religious warfare; their infinite hate/ignorance…
I don’t have their e-mail but if i did i’d mail them our advice. Surely, there must be more people than just me being with this plan!!!
Two weeks. That’s all it took for this clown to get things started with Iran. “Places American lives at risk” Seriously? How? This just in: American lives are now at risk any time another sovereign country exercises their right to have a military.
Raimondo’s antiwar President at it again.
Raimondo’s twitter is even worse than his Trump-pimping articles here. He links to neocon sites (ie jihadwatch) for support of his views while claiming to oppose them.
And it has a large anti-war.com banner on it. Ironic?
a knave or fool be ye?
Step two- Wait for Iran to speak out on defending itself from US aggression and then use that to bolster the idea that Iran is sabre rattling.
Everybody should keep an eye on RT in order to get the news as it’s happening. And also without and before US counterspin.
It’s likely to be quite subtle to begin with but it shouldn’t take very long to start!
Standard bluster. They’re not going to make any attack now, with the S-400s in. if Flynn is saying this, he’s not being a competent adviser in the military sense. If Mattis were saying this, I’d worry more. Actually, it might be Flynn trying to look tuffer than Mattis, and a good sign concerning lack of Flynn influence. Among other things, Bannon now sits with equal station with Flynn on the NSC. If McCain is against that, something must be right.
“Among other things, Bannon now sits with equal station with Flynn on the NSC. If McCain is against that, something must be right.”
That so? Bannon has stated that a world-wide conflict between islam and the christian west is INEVITABLE.
Bannon approvingly interviewd Frank Gaffney on his radio program just last year.
Gaffney is hankering for a war with Iran. Gaffney is extremely close (mentor) to the new CIA director.
Better get better informed before you start assuming you know where people stand.
Points taken.
McCain may be a neocon hack, but he’s right in this situation. Trump is already woefully out of touch with reality and now has the former editor of a far right-wing “news” site as his advisor. I can’t even come up with an equivalent comparison for the Left – if Obama had been living in a bubble for the last 30 years, and then had the editor of Mother Jones, or Alternet, as his top advisor? But neither of those remotely compares to the garbage recycled over at Breitbart.
Scenario 1
Americans attack Iran and Iran allies of Putin and Iran respond back sinking us fleet.
Israel army involves by attacking nuclear facilities of Iran.
Iran dearest that they build the nuclear bomb hided the truth.
Russians bring back all the necessary war machines to Russian bases in Syria.
We will wittnes Cuban Type of missile crisis,only this time Russians, actually would use nuclear bomb.
So Trump wouldn’t have a clue what to do.
And pentagon / Army personnel would be instructed not to obey order coming from President. Vice President would take ower Presidency.
One wonders; why would we go through these very possible Scenarios?
Where are all these unstable / or deliberately unstable on purpose trigger happy people?
Perhaps work in progress.
Michael Flynn’s ideology has inside it a “vicious cancer”. If
it “metastasizes”, thousands, maybe millions will die.