In an off-camera briefing at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary James Mattis says that the US is not seeking regime change or collapse in Iran, adding that no policy is in place that has been instituted like that.
Mattis said the US goal was to get Iran to “change their behavior on a number of threats that they can pose with their military.” He did not elaborate on that point, or how the US plans to get there beyond threats and sanctions.
Other officials, however, say that President Trump is continuing to push his idea of an “Arab NATO” which would consist of the Gulf Arab states, Egypt, and Jordan. The whole point of this would be to create an alliance that would confront Iran across the Middle East.
Mattis didn’t mention that, but did address a reported by Australian military sources who claimed that President Trump is prepared to attack Iran militarily, and that the bombing could begin in the next month. Mattis said there were no such plans, calling the reports “fiction.”
The Australian officials, who were not named, said that Australia had already agreed to help identify targets in Iran, and that the US attack would center on booming Iranian nuclear sites.
Hang in there, Gen Mattis!
It appears as to the issue of Iran that you are the only sane voice in the admin.
But I would caution, watch your back. Mossad and their ziocon sycophants in the US abide by no rules.
I wholeheartedly agree, Gen. Mattis needs to watch his back regarding the Iran issue, in which it appears he’s the only sane voice in the admin. The Mossad and their ziocon sycophants in the US definitely don’t abide by any rules.
I certainly hope the poodle Australian governments would not demean themselves as low as this, but their following of USI plans, no matter how terrible, is noticeable.
As an Australian,I am disgusted by this.Prime Minister Howard got us involved in Iraq,to our shame.A greater lickspittle never walked on the face of the earth.The smell of the Presidential buttcrack works wonders on most Australian leaders.
James Mattis should wonder how much he is still in the loop, with walking disasters like Pompeo and especially Bolton around, known for undermining and going around everyone but themselves and the hands that stroke them.
It seems that “mad dog” Mattis is the most sane person of Trump’s foreign policy advisers….. Which is pretty troubling.
“No such plans”…”A Fiction”
It seems the more absolute, stronger, and forceful the denial; the more likely it is to be true.
There are multiple Iran invasion plans that have been floated, so right off the bat Mattis is lying. If they’re going to invade, they have a limited time window in which to execute before the mountains become too cold.
Really??? Mattis isn’t lying in this case; he knows what the consequences of an invasion of Iran would be; so, these multiple invasion plans that have been floated are nothing but delusions, “Fiction”, as Mattis correctly said.
Trump already said he’s considering reaching out to his Iranian counterpart (/Rouhani) to discuss peace in Syria and the rest of the ME, and this was after he had issued a threat via twitter (he wanted to get Rouhani’s attention with the threatening tweet).
Isn’t funding regime change considered meddling and collusion.
Indeed it is, John, but those funding it don’t give a hoot, they’re continuing this funding.
Indeed it is, John, but those funding it don’t give a hoot, they’re continuing this funding.
I guess Mad Dog is taking The Don’s place as “good cop” in this disaster in waiting. Unfortunately he’s up against multiple “bad cops”.
This does not make one iota of importance but the latest poll says Americans in the main are opposed to war with Iran. It is just a statistic as the neo con dominated admin will do what it intends to do.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-27/americans-overwhelmingly-reject-going-war-iran-new-poll-finds
The Gulf Arab states? Which are fighting and quarreling among themselves! Translation of Gulf Arab States = the House of Saud. Well, maybe plus Bahrain.
Not Bahrain. It is a country on a lockdown, because over 80% of population is Shia. Shia population cannot be in the armed forces, hold public funded jobs, or jobs in media. They have mercenaries for Army. In that apartheid we station our fifth fleet. In Qatar, air largest mid east airforce base is right next to Turkish base, while Iran is currently supplying all consumer goods, as Saudi Arabia cut off trade to the peninsula. How about Kuwait? With 40% Shia population, it wont’t participate in anything Iran related. Oman? Iran friendly. UAE — big mouth, but have more trade with Iran then Qatar. Saudi Arabia? Cannot end warbin Yemen, slthough nobody even knows exactly what are they fighting for. Jordan? A dynamite ready to explode, with well over 50% of Palestinian population. They will fight against Iran? And the big hope, Egypt? With Russia feeding it — supplying wheat that was the weapon used against Morsi when Egypt depended on the West for its bread supply. Or will Egypt risk Rusdian arms, energy or Chinese trade? Seriously. With Saudi Arabia Egypt had a spat. Dnded up giving up two islands in Red Sea to Saudi Arabia towards Sauci financing post Murdi era. Then let us talk of Turkey, and its open support for Iran. Let us not even mention Iraq, Syria or Lebanon — permanently altered politically following West support for islamic terror groups in Syria.
Let us do the math. No support for Israel US. This Arab NATO Trump is pushing to satisfy hawks — to prove rubbish.
“The Australian officials, who were not named, said that Australia had already agreed to help identify targets in Iran”
those in Australia who participate in any way in such a war of aggression would be complicit in war crimes – I realize the big 5 care nothing for international law now, but it won’t always be that way with the world
plus here’s a good one by Finian Cunningham
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/434240-iran-regime-change-us/
US politicians & media talk of Iran regime change as if it’s their divine right
….Embedded in the US public discourse is the arrogant assumption that
Washington has the right to pursue regime change against any nation it
chooses. For the American ruling class and its media echo chambers, it
is tantamount to a “divine right” – an unquestionable mission with which Americans are “blessed.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this week talked about how America was doing “God’s work” in reaching out to Iranian people to encourage the overthrow their “mafia regime.”…..
Israel has nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and ICBM delivery systems, extraordinarily active covert programs, and regularly attacks its neighbors or violates their airspace. Iran has no nuclear weapons but could develop them sometime in the future, arms and supports some allied forces, has some conventional ballistic missiles, but hasn’t attacked its neighbors for a long time. One is seen as a horrible threat to international security, while the activities of the other are ignored or actively justified with flimsy excuses.
Never believe anything until it’s officially denied…
A thought about this proposed Arab NATO, it will be even more fractious than its European forebarer. All the countries named are powder kegs of unrest and instability.
Eygypt, a military dictatorship, has an ongoing war with its own people who were deposed after democratic elections.
Jordan, a anachronistic hereditary monarchy, is a minority within its own borders overwhelmed by Palestinian refugees.
Saudi Arabia, another throwback, has a restive Shi’ite population it’s trying to keep down in its own occupied territories and has thus far demonstrated little in the way of military prowess, being fought to a stalemate by a Stone Age Yemen despite the most sophisticated weapons petrodollars can buy.
These losers ought to focus on their own oppressed masses before attempting to create more out of a wrecked Iran, which has endured and grown stronger despite – or perhaps because of – Western sanctions and Israeli provocations.
The only reason to support an “Arab NATO” is to hasten the end of Imerialist domination of the Middle East and usher in peace and stability to the region.
It is obvious that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
This is perhaps T.rump thinking, but considering who he is surrounded by, I think he is fooling himself. When the economy takes a tank by next year, he’ll have to create a distraction for the 2020 re-election.