Having signed off on an attack against Iran early Thursday, President Trump didn’t just tell the military and diplomats that he was on board. Trump also sent a message to the Iranian government, by way of Oman, telling them that the attack was imminent.
Trump’s forwarded message not only informed Iran of the planned US attack, but also offered talks with Iran “about various issues.” They gave a very brief period awaiting an Iranian response.
Iranian officials say that they responded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had already rejected talks, and added that any US attack would “have regional and international consequences.” Trump decided against the attack with 10 minutes to spare, though he suggests this was not related to the exchange with Iranian officials.
US officials are now emphasizing that the US offered diplomacy, and that Iran “has no right” to respond with force, by way of condemning the downing of a US surveillance drone by Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry, by contrast, reacted that they would respond to diplomacy with diplomacy, and intend to respond to war “with firm defense.” That’s a key distinction, of course.
And while the US clearly wants to portray Iran as the one in the wrong in this situation, they weren’t just offered diplomacy in Trump’s Thursday message. They were told they were being attacked by the United States, and an offer of talks was the postscript that was likely drowned out by the lead message of an imminent attack which but for the call would’ve been a total sneak attack.
Talk or we’ll break your legs.
The Iranians know that the USA is not currently “agreement capable” and is too used to bullying their way around the world imposing their will on weaker countries. The only way to deal with a bully on the playground is for the other kids to gang up and beat the crap out of him. That day is coming sooner rather than later.
“Submit or we’ll break your legs.” There fixed it for you.
Exactly. How foolish of me to think that simply talking was what we want. Total capitulation according to St. Pompeo’s 12 commandments.
Exactly right!
And the MSM seemed unhappy that Trump went even this far towards “diplomacy.” After all, the indispensable nation does not negotiate, right?
“would ‘have regional and international consequences.’”
There you go. Iran told Trump “we’ll hit Israel”. Or “we’ll ask Hezbollah to hit Israel.” And that’s the last thing Trump wants. Not over a minor “retaliatory strike.”
His advisors got him to authorize a minor strike, knowing that it would likely escalate to the full-scale war they want. But Trump either got cold feet over the “international consequences” Iran warned him about or he decided to “buck” his advisers just to show them who’s their boss (temporarily at least, until the next time they lead him by the nose.)
The whole “I don’t want to kill 150 people over a drone” sounds more like the “dead ducks” Gina Haspel showed him or Ivanka crying over “gassed Syrian kids.” In other words, a load of self-pitying nonsense to portray him in a decent light.
Trump couldn’t care less about 150 Iranians dying. Get serious. Either someone derailed him (and his advisers) or he derailed himself for one of his random reasons.
Bottom line: Now everyone knows how easy it is to get him to start a new war. How many times will he pull back if the provocations get bigger than a drone downing?
I think Tucker Carlson had a hand in derailing Trump. I agree with you. The next false flag event will be the true test of Trump.