Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), told Time Magazine on Wednesday that his forces are prepared for a potential military option against Iran should talks to revive the nuclear deal fail.
“The diplomats are in the lead on this, but Central Command always has a variety of plans that we could execute, if directed,” McKenzie said.
US officials often speak of the potential for failure in negotiations with Iran and like to portray Tehran as the difficult party. But it was the US that withdrew from the JCPOA in the first place, and President Biden’s hardline stance is to blame for why earlier talks failed.
Robert Malley, Biden’s special envoy for Iran, also delivered a threat on Wednesday. He said if the talks dragged out, the US would not “sit idly” while Iran’s nuclear program grew. “If they start getting too close, too close for comfort, then of course we will not be prepared to sit idly,” Malley told NPR.
Delivering threats against Iran ahead of the next round of JCPOA negotiations, which will begin on November 29th, does not signal that the US is serious about diplomacy. The US has also slapped fresh sanctions on Iran in the weeks leading up to the talks.
Both Malley and McKenzie frame potential action as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, pointing to Iran’s uranium enrichment levels as evidence they are close. But Iran’s steps to increase enrichment were made in response to Israeli covert attacks.
Now, it’s clear Iran will use its current enrichment levels as leverage for the upcoming negotiations. Iran has also pledged countless times that it has no intention of developing a nuclear weapon and is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“US Central Command absorbs Israel into its area of responsibility”
September 7 2021. In fact news should have been “Israel absorbs US Central Command” The so called US Central Command will be commanded by Israel.Guess what will be outcome in this conflict
Looks like nobody cares to know what American people think.
Do Americans want war on Iran? War on anybody? Have not Americans made it perfectly clear that it is Government’s role to manage our international relations by advancing our true interests. Not waging endless wars.
Our politicians clearly suffer from hearing loss.
first rational thing you have said
When Bianca farts, it sounds more rational than anything you say.
No doubt you inhale deeply,Your tude reinforces the necessity of a strong tough Israel.
Sounds, not smells. And you with all those degrees.
Lack of formal education on your part does not justify gratuitous rudeness, and arrogance.
Sure it does. That’s the only way us dumb people can carry on conversations. We cower at the brilliance of people like yourself. Now let’s see if that brilliance can detect sarcasm.
To what purpose?Just ventin gyour petty anger at those who presume to disagree with you.
No country is a “threat to Israel”. It is all manufactured. If you want to talk about “threats”, how about the threat to the existence of Palestinians, or Syrians, or any other people who have tasted your country’s rockets (guided of course) and bombs, and, on the ground, IDF bullets, and, settler violence. All for the purpose of extinguishing the spirits and lives of Palestinians. The only reason Israel is “tough”, “strong” is because we, American taxpayers, give generously to the Israel Zionist Welfare Fund, to the tune of $3.8 billion per year for the next ten years.
When will you graduate university? At that point the State of Israel will then expect you to earn your own way instead of paying you for typing your drivel.
patronizing, are’nt we?
No country is a “threat to Israel”. It is all manufactured. If you want to talk about “threats”, how about the threat to the existence of Palestinians, or Syrians, or any other people who have tasted your country’s rockets (guided of course) and bombs, and, on the ground, IDF bullets, and, settler violence. All for the purpose of extinguishing the spirits and lives of Palestinians. The only reason Israel is “tough”, “strong” is because we, American taxpayers, give generously to the Israel Zionist Welfare Fund, to the tune of $3.8 billion per year for the next ten years.
When will you graduate university? At that point the State of Israel will then expect you to earn your own way instead of paying you for typing your drivel.
Do you really think that anybody wants weak, vulnerable Israel? But you are blind if you do not see the obnoxious, exaggerated, demanding attitudes displayed by Israel towards US on a daily basis?
Israel is causing irreparable harm to its occupied lands and populations, as well as aggressive behavior in neighborhood. Every one of its whims become our command.
Nobody appreciates the haughty attitude towards US negotiations with Iran.
US is a global power that should have responsibility for global peace. Instead, we have to genuflect every time a demanding ally screams for attention. And have to pay high political price for covering up for its misdeeds.
It all sounds fun, for as long as the obnoxious ally can count on its protector’s military superiority. Nothing lasts forever,
As far as global peace goes, US misdeeds do not justify Russia,Chinese, or Iranian aggression.
Funny how you call what the US does as “misdeeds” and claim what Russia, China and Iran do as “aggression”. The very fact you list Iran in that group makes you look foolish but to claim what the US does as simply misdeeds is mind numbingly stupid. Just more foolish exaggerations to vilify Iran. As Bandow said when speaking of Iran’s military spending: “whose total military spending is a rounding error for the Pentagon”. And what would you call Israel’s actions towards Iran? Especially given the fact that Iran is only accused of future attacks, even by you, while Israel assassinates, bombs and sabotages with impunity NOW.
The American war machine can manufacture popular consent for war as easily as it can kill a family of foreign peasants.
True. All rules have exceptions. Sooner or later war machine will get a nasty surprise. If there is one segment of our populace that is disillusioned and unhappy is military rank and file.
The interests are in Wash. who receives campaign funding from the MIC.
Interest? Its personal interests. It is corporate interests . This is not national l interest. Crumbs escaping from the big jar of corporate profits, and landing on the dinner tables were helping the war cheering American crowd .But the jar’s loopholes have been fixed by last 20 years of family friendly conservative henchmen and by liberal LGBT friendly war cultists and by pure evil in between the two in the White House and by thousands of clones of them in Capitol .
True. But they are not in touch with ordinary lives, and live in an alternate reality.
Americans should prepare for blowback in the event…….oh wait stupid Americans never learn a lesson
We will learn, or we will suffer. We can keep on blaming others, but it gets stale. Try to sell more Russian hacking, when our cyber security is full of holes and tangled. Anyone even by accident can cause damage. Quite and insult to Russia.
If this is really the last chance saloon, not just more Naftali/Malley bluster, Iran must prepare to absorb “degradation” of their aviation and marine infrastructure. And one has to assume their response will be “asymmetric”: missile barrages against Saudi oil infrastructure, and very possibly Israeli civilian infrastructure.
From here it’s “Katie, bar the door”. WWIII.
My guess is Israel will use a couple of low yield nukes, then say they saved the world from nuclear destruction by Iran. Our politicians will go nuts with joy, church bells will ring………………
Muslims worldwide will go bonkers.
I can fix all that “diplomacy”, if the US just wants to be able to sanction Iran a bit less than we otherwise would and call that a deal, I suppose that means Iran can develop nuclear weapons a bit less than some elements of their government might want to…? Or how about the signatories to the nuclear deal enforce compliance on its violator by expelling US forces from their bases, sanctioning the US or refusing to trade with us.
Our military’s defeat and retreat from Afghanistan (a country full of uneducated, bronze age behaving peasants armed with rusty old Enfield rifles) gives off the off-aroma of future total failure of any invasion of a much more populous and educated Iran. All one can do is promise “malzatof” despite our own good sense.
That offensive description of a nation which actually has a long tradition and even a culture shows why the USA is seen as an enemy by so many thinking people in all parts of the globe.
To “save” the world from nuclear destruction by Iran, we would deploy a couple of low yield nukes, or, perhaps Israel would do the deed. I would not put it past the U.S. of A. or Israel.
So again the USA acts against a non-aggressor, yet continues to support the “ally” Israel which DOES have nukes and threatens its neighbors and violently imprisons Palestinians against all international laws.
Threats to force Iran to capitulate at the talks are not going to work. Iran knows that if military options existed, they would have been exercised by W or Trump already. Force, other than pinprick attacks, are not doable. Talk and diplomacy is the only “option”.
So- Israelhell will get the United Snakes to do it for them?
“Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of … (CENTCOM), ….prepared for a potential military option against Iran should talks to revive the nuclear deal fail.”
What was he doing when the ‘talks’ were made to fail by donor’s money under Trump ? The “talks’ were dead for 3 years. Was he polishing Trump’s shoes ?
Americans should be enraged with the aggression displayed against this former oil colony, but they have been indoctrinated to idolize the power of the US to annihilate populations who seek independence from US global hegemony. For that they will suffer while Americans celebrate their power, besmirching this Day of Thanksgiving.
The media is whipping up the low information red and blue male sheeple into war fever. Lots of pro war little propaganda stink bombs in both the MSM and on sites on the web. But, Americans will accept another war as the status quo, wave their flags as the boomer men pop their beers, sit on their sofas and cheer for ‘our side’, like it’s a sporting event. Sad how Americans are so hypnotized by their faith in their rotten gov. in Wash. that they will accept more atrocities paid for out of their stolen wages.
The “government” of the U.S.A. consists of Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Raytheon (and the rest of the Military Industrial Complex). Citizens United solidified their hold on America politics. GOP and “moderate” Democrats gripe about the “cost” of the BBB ($1.5 Trillion), but hide quite well the costs of the “defense” budget, which is $778 Billion next, year and the next year and the next year. Added up, two years at $778Billion per year = $1.5 Trillion. Interesting, isn’t it? That much can be forked out to the MIC, but funds for Main Street, for the good of America fades into the background.
Surprised no one mentioned the proverbial ritual incantation “all options are on the table.” This article from 2012 describes Neocon’s attachment to this term with Iran being a target:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/08/what-all-options-are-on-the-table-with-iran-actually-means/260928/
Israel bombs with impunity while Iran is threatened with war because the US dropped out of the JCPOA with Iran in full compliance. What was that word Raimondo used? Bizzaro? Certainly apt.
Zionist blackmailing power
“What was that word Raimondo used? Bizzaro? Certainly apt.”
I don’t know what words Raimondo used, but Hermann Goering’s words seem appropriate.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fae6c19370d518dd03eb0a6d3226e2410df3807ccc781e91c02ffd549edc17ff.jpg
The long form of this quote also is well worth reading.
Iran has been in full compliance with the NPT since 1970, the year Iran ratified the document.
Iran’s nuclear program??
The only program they have is for Power Generation.
Neither you nor I know what they are really up to. Hitler said his new airforce was for sport flying.At least china says openly they want to destroy us.
It is the US who nakedly confesses to its policy of destroying China. Americans dutifully consent.
“At least china says openly they want to destroy us.”
Who is “us,” and when and where did “China” say that?
Meanwhile,you censored my comment in the article-How the US and Israel justify targeting of civilians-my point was that in order to be evenhanded, people should apply the same standards when Palestinians kill Jewish civilians. You tolerate terms such as “big noses”,”zionazis”, and “Israhell”.
As far as China goes-NY Times 7/15/2005-Chinese General threatens us of A bombs.
1) You’re subject to the same rules regarding ethnic slurs as everyone else. You don’t have to like it. That’s how it is whether you like it or not.
2) No, I don’t tolerate the term “big noses,” as that’s clearly an allusion to an ethnic stereotype. If I missed some usage of it, feel free to point out where so I can attend to it.
3) “Zionazis” and “Israhell” refer, respectively, to a political ideology and a state, are therefore not “slurs or supremacist claims based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.” Unless, that is, Zionism itself is such a supremacist claim as well, in which case I’d have to delete all of your posts. Would you prefer that interpretation?
4) I censored nothing. You’re entirely free to say anything you want. The question is whether you’re allowed to say it here.
OK-in the article-“Honest mistakes”-use of the term “kosher president”
I’m not sure what “OK” is referring to. Last time I checked, the word “kosher” referred to a religious law status, not to nose size.
You said that I was free to point out something you missed. fine-Ok- guest referred to former US president Johnson as “kosher”, mocks Judaism.
The problem here is that I don’t define anti-semitism as “anything that Jake feigns being offended by.”
You made a very specific claim about “big noses.” I invited you to point me to any case of that. Picking out a different term and claiming that it’s anti-semitic because REASONS isn’t what I invited you to do. If you think it’s anti-semitic, I’m interested in why. And in why it’s anti-semitic, but claims that Israel is “the Jewish state” aren’t.
The problem here is that I don’t define anti-semitism as “anything that Jake feigns being offended by.”
You made a very specific claim about “big noses.” I invited you to point me to any case of that. Picking out a different term and claiming that it’s anti-semitic because REASONS isn’t what I invited you to do. If you think it’s anti-semitic, I’m interested in why. And in why it’s anti-semitic, but claims that Israel is “the Jewish state” aren’t.
The problem here is that I don’t define anti-semitism as “anything that Jake feigns being offended by.”
You made a very specific claim about “big noses.” I invited you to point me to any case of that. Picking out a different term and claiming that it’s anti-semitic because REASONS isn’t what I invited you to do. If you think it’s anti-semitic, I’m interested in why. And in why it’s anti-semitic, but claims that Israel is “the Jewish state” aren’t.
You said that I was free to point out something you missed. fine-Ok- guest referred to former US president Johnson as “kosher”, mocks Judaism.
Citation, please. Give us where we can find when and where he said that.
look upstairs.
Cent Com
$$$$$$$ “come” and get it
McKenzie: make sure you have enough body bags…!
Is ‘Persian Gulf’ just another pronunciation of ‘Tonkin Gulf’? I have a feeling we’re going to war with Iran, and it will be over some false flag incident provided by ourselves or the nation we have a ‘special relationship’ with in the region.