National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday refused to rule out direct US airstrikes inside Iran while discussing the widespread bombing the US launched in Iraq and Syria on Friday.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sullivan signaled the bombing campaign is not over, saying the US is planning “more actions.” When asked if the US has ruled out launching attacks on Iranian territory, he said, “Look, sitting on a national TV program, I’m not going to rule in and rule out any activity anywhere.”
The US launched the strikes in response to the drone attack that killed three US troops on a small base in Jordan on the Syrian border. The US blamed Iran for the attack because it arms the Shia militias the US believes were responsible but acknowledges it has no evidence Tehran was involved.
When announcing the strikes, US Central Command said it targeted “Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.” Direct US attacks on Iranian personnel risk provoking a major war with Iran, but so far, there’s no indication the US bombing killed any Iranians.
In Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said 16 of its members were killed in the strikes. The PMF is a coalition of Iraqi militias that was formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. The PMF is officially part of Iraq’s security forces and fought on the same side as the US in major battles against ISIS.
In Syria, unconfirmed reports say 23 people were killed. The Syrian government said some of its soldiers and civilians were killed but did not give a specific number.
Sullivan was asked if the US strikes killed any members of the IRGC. “We are still assessing the battle damage. Our CENTCOM, Central Command, is looking at the capabilities we have reduced and the casualties that were incurred,” he said.
Sullivan also claimed the US does not seek a “wider war” in the region even as it’s bombed Syria, Iraq, and Yemen and continues to back the Israeli slaughter in Gaza. “We are not looking to take the United States to war,” he said.
They aren’t going to deliberately and knowingly do anything that will compel Iran to launch a serious counterattack. They know very well, at least the uniformed folks at the Pentagon know, that nothing good for the US could come from triggering a full-scale direct war with Iran.
Iran certainly knows that a hot war with the US would be catastrophic and it clearly wants to do everything it reasonably can to avoid that.
The problem, as usual, is that the reckless dunces running US policy in the Middle East are so ignorant, have such terrible judgment, are so full of fantasies about the effectiveness of US military power that they might very easily do something that will force Iran to respond forcefully, without having any idea what they’re triggering. Arrogance and stupidity are a bad combination.
“Arrogance and stupidity are a bad combination.” It’s exactly all we got. We got so much of it, it’s oozing out. Turn on the news, your TV oozes arrogance and stupidity. And don’t ask me for evidence on this one as you usually do. At some point, you gotta believe me.
I hold your truths to be self-evident.
😂. I wish they were not that evident.
You can count on the current administration to do something to ‘Cross the Rubicon’ if they haven’t already.
Our government clearly wants to provoke Hamas sleeper cells in the US into action. Or at least it sure seems like they do.
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A common sense update on Global-Capitalism versus Sovereign Nations (senior editor at Ronin’s Revelations). February, 2024 edition:
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https://roninhardjan.substack.com/p/americas-shadow-government-behind
I hope not. Revenge for our actions in other countries brought us 9/11. It was predicted by the late Chalmers Johnson in his ground breaking book, “Blowback, the costs and consequences of American Empire” , which was shunned when it came out. After 9/11, it gained a little bit of credence, just a little bit. I have his trilogy. So, I do hope it does not happen. The attack on 9/11 was a shock to the nation, like, “how could they attack us HERE”?
“Hamas sleeper cells” LOL Someone reads too many spy novels.
let’s not forget that uncle sam lured the Iranian top general Sulamein into a bogus meeting in Iraq and assassinated him enroute. let’s also not forget that was Trump’s uncle sam at the time.
The meeting wasn’t bogus… US got the intelligence from Mossad on his whereabouts…!
ok but it did seem like a set-up to me
Could be both.
Ok, it was a set up.
There you have it, I just confirmed it.
Happy now? Or do you need to add more drama?
You are basically a d-ick?!
And a ‘limp dick’ at that.
The last year of Trump’s presidency felt like an eternity. I thought he was going to war with Iran any day. It wouldn’t surprise me if war with Iran is not first on his list to do if he becomes President again.
As I said before, US may start a direct war with Iran, but Iran will finish it for them…!
Lol. Yes Iran will definitely finish it just like Russia is finishing everything in Ukraine with the all mighty red Army.
Don, you need to be careful, the air up there is getting very thin.
Maybe you could order a supply of oxygen, just to be safe?
I’m a free diver, I can deal very well with low oxygen saturation.
No need to order oxygen. It’s free and it’s everywhere.
But don’t tell sh!t like that to Russians, they’ll believe it.
Well, it has limits, and how do you know what the Russians believe? They are close to reality not our Russia phobic neocons. You need to teach them, they are ignorant and obsessed people.
Russia, China and many other nations take the long view, unlike the progs here in the U.S. that require instant gratification. That’s the primary reason that Russia didn’t go into Ukraine until they had exhausted all hope of the U.S. and West would come to their senses in Ukraine. Today’s lesson for you Donnie, no thanks needed.
Shut Bill, you have no clue of what the F you are talking about.
Well Julio, you are right there, as I admit I know little about many things, but when it comes to the origins of this war, I have a doctorate in comparison to your elementary knowledge of what’s going on. You do us all a great service by providing comic relief with your silly posts.
Looks like the neocons are in charge of the must do list, they will just pass it on to the next president, regardless of who that will be.
The lack of diplomacy and statesmanship in Washington is amazing and extremely dangerous.
The State Department might as well have a Tel Aviv postal code and Biden’s idea of Statesmanship is to support genocide.
Now they want to escalate and go to war with Iran?
They are all off their Meds.
If medication could cure Capitalism and White Supremacy we might have a chance of surviving the next 10 or 15 years.
If Iran arms the Shia militia they only do what the USA does all the time. The paranoid war criminals in DC have nothing to cry about.
Reagan had his Contra freedom fighters, and he was the last president winning a war when he invaded Grenada. Grenada was threatening the US or something like that. Maybe generals wanted to test some new weapons, or maybe they mistook some weather balloons to spy on the US.
The Americans are a bit paranoid, they see a Putin under every bed.
I was following and nodding until: “The Americans are a bit paranoid, they see a Putin under every bed.” Calling us “a bit paranoid” is an insult. We put “paranoid” in “paranoid.”
I’ll quote ‘The Abyss’ (1989) :
Lindsey Brigman: “We all see what we want to see. Coffey looks and he sees Russians. He sees hate and fear. You have to look with better eyes than that.”
Hah, Twisted Lysister, you managed a “Glory to Ukraine” from our resident, senseless “Putin (verb) (noun)” zealot Donald.
It’s not a feat or an accomplishment – just worth a laugh, is all ! He tends to lash out, when one calls him out (directly or indirectly).
“”Americans are a bit paranoid, they see a Putin under every bed.””
do they? or do they place a Putin under every bed.
remember when there was a bin-Laden in every closet.
You know, all is possible now- a- days. Putin takes time off and comes out from under a bed to let us know he is alive and kicking.
Thank you for brining that up. We have armed some pretty despicable forces all over the world. They are OK because the were our despicable forces.
Putin is paranoid too and his stupid personal war in Ukraine which you Hypocrite support, is not going well.
Glory to Ukraine.
Maybe you should ask the Ukrainians how well it’s going.
I just did. They have 15 Ukrainian poorly trained and equipped soldiers holding the entire frontline. That’s some Marvel sh!t right there.
The promised Western equipment was destroyed by the Russians before it got delivered.
What’s more interesting is how in hell, is the second strongest Army in the world with 1.5 million troops, unable to take even a small village.
Maybe you should ask the Russians how well it’s going.
The Russians have already won, and have proven that even US proxy war’s are a loss for the un-mighty Uncle Sam. Would love to see US or UK troops attempt a real fight..lol.
If the Russians have already won, then why does Putin say that Russia is fighting for its survival?
https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-election-822c76b8ee3665a04d57cded0b42b225
The Ukraine invasion was a message for the U.S., U.K. and NATO that they missed the golden opportunity for peace back in 1991, instead began encircling Russia, using proxies, turning down three opportunities for peace in 2021 and then 2022. Were Canada and Mexico to be armed by Russia, missiles pointed at the U.S. of Amnesia, I am pretty sure alarm bells would have sounded, then we would attack. To Russia, it IS existential.
Putin stated this because it is essential that Russia prevails which it is on the battlefield. I think the word survival was more for domestic consumption than anything else
“I think”
The jury’s still out on that one, but your claim that Russia has already won when it’s still trying and failing to secure the Donbas after two years doesn’t bode well for the verdict.
There have definitely been Ukrainian terrorist attacks in the Donbas, but they have been sporadic at best. There is still fighting going on for sure, but what lies ahead does not bode well for Ukraine on any front. Ukraine needs to either choose peace or lose more territory.
I really think you’re stuck on an analysis that might have been reasonable in the early months of the fighting, but it hasn’t made sense for a long time.
Nothing suggests that Russia is “trying and failing.” All the evidence we can see indicates that Russia is fighting a slow, patient war of attrition that is grinding down Ukrainian forces and Western support, while minimizing its own losses, civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure that will have to be repaired or replaced.
It is most likely that this war is going to lead to a point at which Ukraine is no longer able to field effective forces and Russia takes whatever territory it has determined it needs, probably more than the four annexed oblasts. Then, probably, the future will be a frozen conflict, with the US continuing to encourage and support harassment of Russia by forces of the rump Ukraine.
Make a note, so you can remind me if I turn out to be wrong.
Ukraine would be wise, right now, to tell US-NATO to fuck off and to negotiate a settlement with Russia. It’s pretty likely that the best deal available will be the one that could be negotiated now.
I don’t need to make a note. You’ve been pretty consistent with the “slow, patient war of attrition” excuse for the Russian forces’ failure to get the job done.
In the early months of the fighting, I assumed the Russian forces COULD and WOULD get the job done. My “analysis” changed as they continually failed to do so. If they start succeeding again, my “analysis” will change again. But after this long, miracles seem unlikely.
I think your basic misunderstanding is that you think you know what “the job” is and consider that Russia not doing that constitutes failure, but . . . there’s no evidence I’m aware of that Russia’s conception of “the job” and yours are the same. But we shall see. And I’m confident that you’ll remind me that I’ve been wrong, if it turns out that I have been.
Another report from Don on the front lines.
Crimea is still well out of uncle sam’s hand. isn’t it.
And super safe too. Ukraine cannot touch Crimea, can they?
Oh please…Ukraine has already lost, and what exists now is a toothless NATO and EU trying to keep the walking dead alive. Putin is way too smart for the likes of any US or Western leader..period.
Don lives in his own alternate universe.
Whenever I find Putin under my bed, I spray him with Raid. That will learn that Hitler du jour.
They confirmed 39 Resistence killed. But do they know how many newly recruited by their bombing?
But it was a good show for the voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin, so a ok …
Indeed, and very expensive.
They’re going to need more and better good shows. Averaging the polls over the past few weeks, Trump is ahead in Wisconsin and Georgia. Biden leads in Pennsylvania by 0.3 points.
If and when this war comes home like 911 perhaps there will be regrets.
Which is precisely what Gitmo did.
Iran doesn’t have to respond. They know the militias aren’t going to be stopped by these idiotic air strikes. As other analysts have pointed out, by announcing these strikes, the US has telegraphed their targets – and most of those targets will move before the strike happens. So the US will hit a bunch of empty buildings, like they used to do in Syria with Trump’s moronic airstrikes.
And since the militias won’t stop firing at the US bases, Iran doesn’t have to do anything. The US will be lured in to continuous escalation until Iran is directly attacked – which the US will have to do since “nothing else has worked”. And then the whole Axis of Resistance will go all in – and the US will lose.
This is the plan worked out by the entire Axis of Resistance. They looked at Russia’s handling of Ukraine – draw them in, then annihilate them – and that’s the plan. Or perhaps this was always Suleimani’s plan. Standard guerrilla strategy.
The Iranians are using brain and the Americans use muscle and no brain. Putin is watching how they even destroy their allies in EU and NATO.
I doubt if Iran wants to volunteer to have a lot of valuable infrastructure destroyed … but they may have few options.
Include Russia and China to the whole axis of resistance with at least indirect support position at the beginning…!
Another antiwar article makes note of the U.S. of Amnesia preparing for war over Formosa. It is how previous empires sputtered, then became irrelevant. Using brute force, rather than intelligence.
That is the trade mark of dying empires. Biden would be in charge of the funeral.
He’ll be the funeralee, so someone else would be in charge…!
That is great too, but I would want him to see the mess he made and the suffering he caused and is responsible for first. Actually, I would like to put him and his gang to sit in for a whole week in the middle of air raids without a roof over his head, without food and water and no toilet and experience an amputation without anesthetics. After that he could be the wrapped in a star spangled flag funeral director. I know, I will never be so lucky to get to see that.
For Jake Sullivan and his warmongering boss, and for some empty heads and empty hearts senators, the entire world is only filled with easy targets for their bombing impulses. That’s their first murderous reflex.
Bombing 3 countries in a matter of days and supporting a genocide would get any other country an invasion. And it would be led by the US.
But only if it was profitable.
If it’s Rwanda invading its neighbors, then none of our business despite killing hundreds of thousands.
The scale and brutality of the genocide caused shock worldwide, but no country intervened to forcefully stop the killings. Wikipedia
Just like the killing in Gaza. The ICJ ruling will not stop it. Safe zones, such as in Rafah, are being bombed by the Zionists. We, the indispensable country, feeds the slaughter.
The inmates are in control of the asylum, if they had any common sense they would have stopped the slaughter a long time ago.
Common sense is all it would take, and they don’t have it.
Is that like the common sense of Putin? Lol
His war isn’t stopping.
Oh oh but I know, Putin’s war is different. Completely justified.
D bag.
Putin has a difficult job, he has to deal with a SENILE President Biden. Be fair for a change. Senile people do not have common sense left.
Neither did any country allow the citizens of Gaza to take shelter in their country until the fighting died down. Why?
They really talk like idiots, of course they want war, it is obvious.
Then there is the more than corny gesture, kitsch, when adults like kindergarten kids, stand there to put the right hand almost under the left armpit when the flag draped caskets get unloaded from the plane. Compare that with the body bags in mass graves in Gaza.
Yes, but did you see how the pretty carrion birds of CNNFOXMSNBC covered it? They were ecstatic and wanted more more more … and, after all, Jake and boss Joe are only human (I think) …
I did not see it because I don’t watch cable, main street news.
Jake and Joe human? That is not possible, they are not what Jews call a mensch.
A mensch is a human being with feelings and flaws. They are without feelings, without morals and without a conscience, they are robots.
When I see pictures of Biden, or Blinken, with Netanyahu, they look like they are about to lock lips with Netanyahu.
That makes one think they go to bed together.
Killing thousands help the old goats get it up.
That’s is because he is a proud cowboy and doesn’t want to show US weakness…!
A desk bound coward.
Will we ever hear from Bianca again…?????? I don’t like her sudden disappearance amidst this GENOCIDE. .She is (was?) no shrinking violet and would have addad alot of fuel 4 the fires of indignation!!! Here is a piece which “The veil is being torn: the hidden truths of Jabotinsky and Netanyahu” by Thierry Meyssan at. voltair
Based on writing style, “Bianca2” seems likely to be the same person. Why the original disappeared / changed accounts, I have no idea.
As are the accounts of jake, Tim Burns and Don Julio. I am pretty sure they are one and the same person.
I don’t think they are. I see no similarities other than I disagree with what they say most often.
vlp is convinced there’s only one person on the planet who disagrees with him, and that person is paid to do it.
You mean the three musketeers are only One musketeer…?!
Three persons in one. Like the Holy Trinity. Which one am I.
It does not matter who isc who,you all are insanely full of shit.
Except you, Wonder, you are the one with all the answers.
lol
Is the VLP 1730 a short for Very Low Potential 1730?
You aren’t one of the brightest, obviously.
Then it’s Bianca1 with spellcheck.
Likely Bianca1 finally using a tablet or computer instead of a phone. The stilted syntax is still there, but the spelling problems back then looked like someone “typing” on a phone screen, not like someone who couldn’t spell.
I don’t own a cell phone. I figured they had spell check too. I didn’t think she was that bad at spelling.
Israel has the propaganda machine in at full speed.
Behind the scene, U.S. is begging Iran to stop. The aging U.S. can pack a punch but has no stamina to continue.
To stop what exactly…?! According to Pentagon Iran is not ordering any attacks by the resistance groups in Iraq and Syria, and by Houthis…! They’re acting on their own because they see US is complicit in Gaza Carnage…! They see it’s time for US to be thrown out of middle east and west Asia for good…!
How ever you slice and dice, the Houthis, Hezbollah of East and West side, not to mention Syrian forces would have zero chances without the continuous military backing from Iran.
The US position is threaten, terrorize, and destabilize all nations for the the empire.
“all nations” LOL When did they do that to the Kingdom of the Netherlands? Just to name one of the countries in the list of “all nations”.
VPT,,, Very Picky Technicality. For starters; What’s a kingdom? Are you implying kingdoms are nations?
That is the official name of the Netherlands, just like United States of America is our official name of our nation. As for being picky, yea, I don’t like seeing USA painted as the bad actor in all cases.
GC: An accurate definitive statement of what the US is.
They know not what they do. Thats from Jesus. They don’t give a shit. That comes from me. Without wars and military spending the American economy would either crash or have some severe problems.
But but but What about Nuland?