On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the Iraqi government must “ensure the safety” of US troops and appeared to threaten airstrikes if there are more attacks on US bases in the region.
The warning came after US bases in Iraq and Syria came under drone and rocket attacks for the first time since early February.
“These are the first attacks on coalition facilities since February 4th. These attacks put coalition and Iraqi personnel at risk,” said Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“We call on the government of Iraq to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of US forces in Iraq and Syria against attacks from these groups. If these attacks continue, we will not hesitate to defend our forces, as we have done in the past,” Ryder added.
Between October 2023 and early February, US bases in Iraq and Syria came under hundreds of attacks, which started in response to US support for the Israeli slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza. The US launched several rounds of airstrikes in response and killed several members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mostly Shia militias that’s part of Iraq’s security forces.
After three US troops were killed in a drone attack on Tower 22 in Jordan, the Iraqi government and Iran pressured Iraqi Shia militias to stop targeting US bases. The renewed attacks could be in response to the lack of any concrete plan for the US to withdraw from Iraq.
Also on Tuesday, Iraqi officials said that a weekend blast at a PMF base in Iraq was caused by munitions stored on site. The explosion killed one PMF member and was initially blamed on airstrikes.
So what else is new? People keep thinking that after the Israeli so-called “drone attack” on Iran that everyone is just going to sit back and not do anything more.
Ridiculous. The Israeli attack on the Iranian Consulate was “tit 1”, followed by the Iran attack as “tat 1”. The Israeli drone attack on Iran is “tit 2”.
Iran now has to attack Israel again as “tat 2”. Unless the Iraqi Shia attacks on the US bases are to be considered that “tat 2” – which I doubt.
This is what Iran has said they will do if Israel attacks them back. What Israel did is NOT attack Iran directly but by most likely using the M.E.K. terrorist group to launch drones from inside Iraq or even inside Iran. So possible Iran thinks it doesn’t have to respond to that incident.
However, if Pepe Escobar’s report by the alleged Israeli nuclear EMP attack proves true (he discusses it on the video I posted here in another thread), then Iran HAS to respond again. Although Pepe does say that all parties have agreed to keep that incident under wraps. So perhaps that will modify the Iranian response.
Not that it matters. Because as Norman Finkelstein told Glenn Greenwald, Israel always keeps pushing. And as Mercouris always says, the neocons have “no reverse gear”. So escalation will continue until Iran is forced to respond.
And here is the version I just published on my Substack.
https://open.substack.com/pub/richardstevenhack/p/quick-note-about-mid-east-escalation
That was likely Israeli psy-op.
Actually Iran has a long history of NOT responding in kind to attacks and provocations from the US and Israel. It’s why in the Middle East they’re seen as “the grownups in the room”, compared to rampaging toddlers Israel and the Untied States.
Yes, but as Crooke is saying, “there is a new equation”. From now on, Iran WILL respond directly to provocations from Israel. As he put it, Iran is saying “we’re ready” after the last twenty years of preparing the region for war.
Iran already responded. They called the Israeli attack “children’s toys”. That’s actually much more devastating. 🙂
So who don’t WE protect our forces by GETTING THEM THE F*CK OUT OF IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And how would they then serve their purpose of tripwire/sacrificial lambs …?
As the Iraqi Parliament has requested repeatedly . . .
Cuba, Syria, Niger…Okinawa
Very unuaual request. To place our young man and women deliberately in harm’s way for no political or military objectives — is the real question. As we participate and provide diplomatic cover to genocide, we expect that Iraqi government should be held responsible for the attacks? Iraqis have been patiently waiting for us to leave. This may be the good time.
How does one deal with deranged people? Non of this makes sense. It was Putin’s big mistake when he thought he was dealing with reasonable common sense people. He found out the hard way that the Biden people are deranged people and the Trump people are not much behind. DC is an insane asylum, they don’t make sense. Biden was barely in office when he called Putin names and Blinken humiliated the Chinese delegation, that already was insanity all crowned by a corrupt media.
The only and logical way to ensure the safety of US troops is to refrain from needlessly send them into harms way as a result of US lie based wars of aggression.
Then when US war crimes are revealed it’s not the war criminals who are pursued but the journalist who exposed the crimes.
Free Julian Assange !!!!
Logic and common sense don’t mix with insanity.
Or corruption – call me suspicious however I believe that there’s a very good argument to be had for releasing the Epstein files as far too often public servants holding positions of considerable influence in high office are in the habit of arriving at the wrong conclusions.
Why is that one might ponder….
I’m continually being presented with yet more evidence that our ‘governments’ are majorly compromised – it’s not too far fetched to consider that the the reason for not releasing the Epstein files is because the material is still being used – by releasing all the names it becomes possible to see who is compromised and who might need to be removed from their positions.
Who benefits from it all?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f4e45b223e329583ae14da0180ce74ea6ea53dc274309114ae895889df7dd609.jpg
Who benefits? The truth is lost in a jungle of lies.
Real political power never changes hands – https://thefreedomarticles.com/at-the-top-theyre-all-on-the-same-side-part-1/
Haven’t they been asked to leave? Ensure the safety of tourists is maybe a reasonable request.
Biden and reason? You must be joking.
They’ve been ordered to leave repeatedly, by the Iraqi parliament, its president, its foreign minister, and I don’t know who all else.
Please tell anyone in the US not to join the armed forces.
Only idiots need a reminder.
seriously ? OMG i freakin hate this world and everybody in it.
fuck you Beyonce! what.
at some point there may or may not be a Lord and he may or not judge me for my inactions re: whoever is the oppressed guys du-jour.
what
my granddaughter told me to ease up
i said get your punk-ass to the school
this was her response =
i will give her a hug and a grilled-cheese sandwich when she gets home.
OMG she weighs approx 5o pounds and i allow her to walk around as if the world is her oyster.
what
I knew him, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.
He felt his weight was his “mana.” This is a well established Hawaiian idea, and in Polynesia more generally.
He felt it was expected of him. It was his choice. It killed him. He accepted that, not at all surprised.
What a honor my friend
i read his story several years ago..
you are a cool guy for simply being a cool guy.
what
ok. my granddaughter weighs 100 pounds.
she got a little bit angry when i said that she weighs 50 lbs.
i told her to make an account here with the DISCUS BS and she can tell all of the leftys to suck it all day long. she said “I have too much homework to do and I don’t have time to play with your stupid internet friends”
what
If he is responsible for the safety of US troops in Iraq, Shia Al Sudani had better run or hide! Was he alive when we rained our “Freedom and Democracy Shock and Awe” all over his country’s A$$?
If they don’t ensure their safety will they leave? This is what Iraqis want! Their elected government has stated this for three years now.
Welp, there’s a really easy way for Iraq to make it happen. Just look the other way.
Iraq also told US to GTFO…! Threatens more strikes on its bases…!
Yes, Iraq could guarantee their safety by expelling them.
That will take guns and casualties, but is the only way to deal with the issue. They had plenty of time to leave when they were friendly asked to leave. But the government in DC is not interested in their safety. They are there to protect oil interests.
Insure the safety of US troops by getting them outta there. They don’t want our troops there.
Threatening attacks on the host country is not the way to build a safe occupation. It is a way to re-start the lost war.
The arrogance of thieving colonial occupiers is expressed as upper class snobbery is well known around the world. It is out in the open in Palestine, Iraq and Syria. Latin America knows well this arrogance.
Nightly news is teaching United States citizens how fat cats impose war and austerity inside and outside the country. No medicare, rapid transit or universal public education foe lowly peasant Americans. Just shut your mouth and be glad you don’t live where the war mongers choose to attack.
And Congress just approved **FOUR TIMES** the entire budget of NASA to try to provoke one war, continue a different war that we previously provoked, and to enable a genocide. Priorities, priorities…
You want US troops to be safe from attacks inside Syria and Iraq (where they shouldn’t be posted anyway)? There is a 100% effective way to accomplish that: GET THEM OUT OF SYRIA AND IRAQ. Neither Syria nor Iraq can guarantee the safety of our people, and we have no idea who to bomb as a response to any attack- but we’re going to bomb someone anyway and then cry when we get hit by the innocent outfit we decided to bomb.
Hilarious, all they have to do is to bring their soldiers home, they are not welcome in Iraq and Syria they are there illegally.
We are governed by criminal, evil idiots.
US Tells, US threatens, US sanctions, US overthrows, US sponsors coup, US declares undeclared war, US occupies (and steals), US sponsors proxy war, US BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH …
US should shut the fuck up and mind its own business.
Goddammit, another post held up for review. What a fucking joke. Is the filter coming out of Tel Aviv now, or is it Kiev?
Poor Thomas, the system is overloaded/controlled, me thinks.
Well, it’s disappeared, it seems, with less bad language than the one you responded to.
I designed and wrote software on at least 5 platforms in over five language families (that’s multiple manufacturers for some languages) during a span of nearly 40 years, for numerous customers and companies.
I’ve a pretty clear idea of what shitty software looks and smells like, and the bot that feeds work to Thomas to moderate is strictly schlock.
Yes, it sucks. Haven’t found anything better within the parameters I have to work with.
Your comment got approved when I got there, btw.
Thanks Thomas! My comment was strictly re the software – not the moderator. Believe me, I sincerely appreciate the job you do here.
Well, I have for some reason been forgetful about getting over to the moderation queue every hour or so the last few days. I apologize for any delays that causes. Something discombobulated my natural schedule, and I can’t figure out what.
I dislike complaining about the automated shoveling aside because I know it’s not you.
After 35+ years in the software design and development business, I’m acutely aware of the shortcomings of the art.
I hope you’ll excuse my occasional outburst re the “bot”. It’s never aimed at you. All the best to you with wishes for a speedy return to your preferred schedule.
Heck, I have no problems with complaints about Disqus OR complaints about me. The guidelines forbid personal attacks on Antiwar.com staff, but since I am also an active commenter I do not enforce that guideline when I’m the one attacked.
Dude – you wanna volunteer to help
Write better screening software ?
Justin .R. Would bless you from his seat in heaven
I’m Biden’s age, and so naturally aware of the limitations of age which, unfortunately, our great leader is not.
I do still write software (lately working on a small seismograph station), but mostly to stay alert and for self-amusement, so I’ll pass 😉
Too bad
Probably not, as everyone knows, we old folks are prone to error.
At this stage, my assessment is that “AI” monitoring is actually worse than useless when it comes to expression more complicated than “Look Mary, see Spot! See Spot run… Run Spot run!”
I don’t know much, but I think maybe the people using the software forget the computer has no ability to think and be flexible, using common sense. Garbage in and Garbage out has not changed.
I get my comments occasionally held up for review too, plus every so often I get a comment blocked. No biggie.
My wife also gives me “that look” sometimes when I should watch my words. 😃
Iraq told the U.S.to leave, but they did not leave& now the. U.S.wants Iraq. to protect the unwanted American illegal occupiers from harm!! Forgetaboutit.!!!!!
@RealPepeEscobar
THE NUCLEAR F-35 MYSTERY – FINAL UPDATE
1. It’s now fully established that The Information was confirmed independently by the intel of a Big Power.
2. The Information was NOT relayed by Russia.
3. It then reached a third nation – and from that to me.
4. The players involved are not backing down an inch from The Information.
5. I was privately provided with two examples of the accuracy of recent intel by the Big Power on two separate big developments in West Asia .
6. The source that contacted me notes that “sometimes, after news has entered the media space, there is no choice but not to provide clarification.”
Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat who does not know The Information, said to me the following:
1. “That is entirely possible.”
2. It shouldn’t have been revealed to the public.
3. “If this is true, then all sides will be determined to cover it up.”
One unanswered question for me is: Why did the Big Power source relay The Information to an intel agency from another nation? I tend to believe this was to erase its tracks in the chain. Particularly because my initial source has now revealed that the Big Power gained their intelligence firsthand – and that it was not transmitted to them by the Russians, Iranians or other direct parties to the hot war in West Asia.
To sum it all up, via the source who originally received The Information: “If anyone should be accused of fabrication it is the ’source’; but in this case the ’source’ remains confident of the accuracy.”
I rest my case. I published raw intel the way I received it.
It’s up to a wider audience to judge whether – and how – The Information connects with new developments occurring at breakneck speed, and part of a New Paradigm.”
9:18 AM · Apr 24, 2024
I’m interested to see what major black swan events occur between now and Pentecost (May 17-22).