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Iraq wants foreign troops out after air strike; Trump threatens sanctions

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By Ahmed Rasheed, Ahmed Aboulenein and Jeff Mason

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149 Comments

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zichi:

Trump insisted on Sunday that Iranian cultural sites were fair game for the US military,

That was a terrible tweet. Not the usual Trump rethoric level. I wonder if John Bolton wrote that for him.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Nothing that a few bunker busters and carpet bombers can’t handle.

Lol, carpet bombing is a war crime, not that donny's illiterates would understand!!!

Nor liberals.

But it makes right wing nutters , even nuttier.

Which was a load of crap,

Only brainless folks think so

But you’d think he would know what “Taqiya” means,

Sure he does, words coming out of the mouths of illiterate right wing nutters.

But he’ll be President and Dems will be smoldering for 4 more years.

No he won't and the he'll take the GOP down with him.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The Orange Muppet has been trying to start a war since he was elected. Was sidetracked by staff for a while but appears to be getting his wish. Will he use nukes next?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Don't think he's listening, Iran is removing all caps on testing and the region is more dangerous than ever.

Nothing that a few bunker busters and carpet bombers can’t handle.

Posting lopsided articles won't help your case,

Nor liberals.

since this was a deal to reduce tensions and bring peace in the region, and most US allies thought the same.

Which was a load of crap, Obama wanted to believe. But you’d think he would know what “Taqiya” means, but either that or he was an even bigger fool than previously thought.

They will and Donny still won't be able to spell, ROFL!!!!

But he’ll be President and Dems will be smoldering for 4 more years.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Trump in 2011, proving even then is a serial projector: "“Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He’s weak and he’s ineffective. We have a real problem in the White House. So, I believe that he will attack Iran sometime prior to the election because he thinks that’s the only way he can get elected. Isn’t it pathetic?”

Oops! And now, the "President who wants Peace and the troops out of the Middle-East, has bypassed Congress yet again to assassinate an Iranian general, and is taking US forces off of terrorist threats to try and thwart the inevitable retaliation, and on top of MORE TROOPS than when Trump took office present in the Middle-East!

3 ( +7 / -4 )

By playing this card, Trump has maybe managed to extract US forces from Iraq.

It will be just what he wanted, and just what Soleimani had planned.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Thank God!

Don't think he's listening, Iran is removing all caps on testing and the region is more dangerous than ever. Posting lopsided articles won't help your case, since this was a deal to reduce tensions and bring peace in the region, and most US allies thought the same.

And the Dems won’t retake the WH, ROFL!

They will and Donny still won't be able to spell, ROFL!!!!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

You want to Make America Depleted?

MAD. 

That will never happen.

lol Thank you for finally admitting it.

Your Dear Leader is well on the way to making your wish come true.

Hardly, the world will always need the US, always.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Well I don't know about that since I'm not your "liberal label" by which I can only assume you mean an American democrat?

No, I mean liberals.

Look how America treated it's VET's after Vietnam. 

Yes, my uncle was one of them and all the more reason he left the Democrat party.

The president is commander in chief so all decisions of military actions are political ones. Generals advise, presidents/congress decide.

The Republicans weren’t informed when Obama took out Osama bin Laden in Congress wasn’t informed when Bill Clinton decided to bomb Kosovo. Sorry.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Oh, listen to the selective outrage. Those crying foul today lauded the elimination of Bin Laden under the direction of the previous white house occupant.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Trump is depleting the global standing of the US for decades to come

Good.

You want to Make America Depleted?

MAD.

lol Thank you for finally admitting it.

Your Dear Leader is well on the way to making your wish come true.

we don’t need to consult anyone if we’re going to off someone

You sound like a gang member from the no-go areas of Chicago (was it?) you so despise.

Invalid CSRF

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Yeah to be replaced by terrorist regimes like Iran or dictatorships like China, if liberals have their way.

You should really reconsider who you are supporting in the world dynamic. Someday the USA wont be there to save you.

Bigger Empires in the past have disappeared. So will you.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

You want to go it alone, you go it alone.

Trump is depleting the global standing of the US for decades to come

Good.

You don't understand nor care. If Britain carried out a military operation which might endanger the lives of American troops, the Pentagon would be outraged if they were not informed before hand.

We both don’t know that, but I hate hypotheticals. But I will say that Britain has the absolute right to protect itself by all means, whether they inform us or not.

Provided Trump does what you like him to do you couldn't careless about any other country except when you need our help like listening in on your American citizens and passing on the info. Or searching the dark web for terrorism and passing the info on. Or giving you military support.

Correct.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Headline (Bloomberg): "The U.S. Just Became a Net Oil Exporter for the First Time in 75 Years"

We are all good on oil, thanks. Several months last year we were entirely energy independent, producing more than we consumed.

Thanks Trump!

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

America makes its decisions on its own without asking permissions from other countries with 175,000 troops in about 830 overseas bases.

On many occasions.

The decision to place those troops are taken by politicians, not generals or troops.

Not when it comes out rooting out cancerous terrorists.

When the brave troops return to stateside why are the VET's so poorly treated?

Funny, liberals neeever talked about Veterans until Trump got into office, odd.

Return all American troops to Stateside and close those bases.

America elected itself to be the world policeman.

Thank you and by that right, we don’t need to consult anyone if we’re going to off someone or not.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Then don’t come to us everytime there is a problem

The time that nobody would ask you anything will soon come.

Bigger Empires in the past have disappeared. So will you.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Then don’t come to us everytime there is a problem asking what we are going to do about it.

fund the UN properly and you guys deal with it sometimes. until you can’t then come ask us again.

America elected itself to be the world policeman.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

We don’t need to. ..... we don’t need to ask permission or consult anyone.

The way you're going, you won't have anyone to consult as you p off one ally after another and press the point that America is a lone wolf.

You want to go it alone, you go it alone.

Trump is depleting the global standing of the US for decades to come.

Invalid CSRF

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Trump didn't inform the British prime minister until the action was well underway? Some ally.

He didn't inform Pelosi or Schumer either. After all he want anyone alerting the General of the incoming missile that was going to blow him to smithereens.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

I am growing sick of people not respecting brave U.S. troops putting their lives on the line so we can live in freedom.

I still find it hard to believe that people actually believe this stuff.

One, you believe that the US is engaged in military actions in virtually every corner of the world for your freedom? Really?

Two, you actually believe you are living in freedom now? The founding fathers would turn in their graves at what Americans call "freedom."

8 ( +11 / -3 )

You do,

No, we don’t, not as a sovereign nation, we’re not the Commonwealth.

It's normal diplomatic procedure and part of the intelliegence sharing with your closest ally which has supported America throughout the Middle East and Afghanistan. It's not about asking for permission. It's about information sharing because Britain has military operatives in the area including the SAS.

I understand, but we don’t have to and that goes either way.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

I am growing ever more sick of the world being forced to mourn US military deaths whilst they are on active service on foreign soil.

I am growing sick of people not respecting brave U.S. troops putting their lives on the line so we can live in freedom.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Soleimani was the elected armed forces representative of a nation sitting on the United Nations council.

Yeah, and he was also probably a religious scholar like al-Baghdadi. And, oh yeah, he was also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and who knows how many innocent people in the Middle East.

And by the way Bin Laden's killing was unlawful and without trial. 

Go ask Obama about that one. I personally don't have any problems with Obama ordering that one.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Price of gold went up, the dollar strengthened against the yen

I’m happy!

Trump didn't inform the British prime minister until the action was well underway? Some ally

We don’t need to. As the British PM also noted, we have every right to self defense, we don’t need to ask permission or consult anyone.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Since no one was informed before Soleimani was killed, it doesn't matter.

Also Democrats had a strategy with Iran which Donny dismantled just to spite Obama.

Thank God!

https://www.myheritage.org/news/4-reasons-why-the-iran-deal-may-be-the-worst-diplomatic-decision-in-history/

Here are the four most dangerous problems with the deal:

The whole neighborhood will race to go nuclear. This deal most likely will accelerate nuclear proliferation. Because if regional powers feel threatened by the possibility of Iran getting a weapon and the penalty for producing nuclear weapons decreases, then why wouldn’t they?

**Tehran gets to keep its vast nuclear infrastructure and its missile program.**  And the promises from Iran only confirm the obvious: that the regime definitely has nuclear-weapons ambitions. After all, why have a massive ballistic-missile program and secret military nuclear facilities if the plan isn’t to build nuclear weapons?

Sanctions relief will make the region far less safe. The sanctions relief and the renewed ability to sell more oil on the open market could wind up bringing $300-400 billion into the Iranian economy, bolstering the Iranian government. Essentially, this means the deal will pay for undermining U.S. policy and interests throughout the region.

The deal is temporary, by design. Even the White House doesn’t claim it will permanently keep Iran from getting a bomb. So, what’s the point?

And donny wouldn't know how to spell strategy, ROFL.

And the Dems won’t retake the WH, ROFL!

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

the monster Soleimani was responsible for over 600 American soldiers deaths.

I am growing ever more sick of the world being forced to mourn US military deaths whilst they are on active service on foreign soil. Your deaths are no more special than any other nations. If you don't like military deaths on active service, get out of the other persons kitchen.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I have been lucky to visit Iran 6 times in the last 25 years... I’ve met many Iranians who do not support the government, as I meet many more US citizens who also do not support their government. I’ve met some who were better off financially pre 1979. But I have yet to meet any Iranian wanting to go back to the dark days of the Shah....

Were you speaking to ex Savak members?

Yak yak...Every Iranian I have ever spoken to have all expressed to me that Iran was 1000 percent better when the Shah was in power and allied to the U.S.A.

>

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The strategy which he was elected to dismantle. Promises made promises kept. You guys act like Trump just randomly doing things. This is his agenda that he ran on.

Also Democrats had a strategy with Iran which Donny dismantled just to spite Obama.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Price of gold went up, the dollar strengthened against the yen, Japan stock market down, Chernobyl TV show won an Emmy and Trumps friends football team lost in the playoffs.

lets just list a bunch more unrelated happenings and try to link them to what Putin supposedly directed.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Yes and the Democrats strategy to all of this is...

Since no one was informed before Soleimani was killed, it doesn't matter.

Also Democrats had a strategy with Iran which Donny dismantled just to spite Obama.

And donny wouldn't know how to spell strategy, ROFL.

It was pretty much like that when Saddam was killed, nothing new.

What was like what when Saddam was killed? Random thoughts??

Friendly Iran? You mean, like a friendly North Korea?

But but but, Donny said N. Korea was turning friendly and that he and Kim were in love, was Donny lying ???

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yes and the Democrats strategy to all of this is.....

To stay in the nuclear deal so Iran develops economically which would be good for companies like Boeing and good for US stock market. Why? What is Trump's end game here? It's revenge on Obama when Obama made fun of Trump at the correspondents' dinner. He also hates Hillary the way dogs hate cats- check his twittery role for proof.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

the monster Soleimani was responsible for over 600 American soldiers deaths

600 military deaths on Middle Eastern soil. How many hundreds of thousands of Iraqi, Afghani, Libyan, Vietnamese civilian woman and child deaths are the responsibility of US generals?

That goes up quite a few levels from monster..

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Soleimani was murdered because he was fighting against ISIS, which is a US-Israel-Saudi proxy...

Let’s just conveniently gloss over the fact that the monster Soleimani was responsible for over 600 American soldiers deaths.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Nobody, not even Donny knows what he wants, his depleted mind picks up scraps of whatever is thrown at him and he clings to them like a whiny baby.

Yes and the Democrats strategy to all of this is.....lol.

Getting troops out of Iraq is not a bad idea, you just need to live with the fact that you are handing Iraq over to Iran. 

It was pretty much like that when Saddam was killed, nothing new.

Which probably wasn't a bad idea under a friendly Iran, but now its a mess..........

Friendly Iran? You mean, like a friendly North Korea?

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

So Russia and Iran are aligned. US takes action against Iran after multiple provocations.

liberals: he’s doing what his master Putin wants!

huh?

Has the price of oil gone up?

Has the chances for a war in the Middle East gone up, restricting ME output and increasing Russia's share of the world market?

Has Putin enhanced his chances of being a "peacemaker" instead of killer and partner of Assad?

Didn't Donnie and Putin just talk last week?

https://www.insider.com/trump-putin-phone-call-kremlin-statement-2019-12

Hmmmmm.....looks like the Puppet dances again....

0 ( +3 / -3 )

We would love to leave all these places.

What will be the liberal response when we do? “Oh my God Trump is leaving everyone to die! Impeach!”

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

The Americans need to leave Iraq with their targeted assassinations and take their death dealing military with them....

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said that if U.S. troops were required to leave the country, Iraq's government would have to pay Washington for the cost of a "very extraordinarily expensive" air base there.

LOL! Worst president ever!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

All this anguish is silly.  The whole Middle East is a mess and has been since Kuwait.  US and the "coalition" (what a joke) should just pack up and leave.  If Iran asserts control over Iraq so what?  If Saudi and other Sunni dictatorhips and "kingdoms" go to war with Iran, so what?  If Assad stays, so what?  If he goes, so what?  Nothing the US does or doesn't do will ever meet with approval by all sides.  and so the mess continues. 

As it was under a number of previous presidents.  Honestly killing a few senior warmiongers doesn't feel much worse than bombing the hell out of the civilian populace, killing thousands and displacing thousands more.  Bring the boys home.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

in any case, now that there's a real possibility US troops could withdraw from Iraq, are you still unhappy because it's what Trump wanted all along?

Nobody, not even Donny knows what he wants, his depleted mind picks up scraps of whatever is thrown at him and he clings to them like a whiny baby.

Getting troops out of Iraq is not a bad idea, you just need to live with the fact that you are handing Iraq over to Iran.

Which probably wasn't a bad idea under a friendly Iran, but now its a mess..........

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Soleimani was murdered because he was fighting against ISIS, which is a US-Israel-Saudi proxy...

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Huge difference between Bin Laden and Soleimani. Bin Laden admitted terrorism and did not hold any governmental role. Soleimani was the elected armed forces representative of a nation sitting on the United Nations council.

You think Soleimani has any more blood on his hands than any US or Israeli or Russian military general?

And by the way Bin Laden's killing was unlawful and without trial. But the US has previous there with Saddam Hussein etc.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

So what domestic "crisis" are liberals claiming is going on now?

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq

(from article above)

Currently Iraq (Not Saudi Arabia - 9/11!!!!) is part of the Muslim ban and now sanctions? Let the party begin. How many trillions and lives lost on this?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The timing, of course, suits the leader well. With domestic crisis after crisis, such a spectacle will distract and result in much patriotic chest-beating, whilst the rest of look on, aghast.

Too right.

Yes, the "bring it on" responses from those sitting comfortably thousands of miles from the region is particularly sickening.

Particularly from those who have never served their country. Bass is a perfect example.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

no he didnt, so dont worry. If he wanted to do something like that, he would have done it before he was impeached* right? Cause the only thing left for that is for Nancy to never send it, or to send it for acquittal.

Call me cynical, but did Trump just kill an Iranian general, and cause an international crisis, all for the sake of drawing attention away from his Ukraine scandal?

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Quite a mature response I thought. You want to start a war on our yard? Then just leave.

Trump didn't think about this one. He has troops stationed in another country and now he risks having his foothold there removed.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

LOL! Wow, worst president in US History!

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Call me cynical, but did Trump just kill an Iranian general, and cause an international crisis, all for the sake of drawing attention away from his Ukraine scandal?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

bass: I feel the opposite.

You feel that an F-35 can take out Iran's centrifuges? LOL OK. Bass has gone on record saying his feelings say an F-35 can bomb the center of a mountain. Noted for the record.

Trump fan, right?

Superlib: So you expect Iran to fold and the attacks will end, right?

bass: No, I hope they send their worst to make it easier for us to pick them off.

That's called an escalation. More schizo foreign policy from unaccountable Trump fans. Bring them home but only after we send them out!

4 ( +8 / -4 )

To think the world just goes on when the US assassinates the #2 guy in Iran...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ah, going with, "I'll pretend I lost track of conversation to hide my lack of knowledge" tactic from bass.

I feel the opposite.

I'll remind you: You think the US can bomb Iranian centrifuges with our current stock of weapons.

I think so, I hope so

So you expect Iran to fold and the attacks will end, right?

No, I hope they send their worst to make it easier for us to pick them off.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

bass: Depends, I heard military officials that praised the move.

Ah, going with, "I'll pretend I lost track of conversation to hide my lack of knowledge" tactic from bass. I'll remind you: You think the US can bomb Iranian centrifuges with our current stock of weapons. I sincerely asked you to not waste people's time just because you got embarrassed. Just be a man and own it.

Soleimani is dead, doesn’t get more clearer than that.

So you expect Iran to fold and the attacks will end, right?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

And now that he's gone Iran won't be able to plan any more attacks.

Oh, they'll be able to plan attacks, but they'll be committing suicide if they carry them out.

Iraq's parliament called for the expulsion of all American troops from Iraqi soil.

Great! This gives Trump the perfect excuse to finally get us out of Iraq in spite of opposition to this by the neo-cons and neo-libs. They can be re-deployed to help secure our southern border.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

So you think killing an Iranian general and tweeting a response will end things? My word. So it's all over with Iran now? You're predicting an end?

No, I’m predicting that Iran is now on official notice..

You have a different opinion from every military adviser who has ever commented on the matter. Not with me.

Depends, I heard military officials that praised the move.

Love it when I turn a 35-year conservative journalist into a cut and paste placeholder. Makes me feel like I'm smarter then every other conservative journalist on the planet.

Ok, lol

Love the escalations, want to come home. Trump fans going schizo as they have no accountability.

No, we do. Soleimani is dead, doesn’t get more clearer than that.

You supported regime change in Iraq. You supported regime change in Syria.

Past tense ”supported”

You support regime change in Iran in everything but name.

I don’t, at least not by US forces.

.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Liberals: Trumps Twitter is an official record!!!

These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!

liberals: he can’t do that! Can and did. Boomerang again.

liberals again: it’s a threat! Twitter has to remove those tweets! (Iranian twitter threats: that’s free speech, cause orangemanbad!)

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

What Saddam Huessein has predicted during his days in trail has come true! A mess and bloodshed in Iraq!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

bass4funk: No, what they want is an end to these myopic Washington bureaucratic wars

So you think killing an Iranian general and tweeting a response will end things? My word. So it's all over with Iran now? You're predicting an end?

We just have a difference of opinion.

You have a different opinion from every military adviser who has ever commented on the matter. Not with me.

Let's move on, please don't waste everyone's time trying to save face. Take your licks like a man and move on.

Love it when I turn a 35-year conservative journalist into a cut and paste placeholder. Makes me feel like I'm smarter then every other conservative journalist on the planet.

No, I support us leaving the ME.

Love the escalations, want to come home. Trump fans going schizo as they have no accountability. You supported regime change in Iraq. You supported regime change in Syria. You support regime change in Iran in everything but name. Hard to accomplish your military goes with no military in the area.

Just bounce back and forth and you should be fine.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

So Russia and Iran are aligned. US takes action against Iran after multiple provocations.

liberals: he’s doing what his master Putin wants!

huh?

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

You're just wrong on this one.

Sorry, I think you’re wrong on this one, really I do.

There is no military solution to hitting their centrifuges.

We just have a difference of opinion.Let's move on, please don't waste everyone's time trying to save face. Take your licks like a man and move on.

So this whole idea of renegotiating a better deal has just been BS from you?

Not just me.

Makes sense now. You've always supported regime change in the Middle East. 

No, I support us leaving the ME.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

You can see a lot of what Panetta was talking about. 

Trump fans want to bring our troops home but they also want to use our troops to project force and strike our enemies so we don't look weak.

No, what they want is an end to these myopic Washington bureaucratic wars, but at the same time, they’re tired of our leaders not giving countries like Iran a measurable response when they kill our people with impunity. If they have the guts to try to make a disastrous deal with a country that we have no diplomatic relations with, then they can take the initiative to take out the people that have done the same to ours. It’s not about being weak, it’s about accountability.

Trump announces a clumsy pullout from Syria and they cheer for not getting involved,

interesting, liberals always wanted out of these wars and now they can give me the president for trying his best to get out of them....weird.

then they cheer when those troops are sent to Iraq to escalate things with Iran.

No one is cheering, but no one wants to see any more of our soldiers killed with impunity

At the end of the day they support both isolationism and pre-emptive strike, which is such a stupid contradiction only Trump fans could pull it off without noticing.

That’s OK, people are allowed to change their opinions on issues, strategy works for me.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

The twin developments could bring Iran closer to building an atomic bomb

Yeah, Iran could but they never showed any signs of wanting nuclear weapons...

What these developments have done is bring the US and Iran closer to war, which is what Trump's masters have demanded of him from the start.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Just to remind everyone, there has not been one speck of credible evidence that since the revolution in 1979, Iran’s nuclear program has been for military purposes. None.

In less that 4 days, US forces asked to leave Iraq, Iranian influence massively increased Iraq. Iranian population totally united behind its leaders. US standing in the world at an all time low, US forces and others in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and other Middle East countries at much higher risk. World economy shaky, Suleimani has been replaced within the day of his murder. And we are waiting for the response, which will come. The Iranians have a very good track record for retaliation.

And the Trump faithful on this board really think this was a good move? Really?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Michael Flynn told us all about this guy in 2015. The Obama Iran deal gave him amnesty as one of its conditions.

No, we knew about this guy for many, many years, please turn off the liberal chatter.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

What do you think is going to happen now? A new guy in place with a change of direction from Iran?

Not likely - but at least when Iran kills another American contractor, lights fire to another US embassy, and sends it’s terrorist general to Iraq to plan more mayhem they will have to think that it just might not be that great an idea.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Too bad that Iraq vote is non binding. We would love for them to just let us go home.

we stay liberals complain that we are there. We leave it’s oh my god you are giving Iraq to ISIS!

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

The dramatic headline and alarmist wording obscure the much more assuring truth.

The Iranian nuclear program will remain the NNPT compliant, civilian energy and medical isotope producing program that it has been since the Iranian population kicked out the Shah.

The only thing that has changed is they've finally triggered the full penalty clause that was there so that if the US and/Or EU reneged on the agreement (And both the US and the EU states involved in the deal did that a while ago) the deal could be declared void. (Just as most deals have a mechanism where if one party doesn't even make a good faith effort to live up to its obligations, the other party is not bound by anything in the deal, either)

And the deal was only ever a face saving way to get America out of a trap of their own making (The speed that the US could tweak and 'escalate' it's 'sanctions' on Iran was always in danger of being eclipsed by the speed that banks and corporations could find a way to bypass them) and the Iranians are no longer concerned about embarrassing the US, and they've given up hope that the UK or Germany are going to stand up against American outrages (they couldn't even muster the courage to condemn the murder of an official representative of the Iranian government as he met with an official representative of the Iraqi government on his way to a diplomatic meeting with the head of the Iraqi government) so they're not even interested in giving those EU states any more of a grace period.

They will, however, as a government that is even more vehemently opposed to the existence of nuclear weapons than Japan is, continue to cooperate with the IAEA inspectors and abide by the Nuclear weapons nonproliferations standards, despite the fact that they get no benefit from that.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

bass: Carpet bombers and bunker busters can and we have enough of them and can build more, this is where fossil fuel comes in handy.

You're just wrong on this one. There is no military solution to hitting their centrifuges. Let's move on, please don't waste everyone's time trying to save face. Take your licks like a man and move on.

you can’t negotiate with Iran

So this whole idea of renegotiating a better deal has just been BS from you? Makes sense now. You've always supported regime change in the Middle East.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

yakyakToday 07:27 am JST

All of this over the killing of a General? It's called war for a reason.

as far as I can tell, Congress has not declared war on Iran. So what war are you talking about?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Soleimani kills over 600 American soldiers- Obama gives Iran a billion dollars in cash in pallets from the back of heavy military transport aircraft. Trump takes the same guy out to show that Iran cannot keep killing Americans with impunity and the political Left loses their collectivist minds. 

It is baffling to say the least. For the life of me, I can’t understand the liberal thought process either. Smh....

What do you think is going to happen now? A new guy in place with a change of direction from Iran?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

You can see a lot of what Panetta was talking about.

Trump fans want to bring our troops home but they also want to use our troops to project force and strike our enemies so we don't look weak. Trump announces a clumsy pullout from Syria and they cheer for not getting involved, then they cheer when those troops are sent to Iraq to escalate things with Iran.

At the end of the day they support both isolationism and pre-emptive strike, which is such a stupid contradiction only Trump fans could pull it off without noticing.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Carpet bombers and bunker busters can and we have enough of them and can build more, this is where fossil fuel comes in handy.

no need for that...just cut off all access and utilities, how long can the centrifuges spin without power?

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

It's The Art of the Deal in reverse.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

This doesn’t mean those people supported the Shah.

...possibly correct, and it means they don't support the cleric.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Super: Trump is too emotional to handle this job and the responsibilities for it.

Emotional? Guess Obama got emotional when he knocked off Anwar al-Awlaki (an American citizen) and Osama binLaden. Soleimani was responsible for killing more than 600 Americans - somehow I think being a bit emotional isn’t a bad thing. Maybe Trump should have given Soleimani a cargo plane full of money instead. Either way, Iran has been at war with the US for 40 years. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take notice of that reality and fight back every once in a while.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

This guy Trumpists had never heard of until a few days ago.

No, we knew about this guy for many, many years, please turn off the liberal chatter.

Such wanton slavering for war. Time to send in UN or EU forces to halt battle preparations in the US.

ROFL! Yeah, that’ll never happen.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Their facilities are underground. It's already been decided that military strikes can't solve the issue. I'm surprised you didn't already know that.

Carpet bombers and bunker busters can and we have enough of them and can build more, this is where fossil fuel comes in handy.

Except Iran getting nukes, which Trump signed off on multiple times as being in compliance. If your approach is better then please tell me about the success of Iran's new announcement on increasing enrichment. I mean that's success, right? Or are we still waiting for the success to start?

There is NO negotiation with Iran on denuclearizing, if they weren’t going to be less hostile 40 years ago, then why now? Being the realist that I am, confrontation with Iran is inevitable and for far too long, both of the previous administration allowed Iran to become more emboldened and to think they can attack Americans at any given time with total impunity and Soleimani was the limit, he needed to go, it’s a great thing.

I will not try to change your distorted views

Nor will I yours from far-left website opinion blogs from years ago.

Your words are empty when faced with the reality that we are now moving in the opposite direction with enrichment as a direct result of your policies. You do not want a deal, you are a Bolton lover who supports regime change and gives lip service to Trump saying he wants to be out of the area.

Not empty, I’m real simple, you can’t negotiate with Iran, they won’t denuclearize and don’t give me that spiel about the disastrous Obama treaty. Either way, this was going to happen, now Iran can back down or they can suffer, and if they think they can kill more Americans and we’ll just not turn the country into a smoking pile of rubble then they’re living in a fantasy world. Ask the families that had loved ones killed by Soleimani, ask them if they’re disgusted that he’s dead.

Here's what else is fun: tell me all about the deal you imagine happening in the end. Full access 24/7 forever? Please go over some broad strokes so we at least know what you're working towards as Iran turns away.

The deal that I imagine in the end would be that around completely denuclearize, but I know that will never happen, but I do also know and think that do US should go after any aggression that stems from Iran or any of its proxies and this is where Israel in Saudi’s come in and we can definitely rely on them to help us in containing or even if all else fails using military force if need be.

Right this second we have increased enrichment and the start of a war that will get people killed. Killing a single Iranian general didn't do a damn thing except increase hostilities

Probably, but I care more about American blood being spilled, but with the hardware we have, that’s less likely to happen.

Killing a single Iranian general didn't do a damn thing except increase hostilities.

Tell that to the families, but liberals didn’t think that through when they went after OBL.

The same thing would happen if they killed one of our generals....but imagine them giving a press release saying how safer they are.

I personally don’t care about the Iranian press. They can pound sand.

Trump is too emotional to handle this job and the responsibilities for it.

Thats the good thing, we had two Presidents previously that said to the families who’s family members that were slaughtered by Soleimani basically saying, they died, but too bad, their lives aren’t worth risking a military conflict with Iran. Nice, real nice.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

We now need to call the election of 2016 "The Return of the NEOCONs"....

All those campaign slogans; "Bring the troops home!", "Stop endless wars!", "No more US blood in the sand!", was all a scam, BS, a con-job...

Trump bamboozled his supporters again - making them think he was "different", and not a "war monger"....

HAH! He sure played you guys.

Dick Cheney must be smiling at his ranch in Wyoming....he got his third Middle East War...and a big jump in his Haliburton stock...

4 ( +7 / -3 )

It’s typically people who have never served their countries that are the most ardent supporters of going to war.

Yes, the "bring it on" responses from those sitting comfortably thousands of miles from the region is particularly sickening.

What makes Trumpophiles a little different is their claim to want to get out of the ME. How can we simultaneously go to war in the ME and bring our troops home?

It's baffling, isn't it? Such is the cult of personality. It's like the Kims or one of those theocracies I alluded to.

The timing, of course, suits the leader well. With domestic crisis after crisis, such a spectacle will distract and result in much patriotic chest-beating, whilst the rest of look on, aghast.

Has it really come to this? Again?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

When Trump withdrew the troops from ME, the anti groupie screamed in anger "no, Trump leaves the void to another power or some bad guys to fill." When Trump deployed more troops to ME, the anti groupie jumped up and down, "no, Trump is starting WW3." Well, I find these reactions highly amusing. Trump is a gift that keeps on giving. Regardless of what the fans or anti-fans want, the US can't leave the ME. Can't.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

@yakyak, Clearly have no idea what you are talking about... The US supported the coup in 1979 to replace the Shah with the Ayatollah... The US is the sole reason why the islamic republic exists..

Jimmy Carter purposefully overthrew the Shah to install an Islamic terrorist state run by religious fanatics who chant ‘Death to America” five times a day right after prayers?

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

And who will show the US that they cannot keep killing the rest of us with impunity?

The cycle of violence continues regardless. US withdrawed in 2011, by 2014 ISIS filled the gap, then US was asked to comeback...

Are you interested in taking sides only?

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

The street of Iran was flooded with protesters just weeks ago, 1000 of them was killed by Quds...the rest are still in prison.

This doesn’t mean those people supported the Shah.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Maybe because the Iranians you meet are exiles who supported the Shah. Go to Iran and talk to the people in the streets and most likely you'll get a different opinion.

The street of Iran was flooded with protesters just weeks ago, 1000 of them was killed by Quds...the rest are still in prison.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Such wanton slavering for war

It’s typically people who have never served their countries that are the most ardent supporters of going to war.

What makes Trumpophiles a little different is their claim to want to get out of the ME. How can we simultaneously go to war in the ME and bring our troops home?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Trump takes the same guy out to show that Iran cannot keep killing Americans with impunity

And who will show the US that they cannot keep killing the rest of us with impunity?

Decades of interference, murder, illegal invasions, war, bombings, chemical and nuclear weapons used against the peoples of the world.

Enough is enough is enough.

We don't want your murder machine anymore.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Donny’s clearly going for the pump presidents get when the US is in armed conflict, or the threat thereof. It’s called the patriotic pump or rally around the flag effect.

He’a also telegraphing our moves to Iran, which he pilloried Obama for having allegedly done.

Bass: Why hasn’t Donny negotiates a SOFA with Iraq? You know, what you incorrectly alleged Obama didn’t do and pillory him for allegedly not having done so.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Soleimani was living on borrowed time and the world is a much safer place without this guy.

This guy Trumpists had never heard of until a few days ago. Because they would have mentioned him before, if he was such a concern.

Good, he can help us find all of their centrifuges easier to hit with our F-22, B-2 and F-35

Such wanton slavering for war. Time to send in UN or EU forces to halt battle preparations in the US.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

ksteer: The US is the sole reason why the islamic republic exists.

We're coming up on 70 years since the overthrow and at some point Iran has to take responsibility for their current situation. If they want a liberal democracy with good relations with the West, they can have it. They choose not to. Their choice.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

So much to unpack here:

Soleimani kills over 600 American soldiers-

Wow. He must have gotten his training from Chuck Norris.

Obama gives Iran a billion dollars in cash in pallets from the back of heavy military transport aircraft.

Yep. Completely accurate. Obama piloted the plane and pushed the pallet of Iran’s cash out the back himself.

Trump takes the same guy out to show that Iran cannot keep killing Americans with impunity

Yes, because only one person in Iran was responsible for killing its enemies. Now, Iran is completely impotent.

and the political Left loses their collectivist minds. For Democrats in the US it’s a binary world- either appease the Mullahs or Trump is getting into WWIII.

Absolutely incorrect.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

If anything they should be blaming Soleimani. I was disappointed that Bush didn’t go after this guy

Sure. You were too busy leading the cheers to invade Iraq.

> and I knew Obama wouldn’t do it

Despite Obama having killed more terrorists with drones than any other president, which you pilloried him for doing.

and I nought Trump would do the same, boy was I wrong! But my respect for the President went up tenfold. Soleimani was living on borrowed time and the world is a much safer place without this guy.

Nope.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

bass4funk: Good, he can help us find all of their centrifuges easier to hit with our F-22, B-2 and F-35

Their facilities are underground. It's already been decided that military strikes can't solve the issue. I'm surprised you didn't already know that.

The treaty didn’t prevent anything.

Except Iran getting nukes, which Trump signed off on multiple times as being in compliance. If your approach is better then please tell me about the success of Iran's new announcement on increasing enrichment. I mean that's success, right? Or are we still waiting for the success to start?

Because it was a faulty deal with more holes than Swiss cheese. Congress would have never approved of it, especially with a country we have no diplomatic relations with. Ripping a deal that was ultimately bad for the Israelis, Saudis and us was the best thing Trump could have done. Iran is the Last Country to moan about a war crime.

I will not try to change your distorted views from far-right website opinion blogs from years ago. Your words are empty when faced with the reality that we are now moving in the opposite direction with enrichment as a direct result of your policies. You do not want a deal, you are a Bolton lover who supports regime change and gives lip service to Trump saying he wants to be out of the area.

Here's what else is fun: tell me all about the deal you imagine happening in the end. Full access 24/7 forever? Please go over some broad strokes so we at least know what you're working towards as Iran turns away.

Right this second we have increased enrichment and the start of a war that will get people killed. Killing a single Iranian general didn't do a damn thing except increase hostilities. The same thing would happen if they killed one of our generals....but imagine them giving a press release saying how safer they are.

Trump is too emotional to handle this job and the responsibilities for it.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Iran would be foolish to retaliate, the US would obliterate them, the military might of the US is incredible, Im glad theyre our allies. If Iran didnt want conflict, maybe dont attack a US embassy? What did they think would happen?

I think your faith in the US military is a bit unfounded, there strength is purely in how large they are. But there are many other countries in the world that have much smaller militaries and are leagues ahead in effectiveness.

Iran didn't attack an embassy. Protesters in Iraq did, whether the militias that protested are supported by Iran or not is irrelevant.

All of this over the killing of a General? It's called war for a reason. Every Iranian I have ever spoken to have all expressed to me that Iran was 1000 percent better when the Shah was in power and allied to the U.S.A.

@yakyak, Clearly have no idea what you are talking about... The US supported the coup in 1979 to replace the Shah with the Ayatollah... The US is the sole reason why the islamic republic exists..

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Soleimani kills over 600 American soldiers- Obama gives Iran a billion dollars in cash in pallets from the back of heavy military transport aircraft. Trump takes the same guy out to show that Iran cannot keep killing Americans with impunity and the political Left loses their collectivist minds. 

It is baffling to say the least. For the life of me, I can’t understand the liberal thought process either. Smh.....

-12 ( +6 / -18 )

The murder of Soleimani and others crowning the interminable and insufferable 3-year Trumpiad proves only one thing: anybody can be POTUS whether ignorant, uneducated, foolish, stupid or demented.

They are always running a scam/scheme like a used car salesman. 

also applies to the US "Deep State" in spades. Just open a history book for adults: it's a "never-ending story" because humans who don't read can learn nothing from history.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

There is no position in the world capable providing and argument saying Trump is needed as President.

Soleimani kills over 600 American soldiers- Obama gives Iran a billion dollars in cash in pallets from the back of heavy military transport aircraft. Trump takes the same guy out to show that Iran cannot keep killing Americans with impunity and the political Left loses their collectivist minds. For Democrats in the US it’s a binary world- either appease the Mullahs or Trump is getting into WWIII.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Well the good news is that Iran will be increasing their enrichment.

Good, he can help us find all of their centrifuges easier to hit with our F-22, B-2 and F-35

Or at last I've been told that's good news since the nuclear deal preventing that is now dead.

The treaty didn’t prevent anything. That’s why it’s a treat, it’s not a bipartisan act that was legislated and why not? Because it was a faulty deal with more holes than Swiss cheese. Congress would have never approved of it, especially with a country we have no diplomatic relations with. Ripping a deal that was ultimately bad for the Israelis, Saudis and us was the best thing Trump could have done. Iran is the Last Country to moan about a war crime.

-18 ( +2 / -20 )

And now that he's gone Iran won't be able to plan any more attacks.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Soleimani was living on borrowed time and the world is a much safer place without this guy.

Agreed 100%.

Even if you were biased against USA, you can't deny this guy's bloody hands are in every bloody conflict in the middle east today. I'm glad there's been a reset, now the Iranians know there is no more untouchables.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Trump has managed one thing in all this mess, take the media focus off the impeachment and put him in a position to argue that the US "need" him as president!

There is no position in the world capable providing and argument saying Trump is needed as President. The most useless self important fool the world has seen in the past 70 years. America needs a real President, not the court fool that it currently has.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Absolutely inaccurate. This sounds like talking points from Israel.

My quote from @ulysses gir deleted, see quote beliw.

idiot 2 is handing it over to ISIS!!!!

in any case, now that there's a real possibility US troops could withdraw from Iraq, are you still unhappy because it's what Trump wanted all along?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Well the good news is that Iran will be increasing their enrichment. Or at last I've been told that's good news since the nuclear deal preventing that is now dead.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Trump ordered the death of Soleimani. 

Who will be to blame for the blowback?

If anything they should be blaming Soleimani. I was disappointed that Bush didn’t go after this guy and I knew Obama wouldn’t do it and I nought Trump would do the same, boy was I wrong! But my respect for the President went up tenfold. Soleimani was living on borrowed time and the world is a much safer place without this guy.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

Okinawa doesn't want them either!

True, but not relevant to the Trump debacle in the ME.

In the meantime, this illegal act, this assassination, will be treated with the contempt it deserves. Other countries must stand up to the US and condemn, in the strongest terms possible, this act of war.

Take to the streets and protest, write to your representatives, boycott American goods. Every little bit helps.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Whatever happens next, is down to the murderous Trump administration

Not really.

Trump ordered the death of Soleimani.

Who will be to blame for the blowback?

13 ( +16 / -3 )

And who can blame them?

Soleimani’s

Whatever happens next, is down to the murderous Trump administration

Not really.

-20 ( +4 / -24 )

Equally chilling is how the US is becoming a theocracy, with government figures actually stating that a deity is on their side.

Because we all know what a great combination religious fervour and wars are, right?

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Well, that's the region in turmoil and another generation (or several) of angry young Persians fired up.

And who can blame them?

Whatever happens next, is down to the murderous Trump administration.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

US forces unwelcome in Iraq.

All thanks to your boy Donny.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Okinawa doesn't want them either!

Good thing Okinawa is part of Japan and Japan wants US troops.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

My opinion is that either Trump ordered the assassination of Soleimani to get the attention off the impeachment, or he wasn't actually asked about it, but informed only after the fact, and is now trying to save face by pretending he was in charge of the killing. I think it was last year when John Bolton and his people went behind Trump's back and made decisions on foreign policy without even informing Trump. I have a feeling something similar has happened again. People who want to see Trump gone from office made the decision to kill Soleimani, and then informed Trump after the fact to put him in a tough situation. Somehow i doubt Trump would have ordered the killing of Soleimani. I think he knows that that would provoke a conflict with Iran, and that is the last thing he needs right now. He won the elections because he promised to end the wars. Does he think he is going to win the elections now by involving the US in another war? I think either he wasn't told about the attack, or he is thinking that, by escalating the tensions with Iran, that will help him with the elections somehow.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Iraqi gov just voted to hand over to ISIS.

USA protesters marching in the street demanding handover to ISIS.

Absolutely inaccurate. This sounds like talking points from Israel.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Seems like the US military isn't popular ANYWHERE!

Okinawa doesn't want them either!

3 ( +14 / -11 )

So Mr. Pompeo has decided that we will occupy a sovereign country. I worry for our troops stationed there. We’ve seen this all before.

It would appear that more people have attended Soleimani's funeral than Trump's inauguration.

18 ( +22 / -4 )

Iraqi gov just voted to hand over to ISIS.

USA protesters marching in the street demanding handover to ISIS.

Seems to me it's one of those occasions where 'democracy is an ass'.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

Why didn’t Donny negotiate a a SOFA with Iraq? He’s had three years to do so, but chose not to like the moron he is.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

US forces unwelcome in Iraq. 

Go Home.

Then Trump will call that bluff and bring them home, problem is Iraq understands if that were to happen there would be a civil war and Iran would take over. Trump doesn't want to be in Iraq.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

@yakyak: depends on which end of the stick you are.

Invalid CSRF.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Yubaru - Trump has managed one thing in all this mess, take the media focus off the impeachment and put him in a position to argue that the US "need" him as president!

Except that it's the news media outlets who chose which "news" stories you should hear. I guess the news media outlets aren't that interested in the biased impeachment anymore. Tempus fugit.

-13 ( +7 / -20 )

U.K and U.S stand together!

Keep the UK out of this. Trump’s cultish followers will excuse whatever filth, dishonesty or idiocy he gets up to but nobody else should involve themselves.

Trump owns this.

22 ( +31 / -9 )

All of this over the killing of a General? It's called war for a reason. Every Iranian I have ever spoken to have all expressed to me that Iran was 1000 percent better when the Shah was in power and allied to the U.S.A.

The people of Iran and the religious Government of Iran are worlds apart.

-16 ( +8 / -24 )

Iran would be foolish to retaliate, the US would obliterate them, the military might of the US is incredible, Im glad theyre our allies. If Iran didnt want conflict, maybe dont attack a US embassy? What did they think would happen? A bouquet and thank you card? I fully support trump, protect our American cousins and if needed just destroy them. U.K and U.S stand together!

-25 ( +8 / -33 )

Trump has managed one thing in all this mess, take the media focus off the impeachment and put him in a position to argue that the US "need" him as president!

14 ( +24 / -10 )

@KnowBetter:  It was always on their terms which allowed them to simply move things around. In that sense Obama made a useless, unenforceable deal with Iran.

Well, Trump killed the deal. Of course it is useless now...

Invalid CSRF.

18 ( +25 / -7 )

So the US is now an occupying force in Iraq!!!!

2 decades after idiot 1 started a disastrous war, idiot 2 is starting an even more disastrous war.

Idiot 1 handed over Iraq to Iran, idiot 2 is handing it over to ISIS!!!!

25 ( +37 / -12 )

I want my 2 minutes back. What a waste of print space!

Iran has already breached the deal, it was never going to achieve no nukes in the long term even if the deal was kept.

Iraq is suffering from schizophrenia, whether it needs USA or its resources changes with the season. Pointless.

Trump is right just let them go at each other and pull out US troops voluntarily, but of course then the left would blame USA for the bloodshed that ensues regardless.

-27 ( +12 / -39 )

Iran only had to abide by the terms of the nuclear deal for ten years. Then Iran was free to build as many nukes as they could afford. The latest statement by President Hassan Rouhani's administration saying the country would not observe limits on fuel enrichment, on the size of its enriched uranium stockpile and on its research and development activities doesn't change Iran's plans, or timetable.

-22 ( +11 / -33 )

The blowback over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general mounted Sunday as Iran announced it will no longer abide by the limits contained in the 2015 nuclear deal

As if they ever did. It was always on their terms which allowed them to simply move things around. In that sense Obama made a useless, unenforceable deal with Iran. Iran is run like a shell game at a bazaar, things are always kept in motion so you never really know where the prize is and that's just how they play. They are always running a scam/scheme like a used car salesman. For you my friend, special price.

-24 ( +14 / -38 )

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