DJL 232 #1 Posted December 31, 2019 US Baghdad embassy attacked by protesters angry at air strikes https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50956111 There are many things going on at once. First the backstory is that the US sent air strikes against Iran backed Hezbollah terrorists who were responsible for the death of a US citizen. This apparently was not sanctioned by the government of Iraq and they have said that this move violated their sovereignty. We (Trump) is blaming Iran for creating and supporting the protesters who attacked the US Embassy but were repelled by US soldiers using tear gas and flash bangs. So here we are with a protest over an issue for which the country has already made statements against us and the person claiming another country is responsible for it has been shown to get his information from conspiracy theories generated in Russia. This business will get out of control. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #2 December 31, 2019 Aaaannnnnd, we're sending in choppers now too. Interesting how it's one nation's fault and responsibility for protests in another nation. I'm waiting to hear how Obama is involved in this one too. We absolutely cannot trust anything the current administration tells us, if they tell us anything. This is America??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,381 #3 December 31, 2019 Rumor is: George Soros is financing the protests. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #4 December 31, 2019 Trump has arrived at his golf course, clearly staying involved in international issues. Iraqis are trying to set fire to the US Embassy. Another scorned ally. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #5 December 31, 2019 11 minutes ago, normiss said: Trump has arrived at his golf course, clearly staying involved in international issues. Iraqis are trying to set fire to the US Embassy. Another scorned ally. But...But...But... He wasn't going to have time for golf. He said so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfzombie13 307 #6 December 31, 2019 i would not be a bit surprised to find out that he orchestrated the protest as a distraction from the impeachment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,395 #7 January 1, 2020 8 hours ago, sfzombie13 said: i would not be a bit surprised to find out that he orchestrated the protest as a distraction from the impeachment. He didn't do it! OK he did it but it's not that bad. Obama once organized a protest. Blame him! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel99 143 #8 January 1, 2020 5 hours ago, billvon said: He didn't do it! OK he did it but it's not that bad. Obama once organized a protest. Blame him! Tried and tested tactic of American presidents with failing ratings, start a war! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #9 January 2, 2020 Republicans seem to have learned a lesson from their mistakes that created the US Embassy attack in Libya in 2012. I'm seeing a lot of "there will be no Benghazi in Iraq" comments from the Republicans. At the very least they seem to want to commit to not repeating their previous failure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TriGirl 268 #10 January 2, 2020 To be fair, there is a HUGE difference in the security posture at Embassy Baghdad from Consulate Benghazi. They've had in place for years the required security measures/personnel/evac plans -- even before the example at Benghazi. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #11 January 2, 2020 Politicians are of course presenting it somewhat differently though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TriGirl 268 #12 January 2, 2020 Agreed. Just wish someone else would point out the disconnect publicly. Although I do applaud their attempt simply to ignore the train of thought, since those sentiments aren't really getting a lot of traction (unless I'm missing something -- I am out in the rural South Pacific!) 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #13 January 3, 2020 Shall we play a game? US Airstrike at Baghdad airport kills Iran’s most revered military leader, Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi state television reports. Iran will see this as a declaration of war. Impeachment distraction activated. The US isn't prepared in the region for this. This is going to get ugly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,381 #14 January 3, 2020 4 minutes ago, normiss said: Shall we play a game? US Airstrike at Baghdad airport kills Iran’s most revered military leader, Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi state television reports. Iran will see this as a declaration of war. Impeachment distraction activated. The US isn't prepared in the region for this. This is going to get ugly. I just saw that, and it has me puzzled. How was an Iranian general killed by an airstrike at an airport in Iraq??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowlerk 1,905 #15 January 3, 2020 1 hour ago, normiss said: Shall we play a game? US Airstrike at Baghdad airport kills Iran’s most revered military leader, Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi state television reports. Iran will see this as a declaration of war. Impeachment distraction activated. The US isn't prepared in the region for this. This is going to get ugly. This was an assassination. America will refuse to call it that, but that’s what it is. Congratulations they have just made murder an acceptable part of foreign policy and state craft. They will not like it when the other shoe falls. This is clearly the opening shot in Trump’s election year war. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #16 January 3, 2020 Now we know why Trump told Melania to shut the fuck up when she hoped for world peace as her New Year’s Resolution. I hope the thank you gift isn't too painful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TriGirl 268 #17 January 3, 2020 3 hours ago, ryoder said: How was an Iranian general killed by an airstrike at an airport in Iraq??? Also killed was a member of a Shia Iraqi militia group (bolding mine): Quote Soleimani -- the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force unit -- and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis -- the deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) -- were among those killed in the attack early Friday morning local time, according to a statement from the PMF, which said the pair "were martyred by an American strike." Formed in 2014 to fight ISIS, the PMF is a Shia paramilitary force made up of former militias with close ties to Iran. It was recognized under a 2016 Iraqi law as an independent military force that answers directly to the prime minister. -CNN Perhaps Soleimani was meeting with al-Muhandis? Perhaps they were in coordination? Perhaps Souleimani was going to the airport to fly back to Iran? A few more questions need to be answered about this targeted strike. Interestingly, the Pentagon statement said it was a targeted strike, specifically aiming for Soleimani, at the behest of the president. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeWeber 2,297 #18 January 3, 2020 On 12/31/2019 at 12:15 PM, normiss said: Aaaannnnnd, we're sending in choppers now too. Interesting how it's one nation's fault and responsibility for protests in another nation. I'm waiting to hear how Obama is involved in this one too. We absolutely cannot trust anything the current administration tells us, if they tell us anything. This is America??? Susie Q REDROVERWTF IM1RU12? The Pastries are in Control Viva La Patisserie! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #19 January 3, 2020 And apparently Trump did not notify anyone in Congress about the attack. I'm not sure that makes it illegal, but it might. There's also the fact that the Iranians recently held joint exercises with the Russians & Chinese (for the first time). Gotta wonder what Putin thinks about it. And if Trump told him, but not Congress. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #20 January 3, 2020 11 hours ago, gowlerk said: This was an assassination. America will refuse to call it that, but that’s what it is. Congratulations they have just made murder an acceptable part of foreign policy and state craft. They will not like it when the other shoe falls. This is clearly the opening shot in Trump’s election year war. New year, new war. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 232 #21 January 3, 2020 Just now, wolfriverjoe said: And apparently Trump did not notify anyone in Congress about the attack. I'm not sure that makes it illegal, but it might.There's also the fact that the Iranians recently held joint exercises with the Russians & Chinese (for the first time). Gotta wonder what Putin thinks about it. And if Trump told him, but not Congress. This wasn't illegal but he chose a target a little further into the legitimate structure of a sovereign nation than your typical ISIS henchman. I think Putin likes that Iraq has also spoken out against this attack and the US could be down one more ally in the Middle East. Unless we move quickly with some diplomacy I wouldn't be surprised to see Iraq call for us to remove all forces and suspend all military flyover privileges of their airspace. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #22 January 3, 2020 Congress is already claiming this was an act of war without an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iran. Trump's got quite a growing list of impeachable offenses, yet nobody cares. Pompeo claims the world is a safer place now, yet the State Dept. says: New U.S. travel advice for Iraq: Depart Iraq immediately Depart via airline “while possible” Failing that, to “other countries via land” (what other countries? Iran? Syria?) U.S. citizens should not approach the embassy Maybe Mexico should assassinate one of our officials for the acts of war of imprisoning their citizens and children at the border. Seems like an equally accepted act. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #23 January 3, 2020 I honestly thought Trump would wait until at least Monday before being a cretin this year. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfzombie13 307 #24 January 3, 2020 i just hope that everyone didn't NEED electricity next week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdvr 197 #25 January 3, 2020 14 hours ago, normiss said: Shall we play a game? US Airstrike at Baghdad airport kills Iran’s most revered military leader, Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi state television reports. Iran will see this as a declaration of war. Impeachment distraction activated. The US isn't prepared in the region for this. This is going to get ugly. Your hero Barry did it for years with drone strikes. Now you're outraged. Pot meet kettle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites