Iran
- Thread starter J.C.Decaux
- Start date
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
First pence then trump perhaps
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
America really does have an assassination addiction at this point.
I'd be worried if I was at the G20 podium.
I'd be worried if I was at the G20 podium.
not-bono-ever
meh
Interesting that the pentagon statement expressly states that it on the direct orders of trump. Hardly news that the yanks would do this but it’s utterly fucking imbecilic action
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong report concerns among people at the pointless podiums (podia?)
agricola
a genuine importer of owls
"... but how did Trump and Pence score 201? That should be impossible."
not-bono-ever
meh
It’s fun and games topping enemies remotely innit.
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
In what way?
Iran doesn't have nukes, and it's friends who have nukes aren't really it's friends, they just - for the moment - have a common enemy, but neither Russia nor China is going to risk a nuclear exchange with the US for the sake of Iran.
Iran's ability to fight proxy wars has been impressive, but it's ability to fight a stand up war with the US is not far off non-existant.
Iran can doubtless respond with terrorism against US allies/proxies and issue dire threats, and it's allies may note their grave concerns and make life for the US and it's proxies/allies difficult elsewhere in order to produce overstretch, but this not August 1914.
There are risks to be weighed up, but the US has imposed a significant defeat on the Iranians - the US is more willing to strike than they thought, the US has better intelligence than they thought, and the architect and executor of Iranian foreign and military policy, it's wars in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon,and the effective #2 in the Iranian state - as well as couple of locally important allies/proxies - is dead because the US wished it so.
This is similar in importance to the Germans killing Zhukov in 1943, or the US killing Giap in 1968. Not without risk, but a huge blow to to the effectiveness of their enemy.
MrCurry
right after this urgent rest
This jumped out at me from the BBC news website:
“He was widely considered a principal architect of President Bashar al-Assad's war in Syria, the ongoing conflict in Iraq, the fight against Islamic State, and many battles beyond.”
Is this true, or is it politically motivated revisionism? If so, how come I’ve never heard of this guy before today, if he’s apparently known to be Satan himself, responsible for every bad thing which has happened in the region in the last ten years (allegedly)?
I’m not saying it’s wrong, just surprising that this guy wasn’t as famous as Bin Laden.
“He was widely considered a principal architect of President Bashar al-Assad's war in Syria, the ongoing conflict in Iraq, the fight against Islamic State, and many battles beyond.”
Is this true, or is it politically motivated revisionism? If so, how come I’ve never heard of this guy before today, if he’s apparently known to be Satan himself, responsible for every bad thing which has happened in the region in the last ten years (allegedly)?
I’m not saying it’s wrong, just surprising that this guy wasn’t as famous as Bin Laden.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Yes it's all true, and it's not hidden knowledge. This is exactly why he was a hero symbol to so many. He did this as a representative of the Iranian theocracy rather than a rogue agent though.
Riklet
procrastinación
He is/was hugely famous, one of the very very top Iranian military figures. This is a devastating blow to the Iranian regime. He may have single handedly helped Assad cling on to power pre 2015 Russian intervention too, major role in reorganising and supporting the armed forces and bringing in Shia groups. He has been employed in very much an aggressive capacity to ensure Iran's defence since 2003. Good Al Jazeera doc from a few years back I will try and find.
Not quite sure what he was doing in Iraq again and if he was bumped off specifically for that. Could just be revenge for his past role 2003-2006 in Iraq - the guy basically invented 'charge' IEDs.
Not quite sure what he was doing in Iraq again and if he was bumped off specifically for that. Could just be revenge for his past role 2003-2006 in Iraq - the guy basically invented 'charge' IEDs.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
It's hard to get across to those not closely following ME+related events just how audacious this was, kebabking's comparisons are very apt, but they may even downplay the importance/effect due to the widespread armed personal following now spread across iraq/syria/lebanon he had on top of official roles. I think those are going to combine to kill a whole lot of Iraqis/Syrians and possibly Kurds now. On the personal level, you should wish only good riddance to the devil.
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krink
I'll do it this afternoon
I don't recognise his name but I know his outfit Quds Force are the revolutionary guard's elite "Holy" force and their role in destroying Syria is well known. So while I'm not going to shed any tears over him getting taken out, I worry what it will mean for the people in Iran trying to change things for the better (will they find it harder to operate with this opportunity for the theocracy to get everyone focused on the old enemy) and as for Trump, I don't think it will be that big a deal unless it escalates to another Afghanistan/Iraq situation. I find it hard predicting anything theses days (apart from the guarantee that it will be the ordinary people who suffer the most).
eta: what will happen in current Quds operations? who will take command?
eta: what will happen in current Quds operations? who will take command?
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
might be june 1914 though
not-bono-ever
meh
Raab appeals for calm. That will calm things down I am sure.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Riklet
procrastinación
What was he doing in Iraq anyway? Presumably organising a response to the American airstrikes from last month which killed 25 Iraqi Hizbullah fighters apparently. Whoever invited him or guaranteed his security is going to be shitting it.
Although it was an illegal targeted operation, I don't see anyone sticking their neck out for Iran here. He was in Iraq as head of Quds force in an official role, and his CV is hardly secret. I think it will cause a shitstorm in the region but it's not actually such a huge surprise the Americans taking this bold move.
There is always the possibility of course, that he was killed by accident. Seems unlikely tho.
Although it was an illegal targeted operation, I don't see anyone sticking their neck out for Iran here. He was in Iraq as head of Quds force in an official role, and his CV is hardly secret. I think it will cause a shitstorm in the region but it's not actually such a huge surprise the Americans taking this bold move.
There is always the possibility of course, that he was killed by accident. Seems unlikely tho.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
He's been in and out of iraq overseeing a) the takeover of the state by iran and b) the crushing of opposition to this. Why was he ever anywhere really?
MickiQ
In My Defence I was left Unsupervised
Whilst the world is no doubt a better place without Soleimani the Yanks have assassinated the head of a foreign military in a 3rd country. This puts the Iranians in a hell of a bind. If they don't respond to what is effectively an act of war they will look weak, if they do they risk being stomped.
2020 seems to have got off to a bit of an hairy start
2020 seems to have got off to a bit of an hairy start
Dillinger4
Es gibt Zeit
To my MP:
Dear Sir,
I am writing to urge you to condemn in the strongest possible terms the targeted assassination of Qassem Suleimani.
This attack was, first and foremost, a violation of the territorial integrity and independence of Iraq, and this violation should be condemned.
Targeted assassinations of state actors is arguably illegal under US and international law, and this attack should also be condemned on these terms. As my representative in parliament I urge you and your colleagues to take a stand against the escalation of violence by the United States government in the middle east.
In 2003, I marched against the war in Iraq as I believed the decision to invade was an absolute travesty of lies that subsequently caused the death of millions. Please do the right thing and stand against any escalation of violence, and condemn this ill advised and illegal targeted assassination.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to urge you to condemn in the strongest possible terms the targeted assassination of Qassem Suleimani.
This attack was, first and foremost, a violation of the territorial integrity and independence of Iraq, and this violation should be condemned.
Targeted assassinations of state actors is arguably illegal under US and international law, and this attack should also be condemned on these terms. As my representative in parliament I urge you and your colleagues to take a stand against the escalation of violence by the United States government in the middle east.
In 2003, I marched against the war in Iraq as I believed the decision to invade was an absolute travesty of lies that subsequently caused the death of millions. Please do the right thing and stand against any escalation of violence, and condemn this ill advised and illegal targeted assassination.
Dillinger4
Es gibt Zeit
not that I believe it will do any good but we have to start somewhere.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Where has Dillinger gone?
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