The US-Iran War. Jan 2020-20??

Jesus fuck. Hopes and prayers (lol) to all in the area.

All is well? Jesus Christ this guy is a piece of shit.

I wonder if Iran politicalky get away attacking US bases that cause no damage

Iran basically did what Trump did with Syria in 2017.

Report coming in that a Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 180 people has crashed near Tehran.

Link

That’s… really unfortunate timing. I hope someone didn’t get jumpy.

Dammit, this is the last thing this nation (or the world) needs. Those guys that presented Trump with the option to kill Suleimani were irresponsible asshats. As of course was Trump for picking it.

It was certainly a very symbolically loaded response. Initiated at the same time as the drone strike, named after Soleimani, very loud and visible, and Iranian officials were apparently tweeting flags when the attack happened. And both attacks were against high-alert military bases, meaning that the risk of casualties was going to be low.

So, assuming “all is well”, this is very definitely a response that allows both sides to de-escalate from open warfare while saving face. The US can shrug and say “no harm done”, and the Iranians can say that they’ve responded militarily to the killing.

Of course, the real war doesn’t stop there - but the Iranians can be patient because the long-term calculus favors them (and it says something about the seriousness of the strike on Soleimani in terms of image, that they felt the need for an urgent symbolic response to the killing).

But who knows? There is a senile old bully in the White House - pretty much anything might happen.

Assuming no US deaths, screw everyone who says “it’s okay, only Iraqis died.” The Iraqis on that base are our allies. And they’re people.

Everyone who was fine with Soleimani’s assassination were also fine with the deaths of 4 Iraqis killed in the same strike.

There are rumors that the Iranians warned the Iraqis (and indirectly NATO/US - Norwegian defence department says they were forewarned that an attack could happen) prior to firing the missiles. So no question that the Iranians are looking for a de-escalation that allows them to save face. So now we’re waiting to see what the POTUS has to say.

Footage of strikes apparently (from BBC)
“British, US and Iraqi officials say there are no immediate reports of casualties”

My understanding is no one died, which is entirely plausible given that ballistic missile strike would give 5+ minutes of warning, and the impact zone would known a couple of minutes before it struck.

Since the Iranians are claiming dozens killed and hundreds injured, it will be interesting to see what the Iranian people believe, and also the American people.

Perhaps the most important factor here: what do the Iraqi’s think. Do they still want US troops on their soil, setting up continual future flashpoints, particularly if Trump remains President? Or would they prefer to take their chances with Iran?

They have been telling us what the want for some time. An effective government and foreign countries to stop interfering with their affairs. I’m pretty sure that also don’t want a return of ISIS which is big reason that US and to some extent Iran is involved in their affairs.

A lot of people is going to die, if this continue this way, and the people that is going to die don’t vote the people that take this decisions. Because they can’t vote, or because they don’t care.