Why Soleimani Was Killed...

[Bill the Cat]

...6 Pentagon officials have resigned in the last month...

Let's see if one of our Media Tourists can name them or their position. FYI, 26,000 people work at the Pentagon. Resigning happens on a daily basis for a host of reasons.

[seer]

The message Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received...

[Cow Poke]

Also, whatever attacks might have been planned in the near future will have those militias saying, "Uh, our head guy just got waxed. Maybe we should lay low for a bit."

And when they hand the "command jacket" to his replacement, will he ask "why does this have a bull's eye on the back"?

[Cow Poke]

Alarmists Were Wrong about the Soleimani Strike

I suppose the love affair between the leftists and this "beloved general" has gotten lost in all the impeachment hoopla?

[Cow Poke]

So, are we to believe that the death of Soleimani puts an end to the planned attacks he made?

[Sam]

Alarmists Were Wrong about the Soleimani Strike

I suppose the love affair between the leftists and this "beloved general" has gotten lost in all the impeachment hoopla?

"Alarmists": This was an irresponsible, likely illegal action that could very well lead to outright war with Iran.

<Several reports that show the administration's rationale for the strike was a lie>

<Iran chooses a symbolic retaliatory strike, killing Iraqis and injuring Americans>

<Administration lies about casualties in effort to deescalate>

NAT REV: "See? No war!"

--Sam

[Cow Poke]

"Alarmists": This was an irresponsible, likely illegal action that could very well lead to outright war with Iran.

Perhaps you're unaware that your statement sounds just a tad 'alarmist'?

[Cow Poke]

<Iran chooses a symbolic retaliatory strike, killing Iraqis and injuring Americans>

On this point, I'm definitely not comfortable...

U.S. says 34 troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after Iran strike

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Friday that 34 service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following missile strikes by Iran on a base in Iraq earlier this month, a number higher than the military had previously announced.

President Donald Trump and other top officials initially said Iran's attack had not killed or injured any U.S. service members.

Last week the U.S. military said 11 U.S. troops had been treated and transferred out of Iraq for concussion symptoms after the attack on the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq and this week said additional troops had been moved out of Iraq for potential injuries.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters that 17 service members diagnosed had already returned to duty in Iraq.

Eight service members who had been previously transported to Germany had been moved to the United States and would receive treatment at either Walter Reed military hospital or their home bases.

Hoffman said the service members were being treated on an outpatient basis and were transported back to the United States in order to be closer to their pre-deployment bases.

Nine service members remain in Germany and are undergoing evaluations and treatment.

Hoffman said the military had seen symptoms like headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea.

On Wednesday, Trump appeared to play down the injuries, saying he "heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things."

[demi-conservative]

Alarmists Were Wrong about the Soleimani Strike

Alarmists were wrong because Trump and his subordinates were willing to lie* so deescalation can happen. This surprised those used to hawkish neocons and neolibs at the wheel.

Iran also did their share of lying to deescalate. Despite the 'Death to America' slogans that people take far too seriously, Iran's leaders are very cool and pragmatic, meaning no open war.

*As Starlight points out, believing any of the justifications given is for the gullible.

[demi-conservative]

4-D chess?

For once shunya is making sense, though it is more likely that the hawks were behind it.

[Cow Poke]

Alarmists were wrong because Trump and his subordinates were willing to lie* so deescalation can happen. This surprised those used to hawkish neocons and neolibs at the wheel.

Iran also did their share of lying to deescalate. Despite the 'Death to America' slogans that people take far too seriously, Iran's leaders are very cool and pragmatic, meaning no open war.

*As Starlight points out, believing any of the justifications given is for the gullible.

Yes, as I've pointed out numerous times, "lying" often seems to be the language of diplomacy. It's not at all unusual for the US, for instance, to publicly scold Israel for attacking a nuclear site, while privately high-fiving them and coordinating with them.

[demi-conservative]

Now that the dust has settled, demi will just observe that there are downsides to assassinating an ally* who was on a peaceful mission, a helpful and effective ally against the Taliban in 2001 and ISIS recently. On the other hand, just about anyone who is anyone in the Middle East has been both an ally and enemy of the US many times over.

*going by the new standard of 'da Kurds are our allies'.

[Cow Poke]

Now that the dust has settled, demi will just observe that there are downsides to assassinating an ally* who was on a peaceful mission, a helpful and effective ally against the Taliban in 2001 and ISIS recently. On the other hand, just about anyone who is anyone in the Middle East has been both an ally and enemy of the US many times over.

*going by the new standard of 'da Kurds are our allies'.

The prevailing loyalty being "our enemy's enemy is our friend (today)"

[seanD]

For once shunya is making sense, though it is more likely that the hawks were behind it.

They're demanding US withdrawal as we speak. Instead Trump threatened them with sanctions. I don't think he did it as an out, I think he did it because he was pressured by the senators like that article reported. That just makes more sense to me. And there's no more reason Trump will order a pullout in Iraq than in Afghanistan. He doesn't have the backbone to go up against the MIC and hawks in Washington that prostitute for them (even less now that they have that impeachment noose around his neck). And now, because tensions are heightened, US troops are even more vulnerable than before. But... no war lol.

[RumTumTugger]

So what? It's possibly true, but if so the President played right into their hands. If that story is true, then other than his own death, the outcome is exactly what Soleimani intended.

No JimL it was not President Trump playing into the Iranian hands the objective was to kill Soleimani and the group that was planning more attacks. if he was playing into the Iranian hands why did they only make a token attack with plenty of warning hmm.