War with Iran - DEFCON 3

[swampfrog]

I only know enough to know I don't know enough about foreign policy. Which means just reading/listening to many voices. Here's a few. Lots of very strong opinions both for and against the most recent action. Threads posted just for information.

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

[Walter Sobchak]

Back in '03, I remember thinking what a waste Bush had made of Iraq. He spent all our wealth on pursuing a war with Afghanistan, and then Iraq. If he would have invested in infrastructure and education, how much more better off would our people be!

FIFY.

[Bo Diddley]

FIFY.

Wait, I thought you were a Libertarian.

[Katy Lied]

That's Unca Ted

[Green Monstah]

Drumpf gets our troops out of Iraq... Promises kept!

Embedded Tweet

But it didn't say anything about our drones.

[Goatnapper'96]

The course of endless war is one eternal round.

Embedded Tweet

When the children cry, I will let them know that you tried.

[Walter Sobchak]

When the children cry, I will let them know that you tried.

150618170814-napalm-girl-vietnam-large-169.jpg

Good times.

[LVAllen]

Iran strikes with a dozen or so ballistic missiles, attacking 2 bases in Iraq. President to address the nation later.

Is this a proportional and measured response, with no further escalation, or will President Bonespurs leap at the chance to escalate?

[Uncle Ted]

Iran strikes with a dozen or so ballistic missiles, attacking 2 bases in Iraq. President to address the nation later.

Is this a proportional and measured response, with no further escalation, or will President Bonespurs leap at the chance to escalate?

Didn't Drumpf promise to hit 52 targets (one for each hostage taken back in the Carter days)?

Maybe Drumpf won't pull the trigger to fire back... sounds like Iran's missiles were duds and had little impact on things.

[Non Sequitur]

Iran strikes with a dozen or so ballistic missiles, attacking 2 bases in Iraq. President to address the nation later.

Is this a proportional and measured response, with no further escalation, or will President Bonespurs leap at the chance to escalate?

If this is the extent of Iran's response, it's a mild response indeed. The appropriate response on our part would be to call it good and move on. Of course Trump won't do the appropriate thing.

[PaloAltoCougar]

If this is the extent of Iran's response, it's a mild response indeed. The appropriate response on our part would be to call it good and move on. Of course Trump won't do the appropriate thing.

If the incoming missiles were duds, I expect Trump to crow about it, which should have a soothing effect on those marching through Tehran.

[myboynoah]

If the incoming missiles were duds, I expect Trump to crow about it, which should have a soothing effect on those marching through Tehran.

He'll say that even if they weren't duds. This is actually one time that it's great to have such a BSing president. He is equal to the Iranian BS. He'll do the blowhard routine, declare the good old USA the victor in this little tit for tat, and go home.

Sorry young people, no draft for you.

[Uncle Ted]

If the incoming missiles were duds, I expect Trump to crow about it, which should have a soothing effect on those marching through Tehran.

Apparently not all the Iranian missiles were duds...

Iran plane crash: Ukraine refuses to rule out Boeing 737 was shot down by missile near Tehran killing 176

Ukraine has refused to rule out that the plane that crashed in Iran and killed all 176 on board was struck by a missile.

The foreign ministry in Kyiv confirmed that everyone aboard the Boeing 737-800 flown by Ukraine International Airlines was killed after it came down shortly after it departed from Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

President Donald Trump is expected to address the crash in a press conference on the escalating US-Iran tensions at 11am EST (4pm GMT).

There were three British people on board, as well as citizens from six other countries, according to the Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko.

Asked at a briefing in Kyiv if the plane could have been downed by a missile, Ukraine's Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk refused to rule it out, but cautioned against speculation until the investigation concluded.
[...]
Crew's inability to transmit emergency call before crash confuses aviation experts

Aviation expert David Learmount has said the crew's failure – or inability - to communicate has confused aviation experts, "because the implication is that whatever happened was sudden and violent, forcing the crew immediately to fight for control".
[...]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...ne-boeing-737/

[Jeff Lebowski]

Apparently not all the Iranian missiles were duds...


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...ne-boeing-737/

Video shows the plane in flames as it was going down. Hard to imagine this keeping a coincidence.

[creekster]

Apparently not all the Iranian missiles were duds...


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...ne-boeing-737/

Video shows the plane in flames as it was going down. Hard to imagine this keeping a coincidence.

The loss of those lives is obviously a tragedy. If it turns out that Iran mistakenly shot this plane down, however, it will be interesting to see how Iran explains it in light of the claims they made about the US Vincennes mistaken attack on an Iranian airliner in the late 80s.