WW3 - are we bothered?

[sinkov]

Of course they were involved Balam.They literally direct US foreign policy in that region.What nobody is saying is why Soleimani was in Iraq.He was meeting the Saudis with the Iraqi`s as mediators to come to a peace agreement which was also known to all parties incl. Israel and the US.

Hmmm, after spending a lifetime opposing the Saudis, and not long after co-ordinating the destruction of the Saudi oilfields, the good General was in Iraq to facilitate a peace agreement between the Sunni Saudi Arabian regime and the Shia Iranian regime. Well maybe, but this sounds about as credible as the Iranian denials of culpability for shooting down that civilian plane were.

But no matter, if a peace deal between these two diametrically opposed Middle Eastern superpowers is indeed in the pipeline, then the death of one individual will not prove an impediment. I await with interest news of the next development in the progress of this peace deal, but I think it will be wise of me not to hold my breath.

[Balanbam00]

I do not believe the Iranian General Soleimani was there seeking a peace deal!

This General directs the war machine,if you seek peace, then first some messenger followed by some high ranking member of Parliament would visit also if its peace ,that's big headlines!. Abu Mahdi Muhandis, is deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the Iraqi government's umbrella group for the country's militias. Soleimani is there to boost Iran's strategic military importance. Iran uses its proxy's like Hamas ,Hezbullah and the Houthis to fight its wars. Inside Iraq are Shiite militias it was Soleimani's plan to use them.
Also killed was the man who met him at the airport: Abu Mahdi Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the Iraqi government's umbrella group for the country's militias. It was Soleimani's goal to rid Iraq of Americans, how to fight,how Iran could support them,what weapons he would send them etc etc. News straight from Iran's top dog! His goal was to meet and know what the Shiites militias there have,to plan and defeat the Americans there in Iraq! He had to go himself and not send some other 2nd rate messenger

[Balanbam00]

CiB:.....''They literally direct US foreign policy in that region.'' (the Israelis )

Israel has it's spy's ,its satellites ,and any other form of information.What is in Israels interest it would hand to the Americans.It has nothing to do with American foreign policy,it may be debated what we would like,but that is up to Trump and Co.

[Balanbam00]

CiB: .....Neither Israel and therefore the US want peace-they want regime change in Iran and at any cost.

Have you any idea what a glorious place Israel would be without the war? Of course they want peace! But who would be a partner for peace? Hamas ,Hezbullah, Fatah (or P A ) ,Islamic Jihad,and at present Iran or Syria? Then how much is spent on the war machine??

[Balanbam00]

.....they want regime change in Iran and at any cost.

Even if they did want a regime change how would they do it? It is only the people of Iran that can change any regime!

[sinkov]

I've read various reason put up by various experts for Trump taking out Soleimani at that precise moment Balan, and the one that seems most likely to me is this one.

Trump had been tweeting about the attacks on the US Embassy and Khamenei tweeted about Trump,

"That guy has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad & we will respond to Iran.
1st: You can’t do anything."

The Donald's reaction to that was basically 'Can't I, we'll see'. He then instructed the military to inform him when the next window of opportunity to take him out arrived, which it did not long after, and the Donald gave them the green light. No strategy or long term plan, the Donald just got into a strop over a tweet, far more plausible than any stories about imminent attacks on US troops or a peace deal with the Saudis imo.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

That's how the Orange Buffoon rolls sinkov...

Attachment 14756

[sinkov]

He's a very lucky boy BT, you can get away with being a buffoon when your opponents are even bigger buffoons. Quite possibly all accidental, but he's won this one hands down. For the moment anyway, but what can Iran do now that won't make the Mad Mullahs look even bigger buffoons than they clearly are ?

[Balanbam00]

Sinkov: It is all speculation! Yes, the Americans took him out. But what answers do we have,why did Soleimani meet with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi Iraqi militia? ( Shiite militias?) In Baghdad? There has to be a reason. Why would Soleimani take a flight to Baghdad,from Damascus ,and not to his home in Tehran? If his business was finished in Damascus? Perhaps he would fly home? But Soleimani is the top dog, what is his interest? To create terrorism in the Middle East. Then why was everything done in secrecy? His name was missing on the list together with his personal ( body guards etc?) They did not go through customs or the correct exit at the airport.They went out as it were out of the back door! He must have been meeting to discuss the support to this new 'proxy group',under Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.In fact he met with al-Muhandis,both were killed.
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,in December was at the funeral of members of the Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary group killed in a US air strike. Soleimani was there to see for himself ,what al-Muhandis Shiite group needed, and any future plans etc etc ....then to attack American bases. If he sent some other 2-3 rate General,and it failed ? Then Soleimani could be blamed!!! As you say yourself '' not me guv,we the Iranians,are not involved!!'' That's why it was done in top secrecy! That is why it is said in Iran ,he is No 2, after Hassan Rouhani.

Also yesterday four members of Iraq's military were wounded Sunday in a rocket attack targeting an airbase just north of Baghdad where American trainers are present.
Seven mortar shells hit the Iraqi Balad military base north of Baghdad according to military sources

[sinkov]

I'm sure he was there to discuss attacks on US bases Balan, that's what he does, that's his job, whether the attacks were imminent or not who knows, and is irrelevant really.