Attack on US embassy in Iraq

[woolfe9998]

Are you guys following what is happening in Iraq right now? Evidently we conducted airstrikes against an Iran backed militia group there, after the group fired rockets which killed a US contractor and injured several servicemen. In response, today the militias attacked our embassy, tried to breach it and set fires. All the while it appears that Iraqi security forces sat idle.

US sending additional forces to protect embassy threatened by protesters in Iraq

The United States will send approximately 750 soldiers to the Middle East immediately, Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed in a written statement Tuesday, after attacks broke out in Baghdad among hundreds of protesters in response to airstrikes in Iraq and Syria conducted by US forces on Sunday.

www.cnn.com

Peter Bergen writes this foolish editorial whereby he explains that Trump's decision to conduct the airstrikes is a "sensible use of force." He's calling it the emerging "Trump doctrine." He forgets that Trump must first know what a doctrine is in order to have one. More to the point, of course the airstrikes were justified when viewed in isolation. They attacked us, so we attack them back. What's missing from the editorial is why these Iran backed militias are attacking us.

They are attacking us because the Trump admin chose to pull out of the negotiated nuclear deal and start economic warfare against Iran.

I don't think Trump actually wants to go to war with Iran. But his pandering to his Iran hating base and the dishonest right wing propaganda over the nuclear deal has put us in a position where we're already fighting the early stages of a proxy war with Iran. One which could get a lot worse. Trump may not want war, but when we're directly attacked, he has no choice but to respond with force. Which causes a cascading escalation of violence.

Trump created this bed we are all now lying on. It's going to be a nightmare for whoever sits in the oval after he's gone.

 

[shortylickens]

I saw the news.
I dont care.

I know that sounds awful, but with all the horrible shit I've seen in my life and this year in particular, I just cannot summon the emotional involvement anymore. Which is really fucking sad. I think next year I need to reevaluate my life. But right now I'm drained and indifferent.

 

[trenchfoot]

What worries me most is the fact that Trump relies on his own alleged "genius" and the advice he gets from his pal Putin in lieu of all of the assistance our very well experienced intelligence, state and law enforcement agencies can provide to him concerning foreign relations.

For the fact that he is at war against those very agencies that know very well how his debilitating personality disorders are threatening the security of the nation and how that is a threat to the smoke and mirrors image Trump's been awkwardly trying to project simply makes Trump that much more dangerous, that much more disunifying and harmful.

 

[Jaskalas]

What Republicans don't seem to grasp is that... Bush ended Iraq as a strong independent state. Tore through that country and at the cost of 4,424 deaths and 31,952 wounded in action, through our own blood we sowed the seeds of division in Iraq. One half of the nation is ISIS. The other half is an Iranian proxy who had to play serf to Iran and create new Iranian militias and commanders in order to fight back and defeat ISIS. Now those war heroes are using their position to drive a wedge between the United States and the Iraqi government.

TL;DR, we done fucked up. BADLY.

We have no business having a single American in Iraq. Not a single person should be there. They want our blood, and there is no damn reason to give it to them.

 

[woolfe9998]

What Republicans don't seem to grasp is that... Bush ended Iraq as a strong independent state. Tore through that country and at the cost of 4,424 deaths and 31,952 wounded in action, through our own blood we sowed the seeds of division in Iraq. One half of the nation is ISIS. The other half is an Iranian proxy who had to play serf to Iran and create new Iranian Heroes in order to fight back and defeat ISIS. Now those war heroes are using their position to drive a wedge between the United States and the Iraqi government.

TL;DR, we done fucked up. BADLY.

We have no business having a single American in Iraq. Not a single person should be there. They want our blood, and there is no damn reason to give it to them.

So you think we should close the embassy and end formal diplomatic relations with them?

 

[Jaskalas]

So you think we should close the embassy and end formal diplomatic relations with them?

Or wait until they kill every American there.

Either the Iraqi security forces will work with us, and assist in the protection of our people, or we need to leave.

 

[woolfe9998]

Or wait until they kill every American there.

Either the Iraqi security forces will work with us, and assist in the protection of our people, or we need to leave.

Sounds a little drastic. Perhaps we should, oh, try to mend fenses with Iran. That might get their militias off our backs. Things were getting better with Iran until Trump came into office.

 

[ElFenix]

US Embassy under attack, Trump's goes golfing, comes up for air to throw shade at hillary

https://twitter.com/x/status/1212126024575660035

 

[pauldun170]

The US is the bad guy.

'A treacherous stab in the back'

Abdelkarim Khalaf, spokesman of the commander of Iraq's Armed Forces, said during a live interview on state television, Al-Iraqiya TV, that Esper informed Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi half an hour before the US airstrikes.
"The Iraqi Prime Minister expressed his strong objection to this unilateral decision and his concern that it would lead to further escalation and demanded that he (Esper) stop it (airstrikes) immediately," Khalaf said.
He added that "these strikes represent a treacherous stab in the back."
Abdul Mahdi said the Baghdad government rejects "unilateral action" by coalition forces inside his country, according to a statement carried on state television.
"We have already confirmed our rejection of any unilateral action by coalition forces or any other forces inside Iraq. We consider it a violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that threatens the security of Iraq and the region," the Iraqi prime minister said.

 

[woolfe9998]

The US is the bad guy.

We weren't going to tell the Iraqi PM about this sooner for the same reason we didn't tell Pakistan about our raid on the OBL compound.

The issue is whether the strikes were justified. They were, strictly speaking, because the militia attacked us. But as I said, they wouldn't be attacking us in the first place if we hadn't conducted economic warfare against Iran. We had a deal in place and our relations with Iran were improving prior to Trump. Now everything is fucked.

 

[Jaskalas]

While I am certain Iran has some pull with these militia groups, they are operating in Iraq. Consisting of many Iraqis. Do not assume any deals can be made or honored. This is simply violence against foreign oppressors. They want our blood.

And in reply to your... diplomatic... suggestion, it would appear we told the Iraqi government to !@#$ off. THAT is why we do not belong there, in any capacity.

 

[Homerboy]

US Embassy under attack, Trump's goes golfing, comes up for air to throw shade at hillary

https://twitter.com/x/status/1212126024575660035

Actually that's his second tweet on it. The first one he deleted because he spelled "Benghazi" incorrectly...

 

[woolfe9998]

While I am certain Iran has some pull with these militia groups, they are operating in Iraq. Consisting of many Iraqis. Do not assume any deals can be made or honored. This is simply violence against foreign oppressors. They want our blood.

And in reply to your... diplomatic... suggestion, it would appear we told the Iraqi government to !@#$ off. THAT is why we do not belong there, in any capacity.

That's your opinion. However,

Richard Haas, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted that the "Iran-orchestrated violence" that erupted in Baghdad is "a response to US eco[nomic] warfare."

A proxy war between the US and Iran just moved a step closer

For the Iraqi government, it's the stuff of nightmares: A proxy war in a country already wracked by protests and crippled by political paralysis.

www.cnn.com

That right there is a member of Trump's own state department (originally appointed by Bush) admitting that these attacks are a direct response to our sanctions on Iran.

 

[Jaskalas]

That right there is a member of Trump's own state department (originally appointed by Bush) admitting that these attacks are a direct response to our sanctions on Iran.

And you think the US will bow to being attacked and play nice after?
Or this militia group for that matter?

If it comes between lifting sanctions or leaving Iraq... I wonder which would happen first. But I for one tire of seeing Americans killed in a hostile nation.

 

[JSt0rm]

And you think the US will bow to being attacked and play nice after?
Or this militia group for that matter?

If it comes between lifting sanctions or leaving Iraq... I wonder which would happen first. But I for one tire of seeing Americans killed in a hostile nation.

iran is trumps mess right?

 

[senseamp]

Didn't Bush spend like a bazillion dollars on that embassy? And it was overrun by a bunch of angry mourners?

 

[Jhhnn]

There's really no telling who fired the rockets. But, you know, blame Iran & bombs away, motherfuckers. Stir the shit, like the Iraqis really need it. Makes them look like an American puppet to a lot of their own people.

American Contractor Killed in Rocket Attack in Iraq (Published 2019)

Attack on Iraqi base near Kirkuk, also injured several American and Iraqi military personnel

www.nytimes.com

 

[Jhhnn]

Didn't Bush spend like a bazillion dollars on that embassy? And it was overrun by a bunch of angry mourners?

Iraqi security forces basically let the protesters do it. Go figure. Maybe they're unhappy with us for bombing their country w/o their permission.

 

[Jaskalas]

iran is trumps mess right?

Bombing Iraq and pissing them off is Trump opening up a new chapter in that lovely American saga of !@#$ing up the world.

I'd say there will be an acute escalation of Americans being targeted over there now, if we're not fully expelled and/or their government overthrown for not being as hostile as the citizens want them to be.

 

[IronWing]

12 years ago on this very forum I advocated giving Iran free rein in Iraq and getting the US out. Still seems like a fine idea.

 

[JSt0rm]

Bombing Iraq and pissing them off is Trump opening up a new chapter in that lovely American saga of !@#$ing up the world.

I'd say there will be an acute escalation of Americans being targeted over there now, if we're not fully expelled and/or their government overthrown for not being as hostile as the citizens want them to be.

Im sure trump thought of all that before bombing them.

 

[ElFenix]

Actually that's his second tweet on it. The first one he deleted because he spelled "Benghazi" incorrectly...

oh i know.

 

[Starbuck1975]

What Republicans don't seem to grasp is that... Bush ended Iraq as a strong independent state. Tore through that country and at the cost of 4,424 deaths and 31,952 wounded in action, through our own blood we sowed the seeds of division in Iraq. One half of the nation is ISIS. The other half is an Iranian proxy who had to play serf to Iran and create new Iranian militias and commanders in order to fight back and defeat ISIS. Now those war heroes are using their position to drive a wedge between the United States and the Iraqi government.

TL;DR, we done fucked up. BADLY.

We have no business having a single American in Iraq. Not a single person should be there. They want our blood, and there is no damn reason to give it to them.

Iraq was a strong independent state under the iron grip of Saddam Hussein. There was a fair amount of palace intrigue between Saddam’s sons and senior leadership of the Republican Guard, and Qusay in particular was trending as becoming a worst tyrant than his father. Iraq was not unlike the former Yugoslavia, and was probably trending in a similar direction given the tribalstic nature of the different factions.

America had no business getting in the middle of it.

 

[JSt0rm]

Iraq was a strong independent state under the iron grip of Saddam Hussein. There was a fair amount of palace intrigue between Saddam’s sons and senior leadership of the Republican Guard, and Qusay in particular was trending as becoming a worst tyrant than his father. Iraq was not unlike the former Yugoslavia, and was probably trending in a similar direction given the tribalstic nature of the different factions.

America had no business getting in the middle of it.

Vote republican and you vote for useless war.

 

[kage69]

Iran getting pay back, that last round of protests they had really pissed Tehran off. They're into reciprocity.

Iran and it's Shia militas want to be able to kill Americans without repercussions. Tough shit. Don't worry, I'm sure it's another situation Trump can make worse like he does with everything.