Posted January 3, 20205 yr Qasem Soleimani has been among those killed in an Iraqi airport attack. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50979463 He was a top Iranian general and hugely significant in the region, very well known in Iran. Iranian sources are warning that this means incredibly heightened tensions: https://twitter.com/farnazfassihi/status/12...6057897987?s=19 if not actual war. The Pentagon and President Trump have confirmed that this strike was American in origin. Expected escalation, likely retaliation.
January 3, 20205 yr Nice little distraction for Trump away from the impeachment process. Can't see Iran NOT retaliating TBH. Just depends where, when and how big. Could lead to all -out military action against Iran by the US. Hope we don't get dragged in to it. Boris should say NO and stand firm. Edited January 3, 20205 yr by Crazy Chris-tmas
January 3, 20205 yr Nice little distraction for Trump away from the impeachment process. Can't see Iran NOT retaliating TBH. Just depends where, when and how big. Could lead to all -out military action against Iran by the US. Hope we don't get dragged in to it. Boris should say nO and stand firm. Good job we're not in a position where we have to suck up to the US to get something eh?
January 3, 20205 yr This is somewhat terrifying. Like I get that this dude was a seriously bad dude and is responsible for countless deaths and ruined lives. But this is a crass and careless act of war, if not straight up war crime, by a raging eejit who lacks the mental capacity to understand the consequences of his actions. I’m sure the already fed up of unauthorised IS air strikes in their sovereign territory Iraqis are gonna be super thrilled about this news
January 3, 20205 yr Author Exactly, first and foremost, this was a war crime. One thing I don't like is that every politician and public figure commenting on this has had to preface their statement on it with that sentence: that he was a terrible person who had caused a lot ofsuffering. It is a self-evident statement and though I'm sure most weren't meaning to, it in no way justifies this attack that will likely lead to the deaths of many more people. Far too few people I've seen outright condemning it.
January 3, 20205 yr Here's hoping that since Trump has admitted responsibility for the attack, Iran decides to take retaliation straight to the source. Two birds with one stone for peace that would be.
January 4, 20205 yr Here's hoping that since Trump has admitted responsibility for the attack, Iran decides to take retaliation straight to the source. Two birds with one stone for peace that would be.   What a terrible thing to say. No-one wants the serving US President to be killed.
January 4, 20205 yr Did nobody want Qasem Soleimani to be killed? Seems not. What makes him different? Edited January 4, 20205 yr by JingleBellJüpes
January 4, 20205 yr the days are numbered for all life on earth anyway with the news of this spurring so it’s not like it’s gonna make a difference x
January 4, 20205 yr Did nobody want Qasem Soleimani to be killed? Seems not. What makes him different? He was a questionable man, but this act was not the right way to go about things. Surely one power you don't want to piss off is Iran. Anyway my two cents of all this is there is just no strategy from the US. Not sure where this leaves them now between Russia, China and themselves. Little chance this escalates in to any sort of proper war, it will all be asset slashing or attacks on networks.
January 4, 20205 yr President Donald Trump has said the US killed Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani "to stop a war, not to start one". He said Soleimani's "reign of terror is over" after the strike at Baghdad airport in Iraq on Friday. Soleimani spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as head of the Quds Force. Iran has vowed "severe revenge" on those responsible for his death. The killing marks a major escalation in tensions between the two counties. US officials have said 3,000 additional troops will be sent to the Middle East as a precaution. Iraqi state television says there has been another air strike in the country, 24 hours after the killing of Soleimani. However, there has been no comment on this from Washington. An Iraqi army source told Reuters news agency that the new strike hit a convey of Iraqi militia in the early hours of Saturday morning (local time).  Â
January 4, 20205 yr The BBC understands that Boris Johnson was not told in advance by Trump of the planned killing.
January 4, 20205 yr What a terrible thing to say. No-one wants the serving US President to be killed. That's not true.
January 4, 20205 yr That's not true.  Also, talking about him being killed and assassinated, even if you're outside the US, could be taken as a threat and get you a visit from the US Secret Service. They're looking in to hundreds of online threats every week, even more than for Obama. Edited January 4, 20205 yr by Crazy Chris
January 4, 20205 yr Very strangely Boris has as yet made no statement whatsoever about this which Corbyn has said is disgraceful. It's not known if Boris is back yet from his holiday in the Caribbean. Some reports say that he flies back today.
January 4, 20205 yr Also, talking about him being killed and assassinated, even if you're outside the US, could be taken as a threat and get you a visit from the US Secret Service. They're looking in to hundreds of online threats every week, even more than for Obama. That's what I'm talking about.  Twitter (for instance) is awash with people who want him to meet his demise, so it's not accurate to say that "no one wants him killed".
January 4, 20205 yr That's what I'm talking about.  Twitter (for instance) is awash with people who want him to meet his demise, so it's not accurate to say that "no one wants him killed".  Okay then a lot do want him dead. :(  Edited January 4, 20205 yr by Crazy Chris
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