If these administration officials have so little credibility in America, you have to let yourself imagine their credibility with our allies (or what's left of our alliances). Lot of basic facts and what is known, via BBC: (crap, the interface keeps replacing my web tag with a media tag, even though it's just an article. Here's the site to cut and paste.) www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48627014 Count me among those who cannot yet understand why Iran would initiate this and then publish photos of a damaged tanker and then help rescue crew members of the commercial vessels. Also, Jesus H. Christ, nobody needs war with Iran. Nobody.
Iran has been on our shopping list since 2001! 1. Iraq 2. Syria 3. Lebanon 4. Lybia 5. Somalia 6. Sudan 7. Iran General Wesley Clark:
First off... ...IRAN is Mooslim. ...WE is Amuricuns. ...AMURICUNS-DON'T-LIKE-NO-MOOSLIMS. PURIOD. ...and second, Iran isn't the war we need right now. ...but if it's gonna be what keeps the Donald in office another term... ...then yew bet yore fattest 'taters it shore as shootin' IS gonna be war wit' Iran is what we git...
"A US defence official told CNN the USS Bainbridge had been nearby when the incidents happened" [BBC] So, uh, which Iranian ships were nearby? The US Navy will have radar evidence for sure! The guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge armaments include . . . 2 mk46 triple torpedo tubes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bainbridge_(DDG-96) Pompeo, who admittedly "lied, cheated and stole" as director of the CIA, says: "It is the assessment of the United States that the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the attacks," the US secretary of state said at a news conference in Washington. "This assessment is based on intelligence, the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to execute the operation, recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping, and the fact that no proxy group operating in the area has the resources and proficiency to act with such a high degree of sophistication." [BBC] In other words, the case is entirely circumstantial. But Iran is not the only country with the "intelligence . . . weapons . . . and level of expertise needed to execute the operation." Like, we and our buddies Israel (for example) must be as kick-ass as Iran, right? My only concern: will Israel and Saudi Arabia approve if we attack Iran??!?!?!
Oil jumped 3.8% from new lows on the news, who benefits? Oh yeah, everyone but consumers. (Iran, yes but Saudi's more; maybe it was done by the Tanker Insurance industry)
Note the CNN guy in the video asserting that these attacks are linked to previous attacks, calling them "a clear escalation." He has no evidence. Indeed, he says they are "different to the previous attacks." Nevertheless, CNN tells us it's an escalation. https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/gulf-of-oman-incident-latest-intl/index.html
The US had intelligence Iran was planning something and so began to talk publicly about it and maneuver in the area Iran proceeds to state on their own accord that they would disrupt oil flow in the region Within two months multiple oil ships have been damaged severely and oil pipelines have been attacked Iran already stated intent, and we all know they have an agenda. Not saying they are guilty, I don't have the intelligence the government has. However, they are most definitely the leading suspect by far since they hurled the initial threat and pose to net the most gain.
Can we get a link to where Iran stated they would disrupt oil flow in the region? (I gave you a link where Pompeo admitted he lied, cheated, and stole as director of the CIA.)
So the Japanese Prime Minister was in Iran when Iran attacked a Japanese oil tanker AND Iran was the first country to respond and rescue the crews of the tankers. Hmmm ... Something doesn't add up here. Iran has self preservation instincts. Attacking a Japanese oil tanker while the prime minister of Japan is in their country goes against these instincts. Probably the most devistating and consequential of Trump's many examples of projection.
True/False It must be easy as pie to supply satellite photos, etc., of Iranian ships nearby at the time of the incident. Maybe the US Navy might be a little more advanced than this website. . . . https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:56.8/centery:25.4/zoom:6
So, one ship is "the Panama-listed Kokuka Courageous," owned by the Norwegian company Frontline. "The Kokuka Courageous was reportedly carrying about 25,000 tonnes of methanol from Saudi Arabia to Singapore." [BBC] The United States is involved because . . . ? The other is "the Marshall Islands-flagged Front Altair," which belongs to International Tanker Management based in Dubai. "The Front Altair was carrying 75,000 tonnes of naptha from the United Arab Emirates to Taiwan." [BBC] The United States is involved because . . . ?
The U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan have cost American taxpayers $5.9 trillion since they began in 2001. The figure reflects the cost across the U.S. federal government since the price of war is not borne by the Defense Department alone. The report also finds that more than 480,000 people have died from the wars and more than 244,000 civilians have been killed as a result of fighting. Additionally, another 10 million people have been displaced due to violence This world is so corrupt. We will end up in a war with Iran or North Korea soon. It's just how it works. Peace doesn't make anyone money.
I would find it hard to believe that even Trump would attack oil tankers and take that kind of chance. Iran has threatened to disrupt oil flows and has the incentive to demonstrate if her oil is cut off, then so should the rest of the world's.