Post by Velar Fricative on Jan 7, 2020 21:56:23 GMT -5
The only silver lining I see is that everything about Trump as POTUS has been such an anomaly that I do hold some hope that this won’t make a second term an uncertainty. But this goes way beyond elections, even though they are obviously important and four more years would be exponentially more damaging to our country than these first four. It’s about lives and I’m so sorry to all of our military families. Military members make the decision to serve, but they should also feel like we as a country are doing everything in our power to avoid putting them in harm’s way so unnecessarily. We are failing at this way too much, and somehow even worse now we have a man-child and a million Acting Whatevers steering the ship.
My cousin (an American born to Christian Iranian immigrant parents) moved to Erbil about 2 years ago. One of the cities that was just attacked. No word on if she is safe yet. But last week she messaged us that she was safe up north away from the “chaos” with no plans to come home yet. I personally think she is delusional and hope she is able to make it home safe. Her parents are beside themselves right now.
My cousin (an American born to Christian Iranian immigrant parents) moved to Erbil about 2 years ago. One of the cities that was just attacked. No word on if she is safe yet. But last week she messaged us that she was safe up north away from the “chaos” with no plans to come home yet. I personally think she is delusional and hope she is able to make it home safe. Her parents are beside themselves right now.
My aunt lives in Erbil. She has travelled to Mar Mattai (a monestary in the mountains of bartella) before when ISIS took over her village, shes Christian too and I'm not sure what shes up to now. I feel like Iraqis are just continuously getting shit on and now they're in the middle they're always the ones to die. It's such a cluster fuck.
It sounds like Iran is showing real restraint so far. The latest reporting on MSNBC is that Iran indicated 2 strikes and if there’s no retaliation, they’ll stop. Iranian state media is reporting mass casualties and damage, but it sounds like they lobbed a few softballs. I don’t think they want a war anymore than we do (at least until they get nukes - lolsob). The question is whether Trump will shit on their gift (spoiler: probably 😡)
It sounds like Iran is showing real restraint so far. The latest reporting on MSNBC is that Iran indicated 2 strikes and if there’s no retaliation, they’ll stop. Iranian state media is reporting mass casualties and damage, but it sounds like they lobbed a few softballs. I don’t think they want a war anymore than we do (at least until they get nukes - lolsob). The question is whether Trump will shit on their gift (spoiler: probably 😡)
This is what is I was thinking as well. Praying that their message was received and this goes no further. I mean this is awful to say, but this retaliation seems like a best case scenario for us this far.
Honestly I don’t think trump wants war either. I really don’t. He wants to swing his power around And make foolhardy decisions so he can look like the big man, but I don’t think war is something he thinks would look good on him. Unfortunately, given his irrationality and stupidity, I sure do think he could lead us into one anyway :/
A Boeing 737 jet crashed in Iran shortly after take off due to a technical issue, Iranian state-run news outlet ISNA reported. The plane, which was carrying 180 passengers and crew, was bound for Ukraine.
I’m worried that he won’t let them have the last move because it doesn’t look powerful, and that is all he seems to care about. Also, we’ve barely seen impeachment in the news since this all came to a head, so I am scared that he’s incentivized to keep this going.
A Boeing 737 jet crashed in Iran shortly after take off due to a technical issue, Iranian state-run news outlet ISNA reported. The plane, which was carrying 180 passengers and crew, was bound for Ukraine.
I’m worried that he won’t let them have the last move because it doesn’t look powerful, and that is all he seems to care about. Also, we’ve barely seen impeachment in the news since this all came to a head, so I am scared that he’s incentivized to keep this going.
Idk. If no Americans died he might let it go, but I dont think that's his style. Also this is Iran, they've been doing low level conflict stuff for a long time and we just ignore it usually, if this wasnt so publicized it would be easier to let go, however with everyone watching and waiting I think Trump will likely take a hard line. I think both Trump and Iran are being very foolish right now. Hpw quickly things can change.
The gap between what Iranian and U.S. media outlets are reporting is terrifying. Those families waiting for information ... my heart hurts for them.
My boss thinks this is all Trump’s plan to make every other election issue moot. He’s actually been saying this for weeks now (that Trump will create a Wag the Dog situation) and to see him actually be RIGHT makes me sick to my stomach; I didn’t want to believe it.
The man is pure evil. Evil.
The scary part of that theory is that’s JANUARY. If he would start a war in January, what would he do in October?
A Boeing 737 jet crashed in Iran shortly after take off due to a technical issue, Iranian state-run news outlet ISNA reported. The plane, which was carrying 180 passengers and crew, was bound for Ukraine.
I woke up to this and my first thought was “Wait, did this actually happen???” It could very well be a horrible coincidence but a Ukrainian jet taking off from Tehran crashing right now? I don’t know what to think.
ETA: the US taking down the aircraft didn’t even register. I don’t think that’s what happened anyway. It’s just bizarre.
It sounds like Iran is showing real restraint so far. The latest reporting on MSNBC is that Iran indicated 2 strikes and if there’s no retaliation, they’ll stop. Iranian state media is reporting mass casualties and damage, but it sounds like they lobbed a few softballs. I don’t think they want a war anymore than we do (at least until they get nukes - lolsob). The question is whether Trump will shit on their gift (spoiler: probably 😡)
This is what is I was thinking as well. Praying that their message was received and this goes no further. I mean this is awful to say, but this retaliation seems like a best case scenario for us this far.
Honestly I don’t think trump wants war either. I really don’t. He wants to swing his power around And make foolhardy decisions so he can look like the big man, but I don’t think war is something he thinks would look good on him. Unfortunately, given his irrationality and stupidity, I sure do think he could lead us into one anyway :/
This is what I was hoping. Iran will launch a few rockets to show that they're retaliating, and if we just sit still, go no further.
Just so we’re clear, it is not the U.S. taking down civilian aircraft. I got to listen to my non-military neighbor voice that conviction this morning. The idea that the U.S. is all powerful (and other countries are not) is so dangerous. This whole thing is so egregiously awful. A bunch of my neighbors are either deployed or about to be and seeing the stress on their families...I can’t describe it. Deployments are stressful enough in “peace” times under sane and capable leadership. Deploying under Trump - I’m looking at fear rather than worry.
I've been reading comments on Breitbart and Fox News' FB the past couple of days, and the turn-about from the anti-globalist "Trump knows the only thing that would keep him from being re-elected is getting into a war" to "everyone else has kicked the Iran can down the road, it's time to turn it into a sheet of glass" is frightening. Yeah, you can say it's just internet comments, but it's impossible to know if they are bots or actual people and what it means if they are one or the other -- because you know what someone in this administration is paying attention to them. And many actual people (from what I can tell) on the Fox FB are basically, "I trust the president's decision on this and stand by him, whatever he decides."
I guarantee Russia already has a dog in this fight, in terms of influencing the conversation. I don't know what their goal is, but the top Russian-bot hashtag right now is Soleimani and the second one is Iran and the top mention is 45's Twitter handle (which I'm sure is pretty typical), followed by Pompeo. securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/hamilton-dashboard/
A Boeing 737 jet crashed in Iran shortly after take off due to a technical issue, Iranian state-run news outlet ISNA reported. The plane, which was carrying 180 passengers and crew, was bound for Ukraine.
What is the deal with the Pentagon telling Iraq that US forces are leaving? Apparently they delivered a letter saying they will withdraw all US forces, then Iraq asked for a better Arabic translation, so they delivered a second letter. Then the White House said it was a mistake that the letter was delivered and not actually true?
I don’t know if the purging of our national intelligence/security and the alienation of our allies was all intentional leading up to this current situation ... or if it’s all just gross incompetence that’s going to wind up biting us in the ass.
I’m not watching but I saw this on Twitter from reporter Daniel Dale:
Trump is speaking now, flanked by Pence, Pompeo, Esper and military leaders. "As long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Good morning," he begins.
***
Soooo ... are we supposed to view this as a threat, where if we don’t re elect him then they get nukes?
Did he seriously make this statement before even issuing a greeting?
What is the deal with the Pentagon telling Iraq that US forces are leaving? Apparently they delivered a letter saying they will withdraw all US forces, then Iraq asked for a better Arabic translation, so they delivered a second letter. Then the White House said it was a mistake that the letter was delivered and not actually true?
From what I understand, Iraq's Parliament took a preliminary vote to expel US and other forces from their country, there were several factions missing from the vote. It's not the final decision but it's the beginning of a process that could end up with that result.
The Pentagon drafted a letter in response to that possibility and accidentally sent the draft. Because this is the disaster we live in now.
I’m not watching but I saw this on Twitter from reporter Daniel Dale:
Trump is speaking now, flanked by Pence, Pompeo, Esper and military leaders. "As long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Good morning," he begins.
***
Soooo ... are we supposed to view this as a threat, where if we don’t re elect him then they get nukes?
Did he seriously make this statement before even issuing a greeting?
Yes, that's exactly how he started out. It was bizarre.
He also said that ISIS has been completely destroyed, which NPR just strongly refuted. Per usual, the entire speech was basically a bit of third grade level language, hyperbole, dogwhistles to his base, and flat out lies.