Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that Trump plans to add 15,000 more troops in the Middle East to counter a purported Iranian threat. That’s in addition to an earlier added deployment of 15,000 troops. This brings total U. S. forces in the region to nearly 80,000.
Trump, who clearly has no concept of military geo-strategy, is stretching our readiness level to the limit and beyond. China is a far more serious military threat to us and our Asian allies than Iran. Deploying two of our five available aircraft carriers to the Strait of Hormuz means that Japan, South Korea and the Philippines are left at the mercy of China’s aggressive territorial ambitions. The Chinese, unlike our own leadership, are quite astute and observe our heavy investment in the Middle East. It allows them to make bold forays knowing that we are far less capable of countering them than we otherwise might be.
The increased fighting forces in the region are justified by mind-numbing claims like these:
A senior Pentagon official said…there were indications that Iran could potentially carry out aggressive actions in the future, amid simmering tensions between Tehran and Washington.
“We also continue to see indications, and for obvious reasons I won’t go into the details, that potential Iranian aggression could occur,” John Rood, the Pentagon’s No. 3 official, told reporters.
Rood did not provide details about what information he was basing that on or any timeline.
“Potential Iranian aggression could occur.” And a meteor could incinerate the earth tomorrow. It’s quite telling that even the reporter couldn’t keep a straight face: he had to let the cat out of the bag, noting the Pentagon doomsayer offered no evidence to support his dubious claim.
Even Republican senators are not welcoming Trump’s latest round of chest-thumping. Tomorrow, a senior Pentagon official will come under some grilling from Sen. Hawley (R,, MO):
“I look forward to hearing tomorrow in Senate Armed Services [Committee] why the Pentagon reportedly wants 14,000 MORE troops in the Middle East, after sending 14,000 already this year alone. Is the Pentagon preparing for a land war?”
A fair question. But even if we aren’t, what the hell are all those troops doing there? What is the point? What is the U.S. interest? The fact is that putting so much U.S. firepower into a region that is already a powder keg tempts someone to light a match. This is what happened when Ronald Regan sent U.S. Marines to Beirut to keep the peace in the midst of a civil war. Instead of doing so, they became the targets and came home in body bags.
There is another motivating factor in this military buildup having little to do with our own national interest: Bibi Netanyahu is fighting for his political life in the face of both a possible third election (in the past nine months); and three corruption indictments. Though Trump never likes to bet on a loser and Bibi hasn’t exactly been a winner lately, Israel has a diamond in the hole: Sheldon Adelson. GIving $200-million to the President and his Party will buy a lot of ground troops.
Trump is prepared to rattle our sabers over Iran, impose ever more punitive sanctions, strangle the economy to within an inch of its life–all in the interest of throwing Bibi a few bones he can use in his desperate effort to cling to power as Israel’s longest serving prime minister.
Netanyahu had been hoping that the Europeans would be his meal ticket during the current NATO summit. He’d planned to meet Secretary of State Pompeo, Andrea Merkel and Emmanuel Macron and give them yet another lecture about the “Iranian threat” and how much more the Europeans should be doing to punish Iran.
Bibi: Macron Said ‘Non,’ Merkel Said ‘Nein,’ and the Brits Said ‘Bugger Off’
A funny thing happened on the way to the summit: Macron said Non; Merkel said Nein; and the British security services told Boris Johnson they couldn’t prepare the necessary security measures in time. So Bibi was left high and dry.
Pompeo did meet with Bibi today in Lisbon; and like the happy warriors they both are, poured down fire and brimstone on Iran. Their main pitch seemed to be that the unrest in Iran, which sprang from riots over gasoline tax increses and led to the killing of over 200 protesters and the arrest of 7,000 more, offered a tantalizing opportunity to overthrow the regime.
This, of course, has been a siren-song of the neo-con warriors going back decades: provoke ethnic unrest and civil uprisings and the freedom-loving people of Iran, who want nothing more than to sit back before their 65-inch HD TVs swigging Coca Cola, will do the rest for us.
It didn’t work in 2009 during a tainted election. It didn’t work in 2019 either. External intervention of any sort is a certain recipe for failure. But that doesn’t stop Netanyahu, who cares not a whit for Iranians:
…Netanyahu called for increased action against Iran, indicating that the recent unrest in the Islamic Republic offers an opportunity to topple the regime.
“Iran’s aggression is growing, but its empire is tottering. And I say: let’s make it totter even further. Iran is increasing its aggression as we speak, even today, in the region,” he added. “They’re trying to have staging grounds against us and the region from Iran itself, from Iraq, from Syria, from Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. And we are actively engaged in countering that aggression.”
Here’s Pompeo offering the “freedom” pitch I mentioned above:
“These are people seeking freedom [and a] reasonable way to live. And they recognize the threat that is posed by kleptocrats that are running the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
“So we talked to our European partners about that, how we can together ensure that we do everything that we can to create opportunity for these people who simply want freedom and a chance to live a normal life.”
Ah yes, those Iranian kleptocrats…who are pikers by comparison with the thieves and scoundrels in the White House and Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem.
It’s cute how Pompeo’s rhetoric, claiming only to have the best interests of Iranians at heart, clouds the fact that our actual policy is raining down misery, hunger, and illness upon them. As for Pompeo’s attempt at channeling Iranians’ hopes and dreams, he’s left a few things out of consideration: they want to live as a proud nation, making their own way in the world without the intervention of foreign enemies against them. They want to right to pursue their commercial interests without interference. They want the right to travel the world pursuing those hopes and dreams as Iranians, not as slaves.
The very idea that Mike Pompeo knows or even cares what the average Iranians thinks is beyond preposterous.
The goal of these meetings is not so much dealing with Iran, but pursuing domestic political agendas for both the Americans and Israelis. Netanyahu desperately needs to remain relevant both at home and on the world stage. He needs to show the Party apparatus that he remains a powerful world leader. He needs to show voters that he brings prestige and honor to their country. That’s how he will get the votes to retain power.
Pompeo is himself up to his eyeballs in the Trump impeachment. Though he hasn’t been called as a witness, he was deeply implicated in key elements of the Ukraine quid pro quo deliberations. So he needs to be seen a America’s ambassador to the world, active in world capitals, consulted by foreign governments and leaders. Trump, as well, needs to divert attention from all the bad news in Washington. Any time U.S. diplomacy can bump an impeachment headline off the main page is a victory.
This unfortunately turns Iran into a domestic political opportunity for cynical pols like Netanyahu and Pompeo.
Because Israel is the puppet master and every American administration since Truman (Eisenhower somewhat the exception) has sheepishly played the puppet, the one single clarifying question is never asked: If powerful Israel is so threatened by Iran, then why doesn’t Israel, rather than the US military attack Iran? If you can picture that invasion, by a Jewish army, you can see why it will never happen and why the USA must always follow Israel around scooping up the ofal. That is our role and Israel’s cowardly, racist politicians laugh at us for our shameful obedience.
@ Richard Baldwin Cook:
There are some non-Jews serving in the Israeli army. So I’d prefer you portray the IDF as an ‘Israeli army.’ Not as you did.
The 14,000 additional troops sent to the Middle East in May, 2019, were deployed for missile defense, and to staff Navy ships which are there to protect shipping and prevent Iran from closing the Persian Gulf.
These additional troops are defensive, and unable to accomplish regime change in Iran.
But that’s beside the point.
The additional American troops were deployed in May in response to Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure; attacks launched in desperation and in reaction to biting American sanctions.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-aramco-attacks-iran-special-rep/special-report-time-to-take-out-our-swords-inside-irans-plot-to-attack-saudi-arabia-idUSKBN1XZ16H
I mention this as the real cause of the Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia, because Richard had erroneously reported that Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia was in response to a Israel-Saudi-Kurd missile attack on Iranian proxies in Iraq.
Incorrect. It’s sanctions, Stupid.
Iran is now secretly deploying short range missiles in Iraq, in order to expand her field of operations against Israel, which is politically and militarily unable to force regime change on Iran. Iran has 80 million people, Israel 8 million.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/us/politics/iran-missiles-iraq.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
Since Saudi Arabia has now made her ‘separate peace’ with Iran, Iran can now focus her attention on her other regional enemy, Israel, and threaten Israel with Iran’s missile arsenal, the largest in the region.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-iran-talks.html
@ Jack:
There is no such thing as a “defensive” deployment of 80,000 U.S. troops 10,000 miles from their homeland. We have a long history of projecting power aggressively and overthrowing regimes we don’t like. So calling two U.S. aircraft carriers, hundreds of war planes and tens of thousands of troops “defensive,” is just plain stupid.
If someone wanted to overthrow the Iranian regime they would start with a deployment of 80,000 troops. Then they’d wait for the right opportunity to escalate tensions once more and then they’d deploy more troops. Actually, force estimates say we’d only need 100,000 troops to invade Iran. So we’re a good deal of the way there now.
And the fact that a right wing GOP senator is raising a red flag and questioning whether our policy is to invade Iran is something you and your Israeli war hawks should ponder.
The Reuters article you mentioned is ridiculous. It has no byline. It says it has IRG sources but doesn’t say who they are. The very idea that senior IRG commanders are going to reveal top secret IRG meetings to a western journalist is preposterous. The idea that bombing the Saudi oil fields would serve as revenge for the U.S. rejecting JCPOA is laughable. Who did the attack benefit besides Iran? It benefited the U.S. because we are major oil producing competitors to the Saudis. No one in the U.S. has any love for the Saudis. We could care less about their oil fields being attacked. Finally, the IRG actually benefits from sanctions, so it’s highly unlikely it would launch such an attack in response to them. The IRG is far more concerned about the security of its own bases in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. It is the unprecedented Israeli attacks on Iraqi targets that damageed Iranian bases there which really has the IRG’s attention. That is what they wanted to respond to. Israel’s alliance with the Saudis is far more robust than the U.S. alliance with the Saudis. It is Israel to whom the Iranians were sending a signal with the Saudi attack. Not the U.S.
You’re absolutely daft? A separate peace? What are you smoking??
You are done in this thread.
@richard cook
Rather anti semitic the way you imply jewish domination of america and laugh at a jewish army (is that the same as an israeli army in your askewed world?)
@ Shai: No, he said Israeli domination of U.S. policy toward Israel and the region. He has a point, though it’s exagerrated. Israel does exert maximum pressure and influence and at times does lead American by the nose (with the help of billionaires like Adelson pointing the way with hundreds of millions in cash donations).
As for your objection to the Israeli army being called “Jewish,” I’d share your outrage if Israel didn’t relegate its non-Jewish citizens to 2nd class status and refuse to allow them to serve in elite units; thus making it largely an Israeli Jewish army.
your ‘analysis’ is nonsense…….the us is not the cause of the iranian people’s misery, hunger, destitude…… that squarely falls on the shoulders/turbans of the mullahs who have spent 40 years killing stealing and lying ….leave the analysis to real iranians, who know their country and history much better than you!
@ Al: MeK troll alert. I should leave the ‘analysis’ to monarchists and cultists like you, eh? Not on your life, bub.
“As for your objection to the Israeli army being called “Jewish,” I’d share your outrage if Israel didn’t relegate its non-Jewish citizens to 2nd class status and “refuse to allow them to serve in elite units; thus making it largely an Israeli Jewish army.”
There are many Druze, Carcasians and Beduins the in elite troops. The not so long ago ‘fashla’ in Gaza where the leading office in that elite group was killed is a prime example. I believe there were ‘duvdevan’.
The killed Druze commando has not had his name released[as far as I know} because of security reasons.
@ Avram:
Not true. Non-Jews serve in a limited number of units. In comparison to the total number of troops in the IDF, the number of non-Jews is relatively small. The latter do, of course, serve in units where they need mistarvim.
The Gaza unit was NOT Duvdevan. Clearly, you haven’t read my posts about this which identify the unit, Sayeret Matkal and the officer, Mahmoud Kheireddine. I suggest you Google this site on his name and you will read my reporting.
How come Gaza’s protesters are being murdered by the IDF but Iranian protesters are being killed?
@ Reut Levi: You’re being an idiot once again. You’re already moderated. Are you gunning for being banned as well? Do not try to be sarcastic or snarky here. It won’t work and will get you banned.
As for your comment: the IDF has murdered over 200 Gazans during the Great March of Return. Thousands have been wounded & maimed for life.
I have never condoned the wholesale slaughter of Iranian civilians by the authorities.
You are done in this thread.
[comment deleted: the comment rules prohibit speculation and unsupported claims. You’ve violated them. You are now moderated.]
Why get so offended of using the term “Jewish army” about IDF? The “Israelis” do not hesitate to use in every possible situation the less clear religious origin of Arab countries’ and Iran’s military troops using terms like Sunni and Shia armies. Surely there are some non-Jews in IDF, but equally Iran has plenty of non-Shias serving in their armies (even most certainly some local Jews). “Israelis” do not hesitate to express the religious nature of Iran (or other “enemies”) using always these “ajatollah” insults and distain. But when Israel’s undeniable religious nature is even remotely mentioned begins this familiar anti-semitism and “not all Jews are” howling.
Example of IDF’s Jewish nature from Wikipedia:
Can all Muslims around the world serve in Iranian military or any other Muslim country’s army? Giving advanced military and religious training to foreign citizens chosen by their religious background is WHAT?
[comment deleted: Anti-Semit’n arois!!
“Since Saudi Arabia has now made her ‘separate peace’ with Iran…”
“You’re absolutely daft? A separate peace? What are you smoking??”
As I said.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/14/saudi-arabia-held-secret-talks-with-iran-ease-regional-tensions-are-they-holding-back-us/
Thanks for asking, my preference is cannabis oil.
You ought to try it, it might expand your mind.
@ Jack: Purported negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia mean precisely…nothing. So a news site claims there are talks. First, it may not be true. Second, even if it is true, it means two guys are sitting in a room somewhere talking. We don’t know what they’re talking about. We don’t know who they are. Third, even if the talks are substantive and serious, we still dont know where they lead.
So your claim that the two countries have signed “a separate peace deal” is way premature, if not downright wrong.