Lots of that Iranian oil goes to India. Not sure how Modi would react to Israel cutting off oil to India?
Me thinks Israel is only talking a big talk right now until elections. Hopefully Israel finds s leader that is a moderate willing to tone down the “killing Palestinians” and military rampage on its neighbors. Big ?
A major international story now are the devastating flash floods in Iran.
Many people have been killed -- many more than the offiricla record. The floods hit first during Nowruz when people typically leave the big cities and are on the move -- many were caught in tents and authorities cannot know how many.
At the moment the damns are full. It is feared by some that some aging infrastructure could break or just run over. The ability of the state to repair infrastructure damage by the floods is compromised by both sanctions and deep corruption (much funding runs through revolutionary guard outfits that pillage resources before the scraps run down into anything good.
The next stage once the flooding stops is of course is risk of disease. Then there is the issue of damage to the ability of the country to produce food.
The Iranian government is claiming that the US is preventing aid. The US says that this is not so and that Red Crescent is being funded. Sadly there is little reason to believe either side. It is clear that the government is deeply mismanaging this while the US is pressing sanctions even as the floods worsen.
The people are desperate. Life looks very hard and the population are aware that they are caught between Trump hardliners who verge on the sadistic and their own government which is incapable, badly corrupted and seems almost indifferent to the situation many of the people find themselves in. People were asked to evacuate but many did not, in part due to deep mistrust of the authorities.
For now the capital seems to be not affected much by the floods but instead by shortages which would now be expected to increase.
Villages have disappeared.
Many refugees from the floods crowd all areas of the country. 26 of 31 regions have declared emergencies. The people are heavily critical of the government's handling of the emergency in particular and the overall infrastructure and management of water.
This tweet shows criticism about the filling in a paving over of natural paths for water which now has to go throught he streets -- this pic is the change in front of a historical gate:
https://twitter.com/110Nygma/status/1110161892381585409/photo/1
https://twitter.com/sabaazarpeik/status/1110134683524837376
(You can get translation from your browser)
I am hearing that there are many places isolated with no links in or out for food or supplies.
Things are truly terrible in Iran at the moment.
Here is a video from the 25th of March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT3XsHAIl5U&vl=en
https://twitter.com/vaniiia80/status/1113182327688105984?s=19
https://twitter.com/IranHrm/status/1110125126186610688
Today, the reports that a new round of flooding is coming as the damns are apparently all full.
Why is Trump Designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps As Foreign Terrorist Organization?
"After their failed coup plot in Venezuela, the Trump administration launched another crazy plan. The White House just issued the designation..."
Why is Trump Designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps As Foreign Terrorist Organization?
"After their failed coup plot in Venezuela, the Trump administration launched another crazy plan. The White House just issued the designation..."
The revolutionary guard are awful. But. They control all infrastructure to speak of in Iran. Recovery from the floods will be compromised by this designation.
Iranians are in a bad position here caught between their own bad government and the outside each making things worse.
Trump Pumps New Poison Into US Confrontation With Iran
"On Monday, the US designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGG) as a 'terrorist organization'. It is the equivalent of declaring the US Marine Corps a terrorist organization, though with much less justification given that Iran hasn't invaded another country for centuries. Washington's description of Iran as 'expansionist' is enough to make a horse laugh given the world-wide projection of US bases and military hardware around the world - and around Iran.
It is the first time that a US government has designated a part of a foreign government as a 'terrorist organization'. Anyone doing business with Iran will have no way of knowing if they are 'bankrolling terrorism' by doing so, and that of of course is the point..."
Iranians are in a bad position here caught between their own bad government and the outside each making things worse.
This characterization is imperialism 101. Who gave you the right to pass judgement on their government and what proof to you have that they are worse than whatever norm you are applying. First maybe you need to determine what is the norm for good government.
Iranians are in a bad position here caught between their own bad government and the outside each making things worse.
This characterization is imperialism 101. Who gave you the right to pass judgement on their government and what proof to you have that they are worse than whatever norm you are applying. First maybe you need to determine what is the norm for good government.
About a dozen Iranian friends -- one of them very close who I hear from every day about how bad things are there.
There are many issues with the government in Iran but why don't you find one Iranian person not in their government to defend it?
Iranians are in a bad position here caught between their own bad government and the outside each making things worse.
This characterization is imperialism 101. Who gave you the right to pass judgement on their government and what proof to you have that they are worse than whatever norm you are applying. First maybe you need to determine what is the norm for good government.
So do you believe that Canada should automatically reject all refugee claimants from Iran who allege persecution by that country's government?
Because it seems to me that the minute you say "Yes, we believe you are likely to suffer torture at the hands of the Iranian government, so you can come stay in Canada for protection", you are passing judgement on the Iranian government. Even if you observe the diplomatic nicety of not actually using judgemental terminology like "bad" to describe the government.
I think the Iranian government is an authoritarian state. I think that 80% of the countries on the planet are as bad or worse. Sitting in a NATO country and decrying selective foreign governments is imperialism 101. The military overlords in our country have already manufactured your consent to attacking a foreign nation. Strange we never hear much about the poor people in Bahrain were Canada actually has a large presence and could exert its influence to promote democracy and human rights.
I know that in North Vancouver almost to a person Iranian ex-pats will speak poorly of the government. Of course they were the Shah's government officials so it is like taking my opinions of Cuba based on what Miami ex-pats say about their former country. There is way more nuance to the situation and the people's views in both countries.
It does not even sound like the Iranian government disputes that there is a very serious corruption problem there:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/corruption-way-life-iran
I think the Iranian government is an authoritarian state. I think that 80% of the countries on the planet are as bad or worse. Sitting in a NATO country and decrying selective foreign governments is imperialism 101. The military overlords in our country have already manufactured your consent to attacking a foreign nation. Strange we never hear much about the poor people in Bahrain were Canada actually has a large presence and could exert its influence to promote democracy and human rights.
I know that in North Vancouver almost to a person Iranian ex-pats will speak poorly of the government. Of course they were the Shah's government officials so it is like taking my opinions of Cuba based on what Miami ex-pats say about their former country. There is way more nuance to the situation and the people's views in both countries.
Congratulations on your ability to rank the whole world and put Iran into the top 20% Really, I avoid speaking about countries where I do not have direct, non-media contact for information. You must be so good.
However, when characterizing the people I know you are talking out of your ass. I know a few recent refugees, true, they are unhappy - sure... My most infomred source is a person who worked for the Iranian government before coming to Canada as an immigrant. I have been in touch with a visiting teacher who has only just returned to Iran. I know one person who has positive feelings for the former Shah but none of the others express these. I do not know a single person from Iran who has been here more than ten years.
So regarding talking about my perspective being based on "military overlords," please make slow, sweet, gentle, love to yourself - and do it again and again.
As for everyone else -- given that we should not criticize any foreign government -- why do we have an international politics discussion section here? Should it not be replaced with a fan club for all these countries we are only supposed to speak positively about?
Is the only analysis about any government one that must either come from a colonial imperialistic background and perspective or one that is compeltely one-sided in the other direction? Aren't humans supposed to be able to discuss experiences to learn from and avoid them? Can't people who have been here for like 15 fucking years not learn to trust that the other people are not mouth pieces for "our military overloards"? Isn't this silencing of discussion without acknowledging any content or inquiring about it just about fucking tiresome?
Thanks Sean for your demeaning post. I am trying really hard not to respond to the personal attacks you make about me because I do not agree with your views. Apparently you are the authority of just about everything and my views are to be attacked vehemently because they are beyond the pale. However what yo don't understand is that like the Irish I take pride in being beyond the pale.
You are seriously dilusional if you think that you were the one attacked without provocation here and demeaned.
But I actually should appreciate as sincere your thanks. It is clear that you really enjoy being demeaned since this is your normal way of entering a thread.
So now I know that if I were to say that YOU were brainwashed by the military overlords, cannot think for yourself, and that I know more about the people you know than you do, well I would have found YOUR way of making friends.
Why is the US Calling Iran's Republican Guard 'Terrorists'?
Economic effects negligible - part of Trump/Israel 'regime disintegration' policy. Canada's vassal status vis a vis USA and servility to Israeli designs will almost certainly ensure Canadian belligerence as well. As always some Canadian 'progressives' will cheerlead this USraeli agenda as well.
Congratulations on your ability to rank the whole world and put Iran into the top 20%
Your criticism was about the Iranian governments response to a natural disaster. I found it simplistic and knee jerk NATO propaganda. Iran's government is a capable as most governments in that regard and pointing to their political system to claim that if only they had a better system the affects would be far lessened is disingenuous at best.
Hell if they were any kind of government at all they would be as effective as the Puerto Rican government was in dealing with its natural climate chaos created emergency. If you have such good contacts inside Iran then tell me is it way worse than Nigeria?
After the claim that the people are suffering from both their government and foreign imperialists I want to know about the incompetence of the civil authorities in Iran that make them stand out as inferior to other places in the world? Does there incompetence really stem from their political structure and if so how could it be improved by Iran's parliament or is a regime change the only answer? The people of Iraq and Libya and Afghanistan can testify to the freedom enhancing properties of the liberal democracies that have been installed in their countries instead of the evil regimes that preceded them. Oh wait that hasn't happened instead NATO has merely bombed them back to the middle ages and left them with civil wars and mass murders. Of course any of those three countries would now have far better civil response to a natural disaster compared to the terrorists running Iran.
Why is the US Calling Iran's Republican Guard 'Terrorists'?
Economic effects negligible - part of Trump/Israel 'regime disintegration' policy. Canada's vassal status vis a vis USA and servility to Israeli designs will almost certainly ensure Canadian belligerence as well. As always some Canadian 'progressives' will cheerlead this USraeli agenda as well.
There are many legitimate complaints about the Revolutionary Guard. None are new. None will be resolved by this designation.
The reality in Iran is that this entity is central to all construction and recovery efforts there. Attacking them at this particular moment will guarantee the least progress when it comes to recovery form the severe flooding -- for those who have not read this thread 26 of 31 provinces are in emergency.
I am hearing from people who are not at all fans of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard that because they control all construction, this designation will prevent any coordinated recovery effort with help from outside.
The effect of this puts a chill on any foreign aid to help the emergency situation. Any foreign organization that is invovled in helping, will have to engage with the RG and therefore breach US law.
Given the timing I have to suspect that this designation is to prevent any foreign agency from providing any assistance to Iran right now.
This is a human catastrophe. Without help disease will break out. People will starve, as the country is losing the ability to make food.
Make no mistake, this designation is extremely aggressive and meaningful.
We do not have to say we like the Revolutionary Guard or are unaware of the problems and corruption with it to say that this is an extremely seriously aggressive posture for the US or that it ultimately is inhumane.
Congratulations on your ability to rank the whole world and put Iran into the top 20%
Your criticism was about the Iranian governments response to a natural disaster. I found it simplistic and knee jerk NATO propaganda.running Iran.
Let me help you: It was not propaganda and I do not give a flying fuck how you found it.
It was not simplistic and had a lot of information behind it. I do not care to share it with you -- you pompous ass.
Again this is you throwing insults around when you have nothing real to add and probably know nothing about the situation.
There are quite a few threads I read here where I do not know enough to add anything so I just read them without jumping in. You jump in to throw shit out like this like a dog peeing on a lampost just to say you were there. You add nothing to the conversation other than the old stock insult phrases that you repeat over and over withut any real information to know if they actually apply.
ETA -- I have not commented on Nigeria becuase I do not have the information to do so. I sure know that does not stop you.
Congratulations on your ability to rank the whole world and put Iran into the top 20%
After the claim that the people are suffering from both their government and foreign imperialists I want to know about the incompetence of the civil authorities in Iran that make them stand out as inferior to other places in the world? Does there incompetence really stem from their political structure and if so how could it be improved by Iran's parliament or is a regime change the only answer? The people of Iraq and Libya and Afghanistan can testify to the freedom enhancing properties of the liberal democracies that have been installed in their countries instead of the evil regimes that preceded them. Oh wait that hasn't happened instead NATO has merely bombed them back to the middle ages and left them with civil wars and mass murders. Of course any of those three countries would now have far better civil response to a natural disaster compared to the terrorists running Iran.
The civil authorities are ineffective becuase of the power the Mullahs wield over the system not due to lower ranking civil servants.
There is considerable control exerted by the Revolutionary Guard who answer, when at all to anyone, to the Mullahs and not the parliament. The fact that the Guard do not answer to parliament is a structural problem complained about by many who support the elected government.
When it comes to the Mullahs, they are considered brutal and privileged. They are also mocked by the population who consider them incompetent. Most people do not respect them.
Yes this is a political structural issue.
No -- regime change is not the solution unless you mean the Mullahs, Supreme leader and RG surrendering control to the elected government.
Iran has a sophisticated political system that runs parallel to an autocracy of the Mullahs and supreme leader. This creates a constant context of contradiction.
The supreme leader is overseen by a guardian council that the supreme leader selects.
It is reasonably likely that the elected parliament which does have competative elections could have the confidence of the Iranian people if it actually could be allowed to perform. The complaints in terms of effectiveness come from the power the Guard, Mullahs and Supreme Leader have to overrule whatever government the people elect.
By the way, you should forget the Shah, it seems you are out of date. Iran actually had a reasonably popular government under Khatami that was able to achieve considerable progress despite the Mullahs. It was, however, destroyed by them.
Here is a short excerpt from Wiki that outlines a perspective that a number people I have spoken to share. Far from regime change when it comes to the elected government, Iran had a government that had considerable support that was dismantled by the Mullahs, Supreme Leader etc.
Some Iranians felt that had Khatami recieved more international support for his objectives that there would ahve been more resistance to what came later.
The loss of this government in the way it happened seems to be a big factor in the non-confidence and dispair many Iranians are feeling.
By the way I have heard from some that many are torn becuase of this between dispair that Iran cannot get out of this situation, hope that Trump's aggressiveness could break the government so they could rebuild and fear that the Trump aggressiveness will make things much worse without any hope. The people I know here in Canada say they hate Trump and that this is not the way but that some people in Iran privately like Trump becuase he is attacking a government they hate.
Here is how the Khatami government ended accoring to wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Mohammad_Khatami
Khatami and Iran's 2004 parliamentary election
In February 2004 Parliament elections, the Guardian Council banned thousands [11] of candidates, including most of the reformist members of the parliament and all the candidates of the Islamic Iran Participation Front party from running. This led to a win by the conservatives of at least 70% of the seats. Approximately 60% of the eligible voting population participated in the elections.
Khatami recalled his strong opposition against holding an election his government saw as unfair and not free. He also narrated the story of his visit to the Supreme Leader, Khamenei, together with the Parliament's spokesman (considered the head of the legislature) and a list of conditions they had handed him before they could hold the elections. The list, he said, was then passed on to the Guardian Council, the legal supervisor and major obstacle to holding free and competitive elections in recent years. The members of the Guardian Council are appointed directly by the Supreme Leader and were considered to be applying his will. "But", Khatami said, "the Guardian Council kept neither the Supreme Leader's nor its own word [...] and we were faced with a situation in which we had to choose between holding the election or risking huge unrest [...] and so damaging the regime." At this point, student protesters repeatedly chanted the slogan "Jannati is the nation's enemy", referring to the chairman of the Guardian Council. Khatami replied, "If you are the representative of the nation, then we are the nation's enemy." However, after a clarification by students stating that "Jannati, not Khatami", he took advantage of the opportunity to claim a high degree of freedom in Iran.[12]
When the Guardian Council announced the final list of candidates on 30 January, 125 Reformist members of parliament declared that they would boycott the election and resign their seats, and the Reformist interior minister declared that the election would not be held on the scheduled date, February 20. However, Khatami then announced that the election would be held on time, and he rejected the resignations of his cabinet ministers and provincial governors. These actions paved the way for the election to be held and signaled a split between the radical and moderate wings of the Reformist movement.[13]
Iran FM Javad Zarif
https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1113808108357390341
"My response to the unprofessional, intolerant and demagogic comments of Sec Pompeo on the devastating floods - the humanitarian rescue and aid operations - in Iran..."
'Stop Buying Iranian Oil Or Face Sanctions' : US
Another step on Trump's crazy path to war on Iran. For Israel.
Ya thanks for the update NDPP.
This puts India in a whole new light now hey?
I don’t think you can talk about Iranian oil anymore without India coming into the same picture.
I cant see India walking away from easy readily available Iranian crude right next door? And the extra doubling down sanctions on Iran will drive Iranian prices down
Ya thanks for the update NDPP.
This puts India in a whole new light now hey?
I don’t think you can talk about Iranian oil anymore without India coming into the same picture.
I cant see India walking away from easy readily available Iranian crude right next door? And the extra doubling down sanctions on Iran will drive Iranian prices down
I agree. I'm no expert on India, but what I've read indicates that their economy is heavily dependent on Iranian oil, and they will never stop buying it to please the U.S. I think this foolish action will force Modi to break from Trump, even though they could be natural allies. Trump is simply too stupid to understand complex international relations.
We shall see. I thought the same when Europe destroyed its trading relationship with Russia and implemented sanctions under US tutelage. Ditto when Canada committed hara-kiri with its second largest trading partner China, again apparently to demonstrate its vassal fealty to its American overlords. Self interest does not necessarily prevail.
In any case, given that both Israel and USA are heavily invested in an Iranian regime change, we should expect to see a growing official animus by Canada as well as its re-echoing here on this 'progressive' board by the usual cheerleading members of the msm cult of believe whatever they tell you.
The West's Irrational Fear of Iran is a Disaster Waiting To Happen
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/51477.htm
"The case of irrational western hostility towards Iran is unique.[North] American nastiness in particular knows no bounds..."
We shall see. I thought the same when Europe destroyed its trading relationship with Russia and implemented sanctions under US tutelage. Ditto when Canada committed hara-kiri with its second largest trading partner China, again apparently to demonstrate its vassal fealty to its American overlords. Self interest does not necessarily prevail.
In any case, given that both Israel and USA are heavily invested in an Iranian regime change, we should expect to see a growing official animus by Canada as well as its re-echoing here on this 'progressive' board by the usual cheerleading members of the msm cult of believe whatever they tell you.
I will be very surprised if there are even 2 or 3 babblers who support a regime change war against Iran. Maybe I'm just being Pollyannaish, but I think almost all posters here understand that while the Islamic Republic has plenty of faults, the Iranian population are the well educated inheritors of an ancient culture and they will eventually take care of their own problems.
I'll hope you're right. Here's an example of the Zio-trash we shall increasingly see more of on Iran. Surprised NR hasn't already delivered it.
US Terror Designation A Long Overdue Step to Isolate Iran't Revolutionary Guard
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/u-s-terror-designation-a-long-overdue-s...
Mike Fegelman of 'Honest Reporting Canada.' For 'fair and accurate Canadian media coverage of Israel and the Middle East.'
Yeah, right...
'Itching For A War': Bolton Threatens Iran With Unrelenting Force' as US Bombers Deployed to ME
"The latest indications that this administration is running full speed directly into a major war with Iran."
US Intends to Provoke Iran For Israel's Sake: Former Pentagon Official
"The US is sending the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf. "
Some speculate the possibility of a US/Israeli false flag attack on US assets and blamed on Iran which would initiate hostilities. Bolton is also close to the MEK anti-Iranian terrorist group which would be ideal for this purpose.
We shall see. I thought the same when Europe destroyed its trading relationship with Russia and implemented sanctions under US tutelage. Ditto when Canada committed hara-kiri with its second largest trading partner China, again apparently to demonstrate its vassal fealty to its American overlords. Self interest does not necessarily prevail.
In any case, given that both Israel and USA are heavily invested in an Iranian regime change, we should expect to see a growing official animus by Canada as well as its re-echoing here on this 'progressive' board by the usual cheerleading members of the msm cult of believe whatever they tell you.
I will be very surprised if there are even 2 or 3 babblers who support a regime change war against Iran. Maybe I'm just being Pollyannaish, but I think almost all posters here understand that while the Islamic Republic has plenty of faults, the Iranian population are the well educated inheritors of an ancient culture and they will eventually take care of their own problems.
Agreed.
Iran really needs to tone down it's religous hierarchy and improve labour protection etc etc. But that's up to the Iranian peoples to resolve. We can only discuss/debate from the sidelines.
Israel and the US need to tone down the military shit, but also, Iran needs to tone down their military involvement as a comprimise.
I'd like to keep Michael Moriarity involved in this discussion here because you seem interested.
There's a very complex relationship developing here with Iran Russia Pakistan India Afghanistan China etc etc. It appears to be growing more stronger and wealthier. And all without any or very little input from the western countries.
Is it only me that sees it this way? Where do other babblers stand on this?
There's a very complex relationship developing here with Iran Russia Pakistan India Afghanistan China etc etc. It appears to be growing more stronger and wealthier. And all without any or very little input from the western countries.
Is it only me that sees it this way? Where do other babblers stand on this?
Iran, Russia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China have been trading and coexisting for thousands of years without much need for anything from Europe or the America's
There's a very complex relationship developing here with Iran Russia Pakistan India Afghanistan China etc etc. It appears to be growing more stronger and wealthier. And all without any or very little input from the western countries.
Is it only me that sees it this way? Where do other babblers stand on this?
Iran, Russia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China have been trading and coexisting for thousands of years without much need for anything from Europe or the America's
I'm no historian, but this sounds right to me.
Old trading routes. Is this what the US wants to disrupt? Is Iran the linch pin?
Now I can see the US wanting to mess with China’s one belt one road initiative, but trying to take out Iran will only infuriate India!
Here’s what I suspect. India China Iran and Russia are growing closer. I want to throw Pakistan in there to, but recent fighting between India and Pakistan was a huge disappointing setback so I’ll leave out Pakistan.
It’s very possible that if these four countries can form some kind of alliance, it may dominate nato
Also, religion could be the largest obstacle. Larger than Israel/US.
I think if Iran Pakistan India Bangladesh can tone down or better yet get rid of (but impossible) religion, an allegiance can be forged.
Live From Tehran: Are US & Iran Going to War?
"Professor Mohammad Marandi of the University of Tehran who helped negotiate the Iran Nuclear Deal, joins Rick Sanchez to discuss Iran's vow to restart their nuclear program in the face of US violations of the agreement and deepening economic pressure. He says that from the beginning, 'the Iranians were the only ones committed to the agreement.' He ominously predicts that a US invasion of Iran would create a worldwide economic calamity."
MUST WATCH: Clear and concise analysis of the current situation, the actors and dangers.
US Deploys Even More Missiles to Middle East as Iran Saber-Rattling Reaches Fever Pitch
"The US is sending a battery of Patriot missiles to join the carrier strike group and bomber task force currently 'protecting' American interests in the Middle East from Iran, still insisting the buildup is merely defensive."
MK Bhadrakumar: Iran Circles Wagons as Trump's B Team Beats War Drum
https://indianpunchline.com/iran-circles-wagons-as-trumps-b-team-beats-w...
"If there can be a lethal game of Russian roulette in international politics, this is it - what just began on May 8, the first anniversary of the US' withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal of July 2015..."
Ok thanks for the link NDPP.
The US is playing with fire with this military buildup.
China and Pakistan, a very short distanceaway are building up their forces. I suspect this may be in anticipation of a possible US Israel attack on Iran
I really believe that Pakistan and China will not tolerate any kind of Iranian invasion! Here’s something more to support my speculations
Here’s a link for more insight. It’s from the icm so take it wit ya grain of salt.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-europe-idUSKCN1SF1RB
With B52s, Carrier Battle Group in Place, US War Against Iran on a Hair Trigger
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/11/thre-m11.html
"With the Pentagon bringing its most destructive and powerful weapons to Iran's shores, Pompeo justified the US military buildup claiming that Iran had 'engaged in an escalating series of threatening actions and statements in recent months.' He did not bother to provide any example of such actions and statements..."
John Wight: The Moloch of US Hegemony Now Has Iran in its Sights
"...In an unholy alliance with Saudi Arabia and Israel, and with the usual clutch of supine European satellites going along to get along, the Trump administration, which two years after entering the White House promising to put an end to endless wars, has engineered a neocon renaissance in Washington. Now, not satisfied with bearing down on Venezuela, his administration is going after Iran with the gusto of a rabid dog..."
Iran Says UAE Ship Attacks Worrying, Urges Vigilance
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/05/13/595807/Iran-UAE-ship-sabotage-...
"Iran has voiced concern about 'adventurism by foreign players' to disrupt maritime navigation in the Persian Gulf region, after the United Arab Emirates confirmed Sunday that a number of ships had been subjected to 'sabotage' off its coast..."
Oil Jumps After Saudi Arabia Says Tankers Targeted Near UAE
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/05/13/595808/Saudi-oil-tankers-targe...
"Oil futures rise on increasing concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia says two of its oil tankers were targeted in a 'sabotage attack' on Sunday off the coast of Fujairah. The news sent Brent crude futures to $71.71 a barrel, up $1.09. US West Texas Intermediate futures were at $62.45 per barrel, up 79 cents. Markets are already under pressure from Washington's bid to cut Iran's oil exports to zero and reduce exports from Venezuela..."
Cui bono? Not Iran. Watch for false flags.
Even the hawkish Guardian voices caution and concern over the dangerous US moves.
Pompeo To Meet Putin in Russia Amid Fears Over US-Iran Clash
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/14/pompeo-to-meet-putin-rus...
"Mike Pompeo is to meet Vladimir Putin in Russia at a time of heightened fears of a clash between the US and Iran, a Moscow ally. In remarks on Monday [FM Sergey] Lavrov blamed the US for provoking the current crisis with Iran. Jeremy Hunt, the UK foreign secretary, said America's European allies were concerned about a potential war breaking out between Iran and the US..."
White House Reviews Military Plans Against Iran In Echoes of Iraq War
https://twitter.com/RaniaKhalek/status/1128164121055252480
"Unsatisfied with crippling Iran's economy, the Trump administration, led by sociopathic war hawk John Bolton, has drawn up plans to deploy 120,000 American troops to the Middle East to launch a war on Iran..."
Official: Initial US Assessment Blames Iran For Ship Attacks
https://twitter.com/richards1052/status/1128090253758279680
"Without offering any proof, anonymous US officials claim that anonymous US military team believes unknown Iran saboteurs attacked Saudi tankers. A slam dunk..."
Notice the outstanding and necessary widespread mobilization of the Canadian anti-war movement to warn us of these dangerous developments and call for action. Kudos to the too few that do.
Peter Ford on Iran Deal
"US policy is in a total state of schizophrenia,' says former ambassador Peter Ford..."
Pilger: Why Are We Threatening Iran? (2018)
...And why is an anachronism like Israel allowed to have impunity?
WATCH: "Trump says he doesn't want war with Iran, but that's exactly what he wants, because that's exactly what Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu, al-Qaeda, Bolton, Haley and other NeoCon/Neolibs want. That's what he put first--not America."
Pepe Escobar: Iran Squeezed Between Imperial Psychos and European Cowards
https://consortiumnews.com/2019/05/13/iran-squeezed-between-imperial-psy...
"For all practical purposes and in any geopolitical scenario this is a declaration of war. At the same time, it's politically naive to believe the Europeans will suddenly grow a backbone. To behave like poodles - the most probable course of action - means emboldening even more the psychos doubling as imperial functionaries bent on a hot war against Iran at all costs..."
Canada of course is onside with the cowards and psychos.
'No Increased Iran Threat in Syria or Iraq Top British Officer Says'
https://twitter.com/SamiRamadani1/status/1128606580096872449
"It appears that UK and Western Europe are trying to distance themselves from US-Israeli threats to launch war of aggression on Iran."
That Time John Bolton Said It's Good To Lie About War (and vid)
https://twitter.com/nowickgray/status/1129046490763206657
"Winston Churchill said during World War Two that in wartime truth is so important it should be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies." - John Bolton
Seems to be the current modus operandi of most politicians.
Pretexts For An Attack on Iran
https://consortiumnews.com/2019/05/15/pretexts-for-an-attack-on-iran/
"Ray McGovern probes the same step-up in US belligerence towards a country posing the same non-existent strategic threat as Iraq..."
These so called attacks on shipping has false flag written all over it hey? Or the potential of at least.
Could be a ploy to raise cost of crude.
These so called attacks on shipping has false flag written all over it hey? Or the potential of at least.
US imperialism has used the same playbook for over a century, why mess with winnning strategy. Remember the Maine began it all.
We have established that the spirit of the 1890s in America seemed committed to some future plan of economic growth in global markets, with that growth quite likely coming in the form of greater US influence outside of its borders and regional sphere of influence. The only seemingly lacking element remaining was a trigger, an opportunity and excuse to assert itself more forcefully.
McKinley’s placement of the USS Maine in Havana harbor represented exactly that and it is here that we note the emergence of a very common element of the aforementioned pattern of interventionist behavior in the history of US actions, that of initial American presence as a signal or even, put simply, bait. The mere presence of the Maine in this instance represented quite the risky and provocative gesture. And no matter what the intended effect may have been, the implications are no less heinous. In one scenario, McKinley and his executive branch placed hundreds of men and military equipment into an active guerrilla war zone with the possible goal of applying pressure against Spain for concessions. In an even worse scenario, those men were placed in harm’s way for the implicit goal of inviting violence and attack. Indeed, some mused that, “There may be an explosion any day in Cuba which would settle a great many things,” and, as we know now, it certainly did.
https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/remember-the-maine/
