Iran vs the US Megathread

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Yeah, that Soleimani was a real champion for peace what with his funding of extreme Shi'ite terrorist organizations across the MidEast that have been destabilizing the region for decades at the behest of a theocratic dictatorship that tortures and murders dissenters, treats women like property, and throws gays off buildings.

His loss is clearly a tragedy.

The only tragedy here was the innocents that ended up getting trampled to death at this scumbags funeral. Soleimani getting yeeted by a Predator Drone, that was Karma pure and simple.

There is no karma, only justice. Whoever fired the shot that took out that psychopath deserves a fucking medal.

[Proctopeo]

Since when is killing Soleimani "destroying their homes, killing their families, and devastating their lives?" You are aware that the guy in the tweet you linked was sad because of Soleimani’s death right?

Or do you actually like Soleimani?

Reminder that people protesting Soleimani’s death called him a "fight for the oppressed"

He was an austere religious scholar, don't judge!

[Bombadil]

They attacked the US Embassy, once that happened, you had 2 options

1. Don’t respond, set a precedent that you will abandon your embassies and make a laughingstock out of yourself, as if Benghazi wasn’t bad enough

2. Take out the organizers, show the world that America means business

<sigh>

They tried to break into the embassy, got into the outer grounds, and then got no further. No one was killed or injured, no one was taken hostage, and at most there was some minor damage to the physical plant. Big deal.

The response has been completely lopsided and inconsistent, a protest outside an embassy warrants the extrajudicial killing of an Iranian general whereas a direct attack on US military bases requires a stand down.

The lesson here is escalate the situation to make the US back down.

[Tobleste]

Is he anti war? He says a lot of things.

He’s a paleocon, it was his whole thing during the 2016 primaries. While I think he’s incompetent, he did bring the Bush dynasty down

I don't think it was his thing during the primaries. He has no real ideology beyond his own ego and his views on trade. Hes donated to Democrats in the past and endorsed Romney.

Also, I'm not sure if he did really bring the dynasty down. He just beat one of them to the presidency. And he didn't do that for any ideological reason.

[Albrenia]

What a weird series of events. I hope it ends with these sanctions and nobody does anything else stupid.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

The response has been completely lopsided and inconsistent,

This is Trump we're talking about.

[Bombadil]

What a weird series of events. I hope it ends with these sanctions and nobody does anything else stupid.

It's what happens when you have a presidency by FOX opinion.

[Aureumterra]

He’s a paleocon, it was his whole thing during the 2016 primaries. While I think he’s incompetent, he did bring the Bush dynasty down

I don't think it was his thing during the primaries. He has no real ideology beyond his own ego and his views on trade. Hes donated to Democrats in the past and endorsed Romney.

Also, I'm not sure if he did really bring the dynasty down. He just beat one of them to the presidency. And he didn't do that for any ideological reason.

Oh no, he was anti-war from the start, you should really see him going at Jeb

[Ethel mermania]

Iran has miscalculated here. If they expected western sympathy and support to hold out in the aftermath of an actual attack by Iran, even on US military bases, they were almost certainly mistaken.

I was telling my wife that the smart way for Iran to respond would have been to wait until Trump returned to Washington and then fire-bomb Mar-a-Lago. It would drive Trump insane while leaving Congress utterly disinclined to back him up.

I am with black Forrest on this, The Iranian escalation should be releasing trumps tax returns.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

I don't think it was his thing during the primaries. He has no real ideology beyond his own ego and his views on trade. Hes donated to Democrats in the past and endorsed Romney.

Also, I'm not sure if he did really bring the dynasty down. He just beat one of them to the presidency. And he didn't do that for any ideological reason.

Oh no, he was anti-war from the start, you should really see him going at Jeb

He was a liar from the start. Anybody who is still making the mistake of taking him at his word is only playing themselves for a fool.

Trump does what Trump wants and the only time he doesn't is when he physically can't.

[Bombadil]

What's surprising is that I'm sure Jared Kushner solved the Middle East earlier this year..

[Novus America]

Do you have a point? Other than this one move does not magically win?
The problem nobody claimed it would.

The point I was making was entirely germane to the conversation I was having before you showed up and started telling me that doing war forever is good, actually.

Yes it is going to be a game of whack a mole that will keep going on.

The point is not to “win” as much to just prevent any group from becoming too strong.

Haha, are you actually arguing in favour of America being at war literally forever? Well shit, that sure is a take and a half. I guess there's no need for an exit strategy if you plan to never exit.

I mean I am just being realistic. You just keep beating these groups down, you can only keep them down by beating them down.

Kind of like HIV, you will be on the suppression drugs forever.

[Bombadil]

The point I was making was entirely germane to the conversation I was having before you showed up and started telling me that doing war forever is good, actually.


Haha, are you actually arguing in favour of America being at war literally forever? Well shit, that sure is a take and a half. I guess there's no need for an exit strategy if you plan to never exit.

I mean I am just being realistic. You just keep beating these groups down, you can only keep them down by beating them down.

Kind of like HIV, you will be on the suppression drugs forever.

I always liken it to a boil, a boil is caused by underlying stress and poor health, much as unrest in societies is.. the treatment is not to keep hitting the boil with a hammer hoping it will go away.

[Novus America]

A plane in Iran crashed under suspect circumstances.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/08/boeing- ... eport.html

It's a 737. Crashing on takeoff hardly constitutes suspicious circumstances.

Actually the 737 has a great safety record over all, up until the newest version which has bad software.
It has been flying since 1967.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

Well, things seemed to have cool down. People don’t realize the magnitude of Soleimani’s death though. He’s thought to be the primary strategist for the Houthis in Yemen, in fact, the Houthi successes early on in the war, against all odds, can be attributed to him. The army march to Sana’a was an extremely risky strategy that only someone like Soleimani would’ve done, but it worked out in the end.

The loss of Soleimani means that the Houthis have to rely on other leaders who aren’t nearly as smart or risk-taking, not to mention their grip on Sana’a has been loosening over the last few months. Without the primary strategic mastermind, the Houthis likely have no definitive plan to take Aden and the remaining Hadi strongholds, and even if they do, they’re against all odds now, and don’t have someone like Soleimani to save them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hadi government launches a full on offensive to retake their land, all the way to Sana’a, and I don’t expect the Houthis to hold out for much longer with their primary strategist dead. This action may have turned the tide of the Yemeni war

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

I mean I am just being realistic. You just keep beating these groups down, you can only keep them down by beating them down.

Kind of like HIV, you will be on the suppression drugs forever.

I always liken it to a boil, a boil is caused by underlying stress and poor health, much as unrest in societies is.. the treatment is not to keep hitting the boil with a hammer hoping it will go away.

Let violent terror groups run around unchecked and do whatever they want without trying to stop them.

Got it.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Well, things seemed to have cool down. People don’t realize the magnitude of Soleimani’s death though. He’s thought to be the primary strategist for the Houthis in Yemen, in fact, the Houthi successes early on in the war, against all odds, can be attributed to him. The army march to Sana’a was an extremely risky strategy that only someone like Soleimani would’ve done, but it worked out in the end.

The loss of Soleimani means that the Houthis have to rely on other leaders who aren’t nearly as smart or risk-taking, not to mention their grip on Sana’a has been loosening over the last few months. Without the primary strategic mastermind, the Houthis likely have no definitive plan to take Aden and the remaining Hadi strongholds, and even if they do, they’re against all odds now, and don’t have someone like Soleimani to save them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hadi government launches a full on offensive to retake their land, all the way to Sana’a, and I don’t expect the Houthis to hold out for much longer with their primary strategist dead. This action may have turned the tide of the Yemeni war

Soleimani's death will echo across the region for some time, and not just in Yemen. He was the glue that kept Iran and it's puppet armies together; without him Iran has been permanently weakened. It will be a good, long while before they can recover unless they just happen upon another general with the same level of genius and charisma - which isn't likely.

[Holy Tedalonia]

It's a 737. Crashing on takeoff hardly constitutes suspicious circumstances.

Actually the 737 has a great safety record over all, up until the newest version.
And those two crashed on landing.

"As of January 2020, a total of 480 aviation accidents and incidents involving all 737 aircraft had occurred"

[Novus America]

Actually the 737 has a great safety record over all, up until the newest version.

"As of January 2020, a total of 480 aviation accidents and incidents involving all 737 aircraft had occurred"

Considering over 10,000 have been flying for 53 years that is not bad really.
The problem with the software on the newest version is not an inherent problem with the aircraft.

[Holy Tedalonia]

"As of January 2020, a total of 480 aviation accidents and incidents involving all 737 aircraft had occurred"

Considering over 10,000 have been flying for 53 years that is not bad really.
The problem with the software on the newest version is not an inherent problem with the aircraft.

Agreed, although they did go through a pretty bad phase early last year. Making them lose stock and people's confidence in them for a shit design, but other then that pretty reliable all and all.

[Novus America]

But still missing the point. Yes occupying all of Iran would be a pain in the ass to say the least.
Which is why if a large war were to happen we would not do it.

It could have happened had Iran declared war and that's why this was so scary.

No because even if they did (and they would not because it would be stupid) the response would be completely different than Iraq.

You do realize Iraq was only one war? And that not all wars were or will be like it?

[Novus America]

Considering over 10,000 have been flying for 53 years that is not bad really.
The problem with the software on the newest version is not an inherent problem with the aircraft.

Agreed, although they did go through a pretty bad phase early last year. Making them lose stock and people's confidence in them for a shit design, but other then that pretty reliable all and all.

Well the problem was the software on one version, but yes it looked really bad for the whole brand.

[Holy Tedalonia]

It could have happened had Iran declared war and that's why this was so scary.

No because even if they did (and they would not because it would be stupid) the response would be completely different than Iraq.

You do realize Iraq was only one war? And that not all wars were or will be like it?

I second this, if a war were to even break out. It'd be a battle for the strait of Hormuz. For it is the bloodline of Iran's economy. If it's gone, Iran economy collapses pretty much. Since traveling on land is severely hindered by Iran's mountainous terrain.

A land invasion is to costly and impractical. Both sides know this. Iran won't go to war though since it would threaten their control of the strait.

[Infected Mushroom]

The PRC showing responsible leadership here:

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/ ... 200108.htm

China on Wednesday urged restraint from all sides after Iran launched missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and British troops, saying Beijing would play a "responsible role" in helping to defuse tensions

Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles overnight at Iraqi bases housing coalition forces, the first act of the Islamic republic's promised revenge for the US killing of top general Qasem Soleimani last week.

"It is not in the interest of any party that the situation in the Middle East worsens further," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing. "We call on the parties concerned to exercise restraint."

Geng said China would "play a responsible role in promoting a de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible".

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a key partner of Iran and a major buyer of the country's oil.

"China has always advocated that all parties concerned should properly resolve their conflicts and differences through dialogue, negotiation and other peaceful means," Geng said.

Iran's embassy in Beijing posted on Wednesday an announcement on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform that "the end of America's evil influence in West Asia has begun".

The post was "liked" more than 380,000 times on Wednesday, with multiple commenters cheering Iran.

"Support the people of Iran in attacking the world's number-one terrorist!" one user wrote. Others called the people of Iran "brothers," and some said they wished to donate money to Tehran.

Iran, China and Russia held joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman in December and the Iranian foreign minister visited Beijing on New Year's Eve. (AFP)

I’m glad that some nations are trying to calm things down.

[Holy Tedalonia]

The PRC showing responsible leadership here:

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/ ... 200108.htm

China on Wednesday urged restraint from all sides after Iran launched missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and British troops, saying Beijing would play a "responsible role" in helping to defuse tensions

Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles overnight at Iraqi bases housing coalition forces, the first act of the Islamic republic's promised revenge for the US killing of top general Qasem Soleimani last week.

"It is not in the interest of any party that the situation in the Middle East worsens further," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing. "We call on the parties concerned to exercise restraint."

Geng said China would "play a responsible role in promoting a de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible".

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a key partner of Iran and a major buyer of the country's oil.

"China has always advocated that all parties concerned should properly resolve their conflicts and differences through dialogue, negotiation and other peaceful means," Geng said.

Iran's embassy in Beijing posted on Wednesday an announcement on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform that "the end of America's evil influence in West Asia has begun".

The post was "liked" more than 380,000 times on Wednesday, with multiple commenters cheering Iran.

"Support the people of Iran in attacking the world's number-one terrorist!" one user wrote. Others called the people of Iran "brothers," and some said they wished to donate money to Tehran.

Iran, China and Russia held joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman in December and the Iranian foreign minister visited Beijing on New Year's Eve. (AFP)

I’m glad that some nations are trying to calm things down.

It's always favorable playing the "mediator". It only serves to benefit them attempting to take control of the situation. I rather not believe for a moment one of the worst countries in the world has honorable intentions. I rather Germany or the UK be the "responsible one".