Posted on 01/09/2020 6:40:33 AM PST by Kaslin
Prior to Iran's missile attacks on U.S. bases inside Iraq, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, "We are not seeking war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one." Esper said the U.S. prefers a "diplomatic" solution to the escalation of tensions in the region.
Yes, that would be ideal, but a diplomatic solution would require Iran to reverse course, no longer fund and practice terrorism, stop developing a nuclear weapon and cease its repeated threats to destroy Israel.
Never at a loss to make political hay out of a serious foreign conflict with American troops in danger, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi criticized the president in a mixed message: "We must ensure the safety of our service members, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America and the world cannot afford war."
Pelosi said nothing about the endless provocations by Iran, the world's number one sponsor of terrorism.
In an appearance at the White House, President Trump said: "As long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon." He called for a greater involvement by NATO in the Middle East without spelling out what that would look like. And he promised more "punishing" economic sanctions on Iran, whose economy is already teetering on the brink.
That the president did not announce or threaten new military operations against Iran was significant and offers Tehran an opportunity to de-escalate the conflict.
I have written this before, but it bears repeating. Iran's theocratic leadership believes war is the path to revealing the "12th Imam," their version of the Christian second coming. The Mullahs of Iran are true believers who it appears are willing, even eager, to die for their cause, or more accurately have others die in their place.
Here is the formula the "no more war" crowd doesn't get or refuses to accept. Iran and its proxies kill U.S. troops, along with Iranian and foreign civilians and we are supposed to take it. If America responds to Iran, as President Trump has done (unlike Obama and Clinton), we are the enemy of peace and guilty of "escalating" the conflict. War is never a one-way street, unless one side pre-emptively surrenders. Victory must be our goal and should be defined.
Perhaps feckless European nations, Saudi Arabia and other countries will see clearly now that we have been at war with these fanatics at least since 1979 when Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 people hostage for 444 days until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan when the hostages were released. Maybe the Iranians feared Reagan would do then what Trump has done now, which is to punch back when attacked.
Yes, Iran must not be allowed to create nuclear weapons. Most in the West and Israel believe that. The question is how to stop them. There are multiple ways, short of armed conflict. There will not be an invasion of Iran, but cyberattacks, computer viruses, targeting missile sites and increased sanctions are all options. So is supporting those inside Iran who hate their government and wish to replace it.
Perhaps Iran's retaliatory attack was about "saving face" for the Iranian regime. Since no Americans were killed, and President Trump has said that is a red line for him, this could be the end of the latest conflict. It will most assuredly not be the end of this war. But no one should be under any illusion that what the U.S. and the West does short of surrender will affect the stated goals of the fanatics, who are in it to win it.
The ultimate question is, are we?
I get a kick out of the Dem’s and MSM storyline that Trump was wagging the dog when he pummeled Soliemeni with a hellfire.The difference between the wag the dog missiles Clinton fired off in the Middle East to redistribute some sand to distract from his impeachment and Trump’s hellfires which had a real impact on an enemy is Trump considered his missile attack a mere distraction from his enjoyable view of watching the Dems choke on the partisan impeachment albatross they decided to hang around their neck while they flagellated themselves in the halls of Congress like a pack of fanatical shia as they stumbled around trying to figure a way of getting it off of them.Methinks Trump should have instead directed Soleimani’s hellfire at Soleiman’s Democrat mourners in Congress.
Iran has a million proxies going on.
It’s naive to think none affect us or could get one or more of our men killed.
We’re NEVER gonna have NO military folks in all of the mid east.
But I want to win next year more than anything and Trump can take care of business after that if he wants.
I could be wrong in my opinion. It happens often :)
A drawdown in the middle east would only amount to enough ground troops to protect our bases. The ability to strike fast would require a presence away from all locals who could turn on their ‘protectors’. A complete withdrawl is not in the cards so as long as we’re there getup advocates will have their talking points.
It never looks good to do nothing after Iran shoots missiles at our troops, election year or not.
Agreed.
And I HATE to play politics with our troops.
But the msm will do a close up of EVERY SINGLE GI that dies in a war with Iran.
Every day until the election.
And they might finally have something that can hurt Trump’s support enough for him to lose.
After 40 years of not doing much, acting now and losing the Presidency would be catastrophic.
If they do something blatant again, then it will be time to dance I guess.
We need to make Iran and their proxies’ bases rocket free zones.
May not be now, next week, next month, but they will attempt something really stupid just like Saddam Hussein attempting to assassinate Bush sr. which in my opinion launched the next Iraqi invasion.
Will see.
Listen please, the USA can sink the Iranian Navy, destroy their AF on the ground and bunker bust every nuclear production facility without one Marine or Soldier getting close to the action. Stop listening to Fox News because they offer a false dichotomy between passivity and an all out land invasion of Iran.
There won’t be an invasion. We will not have to invade Iraq to pull out their military and nuclear fangs and leave them helpless as a “heel hound”.
May not be now, next week, next month, but they will attempt something really stupid just like Saddam Hussein attempting to assassinate Bush sr. which in my opinion launched the next Iraqi invasion.
Will see.
No invasion. The Marines and the Army can sit this out and let the AF and the Navy pick Iran clean of targets.
I agree with you, we have the power to cripple Iran w/o boots on the ground, but we'd better prepare ourselves for a state sponsored covert action on our own soil.
War...is war. It's just too bad the muzzies believe in killing innocent civilians.
I couldn’t help but belly laugh when Trump warned Iran that he has 52 targets to represent each American hostage they took during the Islamic Revolution in Iran then pictures of 52 stealth fighter jets sitting on a runway.
HILARIOUS!
Guys like Thomas literally beg for war so they can turn around and rail against “endless war”.
War is good for the punditry business.
Totalitarian v totalitarian
CRIMINAL STATE puppets in DC Divide and Contro POWER CENTERl and Islamist puppets controlled by their CRIMINAL STATE POWER CENTERS collectivists/mosques/pentagon (kaaba) don’t get it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWghTVdDGDM
HOORAY Chief and armed forces.
Cut your strings, puppets. Wake up.
2020
Otherwise, down the stretch it will be Marx vs. Mohammed. At the wire it will be Mohammed by a head. (weak mare vs strong horse) The also ran long shots, collateral damage NPCers never had a chance in the Collectivist’s Cup.
The world has been a slaughterhouse throughout history. The FF took individual liberty as far as anyone ever has. Thanks FF.
I go along with most of what Cal says in this article. BUT, I don’t believe the Iranian “people” could replace the Ayatollah’s with democratically elected men who would cease the terrorism and play nice with the West.
Most likely it will be “same song different verse”.
I’ve not watched Fox news in 6 years. Or any TV news for that matter.
Not quite sure how you can tell what someone watches but if you’re usually right you can make a fortune!! :)
And yeah, since WWII our wars have gone smooth as heck.
The Gulf war was the exception.
also, they’re not just in Iran. We’d have to go after proxies or what’s the point?
An the resulting civil war in Iran would be fodder for the front page too.
“Trump caused all this carnage!”
You make it sound much more antiseptic than it would be FRriend.
I thought Cal Thomas was ill and had to retire.
I think the answer to the question is obvious: The US forgot how to fight wars after WWII. We are so interested in “making everyone America”, we screw it up.
IF we are at war, fight and finish it. Do as little civilian damage as possible. Limit occupation—but make it a real occupation. Get out as quickly as possible.
Bring home the troops and try to make friends with the people.
That is the best we can do.
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