Posted on 09/15/2019 2:25:10 PM PDT by McGruff
A weekend drone attack on Saudi Arabia that cut into global energy supplies and halved the kingdom’s oil production threatened Sunday to fuel a regional crisis, as the U.S. released new evidence to back up its allegation that Iran was responsible for the assault amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s collapsing nuclear deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Iran for the attack Saturday on key Saudi oil infrastructure. On Sunday, senior U.S. officials again said the American government believes there is no doubt Iran was responsible, saying satellite imagery and other intelligence, show the strike was inconsistent with one launched from Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels had claimed responsibility.
Iran, meanwhile, called the U.S. claims “maximum lies,” while a commander in its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard reiterated its forces could strike U.S. military bases across the Mideast with their arsenal of ballistic missiles.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
The first clue is that these U.S. sources a can’t even get it straight about whether it was a “drone attack” or “cruise missiles.”
When do we start seeing reports of Iranian soldiers storming the Saudi refinery and removing newborn babies from their incubators? :-P
Don’t let AP (All Propaganda) scare you into submission to Islamic Jihad Terrorism. After all, I think AP and their Leftist buddies are on their side.
Thanks Jon without an “h” and Zeke for your contribution to society. /s
The Islamic Republic of Iran is literally begging the world to come and give them a kick in their collective butts.
This goes FAR beyond Saudi Arabia, this threatens the entire supply chain of petroleum commerce almost everywhere. It shall not directly affect the US, as we are energy-independent now, but it throws a LOT of weight on other supply chains around the world, particularly India and China, and may induce either or both of them of intervene in whatever way they can.
This is not socialist versus capitalist confrontation, or even infidel versus Muslim confrontation. This is Shiite on Sunni rivalry coming to a very ugly head, and in the end, there can be only one.
But until that is settled, horrendous collateral damage elsewhere. This is turf war between two rival gangs.
I’m hoping the Saudis etc will stand up for themselves rather than see tensions raised between the US and Iran. Let these bastards out Iran once and for all.
Only a fool could believe Iran is not responsible for this, and the tanker attacks.
They are saying to the world, and the US in particular, if we can’t sell our oil on the market, neither can the Gulf States.
US satellite info shows 16 distinct points of impact at this enormous facility with multiple redundant systems.
Only Iran, with NORK, China and/or Russia help, has the tech in the Persian Gulf to do this.
The Saudis, UAE, Iraq and Kuwait know that if they directly confront Iran, their lifeblood will also be immediately targeted. And likely effectively for a short while.
But it could take 1-2 years to repair all that stainless steel, pumps/motors and process control systems.
The only way to avoid that outcome is to either appease and look the other way...
Or, to launch a massive preemptive strike against all Iranian military capability/CCC worldwide. Massive enough to neutralize 95% of it overnight. And to claim it, proclaim it even.
And let them know their cities will be burned to the ground should any further action be necessary.
That’s a stark, difficult choice. And it’s one Iran is confident in.
Saudi forces are not geared for offense - witness Yemen. Iran would roll over them in a heartbeat without US support.
That would mean the U.S. does, too.
Of course, US, Russian and Israeli forces in the region have that capability as well.
Do you think it was one of them?
Unfortunately, there is no shortage of fools.
Iran didn't get the reaction they wanted out of the tanker attacks, so this one is a large escalation designed to force a reaction. Not sure if they achieved that, as it doesn't look like the strike was nearly as catastrophic as intended. Meanwhile, the sanctions are having a huge impact, and the mullahs need to turn their peoples anger against an outside enemy. This seems like desperation.
Iran's ground forces could only "roll over" the Saudi Army if they could actually get their forces to KSA. Lacking formidable airpower, they can't.
Saudi isn't going on any significant offensive with Iran, and neither is the USA. We may see some limited strikes to answer Iran's, but no one wants to launch a ground war.
Take away the sanctions, allow Iran a strong economy and hegemony from Persia to Syria, and KSA will fall along with the rest of the Arab states.
It appears there are a few posters around here who are more inclined to believe the Islamic Republic of Iran than the Trump admin.
1) I would not call this a staged event.
2) We certainly know if it was missiles or not. We, the US, can detect any rocket or missile launch pretty much any where in the world the instant it occurs and can track them as well. I suspect any inconsistency you see in reporting drone vs missile is a function of the media, not our national capability.
3) You might be surprised at my take, but as of the moment, I think it being an attack on the Saudis, it should be them to respond, not us. I think we have the role we have previously debated about keeping sea lanes open and that being in our interest, but without more info, I am inclined to say this is requires a Saudi response. They certainly have the capability, they should have skin in this game. So I am actually questioning why we would respond in this case. Not sure what obligations we are committed to if any.
Hmmm, not disputing you, but wondering why since they buy a lot of combat ships and aircraft from us, and other countries as well. Seems like they would have offensive capability. Just check out Janes.
[Iran’s ground forces could only “roll over” the Saudi Army if they could actually get their forces to KSA.]
They hit the low pressure vessels. More damage would have resulted if they had targeted the high pressure vessels just a few feet away.
I have no idea who did it. And I wouldn’t trust any statements about it from my government anyway.
Abqaiq is NOT a refinery — it is a glorified GOSP (gas/oil separation plant).
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