Vegas321
Live free and survive
Once this pops off, there is nothing they can do. Won't be surprised to see another CVN task force departing soon too the region.
BRKG ***CONFIRMED... Iran's Qassem Soleimani killed in US airstrike*** (i.e. BUCKLE UP!) - Iran counterattacks
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
SO!
The 173rd Sky Soldiers Brigade has been kicked out of their bunks and are moving (Nad I SUSPECT quickly enough that some of the guys may have misplaced their second line deployment jocks and 3rd line knives as fast as they are likely making the trip to Aviano).
Diego Garia is looking like an upturned fire ant pile, The Bataan Amphib Strike Group is making enough steam to warm half the Mediterranean (and hauling a full MEU-SOC ( believe they're a SOC-capable MEU, that is).
It's beginning to look like POTUS trolled a couple Stars through the Halls of the Pentagon, and found a couple folks who know what they are SUPPOSED TO DO when the C in C whispers a thought (I wonder how fast these guys n gals WILL respond) and said Star Candidates turned to the relevant folks and said, NOT TOO QUIETLY "HOP TO!!!!!"
And every butt or shoulder they touched responded with the Sect appropriate "OOO RAH" "Hu RAH" or "ALL THE WAY" AIRBORNE"
PRAYERS for ALL INVOLVED,,, with DOUBLE MEASURE for families and dependas (Yes I have friends who proudly refer to themselves as 'Dependapotomi' She is a retired 0-4 and he is an active 0-6...but we digress. (Though I use the term without the usual rancor).
The 173rd Sky Soldiers Brigade has been kicked out of their bunks and are moving (Nad I SUSPECT quickly enough that some of the guys may have misplaced their second line deployment jocks and 3rd line knives as fast as they are likely making the trip to Aviano).
Diego Garia is looking like an upturned fire ant pile, The Bataan Amphib Strike Group is making enough steam to warm half the Mediterranean (and hauling a full MEU-SOC ( believe they're a SOC-capable MEU, that is).
It's beginning to look like POTUS trolled a couple Stars through the Halls of the Pentagon, and found a couple folks who know what they are SUPPOSED TO DO when the C in C whispers a thought (I wonder how fast these guys n gals WILL respond) and said Star Candidates turned to the relevant folks and said, NOT TOO QUIETLY "HOP TO!!!!!"
And every butt or shoulder they touched responded with the Sect appropriate "OOO RAH" "Hu RAH" or "ALL THE WAY" AIRBORNE"
PRAYERS for ALL INVOLVED,,, with DOUBLE MEASURE for families and dependas (Yes I have friends who proudly refer to themselves as 'Dependapotomi' She is a retired 0-4 and he is an active 0-6...but we digress. (Though I use the term without the usual rancor).
Maryh
Veteran Member
Daughter thinks there will be multiple rocket attacks and said she hopes the 82nd is all on the ground for protection. This was around noon when I talked to her. She's been in the embassy for dinner when she was over there and said the place that was bombed out was outside the wall where visitors have to be vetted. She seemed pretty concerned and that is a lot for her.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Maryh, prayers for you AND daughter.
She still at Hickam? Or has she been moved?
(as always, "NUNYAF'n B" is a fair answer to that.
She still at Hickam? Or has she been moved?
(as always, "NUNYAF'n B" is a fair answer to that.
Last edited:
I mentioned the 173d upstream a bit - seems they are now on alert. Can't get the text to copy ….
abcnews.go.com
Pentagon to deploy roughly 3,500 more troops to Middle East with others placed on alert status, amid tensions with Iran
The Pentagon is deploying roughly 3,500 more troops to the Middle East in response to rising tensions in the region with Iran.
abcnews.go.com
jward
passin' thru
Global: MilitaryInfo
@Global_Mil_Info
#BREAKING: There were planned attacks against American military, diplomatic and financial targets in Lebanon and Syria - Soleimani was allegedly planning the attacks - MSNBC
@Global_Mil_Info
#BREAKING: There were planned attacks against American military, diplomatic and financial targets in Lebanon and Syria - Soleimani was allegedly planning the attacks - MSNBC
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Doz, those logo's are each bigger than a screen, OK??
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My gut feel is that the deployment PUBLIC math isn't gonna add up for about 2 weeks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My gut feel is that the deployment PUBLIC math isn't gonna add up for about 2 weeks.
jward
passin' thru
ItaMilRadar (@ItaMilRadar) Tweeted:
#USAF traffic from/to Middle East this evening: 5x C-17A, 2x MC-130J.
#Iraq ItaMilRadar on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/ItaMilRadar/status/1213223064562995201?s=20
#USAF traffic from/to Middle East this evening: 5x C-17A, 2x MC-130J.
#Iraq ItaMilRadar on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/ItaMilRadar/status/1213223064562995201?s=20
Ragnarok
On and On, South of Heaven
So all the people killed or wounded in the last four years from anything Soleimani did can thank Obama and Biden.
Report: Obama Administration Stopped Israel From Assassinating Soleimani in 2015
When President Donald Trump gave the order to kill Iran's Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, he not only made an arguably proportionate response to the invasion of the U.S. Embassy this week but he also reversed a policy of the Obama administration. According to a report from 2018, Israel was "on the verge" of assassinating Soleimani in 2015, but Obama's officials foiled the plan. In fact, they reached out to Iran with news of Israel's plans.
The Trump administration, on the other hand, gave Israel a green light to assassinate Soleimani, according to a January 1, 2018 report from the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida. The paper quoted a source in Jerusalem as saying that "there is an American-Israeli agreement" that Soleimani is a "threat to the two countries' interests in the region." According to Haaretz, Al-Jarida is generally assumed to be a platform for the Israeli government to disseminate its message to other Middle Eastern governments.
According to the report, the agreement between Israel and the U.S. came three years after Washington thwarted an Israeli attempt to kill the Iranian general.
"The report says Israel was 'on the verge' of assassinating Soleimani three years ago, near Damascus, but the United States warned the Iranian leadership of the plan, revealing that Israel was closely tracking the Iranian general," Haaretz reported.
The incident "sparked a sharp disagreement between the Israeli and American security and intelligence apparatuses regarding the issue." That sounds like an understatement.
President Barack Obama frequently snubbed Israel, considered by many to be America's best ally in the Middle East. Yet the news that the Obama's administration prevented Israel from assassinating the Quds Force leader seems particularly significant, since the Obama administration also kept a list of approximately 500 American soldiers who were murdered by Iranian IEDs. Since the Quds Force spearheads Iran's operations outside the Islamic Republic, Soleimani would arguably be responsible for all of those deaths.
When Trump finally gave the order to kill the Quds Force leader, it came after multiple attacks against Americans and American facilities in Iraq — attacks that arguably traced back to Soleimani himself.
The Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah began the escalating tensions with a rocket attack on a U.S.-led coalition base on December 27. That attack killed a U.S. contractor and left many American and Iraqi personnel wounded. According to the Pentagon, Soleimani ordered that attack.
In response, America launched airstrikes against the militia, killing 25 militiamen. In retaliation, the militiamen stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, invading American soil. The Pentagon claimed that Soleimani "approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week."
Killing Soleimani is a powerful response to the embassy attack, an attack that arguably constituted an act of war.
According to the Pentagon, "General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more."
Even the Democrats who faulted Trump for ordering the airstrikes still admitted that Soleimani was a horrible foe of the U.S.
While former Vice President Joe Biden attacked Trump for tossing "a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox," he admitted that "no American will mourn Qassem Soleimani's passing. He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region. He supported terror and sowed chaos." Yet the former vice president still faulted Trump for "a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region."
"Soleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans. But this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted Thursday. "Our priority must be to avoid another costly war."
If the Pentagon is correct and Soleimani orchestrated the invasion of the U.S. Embassy, the airstrike against him is proportionate. If war comes, it will be the fault of Iran, not Trump.
It will also be the fault of the Obama administration, which thwarted Israel's attempt to stop Soleimani five years ago. How many Americans have died because the Obama administration prevented Israel from carrying out this hit?
Report: Obama Administration Stopped Israel From Assassinating Soleimani in 2015
When President Donald Trump gave the order to kill Iran's Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, he not only made an arguably proportionate response to the invasion of the U.S. Embassy this week but he also reversed a policy of the Obama administration. According to a report from 2018, Israel was "on the verge" of assassinating Soleimani in 2015, but Obama's officials foiled the plan. In fact, they reached out to Iran with news of Israel's plans.
The Trump administration, on the other hand, gave Israel a green light to assassinate Soleimani, according to a January 1, 2018 report from the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida. The paper quoted a source in Jerusalem as saying that "there is an American-Israeli agreement" that Soleimani is a "threat to the two countries' interests in the region." According to Haaretz, Al-Jarida is generally assumed to be a platform for the Israeli government to disseminate its message to other Middle Eastern governments.
According to the report, the agreement between Israel and the U.S. came three years after Washington thwarted an Israeli attempt to kill the Iranian general.
"The report says Israel was 'on the verge' of assassinating Soleimani three years ago, near Damascus, but the United States warned the Iranian leadership of the plan, revealing that Israel was closely tracking the Iranian general," Haaretz reported.
The incident "sparked a sharp disagreement between the Israeli and American security and intelligence apparatuses regarding the issue." That sounds like an understatement.
President Barack Obama frequently snubbed Israel, considered by many to be America's best ally in the Middle East. Yet the news that the Obama's administration prevented Israel from assassinating the Quds Force leader seems particularly significant, since the Obama administration also kept a list of approximately 500 American soldiers who were murdered by Iranian IEDs. Since the Quds Force spearheads Iran's operations outside the Islamic Republic, Soleimani would arguably be responsible for all of those deaths.
When Trump finally gave the order to kill the Quds Force leader, it came after multiple attacks against Americans and American facilities in Iraq — attacks that arguably traced back to Soleimani himself.
The Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah began the escalating tensions with a rocket attack on a U.S.-led coalition base on December 27. That attack killed a U.S. contractor and left many American and Iraqi personnel wounded. According to the Pentagon, Soleimani ordered that attack.
In response, America launched airstrikes against the militia, killing 25 militiamen. In retaliation, the militiamen stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, invading American soil. The Pentagon claimed that Soleimani "approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week."
Killing Soleimani is a powerful response to the embassy attack, an attack that arguably constituted an act of war.
According to the Pentagon, "General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more."
Even the Democrats who faulted Trump for ordering the airstrikes still admitted that Soleimani was a horrible foe of the U.S.
While former Vice President Joe Biden attacked Trump for tossing "a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox," he admitted that "no American will mourn Qassem Soleimani's passing. He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region. He supported terror and sowed chaos." Yet the former vice president still faulted Trump for "a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region."
"Soleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans. But this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted Thursday. "Our priority must be to avoid another costly war."
If the Pentagon is correct and Soleimani orchestrated the invasion of the U.S. Embassy, the airstrike against him is proportionate. If war comes, it will be the fault of Iran, not Trump.
It will also be the fault of the Obama administration, which thwarted Israel's attempt to stop Soleimani five years ago. How many Americans have died because the Obama administration prevented Israel from carrying out this hit?
bw
Fringe Ranger
Sort of a trophy thing for Zero, don't you know.
AnniePutin
Veteran Member
“We didn’t ship pallets of money to the Iranians. We didn’t pay for hostages. We didn’t create a deal which might have given them a transparent pathway to a nuclear weapon...” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Ragnarok
On and On, South of Heaven
Top U.S. Officials: ‘Game Has Changed,’ Future Iranian Attacks ‘Will Run Into A Buzzsaw’
Secretary Of Defense Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley told reporters on Thursday that “the game has changed” with how the United States will respond to Iranian aggression in the region, warning that further Iranian aggression against the U.S. “will run into a buzz saw.”
The remarks by Esper and Milley happened during a press gaggle before an American MQ-9 Reaper drone fired missiles at a convoy of terrorists that was leaving Baghdad International Airport.
The strike incurred the deaths of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force leader Qassim Suleimani and top Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, who headed the Iranian-linked Popular Mobilization Forces. The IRGC and Quds Force are both designated terrorist organizations.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/link
Esper and Milley made the remarks while fielding questions about the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad by Iranian-backed terrorists earlier this week.
“Their provocative behavior’s been out there for months, right? They’ve been – they’ve been shooting rockets, indirect fire, any type of things, attacking our bases for months now. In the last two alone, we’ve nearly a dozen attacks against U.S. forces, against our coalition partners,” Epser said. “So do I think they may do something? Yes. And they will likely regret it. And we are prepared to exercise self-defense, and we are prepared to deter further bad behavior from these groups, all of which are sponsored and directed and resourced by Iran.”
Milley weighed in by noting that Iran’s campaign of aggression against U.S. forces in the area has been steadily increasing in recent months.
“We know that there’s been a sustained campaign at least since October. We know that for certain. We know that the campaign has increased in tempo and intensity. So, in October, there were four attacks. In November, there were four to five. In December, today, up until the 27th, there were six attacks,” Milley said. “We know that the number of rounds have been increasing, from ‘x’ all the way up to 31. We know that the intent of this last attack was in fact to kill American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, whoever was there. It was about a hundred soldiers at that particular compound.”
“Thirty-one rockets aren’t designed as a warning shot. That’s designed to inflict damage and kill. So this has been a sustained campaign by K.H., which is under the influence, command, control, support, training, advice, et cetera, of Iranian special operations forces. So there’s no doubt in our mind as to what happened here.”
Esper noted that the plan now is to take “preemptive action” in countering Iran before they can launch attacks against U.S. forces.
“So the – the game has changed and we’re prepared to do what is necessary to defend our personnel, and our interests and our partners in the region,” Esper said.
Milley added that if Iranian-backed forces again try to attack U.S. interests in the area, in particular the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, that “there is sufficient combat power there, air and ground, that anyone who attempts to overrun that will run into a buzz saw.”
Secretary Of Defense Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley told reporters on Thursday that “the game has changed” with how the United States will respond to Iranian aggression in the region, warning that further Iranian aggression against the U.S. “will run into a buzz saw.”
The remarks by Esper and Milley happened during a press gaggle before an American MQ-9 Reaper drone fired missiles at a convoy of terrorists that was leaving Baghdad International Airport.
The strike incurred the deaths of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force leader Qassim Suleimani and top Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, who headed the Iranian-linked Popular Mobilization Forces. The IRGC and Quds Force are both designated terrorist organizations.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/link
Esper and Milley made the remarks while fielding questions about the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad by Iranian-backed terrorists earlier this week.
“Their provocative behavior’s been out there for months, right? They’ve been – they’ve been shooting rockets, indirect fire, any type of things, attacking our bases for months now. In the last two alone, we’ve nearly a dozen attacks against U.S. forces, against our coalition partners,” Epser said. “So do I think they may do something? Yes. And they will likely regret it. And we are prepared to exercise self-defense, and we are prepared to deter further bad behavior from these groups, all of which are sponsored and directed and resourced by Iran.”
Milley weighed in by noting that Iran’s campaign of aggression against U.S. forces in the area has been steadily increasing in recent months.
“We know that there’s been a sustained campaign at least since October. We know that for certain. We know that the campaign has increased in tempo and intensity. So, in October, there were four attacks. In November, there were four to five. In December, today, up until the 27th, there were six attacks,” Milley said. “We know that the number of rounds have been increasing, from ‘x’ all the way up to 31. We know that the intent of this last attack was in fact to kill American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, whoever was there. It was about a hundred soldiers at that particular compound.”
“Thirty-one rockets aren’t designed as a warning shot. That’s designed to inflict damage and kill. So this has been a sustained campaign by K.H., which is under the influence, command, control, support, training, advice, et cetera, of Iranian special operations forces. So there’s no doubt in our mind as to what happened here.”
Esper noted that the plan now is to take “preemptive action” in countering Iran before they can launch attacks against U.S. forces.
“So the – the game has changed and we’re prepared to do what is necessary to defend our personnel, and our interests and our partners in the region,” Esper said.
Milley added that if Iranian-backed forces again try to attack U.S. interests in the area, in particular the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, that “there is sufficient combat power there, air and ground, that anyone who attempts to overrun that will run into a buzz saw.”
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
GOOD catch Libitsana
Consider this a chick dragging mission. By the way, Aviano 16's have the NATO nuclear delivery mission in southern Europe/ME. B-61's are the liquid sunshine containers there......
Those 135's are getting ready to support real deal strike packages. The movement in itself is an "interesting" preparatory action. Four 135's will tank up 4 F-16s with full armament load outs. Someone is prepping for a very interesting "what if?"
Consider this a chick dragging mission. By the way, Aviano 16's have the NATO nuclear delivery mission in southern Europe/ME. B-61's are the liquid sunshine containers there......
Those 135's are getting ready to support real deal strike packages. The movement in itself is an "interesting" preparatory action. Four 135's will tank up 4 F-16s with full armament load outs. Someone is prepping for a very interesting "what if?"
blueinterceptor
Veteran Member
Wonder if some of them might have worked for the fbi. Others in the whitehouse?
But but but - Orange Man Bad
jward
passin' thru
| Johnny Deplorable® @RedWingGrips · 1h - Iran shoots down U.S drones Trump waits. - Iran attacks six oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz Trump waits. - Iran attacks Saudi oil fields Trump waits. - Iran chants "Death to America" Trump waits. - Iran attacks U.S Embassy The Left: Donald Trump is starting a war! |
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
The CAPs flying over most major cities on the US today aren't squawking transponder codes......
jward
passin' thru
Global: MilitaryInfo
@Global_Mil_Info
·
4m
#FLASH: USS Bataan (LHD-5) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit has been redirected to the Middle East. Morocco joint exercise was scrapped - USNI
@Global_Mil_Info
·
4m
#FLASH: USS Bataan (LHD-5) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit has been redirected to the Middle East. Morocco joint exercise was scrapped - USNI
jward
passin' thru
Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) Tweeted:
It is now known that the #USAF's C-17As which transported the rangers of #USArmy's 82nd Airborne Division to #Kuwait yesterday also transported M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles from #FortBragg. Video recorded today & provided by @Imamofpeace shows M2A2s on their ways to #Iraq. Babak Taghvaee on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1213227040893214720?s=20
It is now known that the #USAF's C-17As which transported the rangers of #USArmy's 82nd Airborne Division to #Kuwait yesterday also transported M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles from #FortBragg. Video recorded today & provided by @Imamofpeace shows M2A2s on their ways to #Iraq. Babak Taghvaee on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1213227040893214720?s=20
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
ANd those are just the INITIAL strike packages.
Remmeber that we're pretty damn soon going to have the First of the Second 82nd BCT in full battle rattle (soon like HOURS) with the 173rd rolling along pretty much right along behind, with the Bataan and HER Strike Group churning their way up the sea lanes, pretty damn ready to make SURE the Gulf is NOT closed.
And we aren't REALLY talking BONEs, Spirits, BUFFs. F22s and SOMEONE really wants some 35s in the mix...
Which ever Birds or weak 1-Stars Donnie found to bite in the Pantagon, they're doing a LOT of VERY FAST modifications to a NUMBER of TIPFDLEs to answer POTUS request...More of that Commander's Intent stuff.
jward
passin' thru
Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) Tweeted:
#BREAKING: #USAF's MQ-9 Reaper drone targeted a convoy carrying several high ranking officials of #PMU (Hashd al-Shaabi) in #Taji, North of #Baghdad. Casualties are mostly among members of #IRGC backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq. It is not known whether Qais al-Khazali is dead or alive! Babak Taghvaee on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1213230731280945152?s=20
#BREAKING: #USAF's MQ-9 Reaper drone targeted a convoy carrying several high ranking officials of #PMU (Hashd al-Shaabi) in #Taji, North of #Baghdad. Casualties are mostly among members of #IRGC backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq. It is not known whether Qais al-Khazali is dead or alive! Babak Taghvaee on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1213230731280945152?s=20
If Trump decides to "go there" the fact is there's no upside to do anything in half measure when you kick such a bee hive. Besides the IADS, the top of the strike list is likely to be both anyone else in the Iranian regime command chain involved with Soleimani's activities and the IRGC Strategic Forces followed close behind by their WMD infrastructure. The trick to doing it correctly is doing it in such a way to encourage the Iranian population to finish the job so the dangerous stuff doesn't end up as fallout.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
YES!!!!
I expected it to be but wasn't sure.
The26th MEU * *IS* * a SOC capable MEU!!
Bug, note the approach of a BIG windshield inbound at ----- perhaps---Mach 2.
I expected it to be but wasn't sure.
The26th MEU * *IS* * a SOC capable MEU!!
Bug, note the approach of a BIG windshield inbound at ----- perhaps---Mach 2.
jward
passin' thru
Aleph
א
@no_itsmyturn
·
1m
#BREAKING Either Aboalaa Alwalae [Kata'ib Sayyed Shuhada] or Qeis Al-Khaz'ali were killed due to the strike on the PMU convoy, near Camp Taji #Iraq
Quote Tweet
--------------------------------
Baxtiyar Goran (@BaxtiyarGoran) Tweeted:
#BREAKING: Reports indicate that Shbl al-Zaidi, commander of Kataib Imam Ali militia, was targeted by a US airstrike near Taji, northern Baghdad.
#Iraq Baxtiyar Goran on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/BaxtiyarGoran/status/1213232510253125641?s=20
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
·
2m
Syrian TV: The Secretary General of the Islamic Iraq Movement, Shibel Al-Zaidi, was martyred in the American aggression
א
@no_itsmyturn
·
1m
#BREAKING Either Aboalaa Alwalae [Kata'ib Sayyed Shuhada] or Qeis Al-Khaz'ali were killed due to the strike on the PMU convoy, near Camp Taji #Iraq
Quote Tweet
--------------------------------
Baxtiyar Goran (@BaxtiyarGoran) Tweeted:
#BREAKING: Reports indicate that Shbl al-Zaidi, commander of Kataib Imam Ali militia, was targeted by a US airstrike near Taji, northern Baghdad.
#Iraq Baxtiyar Goran on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/BaxtiyarGoran/status/1213232510253125641?s=20
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
·
2m
Syrian TV: The Secretary General of the Islamic Iraq Movement, Shibel Al-Zaidi, was martyred in the American aggression
Last edited:
jward
passin' thru
Mil Radar (@MIL_Radar) Tweeted:
3 JAN: US Navy P-8A tactical HEX AE6799 departed Keflavik at approx 1600z - Alboran Sea/USS Bataan support mission Mil Radar on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/MIL_Radar/status/1213232776713003009?s=20
3 JAN: US Navy P-8A tactical HEX AE6799 departed Keflavik at approx 1600z - Alboran Sea/USS Bataan support mission Mil Radar on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/MIL_Radar/status/1213232776713003009?s=20
Mr. Mayor
Formerly the Mayor
Right on cue:
www.tonemadison.com
Madisonians to rally against war with Iran this Saturday – Tone Madison
The protest is scheduled to begin at the State Capitol at noon.
www.tonemadison.com
mzkitty
I give up.
Eva J. Koulouriotis - إيفا كولوريوتي (@evacool_) | Twitter
The latest Tweets from Eva J. Koulouriotis - إيفا كولوريوتي (@evacool_). Political analyst specialized in Middle East. Opinion writer in @AlQudsAlarabi, @alsharq_portal, @HuffPostGreece, @ArmyvoiceGR. Commentator in @Annahar. Greece
twitter.com
jward
passin' thru
LIVE Breaking News
@NewsBreaking
BREAKING: U.S. National Security Advisor says Iran has two options... either escalate or stop its proxy wars - Al Jazeera
5:06 PM · Jan 3, 2020·TweetDeck
@NewsBreaking
BREAKING: U.S. National Security Advisor says Iran has two options... either escalate or stop its proxy wars - Al Jazeera
5:06 PM · Jan 3, 2020·TweetDeck
mzkitty
I give up.
[B]Eva J. Koulouriotis - إيفا كولوريوتي[/B] @[B]evacool_[/B] 56s57 seconds ago
#BREAKING #NOW Some Iraqi media report that the leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia, Qais al-Khazali, and his brother, Laith al-Khazali, were killed in the burning convoy. #Iraq #Iran #IRGC #PMU #USA
celtic-cat
Senior Member
Please keep us updated on the doings in your area over the next few days. I have a good friend who is travelling via Amtrak on Monday from DC to upstate NY with a change in NYC Penn Sta. I am not happy about it, but there is nothing we can do about it at this point.
Hummm....Looks like there is some real culling of the OPFOR command and control going on and Soliemani wasn't a "one off".....
Old Greek
Veteran Member
Good - way to go Trump!!
intothatgoodnight
. . .
Posted for fair use.....
breakingdefense.com
Israelis: Soleimani Intercept Sparked Drone Strike; US Reinforces Region
By Arie Egozi and Colin Clark on January 03, 2020 at 2:29 PM
TEL AVIV: Five days ago, an undisclosed intelligence agency intercepted a telephone call made by the head of Iran’s Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in which he was heard ordering his proxies in Iraq to attack the U.S embassy in Baghdad, as well as other Israeli and American targets, with the aim of taking hostages, Israeli sources say.
It’s unclear whether this was a lapse in tradecraft on the part of the usually savvy Soleimani or whether the notorious Iranian military leader’s phone calls were being routinely intercepted. Nor is it clear whether it was the US or another foe of Iran that made the intercept. Regardless, the intelligence seems to have led directly to Soleimani’s killing yesterday, which has thrown the Mideast into uproar.
Sources here say that Soleimi flew in the Airbus A-320 plane operated by Cham Wing, Flight 6Q501, which took off from Damascus at 10:30 pm and landed in Baghdad minutes before midnight. Minutes later, what are presumed to have been Hellfire missiles fired from a Predator struck and killed everyone in two cars that had picked up Suleimani and other passengers from the flight.
A large ring the Iranian military leader wore helped “forces on the ground” to immediately and positively identify Suleimani’s body. The strike also killed Abu Mahdi Muhandis, deputy commander of the Iranian-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF. Iran has confirmed both men were killed. During the US attack, sources here say US fighter aircraft were airborne to handle any immediate Iranian reaction.
The US announced this morning it was deploying 3,500 additional troops of the 82nd Airborne to the Mideast, joining 750 Airborne soldiers flown earlier this week to Kuwait. That brings the 82nd’s presence in the region to a full infantry brigade. The rapidly deployable paratroop unit keeps a “ready brigade” on alert at all times for just such crises.
Meanwhile, undisclosed numbers of US Special Operations Forces arrived in Jordan. The first elements arrived in Jordan aboard CV-22 tilt rotor aircraft that had been refueled by C-130J. They landed before the strike in the Baghdad airport. The first explanation was that the Americans want to be ready for a hostage situation following the attack by pro-Iranian militias on their embassy in Baghdad.
All this is in addition to 100 heavily armed and specially trained Marines airlifted to the US Embassy in Baghdad. The Marines traditionally provide security for US embassies.
Israel also reacted promptly to the news. Its military is on high alert. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a visit to Greece after receiving online briefings while in Athens. The Mount Hermon ski resort near the Syrian border was closed on Jan 3.
The assessments in Israel are that Iran will not retaliate immediately, but will weigh its course, and may well continue the current strategy, awaiting the results of the US election in November and, in the meantime, try to minimize the economic damage and threat to the regime’s survival. If Donald Trump remains In the White House, Iran is believed likely to negotiate changes in its nuclear agreement with the powers.
An analysis by Roman Schweizer of the Cowen Washington Research Group, who follows defense stocks, offers a grim prognosis of the successful strike: “President Trump’s decision to kill a key Iranian military official could set off a chain of retaliatory strikes on U.S. personnel and assets across the Middle East and globally. To be clear, this is the equivalent of Iran killing the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and then taking credit for it.”
The first glimmers of an active response to the strike ordered by President Trump has come from the Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels, who threatened to respond “promptly and swiftly.” A strike from such a quarter would be a classic Iranian move, using proxy forces to deflect blame and ensure its efforts to drive change in the region remain paramount.
A response is also likely from Iranian-backed Shia militias in Iraq, which have in the past fought both against the US and the Iraqi government and alongside them against the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State. Many Iraqis are deeply conflicted about Iran’s outsized influence in their country, even among the Shia majority. But most factions are even more sensitive to US intrusions on Iraqi sovereignty and united to condemn the unilateral US strike just outside of Baghdad International Airport , which also killed a prominent Iraqi Shia militia leader. In addition to the expected outcry from Iranian proxies, the attack was denounced by Shia leaders who’ve sought some degree of independence from Tehran, including Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the country’s moderate Grand Ayatollah, Ali al-Sistani, who called for restraint on all sides.
The airline carrying the Iranians, Cham Wings, is a private Syrian company with its head office in Damascus. It was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department three years ago because “Cham Wings has cooperated with Government of Syria officials to transport militants to Syria to fight on behalf of the Syrian regime and assisted the previously-designated Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI) in moving weapons and equipment for the Syrian regime, including by utilizing a relationship with another Syria-based airline, FlyDamas (FDK, Damascus).” On top of that, Treasury said, “Cham Wings’s Damascus-Dubai Int’l flight was one of the main routes SMI used to launder money throughout the region, with SMI paying all parties involved to ensure they would continue to do business with the Assad regime.”
Meanwhile, Washington political leaders reactions were muted and mixed, with most Democrats expressing varying forms of worry and concern about Iran’s reaction and most Republicans expressing resolve and support for President Trump’s action. One strain was persistent and worth noting — both parties said clearly and repeatedly the US does not seek war with Iran.
The chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, did not condemn the killing but said he remains “troubled about the impact this action will have on the safety and security of United States’ personnel and assets in the region. Rather than calming the strained tensions in the region, this action will only accelerate the cycle of violent escalation.”
He called on the Trump administration to “clearly articulate how this action, and potential future actions, will protect U.S. global interests while ensuring the safety and security of our personnel in the region and worldwide. The American people deserve to know why President Trump has brought us to the brink of another war and under what authorization.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking soon after the strike was announced, made clear congressional leaders had not been briefed on the strike beforehand — not even the so-called Gang of 8– and called for an immediate briefing for “the full Congress.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tim Kaine introduced a war powers resolution to force a debate and vote in Congress to prevent further escalation into full-blown conflict with Iran. The resolution requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force, but does not prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.
“The Senate must not let this President march into another war in the Middle East without authorization from Congress,” Durbin said in a statement this evening.
War powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be forced to vote on the legislation.
Smith’s Senate counterpart, James Inhofe, said in a statement that “America does not and should not seek war, but it will respond in kind to those who threaten our citizens, soldiers and friends — as the President has long promised. De-escalation is preferable and possible — but only if our adversaries choose it.”
Colin Clark and Sydney Freedberg contributed from Washington.
Israelis: Soleimani Intercept Sparked Drone Strike; US Reinforces Region - Breaking Defense
TEL AVIV: Five days ago, an undisclosed intelligence agency intercepted a telephone call made by the head of Iran’s Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in which he was heard ordering his proxies in Iraq to attack the US embassy in Baghdad, as well as other Israeli and American targets, with...
breakingdefense.com
Israelis: Soleimani Intercept Sparked Drone Strike; US Reinforces Region
By Arie Egozi and Colin Clark on January 03, 2020 at 2:29 PM
TEL AVIV: Five days ago, an undisclosed intelligence agency intercepted a telephone call made by the head of Iran’s Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in which he was heard ordering his proxies in Iraq to attack the U.S embassy in Baghdad, as well as other Israeli and American targets, with the aim of taking hostages, Israeli sources say.
It’s unclear whether this was a lapse in tradecraft on the part of the usually savvy Soleimani or whether the notorious Iranian military leader’s phone calls were being routinely intercepted. Nor is it clear whether it was the US or another foe of Iran that made the intercept. Regardless, the intelligence seems to have led directly to Soleimani’s killing yesterday, which has thrown the Mideast into uproar.
Sources here say that Soleimi flew in the Airbus A-320 plane operated by Cham Wing, Flight 6Q501, which took off from Damascus at 10:30 pm and landed in Baghdad minutes before midnight. Minutes later, what are presumed to have been Hellfire missiles fired from a Predator struck and killed everyone in two cars that had picked up Suleimani and other passengers from the flight.
A large ring the Iranian military leader wore helped “forces on the ground” to immediately and positively identify Suleimani’s body. The strike also killed Abu Mahdi Muhandis, deputy commander of the Iranian-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF. Iran has confirmed both men were killed. During the US attack, sources here say US fighter aircraft were airborne to handle any immediate Iranian reaction.
The US announced this morning it was deploying 3,500 additional troops of the 82nd Airborne to the Mideast, joining 750 Airborne soldiers flown earlier this week to Kuwait. That brings the 82nd’s presence in the region to a full infantry brigade. The rapidly deployable paratroop unit keeps a “ready brigade” on alert at all times for just such crises.
Meanwhile, undisclosed numbers of US Special Operations Forces arrived in Jordan. The first elements arrived in Jordan aboard CV-22 tilt rotor aircraft that had been refueled by C-130J. They landed before the strike in the Baghdad airport. The first explanation was that the Americans want to be ready for a hostage situation following the attack by pro-Iranian militias on their embassy in Baghdad.
All this is in addition to 100 heavily armed and specially trained Marines airlifted to the US Embassy in Baghdad. The Marines traditionally provide security for US embassies.
Israel also reacted promptly to the news. Its military is on high alert. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a visit to Greece after receiving online briefings while in Athens. The Mount Hermon ski resort near the Syrian border was closed on Jan 3.
The assessments in Israel are that Iran will not retaliate immediately, but will weigh its course, and may well continue the current strategy, awaiting the results of the US election in November and, in the meantime, try to minimize the economic damage and threat to the regime’s survival. If Donald Trump remains In the White House, Iran is believed likely to negotiate changes in its nuclear agreement with the powers.
An analysis by Roman Schweizer of the Cowen Washington Research Group, who follows defense stocks, offers a grim prognosis of the successful strike: “President Trump’s decision to kill a key Iranian military official could set off a chain of retaliatory strikes on U.S. personnel and assets across the Middle East and globally. To be clear, this is the equivalent of Iran killing the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and then taking credit for it.”
The first glimmers of an active response to the strike ordered by President Trump has come from the Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels, who threatened to respond “promptly and swiftly.” A strike from such a quarter would be a classic Iranian move, using proxy forces to deflect blame and ensure its efforts to drive change in the region remain paramount.
A response is also likely from Iranian-backed Shia militias in Iraq, which have in the past fought both against the US and the Iraqi government and alongside them against the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State. Many Iraqis are deeply conflicted about Iran’s outsized influence in their country, even among the Shia majority. But most factions are even more sensitive to US intrusions on Iraqi sovereignty and united to condemn the unilateral US strike just outside of Baghdad International Airport , which also killed a prominent Iraqi Shia militia leader. In addition to the expected outcry from Iranian proxies, the attack was denounced by Shia leaders who’ve sought some degree of independence from Tehran, including Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the country’s moderate Grand Ayatollah, Ali al-Sistani, who called for restraint on all sides.
The airline carrying the Iranians, Cham Wings, is a private Syrian company with its head office in Damascus. It was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department three years ago because “Cham Wings has cooperated with Government of Syria officials to transport militants to Syria to fight on behalf of the Syrian regime and assisted the previously-designated Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI) in moving weapons and equipment for the Syrian regime, including by utilizing a relationship with another Syria-based airline, FlyDamas (FDK, Damascus).” On top of that, Treasury said, “Cham Wings’s Damascus-Dubai Int’l flight was one of the main routes SMI used to launder money throughout the region, with SMI paying all parties involved to ensure they would continue to do business with the Assad regime.”
Meanwhile, Washington political leaders reactions were muted and mixed, with most Democrats expressing varying forms of worry and concern about Iran’s reaction and most Republicans expressing resolve and support for President Trump’s action. One strain was persistent and worth noting — both parties said clearly and repeatedly the US does not seek war with Iran.
The chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, did not condemn the killing but said he remains “troubled about the impact this action will have on the safety and security of United States’ personnel and assets in the region. Rather than calming the strained tensions in the region, this action will only accelerate the cycle of violent escalation.”
He called on the Trump administration to “clearly articulate how this action, and potential future actions, will protect U.S. global interests while ensuring the safety and security of our personnel in the region and worldwide. The American people deserve to know why President Trump has brought us to the brink of another war and under what authorization.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking soon after the strike was announced, made clear congressional leaders had not been briefed on the strike beforehand — not even the so-called Gang of 8– and called for an immediate briefing for “the full Congress.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tim Kaine introduced a war powers resolution to force a debate and vote in Congress to prevent further escalation into full-blown conflict with Iran. The resolution requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force, but does not prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.
“The Senate must not let this President march into another war in the Middle East without authorization from Congress,” Durbin said in a statement this evening.
War powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be forced to vote on the legislation.
Smith’s Senate counterpart, James Inhofe, said in a statement that “America does not and should not seek war, but it will respond in kind to those who threaten our citizens, soldiers and friends — as the President has long promised. De-escalation is preferable and possible — but only if our adversaries choose it.”
Colin Clark and Sydney Freedberg contributed from Washington.