Us Embassy In Iraq Under Attack

[Nobu]

Facial recognition technology is going to have a field day with photos from the event.

 

America and Americans bought those uniforms I suspect.

[Murph]

I don't disagree, pull out, blow the buildings up, and let them speak with us via their embassies in New York at the U(seless) Nations. Also do not give them one red cent.

[RETAC21]

 

 

 

 

Gee a lot of males in paramilitary uniforms, looks very "spontaneous"

 

Reportedly Iraq regular army personel offduty.

 

 

 

Not exactly Army, but militias which the Iraqui government was "invited" to recognise as part of the military.

[rmgill]

So, my hot take is that there's a vast gulf between the sitting on hands response from the Embassy Side facility in Libya vs the response here in Iraq. What was the difference in main? Sand on the president's part?

[DKTanker]

So, my hot take is that there's a vast gulf between the sitting on hands response from the Embassy Side facility in Libya vs the response here in Iraq. What was the difference in main? Sand on the president's part?

Well, there's also the bit about the state department conducting a covert gun running operation in 2012. Contrast that with the quite public stance that the US has a presence in Iraq as a base of operations against terrorism. You can argue the merits about both operations, but the response to each attack has to be seen in their respective context.

I think the dearth of accountability, irrespective of the caterwauling by the GOP, speaks to the fact that GOP politicians knew about and condoned the gun running operation. Those years of investigations, pure political theater.

[Panzermann]

Facial recognition technology is going to have a field day with photos from the event.

 

America and Americans bought those uniforms I suspect.

Arab militaries have always been kind of fashion conscious. And militais buy whatever they like.

 

 

 

 

To the situation at hand I guess it goes back to the old assessment by Churchill that Iraq is divided in three parts: shia, sunni and kurdish.

[BansheeOne]

Date 01.01.2020

 

Pro-militia protesters withdraw from US Embassy in Iraq

 

Protesters loyal to Shiite militias have withdrawn from the perimeter of the US Embassy in Baghdad. US security staff fired tear gas at demonstrators, who had set fire to the roof of a reception area.

 

Paramilitary groups and their supporters protesting against US airstrikes in Iraq withdrew from Washington's embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday.

 

US security forces guarding the embassy in Baghdad had earlier fired tear gas at pro-Iranian protesters outside the building on Wednesday.

 

By early evening, most protesters appeared to have complied with a call by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) — an umbrella group of mainly Shiite militia — to withdraw. The group said the demonstrators' "message has been heard."

 

Tensions have escalated dramatically after thousands of supporters of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force attempted to storm the US Embassy in Iraq the previous day.

 

A large group camped outside the building overnight, angry at US airstrikes that killed 25 pro-Iran fighters over the weekend. They set up about 50 tents and even portable bathrooms after marching unimpeded into the high-security Green Zone.

 

Rising tensions

 

US Marines worked to disperse the crowd as more people turned up for the second day of action, some of whom lit a fire on the roof of the reception area.

In response to the tear gas, some members of the crowd hurled stones towards the embassy. Several protesters were reported injured.

 

Hashed al-Shaabi later released a statement calling on its supporters to withdraw from the embassy perimeter. Iraq's INA state news agency reported that protesters heeded the call and began to withdraw.

 

Marines deployed

 

US President Donald Trump has blamed Iran for the mobbing of the embassy. The US has announced it will deploy an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the region. Overnight, a rapid response team of Marines flew in to reinforce the embassy.

 

Trump threatened Iran — which it accuses of organizing the action — of retaliation if events escalated.

 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the attack was "orchestrated by terrorists."

 

'Warmongering'

 

Later on Wednesday, Tehran summoned a Swiss Embassy official which represents US interests to complain about American "warmongering," according to Iran's foreign ministry.

 

"The Swiss charge d'affaires was summoned," said the Iranian Foreign Ministry. "The Islamic Republic of Iran conveyed its strong protest … over warmongering remarks made by American officials which are in violation of the United Nations charter."

 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had earlier condemned US airstrikes on bases belonging to a Tehran-backed militia.

 

[...]

 

https://www.dw.com/en/pro-militia-protesters-withdraw-from-us-embassy-in-iraq/a-51850267

Edited January 2, 2020 by BansheeOne

[Jeff]

Is there any meaning to the words "rioters" and "attackers" anymore? Everyone is a "protester" now which grants a certain legitimacy to their cause and actions.

[Ssnake]

They are protesters if you sympathize with their goals, and a violent mob if you don't.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Or if you want to cover both positions, call them French....

[Jeff]

Looks like we took out the Quds force commander General Soleimani and a top militia commander. That ought to stir things up to start the new year.

 

Iran’s Gen. Soleimani killed in airstrike at Baghdad airport

[Jeff]

At least the WaPo didn't call him an austere religious leader.

"But the death of Iran’s most revered military leader..."

[Simon Tan]

US goes to war for MBS. Has the US learned nothing?

[DKTanker]

US goes to war for MBS. Has the US learned nothing?

Learned appeasement doesn't work.

[NickM]

US goes to war for MBS. Has the US learned nothing?

MBS? Whut dat?

[Der Zeitgeist]

Well, I guess now we'll find out who really has escalation dominance in the Middle East.

[Simon Tan]

Mohammed Bin Salman. The US has effectively ceased to have diplomatic influence with the caretaker government. The Ambassador has been evacuated and a skeleton staff remains in what was the biggest diplomatic station in the world. The PMU and Khataib Hezbollah are not universally popular but they are an effective vaccuum filler. They filled the security vaccuum of the Iraqi Army against DAESH and they fill an economic vaccuum created by the poor performing Iraqi government. This is what the Iranians have been very good at since the Revolution.

[Burncycle360]

Trump has had a track record over his administration of drawing down US troops... right up until rockets from Iranian backed Shia militia PMF started falling on US bases. Iran felt that further loss of American lives would be unpopular with the US public and would be the catalyst for a complete pullout by Trump who wants to avoid American deaths being used against him ahead of the 2020 election, leaving Suleimani's Shia militia representing Iranian interests as the predominant force left to fill the vacuum and influence the future of Iraq. It was a gamble, and didn't go exactly as they had planned, the US dug in their heels and responded with airstrikes.

Twitter and Facebook is naturally blowing up with Democrats lamenting at how Trump is a warmonger and simply looking for an excuse to incite a war, all the while refusing to acknowledge that the other side also has a say when it comes to escalating tensions or hold them at all accountable for their part in this.


Why, exactly, was a top Iranian General and a Paramilitary Leader sitting under the Iraqi Governments nose plotting, coordinating and facilitating civil unrest in the first place through the use of militias, and what was the Iraqi Government doing to secure the Green Zone as they ostensibly were supposed to? What did they do to prevent the kidnapping of two french reporters? Why was the French Government excusing it with a phone call saying we know you're trying your best? I don't think we should be there at all (including the embassy) but If the Iraqi Government is impotent (yes) or unwilling (also yes) then it shouldn't be a surprise when things are done for them. Suleimani was there for one reason -- secure Iranian interests in Iraq and expand their influence by training and arming Shia militia under the guise of combating Daesh and stability operations so that they have a foothold of power to influence the future of Iraq in the power vacuum. This was a pragmatic move by Iran of course, and I don't blame them, but they aren't there out of the goodness of their hearts, nobody is. Everyone involved has ulterior motives. But the US knew he was there this whole time and did nothing until they started using that influence they've gained against US interests.

This is equivalent to mom saying her baby didn't do nothing to nobody when he got shot in the face for robbing the gas station and murdering the clerk. When a minority kills a minority, the situation and guns are the problem, not the trigger puller. When a cop kills a minority, suddenly nobody blames the guns, it's the person using it. Despite his rhetoric, Trumps actions have shown that he's trying to avoid getting entangled in military operations overseas because he's not stupid and he knows that it will be used against him domestically, so it's no surprise that Iran is ratcheting up the pressure ahead of the elections. But even pulling out of Syria was looked at by the left as a Trump screwup, and when you realize you can't win for trying, life starts to get a whole lot simpler: do what you need to do, and stop worrying about trying to make people who have already decided that they hate you regardless of what you do simply for who you are happy.

___

Our population in the US is full of people who read the headlines but don't bother to click and read the article. From congress down. Keep it simple, short, and spoon fed. It's ironic because the layperson is offended if you don't understand that not all Americans are crazy republicans or crazy democrats, there's nuance... but then turn right around and treat other countries (ie, Iraq or Iran) as if it's population was a monolith, everyone on the same page and working in sync for a common goal. It's easier that way, simpler. They don't care to hear that the attacks on the Embassy were not protestors but Iranian backed militia operating while the Iraqi Government looking the other way intent on inciting a response for a larger strategic purpose.


Even Al Jazerra reporters on the ground mentioned on Twitter, but to deaf ears

 

Let's be careful when calling the crowd that marched on the US embassy "protesters." They have nothing to do with the people who've been protesting against the govt for three months. These were PMF units & supporters and they shouldn't be seen as speaking on behalf of all Iraqis

Hell, they were the same militia taking potshots at Iraqi citizens prior to this, but the left here in the US only sees it through the lens of how it can be used against Trump. "They're not militia, they're protestors fighting for a righteous cause and the mean Americans must have deserved whatever it was they get." There is no scenario in which they would agree that Trump has no choice but to respond. None. As bad as the left say they don't want war, they were sure foaming at the mouth on social media for another Benghazi like scenario so that they could throw it in Trumps face. Turns out it was a bit of premature ejaculation on their part and the militia was put on the leash again.


Also on twitter

 

A bit of anecdote: Suleimani has an indispensable aura to him. I don't mean this as a praise, but it was there. None of the bad guys did. The closest to him was perhaps Saddam, and what I'm feeling now is reminiscent of the day Saddam fell.

A multitude of mixed feelings, but "fear" is the dominant one. God-like figures aren't supposed to die. When they do, it gets very confusing.

Sounds to me like Trump nailed exactly the right person before it was too late. The left will give whatever Iran does next a pass because "Trump escalated it", nevermind that Suleimani would still be alive if he wasn't doing what he's been doing in the first place.

I will say that while I don't agree with getting involved in the first place (referencing my earlier post about trying to intervene in domestic violence) it's still hard to see that the average Iraqi really is continuing to suffer at the hands of warlords, factions and corrupt leadership, and there doesn't seem like there's much they can do about it. The US getting involved doesn't bring real stability, they can't get on the same page sufficiently for a revolution that would bring real stability, the only thing that gave the veneer of stability was a ruthless despot like Saddam, but that was no better because he was just able to selectively oppress whatever group he wanted and the world was even less likely to intervene.

Edited January 3, 2020 by Burncycle360

[lucklucky]

Well the Marxist Left is exposing themselves once again as allied to people that wants bad of USA and wants to destroy a Jewish country

[BansheeOne]

They are protesters if you sympathize with their goals, and a violent mob if you don't.

 

Well, they were certainly protesting against something. On a level that would also include "Americans fired Hellfires in protest against their embassy being attacked".

[Stuart Galbraith]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-50979463

Iran's most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani, has been killed by a US air strike in Iraq.

The 62-year old spearheaded Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of Iran's elite Quds Force.

He was killed at Baghdad airport, alongside local Iran-backed militias, early on Friday in a strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.

Gen Soleimani's killing marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack. He also announced three days of national mourning.

Gen Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran behind the Ayatollah Khamenei. His Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, reported directly to the Ayatollah and he was hailed as a heroic national figure.

But the US has called the commander and the Quds Force terrorists and holds them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US personnel.

 

President Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the strike, tweeted an image of the American flag shortly after the news broke.

A statement from the Pentagon said Gen Soleimani "was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region".

"This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans," it added.

Meanwhile, global oil prices have soared by more than 4% in the wake of the attack.

What happened?

Gen Soleimani and officials from Iran-backed militias were leaving Baghdad airport in two cars when they were hit by a US drone strike near a cargo area, US media reports say.

The commander had reportedly flown in from Lebanon or Syria. Several missiles reportedly struck the convoy and at least five people are thought to have died.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption There was burning debris outside Baghdad International Airport

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was among those killed.

The Pentagon statement said: "At the direction of the president, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani."

It added: "The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world."

The drone strike comes days after protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, clashing with US forces at the scene. The Pentagon said Gen Soleimani approved the attacks on the embassy.

Media captionChief international correspondent Lyse Doucet explains the significance of the attack

As head of Iran's powerful elite Quds force, Qasem Soleimani was seen as the mastermind behind Iran's vast ambition in the Middle East, and the country's real foreign minister when it came to matters of war and peace.

He was widely considered a principal architect of President Bashar al-Assad's war in Syria, the ongoing conflict in Iraq, the fight against Islamic State, and many battles beyond. Known to wield immense power, the silver-haired commander was revered by some, loathed by others, and myths and social media memes grew around him.

His death marks a decisive turning point in what is already a major crisis between Iran and the US and its allies. Escalation is expected and retaliation seems certain, setting an already volatile region on an even more dangerous course.

What has Iran said?

Iran's Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, called the attack an "act of international terrorism", tweeting that the US "bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism."

Skip Twitter post by @JZarif

The US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.

The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020

Report

End of Twitter post by @JZarif

Mohsen Rezaei, the former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said Iran would take "vigorous revenge on America". A spokesman for the Iranian government said the country's top security body would meet in a few hours to discuss the "criminal act of attack".

"Iran and the other free nations of the region will take revenge for this gruesome crime from criminal America," President Hasan Rouhani said in a statement.

His death has "redoubled the determination of the nation of Iran and other free nations to stand against America's bullying", he added.

Who was Qasem Soleimani?

From 1998, Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani led Iran's Quds Force - an elite unit in Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which handles clandestine operations abroad.

Iran has acknowledged the role of the Quds Force in the conflicts in Syria, where it has advised forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and armed thousands of Shia Muslim militiamen fighting alongside them, and in Iraq, where it has backed a Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped tackle IS.

These conflicts turned the once-reclusive Gen Soleimani into a something of celebrity in Iran.

 

The Trump administration has alleged that the Quds Force is "Iran's primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting" US-designated terrorist groups across the Middle East - including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Palestinian Islamic Jihad - by providing funding, training, weapons and equipment.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards and its Quds Force as foreign terrorist organisations in April.

 

 

Ballsiest move ive ever seen. Im happy to see the violent death of a man who helped conspire the violent death of dozens of Coalition soldiers. I do have to laugh also at the media on CNN saying this could trigger a war. We are already at war, did nobody notice?

 

Ill considered? Well perhaps, although there is a case for saying a complete lack of consideration in acting might be just what the region needs. We shall see.

[Der Zeitgeist]

Ballsiest move ive ever seen. Im happy to see the violent death of a man who helped conspire the violent death of dozens of Coalition soldiers. I do have to laugh also at the media on CNN saying this could trigger a war. We are already at war, did nobody notice?

 

Ill considered? Well perhaps, although there is a case for saying a complete lack of consideration in acting might be just what the region needs. We shall see.

 

Question is, if the US will be able to handle the blowback. Force protection across the region will be a nightmare right now, with the Friday prayers coming up. There's a lot of movement going on right now, a line of KC-135s out of Mildenhall heading towards Aviano, also a bunch of C-5s over the Atlantic and KC-10s at Lajes on the Azores.

 

Edited January 3, 2020 by Der Zeitgeist

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

Ballsiest move ive ever seen. Im happy to see the violent death of a man who helped conspire the violent death of dozens of Coalition soldiers. I do have to laugh also at the media on CNN saying this could trigger a war. We are already at war, did nobody notice?

 

Ill considered? Well perhaps, although there is a case for saying a complete lack of consideration in acting might be just what the region needs. We shall see.

 

Question is, if the US will be able to handle the blowback. Force protection across the region will be a nightmare right now, with the Friday prayers coming up. There's a lot of movement right now, a line of KC-135s out of Mildenhall heading towards Aviano.

 

 

Details, details!

 

Thanks for that on mildenhall, that had completely passed me by.

[Stuart Galbraith]

There is some interesting post on deployments on 1st Jan out of Fort Bragg via C17, refuelled by tankers out of Mildenhall.

https://theaviationist.com/2020/01/02/online-flight-tracking-provides-a-look-at-the-us-build-up-in-middle-east-following-the-attack-on-us-embassy-in-iraq/

Edited January 3, 2020 by Stuart Galbraith

[Der Zeitgeist]

Well, whatever Trump is trying to achieve here, if he wants to get US troops out of the Middle East, the 82nd Airborne is heading in the wrong direction right now.