The United States has already dispatched about 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East since May.
Daily Archives: 3. Januar 2020
UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East following General Soleimani‘s assassination: stakeout
Live from UN headquarters in New York on Friday, January 3 as UN Security Council holds a closed-door meeting on the situation in Syria and the Middle East. The meeting, which had been requested by France and the UK in order to discuss the humanitarian situation in Idlib, is expected to be overshadowed by the news of the targeted assassination of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Bernie Addresses Trump‘s Escalation in the Middle East at Anamosa Town Hall
Started streaming 47 minutes ago
Bernie Sanders will address Trump‘s dangerous escalation in the Middle East at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT.
Trump predicted Obama would attack Iran to ‚get elected‘
In a 2011 video, Donald Trump predicted a ‚weak and ineffective‘ President Obama would attack Iran in order to win a second term. Trump followed this notion up at other points in 2011 and 2012.
#BREAKING: US forces assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani after CIA intelligence suggested he was planning to attack American forces in the Gulf of Tonkin, using weapons of mass destruction purchased from Saddam Hussein.
Breaking: Soleimani was a bad dude. He also was working with Osama bin Laden and has weapons of mass destruction! To hear more CIA propaganda, tune in to CNM.
Statement attibutable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General – on events in the Gulf
In a statement issued on Friday morning, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, said that …
Wow, it’s the New York Times, the newspaper that helped launder the case for the Iraq War, warning that Trump isn’t doing enough war in the Middle East.
(01.01.2020)
Did I miss something, or has Tulsi „No More Wars“ Gabbard been curiously silent about Iran?
Außenminister @HeikoMaas: „Die US-Militäroperation folgte auf eine Reihe gefährlicher Provokationen Irans. Es ist durch die Aktion aber nicht einfacher geworden, Spannungen abzubauen. Das habe ich auch @SecPompeo deutlich gesagt.“
Killing of Qassem Soleimani “an act of war…
The latest escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani comes after a series of skirmishes between the two countries in recent months. “Face The Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss the ramifications of Soleimani‘s assassination.
U.S. strike on top Iranian commander sharply divides Congress
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), appearing midmorning on MSNBC, said he still had not been briefed on what prompted the strike.
“The question that has to be answered is what brought us to this moment. what’s the intelligence behind that? And what comes now?” Menendez said. “I fear that this administration used tactics but has no strategy in the long term … what we can’t accept is a march to an unauthorized war.”
Darf Trump allein entscheiden?
Eine solche „Ermächtigung zum Einsatz militärischer Gewalt“ erteilten die Abgeordneten mit überwältigender Mehrheit nach dem 11. September 2001 dem damaligen Präsidenten George W. Bush.
EU besorgt über Türkei-Entschluss zu Libyen
US-Präsident Donald Trump telefonierte gestern mit Erdogan. Die Kritik wurde vom Weißen Haus anschließend vorsichtig geäußert. Trump habe bei dem Telefonat darauf hingewiesen, dass ausländische Einmischung die Lage in Libyen komplizierter mache, hieß es.
Projekt Eastmed: Griechenland, Israel und Zypern einigen sich auf Bau von Gas-Pipeline
„Wir bauen eine Brücke mit der Energie nach Europa gebracht wird“, sagte Mitsotakis nach der Unterzeichnung. Die Pipeline werde die Region stabilisieren und Wohlstand für die Menschen bringen, sagte der griechische Premierminister.
„Es ist ein historischer Tag für Israel“, sagte Israels Regierungschef Netanyahu.
Will the Knesset Speaker Be Loyal to the Country or to the Man Holding It Hostage?
As Knesset Speaker, Yuli Edelstein has the authority to block the Knesset Arrangements Committee from meeting, thereby blocking the convening of the House Committee and preventing it from discussing the immunity request.
This is Edelstein’s most important test as an elected official: Will he be faithful to his position as Knesset speaker, or will he be faithful to the man who has decided to hold the country hostage?
‚A more dangerous world‘: Iranian general killing triggers global alarm
China, Russia and France, all permanent members of the UN Security Council, took a dim view of the US airstrike near Baghdad‘s airport early Friday that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani
Iran names deputy Quds Force commander to replace Soleimani after killing
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader appointed the deputy commander of the Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, as the replacement for Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the elite force who was killed in a U.S. air strike on Friday, state media reported.
US strike that killed Iranian commander starkly divides US lawmakers
Two sources tell CNN that key Senate staff on relevant committees on national security and appropriations, along with leadership staff, will be briefed Friday afternoon in a classified setting by administration officials.
„Eine Kriegserklärung an den Iran“
Die Tötung von Soleimani war keine Provokation der USA, sondern eine Kriegserklärung. Der General sei neben Revolutionsführer Khamenei der wichtigste Mann im Iran gewesen, sagt ARD-Korrespondentin Amiri.
Pelosi said Congress wasn‘t consulted, certainly did not authorize Trump‘s strike on Iranian general
The Trump administration targeted „high-level Iranian military officials“ and killed Soleimani „without an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) against Iran“ and „without the consultation of the Congress,“ Pelosi said in a statement.
Top Senate Democrat Received No Advance Notice Of U.S. Strike On Iran General
As the minority leader in the Senate, Schumer is part of what’s called the “Gang of Eight”: powerful lawmakers whom presidents and their staff traditionally keep updated about a range of sensitive national security issues.
Authorizations for Madness; The Effects and Consequences of Congress’ Endless Permissions for War
(06.12.2019)
In both 2001 and 2002, via large majorities, the Congress passed authorizations for war. While not declarations of war, these mandates, each titled an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) provided the legal framework in 2001 for attacks against al-Qaeda and in 2002 for the invasion of Iraq. Since 2001, the first AUMF has far exceeded its original purpose and has been used to justify military strikes and operations in close to twenty countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, often against nations, organizations, and individuals who had nothing to do with 9/11. It was even cited by President Obama, and then President Trump, as the authority to extra-constitutionally execute an American citizen and his teenage children, without trial, by drones and commandos.
13-jähriger Terrorkrieg: Die „Authorization For Use of Military Force“ vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut
(29. August 2014)
Die nach den Attentaten vom 11. September in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika dem Präsidenten vom Kongress persönlich ausgestellte Vollmacht, der ein nun fast dreizehn Jahre andauernder weltweiter Terrorkrieg a.k.a. „war on terror“ folgte, ist in Deutschland immer noch weithin unbekannt.
Radio Utopie dokumentiert dieses in jeder Hinsicht verheerende historische Ermächtigungsgesetz im Wortlaut.
What Is the AUMF? The Repeal of This Policy Could Prevent War with Iran
(21.06.2019)
The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, but under the AUMF the president can essentially bypass any required congressional approval. This matter has become of particular concern lately as the Trump administration appears to be gearing up for conflict with Iran.
Trump‘s dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars. Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one.
Poll: Center-left Bloc Leads, but Likud Holds Steady Despite Netanyahu Immunity Request
According to a Channel 13 poll, the center-left bloc would receive 58 seats compared to 56 for the right wing bloc – leaving both blocs short of the 61 seats necessary to form a governing coalition.
Requesting Immunity, Master Manipulator Netanyahu Gave One of the Worst Performances of His Life
By requesting immunity Netanyahu hopes to postpone all of this until after the March 2 election. But he knows from all the incessant polling he has carried out that this is a hard sell, even among his right-wing base. In recent days, he tried to float his “immunity is a cornerstone of democracy” canard, but it didn’t fly.
Oil prices jump after Iran military leader killed in US strike
Futures for Brent crude, a global benchmark, jumped 2.9% to $68.16 per barrel during Asian trading hours on Friday. US oil futures gained 2.8%, reaching $62.86 per barrel. That puts both on pace right now for their biggest daily gains in about a month, according to Refinitiv data.
I still can’t believe Hajji Qassem and Muhandis were riding in the same convoy within a couple hundred meters of a major US facility, with a huge US ISR stack overhead days after airstrikes killed two dozen KH guys.
Incredible overconfidence and sloppiness.
Gefährliche Eskalation: US-Militär tötet hohen iranischen General
Die Tötung des Generals wurde in der Nacht von den iranischen Revolutionsgarden bestätigt. Soleimani war Chef der iranischen Al-Kuds-Einheit, einer Division der iranischen Revolutionsgarden, die Spezialeinsätze außerhalb des Iran durchführt. Sarif bezeichnete den Raketenangriff als „extrem gefährliche“ und „dumme Eskalation“.
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.
Fear of a Major Mideast War
Fears of a major war in the Middle East exploded Thursday night with the U.S. assassination of arguably the second most powerful man in Iran.
In major escalation, American strike kills top Iranian commander in Baghdad
A U.S. airstrike killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad late Thursday, the Pentagon said, a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries that could lead to widespread violence in the region and beyond.
Shutter the Gigantic US Embassy in Iraq
Eight years later, the embassy remains and rampant US intervention in both Iraq and the larger region persists. Instead of continuing the policy of intervention, President Trump could implement the policy reversal Paul endorsed in his editorial. Paul wrote: “I have long said that we should simply declare victory and come home.” That would be nice. However, escalation appears to be in the cards.
Iraq closes another displacement camp in Kirkuk, evicting 450 families
Iraq closed down yet another displacement camp where 450 families had been seeking shelter in the disputed province of Kirkuk, relocating them to camps that are still open or to other areas across the province.
Thousands of classics from Gershwin to Wharton enter public domain
The legislation created a gap between the release of works from 1922 to those released in 1923, which became part of the public domain on Jan. 1, 2019. The Gershwin family was part of an effort that also includes Disney and other corporations to lobby lawmakers to extend copyrights, Mic reported.
Iran-backed militia leader reported dead after strike at Baghdad airport
Later, security sources told local media a strike hit two vehicles, killing Mohammed Redha, a senior member of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units — an umbrella group that includes Iran-backed Shiite militias with close ties to Iran and other militias that have fought the Islamic State group since 2014.