Well they aren't even forewarning their allied now so .....
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Well they aren't even forewarning their allied now so .....
Seriously, who does trump consider allies?Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
His daughter
It was reported on CNN that he was arranging multi-pronged attacks on American citizens, contractors, servicemen/troops/military and Diplomats. That terminating him would derail the attacks and save countless American lives.Quote:
Originally Posted by OhOh
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ir...-idUSKBN1Z301Z
The Revolutionary Guards commander instructed his top ally in Iraq, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and other powerful militia leaders to step up attacks on U.S. targets in the country using sophisticated new weapons provided by Iran, two militia commanders and two security sources briefed on the gathering told Reuters.
The strategy session, which has not been previously reported, came as mass protests against Iran’s growing influence in Iraq were gaining momentum, putting the Islamic Republic in an unwelcome spotlight. Soleimani’s plans to attack U.S. forces aimed to provoke a military response that would redirect that rising anger toward the United States, according to the sources briefed on the gathering, Iraqi Shi’ite politicians and government officials close to Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
Soleimani’s efforts ended up provoking the U.S. attack on Friday that killed him and Muhandis, marking a major escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran. The two men died in air strikes on their convoy at a Baghdad airport as they headed to the capital, dealing a major blow to the Islamic Republic and the Iraqi paramilitary groups it supports.
Two weeks before the October meeting, Soleimani ordered Iranian Revolutionary Guards to move more sophisticated weapons - such as Katyusha rockets and shoulder-fired missiles that could bring down helicopters - to Iraq through two border crossings, the militia commanders and Iraqi security sources told Reuters.
At the Baghdad villa, Soleimani told the assembled commanders to form a new militia group of low-profile paramilitaries - unknown to the United States - who could carry out rocket attacks on Americans housed at Iraqi military bases. He ordered Kataib Hezbollah - a force founded by Muhandis and trained in Iran - to direct the new plan, said the militia sources briefed on the meetings.
Soleimani told them such a group “would be difficult to detect by the Americans,” one of the militia sources told Reuters.
Before the attacks, the U.S. intelligence community had reason to believe that Soleimani was involved in “late stage” planning to strike Americans in multiple countries, including Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, U.S. officials told Reuters Friday on condition of anonymity. One senior U.S. official said Soleimani had supplied advanced weaponry to Kataib Hezbollah.
White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien told reporters on Friday that Soleimani had just come from Damascus, “where he was planning attacks on American soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors and against our diplomats.”
Why make such a long long whitewashing explanation when they only need to claim that he had weapons of mass destruction.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowie
There a a number of UK and US citizens "held" in Tehran under a range of dubious charges, the most famous from the UK perspective is Nazanin Zighari-Ratcliffe who's been held since 2016 on bogus charges, they could well be the real victims in this.
They did try to contact BBBBBBBBoris, but his latest squeeze and himself were on "holiday" at Caribbean Island resort, lording it up with associated "princes" ........ all expenses paid.Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
They both came back with a bit of sunburn though, due to the bedroom lights being "extremely bright".
Quote:
Originally Posted by bowie
My apologies.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowie
Trustworthy Reuters, again quoting unspecified nationality unnamed sources, who were "briefed" by another unspecified nationality unnamed source.
Thanks for such factual reporting of a Reuters puff piece.
You do realise that "others" in Syria and Iraq have had these "Katyusha Rockets" in their arsenal for some time now.
It's true and easily accessed by entering the named weapons in your favourite search engine. :)
One spokesman's "bogus" is another's "slam dunk fact", to borrow a sporting phrase utilised by many when describing the winning actions from one international sport, dominated by exceptional non-white participants.Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
Boris Johnson has lied and broken promises over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, says husband
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a9226936.html
Bogus or being manipulated by UK politicians.I'm sure it being a quality "UK newspaper" we can rely on the article to be accurately "fact" checked.
If we adopt 'arry's definition, we await until she has been officially "splattered across the desert"Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
"Iraq's (Sunni) Grand Mufti Sheikh Mehdi Ahmed al-Sumaidaie calls on ALL Iraqi Sunnis to unite with Iraqi Shias in attacking the US: ''My army and I are ready to destroy America, The Great Satan. God is with us and we shall be victorious.''Quote:
Originally Posted by harrybarracuda
https://twitter.com/Brasco_Aad/statu...98068654456834
Not sure if twatter has any fact checking rules.
So now we're posting any old shite on twatter and pretending it's "news" are we? And nicking other people's picture comments as well. But being too stupid to realise that it anchors it in the post even when you delete it.
You fucking twat.
:rofl:
you are a sacrifice trump is prepared to make
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=43281&stc=1
Not sure but bet Israel and Saudi Arabia gave the thumbs up on killing the infamous General.Quote:
Originally Posted by CSFFan
Quote:
Originally Posted by CSFFan
... :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
Somewhat overlooked by the rara brigade is the fact that this was an act of war against not just Iran, but Iraq too- as a senior Iraqi General was assassinated. So much for the liberation of Iraq. So much for the rump US occupation too (well, of Baghdad anyway), which is looking increasingly tenuous. They might as well scuttle on out of there and back to the relative safety of Bahrein, even though it too is majority Shiite.
Anyway, we've seen it all before- chop one head off a Hydra, and what changes? Two grow back. The US seems to specialise in these sort of futile exercises- and one has to wonder how much of it is for domestic political purposes, given the inevitable PR orgy- while losing on the ground. Soleimi was a brilliant General btw, and widely respected in a country and region where the Mullah's distrust adulation of anyone but themselves. There will certainly be blowback, and the US has handed a victory to the religious hardliners.
I think the next American war should take place in a Hollywood studio. Or perhaps a synagogue.
You are more than welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by OhOh
The old adage "if you don't like the answer, don't ask the question" does apply here. As far as a "puff" piece, well, our capabilities and/or information is/are pretty much limited to what is provided in the media. There is one other possible method to get your question answered, you could ring up the donald and ask him, let us know what he said.
The truth of the matter is that Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is/was icing on the cake. He wasn't the primary target but was in close proximity - just icing on the cake. No tears shed due to his demise in good ole Ameristan. :unitedstates:
Indeed. Bringing freedom, democracy and human rights to folks by occupying their country simply doesn't work. That now decades old exercise in Vietnam should be proof enough but guess not.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabang
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=43291&stc=1
One only needs to see the share prices of the MIC rise to understand it's a MAGA for the 0.01%Quote:
Originally Posted by sabang
Allegedly there is an Iraqi government meeting today to discuss the events. Let's wait and see what the politicians there can agree to.
Others have comented on this dangourus act of terrorism.
Killing of Iran commander could turn Iraq into battleground
"BAGHDAD - The US strike that killed a senior Iranian commander raised fears among Iraqis that their homeland could become the main battlefield in the looming conflict between Iran and the United States.
Early on Friday, Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, were killed in a strike near Baghdad airport, sparking outrage among some Iraqi parties and politicians.
Sabah al-Sheikh, a professor of politics at Baghdad University, told Xinhua that the US-Iranian conflict has become clear in Iraq, and there is a possibility that the US-Iranian struggle could spread to cover more areas in the Middle East region.
"If the Iraqi leaders and all Iraqi factions do not show wisdom and restraint in dealing with such a conflict, the biggest loser will be the Iraqi people," al-Sheikh warned.
Al-Sheikh reviewed statements issued by Iraqi President Barham Salih and top Shiite religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as well as some other political leaders, in which they condemned the killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis.
They all called for restraint to deal wisely with the consequences of the strike, because they are aware of the seriousness of the situation in order to avoid the deterioration of the security situation throughout the country, he said.
"Most of the Iraqi leaders realize that Iran's strongest field is Iraq as many pro-Iran Shiite militias are stationed there. Therefore, they (Iraqi leaders) realize that Iraq will pay the price of any US-Iranian confrontation," al-Sheikh said.
Iran has the ability to deliver an effective strike against the US interests in Iraq and the region, he added.
"It wouldn't necessarily be striking US military bases in Iraq or the US Embassy in Baghdad, but Iran has the ability to ignite internal conflict inside Iraq and paralyze the country through violence and chaos in order to make the US influence in the country impossible," al-Sheikh said.
Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi expert in armed groups affairs, told Xinhua that the Shiite militias have the ability and experience to adapt with the strike.
"The Shiite militant groups can find leaders as good as those who died. They have readiness and willingness to confront violent and unpredictable scenarios," al-Hashimi said.
However, the death of al-Muhandis could complicate the situation in Iraq in the short term because he was the point of communication and calm between different rival Shiite groups, according to al-Hashimi.
Najib al-Jubouri, a political expert and lecturer in Baghdad University, told Xinhua that the strike of Soleimani and al-Muhandis has diverted the US-Iranian conflict from behind the scenes by Iran's proxy militias to direct confrontation.
"The new position reduced maneuverability on each side, increasing the risk of the confrontation spinning out of control, which might fill the Middle East with blood at the start of 2020," al-Jubouri said.
Iraq and the region need more attention from the international community, al-Jubouri said, adding that it is the duty of the world states and international organizations to work hard to prevent conflicts from expanding.
For his part, Ibrahim al-Ameri, a political analyst and teacher of politics at Baghdad University, said that the assassination of Soleimani is another "manifestation of the US-Iranian conflict in Iraq, and it is also a reflection of the expansion of the conflict between the two countries."
Given the role of Soleimani in Iran's regional strategy and its influence at home and abroad, the intensity of the US-Iraqi struggle has spiraled, affecting the situation in Iraq and the entire Middle East more than last year's tanker attack and Saudi oil field facilities attack, al-Ameri said.
Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi strongly condemned the attack, calling the assassination of al-Muhandis "an aggression against Iraq, its state, its government and its people."
The attack came after supporters of the Hashd Shaabi militias stormed on Tuesday the perimeter of the US embassy in Baghdad.
Local media aired photos showing al-Muhandis participating in the protest with Qais al-Khazali, head of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous) militia, and Hashd Shaabi's top leader Hadi Al Amri.
On Sunday evening the US forces bombarded headquarters of Hashd Shaabi's 45th and 46th Brigades, leaving 25 killed and 51 injured."
Killing of Iran commander could turn Iraq into battleground - World - Chinadaily.com.cn
^
More propaganda trash from one of TD's village idiots.
Caught my eye, couldn't resist a:smileylaughing:Quote:
Originally Posted by OhOh
Apparently, Pompeo has stated on fox news that the Brits, France snd Germany (who've yet to issue a statement as they cannot agree wording) have not been helpful like US regional allies Saudis etc. Well ffs Mike, keeping your European allies in the dark ain't exactly helpful either you Mercan twat...jesus H on a bike.
Mike Pence shares 9/11 conspiracy theory about Qassem Soleimani in attempt to justify killing
Official 9/11 report undermines vice president's criticism of killed Iranian general
8 hours ago
56 comments
Mike Pence has promoted an unsubstantiated theory linking the 9/11 terrorist attacks to Iran in his defence of the Trump administration’s killing of Qassem Soleimani.
Donald Trump’s vice president posted a Twitter thread on Saturday in which he described Iran’s top military commander as “an evil man responsible for killing thousands of Americans”.
In the thread, Mr Pence claimed Soleimani had “assisted in the clandestine travel to Afghanistan of 10 of the 12 terrorists who carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States”.
However, his accusation is undermined by the conclusions of the official government report on the attacks.
The 9/11 commission report found “no evidence that Iran or Hezbollah was aware of the planning for what later became the 9/11 attack”.
The report added: “At the time of their travel through Iran, the al-Qaeda operatives themselves were probably not aware of the specific details of their future operation.”
Soleimani's killing is a major escalation in US-Iran tensions and has sparked fears of a direct war between the two countries.
The White House has said the killing was a "decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad".
In response to the vice president, foreign policy experts were quick to point out there were 19 terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks, not 12, and the majority of them came from US allies Saudi Arabia.
Katie Waldman, Mr Pence’s press secretary, later clarified that the vice president was referring to 12 of the 19 hijackers who “transited through Afghanistan”.
“For those asking: 12 of the 19 transited through Afghanistan. Ten of those 12 were assisted by Soleimani,” Ms Waldman wrote, without providing any further evidence for the commander’s involvement.
The 9/11 report does acknowledge at least eight of the hijackers “transited Iran on their way to or from Afghanistan”, but this is thought to be because they were “taking advantage of the Iranian practice of not stamping Saudi passports”.
Although Soleimani was a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at the time of the attacks, he is not named in the 9/11 commission report.
It is also unclear why the commander, a leading military figure in a majority Shia Muslim country, would have assisted al-Qaeda, a militant Sunni Islamist group with links to Saudi Arabia.
In a 2018 study by the think tank New America, al-Qaeda is said to view Iran as a “hostile entity” and found “no evidence of cooperation between al-Qaeda and Iran on planning or carrying out terrorist attacks” in the documents studied.
Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said in 2019 he had no doubt “there is a connection between the Islamic Republic of Iran and al-Qaeda.”
“The factual question with respect to Iran’s connections to al-Qaeda is very real. They have hosted al-Qaeda. They have permitted al-Qaeda to transit their country,” Mr Pompeo told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
However, a senior US government official later told congress that the American intelligence community had no evidence of the Iranian government cooperating with al-Qaeda in recent aggressive moves in the Persian Gulf region, according to The Daily Beast.
Establishing a link between the country and al-Qaeda could be a method for legally justifying a war with Iran under the 2001 Authorisation for Use of Military Force.
That law states that the president may “use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organisations, or persons he determines planned, authorised, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on 11 September 2001, or harboured such organisations or persons”.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9270271.html
Just heard some rather dodgy individuals protest that the Senate and senior Dems should've been primed prior to the action.
https://teakdoor.com/image/jpeg;base...TWK9XqSGf/2Q==
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/01/62.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/image/jpeg;base...UKABVEKFCgA//Z
https://teakdoor.com/image/jpeg;base...UKABVEKFCgA//Z
I agree, two minutes before kickoff, then live stream the scramble for their phones.
:smileylaughing:
^only one pic showing^
And you’re clearly very dim.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pragmatic
President Donald Trump that the United States has "targeted 52 Iranian sites" for attack should the country strike "any Americans, or American assets.
"The string of tweets come after the White House formally notified Congress of the US operation that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYehL0js334
Remembering what a great Jihad Leader Mr. Salami was. :rolleyes:
https://teakdoor.com/bangkok-forum/1...ml#post2017537
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/...6069/blast.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2012/02/1142.jpg
Anyone claiming Iran/Salami was not behind this is just simply stupid or a Jihadi.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Klondyke
January 4, 2020
Pompeo convicted of misinformation over the killing of Suleimani
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo exaggerated the reaction of Iraqis to the killing in Baghdad of the head of the special forces of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Kassem Suleimani. In this he was caught by The New York Times .
The newspaper indicates that the diplomat posted on his Twitter page a real video from Iraq, but his description did not correspond to reality. Thus, a post that has actively spread across social networks can be considered an example of another disinformation.
So, Pompeo said that Iraqis “dance in the streets in support of freedom”, although in reality people just ran with flags. In addition, only one man rejoiced directly over the murder of Suleymani. At the same time, a small group of people chanted that the death of the general was a revenge for the death of Iraqis who protested against the presence of Iran in their country. Eyewitnesses also explained to the newspaper that this action lasted no more than two minutes.
https://lenta.ru/news/2020/01/04/pompeos_reaction/
I wish. But this is just more of your bullshit propaganda comrade.Quote:
Originally Posted by Klondyke
You're being unfair. To paraphrases the legless one's testimony in court, this Bangkok gig started off as an innocent holiday for the 3 or 4 of them to visit temples and sample the delights of Thai cuisine, but it started going wrong when they rented a house, found some bombs/grenades the owner must have left behind in a kitchen cupboard, decided to do the right thing and dispose of them in the local canal but one went off injuring some of them so the others legged it and he tried to catch a taxi to another canal that doesn't make bombs go off but the taxi driver saw he was covered in blood and refused to take him and cops started circling at about that time so he decided to throw the remaining grenades away in case they go off and hurt someone but a tree was in the way of the first one which bounced back taking his legs off.Quote:
Originally Posted by HermantheGerman
Official statements by the world's Foreign Ministers.
Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
"On January 4, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi. The parties exchanged opinions on topical global issues. They discussed the state of affairs in the Middle East at length. The ministers particularly focused on the aftermath of the US air strike at a Baghdad airport that resulted in deaths, including the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, Commander of Iran’s IRGC Quds Force. The ministers confirmed that it is unacceptable to use force in violation of the UN Charter and that all countries must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.
The ministers noted that the unlawful actions of the United States have aggravated the situation in the region. In these circumstances, Russia and China are interested in de-escalation and will take joint steps to create conditions for the peaceful resolution to conflicts.
The heads of the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries confirmed their intention to cooperate closely with regard to the UN Security Council agenda."
https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy...ent/id/3989730
Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
"On January 4, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif, at the latter’s initiative. Sergey Lavrov offered his condolences in the wake of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the special-task Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, who was killed by the US military near Baghdad.
The ministers stressed that this US action was a grave violation of the fundamental standards of international law and does not contribute to resolving the complicated issues in the Middle East. Instead, it will trigger a new round of escalation in the region."
https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy...ent/id/3989694
Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
"On January 4, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu. The ministers discussed the situation around the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the special-task Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, who was killed by the US military on January 3, 2019 in Baghdad.
Sergey Lavrov stressed that this US action was a grave violation of the fundamental standards of international law and does not contribute to achieving the counter-terrorist goals declared by Washington.
The parties expressed concern over the potential serious consequences of the US action for peace and stability in the Middle East."
The ministers also covered the Syrian settlement and the state of affairs in Libya in the context of preparing for upcoming top-level contacts"
https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy...ent/id/3989704
Also one with a secretary.
Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
"On January 3, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The parties discussed the situation in connection with the killing by the US military of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Commander Major General Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike on Baghdad airport.
Sergey Lavrov stressed that targeted actions by a UN member state to eliminate officials of another UN member state, and on the territory of a third sovereign country without its knowledge grossly violate the principles of international law and deserve condemnation.
The Russian Minster pointed out that this act by the United States is fraught with grave consequences for the regional peace and stability, does not facilitate efforts to find solutions to the complicated issues that have built up in the Middle East but, on the contrary, leads to a new round of escalation. Moscow urges Washington to give up illegal military actions to achieve its goals on the international arena and to settle all problems at the negotiating table."
https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy...ent/id/3989636
Love the the stench of Russian hypocrisy, they've been merrily doting around Europe bumping off people for the last decade who've upset Putin, who's got as thin a skin as the orange one.
American strike in Iraq prompts anti-war protests in U.S. cities
"Groups of protesters took to the streets in Washington and other U.S. cities on Saturday to condemn the air strike in Iraq ordered by President Donald Trump that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Trump’s decision to send about 3,000 more troops to the Middle East. “No justice, no peace. U.S. out of the Middle East,” hundreds of demonstrators chanted outside the White House before marching to the Trump International Hotel a few blocks away.
Similar protests were held in New York, Chicago and other cities. Organizers at Code Pink, a women-led anti-war group, said protests were scheduled on Saturday in numerous U.S. cities and towns.
Protesters in Washington held signs that read “No war or sanctions on Iran!” and “U.S. troops out of Iraq!”
Speakers at the Washington event included actress and activist Jane Fonda, who last year was arrested at a climate change protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
“The younger people here should know that all of the wars fought since you were born have been fought over oil,” Fonda, 82, told the crowd, adding that “we can’t anymore lose lives and kill people and ruin an environment because of oil.”
“Going to a march doesn’t do a lot, but at least I can come out and say something: that I’m opposed to this stuff,” said protestor Steve Lane of Bethesda, Maryland. “And maybe if enough people do the same thing, he (Trump) will listen.”
Soleimani, regarded as the second most powerful figure in Iran, was killed in the U.S. strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport on Friday in a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and its allies.
Public opinion polls show Americans in general have been opposed to U.S. military interventions overseas. A survey last year by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found 27% of Americans believe military interventions make the United States safer, and nearly half said they make the country less safe."
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i...-idUSKBN1Z30N3
Nothing like a good war to distract from impeachment trials and such.
Obviously, Putin typed the Twitter in Pompeo's name...Quote:
Originally Posted by bsnub
(Or The New York Times?)
Iraqi PM and Saudi Crown Prince discuss ramifications of events in Iraq
“Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi received a phone call from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in which they discussed the difficult conditions facing Iraq and the region,” Abdul Mahdi’s office said in a statement.
“They exchanged points of view on the expected ramifications and the importance of mitigating their effects as well as avoiding total escalation.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-saudi/iraqi-pm-and-saudi-crown-prince-discuss-ramifications-of-events-in-iraq-idUSKBN1Z30MF?il=0
Iraq parliament to convene amid calls to expel U.S. troops
"Iraq’s parliament is set to convene an extraordinary session on Sunday where lawmakers told Reuters they would push for a vote on a resolution requiring the government to request the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The session comes two days after a U.S. drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport which killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
“There is no need for the presence of American forces after defeating Daesh (Islamic State),” said Ammar al-Shibli, a Shi’ite lawmaker and member of the parliamentary legal committee.
“We have our own armed forces which are capable of protecting the country,” he said.
Despite decades of enmity between Iran and the United States, Iran-backed militia and U.S. troops fought side by side during Iraq’s 2014-2017 war against Islamic State militants.
Around 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, most of them in an advisory capacity.
The militia were incorporated into government forces under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilisation Forces which Muhandis led.
Many Iraqis, including opponents of Soleimani, have expressed anger at Washington for killing the two men on Iraqi soil and possibly dragging their country into another conflict.
Since the killings, rival Shi’ite political leaders have called for U.S. troops to be expelled from Iraq in an unusual show of unity among factions that have squabbled for months.
Hadi al-Amiri, the top candidate to succeed Muhandis, repeated his call for U.S. troops to leave Iraq on Saturday during an elaborate funeral procession for those killed in the attack.
A vote to expel U.S. troops would need parliament to pass a law obliging the Iraqi government to ask U.S. troops to leave.
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who is now caretaker prime minister after resigning in November under pressure from street protests, on Friday called for parliament to convene an extraordinary session to take legislative steps to protect Iraq’s sovereignty. "
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i...KBN1Z407Z?il=0
‘No more war’: Demonstrators crowd Seattle park to oppose potential U.S. conflict with Iran
"Nilofar Ganjaie wasn’t sure what to expect when she headed Saturday to a “No More War” demonstration at Victor Steinbrueck Park above the downtown Seattle waterfront.
“Part of me was scared to come because I was worried there weren’t going to be very many people, or any people,” said Ganjaie, who hasn’t been able to contact her father in Iran since the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in Iraq this week – an attack that brought threats of retaliation from Iran and worries about a new war in the Middle East.
The Seattle resident and board member of the National Iranian American Council’s lobbying organization said she was heartened when she saw several hundred peace demonstrators gathered in pouring rain chanting “No war” and waving signs.
“Thank you so much for being here,” she told the crowd, taking the microphone after remarks from representatives of socialist political parties, various activist organizations and the group Veterans for Peace. “It’s really meaningful to see a lot of people … who care about my community and the actions this (Trump) administration just took.”
Many speakers at the rally railed against President Donald Trump and American aggression abroad, with some invoking protests decades ago against the Vietnam War and more recently against the Iraq War.
Demonstrators shared concerns about ordinary people in Iran, Iraq and the U.S. who would be caught up in a war between the U.S. and Iran, and some speakers critical of U.S. actions also encouraged solidarity with Iranians protesting their own country’s regime.
“The sins of Soleimani aside, it was absolutely a reckless decision … that’s put a lot of people in danger,” Ganjaie said about the Trump-ordered strike on a man deemed one of the most dangerous military operators in the Middle East by the U.S. and its allies.
When the rally ended, some protestors marched through Pike Place Market."
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/protesters-gather-in-seattle-to-decry-u-s-airstrike-in-iran/
Official statements by the world's Foreign Ministers from the Wanker Newsroom:
Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
"On January 4, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi. The parties exchanged opinions on topical global issues. They discussed the state of affairs in Chechnya and Xinjiang at length. The ministers particularly focused on how they can keep up their attrocities towards muslims. The ministers confirmed that it acceptable to use force in violation of the UN Charter and that all countries, except China and Russia, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.
The ministers noted that the unlawful actions of Russia and China have aggravated the situation in their region. In these circumstances, Russia and China are interested in escalating and will take joint steps to create conditions for more attrocities.
The heads of the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries confirmed their intention to cooperate closely with regard to the UN Security Council agenda."
https://www.mid.ru/bullshit/3989730
Soleimani was a monster, wanted atomic cloud over Tel Aviv - German newspaper
The title of Reichelt’s commentary was, “Trump has freed the world from a monster.”
Julian Reichelt, the editor-in-chief of best-selling German newspaper Bild, on Friday authored a barn-burning commentary praising US President Donald Trump for authorizing a military strike to eliminate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
"President Trump has freed the world of a monster whose aim in life was an atomic cloud over Tel Aviv. Trump has acted in self-defense – the self-defense of the US and all peace-loving people," wrote Reichelt.
He added that “the Iranian terror godfather Qassem Soleimani stood for a world that no peace-loving person can want: a world in which you can be torn apart by a bomb at any time because you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
”The commentary singled out Soleimani’s scorched-earth campaign in the Syrian war: "A world in which entire cities are wiped out – like Aleppo. In which bloodthirsty militia go from door to door and execute civilians.
"Reichelt noted the potential of Iran’s regime to carry out terrorism in Germany and Israel, "in which the kindergartens in Germany could burn up in fireballs at any time because its children are Jewish. In which Israel is under threat of extinction every day.
"The title of Reichelt’s commentary was, “Trump has freed the world from a monster.
”The US Pentagon said it took preventive military action against Soleimani because he planned attacks against American diplomats. According to the US State Department, Soleimani oversaw terrorist operations that were “responsible for the deaths of at least 603 American service members in Iraq.
”The US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, wrote on Twitter, “As a diplomat, I believe there isn’t enough media attention on the fact that General Soleimani was planning to attack US diplomats. DonaldTrump caught Soleimani in the act. And saved lives by stopping him.
”Reichelt wrote: "Soleimani, the world’s most repelling and bloodthirsty terrorist, who brought suffering and harm over humanity on the mullahs’ behalf, was an enemy of our civilization. He represented the unbearable thought that murderers will live more safely and be more untouchable the more people they kill (with the support of the state).
"The editor-in-chief declared that, "His violent and overdue end will not stop global terrorism, but the image of his burnt-out car still sends out a powerful message. US President Donald Trump has made it clear that the worst figures in the world, however big-mouthed and ruthless they may be, cannot hide from America’s strength."
https://www.bild.de/politik/kolumnen...3674.bild.html