Thread: US carries out ‘precision defensive strikes’ in Iraq and Syria against Iranian-backed

Originally Posted by OhOh

The law has been endorsed by the Guardian Council of the Constitution, the highest legislative body in Iran.

I thought this is worth a better read:

with all eyes on Iran’s elections, RFI looks at one of the core elements of the country’s political-religious system. In an exclusive interview, we talked to Abbas Ali Cadkhodai, spokesperson of the Guardian Council who sat down with us after a rare press conference.

The Guardian Council of the Constitution [GC], or Shora-ye Negahban-e Qanun-e Assassi is a crucial body which, according to the official "General Presentation", a colorful leaflet handed out during the press conference, "monitors the elections of the presidency."

It also acts as the "oversight on the eligibility of the elections" which in practice means deciding which candidate is allowed to run as well as scrutinizing ballot papers.

The GC, together with Iran’s supreme leader the Grand Ayatolla Ali Khamenei, forms the core of a system know as "vilayat–e Faqih", or "Guardianship by the Islamic Jurist".

Iran is the first country in history to apply this to government. The system was introduced in 1980 by the Ayatollah Khomeini, thus consolidating his control.

The GC consists of 12 people, 6 of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader, the other six selected by the legislature.
The system is completed by an Assembly of Experts, a 230 member advisory body whose members are directly elected by the public.
This system operates independently from the regular government that is responsible to parliament.
In a non-transparent process, its twelve GC members vote on each presidential candidate, and in the end selected 6 out of more than 1600, including more than 100 women. To be successful, a candidate needs 7 out of 12 votes, a 6-6 stand-off means disqualification.
According to Cadkhodai, a "massive debate" had taken place within the GC about the eligibility of women candidates, but "it is a complicated process," and no one has managed to get through the vetting.
He expressed hope that a group consisting of female candidates would be formed to study the constitution’s article 115 that defines criteria for who can take part in Iran’s presidential elections (and virtually excludes the participation of women).
During the ongoing election period (which apart from the presidential elections also includes local council elections), the GC says it monitors behavior surrounding the campaigns.
Cadkhodai said the GC had received 200 reports of "misbehavior" of candidates who misused public funds for campaign purposes, and officials who got involved in the process but face a conflict of interests.

Cadkhokai rejected reports that people in remote areas were threatened with the taking away their pensions if they would vote for pro-government candidates in local elections.
RFI:One of the criticisms of [conservative candidate Ebrahim] Raisi is that he doesn’t have a background in economy while the country has large economic problems and is in need of someone who is experienced in dealing with economic problems. Why is his background as an Attorney, his legal background, enough to be approved?
Cadkhodai: A person can be a manager or have experience in many fields. We consider other conditions. For example, do they have enough experience to run the country or do they have strong management skills?
RFI:Why isn’t there more transparency as to, for example, how many votes which candidate got and why?

Cadkhodai: Because of personal issues and personal information, we cannot publish this, it is […] information based on candidate’s character and personality. We only publish their experience and their backgrounds in this matter. We are not allowed to publish negative experiences or background of the candidates. We are neutral and impartial and doing so would be unconstitutional.

RFI: But if a person is elected and becomes president, is the public then not entitled to know everything about him, after all he is going to make major decisions that may influence the life of every individual?

Cadkhodai: Like other countries, including France, we have other bodies that can observe the elections. Perhaps we introduce and approve a candidate who is not a favorite with the people. But finally it is the people who elect their favorite candidate.
RFI:Yet the final decision to decide who can run is with the Guardian Council. Would the GC be open to public scrutiny.would it be open to having its members directly elected?
Cadkhodai:All the elections of different candidates in different organizations are different in every country. We have different elections for presidential elections, or city councils, or even the Islamic Consultative Assembly, some of them are direct, others indirect.

Iran presidential candidates: the Guardian Council is watching you

Oh HoHo, fuck off trying to compare the Chinkies and the Russians with the USA.

Their entire legal systems operate on the principle of "Whatever you say, dear leader".

Originally Posted by OhOh

Iranian president orders implementation of law blacklisting Pentagon as ‘terrorist organization’

Some would agree that he has a point there.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Their entire legal systems operate on the principle of "Whatever you say, dear leader".

Who chooses the Supreme Court "judges"?

My reply was to our TD poster HermantheGerman. To illustrate most versions are ultimately controlled by politicians, worldwide. Possibly excluding the Vatican.

Not having studied legal history, I am unable to comment on the various versions.

If you have a copy of your research paper and would be so good as to post a link, we might all understand your principles reinforcing your allegations.

Every little helps those unwashed, illiterate posters here on TD to grasp the baton you fumble with, every time some reach out to continue the relay race to enlightenment.

(CodeRed, English Grammar clean-up required, Intensive Care, Bangkok Asylum)

Hospital Codes: What Do Code Black, Code Blue & Code Red Mean?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

...trying to compare the Chinkies and the Russians with the USA.

Their entire legal systems operate on the principle of "Whatever you say, dear leader".

They still have to learn and improve a lot, something like this:

"I will never apologize for the United States — I don't care what the facts are... I'm not an apologize-for-America kind of guy." - George H. W. Bush, Aug 2 1988

^ except that your example has no relevance to the legal system

Originally Posted by OhOh

Every little helps those unwashed, illiterate posters here on TD

So basically you and Klondyke then.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

So basically you and Klondyke then.

To be fair, they are the leading contenders

Originally Posted by panama hat

^ except that your example has no relevance to the legal system

Of course, sorry, does the "legal system" you prefer - and are a fan of - care about the facts?

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Of course, sorry, does the "legal system" you prefer - and are a fan of - care about the facts?

The facts are:

YOU and OhOh are able to type your GARBAGE here on TD!
If you would be living in YOUR loving countries (CHINA, IRAN, RUSSIA) you would be typing "Jack Shit".
I think/hope even you two Numb-Brains should be able to grasp this piece of reality.

And please stop lecturing us about our countries. We know dam well what's wrong with them. It just sounds totally absurd coming from you two "BOZOS" mouth.

Originally Posted by panama hat

To be fair, they are the leading contenders

Well, look who's here

There is hope for TD after all.

Originally Posted by OhOh

My reply was to our TD poster HermantheGerman. To illustrate most versions are ultimately controlled by politicians, worldwide. Possibly excluding the Vatican.

Trump might be gone this year. If not, definitely in 4 years.
Salami was here to stay for how many years ? (Thank God he got blown up)
Putin is going to stick around for how many more years? ((Russia.....the richest country and nothing changes)
Xing Ping just another communist bastard. (he just elected himself to another 20 years)
Kim of Korea (only cancer can get rid of him)

Now, who is in control ? Your beloved countries.

Iran says 25 million people attended Qassem Soleimani’s funeral



BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Spokesman of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp (IRGC) Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said on Tuesday that approximately 25 million people attended the three-day-long funeral procession of Major-General Qassem Soleimani.

“When the body of the late General was repatriated, in five cities of Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran, Qom and Kerman, 25 million people took part in massive street funeral processions,” Sharif said on Tuesday.

The IRGC commander added that the large turnout was a strong message to the U.S. administration regarding the magnitude of their assassination.

The Quds Force commander and the Popular Mobilization Units Deputy Commander Abu Mahdi Al-Mohandes were assassinated on January 3rd after leaving Damascus for Baghdad that night.

On the last day of Soleimani’s funeral procession in his home city of Kernaz, the IRGC launched several missiles towards the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq.

In total, the IRGC fired 22 missiles towards the U.S. Armed Forces, with at least 17 of them targeting the ‘Ayn Al-Assad Base in Iraq’s Al-Anbar Governorate.

Iran says 25 million people attended Qassem Soleimani's funeral

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

And please stop lecturing us about our countries. We know dam well what's wrong with them

And isn't it wonderful that we can change our leadership every few years, unlike:

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

Putin is going to stick around for how many more years? ((Russia.....the richest country and nothing changes)
Xing Ping just another communist bastard. (he just elected himself to another 20 years)
Kim of Korea (only cancer can get rid of him)

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

Well, look who's here

There is hope for TD after all.

Good shot ! Can't trust those Mullahs

Three pro-Iranian militia fighters killed in strike on T4

Alleged Israeli strike comes hours after IDF intel assessment finds Soleimani killing a window of opportunity for Israel to act against Iran.


......The alleged Israeli airstrikes marked the first time this year that IAF jets carried out airstrikes on military targets belonging to Iran west of Syria’s Deir Ezzor, coming several hours after two Syrian Air Force cargo flights from Tehran landed at the base........

Three pro-Iranian militia fighters killed in strike on T4 - The Jerusalem Post

^These rockets?

Update: At least one rocket hits Iraqi base hosting US forces

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:00 P.M.) – At least one rocket struck an Iraqi military base that is hosting the U.S. Armed Forces this evening, the Iraqi security forces announced this evening.

According to the Iraqi security forces, the rocket targeted Camp Taiji in the Salaheddine Governorate; this base is located just north of Baghdad and east of the Samarra-Baghdad Highway.

No casualties were reported.
Update: At least one rocket hits Iraqi base hosting US forces


or these?

Update: Suspected Israeli missiles hit Syrian airbase that houses Iranian troops
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 P.M.) – Several missiles targeted the T-4 Military Airport in the eastern countryside of the Homs Governorate, a source told Al-Masdar News from Damascus.

According to the source, a number of explosions were heard at the airbase after some of the missiles managed to hit their intended targets.

He would add that while some of the missiles did hit the base, the Syrian air defenses were able to intercept a number of the projectiles after they were fired from a suspected Israeli aircraft.

While there is no confirmation about who is behind the attack, field reporters are claiming the missiles were fired from an aircraft that entered the government areas from the SDF-held territories.

The T-4 Airbase houses both Iranian and Russian soldiers; it has been targeted by the Israeli Armed Forces on a number of occasions in the past.

The Iranian S-300 system is believed to be active at this base; however, there is no confirmation that it has been used in tonight’s attack.
Update: Suspected Israeli missiles hit Syrian airbase that houses Iranian troops

Don't forget the Ronettes?



Although their message was, "For every kiss you give me, I'll give you three."

Those were the days.

(Won't you fetch up one more dozen?)

Ukraine volunteered to send two dozen of its troops to help NATO in Iraq
January 14, 2020

Ukraine notified NATO of readiness to become the Alliance's operating partner in Iraq, photo - www.kmu.gov.ua
Ukraine is ready to become an operational partner of the North Atlantic Alliance and send the military to Iraq.

Kuleba noted that 20 Ukrainian troops are planned to be sent in support of the alliance mission in Iraq after the restoration of its work.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that the invitation to become an operational partner of the mission testifies to NATO’s recognition of Ukraine’s military experience and professionalism. At the same time, the deputy secretary general of the alliance noted the importance of Ukrainian participation in the mission.

Earlier it was reported that at the end of last year, Kuleba claimed that the United States could allot $ 1 billion to Europe and Ukraine to reduce dependence on Russian gas.

It was also said that the United States threatens Iraq to block access to its money if it requires the withdrawal of American troops.

Украина вызвалась отправить два десятка своих военных на помощь НАТО в Ирак

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

The facts are:

YOU and OhOh are able to type your GARBAGE here on TD!

Freedom of Speech

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

And please stop lecturing us about our countries

But please do not use it

Please forward a list of allowed topics.

Reading Sun Tzu in Tehran


"Iran is not done. General Hajizadeh, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, said in a briefing yesterday that the strike “was the starting point of a great operation”. He also underlined that “the strikes were not meant to cause fatalities: We intended [rather] to deliver a blow to the enemy’s military machine”. And the Pentagon is saying, too, that Iran intentionally missed US troops at the bases. This is tantamount to the Pentagon admitting that Iran can land missiles with extreme accuracy over a distance of several hundred miles – and further, this occurred with not one missile being intercepted by the US forces. To completely avoid targeting soldiers at a large military base is no mean feat – it suggests an accuracy within a meter or two – not ten meters – for Iranian missiles.

Isn’t this the point? It suggests that advances in Iran’s guidance systems can land missiles with extreme precision. Haven’t we seen something similar happen recently in Saudi Arabia (Abqaiq)? And was it not clear from Abqaiq that highly expensive US air defence systems do not work? The IRGC satisfactorily have demonstrated that they and their allies can penetrate US manufactured air defence systems, using domestically produced ‘smart’ missiles, and by using their electronic warfare systems.

The US bases around the region – in short – now represent vulnerable US infrastructure – and not strength. Ditto for those expensive carrier battle fleets. The Iranian message was clear and very pertinent to those who understand (or want to understand). To others, less strategically aware, it might seem that Iran pulled its military punch, and showed weakness. Actually, when you have just demonstrated the ability to upend the military status quo, there is no need for a hail of trumpets. The landing of the message itself is the ‘blow’ to a ‘military machine’. Neatly calibrated: it avoided head to head-on war. Trump stood down (and claimed success).

So then, is it all over – all done and dusted? Finished with? Not at all. Both the Supreme Leader and Gen. Hajizadeh said (effectively) that the strike represented an outset – ‘a beginning’. But much of the MSM – both in the West and some in Israel – lend a cultural ‘tin ear’ towards how Iran manages asymmetric war – even when it is spelled out explicitly.

Asymmetric warfare is not a ‘dick swinging’ exercise. It is more David and Goliath. Goliath can crush David with a blow from his clenched fist, but the latter is nimble; quick on his feet, dancing around the giant – just out of his reach. David has stamina, but the giant lumbers heavily around, and is easily angered and exhausted. Eventually, even a well-aimed pebble – not even a Howitzer – brings him down.

Listen closely to the Iranian message: Should the US withdraw from Iraq, as requested by the Iraqi Parliament, and in accordance with its agreement with the government of Baghdad, and then ‘go’ from the region, the military situation will ease. However, should US insist on staying in Iraq, US forces will come under political and military pressure to quit – but not from the state of Iran. It will come from the inhabitants of those states in which the US forces presently are deployed. At this point, US soldiers may be killed (though not by Iranian missiles). It is America’s choice. Iran holds the initiative.

Iranian leaders have been very explicit: The ‘slap’ of the strike at the Ain al-Assad base is not the pay-back for General Soleimani’s targeted assassination. Rather, it is the campaign consisting of the amorphous, quasi-political, quasi-military, asymmetrical war on America’s presence in the Middle East that has been dedicated as fitting to his memory.

This is David dancing around Goliath. Soleimani’s assassination has energised and mobilised millions in a new fervour of resistance (and not just the Shi’a, by the way). And the trashing of Iraq’s sovereignty by President Trump’s response to the vote in the Iraqi parliament (calling for foreign forces to leave Iraq), has created a new political paradigm which even the most pro-American of Iraqis cannot easily ignore. It is – notably – a non-sectarian mission (removing foreign forces).
And Israel, after initial self-congratulation (amongst the Netanyahuists) has understood that Iran has ‘stepped-up’, and not ‘stepped back’. Veteran Israeli security corresponded Ben Caspit writes:

“The letter of Gen. William H. Sili, commander of US military operations in Iraq, was leaked and then rapidly disseminated among Israel’s most senior security figures on Jan 6 … The content of the letter — that the Americans were preparing to withdraw from Iraq immediately — turned on all the alarm systems throughout the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. More so, the publication was about to set in motion an Israeli “nightmare scenario” in which ahead of the upcoming US elections, President Donald Trump would rapidly evacuate all US forces from Iraq and Syria.

“Simultaneously, Iran announced that it is immediately halting its various commitments regarding its nuclear agreement with the superpowers, returning to high-level uranium enrichment of unlimited amounts and renewing its accelerated push for achieving military nuclear abilities. “Under such circumstances,” a senior Israeli defense source told [Caspit], “We truly remain alone at this most critical period. There is no worse scenario than this, for Israel’s national security … It is not clear how this letter was written, it is not clear why it was leaked, it is not clear why it was ever written to begin with. In general, nothing is clear with regard to American conduct in the Middle East. We get up every morning to new uncertainty.””

The impeachment of the US President launched by the House, has left Trump very vulnerable to the Zionist and Evangelical rump in the US Senate, whose votes nonetheless will be essential to Trump’s bid to remain in office when the articles of impeachment move to the Senate. And to a trial where Trump must block the Democrats allying with any Republican rebels in order to achieve a two-thirds ‘guilty’ vote. The Impeachment leverage has been used several times to push Trump to act in the Middle-East directly contrary to his electoral interest – which remains contingent on keeping soaring markets – and in talk of a China Trade deal.

What Trump needs most now (in electoral campaign terms) is a de-escalation with Iran – one that would mitigate political pressure from the neo-con and Evangelical quarters, and allow him to show-case the inflated asset markets.
But this is precisely what he will not get.

Trumps’ attempts to contain the Iranian response to the Soleimani killing were unreservedly rebuffed by Tehran. The missives were never opened, nor allowed for them to be spoken by the mediators. There is no room for talks, unless Trump lifts sanctions and the US re-commits to the JCPOA. This will never happen. There will now be immense pressure from all the Israel lobbies for America to remain in Iraq and Syria (pace Caspit’s comments). And the ghost of Soleimani’s ‘revenge’ will haunt America’s forces in the region for months, if not years, to come.

Iran – wisely – has eschewed direct, state-to-state military conflict, for a more subtle, and pernicious war on the US presence in the Middle East – a war, which if successful, will re-cast the region.
No, it’s not over. Its set to escalate (but in an asymmetrical way). Trump will remain squeezed in the rogue Senators’ vice."

https://www.strategic-culture.org/ne...tzu-in-tehran/

Only HoHo could post an article trying to gin up the Iranians military capabilities just after they've blown a civilian airliner out of the sky.

What a dumb c u n t.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

military capabilities just after they've blown a civilian airliner out of the sky

In one case the military is praised and rewarded - in other case punished... (Perhaps because of only 180 dead, 290 is good for a reward?)

Originally Posted by OhOh

Reading Sun Tzu in Tehran
"Iran is not done. General Hajizadeh, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, said in a briefing yesterday that the strike “was the starting point of a great operation”. He also underlined that “the strikes were not meant to cause fatalities: We intended [rather] to deliver a blow to the enemy’s military machine”. And the Pentagon is saying, too, that Iran intentionally missed US troops at the bases.
Isn’t this the point?

Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy, where do you get this garbage from. Now comes the part with the comon sense. So please pay attention.
Did Iran not claim in the beginnining that 40 U.S. military personal got killed by the strike. Sounded like boasting to me.

Originally Posted by OhOh

It suggests that advances in Iran’s guidance systems can land missiles with extreme precision. Haven’t we seen something similar happen recently in Saudi Arabia (Abqaiq)? And was it not clear from Abqaiq that highly expensive US air defence systems do not work? The IRGC satisfactorily have demonstrated that they and their allies can penetrate US manufactured air defence systems, using domestically produced ‘smart’ missiles, and by using their electronic warfare systems.

Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy, it took 2x missiles to take down a civilan plane. What precision? And it was not even a direct hit! If that plane would have been way up in the sky, who knows where the Lego build missile might have landed.

Do you actually believe the garbage that you post?