Tankers Attacked In Gulf: Price of Oil Up

[carlos86]

What do you think is Russia's angle is on this? I don't see where their interests align with Iran.

Russia and Iran have been hand in hand for decades.

 

[utvolpj]

POTUS states we were going to retaliate but our drone isn't worth the lives of 150 Iranians so he called it off.

Who looks sane and who looks bat shite crazy and trying to start a war to the rest of the world in all that?

I like the outcome but am extremely skeptical of the reasoning. The US has and does kill people all the time in countries who never attacked us. We suddenly got a conscience last night?

 

[FLVOL_79]

I think most people see what's going down. Bolton's approach from the beginning has been to put maximum pressure on Iran, with the ultimate goal of regime change. There is no solid evidence of Iran attacking the tankers, although circumstances certainly give that appearance. Iran may have done it.

The UAV that was shot down, there is no denial, only conflicting accounts. Supposedly Iran is going to present their evidence to the UN that it had crossed into their territory. Seems reasonable to examine it.

Trump did a wise thing. Hopefully he kicks Johnny B out the door.

I saw a colorized and clear video that literally shows the Iranian navy taking that mine off those boats. Thats enough circumstantial evidence to convince me they are behind it. Also, since most Iranians can't swim its even more damning evidence. If it was a false flag by the US we would have used frogmen, not boats, to attach mines UNDER the water level..

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Trump says he called it off when he was given estimate of 150 casualties. Honestly, in my view, I think his decision to call it off given that was completely reasonable. Based on what we know, I think his decision not to go forward makes sense. So I am giving him credit.

Now, I think we need to ask, who in the administration put together a plan for a retaliatory strike where they shoot down an unmanned drone, and we then kill 150 people ?!?!?!?!?!?! This feels an awful lot like someone (Bolton and Pompeo, or their minions) came up with a retaliatory strike they INTENDED would escalate this to full scale war.

Trump is right. Killing 150 people in response to shooting down a drone would be wholly disproportionate. I think he needs better planners and advisers on this subject and he needs to get rid of Bolton, at least.

 

[82_VOL_83]

Does it matter if it’s 35 or 3....you ignorant a$$!

@utvolpj Where are you on calling BS on this "lie"?

 

[FLVOL_79]

Well, if the pressure is on the EU, then why didn't any EU nations send in naval assets to Persian Gulf? Looks like we are the only ones that have increased our naval presence there in the last several weeks. And, if Iran and the EU are wanting to trade with each other, what incentive would either have to bottleneck Hormuz?

I doubt half the EU even has a navy.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I like the outcome but am extremely skeptical of the reasoning. The US has and does kill people in countries all the time who never attacked us. We suddenly got a conscience last night?

I hope so. Better late than never.

 

[Stew Cook]

Russia and Iran have been hand in hand for decades.

Russia wants oil prices high,. I think. So, what's the angle in this beef, is what I'm wondering.

 

[carlos86]

Trump says he called it off when he was given estimate of 150 casualties. Honestly, in my view, I think his decision to call it off given that was completely reasonable. Based on what we know, I think his decision not to go forward makes sense. So I am giving him credit.

Now, I think we need to ask, who in the administration put together a plan for a retaliatory strike where they shoot down an unmanned drone, and we then kill 150 people ?!?!?!?!?!?! This feels an awful lot like someone (Bolton and Pompeo, or their minions) came up with a retaliatory strike they INTENDED would escalate this to full scale war.

Trump is right. Killing 150 people in response to shooting down a drone would be wholly disproportionate. I think he needs better planners and advisers on this subject and he needs to get rid of Bolton, at least.

I'm calling bs on the 150 because in a situation like this the targets would have been SAM batteries or a fuel depot. And the strike would have taken place late at night so that to limit civilian casualties.

 

[NorthDallas40]

Well, there ya go.. If a supposed provocation is going to occur,. this would be the go to.

What would you expect us to do now if a US aircraft is targeted. The Persians escalated this.

 

[Orangeburst]

All of this coming to a head makes me wonder what Kerry said to the Iranians in his little Logan act meeting

 

[utvolpj]

@utvolpj Where are you on calling BS on this "lie"?

Not knowing how many people for in an obscure aircraft is a lie? Wow, you're going to be really busy if that's your baseline for callouts

 

[82_VOL_83]

America should pay Iran another $150 Billion dollars to knock it off & to stop it. That's what Obama would do.

Well, with a stern lecture in his broken Pashtu also.

 

[carlos86]

Russia wants oil prices high,. I think. So, what's the angle in this beef, is what I'm wondering.

Iran is providing forces in Syria. The Iranians and their proxies do all the dying while Russia reaps the rewards of holding on to Syria.

 

[Pacer92]

@utvolpj Where are you on calling BS on this "lie"?

Lie?

 

[utvolpj]

I hope so. Better late than never.

I'm sure the guys in Iraq, Afg, Yemen, Syria, etc will be glad to hear it

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I doubt half the EU even has a navy.

Correct, the US is essentially their navy.

I guess I'm still trying to flush out this EU angle that @NorthDallas40 brought up.

 

[NorthDallas40]

I'm calling bs on the 150 because in a situation like this the targets would have been SAM batteries or a fuel depot. And the strike would have taken place late at night so that to limit civilian casualties.

Trump said the estimate came from military leadership. It could be that Bolton and Pompeo got some of the nuclear facilities on the target list and the military leadership was pointing to that. All speculation. Frankly if we schwak any Republican Guard manning air defenses or radars it sucks to be them. But that number is too high to be military air defense sites.

 

[carlos86]

Well, with a stern lecture in his broken Pashtu also.

Iranians speak Farsi.

 

[NorthDallas40]

Correct, the US is essentially their navy.

I guess I'm still trying to flush out this EU angle that @NorthDallas40 brought up.

Flush out? Flesh out? Freudian slip?

 

[lawgator1]

I'm calling bs on the 150 because in a situation like this the targets would have been SAM batteries or a fuel depot. And the strike would have taken place late at night so that to limit civilian casualties.

Well, that is a different issue. If in fact that is a made up casualty number to justify calling it off, then I would agree with you. But I have no reason to think that right now.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I'm sure the guys in Iraq, Afg, Yemen, Syria, etc will be glad to hear it

Trump has really only had his hand in Syria and now dealing with an Iranian crisis. Lets not blame him for all of the death and carnage in the ME over the last 20 years.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Flush out? Flesh out? Freudian slip?

Possibly. Your EU angle seemed to be pulled out of your rectum.

 

[Stew Cook]

I saw a colorized and clear video that literally shows the Iranian navy taking that mine off those boats. Thats enough circumstantial evidence to convince me they are behind it. Also, since most Iranians can't swim its even more damning evidence. If it was a false flag by the US we would have used frogmen, not boats, to attach mines UNDER the water level..

Oh I get that everything looks like it's sewn up tight. There does exist other possibilities, like Iran learning of foreign operators putting the mines on the tankers, for one. I'm not saying they didn't do it, just that this is the kind of shtt that seems common with espionage and sabotage in the ME.

 

[NorthDallas40]

Possibly. Your EU angle seemed to be pulled out of your rectum.

Fair enough Ras . I couched it as an opinion.