Propaganda Machine Working Overtime
The propaganda machine is at full service in the US. CNN reports that Soleimani was “instrumental in keeping Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in power.”
Soleimani is beloved for beating back ISIS in Iraq & beating them down in Syria. Cable news warmongers aren’t going to admit this. pic.twitter.com/JOfy78GLGr
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) January 3, 2020
Spin War
Please consider In Redux of Iraq War Run Up, Media Cheers on Assassination of Soleimani.
Assassinating foreign leaders is a major international war crime under international law, yet across the corporate spectrum, media applauded the bombing, or “precision targeting,” as CNN described it. Unsurprisingly, many conservative media outlets supported the Trump administration’s decision to potentially spark a huge international conflict. The Washington Examiner quoted one “expert” celebrating the killing as more important than Bin Laden’s death and a “massive blow to the regime.” Fox News quickly published an opinion piece from Christian Whiton of the strongly hawkish Center for the National Interest, praising Trump for acting “correctly and decisively,” preventing further American bloodshed by taking out a major “terrorist.” It also immediately invited major Neoconservative hawks and public faces of the Iraq War, Karl Rove and Ari Fleischer, on air to discuss the situation and inform its audience what to think.
Media with more liberal audiences – who claim to be leading the resistance against a dangerous fascist commander-in-chief – were no less supportive of Trump’s latest aggressive actions. Just as it had done with U.S.-supported coup attempts in Venezuela and Bolivia, resistance media lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with the president and condemned Soleimani as guilty of a myriad of crimes against humanity. CNBC’s headline read, “America just took out the world’s no. 1 bad guy,” accusing him of being the leader of the world’s “most active and pervasive terrorist army.” It claimed that Trump’s decision had “saved current lives” and represented “justice” to his many victims. It also claimed that it saved further American lives as it would “deter future Iranian attack plans.” “There’s no question Soleimani had American blood on his hands” claimed one source in USA Today; “he was an enemy.” It is worth noting, however, that the American deaths being referenced are not civilians, but members of an invading and occupying army in Iraq who were killed by locals resisting a foreign occupier.
Imperialism Déjà Vu
US imperialism déjà vu. pic.twitter.com/SaPTFQ7CqD
— Vijay Prashad (@vijayprashad) January 3, 2020
Four Years Ago
On March 13, 2015, NBC reported Iran’s Qasem Soleimani Is Guiding Iraqi Forces in Fight Against ISIS
“He’s probably the most powerful figure that is generally unknown outside Iran and the Middle East. He’s essentially Iran’s viceroy for Iraq,” said Jim Phillips, Middle East analyst for conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation. “He’s the puppet master controlling numerous Iranian surrogates in various countries.”
Foreign Policy magazine dubbed him a “silver-haired Iranian spymaster” in an October profile headlined, “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Translation: Better ISIS than Soleimani.
Creating a Climate for War With Iran
Creating a new climate for war with Iran- @GregShupak for @FAIRmediawatch in Julyhttps://t.co/nSkBXanFTJ
— Alan MacLeod (@AlanRMacLeod) January 3, 2020
Please Wake Up
— Бранко Михић (@BrankoMihic) January 3, 2020
Lie of the Day
Here’s the lie of the day: ‘We Took Action Last Night to Stop a War‘
“We are a peace-loving nation and my administration remains firmly committed to establishing peace and harmony among the nations in the world,” Trump said. “We do not seek war, we do not seek nation-building, we do not seek regime change, but as president I will never hesitate to defend the safety of the American people. We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war,” he told reporters in an impromptu address before leaving the luxury getaway.
It’s early, but save that message. That’s likely going to be in the running for lie of the year.
Graham Tells Trump To ‘Crush Iranian Economy’ By Targeting Oil Refineries
Please note Graham Tells Trump To ‘Crush Iranian Economy’ By Targeting Oil Refineries After Assassination
In Other News
In other news
War is Peace
Up is Down
Less is More
Happiness is being Sad https://t.co/PMGLDTAVt8— Mike “Mish” Shedlock (@MishGEA) January 3, 2020
To put it politely but nowhere near strong enough, Senator Graham is an economically illiterate warmongering fool.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
As are the sky wizard worshippers: link to theguardian.com
Jesus wants us to smite the unbelievers!
By your logic an american Indian could go on the war path and the police would not be justified to take him/her out.
Trump was dealt the mess, and Embassy’s are justified in country until that country asks us to leave. If they are attacked, it’s the same as if they attacked the homeland.
What would be the consequences of Iran/China gaining military superiority? China is way ahead in space technology, which would render us defenseless. I’m sure you were also against Trump forming the Space Force – link to youtu.be.
We should always defend and prepare for any potential attack on our citizens, properties, and our freedoms by anyone, including our own govt. Your naive view of the world assumes only US govt officials are the only ones drunk on perks and power. Thank God you are not President.
But why Denker did they storm the embassy?
They had very good reason!
“On Aug. 19, 2013, the CIA publicly admitted for the first time its involvement in the 1953 coup against Iran’s elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.”
If one is well indoctrinated, and not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed; “our” Dear Leader acting “tough” by “taking out” some silverfox has-been titulated as one of “their” Dear Leaders; is no doubt the stuff of exciting childish dreams. And all the reason one could want for pumping ones fists and cheering for “our” regime. For the haldfwits reared on nonsense like Game of Thrones and uncritical deference to arbitrary “Leaders”, what could possibly be more exciting than that?
Of course, the reason Islam is ascendant, while the West is, at best, Rome in it’s last week, is specifically because Islam is flexible. Every mullah, and even non-mullah firebrand, is free to drum up his own interpretation and justification for Jihad and all else. As long as he makes sense to someone, off it is to the bomb factory. A similar kind of flexibility explorers, privateers and others enjoyed in The West, back when it was ascendant.
Hence, just like “taking out” Qaddafi, Saddam etc.; all killing some pompous silver fox, predominantly interested in sufficient stability to bask in past glory in his waning years, will “accomplish”; is give room to more dynamic, less conciliatory, less centralized, younger forces.
“Of course, the reason Islam is ascendant, while the West is, at best, Rome in it’s last week, is specifically because Islam is flexible. Every mullah, and even non-mullah firebrand, is free to drum up his own interpretation and justification for Jihad and all else. As long as he makes sense to someone, off it is to the bomb factory. A similar kind of flexibility explorers, privateers and others enjoyed in The West, back when it was ascendant.”
Is that good? Is that what we should now aspire too?
To the extent ascendancy is preferred to decline, yes…
More generally, more freedom always trumps less so. And less bondage trumps more so.
I doubt they’re as free to criticise their leaders as we are on here. Or a host of other things such as women’s rights etc.
True, except that is all we do, criticise our leaders to whatever script is presented us, vote every four years, and excuse ourselves and government afterwards, taking whatever is then imposed.It looks good but is rigged.
Rights are imposed, where you grant to one you take from another and are ruled by the arbiter. In other countries you mess with someone and they kill you – it’s personal.
I’m not judging which is better, that is also personal, but Stuki has a valid point. Western society has become impotent and turned in on itself, voluntarily relying on “representatives” to make the right decisions for us. That is not nescessarily a strong society, and is often weak.
In my view allowing representatives to represent is far better than a free for all. As they say, if you don’t like the representative then stand yourself. That is a stronger society than the one with the biggest gun rules the roost.
I agree. However that system can and does become corrupt over time, where nationally for example you are outgunned and know it, subject to the expanding discrepancies of state but under the illusion that you have a say.
Other societies are simpler, more direct but more brutal maybe, because there is no space for finness
where authority is limited. These societies rely on culture and values much out of state control to keep themselves intact.
To return to the biggest gun though, here we are in an international setting where countries are as people, and there are rules and process that are not US monopolised but by common treaty. They say someone is not allowed to kill the rep of another country before they have made a case for it, even if the person (country) committing that act feels they have the biggest guns and so can go unchallenged.
Yes I agree with that observation.
Being “free” to, without posing any real threat, mindlessly “criticize” ones assigned Junta on Twitter, in practice takes an almost infinitely distant second to blatantly disregarding, and/or shelling the crap out of, him. The later has real effect, for better or worse. The former does not. In power relations, those with guns, are in position to hold those without accountable. But not vice versa.
In a power situation, those with guns, are in a position to dominate & withhold freedoms from those without, and frequently do.
Always do. Not merely frequently . The only exception being, when those others are also similarly armed. Which informs he only real, non fairytale, solution to the problem of oppression and withholding freedom.
Good Heavens, just how few people knew who this dude was before his assassination is amazing. The level of ignorance is astounding, and he was trouble long before Obama was elected. You all need to read up on him before commenting.
Publicly assassinating a foreign person of state is not a question of populism, except in the US maybe.
NSC war hawk, Richard Goldberg, has left for “personal reasons” which means that Trump fired him.
A good boss takes responsibility for wrongdoings committed by subordinates.
The “lie of the day” is Trump’s statement that he ordered the strike on Soleimani – which is what a responsible boss would say, even if it weren’t true.
Goldberg was brought in by Bolton but he certainly wasn’t the only one pushing for war on Iran. Expect to see more leaving over the next few weeks, maybe even Pompeo.
Iraq will vote to kick US out and Trump will comply. He will also order US troops out of Syria and perhaps elsewhere.
Ha, Wapo apparently has it that the Pentagon offered Trump a range of replies including the more extreme assassination, a policy of inclusion “to make other options seem more reasonable”, and Trump chose the extreme option. Not saying that isn’t framed, but if true it at least allows Trump to paint himself into a corner.
(Edit in Sechel gives a NYT link to that below)
Coming from the Washington Post (which I delivered as a boy), I don’t know what to believe.
I heard another story today (from different source) that Soleimani was trying to defuse tensions on his trip and that Trump knew and saw the opportunity to strike. Crazy if true.
Another had Soleimani arriving from Beirut and going to lobby the Iraqi government against expelling US. If true, it backfired.
And this just in:
“Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdl Mahdi has now officially revealed that the US had asked him to mediate between the US and Iran and that General Qassem Soleimani to come and talk to him and give him the answer to his mediation efforts. Thus, Soleimani was on an OFFICIAL DIPLOMATIC MISSION as part of a diplomatic initiative INITIATED BY THE USA.”
It looks like Trump or somebody in his administration set Soleimani up.
Source:
link to thesaker.is
Iraqi Parliament Vows To “Put An End To U.S. Presence” In Iraq.
Maybe Trump figured out this was the only way he could shut down operations in Iraq … triggering is his go-to tool. 6-D chess
The US has been the bully of the earth for a long time.
They must really hate our freedoms
That map is dated – there are more US bases in the region by now (I last counted 42). Makes the Iranians’ aggressive choice of placing their country right there seem even more impertinent.
DT like Obama Syria debacle is way over his head,come Monday morning when Iran closes the Straits,any US warship they see,deep six it,sink a carrier,Trump will resign the same day,he has no choice US too flat ass broke to fight Iran,Iraq,Syria,Russia,China at the same time.
I don’t think left wing supports war with Iran. Check statements coming from Bernie and the squad.
I don’t think it is correct to claim that left wing supports war with Iran. Check statements from Bernie Sanders and the squad.
I don’t think the left wing squad supports war with Iran. Check Bernie Sanders and Ilhan Omar .
It appears Trump is buying the military industrial complex’s support before the military tribunals of the Obama/Clinton cabal are convened … 5D chess. 🤫
I knew Mish would find a way to blame this on liberals… anything to save face after his disastrous support of Trump in 2016 and his falling for Russian fake news stories hook, line, and sinker. Did you know Mish stories are featured on Zero Hedge, run by Russian intelligence assets? Mish is naive and dumb.
….and with exponentially increasing deficits and debt, the threat to peace will only increase; nothing more dangerous than a military superpower at the end of its fckn wits !
It seems like it’s all kicking off.
link to zerohedge.com
Netanyahu has been planning this for years and now he has the perfect President to present the plan.
He and his ilk are what is known as ‘left wing’ seemingly. Actually, it’s all Establishment Cheerleaders, of course, all sympathetic to N’s Z cause.
None of this escalation is good and nobody should be cheering this.
The US better have an exit strategy for this mess or it could get very bad very quickly.
Trump has targeted 52 sites in Iran. If they attack us or our interests, those targets will be hit. The 52 is for the number of hostages at the American Embassy in Iranian.
He killed Soleimani in Iran, where he had no legitimate business being. The real key thing here is that the Iranians now know that we have penetrated their highest level with multiple sources of intelligence.
President Trump: “Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago)”
How does referencing the 1979 hostage crises make any sense? This statement makes it sound like the US wants to escalate this into a blood war. It is stupid beyond belief.
A sane response would have been: “If attacked by Iran, the US may, in its best judgement, destroy all Iranian assets used to attack us and also any assets which are believed to be an immediate threat. Iran must not attack us and must cease making threats if it wants to de-escalate this situation. If Iran ceases making threats and begins to cooperate with the US, then the US may begin to provide relief from sanctions.”
Shameless repost. Pentagon reports that the US is winning hearts and minds in the Middle East with laser-guided precision: link to hikinginthelight.us
They must know it’s an act of war. So whatever it is that made them commit an act of war must be very bad. I guess they’ve just bought some time.
The war party Republican senators may have something to do with this with impeachment looming in the Senate
Extortion? Maybe. But it would not be possible if Trump had pulled out from the Middle East as promised.
Deep-state MSM believe the IQ of peoples are low in this modern big brother world. So the more their comments and false flags are stupid and fake the more they think they reach big numbers of people.
The datas show Chiites were not muslim terrorists so far in the west. Only sunnites qualify for that (see ben laden, ISI and the likes from the sunni branch. By bombing sunni Iranian fighters permanently of course ( in Syria with the use of white helmets false flags amongst other) that behavior will change.
The fact is that they dont want Iran to have nuclear weapons because that should be the end of Israel and possibly sunnite Saudi Arabia. Deep-state billionaires ( owners of armement factories amongst other) will make money when Iran military assets will be bombed.
For instance Iran has large underground military facilities (claimed by Iran to be nuclear bombing proof, really?) where they hide their large amount of missiles truck carriers ( Including the ones with future nuclear warhead ) but I am confident the US has already special penetrating missiles ready for that targets.
“Ok Mish so under what conditions or circumstances is America justified to use force after diplomacy has failed?”
If the US is directly attacked – In a place we had business being – primarily that means in the US but I am open to other considerations. Regardless, retaliation cannot be in a third country without that country’s permission
US troops do not belong in the Mideast. Assassination in an undeclared war is a war crime. Thus, Trump is now guilty of war crimes along with Obama, Bush, Cheney
BTW – Diplomacy in Iran succeeded. Trump undid the one success of Obama
Finally the sanctions against Iran are an undeclared act of war
If the Democrats wanted to impeach Trump for war crimes, I would agree. And if Obama was charged with war crimes, I would agree with that too.
Mish
And yet the country who actively works against the US – Saudi Arabia goes unscathed. Sorry Saudi Arabia has also launched attached against the US – think 9/11, journalist attack and attack at US military base. We are being given a lot of BS about good and bad guys.
The Congress shall have Power To …declare War not President.
Yep, just like the media saying in 2017 that Trump “became Presidential” when he launched missiles into Syria. The MSM and its sponsors love war.
Most blue team pundits also love what Trump did, but they know they can’t admit it openly. Welcome to the Uniparty!
Yes, I forgot about that one
God bless you Mish for speaking sense on the most grave situation. No wonder the US is considered the world’s greatest threat to peace. link to nypost.com