"We need to be prepared that we're now at war"

[orangecrush]

"Some current and former U.S. officials, as well as veteran Iran observers, said the killing was an escalatory move far beyond what they had ever expected.

“There’s no chance in hell Iran won’t respond,” said Afshon Ostovar, an expert on Soleimani and author of “Vanguard of the Imam” a book about Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The strike, which also reportedly killed Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was traveling in the same convoy as Soleimani, even astonished some members of the Trump administration who said killing the Iranian general had never been seriously considered.

“I can’t believe it,” one U.S. official said. “The immediate concern for me is: What’s the next step from Iran? Is this the beginning of a regional conflagration?”




A former U.S. official who dealt with the Middle East said the strike was especially notable because it targeted the leader of a state apparatus, as opposed to a non-state actor.

“We need to be prepared that we’re now at war,” he said."


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/01/02/soleimani-trump-iran-iraq-093102

[at140]

1. I expect serious escalation by Iran

with regards to terrorist attacks on American assets around the world.
I do not expect all out war by Iran. It's economy is hurting and an all out war will be disastrous militarily for Iran. Unless of course Doofus-45 decides it is in his interest politically to start war with Iran. His buddy Putin will not appreciate his ally Iran being destroyed.

[roamer65]

2. I expect Iran admission into SCO.

Chinese and Russian troops will be arriving soon.

[getagrip_already]

3. Putin doesn't care about iranians, just russian power.....

He will do what he thinks is best for his interests. Letting iran get a little bloodied up is fine as long as it furthers russias influence in the region and weakens the us.

Plus, its in his long term interests to keep trump in power. He can achieve his goals. He really doesn't care about iran.

[at140]

5. Russia & Iran just conducted joint military exercise in Persian gulf

from which we must assume Iran & Russia are allies.

[getagrip_already]

8. aligned is probably a better term....

Russia has an internal muslim problem. They don't trust iran, and certainly don't want to see them too powerful. The caucuses and even the republic of georgia, and most certainly chechnia, are hotbeds off ethic unrest right at home.

At the same time, they don't want the us to push iran around and increase our control in the region. They want controlled regional chaos where we are weakened and they are strengthened. Oh, and hurting israel would be a plus.

But they would be more than willing for the us and iran to trade some blows. Just as long as the us doesn't win. Putins punch list is to weaken the us, keep trump in power, destabilize the region, and increase russian control.

Stopping a war isn't one of his goals. Starting one most likely is.

[at140]

12. You are right on every item!

Putin loves to see democratic countries get in trouble. So as you said, he would have no problem if US & Iran traded a few blows just so long as US does not takeover control of Iran.

[DBoon]

26. a weakened iran is easier for Putin to control

He may allow this to proceed up to a point, then sue for peace.

[klook]

4. Hoo-boy, End Times a-comin'!

Christians will be raptured any day now, no doubt.

[backtoblue]

6. This.is.scary.

My stomach hurts.

[orangecrush]

7. Same here.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

9. Wake up, folks, THIS has been trumpie's goal all along.

[orangecrush]

10. Someone is making a killing in the oil market

Literally.

I hope Ted Lieu is monitoring the situation carefully.

[at140]

13. Nasdaq went over 9000 today and DJI is ready to hop over 29000

stock market does not seem to be worried about any wars starting.

[getagrip_already]

15. who cares what the stock market "thinks"?

It is no longer based on financial performance of the companies that make it up. And besides, so few people as a percentage of population are invested in it, it doesn't matter what it does.

Your boss may have a million dollar toy or two, but that doesn't mean the economy is good.

And neither does what the market thinks.

[at140]

16. That was not the point I was making

point is usually markets do not like uncertainty created by impending war.
But the market is saying there will be no war.

[getagrip_already]

20. The markets are being irrational is my point....

They got such a huge inrush of money from the tax cuts they aren't behaving normally. It's an 8 ball to the brain. The traders don't even seem to be looking at company performance or outlook.

It's just crazy. And I don't think its going to end well.

[at140]

23. Yap, Schiller PE is higher now than before crash of 1929

besides the influx of money from huge tax cuts to the top 5%, it is the artificial low interest rates (below real inflation) is the elephant in the room. Hard assets (stocks, real-estate) are in bubble territory IMO.

[getagrip_already]

29. there wasn't any rush of tax refunds to anyone under the top 1/2 %.....

Between 1% and 1/2% there was some money, but not enough to pay a college tuition bill.

For the lower 99%, it was just pocket change. It fell largely to those that make their money from capital investments, RE truss, options trading, dividends, and other forms of non w-2 income.

My contributions to my retirement investments didn't increase because my salary didn't increase. I didn't suddenly end up with millions in cash I'd otherwise have had to pay in taxes. I didn't get millions in bonuses because my company paid less.

And chances are, neither did you. We weren't the beneficiaries of the tax cuts.

[at140]

31. Main beneficiaries of Tax cut--------Large corporations got 40% tax cut on marginal rates

which is why corporate earnings look good but it is mainly due to tax cuts.
And of course the top 1% saw the most benefit from tax cut. My own tax cut could buy me a couple of
steak dinners, is all.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Give It A Week...

...before sticking by that assertion.
There are still investors who believe the old canard that war is good for the economy.
Most have rejected that premise, as you said, because of uncertainty.
Short term speculators might be pushing it up now, but the long termers will reject that notion and sell to the suckers.
Then wait, buy back, and profit twice.

[Wednesdays]

24. Take a look again. nm

[at140]

25. haha just looked, and seems reality is setting in?

[Newest Reality]

28. I am more inclined...

I am more inclined to factor in the decoupling of Wall St. from Main St. so to speak. Things have changed a lot and while Wall St. still has a broad significance in the economy, it has been transforming into a vehicle of those whose economy booms more and more.

The semiotics of the stock market have transformed and shifted and will continue to do so, especially as the Fourth Industrial Revolution gets more steam.

[at140]

33. It is not complicated why Wall Street is partying

Just look at the interest banks are paying on CD's. It is way below real inflation. In other words savers are being robbed by the low rates. So what can people do except chase the only place where there can get in on the action....Wall street. When your brother-in-law tells you of making a killing in market makes you jump in with blinders on.

[Strelnikov_]

19. That would be Russia . . no surprise there

KSA will also, up to the point where their facilities are knocked off-line . . making Russia the worlds largest petroleum and natural gas exporter.

Petro-ruble, anyone?

[spanone]

11. anything to avoid impeachment...remember... we had a deal with Iran

this motherfucker walked away from it

[greytdemocrat]

14. Iran would do well

To sit down and really think about
what just happened.

Trump isn't fucking around here and
they (Iran) could well see their leadership and
infrastructure totally destroyed.

Chant Death to America and burn a few
flags.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. Every Trump supporter needs to be marched

To the nearest Recruiter's office!

[UniteFightBack]

18. I'm telling you the American people no matter what walk of life on the whole does not want

this. From the news media to the guy at the hardware store....this will not be popular.

Everybody understands this guy was evil, but to ratchet it up like this when we were actually having dialogue with Iranians not that long ago - working out an imperfect deal, but a deal nonetheless. ....to NOW THIS!

The utter failure of this man can not be more glaring and this will do him NO FAVORS for his re-election.

[DFW]

21. I have to wonder if someone in Iran isn't being more farsighted than they seem

Coming on the heels of the embassy attack, which Soleimani had to have been in on, sending him physically to Iraq, where he became fair game as an outside foreign agitator instead of an untouchable on his home territory, might have been the plan of someone inside the Iranian regime who found him uncomfortable for reasons (personal?) unknown to us. A gung-ho fanatic, definitely a major obstacle in getting sanctions removed, is eliminated and we are the bad guys. Rival eliminated (maybe even had us tipped off as to where and when?) and blame lies solely with us. It's an offer Trump couldn't refuse, as the bait would have been too tempting, and Soleiman's enemies inside of Iran would have known that.

It would have been just as easy to get word to Soleiman the second he landed in Iraq, and let him know we knew exactly where he was, and if he wanted to have breakfast the next morning, he should take the next plane home. The same people who ordered him blown up knew that, too, and chose the more drastic option--no doubt, just as any Iranian with half a brain would have known they would.

[at140]

27. Brilliant point!

You should be working for the CIA.

[DFW]

37. If the CIA hasn't already considered that scenario and ten others, too

Then they need to remove the “I” from their title.

[grumpyduck]

30. "We need to be prepared that we're now at war," he said."

"We" are not now at war. The American nation is not at war. A few f'ing assholes in government are at war. And that's who "whoever" should retaliate against.

[pwb]

32. An soldier was killed in a war zone. That is all that happened.

That guy took a chance he should not have been in Iraq. He fucked up. Not feeling the fear.

[at140]

34. Pretty much what you said..nt

[Algernon Moncrieff]

35. Need to be prepared? We've been at war over there since 2001.

It's like 'Nam. It ebbs and flows, but it never ends.

[at140]

38. Goes further back all the way to Carter Admin

when Iran held Americans hostage for something like 400 days.
May be that is what Iran was after..to acquire American hostages working in the embassy in Iraq.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

40. Embassy attacks have been successful over the years

Nairobi, Teheran, Benghazi. So I could see why Baghdad would be tempting, even though that embassy is built like a fortress.

[shanti]

36. One freaking day

into the new year and he starts shit. I may need to stock up on tranqs. Cannabis isn't strong enough, and alcohol will kill me.

I believe 2020 will be America's annus horribilus.

[mvd]

39. Unfortunately, didn't expect any better from this madman in the WH

He is like a child only far, far more dangerous. A lot of lives are at stake. As Anonymous said, the voices of reason have left. Very scary.