Breaking: New US attack reported

[angrychair]

#BREAKING #NOW
Some Iraqi media report that the leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia, Qais al-Khazali, and his brother, Laith al-Khazali, were killed in the burning convoy.
#Iraq #Iran #IRGC #PMU #USA https://t.co/bTOptl7nv1

Link to tweet

?s=09

Who this group is in Iraq:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa%27ib_Ahl_al-Haq

[gratuitous]

1. More de-escalation, Secretary Pompeo?

I don't think Mike quite understands that term.

[bdamomma]

21. oh he said Americans are safer

[TheBlackAdder]

36. Trump's got the taste of blood now, look out!

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Doesnt matter if millions die, if it benefits rump in anyway, he will say do it.

This is what I predicted for years and I wanted to be wrong

[Blaukraut]

3. They'll just be replaced with new leaders

I get targeted strikes, but what is the endgame here?

[brush]

7. Yes, they will just be replaced.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Really. How many times did we kill the #2 Al Qaeda guy in Iraq? nt

[regnaD kciN]

26. About as often as we've killed the "kingpin"...

...of the international drug cartels.

[angrychair]

29. Who...

The CIA??

[True_Blue]

37. Getting US bases out of Iraq

A win-win for Putin & Iran.

[malaise]

4. He is still impeached

Fuck this monster

[jpak]

5. Mo Betta Freedumb for I-rak

[bluestarone]

6. Our troops better be ready

[FBaggins]

8. The militia that he led was just designated as a terrorist group

Mere hours ago.

Apparently... this means “we can kill you now”

[Marengo]

9. Good riddance if true.

[angrychair]

11. Not really the point

This is incredibly ill-advised on the heels of the assassination of the leader of QuD forces in Iraq.

More importantly, this now exposes an actual pre-planned and considered military effort in iraq as opposed to a reaction to an imminent threat.

Was the Gang of Eight notified of this second attack before it happened?

This is incredibly dangerous.

[Marengo]

15. I certainly hope it is a pre-planned and considered operation it's long overdue.

[Ferrets are Cool]

27. Have you been paying attention at all for the last 3 years?

When has ANY FUCKING THING from this administration been "pre-planned and considered"? Please, name ONE.

[angrychair]

30. No, it's not that simple

Both the bush and Obama administrations rejected such action as destabilizing to the region.

This was incredibly foolish and ill-advised.

No one doubts the guy was a bad actor, not really the point.

More importantly, this was a official govt position. This wasnt the leader of some ragtag terrorist organization.
He was replaced within hours.

How, specifically, does this possibly impact any emerging and imminent threat?

Any "planning or coordination" of an operation has been completed by the time it becomes an "imminent threat"?
Killing him would have zero impact on a "imminent threat.

[Marengo]

38. Oh, I didn't realize that striking a command element has no disruptive effect on operations.

That was the purpose of his presence in Iraq, to plan and coordinate attacks against US personnel and assets. Something he was quite adept at apparently. He constituted an imminent threat, and now is somewhat less so. His replacement can be dealt with in the same manner should he have the same directive. I also didn’t realize we are supposed to allow persons in “official govt positions” who are acting as enemy combatants to operate freely simply because they are endowed with some sort of rank or title by another country. The things I learn on DU.

[angrychair]

39. Amazing

While I'm an atheist I do like a good bible quote every now and again:

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

No one disputes that the guy was a bad actor but their are hundreds of bad actors and ruthless dictators out their we are not killing daily.

Why?

Because it creates a mess we have to be willing to clean up. There is a cost, in blood and treasure, that must be paid for both action and inaction. The difference is in which we are more willing to pay.

Generals and presidents, of many countries, in the past and present, have weighed those costs and the analysis was that he was less a liability alive than as a martyred dead.

The implication we are "safer" now is not supported by the facts.
1) Not one ally, not one, has supported this action.

2) NATO has not stopped all ISIS operations in Iraq due to the increased risk.

3) we have pulled back and halted dozens of SOCOM operations in Iraq for the same reason

4) all civilians were asked to leave the ME

5) proxies, with no connection to Iran, across the world, will put military and civilian personnel at significant risk, causing increased security and delaying or halting projects all over the world.

No one can ignore the simple fact that their was no "imminent threat" just the normal and managed threat from a known actor.
That this action was taken without consulting or even briefing the Gang of Eight while at the same time freely discussing it on an open golf course with Lindsey Graham at Mar a Lago.

This was reckless ill-advised and unprecedented in modern US history.

We will likely be paying for this hubris in blood and treasure long after trump retires to that golf course full time.

[LuckyCharms]

32. For Whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee

[EndlessWire]

33. Yeah...n/t

[irisblue]

10. Richard Engel twitter

Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) Tweeted:
Iraqi security official tells @nbcnews there has been anther US airstrike, this one north of Baghdad targeting Shiite militia leaders. Reports of 6 killed.
This right BEFORE a big Shiite protest tomorrow in Baghdad. It seems certain to provoke an escalation.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[dewsgirl]

12. I worry for him and all of our media, out there in this mess.

[irisblue]

18. I do too. And I trust his work and reporting

[dewsgirl]

19. Me too.

[Dream Girl]

20. We call him Richard ."Deathwish" Engel

Just sayin’

[dewsgirl]

22. Yikes 😳 I was young and really not following to closely,

but I'm having flashbacks to Daniel Pearlman and Nick Berg.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Engel has been going to all the hot spots since OIF...

he's pretty fearless.

[bdamomma]

25. the sentiment

is mutual, Richard Engel is a wonderful and dedicated journalist/reporter. I hope he stays safe.

[cwydro]

17. Thanks for posting this.

I trust him.

Hope he stays safe.

[spanone]

13. Goading Iran...he may get his wish.

With this idiot at the reigns, these are the scariest of times

[dem4decades]

14. Does Trump think this will break their will? Not everyone is as weak as him.

[roamer65]

16. Blatant goading of Iran.

If Iran keeps it cool, they will win the world over and break the US sanctions.

[at140]

28. more news of attacks by US military

Shibl al-Zaydi, leader of the PMU has been confirmed dead after the US conducted another air strike targeting his convoy in Taji. Two vehicles hit. Story is developing.



6 killed in airstrike north of Baghdad targeting convoy carrying Shia militia members – report



A convoy carrying members of the Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, was hit by an airstrike while traveling in Baghdad, media report.



The three-car convoy was struck in the northern outskirts of the Iraqi capital in the district of al-Taji, according to an Iraqi military source cited by Reuters. Six militiamen were reported killed in the attack, with three others critically injured. It remains unclear who carried out the strike.



The six killed in the strike have yet to be named, but early reports suggesting they hit two paramilitary commanders – Shibl al-Zaydi, secretary general of the Kataib al-Imam militia, as well as Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq – were refuted by the PMF in a statement.

[mr_lebowski]

31. The NERVE of these Terrorists, I swear

Fighting back against a global super-power who illegally invaded their country, overthrew their government, killed 10's of thousands, created millions of refugees, installed a puppet government ... all based on fucking bullshit/lies about non-existent WMD's.

I mean ... WHAT TEMERITY on their part?!?

We should definitely wipe this terrorist militia off the face of the earth. How dare they resist our Holy Christian Occupation, and try to kill our Crusaders in retaliation?!? Who do they think they are?

We're the GOOD GUYS, spreadin' freedumb and shit ... don't they know that?

[UniteFightBack]

34. The people don't want this....Americans, Iranians and Iraqis. THE PEOPLE. nt

[Codeine]

40. Believe me, plenty of people on both sides

are eager for it.

[BlueSpot]

35. How do we have 24/7 news and this isn't on?

I've looked at CNN and MSNBC. I even took a deep breath and checked FOX. Nothing on this anywhere on TV that I've found. Last night was the same with the airstrikes reported here at DU but nothing on the TV news - at least until I went to bed.

News isn't news anymore. It's just pundits and opinions and replays. I don't even know where to get actual news anymore.