Reuters: U.S. weighing best response to Saudi oil attacks: Pence
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday the United States was reviewing evidence that suggests Iran was behind the attacks on Saudi oil facilities and stands ready to defend its interests and allies in the Middle East.
“We’re evaluating all the evidence. We’re consulting with our allies. And the president will determine the best course of action in the days ahead,” Pence said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington.
President Donald Trump had warned that the United States was “locked and loaded” to respond to the attacks, but has emphasized he does not want a war.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was traveling to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the response to the attacks, Pence said.
Read more ....
Update #1: Pence says US is 'locked and loaded' to defend allies (The Hill)
Update #2: Pence says attacks against allies, global energy supply will fail (Al Jazeera)
WNU Editor:There are no good options on what to do.
18 comments:
The worst option would be to do nothing. They need to hit Irans oil platforms and refineries with a clear warning of eat this, Do NOT counter it.
Did the Iranians hit our spots in Texas? No. Saudi Arabia. Why not let Saudis do this since we (ie trump) just sold them a zillion weapons for just this purpose.
They didn't shoot down one drone, or missile?
The Saudi's are supposed to be at war and they have no suitable defense system to guard against an attack on their major source of income?
No surveillance system in space picked up on incoming by anyone?
Let's see. Saudi's, America and a desired target for destruction and only supposed eveidence. Have we ever heard a scenario like that before?
I agree. IF it truly was Iran hit them twice as hard.
But. Why would Iran do this in the first place? It's inherently obvious they are at the mercy of US firepower. Sure, sure they could "win" any prolonged asymmetric war in which half their young men is sacrificed...but again. What is Iran's motivation? To sell their own oil? To shove the middle finger at someone before yourself get wiped of this earth by a drone? What's the mid to long term strategy?
Jesus, Bob. You realise most US cities (99.9% or more) have zero defence against drone swarms? Including major industrial plants including nuclear. So you were saying. ..?
Fazman
Imagine if following 9/11 Bush had announced to the attackers, whoever they might be something like this.
"Okay. Ya got one passed us. It won't happen again. If you think that your actions will cause us to overreact and attack/invade some innocent countries that were not responsible for that attack and thereby waste our country's treasure, both money and the lives of our young men and women, you are crazy. We will find you and get you in due course."
Imagine if he had taken that course of action what the state of the USA, and the world in respect to the Mid East, would be today.
@bob..nice question. Realistically - given how the moral bar has sunk so deep in politics, and especially in the Democrat party (see Kavanaugh, Trump collusion and on and on), they'd probably try to impeach Bush - who, as they claim, also stole an election and was a dummy and moron too. Thanks for playing though
Anon
9/11 showed how defenseless the US is, or, was set up to be at the time. My God they were unable to contact the Secretary of Defense for about 3 hours after it started.
The Saudis are in the middle of a war. You might think they would have stepped up to that little realty by now and if they haven't they should be denied further assistance, militarily speaking of course.
Uhmm bob. .you realise the US has been at war since 2001 ..yet in all those 18 years all cities at home are left unprotected and you go rant about Saudi Arabia.
Listen, let's not play this game of back and forth..all I'm saying (and I know you agree ) is: you can use gps programed drones carrying pressure cooker bombs and let them explode in a coordinated fashion in the US right now - there's 0.00000001% likelihood that the target you aim for has anti drone tech in it. The costs? As low as a few thousand US $ for the attackers. For the victims. .well..It will be a terrible day. So get prepared! It'll come for sure
Just maybe.... Iran is not all bluster. Just maybe..... The US and SA both know this. I have read we have 70,000 Americans in harms way. Obviously, in that intense environment our people will be easy targets of the massive Iranian missle projects within and in their neighbor allied elements across the crescent. Do we want to, can President Trump afford to lose a percentage of those American lives, even with both parties knowing that ultimately Iran loses? No, it would not be a good trade off.
Your thought experiment is flawed as you do not consider the consequences of such an attack. 70,000? Jesus, if Iran were to do that, it would rain B61s for a couple days.
In the interest of a not so bad option, I offer this. First, recognize that a pissing match with missiles between Iran and SA is bound to be a big mess for everyone. Second, recognize that Iran has shown it cannot responsibly possess conventional weapons. Third, it is obvious that Iran is serious about developing unconventional weapons. Fourth, recognize that if someone starts going after Iran's conventional forces, it will soon be use it or lose it time.
My suggestion is that the US retaliate with just about everyone's better interests involve. Make that retaliation an earth penetrating attack on Iran's underground nuclear facilities. At least Parchin. Put it out of business. Leave their conventional forces alone. What can Iran do at that point? Start a full war with SA and the US? That would end the regime and they probably know that. But if SA attacks Iran will risk everything for self defense.
So what can they do if their mountain is filled with rubble? Not much. Part of a big problem removed. Retaliation served.
Anon
Don't compare the war(s) the US has been involved in with the war the Saudi's are in right now. Hell the US has been involved in wars almost continually since 1776 but have managed to mostly keep them over "there". The Saudis however are actually over "there" and we are supposed to believe they had no defense mechanisms around their primary source of revenue? What are they broke and cannot afford to defend themselves, or just stupid? If they were unable to defend themselves they should not have gotten involved in a war with a neighbor.
My point is, the incredibility suggests a made up issue and at this time all "evidence" is speculation. There are many hawks are dying to get the country into a war with Iran.
this may shock some numb nuts commenting here and going after Bob, like a swarm of girls, that in fact Iran, Yemen, et al do not have drones that can reach our cities. And Mexico and Canada, the closest nations to us, are serious trade partners and not hostile nations like Iran etc
SO STOP MAKING SUCH PHUCKING STUPID REMARKS AND STOP GOING AFTER SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE CRAP YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST PLAIN DUMB TRUMP ROBOTS
Today in one sentence: The Trump administration will revoke California's right to set stricter air pollution standards for cars; Trump ordered two former White House aides not to testify at a House Judiciary Committee hearing; Corey Lewandowski refused to answer dozens of questions about potential obstruction of justice; Trump administration officials suggested charging immigrants $975 to appeal of an immigration judge's deportation ruling; and Trump wants to put a proponent of torture in charge of U.S. human rights policy.
Iran has a sacred death wish. They don’t seem to be intimidated by the massive reprisals we could land. Therefore they may be happy to cause as many casualties as possible as a last dance.
I'd like to think we have the ability to up the ante with the increasingly unpopular moo-lahs and do so surreptitiously.
If they did this attack one can be sure they gamed out our response and theirs to it. What if we do nothing on the surface other than strengthen the hapless Saudi military so trying a stunt like this again is more difficult and in the eyes of the moo-lahs more perilous?
We're in no hurry. Iran is the country in financial decline with a growing youth population that isn't satisfied with what they perceive the future under the moo-lahs will be. I think this is a strength we have and I would hate to blow this. Then there is a bloodless and economical strength called 50% annual inflation, I recently read. There is a restive situation with the Kurds {?} in a border region. Hezbollah isn't doing as well in Lebanon these days. They have less funding and are perceived as a source of criminal activity in order to fund themselves.
I assume most reading this post are aware of the recent "martyrdom" by self-inflicted fire of a young woman who simply wanted to see a soccer game. Wanted to see a soccer game in person. How criminal. This incident cannot be covered up. How do you think this incident sat with people? Certainly supporters of the dinosaurs could care less but support can wane in the face of economic decline and changing opinions.
One worry I have is the dimz getting into the game. They have demonstrated great incompetence for years. Don't fuel their ignorant input. Hopefully they will lose in the next election and lose greatly, Iran or no Iran.
Most importantly re-hire James Mattis. Getting rid of Boltin was a step in the right direction. Hone the stick. Make it bigger and carry it more quietly. Let the moo-lahs figure out what to do when we ignore them. Put the ball in their court but never let them feel we aren't watching and waiting. I want to disturb their sleep. What can we do to increase bloodless dissatisfaction in Iran?
There have been comments on this site about DJT bluffing when he chose not to retaliate recently for a stunt of the Iranians and backed off. Consider what we learned of their response to a threat that was called off at the last minute because, as the evil DJT said, there would be 150 casualties. Now they have to reprogram their responses? Now we know more about their capabilities. No shots fired. No casualties.
Obviously work very closely with our best of allies, the Israelis.
End of ramble.
P. S. Sneak this robot screener into Iran. Or train it to count.
Interesting Roger and supports the apparent mood in SA per
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-saudi-war-iran_n_5d81383ce4b05f8fb6eee005
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