U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 23, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
ABC News Online: Donald Trump could be ready to order a strike against Iran, Australian Government figures say
Senior figures in the Turnbull Government have told the ABC they believe the United States is prepared to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, perhaps as early as next month, and that Australia is poised to help identify possible targets.
It comes amid intense sabre-rattling by US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.
The ABC has been told Australian defence facilities would likely play a role in identifying targets in Iran, as would British intelligence agencies.
But a senior security source emphasised there was a big difference between providing accurate intelligence and analysis on Iran's facilities and being part of a "kinetic" mission.
"Developing a picture is very different to actually participating in a strike," the source said.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The Australian Prime Minister is downplaying these reports (but he is not denying them) .... Australian PM Turnbull says 'no reason to believe' Trump is planning Iran strike (The Guardian).
Disinformation for sure. Trump is focused on domestic USA Before midterms. Dems want to remove him from office! So no Iran strike today or before the elections. Nor afterwards.
ReplyDeleteQuote possible after November if Iran blocks the straight
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree it might not be politically prudent, we a) don't know what Trump and Putin discussed on the topic of Iran and b) what motivations/reasons to act might be in play. Russia might benefit from a weak Iran/regime change just as much as the US might benefit - if coordinated these two can and might change the middle east finally. Between the speed of Trump/openness to deal with Putin - and accept Putin's ruthlessness- these two politicians might have divided this part of the world in this 2 hour meeting. We know for sure if either the translator dies soonish or CNN tells us with breaking news that Cohen secretly recorded Trump burping 5 years ago and that that burp clearly said "money - pay Russians with the money we made from all those organ harvesting" ...I'm sure a credible guy like Acosta or Lemon will break the story haha can't even say that with a straight face :)) lemon and acosta..those two guys together could forever transform the US into a kale eating bunch of weaklings and SJWs. If anyone is endangering the US it's guys like those clueless backseat critics. If their cnn boss tells them to tell you it's good to pay money to iran,they'll do it. Just as cnn turkey daughter network is also highly questionable in their support for Erdogan - completely lost independent journalism but tell you it ain't so.
ReplyDeleteAnon
ReplyDeleteYour girlie boy catiness about anchors on cable is foolish
We simply have no information at this point but know this:
1. nothing said via Washington
2. closing the straight might be construed as act of war , ie Israel did this in the past, though not in this spot
3. Trump as president has to focus upon both domestic and foreign things, not, as you suggest, focusing on domestic only
4. why label those you dislike as backseat critics when in fact those of us commenting here are also backseat critics, though with smaller audiences, unpaid, and in many cases, using vituperation when anchors do not
Anon (third post),
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that we do not "know" what Putin and Trump discussed regarding Iran, we can make inferences based upon what has been reported and common sense. For example, high level meetings between Israeli and Russian officials occurred both before and after the Trump/Putin "Summit." The leaders of Israel and Russia, like them or not, are very serious and highly skilled personnel. They do not hold such meetings for fun and games. If they did not have something meaningful to discuss, they wouldn't have bothered. For example, if Russia was going to support Iran "business as usual" a mere phone call suffices to get this done or nothing at all. From this, a reasonable theory can be formulated that they had big issues to discuss involving major developments. Other reports indicate how to contain Iran and move their proxies from Israel's border with Syria was discussed.
"....if coordinated...." Trump and Putin wanted to move quickly for a next meeting. Unfortunately certain petty personnel acting strictly on behalf of their narrow interests combined with Trump hatred have postponed this. Fortunately the parties will likely find ways around this. As such, it is a reasonable conclusion they are trying to coordinate. Next, we have had Iran threaten genocide against Americans. Then POTUS responds quite loudly. In times past a POTUS would not have responded to this knowing the criticism would be deafening. In this case, there was criticism but it was surprising muted. We also learn that Iran rebuffed EIGHT ATTEMPTS AT DIPLOMACY by team Trump!! So yes, I think it highly likely the relevant parties have agreed on a plan to contain Iran. Unfortunately certain petty individuals in the US threaten to undermine all of this.
You mention accepting "Putin's ruthlessness." He hardly has a monopoly on this. Besides he is arguably the most powerful man in the world. We have to work with him. It's a pity certain people in the US simply cannot or will not grasp such simple concepts.
For some reason some simply must have a new Cold war. Keep in mind we don't need it, can't readily afford it, and may not win. This is beyond stupid.
You mention the death of a translator. The translators work must be shared with others in the government who are in charge of formulating and implementing polices, the US government leaks like a sieve, and the general mood among government personnel is anti-Trump. As such, it is pretty near 100% likely that POTUS did not give up anything that would undermine US security or economic interests as it would have been leaked by now. So the critics clearly don't want anything this person says to become public. Would POTUS's political opponents resort to murder to silence the translator. I certainly hope not.
1) Putin just invited trump to Russia - that's very soon for another meeting
Delete2) The translator was for Putin only; did not share transcript (if there was one) with US side
3) look at Trump in the joint press conference after the meeting..at the very beginning. He looks so shook up. He either was just threatened by Putin and/or something happened or was decided jointly between the two that upset him... we don't know. .but I believe Trump is actually a man of peace. .he acts strong and invests into arms to avoid killing... He's a family man. Sure he's a pig and f**ks around like crazy. .but he grew up in the 1940s-1960s.. he's 74.. and he became a billionaire and had so many gold diggers rushing at him and blowing him all the time for sure. Not defending him, just explaining how someone with that much money and growing up at that time and becoming a billionaire at the height of and after the sexual revolution can turn out like that.. if he truly avoided drugs, as he claims, because of his deceased brother, who died of alcohol abuse, he must be quite disciplined.. drugs were and are to my understanding everywhere where there's money^^ at least in movies that's the case..and movies don't lie ;) I wouldn't be surprised if he takes some uppers.. All that "he's got great genes" talk is a bit unbelievable. And on top no access to medical records. Maybe he's an alien. Who the f knows anymore
ReplyDeleteI think the Russians working with Iran in Syria is a marriage of convenience. Putin hasn't scored big with Russia's young men being in Syria. And he faces voters, remember. Iran is a mid east trouble maker in Russia's eyes though this is my take and is based on a few short comments from a few publications. Also Russians are infidels, don't forget. The "religious" dinosaurs in Iran aren't fond of him for this reason, I should think.
I suspect Trump and Putin broached the subject of Iran's bringing tumult to the region, not Ms. Daniels' bra size, in Helsinki.
Noting Putin's grin when he is with Trump I feel Putin gets along well with POTUS and vice versa, sanctions aside. It is a refreshing and human view of him we don't normally see. I for one don't think he is quite the ogre some in this country portray. It's hillary's fault she wound up a star on wikileaks assuming the Russian's hacked her computer. She has no one to blame but herself.
Geeze what a stew.
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