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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#298076: Jan 7th 2020 at 5:48:39 PM

All the casualties in the attack on the American base have been confirmed as Iraqis, no Americans.

Edited by CookingCat on Jan 7th 2020 at 5:49:04 AM

Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#298077: Jan 7th 2020 at 5:52:21 PM

Again, Soleimani had 80% popularity in Iran, and millions attended his funeral. Plus, he was their head of foreign intelligence, and was in Iraq on a diplomatic mission. Killing him was a major act of war, and they had to strike back, or their own people would have torn them apart.

This string of attacks is flashy (SRBMs are a pretty big deal, let alone dozens at once), and likely caused a lot of property damage, but that seems to be most of what it did. The DOD is reporting no American casualties, likely because the Iranians made a big show of moving their missiles into position a while before the strike in order to give them time to evacuate. Basically, this is Iran saying 'it can end here, or it can escalate - your choice'.

What's precedent ever done for us?
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298078: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:03:32 PM

[up][up] How can we be sure? Can we really trust this administration not to lie?

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#298079: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:08:51 PM

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham says she won't be issuing any more written statements tonight over Iran's attacks on US bases in Iraq.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298080: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:10:20 PM

Figures. The one time I actually want to hear what he has to say, he decides to clam up.

It's like he's treating this whole thing like one of his Apprentice episodes

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#298081: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:13:35 PM

I dunno. If this somehow led to Trump hiding like the chickenshit coward he is for the rest of the year, I'll take that as a silver lining.

If you haven't guessed, I'm just so sick of Donald Trump.

Edited by M84 on Jan 7th 2020 at 10:16:07 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#298082: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:14:00 PM

Pentagon said no American casualties, and Iraqi government is apparently now saying no Iraqi casualties. Guess they just aimed for the runways.

What's precedent ever done for us?
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#298083: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:14:20 PM

How can we be sure? Can we really trust this administration not to lie?

Statement was from the Pentagon.

MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298084: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:22:13 PM

Jesus H. Christ.

I really hope this will be the end of it. Or at least winding down.

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#298086: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:24:45 PM

Expectations of a World War III are foolish, because whatever war this may beget (if it even does escalate to one) it's likely going to be pretty unilateral. Primarily the US, Iran, and their closest ally or two.

Edited by AlleyOop on Jan 7th 2020 at 9:25:20 AM

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#298087: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:26:34 PM

I don’t wish to add in panic or anything, but just to clarify, what ARE the steps to launching nuclear weapons again?

Oh God! Natural light!
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#298088: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:28:07 PM

Pentagon officials are fleeing the Trump administration:

Edited by CookingCat on Jan 7th 2020 at 6:34:40 AM

MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298089: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:31:14 PM

On the one hand, I can understand that, but on the other...

If all the rational people are gone, that leaves only the crazies, and who knows what they will let our madman of a president get up to

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#298090: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:33:13 PM

Man, scammers work impressively fast.

What's precedent ever done for us?
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#298091: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:35:03 PM

For context, [up] is a link to a tweet that reads as follows:

#NEW: Young men in #Jacksonville are getting fake text messages saying they've been drafted into the #military, and are going to #Iran.

"These messages are fraudulent. Do not respond or call the numbers listed." - Office of Secretary of Defense.

Edited by sgamer82 on Jan 7th 2020 at 7:35:16 AM

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#298092: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:35:14 PM

Now I'm getting really, really worried about the potential use of nukes...

MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298093: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:36:55 PM

I've gotten robocalls like that before. It's nothing new

[up] How come? You just heard there were no casualties in this last strike

Edited by MrHellboy on Jan 7th 2020 at 8:37:32 AM

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#298094: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:38:47 PM

[up] The Pentagon officials fleeing.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#298095: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:40:29 PM

The Pentagon, unlike say State, still has plenty of professional depth.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298096: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:44:55 PM

If you want to feel better, check out this reporter's Twitter feed:

https://twitter.com/JaneLytv

She's debunking a lot of the false information about what happened

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#298097: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:52:23 PM

Holy hell, take a look at this. Major update:

https://twitter.com/CalNBC/status/1214728973319626755

Hopefully he'll take them up on that

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#298098: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:55:01 PM

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1214739853025394693

All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#298099: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:56:05 PM

"Okay, we got our revenge by doing the geopolitical equivalent of throwing eggs at your house and leaving flaming bags of shit on your doorstep. We're willing to stop here if you are."

No, he's not going to take them up on that unless he can find a way to spin it so that he looks like the "winner".

[up]Oh FFS. This is one of the most annoying things about Trump — his utterly inane tweets.

Edited by M84 on Jan 7th 2020 at 10:57:34 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
TenguSkunkworks from Thailand Since: Nov, 2016
#298100: Jan 7th 2020 at 6:57:02 PM

Out of curiosity, isnt everyone being a little bit alarmist about this?

OK Iran launched a few missiles at US bases. But given the fact that there has been no US casualties so far, no attack on civilian targets, and that the Iranians are apparently calling this even, I would think that this is just about as little as they can do for a face saving retaliation after the US blew up one of their most senior operations commanders.

If anything rather than this indicating a desire to escalate I would think the opposite, that the Iranians want to deescalate matters.

Edited by TenguSkunkworks on Jan 7th 2020 at 10:00:47 PM


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