tomahawk6 said:Iran's Quds Force/IRG is designated as a terrorist organization.
https://www.state.gov/designation-of-the-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps/
PPCLI Guy said:You completely missed my point.
You were the one that cited a Reuters article about Iran designating CENTCOM and the US as terrorists = moral relativism
We need to be prepared for state on state war, not counter terrorist operations.
Perhaps, but since both of the organizations who lost their leadership have been designated as terrorist organizations by a large number of countries, hair splitting at this point is specious.
Facile labeling puts that at risk
Refer to my response re moral relativism
Brihard said:Without a doubt there will be more dead Americans as a direct result.
kkwd said:Here is the official Canadian Government take on Quds. It is listed under National Security - Counter Terrorism - Listed Terrorist Entities - Currently listed entities
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx
The US take on it is here.
https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp644.aspx
PPCLI Guy said:We need to be prepared for state on state war, not counter terrorist operations.
PuckChaser said:I find it absolutely hilarious that the same people who think POTUS is an incompetent fool with no geopolitical skills or knowledge is now somehow smart enough to know exactly the 3 terrorists to kill that Iran will risk a hot war with the United States.
Absolutely this act was an escalation, but likely a much needed change of a broken record. "Soft power" with Iran hasn't worked in 40 years. They are a massive destabilizing force in the Middle East, and Soleimani has been compared to Bin Laden/Al-Baghdadi for his leadership in exporting terror to other countries to further Iranian influence in the area. We're also not privy to the high level intelligence that would lead the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs or Director CIA/NSA/DIA to brief POTUS on a direct connection between Soleimani and the rocket attack in Kirkuk, and also a window where they would be able to prosecute the target outside the territory of Iran.
Weinie said:"that he can't fathom Iran hitting back."
Iran has been "hitting back" since 1979.
As Humphrey B says above There is a time for diplomacy and a time to start swinging.
Brihard said:Buried by the death of Soleimani is the death of al-Muhandis. Stability and hegemony are American strategic objectives in Iraq. The assassination of al-Muhandis threatens that.
Brihard said:When you start throwing punches, you’d better have a plan to end the fight. Nobody’s standing off to the side with a stopwatch and a little bell, and there’s no ref in the ring.
Seriously, a lot of the rhetoric around this is so simplistic as to be inane.
Force, destruction, killing- these are all tools. Tools are used to accomplish a larger task. That big picture mustn’t be lost in the desire to swing (or drop) the hammer. A tactical strike that is not rationally connected to strategic objectives is merely violence. A tactical strike that compromises or undermines strategic objectives is folly.
Buried by the death of Soleimani is the death of al-Muhandis. Stability and hegemony are American strategic objectives in Iraq. The assassination of al-Muhandis threatens that.
Brihard said:When you start throwing punches, you’d better have a plan to end the fight. Nobody’s standing off to the side with a stopwatch and a little bell, and there’s no ref in the ring.
Seriously, a lot of the rhetoric around this is so simplistic as to be inane. Agreed
Force, destruction, killing- these are all tools. Tools are used to accomplish a larger task. That big picture mustn’t be lost in the desire to swing (or drop) the hammer. A tactical strike that is not rationally connected to strategic objectives is merely violence. A tactical strike that compromises or undermines strategic objectives is folly. And you purport to know US strategy?
Buried by the death of Soleimani is the death of al-Muhandis. Stability and hegemony are American strategic objectives in Iraq. The assassination of al-Muhandis threatens that.
From Radio New Zealand
"Tuesday's protest took place after funerals were held in Baghdad for the militia fighters who were killed in the US strikes.
Thousands of mourners - including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several other senior militia and paramilitary leaders - marched towards the Green Zone, where many Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies are located.
They were allowed by Iraqi security forces to enter the zone and gather on a street outside the US embassy compound.
Perhaps he was there to stabilize the situation.
Bruce Monkhouse said:And your crystal ball tells you this how? Maybe he was found to be a destabilizing force and thus was stabilized.
Or maybe not.....
tomahawk6 said:Quds Force introduced the EFP or explosively formed penetrator.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/13/iran-responsible-for-deaths-of-500-us-service-memb/
tomahawk6 said:Quds Force introduced the EFP or explosively formed penetrator.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/13/iran-responsible-for-deaths-of-500-us-service-memb/
PPCLI Guy said:Quds Force introduced the EFP or explosively formed penetrator.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/13/iran-responsible-for-deaths-of-500-us-service-memb/
A force that developed and deployed a weapon designed to kill it's enemies? Shocking.