USA vs Iran

[funkyrobot]

With the recent embassy shenanigans in Iraq, does anyone think this is finally going to kick off?

[Gromm]

Doubt it. We may see more strikes against 'pro Iranian militias' but I very much doubt Yanks would dare to attack Iranian mainland targets without building some sort of a gang oops sorry, ragtag coalition of willing to give it some sort of legitimacy first and bringing in more firepower into the region. They definitely not going to invade Iran for obvious reasons (will get their fat asses kicked big time), but we might see some fight-by-wire LSCM fireworks on pro Iranian targets primarily in Iraq. Again, I doubt Iran would retaliate directly as it would give US carte blanche to go after Iranian leadership and key military assets with all they have, but rather use proxies to harass US and allied troops and installations in the region. And to complicate the matter Iraq may get all stroppy and refuse to play ball by closing it’s airspace to the big boy. Anyhoo, get your popcorn ready

[GT03ROB]

Well several thousand US paras are on their way to Kuwait.... always a good sabre rattle.

[baldy1926]

There were a few transport aircraft over that way this morning along with mildenhall based tankers.
Now the only stuff showing in that part of the world is the Israel airforce who seem to be active this morning

[Biker 1]

Sabre rattling & bluster. Can anybody really see the US getting involved in yet another mess in the middle east any time soon? That's probably what the Iranians are counting on: wind them up from the sidelines, but not cross a red line, in the certain knowledge there will be zero repercussions. Makes them look bad-ass to their demented followers in Iraq & elsewhere....

[Halb]

It started here and it'll end here!
You're dismissed! And that's an order!

[andy_s]

They've been having a lot of internal revolt in the past few months [] but internet now restored as arrests continue.
Iran/US proxy conflict has been the nexus of most of the ME troubles since the fifties.

[Earthdweller]

andy_s said:

They've been having a lot of internal revolt in the past few months [] but internet now restored as arrests continue.
Iran/US proxy conflict has been the nexus of most of the ME troubles since the fifties.

I wax always under the impression that Iran was one of the US’s closest allies, being a modern open society, right up until the fall of the Shah in 1979

Agreed it’s kind of gone tits up since

[FazerBoy]

Earthdweller said:

I was always under the impression that Iran was one of the US’s closest allies, being a modern open society, right up until the fall of the Shah in 1979

Agreed it’s kind of gone tits up since

Yep. They were a modern, outward-looking society prior to being taken over by the Islamists. They even had close ties to Israel.

I believe that the majority of the Iranian population is still of that mindset but they are being dragged by the fanatical leadership to places they don’t want to go. It doesn’t look like it will end well...

[andy_s]

Earthdweller said:

I wax always under the impression that Iran was one of the US’s closest allies, being a modern open society, right up until the fall of the Shah in 1979

Agreed it’s kind of gone tits up since

Yep - close ally as US/UK engineered the coup in '53, but I had skipped over the detente period. As you say, from '79 it's been constant trouble ever since.

[Tryke3]

funny that isnt it

[Halb]

Iran is one of the best examples of blowback, after the Brits/Yanks went in to destroy the elected left leaning government of Iran.

[Baby Shark doo doo doo doo]

Might get to see the F14 in action again

[baldy1926]

More c17 on the way now.

[Ultrafunkula]

Baby Shark doo doo doo doo said:

Might get to see the F14 in action again

Maverick is getting on a bit though

[FN2TypeR]

funkyrobot said:

With the recent embassy shenanigans in Iraq, does anyone think this is finally going to kick off?

Election year is upon us so I suspect that some sabre rattling will be in short order over the next 6-8 months, yes

'murica

[Halb]

Ultrafunkula said:

Maverick is getting on a bit though

He's got a film out this year so he must be in decent shape.

crikey, just thought, with an election and top gun2 out, it'll be like the fourth of july all year, yeehaw

[Trevatanus]

Lots of chatter on Facebook groups about units being sent out with a view to being ready in case there is a need for rescues from Iraq.

[andy_s]

FN2TypeR said:

funkyrobot said:

With the recent embassy shenanigans in Iraq, does anyone think this is finally going to kick off?

Election year is upon us so I suspect that some sabre rattling will be in short order over the next 6-8 months, yes

'murica

Trump will be going large as it's a counterpoint for him for Benghazi, or that's how it'll be sold anyway for the immediate future. He's on a cleft stick of being strong when it comes to protecting US interest, but also 'bringing the troops home' as a campaign message. Everything is deliberately confusing, and long may it be that way rather than clear hawkish actions [not postures] for short term domestic gain with ramifications that would echo for generations. Again.
Fermenting domestic revolt on the low-down, fuelled and allied to multi-national agreement on embargoes etc is perhaps the only low-impact resolution to the interminable problem of Iran, from a US perspective; Putin and the House of Saud of course being lynch pins in all of that, but they are past masters at 'condition creation'...
4-D chess indeed.

[Halb]

andy_s said:

Everything is deliberately confusing, and long may it be that way rather than clear hawkish actions [not postures] for short term domestic gain with ramifications that would echo for generations. Again.

4-D chess indeed.

this is why I often end up agreeing with Drax/Blomberg or hoping for a zombiepocalype.I'm tired of the horsest that conglomerates/elites push for the agenda. Most people don't care so long as they have their fave soccer/game/drink ready. I veer between losing myelf in my own pastimes or just stewing.
I think it's more like 4d Duck Hunt™