Trump refuses to take the bait mullahs
(and Democrats) hoped he would
American Thinker,
by
Thomas Lifson
Original Article
Posted By: PageTurner,
6/21/2019 2:10:05 PM
Because the first law of progressive politics today is "Thou shalt say nothing positive about Donald Trump," few if any on the Left are hailing his holding off on attacking Iran in retaliation for shooting down an armed drone as statesmanlike restraint. Citing an anonymous "senior administration official," The New York Times reported last night:
President Trump approved military strikes against Iran in retaliation for downing an American surveillance drone, but pulled back from launching them on Thursday night after a day of escalating tensions.
This morning, the president confirmed this in a
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Maggie2u 6/21/2019 2:41:30 PM (No. 103288)
The ships that were attacked last week were Japanese. Let them take care of this, I'm sure they can handle it.
9 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Marzon 6/21/2019 2:47:50 PM (No. 103292)
Schumer and Pelosi were doing there happy dance after yesterday's Iran briefing when they thought he was going to retaliate:
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/chuck-schumer-caught-on-tape-doing-a-happy-dance-leaving-the-white-house-what-does-it-mean-for-war-with-iran/
Makes you wonder what sort of "advice" they are giving to Iran.
8 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
GoodDeal 6/21/2019 2:53:29 PM (No. 103295)
Iran has made a couple of provocative moves by hitting the oil tankers and now shooting down a drone. They are on the move hoping to draw him into war. Perhaps the Iranians are getting advice from John F. Kerry, who by the way served in Vietnam, and is now a former US Sec of State doing covert consultation ops with his camel jockey towel headed muzbros in order to screw our CIC. Trump is a very smart man. This time his calm common sense has prevailed and I am sure his sanctions on Kerry's buddies will be ratcheted up is a response. By sending an attack group towards Iran I am sure they were scared and worried, and it had an effect on them. They knew it was coming but were ready to die martyrs. He sent a message loud and clear. So next time if there is another attack on US forces and a loss of life, they got another thing coming and all hell will break loose. Until then we will be ready and waiting.
12 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
DVC 6/21/2019 3:10:13 PM (No. 103312)
Since the USA is no longer dependent on Middle Eastern oil, and since Wretchard pointed out this AM that China, Japan and Korea ARE dependent on oil moving through the Straits of Hormuz - I am waiting for the Japanes Navy, the Korean Navy (do they have one?) and the most foolishly named military organization on the planet, the People's Liberation Army Navy, to show up (can any of them sail that far?) and protect the freedom of navigation of the seas in international waters.
Interesting times, indeed.
Come on China, show how tough you are! We will find out if a Korean Navy exists and if it can sail farther
than 500 miles from home. And can Japan project power at all any more? They did a lot in WW2, but I wonder if they have any power projection capability today.
Get some popcorn and watch.
And send Iran a bill for $200 million. If they kill one American, I figure 150 dead is a pretty fair payback.
10 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
DVC 6/21/2019 3:18:02 PM (No. 103321)
Son of a gun. The Republic of Korea DOES have a Navy, although almost all of it is for immediate waters right adjacent to their peninsula. However, according to Wikipedia - they created a "Maritime Task Flotilla Seven" in 2010 to handle things farther out.
From Wikipedia, "The task force is responsible for the defense of South Korea against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communication. The Maritime Task Flotilla Seven includes three surface squadrons: The Maritime Task Squadron 71 and 72 are composed of three Sejong the Great-class AEGIS guided-missile destroyers and six Chungmugong Yi Sunshin-class destroyers; the Maritime Mobile Logistics Squadron 73 is composed of Soyang-class and Cheonji-class fast combat support ships."
So, ROK can do a bit. I wonder if China and Japan will send any ships or aircraft? Time to ante up for your own defense folks. World Policeman Uncle Sam is apparently going to sit this one out.
5 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
DVC 6/21/2019 3:33:43 PM (No. 103343)
And the Japanese Navy includes a pair of 650 ft long helo mini-aircraft carriers, with a pretty decent missile launch capability, including 16 Mark 41 vertical launch tubes. These can launch a bunch of US built missiles, including the Tomahawk cruise missile and various Standard missiles which are highly capable anti-aircraft, and anti-ballistic missile missiles, if they have the proper missiles in stock to load into their Mk 41s.
And the Japanese have a number of US AEGIS destroyers, also quite capable anti-aircraft platforms, and
with the right missiles loaded, also anti-ballistic missile capable.
AND, the cherry on the top is a single small deck aircraft carrier (JS Izumo) which can carry (and announced that they plan to) F-35B STOVL aircraft, about 10-14 of them, so a moderate striking force. They are building a second of this class mini-carrier. Currently, they have no fixed wing aircraft on this one ship, but are operating the shore-based Air Force F-35A and announced plans to acquire F-356Bs
and operate them from these two ships.
Time to defend your sea lanes, guys.
6 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
DVC 6/21/2019 3:41:29 PM (No. 103355)
A typo - that "F356Bs" should have been "F35Bs".
3 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
bad-hair 6/21/2019 3:41:55 PM (No. 103358)
The NOK navy has to stay within towing distance of home, much like the Canadian Navy. As for Iran, President Trump knows situational awareness and how to think asymmetrically. Things are happening quietly that the Mullahs really don't like.
5 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
stablemoney 6/21/2019 3:47:56 PM (No. 103369)
I am glad Trump decided to wait, and tighten the screws in the meantime. The G20 conference is coming up, and it would be better that this not overshadow it. There are all kinds of things that can be thought up for Iran at these meetings.
6 people like this.
We don't need to employ troops, or navel or air power. It is best to keep them in reserve and used as a threat and I think that President Trump knows that. Better to use economic power to overturn the regime. Tariffs and economic sanctions are far more effective at this point in history than combat. Stay the course, Mr. President.
2 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
bad-hair 6/21/2019 6:03:46 PM (No. 103474)
OMG, sorry # 10 I just can't hep myself.
Does navel power involve a navey?
Funny typo
3 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Buzzman 6/21/2019 6:51:06 PM (No. 103512)
Let's see.......... Iran couldn't beat Iraq (Saddam Hussein) in a war that lasted years.
Now they think they can beat us. Good luck. Declare War. You'll all be dead in 24 hours. Go ahead and fire at us. We'll wait..............................
0 people like this.
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Funny how the mullahs' and the Democrats' interests align.