Why the Pentagon Has Explored Striking Iran
The National Security Adviser John Bolton requested that the military look into options to strike Iran after mortar strikes were fired near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad back in September, according to a report this Sunday from The Wall Street Journal.
The Pentagon then allegedly looked into Bolton’s request, but officials were concerned by it.
“It definitely rattled people,” said a former senior U.S. administration official to WSJ. “People were shocked. It was mind-boggling how cavalier they were about hitting Iran.”
However, the White House said that it is common practice for the military to explore multiple responses and that the Council “coordinates policy and provides the president with options to anticipate and respond to a variety of threats.”
“We continue to review the status of our personnel following attempted attacks on our embassy in Baghdad and our Basra consulate, and we will consider a full range of options to preserve their safety and our interests,” said Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council to WSJ.
The Journal’s report said that it isn’t clear whether President Donald Trump was privy to these plans.
But Trump has taken a tough stance when it comes to Iran and Bolton has been working on policy to send a message to the rogue country.
“After taking the White House post, Mr. Bolton joined forces with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to develop a more aggressive policy aimed at weakening the government in Tehran,” writes WSJ.“Mr. Bolton worked last year to quickly pull the U.S. out of former President Barack Obama’s nuclear-containment deal with the country and to tighten economic sanctions on Tehran, moves eagerly sought by Mr. Trump. In a September speech, Mr. Bolton warned Tehran that there would be “hell to pay” if Iran threatened America or its allies.”
Author’s note: As the Trump administration settles the North Korea problem, it’s time to come up with a solution to Iran. This means all options need to be on the table. Iran needs to know that force isn’t something the U.S. is afraid to take.
Why another war on the other side of the planet, killing and maiming US personnel?? How about fixing problems on our own back yard: Mexican narco crime-state control, Venezuelan criminal dictator and economy collapse ?
Latest news indicates the US does not need Saudi oil anymore, so maybe the stakes in the MENA region could be perceptibly lower at this point. At least for the US. Maybe the EU could step in and get their feet wet without us? Do they even know how?
Why not let the Saudis and other Sunni types (ISIS, Al Qaeda, etc) do the dirty work? They already hate the Shiites more than they hate the West. All we have to do is sell them what they need and stay out of the way.
Since we let Iraq determine their own government, they flipped from Sunni to Shiite rule, now aligned with Iran, Syria, and Russia. If the US sends troops into Iran, we will be fighting a Viet Nam – type proxy war with the Russians.
The corollary with Viet Nam is that the enemy does not wear typically uniforms (so who is a civilian?), and most of our military does not speak the language, know the customs, or trust the civilians .
Another quagmire maker: US base of management would likely be in Iraq, which will be civilian-insurgent/enemy territory.
Positives? Maybe the Iranians would stop funding the war in Yemen, in order to protect the homeland, and that disaster would come to an end.
Iran has been antagonizing The US for years and financing terrorist activities against The US and others. They should have been bombed long ago during hostage crisis under that wimp, Carter. Long overdue, now they have capability for nuclear attack and selling nukes to terrorists. Not to mention, extra money, courtesy of the most traitorous president we ever had, Obama. Bullies only understand a show of force. Their day of reckoning has been long overdue. They will be the ones who initiate WW3.
AND: Do you even think for one moment that England would be w/the U.S. to help us bomb Iran? With all the muslims living in England, I dare say the muslims wouldn’t let England do anything to ”go bomb w/the U.S.” However, we do have our friend ISRAEL who are great pilots & would go as our defense
, count out Canada, Unsure about Australia tho’.
When did we become the police force for the world? Tighten down more sanctions, I can see or close off their shipping all together. We won’t have to fire a shot! If they fire the first shot then give us the authority to go in and clean their clocks. Otherwise bring or boys home to settle and protect our people at home. Iran does not want to talk, right now, they are like a frog with an inflated chest sitting in front of an active Eagle’s nest! One bite or several bombs from the US will turn their country into a waste land as if it is not a waste land already!!!