The USA has assassinated one of Iran's top Generals at Baghdad aitport

[chomalungma]

AIBU to think this will lead to just more escalation in what is already a volatile area, given all the issues in Iran at the moment, the proxy wars, the recent arrival of US troops in Iraq.

We also have some British troops in Iraq, as well as Royal Navy ships in the region. This escalation affects us as well.

This person who was assassinated does have blood on his hands www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/03/who-is-qassem-suleimani-profile-iran but does a drone strike killing of him.

The response from Iran

"The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said on Twitter: “The US’ act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani – THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al – is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation. The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.”

What consequences will there be?

It does worry me.

I also think there's a danger with all this playing out over SM. It escalates further rather than getting around a table and making decisions.

Can’t imagine this is going to end well. No idea what Iran might do but it will ⎌certainly stir up extremist groups and make terrorist attacks against USA targets more likely I’d have thought.

Shit. This will not end well.

"What consequences will there be?"

The unknown is scary,
Especially having read in that article "you will start a war but we will end it".

It escalates further rather than getting around a table and making decisions

Listening to the radio this morning, it seems the person who was assassinated was taunting Trump on Twitter - and wanted to be a martyr.

The Pentagon has associated Trump with this action and it has happened when Congress is in recess. It has also happened during the impeachment process.

That’s what happens when you have a toddler in charge of a superpower’s foreign policy.

I can't imagine assassinating a top Iranian on Iraqi soil will go down well.

This is incredibly provocative

Leaders often get re elected through action of this nature

Obama would have had more sense.

The Whitehouse didn’t get permission for this from Congress or NATO.
Shit will hit the fan!

Oh, this will be fine. 🤔

It is certainly not a simple issue and it was thankfully pretty well done and targetted. Ian has been doing some pretty awful things including in Iraq so I suspect the Iraqis may be quite pleased and the Saudis too.

Here come to terror Attacks

Trumps son had hinted this would happen on twitter and then removed the post.

Whilst I don't like the way the ME leaders act and realise the country is oppressive - the taunting on SM and acting without countries permission is extremely dangerous and what is more likely to start a war than the actual situation.

I love how the US describes it as "decisive defensive action".

The price of oil has jumped again. Who knows what repercussions there will be in the Straits of Hormuz and with potential drone attacks on oil installations. I should think it's a good way of encouraging more anger on the streets towards the US and its Western allies.

Extremely worrying, given that Trump has not got the faintest idea about politics in the ME, won't listen to his Intel chiefs or his advisers.

And here are his tweets to Obama..... ironic, eh? Given there is more impeachment news coming... the most dangerous diversion in the world....

'I predict that OBama will attack Iran in order to save face'
Don't let Obama play the Iran card in order to start a war in order to get elected. Be careful Republicans'
'Now that Obama's numbers are in tailspin, watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate!'
'Obama will attack Iran in the not too distant future because it will help him get re-elected'

I don't think it will end well. These things usually impact on completely innocent people, like in the terror attacks. Having said that I also read Nostradamus predicted that Trump would be assassinated. First attempt in the next year and then successfully after he is re-elected. I could see this as the trigger for all those kind of events.

And here are his tweets to Obama..... ironic, eh? Given there is more impeachment news coming...

Indeed, but he and his supporters will blindly ignore this, and praise his decisive defensive action.

Oh great. A war. Just what Trump needs to unite USA behind him, whoever could have guessed something like this would happen? I understand building luxury survival bunkers is big business in US.

Indeed, but he and his supporters will blindly ignore this, and praise his decisive defensive action.

The supports will relish in it as Trump is doing what he said he’d do and make uS great and stand up for US and not be a walk over

That is how they will portray the events

The US has advised its citizens to leave Iraq immediately. I wonder what UK advice will be

It does worry me that he’s been influenced by domestic political considerations. Re-election, etc.

And not discussing it with Congress seems bonkers. Just hope Boris has more sense than to be dragged into another rerun of a Gulf war. Seeing as he’s desperate to negotiate trade deals in the wake of Brexit I’m concerned he will be vulnerable to this. Thankfully the U.K. will (should) insist on a vote in the House of Commons? Maybe after Blair’s lies last time they will be more cynical this time? Who knows though, he has a big majority.

We are a 'special friend' to the US and will therefore be involved, I fear. Boris and Donald plotting together is the stuff of nightmares.

I fear. Boris and Donald plotting together is the stuff of nightmares.

You're not the only one. Alone they're bad enough, but together I worry they will egg each other on, trying to out do one another. It's very easy for things to escalate when you have a yes man, rather than a sensible confidante who isn't afraid to tell you that actually your plan is shit, people will get hurt and you'd be mad to go through with it.