Author Topic: What is Iran up to?  (Read 170 times)

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Offline Super Colin Blow

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What is Iran up to?
« on: July 22, 2019, 09:02:00 pm »
Disturbing reports from the Strait of Hormuz. One wonders how far this will go, or how bad it will get. British tankers seized, U.S. Navy on alert...are they just playing their usual games or is this a prelude to war?
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

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Offline Omni

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Re: What is Iran up to?
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2019, 09:19:49 pm »
Disturbing reports from the Strait of Hormuz. One wonders how far this will go, or how bad it will get. British tankers seized, U.S. Navy on alert...are they just playing their usual games or is this a prelude to war?

A bit scary for sure, and it sounds like we need some competent negotiators sat around a table to calm things down. I'm not confident either side has that ability currently.

Offline Super Colin Blow

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Re: What is Iran up to?
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2019, 11:23:54 am »
I doubt negotiation will adequately resolve the situation at this point. Iran understands force, not talk. Sorry if I sound like a neanderthal, but they could, if they wanted, close off the Strait in minutes. (A book by Robert Baer explains this.) With an advantage like that, they'd have a superior position at any negotiating table.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Offline Omni

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Re: What is Iran up to?
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2019, 11:52:43 am »
I doubt negotiation will adequately resolve the situation at this point. Iran understands force, not talk. Sorry if I sound like a neanderthal, but they could, if they wanted, close off the Strait in minutes. (A book by Robert Baer explains this.) With an advantage like that, they'd have a superior position at any negotiating table.

It may be a little different for Iran (or anyone) to understand talk from Trump when he changes his tune on things on a nearly daily basis. And then of course Trump has John Bolton at his side who is clearly a war monger. So with a combination of mixed messages but also a very clear undertone of threat of force and the US pulling out of the INF, I can see how Trump will help lead the world back into another arms race.
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Offline Super Colin Blow

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Re: What is Iran up to?
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2019, 11:59:19 am »
OK, but I started this thread to discuss Iran's intentions; not those of the President of the United States.

According to Baer, the Iranians want to be the world's first hydrocarbon (oil) Empire. There's plenty of it to seize and it's mostly around the Gulf area.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH