nonniey

Yeah that conspiracy theory didn't last long. I find it ridiculous the position the Dems have taken over the killing of Soliemani. Deliberately editing out of their memories the Iranian attacks late last month, blaming Trump (some) for the deaths of the passengers on the Ukrainian flight and then coming up with ridiculous theories of how Trump got played. I criticized him for his stupid imminent attack justifications and his Iraqi sanction threats but I think some have gotten to the point where for many Trump as the bad guy trumps any other bad guy or bad guys no matter who they are.

He clearly answered your question in a follow up post - Yes it only starts when America does something.

Yes he definitely did........ if you discount the rocket attack that killed an American and wounded several others and the Embassy Assault in late December (but let's just pretend those didn't happen).

Re: new Video. Yep that is a missile hitting the Airliner.

I really don't care how this administration tries to Justify killing Soliemani. They seem to be doing it ineptly (SOP for Trump) but that is irrelevant - there was more than enough standing justification to kill him for past conduct. Are you now going ask if Osama bin Laden posed an imminent threat??? or Baghdadi???? or a crap load of other terrorists we killed over the years?

- 41% think POTUS went ahead with the strike for political reasons, vs 40% who think he acted in the best interests of the US. I don't think he does anything outside his own best interests, but sometimes they align. In this case they did.

Ok guys did you not read the polling data??? They chose 2000 random people and had them throw a dart at where they thought Iran was on a map 10 feet away.

Yes but my understanding is you can't dump it in mass, so I doubt they tried that. During the the Sioux City UA crash incident they made a series of turns in order to dump excess fuel (it took a while).

If it was shot down pretty sure the Iranians won't allow a proper investigation. It is not common for planes to be on fire as they go down (happens occasionally - ie Concorde).

I distinctly remember getting out of Iraq in 2011 (As in personally remember). That turned out to be a blunder of the 1st magnitude which led to the establishment of the ISIS caliphate (Which dragged us back into Iraq) and expanded Iranian influence immensely in Iraq.

Weird timing. Wouldn't surprise me if it was accidentally shot down by the Iranians. Imagine their air defense personnel may be a little jumpy.

Well if we do launch attacks on Iran in a retaliation it will target their IADs and Nuclear facilities.

Missile strikes from Iran of rocket attacks from within Iraq? That and/or the results of the attack likely will play into US response or lack there of.

Fixed that for you.😀

Don't think he wanted to pay for it with his life though.

No they are hopelessly obsolete (by about 75 years) and very few if any remain in flyable condition.😏 Edit: More than I expected (37) can still fly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUUjaFlhJTs .

Re: Soliemani - it would have been a nice touch if we used EFPs to kill him (Since apparently we knew his route). It would have been ironic justice. https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/soleimani-s-legacy-the-gruesome-high-tech-ieds-that-haunted-us-troops-in-iraq-1.613460

No not anymore. Due to treaty requirements (with the Soviets - treaty remained in effect carried over with the Russians) certain models are designed to only carry conventional weapons

No that abortion of a 2000 season was the most anticipated season I can remember (I remember as I got into lots of arguments over the Sanders signing, which I hated, over how great he was going to be vice what a waste of money and disruption he'd be).

That would be normal operating procedure by the Iraqis (Which is why the Presidents threats against Iraq were so stupid and highly counter productive).

Well, looks like things are deteriorating.

I was an adviser to the Iraqi officer the letter was addressed to, LTG Amir. (I looked up his picture to be sure). He was a LTG 9 years ago as well (Deputy IGFC Commander) surprised he hadn't been promoted since then.

Again, I'm not going to defend the competence of Trump (Heck I knew he'd shoot his mouth off over the weekend in enormously counter-productive ways). All I'm saying is killing Soleimani was the right move. (I'm sure if Trump was in charge during the Bin Laden raid he'd be poking the Pakistanis in the eye in the worst ways imaginable).

I know more.😜 At the time yes. I'm not infallible - no one is (Including Presidents). People and Presidents make mistakes, you have to adjust accordingly when you make those mistakes (Do/Did you think pulling out of Iraq in 2011 was the right move?)

Problem is one can fall into binary responses to everything. (Trump did it therefore I oppose it, Trump opposes it therefore I support it, Trump nominates so and so therefore he is scum... etc.) I'm no fan of Trump but it was an opportune time to kill Soleimani given the actions of the IRGC conduct over the last year and the US responses to that conduct (until late last month it was very restrained -heck almost bent over backward restrained). Sure my views may be colored by personal/professional experience but I definitely think killing him was the right decision and was in the best interests of the United States.