Iran

[Undertoad]

This should be reported by the main stream media

It's a mixed bag... I listened to a liberal Iranian expat with friends and family in the nation, who said:

A) When Soleimani is on a "peace mission", it's just an extension of war elsewhere. If it makes sense to make allies in war, then that will happen. The name of the "Quds" force, in Arabic, is "Jerusalem", meaning that is their end goal.

B) Iraq's government is basically an Iranian puppet now, as Iranian forces move into areas and literally tell people who to vote for.

C) Trump including cultural targets was a huge mis-step, because it gave the cultural nationalists ("Make Persia Great Again") a connection with the religious nationalists ("Keep the Shia Crescent Shia And Expand It"), when they are not brothers in arms. The religious nationalists could basically say, "See, they don't just intend to kill us and change the government, they want to destroy everything."

~ Note, that's just one Iranian expat's opinion ~

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I listened to a liberal Iranian expat with friends and family in the nation, who said:

Arguing liberal or conservative exposes an extremist. Those people know only from their emotions (political biases). Moderates learn facts long before having an opinion. Those are the patriotic Americans - who also saw that Saddam clearly did not have WMDs. A perfect example of what happens when extremists forget to first learn facts.

The world is only about moderates verses extremists. The informed verses the brainwashed. Liberal vs Conservative only obfuscates the real issue.

Three network newsmen were posted as three monkeys - see nothing; hear nothing; say nothing. Turns out those newsmen were the honest ones. Extremists hate to hear facts - truth. 'Hate' being the identifying characteristic. All three network newsmen were smart enough to demonstrate facts - and not automatically believe Saddam had WMDs. They were moderates. And therefore were correct. Extremists hate moderates - their political bias.

Saddam had WMDs only because extremists knew it must be true. Their political biases told them what to believe. So we massacred 5000 American servicemen for no purpose. That is also a fact. No honest person can deny that today. Unfortunately, wacko extremists do not apologize for their obvious mistake. That is contempt for the American serviceman - and 16 years of useless and now unwinnable war.

George Jr even admitted that Saddam did not have those WMD. And still many extremists insisted he must. Entrenched biases are that deep. Extremists cannot admit to any fact that contradicts their emotional biases.

Soleimani repeatedly was a best chance for America to reach a peaceful accord with Iran. On numerous occasions, he offered Americans assistance that, as it turns out, was necessary. He would have been extremely helpful. So a wacko extremist killed him on a kneejerk decision - not one fact. Therefore entrenching extremists in the Iranian government. Making war more likely. Clearly making things worse. Even 176 dead people on a 737 are more fallout of Trump's hate. Only moderates - who learn facts before making conclusions - can see that.

Soleimani was murdered because Trump only does what his ego says is necessary to be reelected. It works for extremist supporters - who cannot be bothered to first learn the facts.

Soleimani was only an evil enemy when extremists invent enemies - to rally their less intelligent supporters. Fortunately, Iran deflated tensions. Averted war.

A dumb Trump was so wacko that America was only ten minutes away from an all out attack on Iran. The planes were loaded, tasked, and in the air when, at the last minute, somebody intelligent finally got them stopped. Same asshole also murdered Soleimani - in direct violation of international law and clearly in violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Only the most wacko extremists would say all that is good.

He can murder someone on Fifth Ave. And wacko extremist Fox News disciples will still vote for him. Trump knows who extremists are and what is acceptable to them - such as Guantanamo.

B) Iraq's government is basically an Iranian puppet now

Certainly closer. But honest news services also note a very strong Iraqi desire to get Iranian influence removed. Especially among Iraqi Shia. Cited was one obvious and politically powerful example: Sadr.

Iraqi was quite happy playing American verses Iraq. To get what they wanted from that game. If the Iraqi Parliament gets what it now wants, that game and its benefits are over. Just another example of how Trump makes things worse. Just another example of him further isolating and therefore ethnic cleansing the Kurds.