Category Archives: Iraq
Trump Made his Move
“Mr. Trump has often seemed a president playing checkers while America’s adversaries play chess. He is not given to nuanced strategic concepts or long-range plans.” That’s how WSJ’s Holman Jenkins sees it.
But this time maybe he was a little nuanced, not responding while the Iranians made their moves. Or maybe he was napping, since he only sleeps four hour a night. Anyway, Iran’s proxies moved on oil tankers, bombed oil fields and shot down a U.S. drone. And Trump did nothing. Until they fired rockets at an American base, killing a contractor, and set fire to the American Embassy. Then Trump made his move, executing the evil genius General Soleimani Rocket Man style with a missile.
Long Range Plans
And now it’s not just all Death to America anymore. “His demise will not stop his mission,” said Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, “But the criminals who have the blood of General Soleimani and other martyrs of the attack on their hands must await a tough revenge.”
9/11 Book Seventeen Years Later
My how times change… Here are a few cartoons from my 9/11 book published in 2002. Click on any of the images to get a readable image in a new tab.
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Death to Khamenei
In a WSJ op-ed, Mark Duowitz and Ray Takeyh describe the current uprising in Iran. They say it differs from the Green Revolution which was about election fraud. This one began “over economic grievances and quickly transformed into a rejection of theocracy.”
The protesters are angry that $100 billion in Iranian assets unfrozen by the Obama administration haven’t trickled down to the people. Instead the money has gone to support militias in the Middle East and energy and weapons for Bashar Assad in Syria.
Death Threats
So, instead of chanting “Death to America” they now shout “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to Rouhani!”
The White House narrative on Iran has changed too. The Trump administration is supporting the protesters and ignoring the “moderate leadership.”
Axis of Evil ICBM Launch
North Korea launched an ICBM that flew 2,400 miles high. Experts say that with a flatter trajectory the Hwasong-14 missile could reach the continental United States. However, it may not survive re-entry. If that makes you feel better.
Another ICBM Launch
Meanwhile, Iran launched a satellite carrying a rocket into space. The Pentagon thinks Iran could use the same technology to launch and ICBM carrying a nuke. So, in retaliation, the U.S. launched more sanctions on Iran.
That’s two out of three for the old Axis of Evil.
Got Nukes
Could be Kim Jong Un learned a lesson from Moammar Gadhafi. Gadhafi gave up his nuclear program when he saw what happened to Saddam Hussein. Bad move on his part.
Got Nukes
Here’s a CNBC piece titled How the miserable death of Moammar Gadhafi factors into Kim Jong Un’s nuclear ambitions.
