Originally posted by WTFH
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But the MIC/deep state etc are pulling him toward it and making him prove that he's not a Russian plant so it looks like he's flip-flopping between trying to keep them happy and trying to keep to his original mandate of making deals instead of war.
I've read that over the last few days (not going to post the links - CBA, and not worth the effort) that:
- Canada, Germany and Italy have all ruled out any involvement in military strikes
- Assad & Hezbolla have moved all their military assets and personnel to Russian bases
- Russia have deployed 11 ships to patrol the med (previously docked in Syria bases)
- The US/Russia deconfliction line is extremely active
- Macron (who seems to be really pushing this for some reason) apparently has evidence that Assad was behind the latest chem attack.
- UN OPCW inspectors arrive on Saturday to carry out an inspection that will lead to another woolly inconclusive report
So they might let us bomb a few empty bases to save face and keep up appearances - if at all.
But to keep the armchair neocons barking here are some quotes from AP on the latest story (if the thread doesn't get locked then deleted before I get a chance to click 'submit reply'):
https://www.apnews.com/a607ede3a8db4...trike-decision
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned such an attack carried the risk of spinning out of control, suggesting caution ahead of a decision on how to respond to an attack against civilians last weekend that U.S. officials are increasingly certain involved the use of banned chemical weapons. British officials said up to 75 people were killed.
Although Mattis noted that military action carried risks, he also emphasized that Syrian use of chemical weapons should not be tolerated. And he insisted it remains U.S. policy not to be involved directly in Syria’s civil war.
Mattis said that although the United States has no hard proof, he believes the Syrian government was responsible for Saturday’s attack. Initial reports indicated the use of chlorine gas, possibly in addition to the nerve agent Sarin. Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told NBC News on Thursday the administration has “enough proof” of the chemical attack but was still considering its response.
Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he sees no legal justification for a U.S. strike in Syria, absent explicit authorization by Congress. More broadly, he doubted the wisdom of bombing.
“Until we have a more long-term strategy, until we have some idea where we’re going in Syria and the Middle East, it seems unwise, to me, to start launching missiles,” said Smith, D-Wash. “We need to know where that’s going, what the purpose of it is before we take that act.”
“Until we have a more long-term strategy, until we have some idea where we’re going in Syria and the Middle East, it seems unwise, to me, to start launching missiles,” said Smith, D-Wash. “We need to know where that’s going, what the purpose of it is before we take that act.”
Russian lawmakers have warned the United States that Moscow would view an airstrike on Syria as a war crime and that it could trigger a direct U.S-Russian military clash. Russia’s ambassador to Lebanon said any missiles fired at Syria would be shot down and the launching sites targeted — a stark warning of a potential major confrontation.
At the House hearing, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, disputed Trump’s legal authority to act without congressional authority and suggested a U.S. strike would lead to war with Russia.
“I’m not ready to speculate that that would happen,” Mattis said.
At the House hearing, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, disputed Trump’s legal authority to act without congressional authority and suggested a U.S. strike would lead to war with Russia.
“I’m not ready to speculate that that would happen,” Mattis said.
For some extra mouth-foaming here is an article about the infighting going on between Bolton and Mattis.
Financial markets seem to be shrugging it all off - which I see as the most reliable indicator of how serious this all is/isn't.
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