General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy is Trumpco trying so desperately to tie Iran to 9/11 and Al Qaeda? (Hint- AUMF)
File this under- "No one needs a war like a politician who's low in the polls."
It should come as no surprise that Trump wants to dangle a shiny object to distract us from all of the bad news flowing his way.
Impeachment, economic downturn, McGann may be testifying, etc. are weighing on his already sagging psyche, so why not start a war with Iran?
Trump gets a much needed distraction. Neocons win, defense contractors win, US oil companies win, Russia and Saudi Arabia win (It's been said Russian needs oil over $70/bbl and Saudi wants it nort of $85/bbl).
So what's the holdup?
Declaring war against Iran would require congressional approval, as the AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) is only applicable to countries, groups and individuals involved, at least tangentially, in 9/11.
Here's an article published by Just Security in 2018, when Trumpco began stepping up their quest for an excuse to bomb Iran.
https://www.justsecurity.org/57338/trump-administration-claim-congress-authorized-force-iran-analysis-existing-statutory-authority-proposals/
In a policy speech at the Heritage Foundation last week, Secretary of State Pompeo set out a list of 12 grievances against Iran. While many involve desirable ends, they have rightly been critiqued as a pipe dream a wish list divorced from any strategy, whose realization was made more wildly unrealistic after the U.S. abrogated its commitments and withdrew from the multilateral Iran nuclear deal (or JCPOA), creating another self-inflicted schism with our allies. Its no secret that some of President Donald Trumps most senior advisors, including National Security Adviser John Bolton, would prefer to address Irans nuclear program through regime change than by upholding a diplomatic solution that was working by all serious accounts. While stopping short of threatening war, Pompeos claim that the administrations goal is to achieve a comprehensive agreement with Iran rings hollow. The real goal seems to be pressuring the regime to the point of collapse or goading Iran into breaking its nuclear commitments, giving the United States and Israel an excuse for military action, as Carol Giacomo explained. But one of Pompeos demands raises a different question: might the Trump administration also try to claim that military force against Iran is already authorized by Congress under the 2001 authorization for use of military force (AUMF) by arguing that the government in Tehran harbors al-Qaida (AQ)?
Pompeos list of demands included the following: Iran too must end support for the Taliban and other terrorists in Afghanistan and the region, and cease harboring senior al Qaeda leaders. He argued that Iran continues to serve as sanctuary for al-Qaeda, as it has done since 9/11, and remains unwilling to bring to justice senior al-Qaeda members residing in Tehran. And he asked the Iranian people whether they want their country to be known for being a co-conspirator with Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda? Pompeos speech isnt the first time weve heard this allegation from the administration. President Trumps May 8thprepared remarks abandoning the JCPOA also included, in his opening paragraph, an allegation that Iran supports terrorist proxies and militias such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda.
These statements clearly serve the Trump administrations broader narrative about Iran and its support for terrorism. But could they also indicate an attempt to justify war on grounds beyond Irans nuclear program? If so, would the administration be able to make a serious claim that the 2001 AUMF authorizes a use of force against Iran on these grounds? What about under draft AUMF proposals introduced in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee?
Adding- Can you imagine how utterly screwed we'd be right now if Dems had not taken back the House of Representatives?
safeinOhio
(32,736 posts)SA.
Snarkoleptic
(6,002 posts)is on track to build our smartbombs as well as receive US nuke technology. Especially in light of the human rights abuses they're inflicting (with our help) on Yemen.
ArtTownsend
(439 posts)Of course, the Trump Dumpster of Fools, Tools, and Ghouls are also more than happy to help them
get nukes.
Lithos
(26,404 posts)Al Qaeda is a Sunni extremist organization - which is why it drew its strength from Saudi Arabia, not Iran (which is Shia)
SWBTATTReg
(22,176 posts)in the minds of everyday Americans, that is, in short, rump is trying to shift attention away from other things on American's minds. Things such as his impeachment, all of the ongoing investigations into all things rump-related, his dismal track record in accomplishing literally zero (w/ the exception of course his reduced taxes via the 2017 tax cut (and as an afterthought, ' and jobs bill' was added on to the name of this bill so it would sound big and accomplish a lot)).
It should be noted that the only significant legislative accomplishment is the reduction in his taxes...
NOT reductions in everyday American's taxes;
NOT reductions in our medical bills or medicines;
NOT reductions in our grossly insane taxes to pay for our grossly bloated military budget;
and YES, reductions in future social security amounts to help balance the republican budget;
and YES, reductions in food stamps given to the most unfortunate of our citizens;
and YES, reductions in benefits proposed for those on SSI or social security disability (after having already met stringent rules for qualifying for these benefits already);
and YES, reductions in actual aid provided to those attempting to deal w/ massive student loans;
list could go on and on and on ...
Snarkoleptic
(6,002 posts)Job creation slowed vs. the last 34 months of Obama's Presidency.
The economy is slowing, despite Federal Reserve intervention.
Deficits have skyrocketed.