Are Trump and Netanyahu

[choie]

trying to get us in a war with Iran?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/world/middleeast/mohsen-fakhrizadeh-iran-scientist-killed.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[roamer65]

1. They are trying to provoke Iran.

I hope the Iranians don’t take the bait.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. I'll bet Biden has a backchannel that is communicating with the Iranians.

All they have to do is hang on for a couple of months. Besides, if Trumpy and Netanyahu gang up on them, they face certain disaster. Both 'men' need to pay for this shit after this is all over. They're endangering so many lives -- American, Israeli, and Iranian -- with this bullying and it is disgusting.

[roamer65]

5. I would hope so.

[karynnj]

11. I would assume that they absolutely do NOT have a backchannel

That is what Michael Flynn, Kushner et al were accused of in 2016/2017. Biden has answered any number of questions noting that the US only has one president at a time. I assume that other countries - ie the remainder of the P5 plus 1 - will caution Iran noting what we ALL know - that Trump will be out in 2 months.

Trump accused Kerry and Obama of speaking to Iran. They made it clear that they did not secretly meet with Iranians. What they DID do was before Trump left the deal to publicly call for EVERYONE to abide by the agreement and to suggest that dialing down things like supporting terrorism would be helpful. Even after Trump left the agreement, Iran did not violate it for more than a year.

[orwell]

12. +100 n/m

[LuvNewcastle]

16. Even if they don't have one, they're going to be

accused publicly of having one. Trumpy accuses everyone else of doing the dirty shit he does. In this case, it would save a lot of lives if they can be soothed by people who are speaking for the new administration clandestinely.

I'm not a person who is 'in the know' about national security matters, but it just makes sense to me that there would be some sort of secret representative speaking to the Iranian hierarchy. I believe there are probably warring factions in our government right now, and the sane faction, the one that prefers Biden, is making its opinion known.

[karynnj]

18. They do not need a secret back channel

Biden has spoken positively about the Iran nuclear deal and at least 2 (possibly 3) members of his already announced NSC had significant roles in the deal - and Biden himself was involved as part of Obama's NSC. THAT already sends a signal as well as all of Biden's comments on getting back into agreements. He has already PUBLICLY signaled the things you want him to say via a channel.

I will watch what Biden says about anything related very carefully - as I am sure given the circumstances he will be very careful in what he says. I would also watch what Blinken, Sullivan and Kerry (who is included in the NSC with a main role on climate change) say -- all three are team players and anything they say publicly on a delicate issue like this will be worked out with Biden, who could use them to say things that might go a bit further than his own words to give himself more wiggle room.)

This is based on having read retrospectives of things that happened in the past.

[PoliticAverse]

2. Netanyahu really wants US military action against Iran. n/t

[karynnj]

13. Kerry spoke of the Obama administration being pushed to attack Iran

Bibi told the UN that Iran was 2 months from having a nuclear bomb. Even though Trump and Netanyahu have tried to rewrite history calling the deal "flawed", even now the steps Iran took to get the deal mean they are further from a bomb now than they were in 2013/2014 when Bibi was pushing attacking Iran.

[True Blue American]

4. Bibi wants us

To fight his war!

[2naSalit]

7. Exactly. ...nt

[Aristus]

10. That's because traditional Israeli military tactics won't work

in a war against Iran.

Israel usually uses tanks and elite parachute infantry to push enemy forces off Israeli soil and deep into the aggressors’ territory as quickly as possible, to forestall threats to Israeli population centers.

Israel doesn’t share a border with Iran, which would make war a logistical nightmare. And the doctrine of fighting the enemy on the enemy’s turf won’t work in a country as immense and topographically diverse as Iran.

[Mosby]

14. Dude, your smart enough to know that Iran has zero ability

To prosecute a war with Israel.

The IAF could destroy their entire air force in 10 minutes.

The IDF has conducted 100s of raids in Syria to stop weapon transfers to Hezbo and what has Iran done?
Nothing.

Iran is a paper tiger, which is why they are determined to obtain nukes.

[Aristus]

15. If the Iranians retreat into their mountains and prosecute a guerilla war of attrition,

Israel will have to throw in the towel. Attrition is one tactic the IDF can't stand up against.

It's why their wars last for weeks and months, rather than years.

[Dawson Leery]

6. Bibi wants the US to fight the war for him.

No way can this be allowed. Also, it is past time to cut of their foreign aid.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. +1

[roamer65]

8. I think this will have the opposite effect.

Iran will push for full membership in SCO, the Sino-Russian alliance. Mutual defense pacts and all.

[True Blue American]

17. You have to understand

Netanyahu lost his friends in the WH on Election Day, is already under endictment. He may go to jail. Thanks to Boehner inviting him to speak in the House was an insult to Obama and Biden.

Biden may not carry grudges but he will not forget and Trump does not have time to start another war.

[BlueNProud]

19. Netanyahu is a GOP operative