dagblog - Comments for "Trump Breaks Iran Deal"

EU Commission President

moat — Thu, 17 May 2018 23:05:26 +0000

EU Commission President Juncker says they will use a "blocking statute" to protect their businesses from U.S. sanctions placed upon dealings with Iran. It doesn't sound like that trading group has been made an offer they cannot refuse.

The Europeans don't sound

moat — Thu, 10 May 2018 16:49:17 +0000

In reply to Trump Breaks Iran Deal

The Europeans don't sound like they will be party to any sanctions.

FWIW Arshel Pffefer @ Haaretz

artappraiser — Thu, 10 May 2018 05:47:59 +0000

In reply to This decision is either part

FWIW Arshel Pffefer @ Haaretz labels it thus

A few minutes past two in Washington, the president of the United States adopted the “Netanyahu Doctrine” wholesale and made it official American policy.

in this May 8 piece:

Analysis Trump Tells World to Drop Dead as Netanyahu Dictates His Nixing of Iran Deal

Israeli prime minister hopes decision to withdraw from agreement will see Iran go the way of the Soviet Union once harsh sanctions kick in

Israel Launches Most

artappraiser — Thu, 10 May 2018 05:42:55 +0000

In reply to Hmmm:

Israel Launches Most Extensive Strike in Syria in Decades After Iranian Rocket Barrage

In first, army attributes attack on Israeli soil to Iran ■ IDF says attack most extensive one it carried out in decades ■ Russia informed of attack in advance

By Amos Harel, Yaniv Kubovich. Jack Khoury and Noa Shpigel

@ Haaretz.com, May 10, 2018 5:36 AM

Israel attacked dozens of Iranian targets in Syria in what the military said was the most extensive strike in the neighboring country in decades. The strike was carried out in response to a barrage of 20 rockets that was fired from Syria at Israeli military outposts.

The Israeli military accused the Revolutionary Guards' Al Quds force and its commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, of launching the attack at the Israeli Golan Heights. This is the first time Israel has directly accused Iran of firing toward Israeli territory [....]

This decision is either part

moat — Wed, 09 May 2018 23:47:27 +0000

In reply to Trump Breaks Iran Deal

This decision is either part of a strategy or it is not.

Does it change the proxy wars being fought in and near Syria?
Does it open up the possibility of new coalitions with existing allies?
Will Russia take this move to the bank and "help" make it better for their interests and the U.S. can use that relationship to do something in response?
Will pulling out of this deal consolidate the power of those in the EU who have grown weary of all the special relationships with the U.S.? And that somehow empowers the U.S. to do stuff?

If the trump administration does not show something remarkable and unexpected in response to these questions, the decision is stupid. Plain and simple stupid. Really, really stupid.
Etcetera.

The regime change idea

moat — Tue, 08 May 2018 21:32:25 +0000

In reply to I'd not been lucky finding

The regime change idea presumes that whatever arises from the ashes will be a kinder, gentler, nation who will stop doing all the things the existing one is doing. Our victories in Iraq and Afghanistan must have those Persians trembling in their slippers.
Did I accidentally consume a tab of acid at lunch?
This hotdog tastes funny.

I'd not been lucky finding

artappraiser — Tue, 08 May 2018 21:00:44 +0000

In reply to Trump Breaks Iran Deal

I'd not been lucky finding any decent analysis until this:

NEWS ANALYSIS Trump’s Risky Bet That the U.S. Can ‘Break the Regime’

By DAVID E. SANGER 31 minutes ago @ NYTimes.com

Mr. Trump’s decision is based on the idea that the U.S. and its allies can force a better deal with Tehran through isolation and sanctions.

does fit with the following from a short while earlier. also at the NYTimes:

Angry and Divided, Iran Fears Deeper Crisis as Deal Ends

By THOMAS ERDBRINK 3:36 PM ET

Iran’s economy was already in free fall. Now the lifeline offered by a deal that was supposed to lift barriers to the West is coming apart, too.

Hmmm:

artappraiser — Tue, 08 May 2018 20:09:42 +0000

In reply to Bibi tweets: thank you very

Hmmm. I see that Putin was sworn in yesterday and very busy re-appointing minions. Then there's this earlier tweet about tomorrow:

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Moscow on May 9 https://t.co/Pvi1rydDaa
— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) May 5, 2018

And a summary of Kerry's

artappraiser — Tue, 08 May 2018 20:08:53 +0000

In reply to Inbox; Statement from

And a summary of Kerry's statement is here @ The Hill.

Bibi tweets: thank you very

artappraiser — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:56:17 +0000

In reply to Trump Breaks Iran Deal

Bibi tweets: thank you very much, my good buddy, 21 minutes ago,

I.E. thanks for standing by me instead of all of your own guys:

Trump's director of national intelligence, his secretary of defense, and his secretary of state have all confirmed in sworn testimony that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear deal.

Trump says Iran is not in compliance.

Trump: Either admit you're lying or indict your cabinet.
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) May 8, 2018

I wonder: whacha get for helping Bibi out like that?