A few weeks ago 5 senior pentagon officials resigned [1], probably over this. This can easily be the start of war with Iran.<p>[1]: <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/475205-fifth-pentagon-official-announces-resignation-in-seven-days" rel="nofollow">https://thehill.com/policy/defense/475205-fifth-pentagon-off...</a>
More of basically the same post today:<p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21942965" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21942965</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21942853" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21942853</a><p>Presumably people are concerned because this may be the beginning of war.
Does anyone know why this post is flagged? Or why similar stories have been removed, etc?<p>Is it that it's off-topic?<p>Edit: It seems every post remaining on this story has been flagged. I imagine it's 'off-topic' but curious why other off-topic stuff hasn't warranted such a strong reaction?
"The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia have targeted Soleimani for assassination for over a decade. In 2019 alone, Iran reported over half a dozen alleged plots to kill the general, the most recent of which was in early October." [1]<p>[1] <a href="https://intelnews.org/2020/01/03/01-2700/" rel="nofollow">https://intelnews.org/2020/01/03/01-2700/</a>
I'm an Iranian living in the states and I hate the Islamic Republic to the bone. Islamic Republic is the evil of my era.<p>With that being said, I truly don't understand what the U.S. plan is at this point. Do they want to make Iran another Syria? Or Iraq? Because <i>everything</i> they've done in this administration is aligned with one of those examples.<p>Basically U.S. strategy is like holding a gun to someone's head and saying "kill yourself or I will kill you".<p>Of course that person is gonna fight back.<p>I am worried about a war and I'm worried the U.S. population doesn't slightly care about government's actions outside the country. And the U.S. has been acting quite hostile for many years now.<p>This is truly sad news. Not because I liked or cared about that genocidal motherfucker.
Because Islamic Republic is (probably) gonna have to respond.<p>I think there are 2 important questions:<p>1. Can Iran retaliate this?<p>2. Are they willing to?<p>I think the answer to this question 1 is, yes, they can. Shadow of war has been on Iran for more than a decade now and Iran has strong influence in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm pretty much sure they have plans ready to attack U.S. targets in case of war. Because of course Iran cannot defend itself against U.S. in a classic war.<p>But hopefully, the answer to question 2 is, No. Supreme leader Khamenei understand that if they try to "really" retaliate this, the war may be imminent. And over all these decades he has shown that he is afraid of war and he would step back if necessary.<p>But again, we've never been this close to a war. At this point any side can miscalculate the other one's reaction.<p>Another point I want to make:
Islamic Republic is not a match for the U.S. obviously. But you have to remember: Their pain threshold is quite different.<p>Islamic Republic may lose a general or a thousand soldiers. They can take it.
But if Islamic Republic responds back with a few bombings and killing of a few American diplomats, it's enough to make it a full-blown national disaster for both the administration and the country.<p>I'm sorry about the long post. I'm afraid for my home country, family and friends who are already crushed and destroyed by the sanctions and are now threatened by war and I'm not necessarily level-headed.
The status quo in the region is that Iran is winning and the USA is not winning. Perhaps this is an attempt to provoke Iran into making errors, but I doubt that will happen.<p>I think not much will (visibly) happen. The USA will keep on not winning, because they don't have any Soleimanis. Have you heard American generals speak? It's all TED Talk level BS. Decadence is a powerful force.