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Is the US Now at War Against Iraq AND Iran?

Eric Zuesse

Iraqi Parliament – recently voted unanimously to expel US troops from their country.

On January 9th, Iraq’s Prime Minister and Parliament again ordered all American troops out, but on January 10th the AP headlined “US dismisses Iraq request to work on a troop withdrawal plan” and reported that the U.S. State Department “bluntly rejected the request, saying the two sides should instead talk about how to ‘recommit’ to their partnership.”

It was not a “request” from Iraq; it was a command from them; and the U.S. and Iraq relate as conqueror and conquered, not as “partners.” Consequently: the U.S. Government, now that it has been so unequivocally ordered to leave, is back again, unequivocally, to its invader-occupier role in Iraq.

The AP report went on to say that, “The request from Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi pointed to his determination to push ahead with demands for U.S. troops to leave Iraq.”

Again there was that false word “request.”

The AP report said that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted, in reply:

“Our mission set there is very clear. We’ve been there to perform a training mission to help the Iraqi security forces be successful and to continue the campaign against ISIS, to continue the counter-Daesh campaign.”

Though that’s the invader-occupier’s excuse, the reality is that the US needs Iraq in order to invade Iran, which is the US Government’s objective, though not overtly stated.

Already, America’s assassination in Iraq of Iran’s top general Qasem Soleimani on January 3rd is an enormous act of war against Iran.

It is intended to obliterate Iran’s main strategist, and this successful attack against Iran inside Iraq is a devastating first strike, by the U.S. Government against Iran.

So: now, the U.S. is at war against both Iraq and Iran.

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Categories: conflict zones, Iran, Iraq, latest
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paul
paul
Jan 14, 2020 1:50 AM

The murder of Soleimani is being misrepresented as a cock up by halfwit shabbos goy Trump.
But this is wrong. This has been planned for a long time. The intention is to destabilise Iran internally and undermine its leadership by making them appear weak and vulnerable. Iran’s failure to respond adequately is falling into this trap and storing up trouble for the future. A few hundred or a few thousand MEK demonstrators will be bigged up by the Fake Media, while 500,000 French in a general strike are casually ignored.

paul
paul
Jan 15, 2020 2:44 PM
Reply to  paul

This is borne out by what has occurred since. Pompeo and the Orange Baboon are now threatening to double down and extend their murder campaign to include Russian and Chinese officials and military officers. Failure to respond adequately and impose a heavy price on the part of Iran will prove to be a colossal mistake.

Rod diplock
Rod diplock
Jan 12, 2020 10:38 PM

Just how many countries is the US of A (and toadies) allowed to be at war with for it to be classified as a World War?

Protect
Protect
Jan 12, 2020 9:39 PM

There has been an increase in military budget. So, we now see more Pentagon apologists on these chat boards.
When budget is not so high, they are happy to press a couple of buttons and activate automated Denial of Service attacks.

Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe
Jan 12, 2020 8:32 PM

The US “unofficially has been at war with Iran since 1979. The overthrowing of the Shah (a US installed puppet dictator) generated unresolvable hostilities. Iraq, Iran’s neighbor has been a longtime US colony. It was run by Saddam Hussein another “CIA invention” who like Gaddafi was useful in advancing US imperialism until he was NOT. Removal is the expected fate for all leaders who believe their sovereignty is more powerful than the Empires.

The intentions of the Western imperialists are overt–they’re seeking unilateral hegemony in the Middle East and beyond. Everyone remembers Wesley Clark’s “announcement” in 2002 regarding the Pentagon’s goals: “We’re going to take out seven countries in five years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan & Iran..”

The voracious appetite of the military/security/surveillance/corporate state is not surprising what is
disappointing is the lethargic apathetic US public which allowed more than 30 years of endless wars.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:31 PM

The vermin are still infesting Germany and Okinawa seventy five years after WW2. Hard to get rid of than herpes.

harry law
harry law
Jan 12, 2020 4:49 PM

Is the US Now at War Against Iraq AND Iran? No Eric, they are also at war with Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, known as the ‘Arc of resistance’ and the US/Israel are going to lose big time.
I think this interview with Professor Norman Finkelstein is most appropriate for the peoples of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen at this time.. Professor Norman Finkelstein IN DEFENCE OF LEBANON. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylcrQVNH5gY
I agree with every word.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:34 PM
Reply to  harry law

The USA is at war with humanity and with its future. On one hand the Pentacle kills and destroys in the here and now, and the Zionists in the Treasury starve populations into submission through thoroughly Talmudic sanctions, and on the other the Washington Consensus of neo-liberal capitalism destroys the planet’s habitability, thereby killing the human future.

Estompista
Estompista
Jan 13, 2020 5:13 AM

“through thoroughly Talmudic sanctions”, hissed and bleated the barely concealed neo-Nazi psychopath unctuously holding out his disgusting wares.

Harry Stotle
Harry Stotle
Jan 12, 2020 3:36 PM

I see Tony is inconsolable after the death of a dictator who failed to hold an election for 50 years? Britains foremost war criminal said, “I heard the news about His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman with great sadness. He was a leader of vision and purpose who took over the leadership of his country at a difficult time and raised it to an entirely new level of development and prosperity. He was a man of culture, humanity and deep conviction who strove to make his nation and the world better and more peaceful. He was kind, thoughtful and with a big heart. He had great wisdom and insight from which I benefited often as did so many others. My deepest sympathy, prayers and condolences are with the people of Oman. He will be sorely missed. – Tony Blair. https://twitter.com/InstituteGC/status/1215920898966020096 Yes, I’m sure you did ‘benefit’, Tony –… Read more »

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:38 PM
Reply to  Harry Stotle

Blair is perhaps the archetypal Sabbat Goy stooge. His appointment as a ‘Middle East peace envoy’, in which role he did less than nothing but kiss Bibi’s arse, was a gob of spittle delivered with relish to the Palestinians’ face. And then, at the Iraq ‘investigation’ white-wash, he took the time to publicly urge the same destruction be visited on Iran. The creature is truly Satanic.

paul
paul
Jan 14, 2020 4:35 PM

Making Blair Middle East peace envoy was like putting the Moors Murderers in charge of a children’s home. It must be the most grossly inappropriate appointment in political history.

Frank Speaker
Frank Speaker
Jan 12, 2020 3:32 PM

I’m really disappointed to read yet another article on OffG about Iran. It’s getting really boring and those backward desert dwellers deserve all they get anyway. Let’s get it over and done with and takeover their oilfields and make lots of money. What I really want to see here instead are lots of articles about Meghan and Harry.

(note to non-British readers, it’s called irony)

Rod
Rod
Jan 12, 2020 10:44 PM
Reply to  Frank Speaker

Perhaps The Daily Telegraph’ would be more in keeping with your tastes.

MASTER OF UNIVE
MASTER OF UNIVE
Jan 12, 2020 3:25 PM

The ever cowardly United States of America is officially at war with everyone in the world except the uneducated dolts & imbeciles that support the Imbecile-in-Chief narcissist whackjob nutbar effin’ retard run amok.

Fuck America & the Republican Party that lives on forever war with everyone in the world including American taxpayers.

Screw the imbecile-in-Chief to a wall of his making.

Death to America!

MOU

Harry Stotle
Harry Stotle
Jan 12, 2020 12:34 PM

Oh, you are a wag, Eric – is the US killing machine that just incinerated the Quds foremost military strategist ‘now at War Against Iraq AND Iran’ – well its hardly an act of peace, is it? By the way, has anyone been listening to Raab pontificate about ‘international law’ – apparently the minister for Tory lies appears to be oblivious to the fact that Soleimani’s execution was almost certainly illegal, and was only possible because Britain and American actions are always placed above the law. Lets just remind Raab, and murder apologists like him that, “Outside of an on-going armed conflict, the first use of military force is regulated under the jus ad bellum. The first principle of the jus ad bellum is the prohibition on the use of force, a peremptory norm codified in United Nations Charter Article 2(4). The only possible exception to the prohibition applicable in… Read more »

nottheonly1
nottheonly1
Jan 12, 2020 12:22 PM

What do these countries have in common? U.S. IR UK FR AUS DE CAN NZ PL UK ES BR COL SA UAR NL SW NOR ET AL? They are all M O ☐ H ☐ R ☐ A R ☐ H ☐ ☐ C K ☐ R ☐ Yes, you may buy an ‘F’. That includes its populations, that do it by default. They are programmed and conditioned from early on to be in harmony with the Pompeos, the Busches, Obamas, Trumps and whatever their names are that have this planet in stranglehold. U.S. MUST PAY for all damages it inflicted over the last ~213 years. The ticket is endless – and with the indiscrininate use of weapons of mass destruction, very expensive. In a world of justice, the rich people would be given the shittiest places in these countries and the rest be divided among the victim Nations of… Read more »

Dungroanin
Dungroanin
Jan 12, 2020 12:00 PM

Yes the US has been at war in the ME for a very very long time Eric. Their advance was halted and is now in retreat, bar a few ‘battles of Bulges’ false hopes – they are heading back to their bunkers and throwing the kiddy corps into the front lines to take on hardened campaigners. They have even resorted to assassination of the Generals and leaders – opening the way and hoping for equal retaliation, to sway the public perception. The Iraqis want the US out – and are threatened with economic sanctions and freezing of their US$ accounts! Just like Venezuela and Iran and Libya and Yemen .., The Iraqis are proceeding with their closer ties with the winners – the Eurasian conglomerate, the Belt & Road investments; the superior Russian weapons systems and no doubt the disengagement from the petrodollar, ball and chain of a slave. Like… Read more »

Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Jan 12, 2020 6:29 PM
Reply to  Dungroanin

The record reads: America Has Been At War 93% of the Time – 222 Out of 239 Years – Since 1776 i.e. the U.S. has only been at peace for less than 20 years total since its birth. I think that says it all.

GEOFF
GEOFF
Jan 12, 2020 10:50 AM

After the USS Vincennes in 1988 had shot down Iran Air Flight 655 and killed 290 people, including many children, the U.S. government denied any culpability. George H. W. Bush, the vice president of the United States at the time, commented: “I will never apologize for the United States – I don’t care what the facts are… I’m not an apologize-for-America kind of guy.” Despite its “error” the crew was given medals and the captain was even awarded a Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as commanding officer

GEOFF
GEOFF
Jan 12, 2020 10:52 AM
Reply to  GEOFF

The above is from moon of Alabama I forgot to mention

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:44 PM
Reply to  GEOFF

The butchers haven’t apologised for the one million plus slaughtered in Iraq since the illegal aggression of 2003, now have they. Or the four million in Korea, the four million in Indochina, the millions in the Middle East since WW2, the hundreds of thousand slaughtered by US-trained fascist proxies in Central America in the 80s, etc, etc. I believe that most major US cities have a ‘Holocaust’ museum of some sort, but only one in the country dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Atlantic slave trade. And none, as far as I know, to the tens of millions of dead Indigenous.

paul
paul
Jan 14, 2020 1:57 AM
Reply to  GEOFF

On that occasion Iran did a tit for tat response over Lockerbie, repaying the Americans in their own coin. The failure to do so on this occasion is a grievous error.

Vivian J
Vivian J
Jan 14, 2020 2:49 PM
Reply to  paul

Wha? Lockerbie (almost certainly a false flag) was blamed on the Libyans, nothing to do with Iran…

paul
paul
Jan 14, 2020 4:43 PM
Reply to  Vivian J

It was blamed on Libya because Gaddafi was the Hitler Du Jour. Like the murder of Hariri was blamed alternately on Hezbollah or Iran according to who was being demonised the most that week. Iran did Lockerbie as a reprisal for the murder of 290 on their people on an Airbus in 1988. Murdered pilgrims and 66 children on their way to Mecca simply had to be avenged. Gaddafi obtained perfectly adequate revenge from his point of view for the bombing of Libya and the murder of one of his children by giving the IRA $3 million, then $10 million, then 5 small shiploads of weapons, each 150 tons plus, only one of which was intercepted. He could sit back and laugh with every bomb that went off for the next few years.

Yarkob
Yarkob
Jan 12, 2020 10:10 AM

Have a listen to Whitney Webb on QTR podcast giving her take: https://youtu.be/dmaypBvuNzs?t=376

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 12, 2020 9:12 AM

Example an American “request”:

Antonym
Antonym
Jan 12, 2020 11:14 AM
Reply to  George Mc

That’s the CIA today; not the USA.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 12, 2020 2:08 PM
Reply to  Antonym

Granted that it’s not the whole of the USA – but it’s not just the CIA and it’s certainly not merely “today”. Incidentally, Brando said his attraction towards playing the Godfather is that he thought it was a prefect demonstration of how the American political system really works.

Protect
Protect
Jan 12, 2020 8:29 AM

From Zero Hedge / The Strategic Culture Foundation: “Abdul-Mehdi [The Iraqi prime minister] spoke angrily about how the Americans had ruined the country and now refused to complete infrastructure and electricity grid projects unless they were promised 50% of oil revenues, which Abdul-Mehdi refused. The complete (translated) words of Abdul-Mahdi’s speech to parliament: “This is why I visited China and signed an important agreement with them to undertake the construction instead. Upon my return, Trump called me to ask me to reject this agreement. When I refused, he threatened to unleash huge demonstrations against me that would end my premiership. “Huge demonstrations against me duly materialized and Trump called again to threaten that if I did not comply with his demands, then he would have Marine snipers on tall buildings target protesters and security personnel alike in order to pressure me. “I refused again and handed in my resignation. To… Read more »

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:49 PM
Reply to  Protect

And in the Solomon Islands the USA is threatening sanctions, the cutting off of aid, the fostering of separatism and regime change for the crime of the Solomons recognising China, rather than Taiwan-incidentally the USA’s own position. No corner of the Earth is safe from these Evil vermin, and you can be certain that the MSM presstitutes will never dare report the truth.

lundiel
lundiel
Jan 12, 2020 8:20 AM

Here’s your answer from the state department, it appears to be both yes and no (depending on financial incentives). America is a force for good in the Middle East. Our military presence in Iraq is to continue the fight against ISIS and as the Secretary has said, we are committed to protecting Americans, Iraqis, and our coalition partners. We have been unambiguous regarding how crucial our D-ISIS mission is in Iraq. At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership—not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East. Today, a NATO delegation is at the State Department to discuss increasing NATO’s role in Iraq, in line with the President’s desire for burden sharing in all of our collective defense efforts. There does, however, need to be a conversation between the U.S. and… Read more »

Gall
Gall
Jan 12, 2020 8:38 AM
Reply to  lundiel

Typical imperialistic boiler plate. America being a “force for good in the Middle East” or anywhere else is a lie. Remember Vietnam? As for “continu(ing) the fight against ISIS” the SOS really means to continue to finance and supply ISIS while pretending to “fight against” them. There whole statement is a Stygian Stable full of total BS.

The Iraqis should tell them again to get the f-k outta Dodge or they’ll go Wyatt Earp on their sorry lying asses.

Frances
Frances
Jan 12, 2020 6:05 AM

Pardonnez-moi, but why do Canada and Australia also UK (Boris) take their ‘cue’ on foreign policy from the USA? Sending defence forces to fight Washington’s wars and banker’s wars for resources?

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 7:16 AM
Reply to  Frances

I answer to your question, Frances, take out an hour of your day to find out:

Frances
Frances
Mar 5, 2020 11:03 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

Thanks for your reply.

Andy
Andy
Jan 12, 2020 5:01 AM

This edition of Crosstalk seems to encapsulate perfectly US arrogance and stupidity/disingenuity.

https://youtu.be/Rlkeyl4adJ0

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 4:50 AM

That assertion by Mike(“We lied we cheated we stole”…..)Pompeo is a total lie. The USA invaded Iraq under a complete pack of lies, about Saddam Hussein’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction” back in 2003 and are still there after having murdered Hussein and now occupy Iraq.
The Elected Leader of Syria has also told the USA to “Get out of Syria”, but the USA has not done so.
The USA(and it’s ‘owners” Israel, are the problem in the Middle East, NOT IRAN or Iraq.
Israel’s anaesthetised donkey, The USA, is completely controlled by Israel…….It’s pathetic. but it’s true.

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 7:17 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

In the sixties we all knew that “NO” meant “YES” and these guys are from that era.

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 7:40 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

I think that the World has grown sick and tired of the LIES, spewing out of the Military Industrial Complex……..In the highest levels of the USA Government, “if their lips are moving, they’re LYING…….

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 8:00 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

Yep, with you 100% and the bulk of the 99% are getting the message too.

Yarkob
Yarkob
Jan 12, 2020 10:15 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

“the bulk of the 99% are getting the message too.”

Don’t kid yourself, Peter. I’d love to agree with you, but there is little evidence of that on those sites that allow comment on this. the masses have drunk the kool aid long and deep. Yes, there’s some pearl-clutching going on but he was “still a trrst” so it’s all ok. Back to sleep.

Look! Harry and Meghan!!

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 10:28 AM
Reply to  Yarkob

Take your point Yarkob, thank you. I was trying to be optimistic – in my world my network is gradually becoming more aware – I hope that my book, due to publish this quarter, will ride the wave; fingers crossed!
:-))))

Sophie - Admin1
Admin
Sophie - Admin1
Jan 12, 2020 11:38 AM
Reply to  Yarkob

Where are you seeing this BTL? Bear in mind that comments in most corporate media sites are heavily censored these days, and replete with sock puppets manipulating debate & seeding talking points.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 12, 2020 2:39 PM
Reply to  Yarkob

As I have often said, the MSM not only lies but gives a false image of public opinion. Granted that it is not easy – or even possible – to really know what the population is tending towards in their opinion, I think we can safely say that the MSM always bullshits about it. I love it especially when they not only bullshit about what “everyone thinks” abut also about what everyone “WILL” think e.g. the blathering about what party is “electable”. I am not, by any stretch, a subscriber to David Icke but he did come up with one wonderful expression when he described what the MSM pump out as “the movie”. That is exactly what it is. And I’d like to believe that less and less people believe it. Of course the big problem is that even if you reject it, you have to put up with the… Read more »

falcemartello
falcemartello
Jan 12, 2020 4:23 AM

Since when has pax-americana not been at war. The only administration since ww2 that has not been at war was the Peanut farmer from Georgia The Carter administration and it was his secretary of state Brezinski that created the Takfiri army to disrupt Afghanistan in 1979. Post Scriptum: The Iranian missile strike in western Iraq and Erbil was a historical event. It is the second time in Us military history that pax-americana had not responded to a direct attack on a military barracks , the first time was in 1982 in Beirut where a suicide bomber killed over 200 people. Docius in Fondem:Wesley Clarke statement from when he was alluded to the Likudniks plan & countries in 5 years Iran was last on the list. US have declared war on both Iraq and Iran with the assassination of the IRGC General and the PMU General. Simple facts tend to allude… Read more »

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 7:28 AM
Reply to  falcemartello

love the Latin:
Caesar ad sum iam forte
Pompei ad erat
Caesar sic in omnibus
Pompei sic in hat

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 8:01 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

“Don’t talk to me about the bloody Romans, what have they ever done for us”?
Try as I may, I cant get Google to translate that….what does it mean, please?

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 8:14 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

….although, when I read it ‘phonetically’, it sounds like a “big night out, and lots of vomit sprayed around……but, I’m Australian, and we don’t do things like that…….much

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 8:17 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

:-)))))
Use DuckDuckGo:
Non me loqui Romani sanguinis quid unquam fecit u

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 8:21 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

I’ll take your word for it…Thanks for the laugh…..!

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 8:59 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

:-))))) “Laughing is the best policy and is generally better than getting hit by a taxi!” – Spike Milligan – another comic messiah.

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 8:20 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

No worries, cobber, have a smiley day and always remember: ” If you see a man without a smile, give him one of yours”.

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 8:22 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

This should help, Brian:

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 8:32 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

Monty Python…the Greatest…….There weren’t many Romans in Australia 2000 years ago. Too busy invading and really irritating Europeans and British people, but, somehow, it all worked out ok……Always look on the bright side of life, huh…?

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 8:56 AM
Reply to  Brian Harry

Yep, and you Brian are in the right place to see the sunny side. We here in old Blighty are suffering the gloom, doom and damp. I lived in Cape Town for ten years (same latitude as Sydney and similar climate) and miss it dreadfully – the climate that is – the rest is isht; power cuts (load shedding they call it), water shortage (drought they call it), pollution and infrastructure failure all round, Nuff said! Go well cobber.

Mike Ellwood
Mike Ellwood
Jan 12, 2020 11:25 AM
Reply to  austrian peter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Latin

Not quite the same thing but interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer_is_icumen_in

Especially the parodies towards the end.

There are some good pastiche French rhymes / songs around as well. Don’t have any links to hand…..aha, found what I was thinking of:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mots_d%27Heures

austrian peter
austrian peter
Jan 12, 2020 9:34 PM
Reply to  Mike Ellwood

Excellent references Mike, thank you. I am reminded of an English recitation of this nursery rhyme exemplifying verbosity:

Scintillate, Scintillate globule vivific
Fain would I fathom thy regions specific
Loftily poised in the ether capacious
Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous

What fun we had in English lectures!

Gall
Gall
Jan 12, 2020 8:49 AM
Reply to  falcemartello

Actually Jimbo the Peanut Farmer was involved in a covert war in Angola and also covertly arming the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Not to mention operation Eagle Claw that failed against the Iranians.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:54 PM
Reply to  Gall

Operation Condor, anybody?

GEOFF
GEOFF
Jan 12, 2020 12:07 PM
Reply to  falcemartello

In 240 years since its inception warmongering yanky land has been at war in the last 224 years with someone, 50 in the last 10 years, not a bad record.

Brian Harry
Brian Harry
Jan 12, 2020 7:42 PM
Reply to  GEOFF

The USA Government is the World’s largest Terrorist organisation, by far, and the American people don’t seem to have woken up…..yet

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 12, 2020 8:53 PM
Reply to  falcemartello

The Second Cold War began under Carter and the Polish fascist Brzezinski.