or...let these tanker attacks keep happening until the rest of the world gets concerned. and if it doesn't, and if the barrels keep flowing, who cares? (might be the Trump administration mindset).

And just to be crystal...I'm firmly in the it-makes-no-sense-for-iran-to-do-this-so-it-might-not-be-iran camp.

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

On the other hand.....an Iran with nuclear weapons is introducing an aggressively anti Israeli power and allowing it nation destroying power.

There is the distinct possibility that unless you take out Iran's form of leadership now, far worse s***e is down the pipe later.

I don't know.

I'm just glad this decision isn't my monkey and not my circus.

Edited by Stirlingsays (18 Jun 2019 8.51pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

All these conspiracy theories.

Trump stopped paying the protection money and quite rightly sanctioned a terrorist nation so Iran torpedoed a couple of tankers. If they had red button capability they'd have used it.

Trumpy boy sends a couple of battalions to flex a bit of muscle, the locals loose off a few rounds into the air and burn the US flag.

The whole thing blows over. Storm in a tea cup.

Sure....but then?

It's a nightmare I'd rather not risk the consequences of.

It isn't just the danger of the actual attacks it's the power shift in the region.....a new cold war but in the middle east.....we were lucky to get out of the first one.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Mmmmm....possibly but I think you are under the impression that Iran is going to act in purely predictable ways........as in America there will be many aggressive voices for striking back in as many forms as possible.

What exactly are they risking exactly?

Are not the actions of North Korea and the west's responses to them ample evidence that the west doesn't undertake sudden 'no turning back' actions.

They likely know there's not going to be a war because of covert small scale tanker attacks.....perhaps they know that they can play the 'misinformation' game and have plenty of defenders in the west.

They know that if they are smart about it and strike back however they can they can show that there is a price to be paid for punishing them economically.

They know that all that's going to happen is that the US and anti Iranian forces will end up protecting the tankers and pipe lines......enacting a cost.

If the tankers are attacked then.....then we might scratch our heads.

Edited by Stirlingsays (19 Jun 2019 2.36pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I'd agree with you....it could be a false flag.

Israel and the house of Saud...hell the whole Sunni led region have cause to weaken Iran.......However, that's what this trade embargo is doing.

That said....For me, I'd say I'm 70/30 with it's Iran.

I find it hard to believe that the US are going to nuke Tehran...or invade them with thousands of troops.....I think the Tehran leadership know that.

So when I think about it...Anything short of that military response pretty much plays into the hands of the hardliners in Tehran .

As the economic situation worsens they need the focus upon their enemies instead of their own incompetence.

Small skirmishes which cost their enemies while coming with plausible deniability from them has little cost for them.....and if the US bomb them....then they gain the support back home and the oil cost shoots through the roof...more terror attacks...more cost to their enemies.

Short of being nuked....which is highly unlikely I'm not seeing the downside for them.

The only people who are likely to nuke Iran are the Israelis.....and it's very scary....because they might just end up doing it....But it's more likely that they would attempt to destroy their nuclear capacity through other means first.

Edited by Stirlingsays (19 Jun 2019 4.32pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)