MK Moshe Saada (Likud) said on Thursday that "an attack against Iran is approaching," during an interview with Channel 14 News.Saada's comments were made against the backdrop of growing tensions between the United States and Iran, and assessments that an escalation could occur in the coming days.During the interview, while discussing Iran and the possibility of further escalation, Saada said, “We all know that we are approaching an attack on Iran, perhaps even as early as this weekend; those are the assessments.”The channel quickly presented the remarks under the headline, “MK Moshe Saada’s slip of the tongue.” However, this was not the first time Saada had publicly addressed the possibility of an imminent attack.Over the past week, he suggested on several occasions that, in his assessment, military action could take place within days. His remarks therefore appeared to be deliberate rather than an accidental disclosure.At the same time, Channel 13 News reporter Michael Shemesh reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was furious over Saada’s comments on Channel 14. According to the report, the Prime Minister’s Office viewed the remarks seriously.
That was posted at 2223 today Jerusalem time, which was less than an hour ago.
I have seen similar suggestions on Al Jazeera and on unreliable Facebook pages. To see it being openly discussed in Israeli media is another matter altogether, and very worrying, because Trump has been saying that he will decide soon whether to escalate further because of the involvement of the Houthis. IMO putting "boots on the ground" would be catastrophic.
"We are approaching an attack on Iran" is plucked out of thin air and adds 0% to our knowledge. Iran is already being attacked every day. *I* could tell you we are approaching an attack because come on, that's the situation. He''s not even a minister, imagine how much secret knowledge he doesn't have. He's riffing off Trump regularly threatening escalation in the hope that it scares Iran into a deal.
ReplyDeletePolymarket says the odds of a stop to US offensive operations in the next week are 24%, so yes, expect more attacks.
It's never a bad time to play Dylan's Masters of War.
Boots on the ground = catastrophic? No doubt. But with any luck, it would mean the end for Trump. Then we have to deal with Vance. Would that be our three pieces of bad luck and the start of a run of good luck?
ReplyDeleteI donno... Mr. MN Stan was pretty prescient with the Red Sea strait being added to the fray?
ReplyDeleteCatastrophic? It would lead to a lot of American service people deaths but wither American influence in the Middle East and if Israel actually gets involved in a land invasion it would also send a real wake up call to Israeli hawks about what happens when their military isn't bombing civilians and murdering babies.
ReplyDeleteIf you're American and you've looked back on the catalogue of atrocities that has been American foreign policy in regard to the Middle East and South and Central America over the past forever and you think it's all justified then sure, a catastrophe.
Remember Cuba is next.
Secret attacks are all the rage these days, as is peace.
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking that US foreign policy is supposed to be promulgated by the President, several of his cabinet members and several committees of the Senate and House.
ReplyDeleteThis to be aided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and consultations with our important foreign allies.
Instead, we have one crazy jerk with his few friends making foolish decisions (and changing their minds) several times a day.
All backed by the largest, deadliest and most expensive military complex in history.
This old man (85 yesterday) is worried.
Turns out Saada was talking out of his hat, and this weekend was a de-escalation. Will there be more strikes in future? There may well be, but there is no need to amplify the unfounded speculation of warmongers.
ReplyDeleteI'm personally delighted that there was no escalation over the weekend. My understanding is that Trump has been cautioned re low munitions supplies, although he is spinning the pause as "time for negotiations" and the oil market is responding accordingly. My best bet is that Iran will not open the Strait and that Bab al Mandab will remain under threat. So it remains to be seen whether Trump can "declare victory" and withdraw, claiming the Strait is open but with fees, or whether he will make one final push. It's clear the U.S. is reloading, moving bombers from England etc. And if the U.S. attacks, Iran will increase their response, most of which to date has been to target logistics sites supporting both the US an Israel rather than targeting military personnel per se.
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