I have no idea if the US will launch its navy response to the current assault on the usbase in Jordan on Floor Hog’s Day, however the goal choice is an actual world imitation of Invoice Murray’s iconic film, Floor Hog’s Day. First watch the trailer (in order that we’re on the identical web page) after which I’ll clarify why.
To grasp what Biden goes to go we’d like solely return and remind ourselves of what Barack Obama tried to do in 2013 and Donald Trump did in Syria in 2017. Do you bear in mind the pretend “sarin” gasoline assaults allegedly carried out by Syria in 2013 and 2017. Each incidents have been staged by Western intelligence operatives working with Syrian opposition teams with a purpose to create a pre-text for attacking Syria’s navy.
In each instances, President Obama and President Trump have been persuaded to hold out navy strikes on Syrian navy targets as retaliation for this “egregious” use of a chemical weapon on defenseless civilians. Obama tried to get Congressional approval for a strike however failed to take action and backed down. Sy Hersh supplied all of the gory particulars of Barack Obama’s failed little bit of kabuki theater on this London Evaluation of Books article, The Red Line and the Rat Line. Senator Lindsey Graham went on the report to explain what Obama intended to do but did not:
Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who noticed Obama’s plans on the time, advised me that Obama’s plan was to strike six completely different Assad navy installations, whereas Trump’s solely concerned one. However Graham famous that Obama modified his thoughts on the final minute and ended up not placing Syria in any respect.
“That is higher than doing nothing. This can be a step in the fitting route,” Graham mentioned. “Does it change their conduct? We don’t know but if this assault will work or not.”
President Trump, nevertheless, did launch a restricted strike in Syria. I do know from a good friend who was concerned with the talk within the conflict room on the time that DOD, CIA and State put monumental stress on Trump to launch. He finally gave the inexperienced mild for a cruise missile strike on one base.
Right here is the a part of the story most individuals have no idea. The Air Pressure Normal who was a part of US CENTCOM and working from a base at Al Udeid, referred to as up the Russians from the Combined Air Operations Center (aka CAOC) and alerted the Russians to our impending assault. The Russians in flip advised the Syrians, who then moved important tools and personnel out of harms manner. The strikes have been carried out. Republicans and a few Democrats cheered the motion as an indication of U.S. resolve. Nevertheless it was a charade. The Syrians didn’t endure important casualties as a result of they have been forewarned.
Joe Biden is pulling a web page from Donald Trump and has licensed a strike that’s going to be touted as large retaliation. Besides the targets of these assaults already know it’s going to occur and are taking evasive steps. Biden is doing this for sheer political profit to attempt to calm the refrain of members of Congress and the neo-con class demanding motion whereas presenting himself to the American public as a person of motion. On the identical time it appears to be like like Biden and his crew properly determined to keep away from really killing Iranians or their proxies. As I’ve written beforehand, a critical assault on Iranian pursuits will provoke important retaliation from Iran and face the US with the dilemma of launching a brand new conflict within the Center East throughout an election 12 months.
I believe that the U.S. Normal on the CAOC might be making some telephone calls to Russian counterparts to make sure that there isn’t any likelihood of any confrontation between Russian and U.S. air property. Therefore, deja vu once more aka Floor Hog Day. Identical to the U.S. and U.Ok. bombings in Yemen, that is sound and fury signifying nothing. It isn’t going to enhance the sagging strategic fortunes of the US within the Center East.
