U.S. pulls staff from Iraq, says Iran gave 'blessing' for tanker attacks

[webfact]

U.S. pulls staff from Iraq, says Iran gave 'blessing' for tanker attacks

By John Davison and Mark Hosenball

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan walk at the U.S. Embassy compound toward the heli pad to catch a helicopter that will transport them to the International Airport, in Baghdad, Iraq, January 9, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

 

BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Helicopters ferried U.S. staff from the American embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday out of apparent concern about perceived threats from Iran, which U.S. sources believe encouraged Sunday's attacks on four oil tankers in the Gulf.

 

The sabotage of the tankers, for which no one has claimed responsibility, and Saudi Arabia's announcement on Tuesday that armed drones hit two of its oil pumping stations have raised concerns Washington and Tehran may be inching toward conflict.

 

A U.S. government source said American security experts believe Iran gave its "blessing" to tanker attacks, which hit two Saudi crude oil tankers, a UAE-flagged fuel bunker barge and a Norwegian-registered oil products tanker off Fujeirah near the Strait of Hormuz.

 

The source said the United States believes Iran's role was one of actively encouraging militants but indicated the United States does not now have evidence that Iranian personnel played any direct operational role.

 

Iran's Foreign Ministry has called the tanker attacks "worrisome and dreadful" and called for an investigation.

 

There has been a marked increase in U.S.-Iranian tensions since U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to try to cut off all of Iran's oil exports and to designate its Revolutionary Guards as a "foreign terrorist organization."

 

Trump, who last year abandoned the 2015 international nuclear accord with Iran, believes the economic pressure will force Tehran to accept more stringent limitations on its nuclear and missile programs as well as on its support for proxies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

 

U.S. SHRINKS DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a surprise visit to Baghdad last week after U.S. intelligence showed Iran-backed Shi'ite militias positioning rockets near bases housing U.S. forces, according to two Iraqi security sources.

 

Pompeo told Iraq's top brass to keep the militias, which are expanding their power in Iraq and now form part of its security apparatus, in check, the sources said. If not, the United States would respond with force.

 

Helicopters took off throughout the day from the vast U.S. embassy compound near the Tigris River in Baghdad, carrying non-emergency staff out, according to an Iraqi source and a diplomatic source inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone.

 

The Iraqi source said U.S. staff were headed for a military base at Baghdad airport. A U.S. official told Reuters late on Wednesday that the evacuation was complete.

 

Trump is sending an aircraft carrier group, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles to the Middle East to counter what the United States calls a heightened threat from Iran to U.S. soldiers and interests in the region.

 

Iran described the U.S. moves as "psychological warfare", and a British commander cast doubt on U.S. military concerns about threats to its roughly 5,000 soldiers in Iraq, who have been helping Iraqi security forces fight Islamic State.

 

The U.S. State Department said employees at both the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, were being pulled out immediately due to safety concerns.

 

It was unclear how many were affected, and there was no word on any specific threat. Visa services were suspended at the heavily-fortified U.S. missions.

 

Germany, which has 160 soldiers in Iraq, and the Netherlands which has 169 military and civilian staff, suspended military training operations, citing regional tensions.

 

'DANGEROUS SITUATION'

The attack on the tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil consumption flows, appeared designed to test the resolve of the United States and its Sunni Muslim allies without triggering a war, analysts said.

 

"This is a pin-prick event, a little needle-like jab at the maritime trade going into the Strait of Hormuz," said Gerry Northwood, chairman of risk management and security firm MAST.

 

Both the United States and Iran have said they do not want war, and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Tuesday he had indications "things will end well" despite the rhetoric.

 

Iraq is one of few countries with close ties to both the United States and Iran. It has said it will keep strong ties with Iran, and also with the United States and Arab neighbours, some of whom, such as Saudi Arabia, consider Tehran a rival.

 

The United States, which had a large troop presence in Iraq from 2003-2011 after invading to topple dictator Saddam Hussein, sent troops back there in 2014 to help fight Islamic State.

 

Iran has close ties to powerful Iraqi political parties and supports powerful Shi'ite militia groups.

 

"I think we are now in a quite dangerous situation where a miscalculation by either side could lead us into conflict," U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNN in an interview on Wednesday.

 

(Reporting by John Davison and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad, Raya Jalabi in Erbil and Mark Hosenball in Washington; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Makini Brice and Phil Stewart in Washington, Babak Dehghanpisheh in Geneva; Tassilo Hummel and Sabine Siebold in Berlin; and Anthony Deutsch and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Grant McCool)

 



-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-16

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[quandow]

If Trump handles this problem like he does everything else, then we're screwed. He won't (or can't due to attention span and/or words too big?) read security briefings, he won't listen to his advisors, he chooses behavior that will make his "reality TV star status" look good.

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, quandow said:

If Trump handles this problem like he does everything else, then we're screwed. He won't (or can't due to attention span and/or words too big?) read security briefings, he won't listen to his advisors, he chooses behavior that will make his "reality TV star status" look good.

With Bolton being his main advisor there that may be a good thing.

[FritsSikkink]

Going into war without any proof again. The story is even worse as it was with Iraq but probably still good enough for the rednecks.

[Chomper Higgot]

It appears American cities and towns don’t yet have enough young men and women crippled by war.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

"U.S. pulls staff from Iraq" Good! They should pull all staff from Iraq and all staff from the whole region, especially their military. They should all go home and stay home.

The USA started enough wars. No more!

They should fix their local problems. They have enough of them.

[toenail]

The Republican political party loves wars. ( good for their businesses) 

[quandow]

25 minutes ago, stevenl said:

With Bolton being his main advisor there that may be a good thing.

I actually heard a news blip about the pussy-grabber-in-chief. Someone suggested that Bolton was maneuvering Trump in this issue, and Trump's ego jumped right out there. He said (and I paraphrase as best I can recall) he and Bolton have disagreements but Trump does the steering. Now if HANNITY suggests anything, well we all know how THAT goes!

[Tug]

Let Donald and Bolton get in the front line someone needs to push the pause button on Donald he has created enough problems allready!

[Morch]

2 hours ago, quandow said:

If Trump handles this problem like he does everything else, then we're screwed. He won't (or can't due to attention span and/or words too big?) read security briefings, he won't listen to his advisors, he chooses behavior that will make his "reality TV star status" look good.

 

What....like the North Korea situation? Oh, wait....the sky didn't fall then. And man, there was much more trash talking going on, even. Notice the same absence of any major ground troop deployed to either front? Yeah. That.

 

Trump's handling of international affairs is crude, simplistic and often inane. That aside, no new major military entanglements to date, and other than talk, it was pretty much just the cruise missile attack on Syria.

 

Trump is a bully. Bullies aren't usually very brave.

[TEFLKrabi]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

"U.S. pulls staff from Iraq" Good! They should pull all staff from Iraq and all staff from the whole region, especially their military. They should all go home and stay home.

The USA started enough wars. No more!

They should fix their local problems. They have enough of them.

Not sure you understand the situation. These are Embassy and consulate staff issuing visas to people who are either escaping the conflict or going to study abroad, amongst other things. Why would you not want them there?

[car720]

3 hours ago, toenail said:

The Republican political party loves wars. ( good for their businesses) 

I just told my Chinese wife that the American economy cannot exist without war.

[quandow]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

What....like the North Korea situation? Oh, wait....the sky didn't fall then. And man, there was much more trash talking going on, even. Notice the same absence of any major ground troop deployed to either front? Yeah. That.

 

Trump's handling of international affairs is crude, simplistic and often inane. That aside, no new major military entanglements to date, and other than talk, it was pretty much just the cruise missile attack on Syria.

 

Trump is a bully. Bullies aren't usually very brave.

The trouble is his words have serious consequences around the world. His mere mention of sending 120,000 troops to the Middle East sets off alarm bells. Most of the time he's pulling stuff out his ass, but then he sets the Dow tumbling because he actually DID place tariffs on China. As far as being a bully, he's a bully with the largest and most powerful military this planet has ever seen. He doesn't need to be brave. He needs to be muzzled.

[quandow]

14 minutes ago, car720 said:

I just told my Chinese wife that the American economy cannot exist without war.

It COULD exist, it just wouldn't be AS profitable, and greed can't accept that.

[ThaiFelix]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

American security experts believe Iran gave its "blessing" to tanker attacks,

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

United States believes Iran's role was one of actively encouraging militants

Believe/s??  Many people also believe in the Tooth Fairy, but there exists no evidence.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. intelligence showed Iran-backed Shi'ite militias positioning rockets near bases housing U.S. forces, according to two Iraqi security sources.

What no WMD's this time or troops massing on the border with Saudi Arabia ready to strike at any moment (even though the CIA said there was no evidence at all, even from spy satelites etc and no one to this day has found the WMD's.

 

Bolton and his "crazies" (the neo-cons) would be better suited to writing fairy tales or Marvel comics (apologies Marvel, I know your stories are slightly believable)!

 

In those famous words that have rung through the century "Yankee go home"!

[Old Croc]

Trump withdrew from the "Obama" USA - Iran agreement and reimposed, much stronger, sanctions resulting in Iran being unable to sell their oil and bankrupting their economy.

 

Small wonder they are hitting back by attacking oil tankers in the gulf.

[Emdog]

Iran kept it's commitments regarding nuke treaty, and none of the other signatories pulled out of the deal. 

Now Trump upset because Iran may go back to how it was before the deal? You brought it on you ignorant fool! Oh, but you wanted war..... never mind

Upset over Iran meddling about in Lebanon, Syria, etc? Fine, but that is not part of nuke deal. We signed nuke treaties with USSR even when both USSR and USA were having proxy wars.

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

Trump's handling of international affairs is crude, simplistic and often inane.

It's insane.

• Even though North Korea still has nuclear-armed ballistic missiles, Trump tells American they can sleep without fear.
• Even though Iran doesn't have any nuclear armaments, Trump tells Americans they must fear Iraq.
• Meanwhile Trump is prepared to send nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia that could further nuclearize the Middle East after Israel and Pakistan.

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the United States believes Iran's role was one of actively encouraging militants

Is that like the US encouraging Saudi Arabia with diplomatic and military support to war with Yemen?

Trump's Middle East foreign policy is like playing Stratego in the dark and allowed to switch sides.

[Basil B]

5 hours ago, toenail said:

The Republican political party loves wars. ( good for their businesses) 

Don't forget the US politicians in the pockets of the NRA and their sponsors.

 

Quote

Julie Cowan, Morbid Facination with American Politics
The bulk of the group’s money now comes in the form of contributions, grants, royalty income, and advertising, much of it originating from gun industry sources.

Since 2005, the gun industry and its corporate allies have given between $20 million and $52.6 million to it through the NRA Ring of Freedom sponsor program. Donors include firearm companies like Midway USA, Springfield Armory Inc, Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems, and Beretta USA Corporation. Other supporters from the gun industry include Cabala’s, Sturm Rugar & Co, and Smith & Wesson.

  https://www.quora.com/What-evidence-supports-the-claim-that-the-NRA-is-a-virtual-subsidiary-of-the-gun-industry

[johnnysunshine]

Relax!   We will not be going to war!

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, TEFLKrabi said:

Not sure you understand the situation. These are Embassy and consulate staff issuing visas to people who are either escaping the conflict or going to study abroad, amongst other things. Why would you not want them there?

Looks like they have enough facilities to handle ten thousands of visas every day - even in a big bunker.

[candide]

7 hours ago, quandow said:

I actually heard a news blip about the pussy-grabber-in-chief. Someone suggested that Bolton was maneuvering Trump in this issue, and Trump's ego jumped right out there. He said (and I paraphrase as best I can recall) he and Bolton have disagreements but Trump does the steering. Now if HANNITY suggests anything, well we all know how THAT goes!

Right. To some extent, the region's security is in the hands of Hannity. Let's hope he will be reasonable.....

[Krataiboy]

Having failed to effect regime change in Syria, the US has clearly decided to bypass this slippery stepping stone to hegemony in the Middle East and take on their Saudi proxy's arch political and religious enemies. 

 

Trump's decision to appoint hawkish John Bolton presaged a shift in White House policy towards Iran. Before his appointment, the new national security adviser had been unequivocal in what US intentions towards the Shia stronghold should be.

 

“The declared policy of the United States should be the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime in Tehran," he declared. "The behavior and the objectives of the regime are not going to change and, therefore, the only solution is to change the regime itself.”

Recalling his belligerent words, one can be forgiven for speculating about the true nature of the recent attacks in the Gulf of Hormuz. Were they instigated by the Iranians, whose government has condemned the incidents? Or could they be yet another "false flag" event similar to that which, half a century ago, started the body bags flowing back to the Land of the Free from Vietnam.

[Donut21]

I wonder if the US attacked the 4 ships in the Strait of Hormuz,

[Donut21]

I wonder if the US attacked the 4 ships in the Strait of Hormuz,

[Krataiboy]

6 hours ago, Basil B said:

Don't forget the US politicians in the pockets of the NRA and their sponsors.

 

  https://www.quora.com/What-evidence-supports-the-claim-that-the-NRA-is-a-virtual-subsidiary-of-the-gun-industry

. . . or that the US is a virtual subsidiary of the military/industrial complex.

[lungbing]

I didn't know Iran's blessing was necessary for a CIA false-flag operation.

[Morch]

9 hours ago, car720 said:

I just told my Chinese wife that the American economy cannot exist without war.

 

How interesting. Did she actually believe you?

[Morch]

9 hours ago, quandow said:

The trouble is his words have serious consequences around the world. His mere mention of sending 120,000 troops to the Middle East sets off alarm bells. Most of the time he's pulling stuff out his ass, but then he sets the Dow tumbling because he actually DID place tariffs on China. As far as being a bully, he's a bully with the largest and most powerful military this planet has ever seen. He doesn't need to be brave. He needs to be muzzled.

 

Yes, the nonsense and bile he generates does have consequences. Although I suspect (wonder how to go about checking it....) that to an extent the World's already familiar with his antics and flip flops, so that most have less effect than expected. By the way - if I got it right, the 120,000 troops thing weren't his words, other than to deny reports.

 

Either way, "we're screwed" in the sense that the Dow takes a hit, or "we're screwed" as in Duck and Cover are different things. With regard to the former, the feud with China outweighs the Iran situation, and NK showed that he's more into blustering and showmanship than an actual fight (brings to mind his WWF days).

 

I think he's not even brave enough to face the possible consequences of a war gone bad, or even the guts to actually take decisions on that level.

 

Mostly, there aren't troops deployed to carry out any major invasion or ground operations. And this can't happen overnight and without coverage. Pretty similar to the situation with NK a short while back. So yes, the USA could still carry out an attack, mostly by air and naval assets, but not, I think, anything on par with past efforts in Iraq - at least at this point.