
Right after the attacks Trump tweeted this out:
Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2019
Trump did not identify who “the culprit” was but Secretary of State Pompeo left no doubt.
Courtesy of CNN:
On Saturday, coordinated strikes on key Saudi Arabian oil facilities — among the world’s largest energy production centers — disrupted 5% of the daily global oil supply. Yemen’s Houthi rebels took responsibility for the attacks, but they are often backed by Iran.
A day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the attack on Saudi oil facilities and argued there is “no evidence the attacks came from Yemen,” a senior administration official briefed CNN on information to back up Pompeo’s claims. Pompeo did not provide evidence, but the official pointed to satellite imagery provided to CNN showing the oil facilities were struck from the northwest, suggesting an attack from Iraq or Iran, among other information.
Short said Monday he’s “quite confident” that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will release evidence backing up his claim that Iran was behind the attack on an oil facility in Saudi Arabia.
It should be noted that Yemen and the Saudis have been engaged in an on-again-off-again conflict since the 1930s.
You can read more about that on this Twitter thread.
1/ Okay, in a few tweets I’m going to try to explain what’s going on in Yemen today, so you have some knowledge to counter this claim that America needs to bomb Iran because the Houthis bombed Saudi Arabia. It’s complicated, but now you need to know.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) September 16, 2019
The fighting on both sides has been horrific, and the loss of life staggering.
Out of desperation the Houthis have reached out to Iran and have received support from that country over the years, but to suggest that this attack was directed by the Iranians is to jump to a conclusion not yet supported by the facts.
For Trump to use terms like “locked and loaded” in a tweet is the very definition of irresponsible and could lead to multiple deaths even if he does not follow through on his end.
Here is how Iran responded to that careless use of language:
On Saturday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, rejected the accusation that Iran was behind the attack.
“Such blind accusations and inappropriate comments in a diplomatic context are incomprehensible and meaningless,” he said, adding, “even hostility needs a certain degree of credibility and reasonable frameworks, US officials have also violated these basic principles.”
To be blunt the Trump Administration currently lacks any credibility.
Combine that fact with the fact that they have been making unfounded allegations against Iran since Trump took office, and you have a potentially volatile situation in which America will likely receive little benefit of the doubt and the world will likely trust the Iranians over the US government.
Even if the Iranians did this the US is in no position to respond militarily and seriously how many more sanctions do we have left to implement?
Trump has essentially rendered our country impotent.
This is so fucking dangerous.
Good to know, remember every moment. Watch, listen and share.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5d7efe19e4b00d69059b023f
““Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything,””
The ‘divine right’ presidency: Trump has identified the USA with himself and claimed unprecedented powers to do whatever he wants
….We all might soon forget this saga of Dorian and Alabama when the next outrage emerges, but its details display the character of our current government. Right-wing populist politicians and parties in democratic systems across the globe are being examined for their similarities to 20th-century fascists. Trump however is no strongman, he commands no armed militia of followers, who brutalize opponents. He acts more like the unelected monarchs who ruled for hundreds of years by divine right. Trump is the state and “L’état, c’est moi,” as Louis XIV is supposed to have said.
Trump’s equation of himself with the state emerges in many of his statements. When the prime minister of Denmark curtly rejected Trump’s notion of buying Greenland, he said, “She’s not talking to me, she’s talking to the United States of America. You don’t talk to the United States that way.”
Let’s add up some individual instances where Trump has identified the USA with himself, made the government into his personal servants, and claimed unprecedented powers to do whatever he wants.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/the-divine-right-presidency-trump-has-identified-the-usa-with-himself-and-claimed-unprecedented-powers-to-do-whatever-he-wants/
The Trump depression: Experts see a serious psychological depression taking hold in America
…..If Trump has his way — demolishing all restraints on his power — things will only get much worse, with the journey Glasser took as a tour book guide of what’s to come. And people are feeling it in their bones.
“In America under Trump there is a population-based depression taking hold. It is a very subtle, smoldering, pervasive and serious condition that people in autocratic countries chronically live with,”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/the-trump-depression-experts-see-a-serious-psychological-depression-taking-hold-in-america/
I see it in myself. When President Obama was in office, I never feared for our country. I knew that the best people were in charge and that we were respected around the world. Since that dreadful day in November 2016, I have not slept well and I find myself fretting over everything political. Don the Con is so clearly the political embodiment of the “emperor with no clothes” that Hans Christian Andersen’s cautionary fairy tale has literally become reality. The fact that the greed of the Republican Party has made its members oblivious of the dangers their leader represents just compounds the situation. We, as a nation, now in dire straits. Like Germans in the 1930’s I wonder “when will it end.”
👏🤗🤞
‘RIP GOP’: Polling expert predicts devastating Trump 2020 electoral wipeout
…..To this end, Greenberg is predicting a blowout win for Democrats in 2020, as he’s projecting the Democratic nominee will win a whopping 385 electoral votes, whereas Trump will win just 153.
“Every trend is moving away from the Republicans,” Greenberg said. “More and more territory will be in play.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/polling-expert-predicts-devastating-trump-2020-electoral-wipeout-rip-gop/
Trump used to play Elton John at ‘eardrum-rupturing decibels’ on campaign plane for a bizarre reason: AP reporter
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/trump-used-to-play-elton-john-at-eardrum-rupturing-decibels-on-campaign-plane-for-a-bizarre-reason-ap-reporter/
Who blasts music when people are trying to sleep? Headphones, idiot!
YUGE RALLY! He is in New Mexico to rally the faithful and gather the masses together. Can’t wait for this humongous rally call. Savour every word from the mouth. We’re all orange, it’s the light bulbs.
https://www.axios.com/trump-rallying-new-mexico-4d295fec-6714-46ed-9452-b4dbc36825b6.html
https://twitter.com/yaya_41/status/1173652944392196098?s=20
Trump owns Texas, next he owns New Mexico.
https://newrepublic.com/article/154761/jeffrey-epstein-zorro-ranch-new-mexico-history
https://www.dw.com/en/erdogan-putin-rouhani-hold-productive-talks-on-syria/a-50449646
https://www.dw.com/en/arrested-canadian-intelligence-officer-oversaw-russia-probe-reports/a-50436330
https://www.dw.com/en/the-day-with-brent-goff-snowden-to-germany/av-19049331
“US whistleblower Edward Snowden has lived in exile in Russia since 2013. He has to leave soon & may move to France or Germany. I ask his attorney: Where will Snowden go? Plus, oil prices surge as US blames Iran for attacks on Saudi oil fields.”
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/13/759833071/in-permanent-record-edward-snowden-makes-his-case-against-mass-surveillance
https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/climate-in-crisis-lester-holt-s-journey-to-alaska-69085765639
Lester Holt travels to Alaska – where he spent part of his childhood — to get a personal perspective of a climate in crisis. Scientists are warning that rising temperatures are having a significant impact on the state – including melting glaciers – which contributes to rising sea levels and warming oceans.
Trump with his new National Security Advisor:
https://twitter.com/stonecold2050/status/1173789033756938240
He wants war with Iran and he is itching to use a nuke.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/09/trump-keeps-contradicting-himself-on-iran/
“Trump’s lie didn’t go unnoticed on Twitter, where Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed it out.
“So when you say Fake News,” Lieu asked Trump, “are you referring to yourself?” “
https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2019/09/16/amanpour-nasr-kirby-iran-saudi-arabia.cnn
‘Retired US Rear Admiral John Kirby and Middle East scholar Vali Nasr discuss the recent attacks on Saudi oil fields and its regional implications.’
Emirate retaliation? OPEC