Stuff continues to get worse in that part of the world. I suppose the Saudi intervention was inevitable, but it sure sucks that things have come to this.
QuoteSaudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf allies launched air attacks early Thursday in neighboring Yemen, after Shiite rebels believed backed by Iran swept toward that country's second-largest city and forced the president to flee.
The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, made the announcement on Wednesday evening in Washington. He said the operation began at 7 pm EDT in order "to prevent Yemen from falling into the hands of the Houthis," the rebels.
The operation was an extraordinary development that could plunge Yemen into full-out war. The ambassador said that military forces from several countries were preparing to join the operation, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia's Gulf allies. He said the air strikes had targeted sites around the country, including in its capital, Sanaa. The Saudi government had consulted "very closely and very intensely with our partners, in particular the United States," he said.
more at the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/report-yemens-embattled-president-flees-stronghold-as-rebels-advance/2015/03/25/e0913ae2-d2d5-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html?wpisrc=al_alert
What a mess. The US is helping Iran, who is helping the Iraqi's turn back ISIS and now the Saudi's are starting operations against Iranian supported forces in Yemen, after the US supported government fell.
Yup. It is difficult to imagine a more screwed up foreign policy. smh
There are reports now that both Saudi and Egypt are going to send in ground troops.
Don't worry! Hillary will fix it all when she gets voted in, in 2016!
She WAS the Secretary of State, y'know. ::)
A more perfect summation I cannot imagine
http://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-us-doing-in-the-middle-east-2015-3
Quote from: Noah BrowningConfused? If you're a pro-Iran Shiite militia in Iraq, you get US air cover. If you're a pro-Iran Shiite militia in Yemen, US helps bomb you
Quote from: Miriam ElderAmazing to picture US and Iranian diplos hurtling towards a deal in Switzerland during this chaos #yemen #iraq #whatthehellisgoingon
Quote from: ian bremmerMy Middle East bracket is completely busted.
If ever we were in need of Abbott & Costello
And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html)
Quote from: Airborne Rifles on March 27, 2015, 10:58:40 AM
And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html)
That's not a bad play with Iran He was totally non committal.
"This is not something we would discuss publicly," Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir said on "The Situation Room." Later, when pressed, he said, "This is not something that I can comment on, nor would I comment on."
I agree. But it's unfortunate they feel the need to start to rattle the nuclear saber. We don't need more countries with nukes in the world.
Especially not in the Middle East.
Quote from: Airborne Rifles on March 27, 2015, 10:58:40 AM
And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html)
last time they tried this, the Israelis sent a message... (pick up on page 42). Is there some urban legend exaggeration? Maybe. But it's damned funny.
https://books.google.com/books?id=ej0wLt-D0WcC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=gold+of+exodus+israel+bomb+saudi+airstrip&source=bl&ots=gs1xyOk55-&sig=012JP0Nt4ByOEBtHzmawL_sB38s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qnIVVaWrA--0sASzg4HIDQ&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Quote from: Airborne Rifles on March 27, 2015, 10:58:40 AM
And now the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. won't rule out the kingdom building its own nukes:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/politics/saudi-open-to-nuclear-bomb/index.html)
That's probably because in the last couple of days the US has leaked extensive details about Israel's nuke program - before we were silent on the issue even though everyone knew they had them.
Ah, here's a story. Sorry, the editorial slant is quite hard on this one, but the facts seem to be straight. It was the first article I found on the subject. There are more if anyone wants to look.
QuotePresident Obama has declassified the details of Israel's nuclear program in a stunningly irresponsible and dangerous action meant to hurt one of our strongest allies.
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the administration just released a report from 1987 that goes into extensive detail about Israel's nuclear and conventional warfighting capabilities.
source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/fit-revenge-obama-declassifies-israeli-nuclear-program/
Oy vey, what a DB move by Obama.
meh, its an '87 report. they have more and better now. O0
Phew...ok my inner Jew is calmed.
Quote from: Gusington on March 27, 2015, 02:23:45 PM
Phew...ok my inner Jew is calmed.
you should really go read the 3-page book excerpt from above
As crazy as things are over there right now, I would only be mildly surprised if Israel help SA with the bomb development.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 27, 2015, 02:32:07 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 27, 2015, 02:23:45 PM
Phew...ok my inner Jew is calmed.
you should really go read the 3-page book excerpt from above
That was brilliant, if it happened as they say.
Quote from: OJsDad on March 27, 2015, 02:35:10 PM
As crazy as things are over there right now, I would only be mildly surprised if Israel help SA with the bomb development.
+1. What a crazy world.
Quote from: Airborne Rifles on March 27, 2015, 02:41:24 PM
Quote from: OJsDad on March 27, 2015, 02:35:10 PM
As crazy as things are over there right now, I would only be mildly surprised if Israel help SA with the bomb development.
+1. What a crazy world.
+2
Quote from: OJsDad on March 27, 2015, 02:35:10 PM
As crazy as things are over there right now, I would only be mildly surprised if Israel help SA with the bomb development.
Back in the 80's the
other SA was rumored to have been gearing up for a nuke program as well. Wonder what ever became of that?
^Maybe Iran will find out soon.
Quote from: Staggerwing on March 27, 2015, 06:32:45 PMBack in the 80's the other SA was rumored to have been gearing up for a nuke program as well. Wonder what ever became of that?
They've long been assumed to be an undeclared nuclear power. Any calculus of defense strength in Africa assumed they've got a dozen or so.
^Reassuring*
*not really
Quote from: bayonetbrant on March 27, 2015, 07:55:02 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on March 27, 2015, 06:32:45 PMBack in the 80's the other SA was rumored to have been gearing up for a nuke program as well. Wonder what ever became of that?
They've long been assumed to be an undeclared nuclear power. Any calculus of defense strength in Africa assumed they've got a dozen or so.
The Pre-apartheid gov't supposedly built at least 6 gun-barrel nukes and was working with Israel to build ballistic delivery platforms similar to the Jericho.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on March 27, 2015, 01:52:34 PM
meh, its an '87 report. they have more and better now. O0
That's not the point.
By making it public it can provide political cover for the Iranians to proceed with their own development. No other nation could benefit from the public release of that information.
What more proof is needed to say this...this...creature is the number one enemy of the state?
Quote from: LongBlade on March 27, 2015, 09:51:17 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on March 27, 2015, 01:52:34 PM
meh, its an '87 report. they have more and better now. O0
That's not the point.
By making it public it can provide political cover for the Iranians to proceed with their own development. No other nation could benefit from the public release of that information.
to be fair that cover has already existed for 30 years.
The thing that frightens me is just what did he tell our enemies exactly? I'm sure they meet with them in private and he probably gave them some great details about what Israel has. Up until hearing this latest I thought the guy was just a plain old jackass. Now I'm convinced he's an anti-Semite and an islam lover.
You sir, are part of the vast right wing conspiracy.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-allowed-for-the-release-of-a-document-detailing-past-nuclear-weapons-work-395397
Quote from: OJsDad on March 28, 2015, 08:20:59 AM
You sir, are part of the vast right wing conspiracy.
You kind sir are incorrect. I'm just awake more than others are. ;)
Quote from: mirth on March 28, 2015, 09:40:42 AM
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-allowed-for-the-release-of-a-document-detailing-past-nuclear-weapons-work-395397
Hmmm.
The article says that the US advised Israel it was going to release those documents and that Israel did not object. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the action.
Something is certainly afoot here. But what?
Quote from: LongBlade on March 28, 2015, 11:17:38 AM
Quote from: mirth on March 28, 2015, 09:40:42 AM
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-allowed-for-the-release-of-a-document-detailing-past-nuclear-weapons-work-395397
Hmmm.
The article says that the US advised Israel it was going to release those documents and that Israel did not object. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the action.
True. But not exactly a stab in the back by the Obama administration either.
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/03/27/conservative-medias-fantasy-that-obama-leaked-i/203074
Apparently Dubya was an anti-semitic creature and enemy of the state as well-
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB189/index.htm (http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB189/index.htm)
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/13/AR2008011303477.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/13/AR2008011303477.html)