Since the attack was carried out in Iraq and not Iran I expect a regional response by Iran via one or more of their proxies. With the recent history of a major U.S. military attack against a country after 9-11. I somewhat doubt they would carry out a retaliation on U.S. soil. In fact I think the thought of being linked to an attack on U.S. soil scares the hell out of them.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2642915&postcount=3066 https://m.wsj.net/video/20200103/010...i4_960x540.jpgOf particular interest is the lack of a crater or 'collateral damage' to surrounding area of the vehicles struck by raptor drones-note today's photo W.S.J.: lack of scorching on wall art etc.:hmmm:... a merciful hit by any standard??!!:oops: :yep: :doh: probaby by use of the flying ginzu missile https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-conte...re-800x439.jpg designed to prevent such. The Hellfire R9X, also known as the “Flying Ginsu” after the knives advertised in campy infomercials, kills its enemies by flying directly at them, popping out several steel blades at the last moment to slice its targets into bits. however if the vehicle fuel tank becomes involved from impact all bets are off. As for retaliation: the twin World Towers, the Pentagon and possibly 1996 PanAm 800 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ht_breakup.jpg as retaliation for the USS Vincennes missile downing of Iran Air 655 in 1988 all point up that vengeance will be paid, whether Christian or Islamic in origin. America will will respond. Any small nation has to ponder 'awkening the sleeping giant' that is the U.S. Considering attacks on oil refineries in Saudi Arabia(technically our ally), mysterious attacks on tankers in the Persian Gulf, and the shoot down of an American drone in the Hormuz Strait, the game is very much afoot and nobody's backin' down....as we've just demonstrated!

I think we are stocking up on popcorn right now.


As to Trump's motivations I think they were more about not being in the same situation as Hillary was over Bengazi.

We learn from our mistakes, Peal Harbor, Vietnam, Bengazi :yep:

Even though I'm not an expert on military strategy I'm 110 % sure we will not be witness to an all out Iranian attack on American warships and/or their bases in the region.

I'm pretty sure, as Rockstar also mentioned in his latest comment- this retaliation will be done by some Iran supported militia who will attack American interest somewhere in the region.

Markus

looking on the bright side oil spiked.

They will go after soft targets, and civilian ones as well, maybe. They will go after those targets that are in reach of their capabilities. An open exchange on the conventional battlefield was never an option seriously considered.

Becoming a man with dreams, eh?

Just like Israel we are going to just sit on the sidelines on this and enjoy the show.

Different to Russia Israel cannot afford to just sit on the sideline. It already is on high alert.

Iran has no air force worth the name that could reach Israel. But it has missiles. Plenty of them. And militias and terror groups. With drones.And best contact into the terrorism scene.

I doubt the Iranians will attack the US directly but they may attempt to take out Saudi oil production then Trump would probably take out the Iranian oil producing infrastructure.

I'll say one thing about the POTUS....any attack against the US or her allies will almost definitely be met with overwhelming proportionality.

I wouldn't have thought there'd be much if anything left of him to bury.

Sure didn't look like it ... all alone too on the edge of the air field.

I wonder if the drone operator will get a bonus :o

In the news at 0100 some maleperson from the Danish military acedemy(similar to West Point) said in an interview.

Iran has a lot of long range missile who can reach far they can reach all the areas where American have bases or where their interest is.

When I heard this I began to think what Skybird wrote in a response to my former comment.
And I think Skybird is right-Iran will not engage USA directly.

Then earlier today around noon I saw some Swedish news where some high ranked officer in the Iranian RG said something about the Hormuz, tankers lifeline to the west and American warship.

Are The Iranian RG going to engage USA directly ?
(I do remember some of you saying this RG are seperate from the leaders in Teheran)

Personally I hope, now Iran has to ball, will kick it away.

Markus