US-Iran War Has Begun! Iran launches dozens of ballistic missiles!

[Agelastus]

It's interesting that the USA felt it had to pass a specific law to allow this in 2014

To allow what specifically? Does the law have any provisions for what the United States considers reasonable exceptions to the treaty? Or is it just asserting a blanket right?

Quoting Wikipedia, but where the page states that the summary is based on that provided by the Congressional Research Service -

The law amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to direct the President of the United States to deny U.S. admission to any representative of the United Nations (U.N.) who: (1) has been found to have been engaged in espionage activities or a terrorist activity against the United States or its allies, and (2) may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.

I would not say that Trump is "covered" by this as Zarif is not a representative "of the United Nations"; on the other hand a strict reading of article IV section 11's wording would suggest that banning Zarif does not breach the Treaty unless he was invited by "...the United Nations or by such specialized agency..." He's not actually one of the "representatives of members" if I read the intent of point (1) correctly.

According to Wikipedia it was passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and the article implies the same was true in the House of Representatives. So nobody present at the time opposed it enough to call a vote, although perhaps one of our American colleagues can confirm if this is true or not.

[I'll be honest, I had completely forgotten about Abutaleibi until his name came up when I was googling for the Housing Agreement to read the exact text.]

[The Minsky Moment]

It was passed into law; it's on the statute books.
It is drafted in a way that the President is obligated to bar entry of a person who meets the criteria unless the President grants waiver.

[jimmy olsen]

The Iranians have struck back! 

https://twitter.com/JonLemire/status/1214691102185443335

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran state TV says Tehran launches "tens" of surface-to-surface missiles at Iraq's Ain Assad air base housing US troops

[mongers]

Oops, that's bad, real bad; both for the soldiers and the inevitable civilian casualties and because of the likely march to war.

[11B4V]

Stupid overt move by Iran

[mongers]

Stupid overt move by Iran

Certainly because an unknown known, Trump is involved.


Otherwise it might be a seen as a considered similar level attack/retaliationv to the original assassination. 

[11B4V]

Stupid overt move by Iran

Certainly because an unknown known, Trump is involved.


Otherwise it might be a seen as a considered similar level attack/retaliationv to the original assassination.

Until some tomahawks, more than "tens", start landing in Iran.

[Razgovory]

I don't see how war can be avoided now.

[11B4V]

I don't see how war can be avoided now.

It can always be avioded. Remember Trump is a bully at heart.

My worry if it does continue, is Iran targeting Israel. Trump's administration is incompetent to restrain the israeli's.

[FunkMonk]

Balloon's going up.

It's been an honor posting with y'all. Heading to my fallout shelter now and no internet 100 feet underground.

[mongers]

I don't see how war can be avoided now.

It can always be avioded. Remember Trump is a bully at heart.

My worry if it does continue, is Iran targeting Israel. Trump's administration is incompetent to restrain the israeli's.

My guess is the Iranians are trying to give Trump a bloody nose (dead american servicemen) and as you say stand up to the bully.

But I think this has been a miscalculation because Trump has several too easy retaliation options, given the panoply of military assets in the regions.

My hope now is that it was a unsophisticated attack using Saddam era scud type missiles and they didn't get too lucky and hit a dinner hall like in the gulf war, so lots of sound a fury but very limited military damage on the ground, after all this An Al Asad airbase is a massive complex sitting in a lot of desert. So it's a damp squid that Trump doesn't feel bound to flatten Iran in response.

Just to clarify, the Pentagon has said a base in Irbil has also been attacked.

[Habbaku]

This thread's title is really fucking stupid.

[jimmy olsen]

This thread's title is really fucking stupid.

Why?

[mongers]

This thread's title is really fucking stupid.

Yes I was just thinking that, a better option would be 'The Unfolding US-Iran War'


For Tim:
The Iran-Iraq war -  Saddam's Iraq vs the revolutionary Islamic Iran.

The Gulf War - Saddam's Iraq vs The US, most of the West and the Gulf countries. Also including Egypt and Syria.

The Iraq War and Occupation - GWB's USA and UK vs Saddam's Iraq.

This looming war - Iraq doesn't want to be involved this time, so whilst some fighting might take place there, I doubt there'll be any Iraqi state involvement, unlike in the previous three wars.

[jimmy olsen]

Fine