- .., the potential peacemaker? Johnson? Lol: UK gov. has already described the murder as "Lawful..." Archived Message
Posted by Ken Waldron
on January 5, 2020, 1:18 am, in reply to "That makes this war seem almost a cert. Who's the potential peacemaker? Johnson? In Mustique mate nm"
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"...self defense"..and parroted the US line whilst sending a couple of extra wee Tonka-boats to act as missile bait: Britian has sent two warships to the Persian Gulf in a bid to protect citizens in the wake of Donald Trump’s decision to kill Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, confirmed that the government had ordered the vessels on Saturday night ‘to take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time’. In a statement, Mr Wallace also said President Trump acted lawfully in his decision to launch a US airstrike at Baghdad Airport killing Soleimani. He said the HMS Montrose and HMS Defender have been sent back to resume maritime patrols in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. They will accompany British-flagged ships to ensure they make it safely through the Strait, which is a particularly vulnerable area as 30 per cent of the world’s oil passes through it from the Gulf to the oceans. Mr Wallace said on Saturday night: ‘Yesterday I spoke to my US counterpart Secretary Esper and we urge all parties to engage to de-escalate the situation. During the last few months US forces in Iraq, who are based in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, have been repeatedly attacked by Iranian backed militia. ‘General Soleimani has been at the heart of the use of proxies to undermine neighbouring sovereign nations and target Iran’s enemies. Under international law the United States is entitled to defend itself against those posing an imminent threat to their citizens. ‘I have instructed preparation for HMS Montrose and HMS Defender to return to accompanying duties of Red Ensign Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Government will take all necessary steps to protect our ship and citizens at this time.’ It is feared Iran may retaliate to the killing of Soleimani by attacking US military and business interests in the Middle East and oil tankers passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Last year, two British-flagged tankers – one carrying oil and the other transporting a cargo of chemicals – were seized by Iran in the 21-mile-wide channel. It caused a temporary surge in oil prices and if Iran chooses to close the Strait, it will cause huge devastation to the world economy, as it is described as ‘the world’s most important choke point’, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Tensions have been rising between Iran and the US after President Trump ‘terminated’ Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Soleimani in a bid to end his target’s ‘sick passion’ for death. Mr Trump claimed the country’s second in command was plotting ‘imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel’ and ordered his killing ‘to stop a war’. Soleimani is also blamed for attacks on US troops and American allies going back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Quds Force – a unit of the IRGC – has military proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Yemen and experts say combined they are responsible for successful and attempted terrorist acts across the region. But Soleimani was also the face of armed resistance against Islamic State, which was only defeated last year. The airstrike at Baghdad’s main airport has caused tensions in the volatile region to soar and there are fears of all-out war. Today as the funerals took place, billboards appeared on major streets in Iran showing Soleimani and carrying a warning from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that ‘harsh revenge’ awaits the US. Last night, Trump dispatched another 3,000 troops to Kuwait to bolster the US military presence in the Middle East. It has ordered all its citizens to leave Iraq and closed its embassy in Baghdad. The governments in Britain and France have ordered their citizens to avoid travel to Iraq and Iran while experts said tourists should evacuate the United Arab Emirates. http://metro.co.uk/2020/01/04/britain-sends-warships-persian-gulf-protect-citizens-amid-iran-crisis-12002241/ |