Iran Shoots Down Passenger Airliner

[Mike]

Iran has now admitted to shooting down the aircraft. They claim it was an accident.

[CactusCurt]

Not to diminish the loss of life, but Irans admission shocks me more that anything about this story.

[Mike]

Not to diminish the loss of life, but Irans admission shocks me more that anything about this story.

I agree. Everything that has happened since the Soleimani hit has been mostly bizarre. It has me wondering if we have scared Iran into becoming a more civilized nation that wants to join the rest of the world. On the other hand, it makes me wonder what the hell Iran is really up to. Can't trust them one iota.

[Dave Grubb]

I am encouraged to hear this activity was going on.

Extracted from an article in the WSJ this morning:

BERN, Switzerland—Hours after a U.S. strike killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the Trump administration sent an urgent back channel message to Tehran: Don’t escalate.

The encrypted fax was sent via the Swiss Embassy in Iran, one of the few means of direct, confidential communication between the two sides, U.S. officials said.

In the days that followed, the White House and Iranian leaders exchanged further messages, which officials in both countries described as far more measured than the fiery rhetoric traded publicly by politicians.

A week later, and after a retaliatory Iranian missile attack on two military bases hosting American troops that inflicted no casualties, Washington and Tehran seemed to be stepping back from the brink of open hostilities—for now.

“We don’t communicate with the Iranians that much, but when we do the Swiss have played a critical role to convey messages and avoid miscalculation,” a senior U.S. official said.

A spokesman at Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the exchanges but said “we appreciate [the Swiss] for any efforts they make to provide an efficient channel to exchange letters when and if necessary.”

One Iranian official said the back channel provided a welcome bridge, when all others had been burned: “In the desert, even a drop of water matters.”

[wacojoe]

I agree. Everything that has happened since the Soleimani hit has been mostly bizarre. It has me wondering if we have scared Iran into becoming a more civilized nation that wants to join the rest of the world. On the other hand, it makes me wonder what the hell Iran is really up to. Can't trust them one iota.

Until Iran ceases being governed and directed at the top by a cluster of religious nuts the civilized world will have very limited impact on that country. The problem remains that those running the country actually really believe that the Twelfth Imam has been hiding in what is termed his “Greater Occultation” since ~875 CE and is the predicted Mahdi who will rule the Earth upon his revealing himself once again. In the meantime it is the duty of his followers - the Shiites and their Mullahs - to prepare the world for his safe and glorious return. Guess what happens to us and the world in order for the world to be prepared?

It is astonishing to me that no one in the media or the political world publicly is willing to recognize or call attention to the true impediments to dealing with Iran and the lunatics that run it. Identifying religious fanaticism as the crux of the problem is taboo.

As to dealing with Iran — when was the last time you ever heard of or saw someone talk a religious fanatic out of being a religious fanatic?

[CactusCurt]

Identifying religious fanaticism as the crux of the problem is taboo.

Some Christians might disagree with you. I don't see all religions being treated equally. I see Muslim bias.

[Honda]

It is astonishing to me that no one in the media or the political world publicly is willing to recognize or call attention to the true impediments to dealing with Iran and the lunatics that run it. Identifying religious fanaticism as the crux of the problem is taboo.

But of course they have no problem at all vilifying Evangelicals.

[wacojoe]

As an atheist, I view religions from the outside looking in. The two largest, Christian and Muslim, have been central to shaping our world - good & bad. My view is that Christianity, and what I view as its mythology, has been generally benign and beneficial to human society at least for the last several hundred years, while Mohammedanism and its liturgy has been malign and destructive. The biggest difference I see can be traced to Christianity abandoning proselytization by force, while large segments of fundamental Islamic forces have embraced it and still do.

I have written here and elsewhere my challenge to name one beneficial innovation to humanity attributable to Islamic culture in the last 400 years beyond couscous, and I have yet to receive a positive response. One wag proposed “suicide vests,” and in a few cases where the fanatic blew up himself/herself alone, I suppose that could be argued as correct, but beyond that there have been no takers. In contrast, Christian culture has produce beneficial innovations beyond measure. There must be a fine drug or better letter opener somewhere out there created by a Muslim, but nothing that leaps off the page yet. I know that hate my dog. In some places they control they punish kids for flying kites when they could have spent that time worshiping Allah, I am told. It is unclear why Allah cares or demands worship.

[Phillbo]

I have written here and elsewhere my challenge to name one beneficial innovation to humanity attributable to Islamic culture in the last 400 years beyond couscous,

Have you not seen Achmed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBvfiCdk-jc

[UTAH]

Yes, we need more Achmeds (dead terrorists).

Hunter

[Honda]

It now appears some of the folks in Iran are calling for the big guy there (yes I do not know how to spell his damn name) removal. I think some of the opposition folks in the US are starting to believe this whole deal was made for Hollywood high stakes drama.

[Truckman]

It looks like the Iranians are rounding up the usual suspects...The guy who caught the shooting on video...

Iran says it has arrested the person who filmed the footage showing a Ukrainian passenger plane being shot down by a missile.

And those citizens who are protesting their government's coverup of the incident...

Approximately 30 people were detained during recent protests in Iran that were triggered by the nation's government admitting to accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian plane last week

Justice is swift in Iran, whether they're guilty or not......Ben

[Honda]

Let's see how swift they compensate the victims I'm just waiting for some slime ball like the pornstar lawyer to try to find some Theory to sue the US government or Trump for the crash.

[wacojoe]

^^^
Creepy Porn Lawyer is out of action presently, as he was arrested by IRS agents at his disbarment hearing in California for violating terms of his prior release pending charges of stealing large sums from other clients. The guy is a real “piece of work.”

https://www.redstate.com/jenvanlaar/...n-los-angeles/

It is well to remember how constant were his appearances on CNN, MSNBC and the other usual suspect TV channels a while back, which implicitly endorsed this lunatic’s scams by emphasizing and promoting his wild accusations merely because he was attacking their nemesis, President Donald J. Trump. That largely mimicked what the same outlets did with the entire Trump/Russia scam, the non-crime/unconstitutional impeachment, and now various approaches to attacking Trump for splattering the hardened barbaric Col. Salami. And on it goes...

[Truckman]

34 US service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries after Iranian missile strike...I'm in favor of vaporizing 34 Iranian installations...To start with...

Although traumatic brain injuries are not always apparent immediately after they've been suffered, the disclosure of injured US service members indicates that the impact of the attack was more serious than initial assessments indicated.

...Ben