"The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!"
I'm asking because I only want to hear others perspective on the situation. I honestly would like to hear some opinions from those on the right? Do you agree? If yes, why? Does it give you pause? Or doesn't matter in the least to you?
Nobody's saying Iran isn't someone to keep an eye on. The question is whether they are doing the things Trump says they are. His intel chiefs say no. What possible intel could Trump be getting that the heads of our intelligence agencies aren't?
Do you all really think he knows more than our intel chiefs? That he knows more than our generals?
Matt
Where the hell have you been the last two years? Obviously watching CNN or MSNBC. Are you telling me you trust the " intel community", a oxymoron if there ever was one, which is rife with political corruption and has been the lapdog of that other scheming, no count liar, zero.
Get off of it. Your making a larger fool of yourself, which personally I did not think was possible. What in the hell is wrong with you? You're another one with little people running around inside your head. How you navigate from your bed to the breakfast table in the morning without a bruise is beyond me.
The Rock
Which Intel Chiefs?
Comey's ex-assistant in the FBI was the reporter with cameras at the arrest of Trumps boy recently and FBI is only supposed to handle domestic?
Who are we talking and what security clearance was their testimony?
Until I can get some info I would say....
The tweet above says "Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but a source of potential danger and conflict."
Much different sounds to me like less threat but still there?
What did intel folks say?
Things that make you go "hmmmm"...
Grey Ghost's Link
Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, and Gina Haspel, CIA director. Both Trump appointees.
"What did intel folks say?"
My link talks about the apparent inconsistencies between Trump and his intelligence chiefs.
Matt
What does JTV say as states take away gun rights per Trumps suggestion? Be paranoid not vigilant??
Iran may not be an immediate threat, but they are doing everything they can to get there.
^You're
Again, I'll ask...where is Trump getting his intel if it isn't from his intelligence agencies?
Predicting what he caused himself so he can say...I told you so?
." If he continues to publicly insult his intel chiefs, they are not going to perform for him"
Now that's the problem right there isn't it?..... "performing for him". What about performing for the security of the people of the U.S. irrespective if you "like" the POTUS, which is your sworn duty. These people would have picked cotton for zero. I know....YOU CAN'T SAY THAT! Well I just did. Don't like it, enroll in some snowflake college and get yourself a teddy bear.
The Rock
This is more political B.S. that this government has been built upon. Maybe these whacko's on the left are correct. Socialism may very well be what this nation needs and deserves because the political structure in place is all about itself. Time for a change and makeover and let us see how well that goes over.
The Rock
"Again, I'll ask...where is Trump getting his intel if it isn't from his intelligence agencies?"
Obviously from Putin:-)
"Again, I'll ask...where is Trump getting his intel if it isn't from his intelligence agencies?"
This one takes the cake.
Read once again your inquiry word for word and then realize how dense one could possibly be to search for the answer that themselves inserted in their question.
P.S........ Gotta love the comedy here disguised as "the all knowing".
The Rock
The Rock
Hmmm, I wonder what this would look like....maybe coming out and saying your President is pretty much wrong in how he's characterized the security challenges posed by Iran, ISIS, and NK?
Maybe I missed it..... I didn't see Trump listing any real specifics nor as tossing intel under the bus. I read it as "we need to keep a close eye on Iran..... and not trust them any further than you can throw them......" What exactly is wrong with that? I'd say it was accurate and realistic.
There is a large contingent in the government who have a vested interest in returning back to the naive and stupid Obama "treaty"..... buy off, capitulation.... whatever. In the end Obamanistas WANT a nuclear Iran, the deal he made confirms this. Creates a path to it actually. Leftists/Globalists think there needs to be some "balance" of power to achieve "real peace". Somehow it's not "fair" that not everybody has equal power. Nukes are power. That's been figured out in Starbucks and faculty rooms across the county....
Did you not read his tweet? It was provided in the OP.
You don't think the following statements are throwing intel under the bus:
"The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong!" and finishing it off with "Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!"
What his intel chiefs said were basically "we have no indications that Iran is taking steps to produce nuclear weapons, they have continued to abide by the terms of the nuclear agreement even after the US pulled out, but the population is becoming testy as they are not seeing the economic benefits they hoped for from the deal." Please tell me what is wrong with what they said re: Iran?
We can have a similar conversation on what the said about ISIS and NK if you want too. While not as overtly throwing intel under the bus on his tweets about ISIS and NK, he made it very clear that he didn't like their assessments. IMO, it's nothing more than the thin-skinned Trump not liking his extreme statements ("We have won against ISIS" and "There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea" and "It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement") being walked back by people whose job it is to assess the threats. For the Marketer in Chief, there's probably nothing that riles him more.
Is Trump being Paranoid when he should be vigilant?
Is he playing chess when his intelligence chiefs are playing checkers predicting what he caused himself so he can say...I told you so?
Does he not have a clue?
Is Trump violating Operational Security?
"" Oops! Iran Announces Transfer of Uranium Yellowcake – Day After DNI Director Dan Coats Refutes Trump, Insists Iran Is Not Pursuing Nukes""
On Tuesday Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats refuted President Trump and insisted the Iranian regime was not seeking nuclear arms.
Coats testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee and defended the Iranian regime and Obama administration talking points.
Politico reported:
America’s top intelligence official on Tuesday publicly broke with President Donald Trump on several critical foreign policy fronts, saying North Korea is not likely to give up its nuclear weapons, Iran is not yet seeking a nuclear weapon and the Islamic State terrorist group remains a forceful presence in Iraq and Syria.
The remarks by Dan Coats, the U.S. director of national intelligence, underscored how out of step Trump’s pronouncements on major national security issues often are with the rest of the government he leads, including intelligence agencies that he has long scorned.
On Wednesday Iran announced the second consignment of yellowcake uranium to its conversion facility in Isfahan province.
Fars News reported:
Iran on Wednesday dispatched the second cargo of yellowcake produced in Ardakan plant in the Central parts of the country to the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Isfahan province.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi issued an order to transfer the yellowcake produced in the Ardakan factory, located in the Central province of Yazd, to the UCF in Isfahan.
Iran had on April 20, transferred the first batch of yellowcake (10 tons) to the UCF to mark the country’s National Day of Nuclear Technology. The second cargo which weighs 30 tons was dispatched on Wednesday.
Before issuing an order to send the new consignment, Salehi said that Iran is prepared to increase its production of yellowcake to over 300 tons annually in the next 5 to 6 years.
Yellowcake is a type of uranium concentrate powder obtained from leach solutions, in an intermediate step in the processing of uranium ores. It is a step in the processing of uranium after it has been mined but before fuel fabrication or uranium enrichment.
I'm 100% fine with disagreeing with folks he put in certain positions. Fine. Where is the "better" info coming from?
This is more or less the equivalent of saying Iran has ambitions to send a person to the moon because they launched a toy rocket into the air.
.........and a Doughnut without a hole is a Danish. I am caught in a war defining your Spectrum of Nuclear Knowledge tugging mightily between Iridescent and Holographic. What do you watch in YOUR spare time, YOUR watch? Incredible. C'mon BEG. Every now and again a nugget of refection drips from YOUR pen. More often than not, it appears as of late, YOU'VE resorted once again to the quill.
bigswivle,
" it’s OK to disagree with your cabinet/staff but IMO this kind of stuff needs to be kept in house." Try corralling ANYTHING said or discussed in private on Pa. Ave. that will not beat you to the hallways and land in record speed OTA from reliable "sources", to the delight of your adversaries of which Trump has...ahem...a few.
How can anyone expect others to keep a secret, once told, that they could not keep themselves?
The Rock
The Rock
Wrong again, try another lie.
Yellowcake uranium is one step above uranium ore, and it’s a long way from enriched weapons grade uranium needed for nuclear weapons. Also, just because you have enriched uranium also doesn’t mean you can just stick it in a warhead.
Your article paints the picture that our intelligence agencies are wrong and Iran is moving in the direction of making nuclear weapons and cites a cargo of yellowcake uranium as the reason wrong. It’s a misleading article at best, and again, you can’t make nuclear weapons with yellowcake uranium alone.
The intel Bush was provided was deemed to be razor sharp and beyond reproach. We all know how that worked out don't we. Do we blame Bush for information gathered by the intel community whose sole purpose is to enlighten the POTUS with sensitive info for his ears only? Of course not. Why would Trump ever question the intel community?
See George W. Bush as a witness, not to his own folly, but his unyielding trust and dedicated belief to a governmental org. that set him up and placed him in political peril to explain, not their, but his gaffe. Politics. Gotta love the intrigue. No?
The Rock
"He most certainly does employ the best at the time of employment. What businessman would do otherwise, hire the known inferior?"
Rocky, we agree. So why brag about what every business man does? Ego? Sounds great to dummies who just gobble up every word he says?
He said he thinks they are wrong. naive to trust them. And IMO it would seem he is right. A good number of "public sector" folks having vested interest in returning back to the Obama Follies...... a good many "advisers" intel and otherwise are not exactly to be trusted either.....
Some one is getting info from some where, so where is that "channel".
Thanks for the different perspectives to all that posted.
Will- I kinda would like to know the answer to your question also.
Again, I'm not trying to be a dink. I'm having a hard time grasping how we have organizations under the direction of the president with the country's interest as their focus and they are all wrong, but some how, some one, is getting the best possible info back to 1 or 2 people while all these other folks are wrong? It could happen, anything is possible. I just can't figure out how one or two people have the right info, and entire agencies charged with figuring things out do not?
So where are people like Bolton or the President getting their correct info? Where's it come from? Why is it better?
Sorry to kinda hijack this KS. I'm dense, and just can't figure this out.
There’s a pretty simple answer to all this Will. It’s not. This is a nothing more than a song and dance we’ve seen about a thousand times already in this presidency and it goes like this:
1) Trump says something that falls somewhere on the scale between completely absurd to outright lie in order to paint himself in a good light 2) the actual subject matter experts and people in the know step in and paint the real picture and contradict his message. 3) Thin skinned Trump doesn’t like being made to look like a fool or called wrong, so he hits back, usually with childish insults, name calling, and of course questions of competency (nevermind the fact that he hired these people). 4) Step one repeats with some new issue and the country completely moves on from the previous issue on to the next BS du jour statement our Marketer in Chief makes and the cycle repeats.
”just saw you do what you do by making an obvious statement a word twist for sake of disagreement”
I’m not twisting anything. I’m responding to slades headline that said “Oops! Iran Announces Transfer of Uranium Yellowcake – Day After DNI Director Dan Coats Refutes Trump, Insists Iran Is Not Pursuing Nukes.” Again, I’ll repeat myself. This is essentially the equivalent of saying “Iran launches a toy rocket - day after DNI says Iran isn’t working to send anyone to the moon.” It’s ridiculous. You need a lot more than yellowcake uranium to produce a nuclear weapon.
"What's best for America" often is not what's best for careers...... kinda like all company employees are only in it to further the interests of the company.....
You could not have more concisely posted how I think of Trump. Yet, he has accomplished some great things, most importantly his conservative judicial appointments.
I read TD's response and my reaction is simply, are all of the folks within his administration that he has disagreed with part of the Deep State motivated by career ambitions who place their country lower on the priority list than Trump does? He is the only one motivated by a higher calling? Do you guys really believe that? Really, with all of the history we have of the man? He just recently has seen the light? Really??
And yet he hired everyone of them. At what point do you realize he trips daily over his ego?
Yes, I admit he has done some great things. But have the integrity to call it what it is!
Your call for integrity from our government is akin to calling for sweet wine from sour grapes. Has all these ills that many have spotlighted simply come to the surface in just the past two years? Where were these probing questions when zero was, well, whatever the hell he was? All of this transpired miraculously I imagine and came to the surface demanding answers and information that would serve what exactly if you had the answers?
The Rock
slade's Link
Remember the Iran deal?
Suddenly, the truth about the whole sham is coming out.
On Jan. 22, 2019, Ali Akbar Salehi, the nuclear chief of the Iranian theocracy, acknowledged that Iran had fooled the 5+1 and IAEA group of foreign ministers – these were U.S. and European foreign ministers who negotiated the Iran deal – into signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. That was the deal President Obama signed with other leaders and touted to the U.S. public. President Trump scrapped it.
In an unprecedented confession, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the mullah regime's Atomic Agency, acknowledged that the mullahs had lied in nuclear negotiations with the five world powers at the Arak nuclear site and had in fact hidden some of the banned equipment.
"As for the tubes we had, the tubes through which the fuel passes, we had bought similar tubes before, but I couldn't declare them at the time. Only one person in Iran knew this," he said on Jan. 22 in an interview with the 4th Channel of State Television, IRIB, about uranium enrichment tubes that were blocked by cement in the presence of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspectors.
"Only the highest authority of the regime [Ali Khamenei] was aware of this and no one else[.] ... His Holiness [Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] had said that you should be careful with these people, they are not trustworthy and do not keep their promises. Well, we had to work smart, and not burn the bridges behind us. We also had to build a bridge that would allow us to move faster if we had to resume our nuclear activities," he admitted.
"It was a tube two or three centimeters in diameter and three or four meters long[.] ... We had purchased the same quantity of similar tubes. We were told to butcher them with cement, so we poured cement into these tubes ... but we didn't say we had other tubes," explained the Iranian nuclear chief, before adding, "We will use them now."
These confessions reveal that during the nuclear negotiations with the 5+1 that led to the July 2015 agreement, Tehran's sole intention was to fool the world powers to buy time, without interrupting its nuclear arms race.
The concealment of unauthorized equipment at the Arak site is the latest in a long series of deceptions by the clerical regime in its nuclear projects that are being carried out under the control of the regime's leaders, in particular Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Hassan Rouhani, the president of the Islamic Republic, who was the main negotiator of Iranian nuclear power with the world powers. This is an issue that the Iranian Resistance has been raising since 1991, having warned against its threats.
Yes, the Iranian Resistance had most certainly warned these signatories.
Immediately after the signing of the JCPOA on July 14, 2015, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, who leads the Resistance, warned that "this agreement does not close the mullahs' path to deception and access to nuclear bombs."
Earlier, on Nov. 24, 2013, after a temporary nuclear agreement with the 5+1, the president of the National Council of Iranian Resistance (CNRI) stated that "the Iranian regime's compliance with its international obligations depends precisely on the degree of determination and firmness of the world community towards the regime's bad intentions and its deceptiveness."
"Any indulgence, hesitation, and concession on the part of the international community will encourage Khamenei to turn once again to the manufacture of the atomic bomb by resorting to deception and cheating. The mullahs' regime has never volunteered to report its nuclear activities to the IAEA in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The Iranian Resistance was the first party to reveal the regime's clandestine installations and nuclear deception," the Iranian opposition leader added.
There have been precedents.
I was at the time, and still remain highly critical of Obama. Trump is much better than either Clinton or Obama, again mostly because of his judicial appointments.
But, it does get old the number of people that give his behavior a pass making pathetic excuses like his chess playing ability. And the same folks are quick to judge similar behavior originating from anyone slightly left of extreme right.
Our culture is degrading because of his behaviors, the same that our societal standards took a permanent hit with Bill's behavior in the Oval Office.
Nope, that’s not at all what I’m saying. I’m saying the gotcha piece that you proffered up that suggests the recent shipment of yellowcake is proof of Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons and somehow vindicates Trump and indicts Coats is garbage.
As I’ve said, yellowcake is basically the most basic building block in the formation of nuclear fuel and is enriched (once it is turned into uranium hexafluoride) for many applications.
However, just because it can be enriched to qualities suitable for nuclear weapons, doesn’t mean it is being enriched to those levels. In fact, our intelligence officials have said explicitly they aren’t.
So tell me why an order of yellowcake is proof that our intelligence officials “OOPS”ed and anyone who believes them lives in a closet?
Let me get this straight:
Trump makes up stuff like "ISIS has been defeated" & "North Korea is giving up their nukes."
Then yesterday under oath, Trump's own Intel Chiefs tell the truth about ISIS & North Korea.
SoTrump trashes his own Intel Chiefs. And you guys buy it without blinking an eye.
Normal, huh?
Trump is a sham. I don’t think it can be presented any clearer. And that is what disturbs me about his followers. They believe solely in on man. In only his policies and in only his words.
That’s dangerous
Asking probing questions like that is exactly what we teach our students. We definitely do not encourage them to become cheerleaders for whatever a person says.
Kevin, please read that again.
Trump's explanation is not credible.
"So tell me why an order of yellowcake is proof that our intelligence officials “OOPS”ed and anyone who believes them lives in a closet?"
Slade has zero knowledge himself on the matter; however, he will Google until he finds a link that possibly substantiates his position.
Take the yellow cake debate. Yeah, in its original raw form it is merely the precursor to more enriched stages. Like iron ore is not yet a tank. LIBS cheer, See? And yeah, when enriched further yellowcake does in fact become weapons grade. Gathering iron ore is the first step towards building tanks. Conservatives cheer, I told ya so!
From low grade for reactor fuels, further enrichment for medical grade, further still for weapons grade uranium. All from the same starting point yellowcake. So does continuing to import and process yellowcake mean Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program? How trustworthy do YOU think they are??? Their popular "Death to America" chant isn't a warm hug of friendship....
If they are abiding by the old Obama 5+1 nuclear deal (not ever approved by the US congress or senate) Iran is limited to a certain amount of low grade stockpile. And since they already had more and higher grade when the deal was made, they were reducing their existing stockpile. So WHY would they still be importing and processing even more yellow cake?
The Obama deal also let them keep centrifuges that COULD be used to make weapons grade. They were never destroyed, only "dismantled". Remember when they were secretly processing uranium heading towards weapons grade, and the US/Israel unleashed the "Stuxnet" virus to destroy some of these same centrifuges?
And the deal apparently lets Iran continue to build plants that will produce newer more advanced centrifuges like the IR-6 and IR-8. Where each plant can produce some 60 new centrifuges every day if they want, starting in 2018 and continuing to be ready with more and more facilities for when the deal expires. Those Persians love to plan ahead!
And the Obama deal never gained timely inspection of military facilities to know if they were illegally making weapons grade. So who knows? And the Obama deal was only for the 10-15 year period, with 3 years aleady passed before Iran can pursue nuclear bombs to their heart's content. Thus the reason it was considered by many to be a bad deal, and why Iran's continued missile development for nuclear weapon delivery is a large concern.
Amazing how history repeats itself. This is exactly how North Korea became a dangerous nuclear power under the Clinton nuke deal. Where NK stalled and lied and cheated until they finally unveiled a true nuclear status and it was too late to stop them. And this time, it's with a fanatical Islamic regime that swears it will wipe Israel off the face of the earth and wishes death to Americans. I tend to believe them....
"Our culture is degrading because of his behaviors, the same that our societal standards took a permanent hit with Bill's behavior in the Oval Office."
How could one man, who obviously can not convince the representatives of this nation that securing the borders is required for the sovereignty of that nation, impact the CULTURE of that said nation. I am a bit surprised Frank that you would believe and would foster the idea that America possesses a "culture". The varied immigrants with native born values, religions, concepts and beliefs prohibited America from ascending to a nation of "culture". Today that continuing dream is dead and gone as present day immigrants do NOT assimilate to a singular culture on the American scene, save their own. We have become a nation of tribes suspicious of each other.
"Woe to the nation wherein each tribe claims to be a nation. Tell me Frank. Are we not living this very day that same woeful warning?
To summarize: We, you, I and the citizens of America will advance the FUTURE fate of this nation, not one man. As of this writing America has too many cooks in the kitchen preventing an "American Culture" from ever taking hold. Rome... the architect that blueprinted America's meteoric rise, taking for its own Rome's symbol no less, the Eagle, appears to be following Rome to a fault.
Socialism is the natural harbinger in progression for the future of a fractured American society. The caskets are at the ready. Don't laugh. Much, much closer than you think.
The Rock
Look how Hollywood has affected our culture. The president most certainly leaves their imprint on it.
The caskets are ready because enough good people are not yet saying they have had enough. But if you read the article on Newt's travels, a voice saying just that is starting to grow.
Trump the reality show, sexual assaulter, gun grabber, draft dodger, twitterer, name caller, has disgraced the office more than Clinton. They only share on two of the above...
Democrats should love Trump and Republicans should hate him....Right goes left, left goes socialist....
Did he share that information with his Intel? Or not? Maybe he is just pulling it out of his behind?
If he did share it, do they still disagree? Who would have more reliable sources, not perfect, but more reliable.
Whether or not he received separate information, shared it or not, whether it is reliable or not, what purpose is there to tweeting about it?
Is his tweeting more likely to enhance national security, boost moral of our Intel services, feed his ego, or motivate his already all Trump, all the time supporters?
I answer C and D.
Grey Ghost's Link
Matt
There isn't even an Obama deal as far as the US is concerned.
While I'm not surprised that Trump is once again caught crafting a narrative that fits his personal prejudices and goals over an objective version of reality (as I pointed out already in response to Will, it's a song and dance we've seen many times), it doesn't make it any less alarming - particularly when it's being done over interests of national security.
Also not surprising is his penchant for being the best and knowing better than everybody, including about things he has little to no expertise in ("I know tech better than anyone" "I know more about ISIS than the generals" "I use the best words" "I build the best walls"). But again, just because we know it's something he does - thinking he's smarter than everyone based on zero evidence - doesn't make it any less dangerous.
People in positions of power with significant oversight and responsibility (be it the CEO of a large company, or the President of the United States) have teams, advisers, and experts in place because absolutely no one (no matter what they tell you) can know everything about every subject that comes up in the course of their daily job. Anyone that's telling you they know better than everyone else is lying.
As I see it, we have a POTUS who ignores the opinions of experts (that he's put in place mind you) for the sole reason that they don't align with his own views which are based almost entirely on the image he's trying to portray.
That some people don't find this deeply disturbing or hugely problematic is confounding to me. This isn't being unconventional - this is being dysfunctional.
You are definitely a trump operative trying to reduce damage. Your guy's narcissism is endangering us. He cannot help himself.
Your great at insulting people and name calling just like your hero. You have no idea who I know, and your anonymity does mean you know anything either. You are just pushing a one sided view of anything he does.
I never voted for a Clinton, either of them and never will.
Gadan,. I look at the history of someone's behavior over time. That usually offers a lot of insight. Some here have admitted concerns prior to his presidency, and now seem willing to look the other way.
As an example, Clinton operated as president just like he did as governor. Leopards don't change their spots.
Hmmmm....
"President Trump is working for the USA and we the people, that is why he is so despised by the old power establishment. Or shadow government if you prefer. They can not control him, so they have to find a way to mitigate him. That is what is really at play here."
The morale deterioration in some areas is also his creation. He cannot do everything himself, so quit tearing people down this country also needs to keep us safe.
Have not heard anything about a Defense Secretary lately?
Time for you to engage another thread. Really. You are being held captive by supposition, unbeknownst of the subject, and, unto yourself.
Frank,
See above. You are quickly living up to your advanced billing of petting the dog on his head and stepping on its tail simultaneously. What exactly is your position of the day concerning Trump and your personal affiliation to politics?
The Rock
I have held the same position all along, not affiliated to any party. If you fell for the "Trump Leads by Example" as I actually believed that, I do apologize. It was sarcasm. Multiple PMs caused me to post today for clarification.
Trump does some things that definitely benefit us. Other things we should stand against. Isn't that really a sane position to have on anyone/everyone holding office?
He still thinks he is on the set of his reality show....Toxic leader with low morals.
Keep things in perspective Frank. When the refrigerator is empty by no fault of your of own the time has come to be against. Until then look past the minors for the greater good of the majors.
gflight,
Toxic? Every major city in America has become toxic, branded, shaped and massaged by the Democrat machine for generations, denigrating and deceiving the people who reside there. Not opinion. That is fact. What could you possibly know about toxicity, that is, if the experience has not touched you?
The Rock
Chances are that no one in this forum really knows what the intel chiefs and POTUS knows about the Iranian threat. You can read what ever you want from any news network, but trust me you are not getting everything.
There is a very real possibly that the intel chiefs where "dumbing down" the Iranian threat. Trump on the other hand is a tweet first and ask questions later kind of guy. I can assure you that he knows MUCH more about the Iranian threat than any one on this forum.
Sexual Assault and Draft Dodging off the top of my head...
Issues as diverse as Iran’s adversarial behavior, deepening turbulence in Afghanistan, and the rise of nationalism in Europe all will stoke tensions....
...Iran continues to present a cyber espionage and attack threat. Iran uses increasingly sophisticated cyber techniques to conduct espionage; it is also attempting to deploy cyber attack capabilities that would enable attacks against critical infrastructure in the United States and allied countries...
...We continue to assess that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device. However, Iranian officials have publicly threatened to reverse some of Iran’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments—and resume nuclear activities that the JCPOA limits—if Iran does not gain the tangible trade and investment benefits it expected from the deal.
In June 2018, Iranian officials started preparations, allowable under the JCPOA, to expand their capability to manufacture advanced centrifuges.
Also in June 2018, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced its intent to resume producing natural uranium hexafluoride (UF6) and prepare the necessary infrastructure to expand its enrichment capacity within the limits of the JCPOA.
Iran continues to work with other JCPOA participants—China, the European Union, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom—to find ways to salvage economic benefits from it. Iran’s continued implementation of the JCPOA has extended the amount of time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon from a few months to about one year.
Iran’s ballistic missile programs, which include the largest inventory of ballistic missiles in the region, continue to pose a threat to countries across the Middle East. Iran’s work on a space launch vehicle (SLV)—including on its Simorgh—shortens the timeline to an ICBM because SLVs and ICBMs use similar technologies. The United States determined in 2018 that Iran is in noncompliance with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and we remain concerned that Iran is developing agents intended to incapacitate for offensive purposes and did not declare all of its traditional CW agent capabilities when it ratified the CWC.
Iran almost certainly will continue to develop and maintain terrorist capabilities as an option to deter or retaliate against its perceived adversaries.
In mid-2018, Belgium and Germany foiled a probable Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) plot to set off an explosive device at an Iranian opposition group gathering in Paris—an event that included prominent European and US attendees.
We assess that Iran and Cuba’s intelligence services will continue to target the United States, which they see as a primary threat. Iran continues to unjustly detain US citizens and has not been forthcoming about the case of former FBI agent Robert Levinson (USPER).
Iran’s regional ambitions and improved military capabilities almost certainly will threaten US interests in the coming year, driven by Tehran’s perception of increasing US, Saudi, and Israeli hostility, as well as continuing border insecurity, and the influence of hardliners.
We assess that Iran will attempt to translate battlefield gains in Iraq and Syria into long-term political, security, social, and economic influence while continuing to press Saudi Arabia and the UAE by supporting the Huthis in Yemen.
In Iraq, Iran-supported Popular Mobilization Committee-affiliated Shia militias remain the primary threat to US personnel, and we expect that threat to increase as the threat ISIS poses to the militias recedes, Iraqi Government formation concludes, some Iran-backed groups call for the United States to withdraw, and tension between Iran and the United States grows. We continue to watch for signs that the regime might direct its proxies and partners in Iraq to attack US interests.
Iran’s efforts to consolidate its influence in Syria and arm Hizballah have prompted Israeli airstrikes as recently as January 2019 against Iranian positions within Syria and underscore our growing concern about the long-term trajectory of Iranian influence in the region and the risk that conflict will escalate.
Iran’s retaliatory missile and UAV strikes on ISIS targets in Syria following the attack on an Iranian military parade in Ahvaz in September were most likely intended to send a message to potential adversaries, showing Tehran’s resolve to retaliate when attacked and demonstrating Iran’s improving military capabilities and ability to project force.
Iran continues to pursue permanent military bases and economic deals in Syria and probably wants to maintain a network of Shia foreign fighters there despite Israeli attacks on Iranian positions in Syria. We assess that Iran seeks to avoid a major armed conflict with Israel.
However, Israeli strikes that result in Iranian casualties increase the likelihood of Iranian conventional retaliation against Israel, judging from Syrian-based Iranian forces’ firing of rockets into the Golan Heights in May 2018 following an Israeli attack the previous month on Iranians at Tiyas Airbase in Syria.
In Yemen, Iran’s support to the Huthis, including supplying ballistic missiles, risks escalating the conflict and poses a serious threat to US partners and interests in the region. Iran continues to provide support that enables Huthi attacks against shipping near the Bab el Mandeb Strait and land-based targets deep inside Saudi Arabia and the UAE, using ballistic missiles and UAVs.
Regime hardliners will be more emboldened to challenge rival centrists by undermining their domestic reform efforts and pushing a more confrontational posture toward the United States and its allies. Centrist President Hasan Ruhani has garnered praise from hardliners with his more hostile posture toward Washington but will still struggle to address ongoing popular discontent.
Nationwide protests, mostly focused on economic grievances, have continued to draw attention to the need for major economic reforms and unmet expectations for most Iranians. We expect more unrest in the months ahead, although the protests are likely to remain uncoordinated and lacking central leadership or broad support from major ethnic and political groups. We assess that Tehran is prepared to take more aggressive security measures in response to renewed unrest while preferring to use nonlethal force.
Ruhani’s ability to reform the economy remains limited, given pervasive corruption, a weak banking sector, and a business climate that discourages foreign investment and trade.
Iran will continue to develop military capabilities that threaten US forces and US allies in the region. It also may increase harassment of US and allied warships and merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
Iran continues to develop, improve, and field a range of military capabilities that enable it to target US and allied military assets in the region and disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. These systems include ballistic missiles, unmanned explosive boats, naval mines, submarines and advanced torpedoes, armed and attack UAVs, antiship and land-attack cruise missiles, antiship ballistic missiles, and air defenses. Iran has the largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East and can strike targets as far as 2,000 kilometers from Iran’s borders. Russia’s delivery of the SA-20c SAM system in 2016 provided Iran with its most advanced long-range air defense system. Iran is also domestically producing medium-range SAM systems and developing a long-range SAM.
In September 2018, Iran struck Kurdish groups in Iraq and ISIS in Syria with ballistic missiles in response to attacks inside Iran, demonstrating the increasing precision of Iran’s missiles, as well as Iran’s ability to use UAVs in conjunction with ballistic missiles.
We assess that unprofessional interactions conducted by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy against US ships in the Persian Gulf, which have been less frequent during the past year, could resume should Iran seek to project an image of strength in response to US pressure. Most IRGC interactions with US ships are professional, but in recent years the IRGC Navy has challenged US ships in the Persian Gulf and flown UAVs close to US aircraft carriers during flight operations. Moreover, Iranian leaders since July have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to US sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports.
That is everything (as best as I could tell) stated about Iran in the Worldwide Threat Assessment that the President is calling naive, passive, and wrong. Certainly doesn't sound passive or naive to me...maybe it does to you. I haven't seen a shred of anything above shown to be wrong either.
It seems clear by now that Trump will do anything he can to delegitimize his intelligence agencies, as long as the Russian investigation persists. They are his worst enemies right now.
Remember what his response was when asked who he believed, either his own intelligence agency or Putin, regarding Russian election meddling? That was a disgrace, IMO.
Matt
Jeff, folks just have different opinions, that's all. It will be interesting to see when this is over and we get more details if he is the great negotiator you think. BTW, I thought he lost to that little old lady he wanted to make a parking lot out of her property. But I bet he learned a lot from that that prepared him for Pelosi and Putin:)
Grey Ghost's Link
Matt
That's OK, though, I don't expect any original thought from you, anyway.
Matt
No apology offered, since my point remains. The only original thoughts we see from you are childish insults and name-calling. You do come up with some doozies in that category, however. ;-)
Matt
Matt
Matt
I myself, foreknowledge in place of the deceit and misinformation put forward by these agencies, would not believe them either. Any name could be a fill in for Putin. If you can't trust them, what is the difference in the name who you may not trust? Can you say you would lay the lives of your children at the hands of these orgs, previously operated and headed by the people who lied under oath to Congress and whose agenda ran parallel to the likes of Clinton, Strocz, Comey, Clapper, Brennan and Co?
How about that illustrious lineup of blowhards Frank. If not for the "blowhard" that you referenced these criminals would have never been revealed and this very day we would still remain the fools, led to believe and defend these corrupt INTEL misfits. Where is the bitter criticism that should be directed to those liberal collection of scum who duped the American people and whose lot, years ago and rightly so, would have been met with a musket. Stranger still, Frank, where are the "indictments" or have you given up on that liberal treasonous collusion?
The socialists induced virus coursing the veins called liberalism, hell bent on destroying this nation has met its match. Harris, Cortez, and Pocahontas, all infected, lead your party. The antidote, thankfully, has stumped medical science and the minds of the afflicted.
The Rock
Well?
Back away from the bong, brother. Lord knows, I have a healthy distrust of our federal government, but I don't think our entire intelligence and justice system is corrupt.
Trump is pushing back on intelligence findings that he should embrace, and use to his advantage. But, either his ego, or his fear of legitimizing our intelligence, won't allow it. That's troubling to me.
Matt
The head may have been separated from the snake but the body remains. How do you jump that hurdle when always there is doubt?
The Rock
Matt
I ignored your last post because it wasn't your words, as usual. Any questions?
Matt
Wings on the same bird...
their words were their words. There was nothing to misquote. Holy crap are we living in reality here?
Trump says NK is denuclearizing. His Intel says they aren't. Trump says Iran is building nukes. His Intel says they aren't.
What exactly was 'misquoted'?
Trump actually said that LOL Their whole testimony was televised and their entire report is public.
Reality show indeed, gflight.
Yes I also would believe all they would tell me. How I wish we had met long ago. You would be panning for your next meal. Talk about pigeons.
The Rock
You're in rare air when PutZ is on your side..... heheheheh..... too good....... great job guys....
How do you misquote a live testimony? Good grief, the dude is embarrassing.
Matt
The liberals said we can't wait for theses numbers to come out with the shutdown in progress. Well there they are Nancy and Chuck. Another wayward prediction in a long line of failures for these liberal whacko's.
Sad isn't it? This guy will just not go away with all this winning.
BEG....BTW. These numbers are directly connected to the leadership of DT the POTUS.
WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED?
Not sure what of this has to do with the original thread. That said, Trump has about as much to do with these gains as Obama had to do with the job additions, stock market gains, and decreases in unemployment (which were far greater than what has occurred under Trump’s watch) that occurred during his tenure.
Sorry bud, the economy is much bigger than and not controlled by any one individual.
He didn’t back off his comments. He more or less doubled down on them by saying his intel chiefs were misquoted and their comments were taken out of context. He’s more or less saying he was right and they’re aligned with him.
Really wanted to stay out of the petty name calling...13 year old girls have more b___s than you because they use their real name. Isn't that ridiculous and below the dignity of us?
I am convinced you are connected to this administration. You exhibit the same behavior as Trump, assigning childish names to those you disagree with. BEG has proven himself to be highly intelligent and informed. You disagree with each other. Stick to that, leave the immature responses out. FTR, you initiate that behavior just as trump does.
I like reading both of your posts, the debate is worthy of it.
Matt
Again, similar behavior to Trump.
I have been waiting for your response on the other thread.
"Sorry bud, the economy is much bigger than and not controlled by any one individual."
....but everything else that may be wrong IS controlled by one individual by your count. Correct?
You are easy BEG. Too easy.
The Rock
What should be painfully obvious to everyone is Trump stepped on his Twitter dick again, then offered a weak and non-believable walk back of his comments. It's a pattern that plays out so frequently it's no longer a surprise.
Matt
Matt
Matt
Who cares about tweets Matt. Reach in your pocket. That is all that matters. If you did reach and pulled out mothballs the last thing in the complaint lane would be his tweets. Now that would be embarrassing as we were with that loser zero. Bowing down before heads of state. That is embarrassing. People are just LOOKING deep for anything to knock this guy on because they can't fault him on the majors. You guys are like snowflakes in some shit hole liberal college sucking your thumb searching out a crying room. Grow the fuq up, complaining about tweets. Don't like them don't read them.
The Rock
No one gets a pass for saying dangerous, illogical, false, stupid, uninformed, racist, derogatory, etc etc etc things no matter who you are or how good life is (or isn’t) for everyone else. They especially don’t get a pass when their statements give me concerns about our national security.
Our POTUS does, Rocco. Do I need to explain any further?
Matt