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Sooner rather than later

BBC’s reporting today of Trump’s buildup in preparation for attacking Iran makes it clear that strikes are "coming sooner rather than later" [Stefan Watkins on social media].
        The US has amassed:
• 50,000 military personnel, around 10,000 based at al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar, the rest at bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates; 
• At al-Udeid Air Force Base, the arrival of F-15 fighter jets and refueling tankers, and the arrival of dozens of cargo planes, some of which are believed to be carrying new anti-air defense systems being installed; 
• Arrival of US early warning and spy aircraft which were there during Operation Midnight Hammer – including RC-135s, and E-11A BACN and E-3G Sentr;
• Drones and P-8 Poseidon spy planes are operating near Iranian airspace; 
• The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, is now near Oman, with an air wing of 70 aircraft including the latest F-35 stealth jets, three destroyers loaded with Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles, and a nuclear-powered submarine which fires Tomahawks; 
• Two US destroyers were already in the region; and 
• Britain has sent a squadron of Typhoon jets to the area. 
        The US Air Force announced it is conducting a major exercise in the region, Operation Agile Spartan, "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility". Trump said that this force was "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary". 
        Matthew Savill (Director, Military Sciences, Rusi) says the US "could probably go almost anywhere in Iran and strike almost anything, apart from the most deeply buried facilities.” Referring to the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last June, which were launched during Iran's 12-day war with Israel, the US president warned: "The next attack will be far worse! Don't make that happen again." 
        In response, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country's armed forces were ready "with their fingers on the trigger" to "immediately and powerfully respond" to any aggression by land or sea.      
        Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that no negotiations with the US were currently under way, despite "exchanges of messages". 
        Araghchi said: "Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL - on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation - which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Such weapons have no place in our security calculations and we have NEVER sought to acquire them." 

         But Trump wants to get Minnesota out of the headlines, and to keep the Epstein files from resurfacing. What better way than to show his strength by bombing and killing more people, this time in Iran. That will be on top of the hundred killed in boats, the hundred killed getting Maduro and the two killed in Minnesota.

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