Does this mean Biden’s handlers are abandoning their appeasement policy? Will they end the nuclear deal negotiations and restore sanctions on the Islamic Republic? Don’t hold your breath.
#BREAKING US Secretary of State Blinken vows 'collective response' to Iran on tanker attack pic.twitter.com/c2JHnVf0nc
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 2, 2021
“U.S. and U.K. blame Iran for drone strike on oil tanker,” by Barak Ravid, Axios, August 1, 2021:
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday that the United States and United Kingdom, respectively, now believe Iran was likely responsible for last week’s drone strike on an oil tanker in the Arabian sea.
Why it matters: The United States and Britain now join Israel in accusing Tehran of being behind the July 29 attack off the coast of Oman. Iran has denied involvement.
Driving the news: The merchant tanker, “Mercer Street,” was hit twice. The first attack didn’t cause any damages but the second strike hit the rooms of the crew.
Two people were killed, one Romanian national and one British national.
“Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this attack, which killed two innocent people, using one-way explosive UAVs, a lethal capability it is increasingly employing throughout the region,” Blinken said on Sunday.
Between the lines: The ship was owned by a Japanese company but was managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime. Israeli officials have alleged this was the reason the tanker became a target.
Israel and Iran have traded attacks at sea over the last 18 months. Israel attacked numerous Iranian vessels, which were transferring oil and allegedly weapons to Syria. In recent months, Iran has begun to retaliate by allegedly attacking ships owned by Israeli businessmen.
What they are saying: On Sunday morning, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry denied Iran had any connection to the attack.
“There is no justification for this attack, which follows a pattern of attacks and other belligerent behavior,” Blinken said. “These actions threaten freedom of navigation through this crucial waterway, international shipping and commerce, and the lives of those on the vessels involved.”…
tom parry says
Israel should nuke Iran in a remote area and demand they change their ways fast or the next will be very soon. They have at the moment the right to respond reasonably.
Infidel says
Why remote? Drop it on Tehran itself, and take out Khamenei, Raisi and every member of the Islamic government. Hamas, Hizbullah, Houthis, CAIR and Ilhan may protest, but by then, the damage would have been done
Wellington says
Collective response? The very wording oozes weakness. But how fitting since Blinken himself conveys layers of weakness.
The great power might consult with allies, but the great power must ultimately act on its own—this is all part of being the great power which Blinken seems somehow ashamed of. Bet China, aspiring to world dominion as it does (and what a wretched world we will live in if China becomes the greatest power on Earth), would not “consult its allies” and “negotiate” a collective response. Count on it.
The great power can be essentially decent or essentially indecent. What it should never do is think it’s just “another player” in the geopolitical and military realm. Blinken utterly fails in this regard as he does in every regard. What a wuss.
gravenimage says
+1
CogitoErgoSum says
As much as I distrust the mullahs in Iran I would still like to see what proof there is that Iran was actually behind the attack. He needs to show what evidence he has that Iran is guilty and then take the apropriate action.
Infidel says
Fully agree!
However, given how this administration has been behaving, they’ll probably ask Iran how much it cost them to fire those missiles, and send them a check for the amount, and more
Keith O says
Infidel, Now that’s just a tad cynical, but unfortunately true! Barry Sotoro AKA Obama would have asked them if they wanted the missiles replaced with advanced western tech as well.
Infidel says
Incidentally, will Sotoro have any members of the Iranian regime in his party of 500 b’day bash? Note that this ain’t a superspreader event, since the viruses know that these are Dems and therefore they won’t get anywhere near them, but instead look for any celebrations in Florida
Raja says
Infidel,
Simply hilarious and very much in the “scheme of things” for this weak US admin !
ElderlyZionist says
“Collective response” is a ploy to restrict Israel to whatever the Biden administration will allow. I expect very little.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Yes, I think you are right.. Better was the response of the British Deputy Ambassador to Israe, Mark Power, who said essentially that Israel should go ahead and do whatever it feels it must.
gravenimage says
Good for Mike Power! But yes–it would be difficult for Israel to act unilaterally now.
Raja says
Agree with ElderlyZionist and Hugh Fitzgerald that this US move was to contain Israeli response. Invariably this would be a stalled response.
gravenimage says
Sadly this is likely the case, ElderlyZionist.
Keith O says
The only “collective response” that should happen is the navies of every free nation with shipping in the area should act as escorts to the civilian shipping and blockade Iran back into the stone age.
The population should be informed via any means available, as to why this is happening, (the mullahs) and let nature take it’s course.
gravenimage says
Good ideas.
Raja says
Keith O,
Great Idea ! This sounds like a solution to the rogue Iranian regime’s escapades.
gravenimage says
Blinken vows ‘collective response’ to Iran’s attack on oil tanker
…………….
Of course, the best response would be for Biden to stop forking money over to the Mullahs–but I rather doubt that is going to happen…
jewdog says
When liberals say “collective response”, they generally mean the lowest common denominator, which is located somewhere between Neville Chamberlain and Mr. Rogers.
gravenimage says
Yep…
Trevor Morgan says
Not just one state, one Islamic planet.
They must be opposed everywhere
Alfredo says
Blinken is a pathetic joke as State Secretary. The gerontocrats in Teheran laugh at his “collective action” threat, just as the arrogant Chinese CCP aparatchicks demonstrated in Alaska. Al these brazen actions by Iranian proxies are the direct result of the weakness projected not only by Blinken (he blinked in Alaska lol) but the old foggy himself Joe Biden. These thugs understand only one language, brute force. That is the reason why they didn’t dare to escalate when the 45th POTUS (respectable calibre) threaten the gerontocrats in Teheran to destroy 52 Iranian Cultural Sites in reference to each of the hostages at the American embassy during the Iranian Revolution after he commanded the strike against Hassan Suleimani. The message was received loud and clear in Teheran and wisely they chose to swallow hard. On that occasion, it was the turban-heads who blinked because they feared the 45.
OLD GUY says
Oh no Biden is going to try and slap their hand. He’ll probably miss. And Teheran knows it.