US kills top Iranian general in Baghdad air strike

[Fallout]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-50979463

This has a significant possibility of escalating to a terrible degree. Soleimani was essentially the second-most powerful man in the country; this would be akin to a foreign power assassinating Mike Pence.

What a fucking stupid decision that will undoubtedly lead to Shia-orientated attacks on western civilians to further justify American sabre-rattling with Iran. That's the best case scenario, the worst being an all-out war with Iran which would make Iraq look like a meaningful conflict in comparison. Repugnant and very worrying.

[Lee]

I don't think Mike Pence was responsible for 600 American deaths over the last 10 days and led two attacks so it's not really the same as that.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

I heard a political talk show personality explain that its act of retaliation was incentive to bring Iran back to the bargaining table. I think not. They've been waiting for the U.S to do something to try and show the world that they're not the bad guys and the U.S are. I'd be very worried that this leads to a major conflict or Iran starts talking nuclear launches.

[Fallout]

I don't think Mike Pence was responsible for 600 American deaths over the last 10 days and led two attacks so it's not really the same as that.

My point was, Soleimani was the second-most powerful man in Iran.

And I sincerely hope you're trolling with the rest of your post.

[Chr!$+!@n]

Very terrifying stuff. I usually turn my head and look away, but man, has things gone into the shitter.

[Slyfox696]

I don't think Mike Pence was responsible for 600 American deaths over the last 10 days and led two attacks so it's not really the same as that.

Dick Cheney 15 years ago then.

[Jack-Hammer]

I heard a political talk show personality explain that its act of retaliation was incentive to bring Iran back to the bargaining table. I think not. They've been waiting for the U.S to do something to try and show the world that they're not the bad guys and the U.S are. I'd be very worried that this leads to a major conflict or Iran starts talking nuclear launches.

Those who think the United States is the evil empire and all thave have long since thought that way already, so this won't send anyone down the path to that school of thought who isn't already there or wasn't well on their way. For instance, those who've taken to the streets in Bagdhad and Tehran protesting the US with all the "Death to America" signs and chants are people who've long since drank the Kool-Aid. Don't get me wrong, the United States isn't the glorious land that's came down from On High on a golden cloud or anything like that, not by a long shot, but the United States is always going to be the Great Satan to many of them no matter what. Millions of them embrace aspects of Islam that teach them it's their duty to spread the word of the Prophet through Jihad, that those who don't worship Allah should be put to death or that women who can't walk about in public without a male member of the family escorting them without being whipped or any who go out in public with their head uncovered can be put to death. For those particular believers, the very existence of the United States and what freedom it does offer and afford in and of themselves are insults to Allah so they're going to despise us no matter what.

Not that makes the notion of yet another Middle Eastern war any less uncomfortable, it's just that it's pretty much inevitable. There are FAR, FAR, FAR too many people in power here and there who're too self-righteous and too big of a belly full of themselves for it not to happen.

[Fallout]

Those who think the United States is the evil empire and all thave have long since thought that way already, so this won't send anyone down the path to that school of thought who isn't already there or wasn't well on their way. For instance, those who've taken to the streets in Bagdhad and Tehran protesting the US with all the "Death to America" signs and chants are people who've long since drank the Kool-Aid. Don't get me wrong, the United States isn't the glorious land that's came down from On High on a golden cloud or anything like that, not by a long shot, but the United States is always going to be the Great Satan to many of them no matter what. Millions of them embrace aspects of Islam that teach them it's their duty to spread the word of the Prophet through Jihad, that those who don't worship Allah should be put to death or that women who can't walk about in public without a male member of the family escorting them without being whipped or any who go out in public with their head uncovered can be put to death. For those particular believers, the very existence of the United States and what freedom it does offer and afford in and of themselves are insults to Allah so they're going to despise us no matter what.

There's a bit of a misconception regarding Islam in your post. The radical Islamists who predominantly engage in terrorist attacks and the like against the west are Wahhabists, which are an extremist branch from the Sunni sect of Islam (think Westboro compared to regular Christians, but worse). Sunnis make up the majority (just under 90% or so) of Muslims. Wahhabism (also known as Salafism) is the belief held by Al-Qaeda, ISIS and...wait for it...Saudi Arabia, the latter of which we consider an ally (the reasons are complicated, but I highly recommend the documentary Bitter Lake for an in-depth explanation. It's a little pretentious at times with its film-making though).

The Shiites make up most of the remaining percentage of Muslims, and are a minority in most Muslim nations besides Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Yemen. Examples of Shiite terrorist cells are Hamas and Hezbollah, who, whilst attacking Israel (due to tensions regarding Palestine), have not been responsible for attacks on the west, or at least, nowhere close to the scale of Wahhabists. The Shiite beef with the west is more to do with their allowance of Israeli offences in claiming territory in their conflict with the Palestinians. While there's definitely a need to defend Israel as an ally, this is something they themselves are creating by engaging in offences against Palestine and subsequently, Iran. Israel most certainly are not an innocent bystander in geopolitical events.

It's well documented that Iran and Israel are enemies, and neither side has truly been good to one another in their cold war. What's more, Iran is a known proxy of Russia, one of the few remaining in the Middle East alongside Syria. Successfully invading Iran ala Iraq would be of great benefit for both the US and Israel in the long-run, much like how Putin's annexation of Crimea was a strategic venture. They WILL attempt to spin Iran as a threat, much as they did Iraq with the claims of WMD's that never existed.

The best thing Obama did in his presidency was sign the nuclear deal and otherwise not needlessly antagonise Iran. Unfortunately, this seems to have gone completely out of the window with the Trump administration.

[A11]

Those who think the United States is the evil empire and all thave have long since thought that way already, so this won't send anyone down the path to that school of thought who isn't already there or wasn't well on their way. For instance, those who've taken to the streets in Bagdhad and Tehran protesting the US with all the "Death to America" signs and chants are people who've long since drank the Kool-Aid. Don't get me wrong, the United States isn't the glorious land that's came down from On High on a golden cloud or anything like that, not by a long shot, but the United States is always going to be the Great Satan to many of them no matter what. Millions of them embrace aspects of Islam that teach them it's their duty to spread the word of the Prophet through Jihad, that those who don't worship Allah should be put to death or that women who can't walk about in public without a male member of the family escorting them without being whipped or any who go out in public with their head uncovered can be put to death. For those particular believers, the very existence of the United States and what freedom it does offer and afford in and of themselves are insults to Allah so they're going to despise us no matter what.

Not that makes the notion of yet another Middle Eastern war any less uncomfortable, it's just that it's pretty much inevitable. There are FAR, FAR, FAR too many people in power here and there who're too self-righteous and too big of a belly full of themselves for it not to happen.

I'm not saying that you were trying to say this but the United States has been meddling in middle eastern politics through military force in some shape or form for how many years now? Cant say I blame anyone for feeling that way (not that justifies terrorism etc). War is way too profitable but surely the best way to fix things is to just get out because at the minute its just generation after generation seeing the same thing. When someone tells you to hate someone because of x and then you look out the window and watch them do exactly that, its going to make you agree with them.

And as for Islam not being compatible with western society, is the bible really compatible with western society?