"The Trump administration is contemplating another attack on a foreign adversary, using a familiar script. Once again, the president has assembled what he described as an "armada" of ships within striking distance of his potential target and has told a nation's leaders to make a deal-or else. The administration has provided hints at its rationale for military action and indications of what it wants from a deal, which the leaders of the nation in Donald Trump's sights have summarily rejected."
"Such presidential bluster might be dismissed as another example of Trump's Art of the Deal diplomacy-making exaggerated threats in the hope of forcing a negotiated settlement. But given that less than a month ago, Trump delivered on similar threats by carrying out a stunning, high-risk assault that dragged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from his palace to a New York prison, another military assault, this time on Iran, is very possible."
"At least 11 U.S. naval ships were positioned around Venezuela when the United States struck. Now at least 10 are near Iran, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which left the Asia-Pacific region two weeks ago and just arrived in the Middle East. Over the past 10 days, the U.S. has also moved aircraft, drones, and air-defense systems to the region, just as it did in the run-up to the attack on Venezuela."
The administration has massed naval and air forces near Iran and issued demands that Iranian leaders renounce future nuclear work or face strikes. The president described an "armada" of ships within striking distance and has moved aircraft, drones, and air-defense systems into the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. Similar force posturing preceded a recent assault in Venezuela that removed President Nicolás Maduro to a New York prison. Iranian leaders have rejected the proposed terms. Officials have suggested several potential targets but have not defined clear victory conditions or contingency plans if the Tehran regime falls.
Read at The Atlantic
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