As far as the US-Iran conflict is concerned, India has managed a very difficult balancing act. India's ties with the U.S. and Iran are independent of each other. Will this crisis force India to take some tough decisions? This report explores. #Gravitas #US #Iran #India

Gravitas: US vs Iran, India's balancing act

As far as the US-Iran conflict is concerned, India has managed a very difficult balancing act. India's ties with the U.S. and Iran are independent of each other. Will this crisis force India to take some tough decisions? This report explores.

Amid West Asia conflict US wants India to cut ties with Iran

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WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 10, 2020

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to approve a resolution aimed at restraining the President's ability to use military action against Iran without congressional approval, amid simmering tensions between the US and the country.

House votes to restrain Trump's Iran war powers

In balmy&nbsp;southern Taiwan, with its rural hamlets, industrial belts and slower-paced cities, a rising tide of residents are pushing back against opposition&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;hopeful<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-to-vote-in-shadow-of-china-pressure-hong-kong-protests-272816">&nbsp;Han Kuo-yu</a>, fearing he'll sell out core Taiwan interests to&nbsp;China.

Han, the mayor of the&nbsp;south's biggest city of Kaohsiung, had been expected to build his support base over the past year since winning office on a promise to help citizens "make a big fortune" by forging better economic ties with&nbsp;China.

Instead, as he prepares for the election on Saturday against incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen and her independence-minded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-has-urgent-need-for-infiltration-law-in-face-of-china-president-tsai-ing-wen-270657">Democratic Progressive Party</a> (DPP), he has seen his fortunes wane, hammered by criticism over controversial public remarks and failing to deliver on campaign promises, including oil exploration in the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.

Last month, a coalition of groups called "Wecare Kaohsiung" held a mass anti-Han rally that drew tens of thousands, some holding signs with the words "Dismiss pro-Communist mayor".

"Every Taiwan leader needs to find a balance between the US&nbsp;and&nbsp;China, but with Han, he has completely shifted towards&nbsp;China," said Aaron Yin, one of the leaders of the movement.

Taiwan's&nbsp;vote for a new president and parliament comes at a delicate moment for its giant neighbour, and sentiment in&nbsp;southern Taiwan has become a key factor for the election, which could set the democratic island's future course with autocratic&nbsp;China.

In March last year, Han, whose Kuomintang Party favours close ties with&nbsp;China, paid a high-profile visit to Hong Kong and&nbsp;China, where he met with senior Chinese officials and reiterated his commitment to "one&nbsp;China" as a core of cross-strait relations.

Han's red-carpet treatment raised alarm bells, as many Taiwanese harbour a deep mistrust of&nbsp;China, especially after Chinese President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pm-modi-president-xi-jinping-a-study-in-contrast-255342">Xi Jinping</a> threatened Taiwan with force.

<img alt="Taiwan's city of Tainan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32f0fabd-2b96-4a06-a327-e2c729cef7f2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2857%29.jpg" />

"The main aim of this election is to reject any rapprochement with&nbsp;China," Yin told Reuters in a small office stacked with anti-Han pamphlets and those pledging solidarity with the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

Han, 62, has proven a divisive figure since reappearing in politics in 2017 to make a failed bid for the chairmanship of the Kuomintang. Known for fiery rhetoric, his ability to electrify crowds helped him clinch the mayorship of Kaohsiung in late 2018.

Although Han has said "one country, two systems" isn't an acceptable model for Taiwan, he has promised to restart dialogue with&nbsp;China&nbsp;if elected president and called for an agreement between&nbsp;China's Communists and the Kuomintang that both sides belong to "one&nbsp;China", with each having their own interpretation of what that means.

Han has described&nbsp;Taiwan's&nbsp;formal independence as scarier than syphilis and warned that Tsai's re-election could lead to a "volcano eruption" of tensions with&nbsp;China.

Wang Lin Chiao, a Kuomintang politician seeking a parliamentary seat in the&nbsp;southern township of Meinong, said that stability is paramount, and that continued engagement with&nbsp;China&nbsp;is the only way forward.

"The 21st century belongs to&nbsp;China," Wang said as she campaigned on a quiet street with a three-person support team, struggling to find people to speak to.

<img alt="Taiwan's city of Tainan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77de2807-231f-4aa2-932e-f4c74f826a1c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2858%29.jpg" />

"Taiwan needs a good future, so we don't want to meddle in sensitive political issues and change things. People only care about money here, and having a safe life," she said, noting a decline in Chinese tourists and exports of agricultural produce to&nbsp;China&nbsp;after curbs by Beijing last year.

But some, such as Chiu Yi-Ying, a DPP lawmaker competing against Wang for the 222,700-voter constituency, say Taiwan must further deepen its "New&nbsp;Southbound Policy" of economic engagement with 18 countries in&nbsp;South-east Asia, rather than rely on&nbsp;China.

Chiu peppers her lobbying with Hong Kong references, telling older voters that an influx of Chinese immigrants and tourists into Hong Kong since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997 had substantially lengthened queues at public hospitals and depleted supplies of essentials like milk-powder.

"That's when they really understand that Hong Kong today is&nbsp;Taiwan's&nbsp;tomorrow," she told Reuters in her campaign office, where massive billboards feature her smiling beside Tsai.

Some farmers and pigeon breeders in the&nbsp;south's rural patchwork of ponds and fields say they've been scarred by past decades of conflicts with&nbsp;China&nbsp;and want to avoid that. But they can't ignore the realities of Hong Kong and the dangers faced by a more aggressive&nbsp;China&nbsp;under Xi.

"One country, two systems is not good," said Chen Jin-Wen, a pigeon breeder in the north of the historic port city of Tainan as he exercised his birds along a stretch of coastline overlooking the Taiwan Strait, referring to the model by which&nbsp;China&nbsp;has been ruling Hong Kong.

"You see what's happening in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong people are used to freedom, like Taiwan people," he said, as his racing birds pecked about in a wooden cage before bolting skywards.

"But mainland&nbsp;China&nbsp;is taking it away from them now," he said. "It's like my birds, they can fly free for a while but they always end up back in a cage."

In balmy southern Taiwan, with its rural hamlets, industrial belts and slower-paced cities, a rising tide of residents are pushing back against opposition presidential hopeful Han Kuo-yu, fearing he'll sell out core Taiwan interests to China.

In balmy southern Taiwan, with its rural hamlets, industrial belts and slower-paced cities, a rising tide of residents are pushing back against opposition presidential hopeful Han Kuo-yu, fearing he'll sell out core Taiwan interests to China. Han, the mayor of the south's biggest city of Kaohsiung, had been expected to build his support base over the past year since winning office on a promise to help citizens "make a big fortune" by forging better economic ties with China. Instead, as he prepares for the election on Saturday against incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen and her independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he has seen his fortunes wane, hammered by criticism over controversial public remarks and failing to deliver on campaign promises, including oil exploration in the South China Sea. Last month, a coalition of groups called "Wecare Kaohsiung" held a mass anti-Han rally that drew tens of thousands, some holding signs with the words "Dismiss pro-Communist mayor". "Every Taiwan leader needs to find a balance between the US and China, but with Han, he has completely shifted towards China," said Aaron Yin, one of the leaders of the movement. Taiwan's vote for a new president and parliament comes at a delicate moment for its giant neighbour, and sentiment in southern Taiwan has become a key factor for the election, which could set the democratic island's future course with autocratic China. In March last year, Han, whose Kuomintang Party favours close ties with China, paid a high-profile visit to Hong Kong and China, where he met with senior Chinese officials and reiterated his commitment to "one China" as a core of cross-strait relations. Han's red-carpet treatment raised alarm bells, as many Taiwanese harbour a deep mistrust of China, especially after Chinese President Xi Jinping threatened Taiwan with force. "The main aim of this election is to reject any rapprochement with China," Yin told Reuters in a small office stacked with anti-Han pamphlets and those pledging solidarity with the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Han, 62, has proven a divisive figure since reappearing in politics in 2017 to make a failed bid for the chairmanship of the Kuomintang. Known for fiery rhetoric, his ability to electrify crowds helped him clinch the mayorship of Kaohsiung in late 2018. Although Han has said "one country, two systems" isn't an acceptable model for Taiwan, he has promised to restart dialogue with China if elected president and called for an agreement between China's Communists and the Kuomintang that both sides belong to "one China", with each having their own interpretation of what that means. Han has described Taiwan's formal independence as scarier than syphilis and warned that Tsai's re-election could lead to a "volcano eruption" of tensions with China. Wang Lin Chiao, a Kuomintang politician seeking a parliamentary seat in the southern township of Meinong, said that stability is paramount, and that continued engagement with China is the only way forward. "The 21st century belongs to China," Wang said as she campaigned on a quiet street with a three-person support team, struggling to find people to speak to. "Taiwan needs a good future, so we don't want to meddle in sensitive political issues and change things. People only care about money here, and having a safe life," she said, noting a decline in Chinese tourists and exports of agricultural produce to China after curbs by Beijing last year. But some, such as Chiu Yi-Ying, a DPP lawmaker competing against Wang for the 222,700-voter constituency, say Taiwan must further deepen its "New Southbound Policy" of economic engagement with 18 countries in South-east Asia, rather than rely on China. Chiu peppers her lobbying with Hong Kong references, telling older voters that an influx of Chinese immigrants and tourists into Hong Kong since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997 had substantially lengthened queues at public hospitals and depleted supplies of essentials like milk-powder. "That's when they really understand that Hong Kong today is Taiwan's tomorrow," she told Reuters in her campaign office, where massive billboards feature her smiling beside Tsai. Some farmers and pigeon breeders in the south's rural patchwork of ponds and fields say they've been scarred by past decades of conflicts with China and want to avoid that. But they can't ignore the realities of Hong Kong and the dangers faced by a more aggressive China under Xi. "One country, two systems is not good," said Chen Jin-Wen, a pigeon breeder in the north of the historic port city of Tainan as he exercised his birds along a stretch of coastline overlooking the Taiwan Strait, referring to the model by which China has been ruling Hong Kong. "You see what's happening in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong people are used to freedom, like Taiwan people," he said, as his racing birds pecked about in a wooden cage before bolting skywards. "But mainland China is taking it away from them now," he said. "It's like my birds, they can fly free for a while but they always end up back in a cage."

Taiwan's China-friendly presidential hopeful faces backlash in divided south

The Boeing commercial flight carried 176 people when it crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran's main airport. The crash of Ukraine International Airlines came hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing US soldiers, but both Ukrainian and Iranian officials said they suspected a mechanical issue that brought down the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. There is no clarity on what led to the crash. Amid the tensions with the United States Iran has now refused to hand over the plane black box to the aircraft manufacturer. #PlaneCrash #IranPlaneCrash #FinePrint #US #Iran #Boeing

Fineprint: Iran plane crash, What do we know about the crash

US President Donald Trump's speech on January 8 following the attack on US forces was not what the world expected. Many thought that his speech was incoherent. The speech included a call for de-escalation, potshop at Obama and a re-election speech. #DonaldTrump #US #TrumpSpeech #Iran #SoleimaniKilling

WION Dispatch: Trump's Iran speech another rant against Soleimani, many call it incoherent

Iranians play chess, Americans play backgammon when it comes to warfare, military strategy and conflict management.

That is becoming increasingly obvious in the US-Iranian tit-for-tat on an Iraqi gameboard.

Hobbled by harsh US economic sanctions and a weak military hand, Iran has perfected the art of asymmetric warfare and carefully calibrated operations, as well as, acts of political violence, an approach that the United States has yet to come to grips with.

Iran’s firing of missiles at two US bases in Iraq in its initial military response to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani deftly served multiple purposes while leaving the door open to de-escalation.

The Iranian missiles targetting the bases, part of what Iran dubbed Operation Harsh Revenge, were launched as millions crowded the streets of the city of Kerman for the funeral of Soleimani, the third day of a mass outpouring of mourning, public anger and calls for revenge.

Using guided precision missiles, Iran was careful to demonstrate its capability while not causing the further US and Iraqi casualties that almost certainly would have provoked a harsh US response.

Driving the point home, Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" of the United States.

Khamenei went on to say that Iran’s real revenge would be the expulsion of US forces from the Middle East.&nbsp;

"Military actions in this form are not sufficient for that issue. What is important is that America's corrupt presence must come to an end in this region," he said.

In a televised address, Trump, flanked by Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and several members of the military top brass. appeared to respond positively to the Iranian overture, cloaking it as Iran “standing down.”

Amid the bluster justifying the killing of Soleimani, promises to impose additional sanctions against Iran, vows that Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and extolling American military and economic might, President Trump insisted that “the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”

He noted that the US and Iran had a common interest in fighting the Islamic State, one reason why Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran and went on to say that “We should work together on this and other shared priorities.”

Determined not to get embroiled in another Middle East war, Trump’s acknowledgement of the Iranian gesture hardly comes as a surprise.

Trump has in the past nine months exercised in military terms the kind of strategic patience that Iran adopted in the first 18 months after the United States withdrew in 2018 from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and imposed its economic sanctions.

Iran in May/June of last year switched its posture to one of calibrated escalation after Europe, Russia and China proved unwilling and/or incapable of salvaging the nuclear accord in a way that Iran would be at least partially compensated for the severe impact of the sanctions.

Trump refrained from responding militarily to numerous attacks, including last year’s Iranian downing of a US drone, attacks on tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and two key Saudi oil facilities.

Those attacks were the ones that caught the most international attention, but were, according to US officials, only the tip of the iceberg.

The officials said there had been some 90 attacks on US targets in Iraq since May 2019 carried out by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, including Kataeb Hezbollah, whose leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed alongside Soleimani.

The attacks were intended not only to force the US to escalate tensions by provoking a military response in the hope that it would lead to a return to the negotiating table but also an environment conducive to a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq at the behest of the Iraqi government and/or public pressure.

“The nearly eight months in which the United States did not respond forcefully to a series of military provocations and attacks almost certainly contributed to the increasingly assertive and audacious actions by Iran and its proxies,” said Michael Eisenstadt, an expert on the military and strategy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP).

Trump’s apparent, so far disproven, belief that bluster and intimidation will force his adversaries coupled with television images of the besieged US embassy in Baghdad is likely what persuaded him to respond disproportionately to the killing of a US contractor by assassinating Soleimani.

Iran hopes that the scare of an escalating tit-for-tat that gets out of control will energise efforts to bring the United States and the Islamic Republic back to the negotiating table.

To do so, the third party with leverage on both sides of the divide like Oman would have to bridge a gap on the terms of reviving negotiations aimed at reinstituting the nuclear accord that has been widened by Soleimani’s killing.

Revival of the agreement would have to involve revised terms that include Iran’s controversial ballistic missiles programme and support for proxies across the Middle East, the core of its defence strategy.

Dialling down tension at best buys the United States and Iran time. It does not solve anything.

Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, insisted this week that the Trump administration’s goal was to “contain and confront” Iran.

Iran retains a vested interest in strategic escalation. It may hope that the current crisis is the monkey wrench that breaks the logjam but will seek to again push things to the brink if it is disappointed.

Said The Washington Post in an editorial prior to Trump’s latest remarks: “The way to avoid these outcomes is to work with allies and other intermediaries to offer Iran a diplomatic solution before the slide toward war becomes irreversible. In short, what’s needed is Pompeo’s ‘de-escalation,’ not Trump’s reckless threats.”

Trump has proven that he can go either way. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Iranians play chess, Americans play backgammon when it comes to warfare, military strategy and conflict management. That is becoming increasingly obvious in the US-Iranian tit-for-tat on an Iraqi gameboard.

Iranians play chess, Americans play backgammon when it comes to warfare, military strategy and conflict management. That is becoming increasingly obvious in the US-Iranian tit-for-tat on an Iraqi gameboard. Hobbled by harsh US economic sanctions and a weak military hand, Iran has perfected the art of asymmetric warfare and carefully calibrated operations, as well as, acts of political violence, an approach that the United States has yet to come to grips with. Iran’s firing of missiles at two US bases in Iraq in its initial military response to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani deftly served multiple purposes while leaving the door open to de-escalation. The Iranian missiles targetting the bases, part of what Iran dubbed Operation Harsh Revenge, were launched as millions crowded the streets of the city of Kerman for the funeral of Soleimani, the third day of a mass outpouring of mourning, public anger and calls for revenge. Using guided precision missiles, Iran was careful to demonstrate its capability while not causing the further US and Iraqi casualties that almost certainly would have provoked a harsh US response. Driving the point home, Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" of the United States. Khamenei went on to say that Iran’s real revenge would be the expulsion of US forces from the Middle East. "Military actions in this form are not sufficient for that issue. What is important is that America's corrupt presence must come to an end in this region," he said. In a televised address, Trump, flanked by Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and several members of the military top brass. appeared to respond positively to the Iranian overture, cloaking it as Iran “standing down.” Amid the bluster justifying the killing of Soleimani, promises to impose additional sanctions against Iran, vows that Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and extolling American military and economic might, President Trump insisted that “the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.” He noted that the US and Iran had a common interest in fighting the Islamic State, one reason why Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran and went on to say that “We should work together on this and other shared priorities.” Determined not to get embroiled in another Middle East war, Trump’s acknowledgement of the Iranian gesture hardly comes as a surprise. Trump has in the past nine months exercised in military terms the kind of strategic patience that Iran adopted in the first 18 months after the United States withdrew in 2018 from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and imposed its economic sanctions. Iran in May/June of last year switched its posture to one of calibrated escalation after Europe, Russia and China proved unwilling and/or incapable of salvaging the nuclear accord in a way that Iran would be at least partially compensated for the severe impact of the sanctions. Trump refrained from responding militarily to numerous attacks, including last year’s Iranian downing of a US drone, attacks on tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and two key Saudi oil facilities. Those attacks were the ones that caught the most international attention, but were, according to US officials, only the tip of the iceberg. The officials said there had been some 90 attacks on US targets in Iraq since May 2019 carried out by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, including Kataeb Hezbollah, whose leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed alongside Soleimani. The attacks were intended not only to force the US to escalate tensions by provoking a military response in the hope that it would lead to a return to the negotiating table but also an environment conducive to a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq at the behest of the Iraqi government and/or public pressure. “The nearly eight months in which the United States did not respond forcefully to a series of military provocations and attacks almost certainly contributed to the increasingly assertive and audacious actions by Iran and its proxies,” said Michael Eisenstadt, an expert on the military and strategy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP). Trump’s apparent, so far disproven, belief that bluster and intimidation will force his adversaries coupled with television images of the besieged US embassy in Baghdad is likely what persuaded him to respond disproportionately to the killing of a US contractor by assassinating Soleimani. Iran hopes that the scare of an escalating tit-for-tat that gets out of control will energise efforts to bring the United States and the Islamic Republic back to the negotiating table. To do so, the third party with leverage on both sides of the divide like Oman would have to bridge a gap on the terms of reviving negotiations aimed at reinstituting the nuclear accord that has been widened by Soleimani’s killing. Revival of the agreement would have to involve revised terms that include Iran’s controversial ballistic missiles programme and support for proxies across the Middle East, the core of its defence strategy. Dialling down tension at best buys the United States and Iran time. It does not solve anything. Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, insisted this week that the Trump administration’s goal was to “contain and confront” Iran. Iran retains a vested interest in strategic escalation. It may hope that the current crisis is the monkey wrench that breaks the logjam but will seek to again push things to the brink if it is disappointed. Said The Washington Post in an editorial prior to Trump’s latest remarks: “The way to avoid these outcomes is to work with allies and other intermediaries to offer Iran a diplomatic solution before the slide toward war becomes irreversible. In short, what’s needed is Pompeo’s ‘de-escalation,’ not Trump’s reckless threats.” Trump has proven that he can go either way. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why did Iran and US step back from all-out war

Many are calling Trump's speech on Iran incoherent that there is no clear message in it. WION has identified three things that were missing from Trump's speech. Watch report to know more: #Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpSpeech #WION #US #IRAN

Three things missing from Trump's speech on Iran

US stocks ended higher on January 8 with the Nasdaq notching a new record close after President Donald Trump suggested the US and Iran were refraining from further military action. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 161 points, or 0.56%, to 28,745, the S&P 500 added 16 points, or 0.49%, to 3,253, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 61 points, or 0.67%, to 9,129. #US #USStocks #USStockMarket

US stocks gain after Trump's speech

Foreign envoys from 17 nations nations,including the United Nations, have reached Kashmir as the newly formed UT enters sixth month of complete lockdown and internet shutdown. #ForeignEnvoys #JammuAndKashmir #UnitedNations

Foreign envoys from 17 nations arrive in Srinagar

Ministry of External Affairs held a press conference on trip of 16 foreign envoys, including US ambassador Kenneth Juster, to Jammu & Kashmir. Watch report to know more information. #India #IndianGovernment #MEA #

Indian govt briefing on envoys' visit to J&K

Five days after Iran's second most powerful man General Soleimain was killing in a US drone attack, Iran has retaliated. Iran launched missiles at the US military bases in Iraq. This has heightened tensions in the region. WION's MollyGambhir explains. #Gravitas #USMilitaryBases #US #Iran

Gravitas: Iran missiles target US bases In Iraq

The biggest worry across the world right now is about West Asia. Will Iran's missile attacks on US military bases in Iraq bring Iran & the U.S. closer to war? Or will both the side claim victory and end this conflict? On WionEdit MollyGambhir explains. #WIONEdit #US #Iran

WION Edit: Will US-Iran tensions escalate further?

The tensions between Iran and the United States reached a tipping point on January 3 when the US missile strike killed the second-most powerful man in Iran - Gen Qassem Soleimani. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. In an address to the nation from the White House, President Trump said no Americans were killed or wounded when Iranian forces launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq marking the most significant Iranian attack in a growing conflict with the United States. Trump further added that Iran will never be allowed to have nuclear weapons, promising harsher sanctions against Iran "unless it changes its behaviour". #QassemSoleimani #DonaldTrump #US #Iran #SoleimaniKilling

Donald Trump: Iranian strike caused no American deaths

Qassem Soleimani survived the horror of Iran's long war in the 1980s with Iraq to take control of the Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force, responsible for the Islamic Republic's foreign campaigns.

WION Dispatch: Why was Qassem Soleimani so popular?

The recent Golden Globe Awards handed out the Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie to Russell Crowe for his role in 'The Loudest Voice'. It is the saga of Fox News, the Rupert Murdoch owned American TV news-from-the-Right channel. And, of course, its pit bull-like head honcho Roger Ailes, played by a wonderfully made up Crowe. &nbsp;

When it was launched, all the other News TV channels in America were competing for the left-of-centre eyeballs, leaving the entire 50 of the field that spoke to middle-America, open to Fox. And unlike in other countries that favoured newspapers, Americans preferred to get their news from 24x7 TV channels. Fox News soon topped the charts in cable news TV.&nbsp;

Though, The Loudest Voice TV serial takes you back to 9/11 and the George W Bush- Dick Cheney era, it does remind you of one thing more. It reminds you that the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) charge put on Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was a complete myth. &nbsp;

America decided to use 9/11 to effect regime change in Iraq, a matter treated as 'unfinished business' from the term of George Walker Bush, Dubya’s father. Fox was privy to this government objective and worked hard to propagate its merits.&nbsp;

Iraq was a Sunni minority-run country under Saddam and his Ba’ath Party, but quite unrelated to America’s &nbsp;9/11, or the Al Qaeda that perpetrated it. If anything, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were the authors of 9/11 and not Iraq. But America was not keen to put them in the dock owing to overlapping and multifarious common interests.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, today, when we see war clouds hovering over West Asia after the US drone strike killing of General Qasem Soleimani five days ago, one has to wonder why it was done at this time. What intelligence input does America have? Soleimani, a military man, was the de facto no. 2 of Iran.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The simple answer is that Soleimani was held responsible as the mastermind of multiple terrorist strikes against Americans. But, his elimination poses a threat to the stability of the present regime. That the strike took place outside Baghdad airport is remarkable. And while an unstable, unhappy, ruined, and insurgency-torn Iraq is now under a Shi’ite administration- it is not doing very well. But it is close to Iran, a country that Saddam fought an eight-year war within his time. &nbsp;

Iran has been firing missiles ever since at the US bases in Iraq. Present reports mostly state that these Iranian strikes have not resulted in the loss of Allied lives. Others, from Iran, indicate 80 American soldiers have been killed. &nbsp;

President Trump has not addressed the nation on his next move as yet, apart from debunking the report of casualties by tweeting “All is well”. &nbsp;

But the Russians and Chinese are warning against retaliatory strikes by America. Russia has raised the bogey of nuclear war. Britain has spoken up in support of the American action. Israel is in strong support. France and Germany too are advising caution. As is India, eyeing the 5 per cent escalation in petroleum prices already. Iran has asked India to help in the de-escalation process. Other international voices too, from the Gulf and elsewhere, almost unanimously, are clamouring for de-escalation.&nbsp;

But what does America want? It eliminated Soleimani unilaterally despite the near-certainty of strong reaction. The desired end result, backed no doubt by Saudi Arabia and Israel, from the near region, is to see the back of the Khamenei regime. &nbsp;

This is not the first time the West has intervened to bring about regime change in Iran. It installed the Shah when his predecessor nationalised the oil fields. Much later, the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini broke the link of American influence. Now, successor Ali Khamenei and his cohorts must go, to be replaced by an order more favourable to the US and its friends. &nbsp;

The economic sanctions placed on Iran by the US and its allies to stop it going nuclear are hurting the ordinary people. Most of Iran’s 80 million are fed up with its rulers. As a consequence, there have been large protests, put down harshly. The grass-roots in Iran may be quite ready and ripe to get rid of the puritanical mullahs, but they don’t have the strength to do it by themselves. &nbsp;

America’s attempt to bring about regime change by military means in different countries has generally succeeded; but not in bringing a consequent peace and prosperity to the natives. However, this has never stopped it from pushing ahead with its perceived strategic objectives.&nbsp;

The main one, with regard to Iran, is to stop it becoming a nuclear power fearing that this will make it unmanageable. But is it too late? What was that seismic activity near Iran’s nuclear weapons development site? &nbsp;

Will the other major powers intervene militarily on the side of Iran if America attacks it? It seems very unlikely because both China and Russia cannot afford to precipitate war against America. &nbsp;

As a consequence, while oil prices will be very volatile going forward, President Trump will probably be able to attack Iranian strategic assets and nuclear facilities and drive the current regime out of office, if it acts quickly. And yes, undertaking this aggression successfully will see to it that President Trump will be re-elected to his second term. &nbsp;

The impeachment drama is already deleted from the news cycles, and most recent opinion polls show an uptick in support for President Donald Trump. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The recent Golden Globe Awards handed out the Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie to Russell Crowe for his role in 'The Loudest Voice'. It is the saga of Fox News, the Rupert Murdoch owned American TV news-from-the-Right channel.

The recent Golden Globe Awards handed out the Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie to Russell Crowe for his role in 'The Loudest Voice'. It is the saga of Fox News, the Rupert Murdoch owned American TV news-from-the-Right channel. And, of course, its pit bull-like head honcho Roger Ailes, played by a wonderfully made up Crowe. When it was launched, all the other News TV channels in America were competing for the left-of-centre eyeballs, leaving the entire 50 of the field that spoke to middle-America, open to Fox. And unlike in other countries that favoured newspapers, Americans preferred to get their news from 24x7 TV channels. Fox News soon topped the charts in cable news TV. Though, The Loudest Voice TV serial takes you back to 9/11 and the George W Bush- Dick Cheney era, it does remind you of one thing more. It reminds you that the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) charge put on Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was a complete myth. America decided to use 9/11 to effect regime change in Iraq, a matter treated as 'unfinished business' from the term of George Walker Bush, Dubya’s father. Fox was privy to this government objective and worked hard to propagate its merits. Iraq was a Sunni minority-run country under Saddam and his Ba’ath Party, but quite unrelated to America’s 9/11, or the Al Qaeda that perpetrated it. If anything, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were the authors of 9/11 and not Iraq. But America was not keen to put them in the dock owing to overlapping and multifarious common interests. Nevertheless, today, when we see war clouds hovering over West Asia after the US drone strike killing of General Qasem Soleimani five days ago, one has to wonder why it was done at this time. What intelligence input does America have? Soleimani, a military man, was the de facto no. 2 of Iran. The simple answer is that Soleimani was held responsible as the mastermind of multiple terrorist strikes against Americans. But, his elimination poses a threat to the stability of the present regime. That the strike took place outside Baghdad airport is remarkable. And while an unstable, unhappy, ruined, and insurgency-torn Iraq is now under a Shi’ite administration- it is not doing very well. But it is close to Iran, a country that Saddam fought an eight-year war within his time. Iran has been firing missiles ever since at the US bases in Iraq. Present reports mostly state that these Iranian strikes have not resulted in the loss of Allied lives. Others, from Iran, indicate 80 American soldiers have been killed. President Trump has not addressed the nation on his next move as yet, apart from debunking the report of casualties by tweeting “All is well”. But the Russians and Chinese are warning against retaliatory strikes by America. Russia has raised the bogey of nuclear war. Britain has spoken up in support of the American action. Israel is in strong support. France and Germany too are advising caution. As is India, eyeing the 5 per cent escalation in petroleum prices already. Iran has asked India to help in the de-escalation process. Other international voices too, from the Gulf and elsewhere, almost unanimously, are clamouring for de-escalation. But what does America want? It eliminated Soleimani unilaterally despite the near-certainty of strong reaction. The desired end result, backed no doubt by Saudi Arabia and Israel, from the near region, is to see the back of the Khamenei regime. This is not the first time the West has intervened to bring about regime change in Iran. It installed the Shah when his predecessor nationalised the oil fields. Much later, the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini broke the link of American influence. Now, successor Ali Khamenei and his cohorts must go, to be replaced by an order more favourable to the US and its friends. The economic sanctions placed on Iran by the US and its allies to stop it going nuclear are hurting the ordinary people. Most of Iran’s 80 million are fed up with its rulers. As a consequence, there have been large protests, put down harshly. The grass-roots in Iran may be quite ready and ripe to get rid of the puritanical mullahs, but they don’t have the strength to do it by themselves. America’s attempt to bring about regime change by military means in different countries has generally succeeded; but not in bringing a consequent peace and prosperity to the natives. However, this has never stopped it from pushing ahead with its perceived strategic objectives. The main one, with regard to Iran, is to stop it becoming a nuclear power fearing that this will make it unmanageable. But is it too late? What was that seismic activity near Iran’s nuclear weapons development site? Will the other major powers intervene militarily on the side of Iran if America attacks it? It seems very unlikely because both China and Russia cannot afford to precipitate war against America. As a consequence, while oil prices will be very volatile going forward, President Trump will probably be able to attack Iranian strategic assets and nuclear facilities and drive the current regime out of office, if it acts quickly. And yes, undertaking this aggression successfully will see to it that President Trump will be re-elected to his second term. The impeachment drama is already deleted from the news cycles, and most recent opinion polls show an uptick in support for President Donald Trump. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

US wants no less than regime change in Iran

Other Asian markets also tumbled following news of the airstrikes, in which the head of Iran's elite Quds Force and a top Iraqi militia leader were killed early on Friday at Baghdad airport. #Iran #India #US

Amid escalating tensions in West Asia Indian stock markets close in the red

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 07, 2020

Amid US and Iran's heightened tensions over the killing of Top Iranian military Chief qassem soleimani the situation is critical in the West Asia region and that could also lead to further clashes. Let's just have an overall comparison between both countries.

US vs Iran: Who would win? Watch the overall comparision

Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani will be laid to rest today in his hometown of Kerman as part of three days of ceremonies across the country. #Qasem Soleimani #Qasem Soleimaniburied #Iran

Soleimani to be buried today in Iranian hometown

A leaked draft letter from a top US general overseeing the fight against ISIS in Iraq to the Iraqi military sparked concerns that the US was preparing to withdraw troops from the country. #US #Pentagon #USleakedletter

Confusion after US military letter talks of troop withdrawal

The burial of Suleimani has been postponed after dozens were killed in stampede. According to Iran state news agency the burial has been postponed but no further details were available on how long were the delay would last. #Suleimani #SuleimaniKilling #QassemSuleimani #SuleimaniBurial

WION Dispatch: Suleimani burial suspended after stampede

Iran's parliament has unanimously passed a bill naming the United States' forces as "terrorists" over the assassination of top military commander Qassem Soleimani in an air attack in Iraq. Soleimani, the popular head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) foreign operations arm Quds Force, was killed in a US drone attack outside Baghdad airport on January 3, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes. #USForces #Iran #US #SoleimaniKilling #

WION Dispatch: Iran designates Pentagon as terrorist

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