Donald Trump leaves his Merry Christmas Rally at the Kellogg Arena on December 18, 2019 in Battle Creek, Michigan. While Trump spoke at the rally the House of Representatives voted, mostly along party lines, to impeach the president for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him just the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Editorial use only. HANDOUT /NO SALES Mandatory Credit: Photo by IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER'S OFFICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10517120a) (FILE) - A handout photo made available by the Iranian Supreme Leader's office shows Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Lieutenant general and commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani (C) during a meeting with Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (not pictured) in Tehran, Iran, 18 September 2018 (reissued 03 January 2020). Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed on 03 January 2020 following a US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport. The attack comes amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. Top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani killed in US airstrike on Baghdad, Tehran, Iran Islamic Republic Of - 18 Sep 2018
It would be foolish to assume that the killing of Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani by the US Drones would go without any response. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Al Khamenei, has warned of severe repercussions, threatening to hit hard. Iran has termed the killing ‘an act of terror.’
The timing of the attack-to-kill by the US, cleared by POTUS is not without misgivings, with the heat of impeachment and Trump’s struggle to secure better ratings for a re-nomination in the forthcoming Presidential polls. President Trump has announced that the killing of the General was necessitated to ward off impending attacks planned by Iran on the US assets and the slain General was responsible for the death of 603 US service personnel.
The Drone attack is said to be more impacting than the hunting down and killing Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan by the US Navy Seals during Obama’s presidential tenure. The Iran Revolutionary Guards have threatened revenge, which could be in the form of lone-wolf attacks in the US, threats to US commercial aircraft, US ships passing through the Gulf, the US representative offices around the world. You must be wondering why I have not mentioned about full-scale military conflicts: simply because Iran, financially crippled with the US sanctions, cannot afford any prolonged war.
The politics of the Gulf countries is a complex one, afflicted by religious bigotry and sectarianism. Iran has 95 per cent Shia, and so are Iraq’s, which has more than 70 per cent Shia. That did not prevent them from fighting each other. The war lasted eight and a half years without any decisive victor, but Saddam was thrown out and later killed by the US. In the meanwhile, Iran has become a Nuclear power and has no qualms about its usage, wherever, to counter the US, and that may not be great news for the world. Iran also has an army of cyber experts, who could wage a cyberattack to paralyze US systems, even if for short durations to cause chaos.
The bourses around the world have dived, fearing reprisals by Iran and an outbreak of war in the Gulf. The crude prices, the other barometer, and gold have firmed up in the times of economic agony for most countries, including India. This may not be good news at all.
As I write this, the US embassy in Iraq has been attacked by the Iranian missiles, which could mean the beginning of another bout of a protracted proxy war. At the Qom mosque, the red flag has been hoisted to signify bloody revenge, even as the arms industry is wetting its lips in anticipation of a great year ahead.
Peace seems farther than before because diplomacy seems irreverent by political leaders and seasoned diplomats are hard to find similar like a statesman anywhere in the world.
With prayers for peace,
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
