The words “red line” have now become almost meaningless thanks to a statement made by Russia and Iran this week.
Russia and Iran aren’t the first nations to misuse the term. That distinction goes to Barack Obama. In 2012, then-president Obama issued a “red line” warning against Bashar al-Assad: If Assad uses chemical weapons, the United State military will respond.
But Assad did — and Obama didn’t.
Four-and-a-half years later, Donald Trump finally made good on Obama’s promise, but the damage had already been done. The “red line” was already viewed as a farce.
But this week, Iran and Russia are bringing the term back. This time, however, they’re using it against the United States.
Read about why the two nations are threatening retaliation against the United States on the next page:
Our troll for this article!!!!!!!!!
Not well dome though,I’m disappointed…
Move aside Russia, We want Iran!
Actually I’d suggest they stay out of our way.
No one is scared….
Not what I would call much of an escalation.
Screams “Backdoor diplomacy” to me. Tillerson just went over there today.
Backing out of an “air cooperation” deal is no biggie. We hit the airfield with missiles, not planes.
Adding two destroyers with supposed missile intercept abilities- as opposed to say, another battlegroup- just isn’t very threatening considering our force presence.
Putin *has* to do something to save face for allies in the region. *rattle, rattle*
…and Trump warned them in advance of the attack. and why.
Considering the relatively tame reaction from the Russian Bear, it’s probably safe to conclude more is going on behind the scenes.
Interestingly, Iran shows their ‘interest’ in this today.
I see dancing… but you see ‘escalation’.
We’ll have to wait and see.
Do the right thing putin.
you two look like brothers .. we give a pop about you thuds
I SAY CALL BOTH RUSSIA & IRAN OUT! LET’S SEE WHO’S NUTS ARE BIGGER!
I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION THAT OBAMA CONTACTED IRAN AND TOLD THEM TO STAND WITH RUSSIA IN THE EVENT THAT TRUMP WON THE ELECTION. ————————————— Russia and Iran: US is ‘Crossing Multiple Red Lines’
When Barack Obama first used the term “red line” in 2012, he was referring to the use of chemical weapons. Russia and Iran have a lower benchmark for red lines — and they think the United States have crossed them,
In a joint statement the command centre for the two countries and allied groups said: “We will respond to any aggression.”
The statement read: “What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned “flagrant US aggression on Syria” following the missile strike on a Syrian air base in response to a suspected chemical attack by the Syrian government on innocent civilians.
The Iranian leader, a key ally of Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad, called yesterday for an impartial investigation into the chemical attack that killed at least 70 people.
He warned that the American strikes in response risked escalating extremism in the region, reported Iranian state television.
The character of these nations is truly revealed by this statement. America views “red lines” as attacks against innocent people. Russia and Iran see them as attacks against airfields that launch chemical weapons.
Source: The Sun
Image: Wikicommons