UK and US forces launch 'targeted strikes' against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen

[Formless]

By that reasoning, the entire GOP is responsible for Trumps actions in regard to the Jan 6 resurrection attempt, and his actions in office, and should he be convicted on any of it, they should all be arrested as well.

Please, explain to the crowd how you think criminal liability, a legal concept, equates to responsibility, an ethical concept?

[Gandalf]

Really? The best argument you can come up with is "Well... BIDEN HIRED HIM! It's His Fault"
Ok. Fine.
Funny how you mention Brown. Because, you're right, Brown was Massively Unqualified, and should never have been near ANY Federal Position.

Biden made the guy secretary of defence, and now Biden has to deal with the fallout of his choice. One doesn't give someone a ton of power and then not bear the consequences when that person does something naughty.

One the other hand -- let's look at Lloyd J. Austin.

*snip bio*

Do you see anything in that biography that would lead you to believe Austin was unqualified for the job? Do you seen anything in that to suggest BIDEN had any idea Austin would decide to not tell anyone he was in the hospital?

While I will admit there's a big Military Culture about "suck it up and soldier on" about medical conditions, Austin's fuckup is on HIM. NOT on BIDEN, no matter how much you (and GOP assholes) want to twist it.

This isnt' WaterGate. Biden did not in any way, shape, or form condone Austin's actions.

Now, if you want to continue trying to blame BIDEN for AUSTIN's actions, Please try to come up with better excuses.

All I see there is army guy being skilled at army guy things, and some war crimes. Nothing here about his probity, which should be a concern in public/civil service considering the power of the institution and the roles within. I should also expect that the background check for a cabinet role is a little deeper than a government webpage.

But to use the government webpage example, here's an excerpt from another government site.

President Biden’s Cabinet reflects his pledge to appoint leaders of government agencies that reflect the country they aim to serve.

[Ralin]

Biden made the guy secretary of defence, and now Biden has to deal with the fallout of his choice. One doesn't give someone a ton of power and then not bear the consequences when that person does something naughty

The fallout of anyone he appointed doing anything bad at any point while in office regardless of whether there was any prior reason to believe they would do so. This is a realistic standard and not just you doing your troll shtick

[Batman]

Biden having to deal with the fallout of having picked that person is fair. Blaming Biden for not being prescient and knowing something like that would happen is not.

[His Divine Shadow]

I think bosses should be responsible for their employees actions. Or they don't deserve to earn one cent more than the employee does. Their pay increase is supposed to be from taking responsibility. I know it's actually not true IRL, just look at all those venal CEOs saying they'll take responsibility for their company doing whatever murder/maiming/poisioning of people or nature this year and nothing coming of it. When they shold be going away to maximum security prison for a few decades to earn their multi million bonuses. This is just how I wish it to be.

[Ralin]

Biden having to deal with the fallout of having picked that person is fair. Blaming Biden for not being prescient and [i)knowing[/i] something like that would happen is not.

Yeah sure and what his subordinates do in general reflects on Biden in some sense. But that's pretty clearly not what Gandalf is going for.

Note the distinct lack of any examples of prior fuck ups that would give Biden reason to expect the guy to pull something like that.

[Ralin]

I think bosses should be responsible for their employees actions. Or they don't deserve to earn one cent more than the employee does. Their pay increase is supposed to be from taking responsibility. I know it's actually not true IRL, just look at all those venal CEOs saying they'll take responsibility for their company doing whatever murder/maiming/poisioning of people or nature this year and nothing coming of it. When they shold be going away to maximum security prison for a few decades to earn their multi million bonuses. This is just how I wish it to be.

Given that we're talking about one notable instance of being a an irresponsible dumb ass instead of some sort of pattern of negligence responsibility here should mean something like replacing or disciplining the guy, wouldn't you say?

[His Divine Shadow]

The prison example was in relation to "murder/maiming/poisioning of people or nature", naturally the level of consequence differs based on the severity of what has happened. I just think the general principle of responsibility flows upwards should be upheld.

[Zaune]

I'm with Ralin on this. One or two of Biden's cabinet picks turning out to be on the fiddle or simply not up to the job is unfortunate but probably inevitable, candidates who look good on paper turning out to be a disappointment will happen to everyone who's empowered to make hiring decisions at some point. But if this starts to become a trend I think it's entirely fair to question whether he's vetting his appointments properly.

[Broomstick]

dupe

[Broomstick]

The first fuck up of a hire or appointee is, arguably, on that person.

The second starts to splash the person who hired/appointed that person, because presumably that person can also replace the fuck up and didn't.

Some positions are sensitive enough that the person needs to be replaced after the first fuck up, not allowing a second.

[LaCroix]

Regarding to who is trying to enlarge the conflict, Iran is the current frontrunner, trying to pull Irak, Syria, and now Pakistan into it, for whatever reason.

Pakistan decided to respond today.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68014882

[LadyTevar]

Yep. Pakistan returned fire, and seemed to shock Iran by doing so.

Why did Iran launch strikes on its allies?

NOTE -- this is the writer's opinion and not fully backed by any other data so far.

[Solauren]

Regarding to who is trying to enlarge the conflict, Iran is the current frontrunner, trying to pull Irak, Syria, and now Pakistan into it, for whatever reason.

After some thought, I have to wonder if someone in Iran is trying to pull in everyone else without official permission (or even unofficial permission).

for all we know, a Sunni muslim lied that he was Shia, got into a position to do this, and is hoping the Shia Muslim's will be overthrown by outside forces. Like by say, Pakistan (which is 85% Sunni)

[J]

Something something hole, something something stop digging...

[PainRack]

This along with the defence secretary hospitalisation without informing the Cabinet is a negative against Biden.

It's just not significant however given that Congress can't even fund the US government.....

THAT was the DOD themselves not telling ANYONE, including Biden, about the hospitalization. NOT BIDEN'S FAULT, no matter who's trying to pin it on him.

I think the salient point still remains that for a functional US democracy, Biden should had sought Congress approval first before attacking.

The problem is the US democracy isn't functional. That's a HUGE problem.

[Gandalf]

Some positions are sensitive enough that the person needs to be replaced after the first fuck up, not allowing a second.

Weirdly, Biden isn't firing the guy. So bailing as secretary of defence for a few days isn't apparently a firing offence.

Cabinet people are functional extensions of PoTUS, appointed on his say so and a confirmation. It shouldn't be too much for him to say "Looks like my pick didn't work out. Sorry all. The replacement will be in soon."

I think the salient point still remains that for a functional US democracy, Biden should had sought Congress approval first before attacking.

The problem is the US democracy isn't functional. That's a HUGE problem.

Yeah. Too bad there's not likely to be any repercussions for it. This move has big Bush II energy.

[Ralin]

I think the salient point still remains that for a functional US democracy, Biden should had sought Congress approval first before attacking.

Why? The president's ability to do this on his own authority is well established. Four consecutive administrations have done the same thing to the same country. Why would Biden be expected to change things up by asking permission?

[LadyTevar]

I think we should all get back on topic, and stop with the side-track of "Biden This and Biden That". You all sound like MAGArats trying to prove Biden is worse than Trump.

SO. ON TOPIC ABOUT AIRSTRIKES.
Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard Leader Killed in Syrian Airstrike

Five senior members of Iran's security forces have been killed in a suspected air strike on the Syrian capital.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard blamed Israel for the attack, which it said killed its military advisers as well as a number of Syrian forces.

Israel has not commented. For years it has carried out strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria.
Such strikes have intensified since the Israel-Gaza war began following Hamas's 7 October attacks on Israel.
Iran's foreign ministry said the attacks were an "aggressive and provocative" act by Israel, urging international actors to condemn them.

Senior figures among the Revolutionary Guard - a major military, political and economic force in Iran - have been present in Syria since the civil war began there in 2011, helping to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad against widespread rebellion to his rule.
Saturday's attack took place in the Mazzeh neighbourhood, south-west Damascus, an area home to a military airport, as well as the UN headquarters in Damascus, embassies and restaurants.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said the attacks killed the IRGC's Syria intelligence chief and his deputy, as well as other Guard members.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based campaign group, said 10 people were killed in the strikes, including leaders of the Revolutionary Guard.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency quoted a military source as saying it had managed to stop some of the missiles, but that the attacks - which it said had hit a residential building - killed and injured some civilians. Buildings were also destroyed, it said.

Was it Israel? Was it Iraq, Pakistan, or someone in Syria itself, as payback for Iran's airstrikes?
Until and unless someone tracks the missiles back, we won't know. Hell, we might not know even then, but crying "ISRAEL DID IT" is a kneejerk reaction.

[LadyTevar]

EVEN MORE ON TOPIC:

TRACKING HOUTHI ATTACKS IN THE RED SEA
Note: there are graphs and photos I can't copy and paste, go read the article to see. I am quoting just the opening paragraphs.

In recent weeks the dangers for shipping in the Red Sea region have increased dramatically, as Iranian-backed Houthi fighters have targeted commercial shipping with drone and missile attacks, as well as more brazen assaults by boat and helicopter.

The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen, have declared their backing for Hamas in its war with Israel, and say they are targeting commercial vessels with links to Israel.
But many of the ships targeted, particularly in recent days, have no clear links to Israel at all.
As can be seen in data mapped by BBC Verify below, most of the attempted strikes on shipping have occurred at the southern end of the Red Sea, along the Yemeni coast, as the waterway narrows into the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Shipping further east in the Gulf of Aden has also been targeted.
Only a few of the attempted strikes have hit their targets. One of the most recent was on 17 January, involving the Genco Picardy, a US-owned bulk carrier. It sustained damage to its side from a Houthi drone but was able to continue its journey.

[Ralin]

The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen,

That seems like a weird way of saying that they're the government of Yemen.

[Dominus Atheos]

The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen,

That seems like a weird way of saying that they're the government of Yemen.

Are you saying you think they should be considered the victors of the civil war and therefore the legitimate government, or are you not aware that there is an active civil war in Yemen and has been since 2014?



Green is Houthis (shia), red is prewar government (nominally sunni), yellow is secessionist South Yemen (also nominally sunni).

[Ralin]

The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen,

That seems like a weird way of saying that they're the government of Yemen.

Are you saying you think they should be considered the victors of the civil war and therefore the legitimate government, or are you not aware that there is an active civil war in Yemen and has been since 2014?



Green is Houthis (shia), red is prewar government (nominally sunni), yellow is secessionist South Yemen (also nominally sunni).

I was under the impression that they had mostly won the civil war at this point. But if I was wrong then okay.

[Lord Revan]

To be fair if I'm reading that map right, the Houthis do control a large portion of major population centers, in place like Arabian peninsula just looking at area some controls might not give the whole picture, since some one might nominally control a large area but it's because it's desert no one has bothered taking from them.

[LadyTevar]

To be fair if I'm reading that map right, the Houthis do control a large portion of major population centers, in place like Arabian peninsula just looking at area some controls might not give the whole picture, since some one might nominally control a large area but it's because it's desert no one has bothered taking from them.

The question is also "Do they Control, or just Claim Control?"
Sana'a, the Capital of Yemen, is in the Houthi-controlled region, but are they Running A Government from there?