Which way is Bolton's path to war going?

You would think that the possible countdown to a major war with Iran might be top of everyone's concern, but it is not.

If I have to agree with Hal Turner on one thing it is that the corporate media is NOT telling you what you need to know.

This is the front page of Reuters.

Where is Iran in their headlines?!
And this is Radio New Zealand.

Contradictory signals in the countdown to war

Before I retired last night this story came out from RT (and I am unsure whether it has been repeated anywhere else) but after the withdrawal of Spain,Germany and other countries from the new "alliance of the willing" this represented the first signs that all might not be going Washington's way.

https://www.rt.com/news/459416-iraq-ambassador-us-iran-territory/?fbclid=IwAR0xg1QZ6ODACgO66OyphgdVX0SIPdWr-T_0ptMz1NyR3xQyyPtVNdLNQA8

Whilst the main outlets seem to be largely ignoring all this it is not universally true.  There was this article from Bloomberg and there was one from the Financial Times (behind a paywall) that was picked up by Zero Hedge (also republished by the Duran)

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-05-17/trump-de-escalating-satellite-intel-based-tehran-misreading-us-intentions

President Donald Trump is wary of drawing the U.S. into a war with Iran, in part out of concern that an armed conflict with the Islamic Republic would imperil his chances at winning a second term, according to people familiar with the matter.

There is division within the administration over the approach to Iran, some of the people said. At the same time, the president is cognisant that he was elected in part on promises to withdraw the U.S. from Middle East wars -- not start new ones, they said.

Privately, Trump has said he doesn’t want war with Iran, one person familiar with the matter said. “I hope not,” Trump told reporters on Thursday when asked about the prospect of war before a meeting with Swiss President Ueli Maurer.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-16/trump-wary-of-plunging-into-iran-war-ahead-of-2020-re-election
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This was an interesting piece from Germany's DW that reinforces the idea that the US is failing to get support for its war.

US fails to get international support for Iran policy

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And more confirmation of this.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-05-17/beijing-backs-iran-firmly-opposes-unilateral-us-sanctions?fbclid=IwAR2PQJdPLemJjECyUVqaTeJPnt3hfLdy4DT7Ok7GtCEaACpOM_mb8tzWUq8
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On the other side of the equation, Hal Turner is ignoring all the above and emphasising all the moves towards war.

What occurs to me is this is not 2003.  If John Bolton and his other neocon friends stay in place it seems they are just mad enough to totally ignore world opinion (let alone public opinion!) and just go ahead with its friends, Israel, Saudi Arabia and a few Arab nations like the UAE and Kuwait.

I am unsure how Qatar (which was frozen out of the Arab alliance) is responding, but this is from last year when the conflict was at its height. I do not know how that has gone since - it has been out of the headlines

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/qatar-won-t-be-part-of-any-military-action-against-iran-1.6139458

This is what Hal Turner is reporting.

FLASH: KUWAIT MOVING TO "FULL WAR FOOTING" AFTER BRIEFING BY US OFFICIALS

 
 
 

Hal Turner,
17 May, 2019

UPDATED 2:47 PM EDT   SEE BOTTOM -- This is BREAKING NEWS as of 9:03 AM eastern US time on Friday, 17 May 2019 -- The Kuwaiti national security council have just had an emergency meeting after briefing by US officials.

They are publicly saying "the hours and days ahead are perilous and that the risk of regional war is unacceptably high."

They are moving to a full war footing within Kuwait, to support the USA and allies against Iran.

The current situation in the region due to rising tensions between the US and Iran, is “perilous”, head of the Kuwaiti parliament Marzouq Al Ghanem said following a crisis meeting with government officials.

He added that the government confirmed readiness to handle emergencies “in case of the eruption of a war” in the region.

Ministers of foreign affairs, trade, electricity and information explained their contingency plans at the meeting held behind closed doors.

“According to the detailed explanation given by the ministers, it has become clear how delicate, sensitive and dangerous the stage ahead and the necessity of taking all measures for all possibilities,” Al Ghanem said.

“At the foreign front, the situation is not assuring,” he added.

In recent days, tensions have mounted in the Gulf after four vessels were sabotaged off the eastern cost of the United Arab Emirates and Iran-allied Houthi militants in Yemen claimed responsibility for a drone attack on vital oil installations in Saudi Arabia.

UPDATE 9:09 AM EDT --  

RISK OF REGIONAL WAR IS VERY HIGH AND VERY ALARMING - KUWAITI STATEMENT TO THE PRESS

UPDATE 9:17 AM EDT --

SITUATION IS ALARMING AND SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL - KUWAITI GOVERNMENT STATEMENT

UPDATE 9:22 AM EDT --

WE ARE EXPECTING WAR IN THE GULF - KUWAITI GOVERNMENT PRESS STATEMENT

HAL TURNER OBSERVATION:  The Kuwaitis are VERY low-profile.  They are not given to wild statements like this, nor have their Diplomats ever used language of this nature, publicly like this.  This is VERY worrisome.

UPDATE 2:47 PM EDT --

"War against Iran will lead to World War III. Any attack on Iran would mean the elimination of Israel within half an hour."  - Being boradcast on Iran media outlets now . . .

The war against Iran will pave the way for a third world war, and any attack on Iran would mean the destruction of Israel within half an hour," said Mujtaba al-Nur, head of Iran's nuclear committee.

He pointed out that the United States can start the war, but the end will not be in her hand, pointing out that the US military targets in the waters of the Gulf will remain only a "hill of ash," noting that "before the dust settles, any attack on Iran, Iranian missiles will "hit the heart of Tel Aviv."

And further....

Saudi-led Gulf states approve deployment of US troops in the Gulf region

Saudi-led Gulf states voted today to approve deployment of US troops in the Gulf region.   More to follow. Check back.  8:08 PM EDT.
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Meanwhile, here are a few more headlines  - 

Trump is sitting by the phone waiting for a call from Iran that is unforthcoming.
https://www.rt.com/news/459575-iran-missiles-us-tension/?fbclid=IwAR2_A4jX164w-LGeTdIsKotTG-AWgaMbQCT7V8QAO5wFrKuSTYptFsC1OoE

https://sputniknews.com/us/201905171075099539-us-iran-talks/

And from Iran's Press TV

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/05/17/596205/Iran-US-phone-call-Trump-Zarif-tension

BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:05 A.M.) – A deputy head of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said short-range Iranian missiles could reach U.S. warships in the Gulf, and the United States could not afford a new war, the semi-official news agency Fars reported on Friday.

The comments added to days of sabre-rattling between Tehran and Washington, which has tightened sanctions and built up its military presence in the region alleging threats from Iran to its troops and interests.

Iran has accused the United States of “psychological warfare” and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week Tehran would not negotiate another deal after Washington quit a 2015 pact over Iran’s nuclear program.

“Even our short-range missiles can easily reach (U.S.) warships in the Persian Gulf,” Mohammad Saleh Jokar, the Guard’s deputy for parliamentary affairs, was quoted by Fars as saying.

“America cannot afford the costs of a new war, and the country is in a bad situation in terms of manpower and social conditions,” he added.

Separately, a senior Iranian military official accused U.S. President Donald Trump of dishonesty, the semi-official news agency Mehr reported on Friday.

Trump has said publicly he wants to pursue a diplomatic route after withdrawing from the 2015 deal and moving to cut off all Iranian oil exports this month.

“The actions of American leaders in exerting pressure and launching sanctions … while speaking of talks, is like holding a gun at someone and asking for friendship and negotiations,” said Rasoul Sanai-Rad, a political deputy of the armed forces’ command, Mehr reported.

“The behavior of American leaders is a political game which consists of threats and pressure while showing a willingness to negotiate in order to present a peaceful image of themselves and fool public opinion,” Sanai-Rad added.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iran-warns-us-our-missiles-can-reach-your-ships/