Introduction – Jan 7, 2020

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No matter that the F-35 is overpriced and overrated. The display of 52 F-35s, reported below, was obviously meant to send a signal to Iran.

Clearly it’s no coincidence that fifty-two F-35s were displayed because that’s exactly the same number of Americans who were taken hostage in Tehran in 1979. Just like Trump has warned that the U.S. will strike 52 Iranian targets should Tehran retaliate for the assassination of General Soleimani.

It’s also rather predictable: an orchestrated display of America’s military power in what amounts to a publicity stunt.

Here’s the thing though: the U.S. claims that the F-35 display had been planned “months” back and we have no reason to doubt that. However, as we’ve pointed out, the current phase of the ongoing crisis with Iran may have also been planned months ago too.

So is this really a coincidence? Or is this all part of a carefully orchestrated scheme to ignite war with Iran; with the assassination of Soleimani, Trump’s threats and now this display of F-35s all constituent parts of the wider long-term plan?

For more than a decade now the Zionist lobby and U.S. hawks have been pushing for war with Iran and it now looks like they could get it. Only one thing stands in the way. While we are pretty sure that the Iranians are not going to back down, the American public may decide that they’ve had enough so the 2020 U.S. presidential elections could seriously disrupt plans for war.

Consequently we can expect two things.

First off we are unlikely to see extensive U.S. military activity in the run-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential elections. Even if Iran does launch some sort of reprisal for Soleimani’s assassination, we suspect that the U.S. response will be limited, at first. After November 2020 it will be different and Trump can fully unleash the dogs of war but first he must secure his next term in office.

Secondly, we can expect to see the Saudis playing a much bigger role in any future conflict with Iran. They’ve already spent billions turning their armed forces into one of the most lavishly equipped in the world (although certainly not the best). This expansion has been overseen by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the hier apparent and deputy prime minister, who is also something of a hawk who would probably welcome confrontion with Iran.

So we could expect to see far more Saudi troops on the frontline. Initially, at least, they might even make up the majority of ground forces facing Iran, backed up and supported by extensive Western intelligence.

If conflict ensues before the November U.S. presidential elections, it will probably involve French and British cruise missile and air strikes, to start with. Thereafter, U.S. participation in the strikes would become more apparent. Although, however the conflict develops the participation of U.S. ground forces will still be limited.

Instead, the West will rely on its Middle Eastern allies for troops on the ground

Apart from cruise missile and air strikes, the Saudis would be ‘guided’ by U.S. and British military “advisors”. Other than western advisors, who would be issuing instructions from secure installations far from the frontlines, we might also see a limited number of covert Western Special Forces engaged. Although because of the nature of Special Forces operations their actions would of necessity be clandestine.

In effect the U.S., Britain and maybe France, would wage war on Iran using air power, high technology and Saudi troops as proxies.

The U.S. is reluctant to put its own troops on the ground because it wants to avoid antagonising Russia. Like the schoolyard bully, America is more than ready to pick on smaller victims, like Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yugoslavia. But it is a little more careful when it comes to the bigger kids who might hit back, like Russia.

I realise that much of this is speculative but we will know if this is more than speculation if two things happen:

-> First if the anti-Iranian propaganda in the Western media continues and intensifies.

-> Secondly, if Saudi Arabia embarks on a big weapons buying spree. If that happens you can assume the worst is on the way.

U.S. Air Force performs huge show of strength with 52 fully-armed F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters – the same number of Iranian targets Trump has announced – taking off in a single wave from Utah base

Emily Crane – Daily Mail.com Jan 7, 2020

The U.S. Air Force has performed a huge show of strength by launching 52 fully-armed Lightning II stealth fighters in a single wave from a base in Utah.

The F-35A aircraft, which are worth a total of $4.2 billion, took off in quick succession from the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Monday as tensions mount in the Middle East over the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Fifty two is the number of American diplomats and civilians seized by Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis, and the number of targets that Trump has threatened to strike in Iran if the regime retaliates over Soleimani’s death.

The exercise was carried out by the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings, which said it showed the Air Force’s ability to deploy a large force of the F-35As.

While the exercise has been planned for several months, the execution of it came in the same week the U.S. continues to brace for Iran to respond to the drone strike killing of its most powerful general in Iraq.

The Fighter Wings revealed on Monday that the F-35As have now finally reached full war-fighting capability.

‘We’re ready to fly, fight, and win,’ the 419th Fighter Wings tweeted after the exercise.

They added the exercise ‘pushed the boundaries and tested our Airmen’s ability to deploy the F-35As en masse’.

The 388th Fight Wingers said: ‘The exercise, which was planned for months, demonstrated their ability to employ a large force of F-35As – testing readiness in the areas of personnel accountability, aircraft generation, ground operations, flight operations, and combat capability against air and ground targets.

‘A little more than four years after receiving their first combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Hill’s fighter wings have achieved full warfighting capability.’

Each F-35A fighter is worth about $89.2 million.

The U.S. received its first F-35A at the Hill Air Force Base four years ago.

Since then, the Fighter Wings have been training pilots, engaging in multiple large combat exercises and supporting two Middle East combat deployments.

‘Every training opportunity, exercise and deployment we’ve completed over the past four years has been a key stepping stone in reaching full warfighting capability,’ Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing commander, said.

‘This is just the beginning of sustained F-35A combat operations and we will remain focused on staying ready to deploy whenever, wherever we’re needed.’

Continues …

52 F-35 Launched in Rapid Succession During Combat Exercise Amid US Iran Tensions