Thread by @gbponz

on.wsj.com/3srXx2Q in a sense I am happy to be able to finally define a @wsj article as "cringeworthy". They were besmirching the journalist profession with their insightful thought and careful analysis.(/) @nglinsman @amlivemon @RobertMCutler @michaeltanchum @shaun_riordan

bbc.com/news/world-us-… now, the link to the #ODNI report is down for me, but the #BBC article states
"The intelligence report lists three reasons for believing that the crown prince must have approved the operation:
His control of decision-making in the kingdom since 2017(/)

"The direct involvement in the operation of one of his advisers as well as members of his protective detail ;
His "support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad".
I.e. let me tell you how much proof there is: (/)

Now, to put the shoe on another foot, on the same risquè legal line the Saudis could (rightly) say that the Yemenis are hardly likely to develop a terrain following cruise missile closely matching an Ukrainian design pilfered by Iran a while back.(/)

That would make the attack they recently were subject to an "act of war", which stretching it juuuuust a bit would qualify for them on the same scale of Pearl Harbour. Sure you want them to nudge them that way?(/)

Also, the recent missile attack in Syria notwithstanding, the #Biden administration has been for example remarkably shy with Iran, they are not signaling that they align with Saudis vs "their mutual adversary in Iran. "(/)

That crosses paths with #Nordstream2, since a court in Belgium condemned Iran for organizing a terrorist attack ON #EU SOIL, with more credible evidence, and with barely a whimper by EU media (...), but more importantly no position by US authorities that I am aware of.(/)

Now, if you want transatlantic cooperation, also in order to "nudge" against Germany becoming dependent on Russian Gas, look no further than setting up joint sanctions and being tougher on the #JCPOA.(/)

But maybe, neither the #EU nor the #US care about Iranians dying in Iran at the hands of their own authorities..Maybe next time the Saudis would be well advised to ship the live victim home and kill it there, it works amazingly well. @Neda100Liberty (/)

The key takeaway here is " he has said he would conduct relations through King Salman, rather than his son, Prince Mohammed. ". Lo and behold, that's how Eisenhower plunged Iran in the sorry state it's in now, when they encouraged a coup. (/)

It also signals that they are quite happy about the Mullahs, since they are not doing anything of that sort on the Iranian side. Or maybe Blinken is on the phone with the Iranian Embassy, demanding to talk with representatives of the students of the "Green revolution".(/)

UPDATE: speaking of which...

https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1365747372891000832?s=20