As they say, the first casualty of war is the truth. It is always very difficult to find out what happened or why it happened. Often the truth only emerges afterwards.   There have been further attacks by the US against Iranian targets.

#BREAKING: #USAF‘s MQ-9 Reaper drone targeted a convoy carrying several high ranking officials of #PMU (Hashd al-Shaabi) in #Taji, North of #Baghdad. Casualties are mostly among members of #IRGC backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq. It is not known whether Qais al-Khazali is dead or alive! pic.twitter.com/CGGebcLn0M

— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) January 3, 2020

How much further is #Iraq going to let US operate freely in country before they decide to kick their assets out? These airstrikes really make the Iraqi government look weak like they can’t deal with their problems by themselves, which may or may not be true, but the point stands.

— Strategic Sentinel (@StratSentinel) January 3, 2020

A fuller account can be found here; Round Two: US Drone Airstrikes Kill Six Pro-Iran Militia Commanders

Propaganda

There is a lot of propaganda out there.   In some of the comments sections you get either  Hasbara trolls (directly from Tel Aviv) or their Iranian counterparts or USA yippee-ki-yay pro-war – totally inappropriate responses.

How did all this start?    We are told that it started with the death of a mercenary contractor.    We are told that the CIA Iranians have been stirring up protests. The spontaneous peoples protests that happened in Iran at the end of November last year saw the burning of 731 banks. Anyone else find that unusual? cui bono?. Don’t believe everything anything that they tell you.

We will never know who was behind the embassy storming.  Was it Iran?   Interestingly, Trump has said (tweeted) that he will not allow another Benghazi.  In other words, he will not let “terrorists” storm the embassy (like Hillary did when she abandoned the Libyan embassy).    Of course, this goes down well with his supporters and will counter the protests – “but Trump said we should not be fighting in the ME”  – yeah but, “what did you expect?   The US had to respond to aggression.  We can’t have another Benghazi.”    Don’t forget that 2020 is an election year.  If he can look like he is reluctantly dragged into war……

This video is very pro-Trump propaganda but it does make some valid points.   John Kerry does have a close relationship, the NYT story is curious, Obama did repay billions to Iran (from their own frozen assets) etc.   However, seeing this all as part of a deep state plot that embraces the impeachment is a bit much.  This is how it is being spun to the “patriots” (the Q Anon followers):

Trump & The Patriots Sent A Message, [DS] Event Countered – Episode 2061b

Was it the death of a contractor that started all this or was it something else? Iraq’s PMU forces launch anti-terror operation in Nineveh province, secure 8 villages      We may never know. 

One commentator remarked; “The unknowns in this vague story, like so many, should incite questions not martial polarity. Too many in the public do not know what is really happening but will wish death to innocents. The foundation for the violence is based on the most important historical event of the twenty-first century. Interesting that nearly two decades after the event it is still not taught in high schools or universities. What really happened that day (9/11)?” It was therefore not the death of a “contractor” that started all this.   And the “narrative” that you are being fed is only part of the story.  Moreover, never forget that Israel will fight to the death (of the last American).

“Israel wants the US to attack #Iran for them” – Head of Mossad pic.twitter.com/opYT3ar6X4

— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) January 3, 2020