06-23-2025, 11:28 AM
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/23/...93c37a624b
Well, so much for the idea Iran would not strike bases in Islamic countries across the Persian Gulf. However, the strike was quite small, almost as if it was a pro-forma attack (optimistic view) or an initial strike to identify defensive capabilities (pessimistic view). Qatar is loudly protesting, among other things, the violation of their air space by Iran.
Somewhat surprisingly (to me anyway) is that the US cavalierly violated the airspace of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. As far as I know the US did not ask for and obtain permission from any of these nations. In theory, the US is at peace with all of them. At least Lebanon and Iraq could be classified as "friendly" states with Syria a bit TBD. In the past the US would violate the airspace of "hostile" states when it was "convenient". We did however refrain from violating the airspace of "friendly" nations who would not give us their permission to cross their territory. In some cases this was quite inconvenient.
This violation of friendly nation air space could have been avoided by approaching from the IO, which was absolutely possible and only marginally more difficult. There may be problems with the terms of the lease (from the UK) of Diego Garcia that would have required UK permission, but certainly the US has used Diego Garcia for similar offensive actions before. Our choice to ignore friends sovereignty when we could avoid doing so IMO is a very bad look. Just because Israel does it doesn't mean that should become US policy. Their situation is quite different from that of the US. It appears the administration thinks it should be our policy.
Well, so much for the idea Iran would not strike bases in Islamic countries across the Persian Gulf. However, the strike was quite small, almost as if it was a pro-forma attack (optimistic view) or an initial strike to identify defensive capabilities (pessimistic view). Qatar is loudly protesting, among other things, the violation of their air space by Iran.
Somewhat surprisingly (to me anyway) is that the US cavalierly violated the airspace of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. As far as I know the US did not ask for and obtain permission from any of these nations. In theory, the US is at peace with all of them. At least Lebanon and Iraq could be classified as "friendly" states with Syria a bit TBD. In the past the US would violate the airspace of "hostile" states when it was "convenient". We did however refrain from violating the airspace of "friendly" nations who would not give us their permission to cross their territory. In some cases this was quite inconvenient.
This violation of friendly nation air space could have been avoided by approaching from the IO, which was absolutely possible and only marginally more difficult. There may be problems with the terms of the lease (from the UK) of Diego Garcia that would have required UK permission, but certainly the US has used Diego Garcia for similar offensive actions before. Our choice to ignore friends sovereignty when we could avoid doing so IMO is a very bad look. Just because Israel does it doesn't mean that should become US policy. Their situation is quite different from that of the US. It appears the administration thinks it should be our policy.