Scott Ritter: Iran Strikes U.S. Airbase & Command Center in Jordan with Ballistic Missiles

US-Saudi Attack on Iraq and Iraqi Response [00:16]

• The US conducted an attack on PMF forces in Iraq, which are part of the Iraqi army, not the resistance.
• The Iraqi National Security Council condemned the attack, stating it occurred without their coordination.
• Donald Trump claimed the attack was coordinated with the Iraqi Prime Minister, a claim rejected by the Iraqi council.

  "The strikes occurred while they said that the the attacks they were trying to talk with Americans in order to find the problem to not not just only with Americans with Saudis as well"

Saudi Arabia's Geopolitical Strategy and Regional Role [02:13]

• The situation exemplifies the dysfunction in US policy in the Persian Gulf and the chaos in Riyadh regarding Saudi Arabia's role.
• Saudi Arabia is concerned about being overtaken by Iran as a regional superpower, despite Iran already holding that position.
• Saudi Arabia's actions in Yemen and Iraq are attributed to American backing.

  "Um it also shows the uh chaos and confusion that exists in Riad, Saudi Arabia about what their role is and what what's expected of them."

The Axis of Resistance and Unintended Consequences [03:26]

• The concept of the 'axis of resistance' is presented as a real network of organizations and nations with common security purposes.
• Attacks on groups like the Houthis by Saudi Arabia can trigger responses from their allies.
• The speaker doubts the PMF's involvement in the strikes, suggesting other militias outside Iraqi government control may be responsible.

  "And so when the the Ansral or the Hoodi are attacked and threatened by Saudi Arabia, there are allies who will respond in in kind."

Saudi Arabia's Actions and Future Prospects [04:16]

• Saudi Arabia is criticized for acting without expecting consequences, unleashing violence that cannot be contained.
• The attack, which killed Iraqi PMF members and Iranian advisors, is deemed not a fatal blow but a strategic misstep.
• The US is accused of hitting the wrong target and alienating Iraq.

  "Um, so they've basically, you know, uncorked a genie of violence. They're not going to be able to put that genie back in the bottle."

Iraqi Political Instability and US Influence [05:10]

• The US attack undermines the Iraqi Prime Minister, whose hold on power is already tenuous.
• The Prime Minister was appointed by the US, and previous election outcomes favoring pro-Iranian factions were not allowed.
• The US has a history of manipulating Iraq's domestic political affairs since the invasion.

  "This just undermines an Iraqi prime minister whose hold on power is already tenuous recall that um you know he didn't win the last parliamentary election he's appointed by the United States"

Saudi Leadership and Economic Vulnerability [06:48]

• Saudi Arabia's actions guarantee further strikes on its oil fields.
• Iran is presented as a continuing player, with no ceasefire in effect.
• The speaker suggests that if pro-Iranian militias engage Saudi Arabia directly, Iran might side with them, potentially leading to the disappearance of Saudi Arabia as a nation-state.

  "Saudi Arabia, all they did is guarantee that their already exposed oil fields will be struck again."

The Nature of Saudi Leadership and its Dependence [07:30]

• The Saudi leadership is described as self-serving and narcissistic, prioritizing their lifestyle over the well-being of the people or the region.
• Their leadership is sustained by oil production, and they rely on the US for continued capacity.
• The speaker suggests that Saudi Arabia could be "wiped from the planet" if its oil infrastructure is destroyed.

  "The perfumed fat obese princes that currently occupy the senior positions of uh of the Saudi leadership will you find themselves with no oil-based income"

US Military Capacity and Geopolitical Realities [25:42]

• The US military's ability to deploy large numbers of troops has significantly diminished since the Gulf War and the Iraq War.
• Current US military readiness is low, with long lead times for even small deployments.
• The US defense industry is not capable of responding quickly to demands.

  "Today nothing. This isn't bewitched. You know, you don't get to rub your nose and magically forces appear."

The Collapse of the US and the Petro-Dollar [41:49]

• A proposed sanctions package against energy purchases from Russia is seen as an act of national suicide due to global energy shortages.
• The US is perceived as having engineered the closure of key maritime straits, denying global energy supplies.
• The speaker argues that the US lacks the capacity to enforce sanctions and is a declining power.

  "Donald Trump engineered the closure of the straight hormuz engineered the closure of the bowel mendev straits. 25% of global energy supplies is denied to the world."

Russia and Iran as Rational Actors [48:42]

• Both Russia and Iran are described as rational actors pursuing outcomes beneficial to their nations.
• Russia's primary objective is to resolve the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine, not to expand the conflict into Europe.
• Iran aims to drive the US out of the Middle East, viewing the US as the root cause of regional problems.

  "Well, I mean both both Russia and Iran are rational actors, but they both need to achieve outcomes that are best for their for their respective nations."