Latest news with #USintervention
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Tucker Carlson is doing a better job than Democrats of countering Trump on Iran: ‘We're in such a bizarro world'
As the drums of war beat ever louder and Donald Trump weighs whether to launch strikes in the Middle East, an unlikely anti-war firebrand has emerged. Welcome to the resistance… Tucker Carlson? In the past two weeks, the former Fox News host has become the loudest and most effective opponent of the push for the United States to join Israel's war against Iran. Carlson, a longtime Trump ally and sometime informal adviser to the president, has taken to the airwaves, toured MAGA podcasts and used his own media network to argue against U.S. intervention. He has turned on former allies, accused Trump of being 'complicit' in Israel's attack on Iran and warned that a 'full-scale war' could end his presidency. But Carlson is not just any peacenik, preaching to the converted. He is a double agent turned from the other side. He knows the ways of the neocons — their secrets, their tricks, their dodges — because he was once one of them. In his previous bow-tie-wearing iteration, Carlson was part of the media circus that helped to convince the American public that Saddam Hussein was an imminent safety threat that required the full might of an American military invasion. 'We know today for certain that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction… There's a lunatic with weapons that could kill the civilized world. What do we do about it?' he said in 2003 on his Crossfire show, echoing the calls being made today about Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He quickly came to regret his support for the war just one year in, calling it 'a total nightmare and disaster,' and became a staunch anti-interventionist in the years that followed. Do not be fooled, Carlson is no liberal. His rise through the ranks of mainstream media and to the heights of Fox News was fueled by rage and racism. He described Iraqis as 'semiliterate primitive monkeys,' called white supremacy 'a hoax' and railed against diversity in America. At any dinner party, in any progressive household, he would likely be cancelled by the first course. But on matters of foreign policy, he often finds common ground with liberals. And those years of regret over Iraq have made him extremely effective when attacking the people now pushing for a war with Iran. That became clear when he sat down with Ted Cruz, a fellow Trump devotee, and interrogated the senator in a now-viral interview on his support for Israel's war and a U.S. role in it. 'How many people live in Iran, by the way?' Carlson asked Cruz. 'I don't know the population at all,' Cruz answered. Carlson became incredulous: 'You don't know the population of the country you seek to topple?' It went downhill from there. Carlson grilled Cruz in a way he has never grilled a fellow Republican, on everything from Iran's ethnic makeup to his interpretations of Biblical texts. 'You don't know anything about Iran,' the TV host said, pointedly and accurately. Carlson even touched the third rail of Republican politics by quizzing Cruz on the donations he has received over the years from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). In an exchange that had echoes of Gore Vidal and Bill Buckley's infamous wordy showdown at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Carlson accused Cruz of being a 'sleazy feline' when the Texas senator suggested his line of questioning was anti-Semitic. Carlson's spat with Cruz was noteworthy not just because two MAGA figureheads were battling it out so viciously in public, but because Carlson appeared to be doing the job of dismantling the case for war far better than most Democrats or liberal commentators. His interview even earned the reluctant praise of his longtime nemesis Jon Stewart, who once humiliated Carlson so badly on his own show that it went viral before that was even a concept. 'We're in such a bizarro world, you've got me nodding my head to Tucker Carlson videos,' Stewart said Thursday. 'You got Tucker Carlson going, 'Why are we going why are we going to war with Iran again?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, you tell him, brother!' Like, that's how f---ing upside down we find ourselves in this moment.' Stewart wasn't alone in backing Carlson, with support from Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna, former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor, liberal commentator Mehdi Hasan and even leftist streamer Hasan Piker, who tweeted: 'why is tucker carlson capable of conducting an adversarial interview about the dangers of american intervention in iran with ted cruz better than everyone else in legacy media? Shame.' Carlson's anti-war appearances could be powerful. He is a MAGA influencer with the president's phone number. He was, not long ago, the host of the most-watched cable news show in the country. His influence may have waned since then, but if Trump is at all susceptible to pressure from his base, Carlson is appearing in all the right places to apply that pressure. His history as purveyor of neocon propaganda from the belly of the beast, Fox News, allows him to dismantle the entire media-political apparatus that builds the case for war. The interview with Cruz came days after Carlson appeared on Steve Bannon's War Room Podcast, where he railed against Fox News for 'turning up the propaganda hose to full blast, and just trying to knock elderly viewers off their feet and make them submit to more wars.' 'The one theme that runs longitudinally through the history of Fox is the promotion of wars that don't help the United States,' he said of his former employer. But Carlson is aware of his limits. Bannon, a fellow skeptic, asked Carlson if he thought the U.S. would eventually join the war, to which he answered, 'Yes.' 'I'm really afraid that my country's gonna be further weakened by this. I think we're gonna see the end of the American empire,' he added. The president dismissed those comments Monday, and described Carlson as 'kooky.' But a couple of days later, he revealed that he and Carlson had spoken by phone. 'It's interesting, because I did ask Tucker, I said, 'Well, are you OK with nuclear weapons being in the hands of Iran?' And he sort of didn't like that. And I said, 'If it's OK with you, then you and I really do have a difference. But it's really not OK with him. Therefore, you have to fight, and maybe it will end, and maybe it will end very quickly,' he said. It's unclear if they have spoken again, but both sides are continuing to make their case on the airwaves. Trump, meanwhile, has been circumspect on his plans regarding an attack on Iran: "I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I'm gonna do," he said Wednesday.
Sky News
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News
US moving warplanes to Middle East in 'demonstration of force' - this is the aircraft to watch
Why you can trust Sky News America is deploying more fighter planes to the Middle East in a "demonstration of force" as tensions escalate and speculation about a possible US strike on Iran continues. Pictures and flight tracking data show F-35 jets and tanker aircraft being moved towards the region, as well as the tasking of an aircraft carrier, providing options in case President Donald Trump decides to intervene in the conflict. But one particular aircraft that has not been seen just yet - the B-2 stealth bomber - could reveal the most about America's intentions towards Iran... Why is America moving more aircraft to the Middle East? "It's giving them options," says military analyst Michael Clarke. "They have got four types of aircraft - including fighters, interceptors and fighter-bombers - all in the right region." 6:35 The new arrivals can be spread around several existing military bases that the US has in the region in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. "More is better and also it's a demonstration of force," Prof Clarke added. "There's a political element behind it, to show the Iranians what they can do, but also to other allies. "The Americans want to be taken seriously in all of this." Analysis: What aircraft have moved to the region? Sky News analysis of flight-tracking data shows more than 30 US military planes have been active over parts of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea over the past three days. These include planes used for reconnaissance, refuelling in mid-air as well as carrying cargo. An air-traffic control recording from the US suggests F-22 Raptors are being sent across the Atlantic. Two refuelling tankers are visible on flight tracking data leaving the US east coast, likely escorting the stealth fighter jets. In images taken by photographer Glenn Lockett in Suffolk, three US air tankers were seen flying over England, each accompanied by four F-35 jets. F-35s are one of the most advanced warplanes in the world, known for their ability to evade enemy radar. Flight tracking data shows that the tankers travelled to the Mediterranean and then returned to the UK. Most of the US military planes tracked by Sky News regularly turn off their locations and final destinations, according to the data from Flightradar24. Some of the planes moved from the US to Europe, while others appeared to move closer to the Middle East. At least five of the US military aircraft landed at Chania Airport on the Greek island of Crete. US insists deployments are defensive US defence secretary Pete Hegseth stressed that the deployment of more aircraft was defensive in nature, as Washington looks to safeguard its forces in the region. Fighter aircraft have been used to shoot down drones and projectiles in the past. America already has a substantial force in the Middle East, with nearly 40,000 troops as well as air defence systems, aircraft and warships. But as the conflict between Israel and Iran carries on - and President Trump continues to make threats against Tehran - it's possible that multiple options could be on the table for intervention. B-2 bombers - the ones to watch? Asked what he's looking out for as speculation about whether the US will intervene directly continues, Prof Clarke pointed to one particular aircraft that hasn't been seen moving towards the region yet: The B-2 stealth bomber. Known for its iconic triangle shape and ability to penetrate deep air defences undetected, the B-2 has lesser-known capability that could be crucial for any action over Iran: it can carry 'bunker buster' bombs. So far Israel has not been able to damage Iran's secretive Fordow uranium enrichment plant, which is buried deep beneath a mountain. The only bomb believed to be powerful enough to penetrate the facility is America's GBU-57, a 14-ton bomb that is so heavy it can only be launched from the US fleet of heavy bomber aircraft. Any movement of B-2 bombers to the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean could "indicate the likelihood that the Americans are going to use bunker busters in Iran," Prof Clarke says.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil edges down, stocks mixed but Mideast war fears elevated
Oil prices slipped Wednesday following the previous day's surge but investors remained on edge fearing a US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict after Donald Trump called for Tehran's "unconditional surrender". Iran and Israel exchanged missile strikes for a sixth day, with the US president's latest comments appearing to dent hopes that the crisis in the Middle East could be calmed. Leaving the G7 summit in Canada a day early on Monday, Trump said he was aiming for a "real end" to the conflict, not just a ceasefire. He later shared a series of social media posts that stoked speculation he could be planning to join Israel in its strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. Days after a senior US official said Trump had told Israel to back down from plans to assassinate top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump looked to reverse course. "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there -- We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Warning Iran against targeting US interests, he also posted: "But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin." And in a later post wrote: "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" The comments sent oil prices spiking more than four percent Tuesday on fears an escalation of the conflict could hammer supplies from the crude-rich region. But while both main contracts slipped Wednesday, investors remain on edge over any negative developments. Of particular concern is the possibility of Iran shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, through which around an estimated fifth of global oil supply traverses, according to a Commerzbank note. "Iran is reportedly ready to target US regional bases should Trump greenlight strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. "Washington's refuelling jets are already en route, and if Fordow gets hit, expect the Strait of Hormuz to become a maritime minefield, Houthi drones to swarm Red Sea shipping lanes, and every militia from Basra to Damascus to light up American forward outposts." Equity markets Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai, Wellington, Manila and Jakarta all sank, though Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Bangkok edged up. London edged up at the open even as data showed UK inflation slowed less than expected in May. Paris and Frankfurt also rose. The losses followed a weak day on Wall Street, where a below-forecast reading on US retail sales for May -- dragged by a slowdown in auto sales -- revived fresh worries about the world's top economy. That came as another report showed factory output fell unexpectedly. Still, they did provide a little hope the Federal Reserve will eventually cut interest rates, with traders betting on two by the end of the year, according to Bloomberg News. Investors will be keeping track of the bank's latest meeting as it concludes later in the day, with most observers predicting it will stand pat. However, it is also due to release its rate and economic growth outlook for the rest of the year, which are expected to take account of the impact of Trump's tariff war. "The Fed would no doubt be cutting again by now if not for the uncertainty regarding tariffs and a recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East," said KPMG senior economist Benjamin Shoesmith. - Key figures at around 0715 GMT - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $74.73 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $76.25 per barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.9 percent at 38,885.15 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.2 percent at 23,700.42 Shanghai - Composite: FLAT at 3,388.81 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,845.33 Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1511 from $1.1488 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3464 from $1.3425 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 144.90 yen from 145.27 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.50 pence from 85.54 pence New York - Dow: DOWN 0.7 percent at 42,215.80 (close) dan/mtp
