Falsely Blaming Iran for Yemeni Houthi Strikes on Saudi Oil Facilities

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Time and again, disinformation and Big Lies drown out hard truths.

On Monday, NBC News reported the following: 

"American intelligence indicates that the attack on a major Saudi oil facility originated from Iran, three people familiar with the intelligence told NBC News," adding:

Dems "familiar with the details do not dispute that the attack was carried out by Iran…"

According to an unnamed "congressional source, (t)his attack had a level of sophistication we have not seen before."

"You will not see (Dems) pushing back on the idea that Iran was behind it."

"Three (unnamed) US officials said there was extremely compelling evidence showing the origination point of the strikes…"

In its latest edition, the Wall Street Journal said "US  intelligence indicates Iran was the staging ground for a debilitating attack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, (unnamed) people familiar with the matter said, as Washington and the kingdom weighed how to respond and oil prices soared."

In "The Art of War," Sun Tzu said "All wars are based on deception." They're also based on disinformation, Big Lies and fake news.

Propaganda war precedes US wars of aggression and other hostile actions. Is the Trump regime heading toward confrontation with Iran? More on this below.

How reliable is US intell? It falsely blamed Osama bin Laden and "crazed Arab" for the US-staged 9/11 mother of all false flags.

It lied claiming Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Former UN chief weapons inspector in Iraq Scott Ritter said none existed.

After defecting to the West in the mid-1990s, Saddam's son-in-law Hussein Kamel, in charge of Iraq's military industrialization and weapons development, explained same thing when debriefed. 

No Iraqi WMDs existed so they were invented to unjustifiably justify US war on the country in 2003, raping and destroying the cradle of civilization, mass slaughtering its people, and immiserating survivors to this day.

US intell invented the colossal Russiagate hoax. Most Americans likely still believe the Big Lie because of the power of media-proliferated mass deception.

As CIA director, Mike Pompeo said: "We lie. We Cheat. We steal." Whatever US intell reveals publicly is suspect, manipulative deception part of its strategy.

In 2010, intelligence historian/clandestine technology and espionage tradecraft specialist H. Keith Melton's book, titled "The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception" discussed how the agency uses these tactics against US adversaries.

What's most important to explain is unasked. How could Iran possibly benefit from striking Saudi oil facilities? Clearly, it would have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

It would risk US strikes on its own oil production and refining capabilities or something more serious.

Clearly, no credible evidence indicates Iranian involvement in last Saturday's strikes on key Saudi oil and gas facilities — carried out by Houthi fighters from Yemen or captured Saudi border territory.

Earlier they struck the kingdom's central oil pipeline, its pumping stations, the Shaybah oilfield, military facilities, tankers, airports, a power station, and other infrastructure with explosive-laden drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, penetrating porous Riyadh air defenses. 

Houthis claim their missiles and drones can strike strategic targets anywhere in Saudi Arabia.

In January, a report commissioned by the UN said advanced Houthi drones have a range of up to 930 miles.

That's nearly halfway by air from the US east to west coast, a distance of under 2,100 airmiles.

Clearly, key Saudi oil facilities are vulnerable to repeat attacks. On Monday, Houthi General Yahya Saree said another strike on its facilities could come any time.

On the same day, senior Houthi official Abdul Wahab al-Mahbashi said its "drones have not been imported but they are indigenized and manufactured in Yemen" — upgrading earlier acquired missile technology the same way.

Its fighters retaliated against Saudi aggression, their legal self-defense right.

On Monday, Trump said "I don't want war with anyone" while not ruling out confrontation with Iran.

Later the same day, he said striking an Iranian oil facility would be a proportional response, indicating uncertainty, leaving him vulnerable to be pushed to confront Iran militarily.

Asked if he believes Tehran was behind striking Saudi oil facilities on Saturday, he said "(i)t's certainly looking that way at this moment and we'll let you know. As soon as we find out definitively we'll let you know, but it does look that way."

On the same day, his war secretary Mike Esper suggested possible confrontation with Iran, saying:

"The United States military, with our interagency team, is working with our partners to address this unprecedented attack and defend the international rules-based order that is being undermined by Iran (sic)."

He indicated that the Pentagon is ready to respond to Saturday's attack if ordered.

Despite no credible evidence linking Iran to strikes on the kingdom or any other countries, Pompeo falsely claimed "Tehran is behind nearly 100 attacks on Saudi Arabia." 

Notably on Monday, Trump walked back somewhat from his Sunday "locked and loaded" remark when asked if he promised to protect the Saudis, saying:

"No, I haven't promised the Saudis that...We have to sit down with the Saudis and work something out."

Despite no credible evidence proving it, Riyadh said "initial investigations indicate Iranian weapons were used in the attacks on its key oil installations," adding:

"The kingdom will take the appropriate measures based on the results of the investigation to ensure its security and stability."

Its likely US supplied air defense system proved unable to prevent last Saturday's Houthi attack on its key oil facilities or earlier strikes on its territory.

On Monday, Iranian President Rouhani said "Yemeni(s) are exercising their legitimate right of defense. The attacks were a reciprocal response to aggression against Yemen for years."

As long as Saudi aggression on Yemen continues, its strategic targets will be vulnerable to Houthi retaliation.

Will Trump regime hardliners manipulate him to strike nonbelligerent Iran? Will he risk boiling over the Middle East more than already?

Will he go it alone given little or no support from key allies for attacking Iran, other than Israel and the Saudis?

While no match for the US militarily, Tehran is able to hit back hard against aggressors, including regional Pentagon bases, its area warships, Israel, and Riyadh if involved in strikes on Iranian territory.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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