Islam Times - Trump’s carrier deployment to Mideast is ‘dangerous strategy’

Islam Times - US President Donald Trump’s deployment of an aircraft carrier and other military equipment to the Middle East is a “dangerous strategy” that may push events beyond the brink of active conflict., says an American writer and former professor.

“I don’t think he [Trump] wants war with Iran,” said E Michael Jones, the current editor of Culture Wars magazine.

“Trouble with this kind of think; its called brinkmanship…it can lead to unintended consequences,” Jones said.

“I think that is the explanation of his strategy and I think we’re also seeing the dangers involved in that strategy,” he added.

Earliest this week, hawkish US National Security Adviser John Bolton announced that the US was deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East in a bid to send a “message” to Iran.

Jones also said that Trump’s invitation for Iran’s leadership to call him and talk with him about Tehran’s civilian nuclear program is an intimidation tactic to force Iran to the negotiating table.

“He thinks he can intimidate people up to the point of actual negotiations…intimidate them by making outrageous claims; trying to get them to be fearful of the consequences,” he said.

The White House has contacted Swiss authorities to share a telephone number with Iran in hopes that Tehran will contact US President Donald Trump, CNN reported Friday.

The White House contacted the Swiss on Thursday, the same day Trump publicly appealed to Iran to call him amid heightened tensions, the news organization reported, citing an unnamed diplomatic source.

The source, however, said Iran was “highly unlikely” to demand the number from Swiss authorities.

The Swiss embassy represents US interests in Tehran, where Washington has had no mission since 1980.

While Trump called for talks on Thursday, he did not rule out military action against Iran.