How Trump decided to kill a top Iranian general

[Rogue Valley]

How Trump decided to kill a top Iranian general

1/3/20
On Friday, hours after a U.S. drone killed Soleimani and an Iraqi militia leader at the Baghdad airport, senior State Department officials told reporters that Iran had been plotting “imminent attacks directed at killing hundreds of Americans” but declined to offer specifics. On Capitol Hill, officials briefed lawmakers and staff but did not provide any details about the alleged Iranian targets or what made them imminent, according to people who were present. Some analysts were skeptical about the need to kill Soleimani. It may be days or weeks before U.S. officials know how Iran will respond. But the rapid sequence of events that led to Soleimani’s death made clear that a decades-old conflict has reached a fever pitch. At his resort in Florida, the president was told that Soleimani was going to be coming to Baghdad; senior officials felt he was taunting the United States by showing up in the Iraqi capital, implying that he could move around with impunity. Calls among the national security principals were convened by the vice president throughout the week after initial discussions on Sunday to kill Soleimani, a senior administration official said. Officials reminded Trump that after the Iranians mined ships, downed the U.S. drone and allegedly attacked a Saudi oil facility, he had not responded. Acting now, they said, would send a message: “The argument is, if you don’t ever respond to them, they think they can get by with anything,” one White House official said.

Trump was also motivated to act by what he felt was negative coverage after his 2019 decision to call off the airstrike after Iran downed the U.S. surveillance drone, officials said. Trump was also frustrated that the details of his internal deliberations had leaked out and felt he looked weak, the officials said. Trump also had history on his mind. The president has long fixated on 2012 attacks on U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya, and the Obama administration’s response to them, said lawmakers and aides who have spoken to him, and he felt the response to this week’s attack on the embassy and the killing of an American contractor would make him look stronger compared with his predecessor. “Benghazi has loomed large in his mind,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) in an interview, explaining the response this week.The United States tracked Soleimani’s movements for several days, keeping Trump apprised, and decided that their best opportunity to kill him would be near the Baghdad airport, the senior administration official said. He ultimately gave final approval just before the strike, a senior administration official said, making the call from his golf resort. After the attack, U.S. officials in Iraq braced themselves for a range of possible responses, from direct attacks by Iran to an Iraqi order that U.S. forces and personnel leave the country.

Reports say that the elite friends of Trump at Mar-a-Lago knew something big concerning Iran was in the works before most members of Congress knew anything. The Trump WH never did consult with the "Gang of Eight" in Congress nor with the National Security Council. Rather than being considered an unavoidable tactical decision, it seems Trump was mostly driven to order this attack on Soleimani due to possible perceptions about his muscularity and domestic political considerations.

Trump has brought us to the brink of war with Iran mostly because — he didn't want to appear weak during an election year. The assassination of Maj. Gen. Soleimani will guarantee rather than serve to deter a consequential Iranian response.

 

[Mycroft]

How Trump decided to kill a top Iranian general

Reports say that the elite friends of Trump at Mar-a-Lago knew something big concerning Iran was in the works before most members of Congress knew anything. The Trump WH never did consult with the "Gang of Eight" in Congress nor with the National Security Council. Rather than being considered an unavoidable tactical decision, it seems Trump was mostly driven to order this attack on Soleimani due to possible perceptions about his muscularity and domestic political considerations.

Trump has brought us to the brink of war with Iran mostly because — he didn't want to appear weak during an election year. The assassination of Maj. Gen. Soleimani will guarantee rather than serve to deter a consequential Iranian response.

Sure. Of course. WaPo is right. :roll:

There's no way it was about Iranian plans to oust the Iraqi President and to attack the US Embassy in Baghdad.

WaPo knows more than Trump does.

Moving on...

 

[DamnYankee]

More propaganda from those extremely reliable "officials," I see. :lol:

 

[Roadvirus]

Reports say....

Annnnnd stop reading. :roll:

 

[joko104]

So what? This was overdue for a very long time. I welcome the military policy change to kill the head of snakes, not tit-for-tat killing each others low rankers endlessly.

If Iran wants to escalate it, they certainly may do so. We in turn then should escalate retaliation 10 fold - targeting commanders, leaders, and infrastructure.

 

[Moonglow]

And the peace president forgets about his agenda or campaign promises and all those peacenick libertarians are volunteering for military service in droves.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

Reports say....

Annnnnd stop reading. :roll:

There was a time when senior administration officials who said stuff like this would’ve been considered enemy spies

 

[Jake]

And the peace president forgets about his agenda or campaign promises and all those peacenick libertarians are volunteering for military service in droves.

The Trump base is already working hard to correct their memories. Another week and it will be fake news that Trump ever made those campaign promises.

Reports say....

Annnnnd stop reading. :roll:

 

[Jake]

There was a time when senior administration officials who said stuff like this would’ve been considered enemy spies

Now they are the least corrupt part of the administration.

 

[Mr Person]

Reports say....

Annnnnd stop reading. :roll:

Roadvirus

Annnnnd stop reading. :roll:





I don't know who you people think you're fooling. You never have this problem with RW sources. If it's about liberals and it sounds bad, you're all over it.