New *deep dive* on Soleimani killing --> Pompeo spoke to Trump about hitting the top commander months ago. Getting Trump to “yes” involved key personnel changes at the Pentagon and Trump’s aversion to being viewed as weak, giving Pompeo an opening washingtonpost.com/world/national…
Pompeo has forged a close friendship with Mossad Director Yossi Cohen. The men have spoken in depth about Iran and it's proxy forces. In a prescient interview in October, Cohen said Soleimani “knows perfectly well that his elimination is not impossible.”
Some key factors in the Soleimani decision: Pompeo and Esper, West Point classmates, were in "lockstep" going into the Dec. 29 Mar-a-Lago meeting. Both supported the move. Pence also supported, but did not attend the meeting.
Changes at the Pentagon were also a factor, says a senior official. “Taking out Soleimani would not have happened under Mattis. Mattis was opposed to all of this. It’s not a hit on Mattis, it’s just his predisposition. Milley and Esper are different."
Pompeo's bureaucratic win comes with grave risks. Here's the checklist. Latest story w/ @jdawsey1 @shaneharris and @DanLamothe washingtonpost.com/world/national… 
