Very interesting, this also throws a wrench into the idea that Trump authorized the killing in response to impeachment politics.
It was authorized in June as the response to any American deaths in Iranian strikes. Like the contractor killed in December...
It was authorized in June as the response to any American deaths in Iranian strikes. Like the contractor killed in December...
So what does the Business Insider story say?
That in June, President Trump authorized the killing of Soleimani IF the Iranian provocations lead to the death of an American.
That American was killed on 12/27/19 leading to the strikes on Iraqi Hezbollah.
That in June, President Trump authorized the killing of Soleimani IF the Iranian provocations lead to the death of an American.
That American was killed on 12/27/19 leading to the strikes on Iraqi Hezbollah.
Iran then launched a proxy attack on the US Embassy that failed because President Trump sent reinforcements & pushed them out.
The fact that Soleimani's killing had been authorized as a response to a killing of an American, does not undermine the idea that he was planning to kill MORE Americans. Or that he came to Iraq to kill more Americans giving us the opportunity to get him.
The fact that it took the Trump Admin from 2017 until January 2020 to finally conduct the attack completely undermines the notion that this was a half-baked spur of the moment political move. It was well thought out, waiting for the time Iranian attacks proved it was necessary.
The article misses a critical context, the almost war of June 2019. Iran shot down a drone, the military recommended strikes, Trump chose a different option & cancelled the strikes.
Not attacking Iran over a drone, but deciding how to retaliate when & if Americans are killed.
Not attacking Iran over a drone, but deciding how to retaliate when & if Americans are killed.
I guess Democrats don't trust the intelligence community any more...
So Soleimani's killing wasn't some hair brained idea from Trump, but part of a "broader national security strategy' dating back to 2017.
I think when LTC Vindman came forward we were told not to question the opinions of military officers serving on the NSC.
I think when LTC Vindman came forward we were told not to question the opinions of military officers serving on the NSC.
So Trump reined in the more aggressive actions that might cause war with Iran, settling for the less aggressive step of killing Soleimani if he killed another American.
At least they admit the Soleimani, Quds Force, & Iran were causing terrorism & violence for decades...
So in an effort to claim Trump didn't have enough to claim Soliemani was an imminent threat for future attacks. They disproved all of the other Democratic talking points about the strike.
They proved Soleimani was a persistent threat targeted after years of careful deliberation.
They proved Soleimani was a persistent threat targeted after years of careful deliberation.
