These are entirely predictable reactions. The idea has become almost universally accepted that we must avoid confronting our enemies because doing so will only provoke them. The fact that they were already at war with us doesn’t seem to register.
“Iran’s top general Soleimani killed in US drone strike,” by Tara John, Julia Hollingsworth and Rob Picheta, CNN, January 3, 2020:
The Russian Defense Ministry called the US strike that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad “a short-sighted” act that will bring “serious negative consequences” to the entire region, according to Russian state-news agency TASS.
“The short-sighted acts of the US, the assassination of General Soleimani, lead to a sharp escalation of the military-political situation in the Middle East region and serious negative consequences for the entire international security system.”
The Russian Defense Ministry continued to say that Soleimani’s role in the fight against ISIS was “undeniable.”
“Under the direct leadership of Soleimani, long before the formation of the so-called US-led international coalition, an armed resistance was organized [to counter] the international terrorist groups ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Syria and Iraq. His personal contributions to the fight against ISIS in Syria are undeniable,” the Russian military added….
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo disputed France’s statement that the killing of Qasem Soleimani has made the world less safe. He said Iranians and Iraqis should view the US action as “giving them their freedom.”
“Yeah well, the French are just wrong about that,” Pompeo said on CNN’s New Day Friday. “The world is a much safer place today. And I can ensure you that Americans in the region are much safer today after the demise of Qasem Soleimani.”
“We have every expectation that people not only in Iraq but in Iran will view the American action last night as giving them freedom,” Pompeo added. “Freedom to have the opportunity for success and prosperity for their nations and while the political leadership may not want that, the people in these nations will demand it.”
Pompeo also downplayed protests against the US in Iran.
“As for the protests you described, there’s no doubt the last vestiges of theocracy, the kleptocracy in Iran will continue to try to put down these uprisings from the people,” he said. “They’ve jailed thousands. They’ve killed hundreds. It won’t surprise me if they try to continue to do that.”
Pompeo went on to say: “But know this: The Iranian people understand that America is a force for good in the region. And I’m convinced that the support we have provided to people in Iran and the support we will continue to provide for the people of Iraq will work to protect American interests and make lives better for those people as well.”…
Tens of thousands of people are out on the streets in anti-US protests today, after Qasem Soleimani — a popular figure in the country — was killed by a US strike….
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Trump for the killing of IRGC General Qasem Soleimani, saying that Israel “stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security and self-defense.”
Speaking before he boarded his flight from Greece back to Israel, Netanyahu said:
“Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right. Qasem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks. President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively.”Netanyahu appeared not to answer when asked if he was briefed on the strike beforehand….
Pompeo says attack saved US lives: Soleimani had been involved in planning an “imminent attack” in the region that put American lives at risk, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN on Friday. He said the US made an intelligence-based assessment that killing Soleimani would save Americans.
Iran vows ‘harsh revenge’: Three days of national mourning have been declared in Iran, where Soleimani was revered as a national hero, and thousands of demonstrators were seen marching in Tehran. The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for “harsh revenge,” according to a statement published to his official website.
Trump: Iran ‘never won a war’: Donald Trump tweeted combative remarks on Friday morning, writing: “Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!”…
roberta says
I was waiting for the usual ”gratitude” from the European nations.
Well all they will do is “condemn the US actions in the harshest of language”
Now that the EU is condemning the justice that this Soleimani received, we
here in the USA can be assured that is was the right thing to do.
What a slap in the face Putin received from his sock puppet Pres. Trump. (sarc)
In the middle of joint military exercised between Iran, Russia, and China–
the sock puppet has rockets rain down on Iran’s tough guy. “All roads lead to Putin”
dontcha know
Phil Copson says
“…I was waiting for the usual ”gratitude” from the European nations.
Well all they will do is “condemn the US actions in the harshest of language”
Now that the EU is condemning the justice that this Soleimani received, we
here in the USA can be assured that is was the right thing to do….”
————————————————————————————–
Here in England my friends and I are all in pieces over the death of Soleimani – luckily, so is he…..
gravenimage says
Thank you, Phil!
Chrissie says
Europeans are not fed the truth. Trump’s intervention is made seen as an uncalled-for provocation against an otherwise restrained enemy.
Here’s the truth:
Soleimani had been involved in planning an “imminent attack” in the region that put American lives at risk, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN on Friday.
THAT was the cause. I’ve been searching for it. it is HERE that I read it for the first time. But not in our papers.
hello from Germany.
william carr says
Here is one European who is not outraged but grateful to Pres. Trump for his decisive actions. I see the EU as being under a dictatorial and undemocratic government which is only interested in sucking up to another dictatorial and undemocratic govt. namely the Iranian govt.
How the so called EU leaders can continue to ignore the actions of the Iranian govt. against its people is beyond my understanding and acceptance. Long live BREXIT
Jule Bacal says
Its because of money and ‘Business deals’
Charles says
If Iran attacked the Swedish embassy, the entire swedish government would show up in Tehran wearing hijabs and assure Iran that they are simple friends in all ways.
Malcolm Jackson says
Well done President Trump and USA. Many thanks from the UK.
Leslie Beaumont says
I agree here as an Amerabrit in the midlands, U.K. ….The great and fearless women of Iran who want their freedom will be happy.
Ric says
There is no shock or awe at the enragement coming from Russia, after all, the Russians and Iran are partners, allies in this terror network. Nor should anyone dismiss the resounding criticism from the Iran friendly EU, they, too, are no more than an appendage to this terror state. The West’s leadership holds no sense of history, ignorance, as it is said, is bliss. The West decades past appeased a similar threat to world peace, Hitler’s Nazism. Everyone knows how the placating, mollycoddling lead to World War Two. During the post-war period, of course, tensions with the Soviet Union metastasized, hence the Cold War. Ironically, Russia, after the USSR’s downfall, remains a weighted threat to the West and others in the geopolitical realm. If the EU and others of the weak-kneed persist in appeasing Iran and its formidable allies, the West will once again discover itself in a War that may end all wars and humanity.
The time has come to eradicate this menace to humanity, and democracy, eliminating the threat. Indeed cutting the head off this Iranian snake is not the final blow that is required. Trump, at least, has taken a stand against this threat to not merely Americans but all people, whether in the ME, Europe, or America. The ingrates within the EU, the Islamic apologists, appeasers, or others of its like should be grateful; unfortunately, it is not their nature.
roberta says
”it is not their nature.”
+1
What a luxury it must be to have no gratitude.
Wellington says
For right and freedom to continue it is essential that America is strong and led by a kick-ass Andrew Jackson type—like Donald Trump. Those who don’t get this tells you a lot about such people.
I would add that while the “official” take on the killing of this barbarian by weak-kneed Western European elites is to be expected, much of the rank and file in Western European nations do “get” that what was done yesterday was a very good thing. I suspect Eastern Europeans, elites and rank and file, are once again reassured because America has a real President once more.
As for Russia, I don’t really care what it thinks. If we can get along with Russia, fine, but if we can’t then we can’t. America is the great power, not Russia. It is Russia who must adjust to America and not the other way around.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“For right and freedom to continue it is essential that America is strong and led by a kick-ass Andrew Jackson type—like Donald Trump.”
Absolutely true!
Jon Voight stated that “Trump is the Greatest President Since Lincoln.” At first I thought that the statement was a little over the top, maybe since Reagan – but Lincoln?
Mr. Voight may ultimately be proven right.
Wellington says
Verdict still out, James, on Trump but I know this much and that is to date I know of no one I would rather have as President right now than Donald J. Trump. As an aside, I really admire Voight’s gutsy defense of both Trump and Israel.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear!
Infidel says
Absolutely! I’m for better US-Russia relations, but that’s not a one-sided deal. Just as the US should avoid supporting Russia’s Muslim enemies, like their Jihadists, Russia too needs to stop supporting Islamic countries like Iran and Turkey: I’ll give them a pass in Syria, where they are supporting what’s effectively a secular regime. If they don’t want to do it, just keep suffering the embarrassment of people Putin once met getting blown up in bombing raids
Walter Sieruk says
There is no need nor there a reason to keyboard the name of the Iranian warlord general who was exterminated by a US military drone strike.
For the Bible informs its reader “The name of the wicked shall rot.” Proverbs 10:7. [K.J.V.]
warmac9999 says
The world reaction seems to be rather muted. Am guessing many world leaders knew this was coming and maybe even facilitated it. The intelligence here was excellent to the point that these Iranian killers were executed as they left their plane in Iraqi Baghdad. Great work all around and the Iranians had best tread cautiously.
gravenimage says
Soleimani killing: Russians, Europeans enraged, Pompeo says “Americans in the region are much safer today”
………………………
Who can be surprised by these dhimmi reactions?
Infidel says
Much as I support the president in not wanting to get into a war, I’m not a fan of Iran winning any negotiations either. We saw what happened w/ the last negotiations that they won!
Infidel says
It’s funny how most people on the Left love to bash Saudi Arabia, as well as ridicule republicans for supporting that awful country, but then they turn around and are perfectly fine w/ Iran, or the Palestinians.
What is it about Iran that’s so much better than Saudi Arabia, Leftists?
Peter35 says
A nation is its people. Give me Persians any day over arabs.
gravenimage says
Because screaming “Death to America!”, vowing to wipe Israel off the map, and stoning women to death is so praiseworthy…sarc/off
Really. both Sunnis and Shia follow the same vicious “Holy” book and “Prophet”.
Infidel says
Stop calling them ‘Persians’. Unless and until they reject Islam in favor of anything else – Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, whatever
And there is no evidence that the Iranians, despite the 40 years of a Shi’ite theocracy, are anywhere near tossing away Islam in favor of one of the above
Peter35 says
OK, let’s make a deal; I’ll stop calling Iranians Persians if most of you stop labelling them Shi-ites.
It’s ‘shia’, fgs, and the ‘s’ is lower case, moslems are NOT worth a capital!
Personally, I think most Iranians are heartily sick of islam, but just lack the organizational skill to mount an overthrow. (Just like Swedes, Brits, Norwegians, Danes, French, Germans, etc…….)
Infidel says
Peter35, I’m happy to do that: in fact, I’d do it for sunnis as well. I typically use shi’ite as an adjective, and shia as a noun. Same for sunnite and sunni.
I already spell ‘allah’ w/ a lowercase ‘a’ to show my total disdain for that ‘deity’. Happy to do the same for islam and muslims
Peter35 says
I like it, Infidel; done deal!
gi, “Death to America!” etc., they ALL say that as you know, not just Iranians, and they get away with it because basically westerners are indeed just a bunch of grovelling kuffar. Sad.
Wellington says
Pertinent question, Infidel. The entire Islamic sphere of mankind is woeful but sometimes you have to align with an awful polity against another awful polity (arguably the best example ever of this is aligning with the USSR to defeat Nazi Germany). But the Left is not interested in any quest for truth and fair analysis. Rather, it is interested in an agenda, one that includes the destruction of America and the West as we know it. Anything that furthers this agenda the Left will embrace, truth and fairness be damned.
Infidel says
Except that both Saudi Arabia and Iran are equally malign. Also toss in the other wannabe leader Turkey.
The only thing Saudi Arabia does for us is trade oil against the dollar, as well as buy bonds in US debt, which helps prop up the insane levels of spending in DC: it’s asinine that we would have a debt of 20 trillion! That’s the only thing I disagree w/ the president on: we can’t ‘grow ourselves out of it’, particularly when that debt is being financed by the likes of Saudi Arabia and China
Wellington says
No argument here, Infidel. The sooner we reduce ties to Saudi Arabia to an absolute minimum, the better. And indeed the debt is an enormous problem and I, like you, don’t like being partially funded by rogue regimes buying our bonds.
Hey, why not start a huge federal lottery, as most states have, with all money collected going to reduce the federal debt? Billions could be collected each year, maybe a trillion a year. An extra incentive to buy into such a lottery would be to have, say, only a 10% federal tax on lottery winnings (and ditto for state lotteries respecting any federal tax so that states would see lottery buying go up too and not hurt by any federal lottery existing). This approach could significantly reduce the need to issue as many bonds as the federal government does. Perhaps the numbers wouldn’t be enough but then again they might be. Worth consideration I would argue.
As for Turkey, ideally I would like to see it kicked out of NATO and a Russia that truly embraces liberty and quits any nostalgic attempt to control Eastern Europe could be brought into NATO. I have always wanted Russo-American relations to be optimal but Russia needs to stop, a la George Kennan, treating its neighbors as vassals or enemies. A situation whereby America and Russia co-operated regularly could lead to all kinds of desirable results, including for Russia much greater diversification of its economy and an alliance against what Islam intends for both nations.
Infidel says
Wellington
On the debt, I’m willing to consider proposals such as Rand Pauls, where have a 5% cut – a real cut, not a baseline budgeting definition of a reduction in increase as a cut, across the board, as well as other ideas. Note that most Americans have soundly rejected ideas of having Social Security and Medicare privatized and funded by the market. While I was at one time in favor of that, watching Wall Street hedge fund managers buy companies and decimate their assets, lay off their employees in favor of offshoring to Third World countries and also get rid of their pension liabilities has made me look at them w/ the affections of a communist.
No, I don’t want government necessarily cracking down on them, but at the same time, I’d like to see them marginalized. Especially since the bulk of them have become woke billionaires – trying to manage free speech in favor of the SJWs, cracking down on 2nd amendment rights by asking customers not to bring their guns into stores and in some cases like Dicks Sporting Goods, ending the sale of certain guns, and so on.
So while the conservative in me would have liked things like Social Security and Medicare to be phased out, I do recognize that the bulk of the country has paid into them, and given how pensions have been shamelessly raided by Private Equity, don’t trust Wall Street w/ protecting us.
Aside from all that, cut as much waste, fraud and abuse, as Candidate Trump promised, like the mice on a treadmill research or a study of the mating habits of the… whatever. The lottery proposal, I dunno – I’m not a fan of any government – federal or state – promoting gambling, given that it’s a financially self-destructive habit.
I think that just as there is bitcoin, the government should consider something like a crypto-currency generated either by individual computers or in the cloud for everyone, that automatically creates income. Since free money is by itself a bad idea, tie it to all the desirable social behaviors, be it supporting one’s own family, raising one’s kids, etc, so that one gets more of it the better one is, and that societal disintegration doesn’t happen to the extent that it does today. Once all that happens, they can look at working at mechanisms at paying off the debt.
Wellington says
Infidel: Thanks for your reply. I do like the idea of a REAL 5% cut.
Moreover, what could be done, should be done, is simply getting rid of entire areas of the federal government. The Department of Education comes foremost to mind here. As even Joe Lieberman has rhetorically asked, what has this federal department ever accomplished? It spends billions and actually makes things worse.
The lottery proposal was just a proposal. People are gong to gamble no matter what so why not put this “reality” to good purpose? In any case, the states have it so why not the federal government—especially, per my suggestion, if it really would help reduce the federal debt? As for gambling being a self-destructive habit, it is for some but not for most, and government I would argue need not decease from something, or prohibit something, because some people will abuse that something (the great mistake which was the 18th Amendment proves this quite clearly). Some people will abuse most everything, most anything, but this does not mean that government at any level should act as a gigantic nanny.
Infidel says
Wellington
I get your point about the lottery.
About the elimination of departments, I’m all for that. As far as the Dept of Education goes, I like one of the proposals to merge it into the Dept of Labor: job training and closing the skills gap is the only role the Federal government should be doing (assuming the reality that they’re not gonna paint strictly within the boundaries of the constitution, but that’s another discussion). Same thing for EPA and others. Also, I’d abolish the State Department, and move its role into the Pentagon: our security should be the main criteria determining our relationship w/ other countries, while the Dept of Commerce could handle trade relationships.
Long term, though, I do think most of the common jobs that we have are headed for automation, which is why although I’m ignoring most Dem candidates, Andrew Yang intrigues me. While I don’t agree w/ his proposed implementation of his ‘Freedom Dividend’ or UBI, he is identifying and targeting the right problems – long term problems for the US. I don’t agree w/ him though, that a company like Amazon, which makes its employees pee into cans b’cos it regulates even their bathroom breaks, would ever pay the bulk of this expense, and also, government can’t pay out this program based on just taxes: it would require something like bitcoin mining to afford it. But here’s something I’m expecting in the Dem primaries: when the rubber hits the road, don’t be surprised to see Yang move to the top based on the fact that he’s actually offering ideas, and attractive ones at that.
peter says
Well done Mr. President .Kudos to you and your team including Mr. Pompeo .God bless Mr. Trump and America