Trump tells aides he does not want U.S. war with Iran

[webfact]

Trump tells aides he does not want U.S. war with Iran

By Steve Holland and Phil Stewart

 

U.S. President Donald Trump awaits the arrival of Swiss Federal President Ueli Maurer at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 16, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has told his top advisers he does not want to get the United States involved in a war with Iran, three U.S. officials said on Thursday.

 

"He doesn't want to go to war. It's not who he is," one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Trump has communicated to his national security team and other aides that wants to keep tensions with Tehran from boiling over into an armed conflict, the officials said.

 

But he has also made clear that he will protect U.S. interests in the region, one official said. U.S. intelligence showed heightened activity by Iran or its proxies that U.S. officials took as a threat against American targets in the region.

 

Trump won the 2016 election in part by promising to stay out of conflicts abroad after what he viewed as costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Earlier this year he ordered U.S. troops out of Syria but was persuaded to leave some in.

 

Trump told reporters on Thursday that he hoped the United States was not heading to war with Iran as he met with Switzerland President Ueli Maurer, whose nation has served as a liaison conduit between the two countries since they do not have diplomatic relations.

 

"Hope not," Trump said when asked by reporters if Washington was going to war with Tehran.

 

Tensions have escalated in recent days with increasing concerns about a potential U.S.-Iran conflict. Earlier this week the United States pulled some diplomatic staff from its embassy in Baghdad following weekend attacks on four oil tankers in the Gulf.

 

"The president has been clear, the United States does not seek military conflict with Iran, and he is open to talks with Iranian leadership. However, Iran’s default option for 40 years has been violence, and we will protect U.S. personnel and interests in the region," said Garrett Marquis, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.

 

A White House statement said the two leaders discussed "a range of international issues, including the crises in the Middle East and in Venezuela."

 

Trump has said publicly he wants to pursue a diplomatic route with Iran a year after withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He has said privately that he was worried that some of his advisers, such as White House national security adviser John Bolton, were pushing for war, two officials said.

 

The Pentagon has prepared options for potentially sending U.S. troops to the region if needed ranging from a relatively small number of troops up to 120,000, although officials stressed these are the types of options that are always considered for hot zones.

 

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" that there is no friction between Trump and his advisers and he welcomes different viewpoints.

 

"He’s the one the American people elected. He’s going to take in the information and the guidance from all of his national security team and he then will make a decision on what he thinks is the best and safest thing for the American people," she said.

 

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday welcomed what she called Trump's lack of "appetite" for military conflict with Tehran.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Phil Stewart; Editing by Richard Chang and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-17

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[Tug]

I personally don’t believe anything Donald says but in this case I sincerely hope he is telling the truth

[bristolboy]

1 minute ago, Tug said:

I personally don’t believe anything Donald says but in this case I sincerely hope he is telling the truth

Who knows where this will end up? Remember when Trump said he was pulling out all the troops in Syria? And then he wasn't,

[quandow]

9 minutes ago, Tug said:

I personally don’t believe anything Donald says but in this case I sincerely hope he is telling the truth

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Then fire Bolton.

[tomacht8]

It was he who withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Now it becomes clear how stupid his political unilateralism was and is.

[ezzra]

Madman Trump is the perfect antidote to a leadership such as Iran who fancy themselves as the masters of manipulations and subversion, Iran with it's proxy aries in just about everywhere in the middle east knows only one thing, not to fluck with madman Trump coz he just might do the unthinkable, Trump is playing the gambit of president Theodore Roosevelt. ... "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."...

[bristolboy]

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Madman Trump is the perfect antidote to a leadership such as Iran who fancy themselves as the masters of manipulations and subversion, Iran with it's proxy aries in just about everywhere in the middle east knows only one thing, not to fluck with madman Trump coz he just might do the unthinkable, Trump is playing the gambit of president Theodore Roosevelt. ... "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."...

That's certainly a possible interpretation. It's also possible that he's an ignoramus way out of his depth. I guess one way to decide which is more likely is to look at what evidence there is for his knowledgeablity or lack thereof.

[Thailand]

He definitely wants his own war.

[Morch]

33 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Then fire Bolton.

 

Nah, not someone with Trump's set of mind as described in the OP....

 

Quote

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" that there is no friction between Trump and his advisers and he welcomes different viewpoints.

 

"He’s the one the American people elected. He’s going to take in the information and the guidance from all of his national security team and he then will make a decision on what he thinks is the best and safest thing for the American people," she said.

 

But that comedy bit aside, are we criticizing Trump for having various voices (bad as they are) on his staff, or is it about constructing echo chambers? Bolton aside, I think that Trump being Trump, maybe not such a bad idea having hardliners around on some occasions - like when he confuses Russia and North Korea to be the USA's friends. Also, recalling there was quite a bit of grumbling about Mattis and McMaster being a couple of anti-Iran hardliner troublemakers. Perhaps another case of beware what you wish for, or an example that things can always get worse.

[lannarebirth]

30 minutes ago, Thailand said:

He definitely wants his own war.

 

I doubt it. Trump is a typical New Yorker. All bluff and bluster. He never imagined he'd have the world's greatest armed forces at his command, so he can push the bluff and bluster that much further.

[Berkshire]

49 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

It was he who withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Now it becomes clear how stupid his political unilateralism was and is.

So true.  Trump is very good at cancelling deals, whether it's the Iran deal, Climate Accord, Obamacare, TPP, etc.

 

The problem is he has no new plans.  Nothing.  The guy is not a problem solver, but a problem creator.     

[Morch]

45 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

It was he who withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Now it becomes clear how stupid his political unilateralism was and is.

 

I think the underlying assumption was (and is), that the combination of economic sanctions and a military threat would suffice to move Iran to negotiate. The sanctions part workes pretty well (from a narrow point of view), while the military angle was always more talk than substance.

 

Can't invade a country without troops, and there aren't nearly enough USA troops in place. In some ways this is bears a resemblance to the situation with North Korea. A lot of talk but no actual troop movement.

 

Trump may feel more at home playing with the economy, doesn't seem like he's got it in him to actually go to war.

[Berkshire]

2 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Trump may feel more at home playing with the economy, doesn't seem like he's got it in him to actually go to war.

We'd rather Trump not mess with the economy either.  These tariffs aren't exactly helping. 

[bristolboy]

9 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

 

I doubt it. Trump is a typical New Yorker. All bluff and bluster. He never imagined he'd have the world's greatest armed forces at his command, so he can push the bluff and bluster that much further.

I take it all back. You clearly do have a high regard for New Yorkers.

[lannarebirth]

4 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

I take it all back. You clearly do have a high regard for New Yorkers.

 

So, tell me, Bristol; m/l halfway between New York and Boston; Yankees or Red Sox?

[bristolboy]

1 minute ago, lannarebirth said:

 

So, tell me, Bristol; m/l halfway between New York and Boston; Yankees or Red Sox?

I don't follow rugby.

[lannarebirth]

4 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

I don't follow rugby.

Got a link?

[spidermike007]

There are virtually no justifiable reasons why the US should get involved in another armed conflict. How is Afghanistan working out? Last I heard nearly 70% of the country is under Taliban control. And this is after nearly 15 years of involvement and how many trillions of dollars spent? For what?

 

Plus around 4,000 American soldiers and contractors killed, over 20,000 wounded and how many from other nations? How many Afghan civilians killed? Conservative estimates put it at over 30,000. For what? What has been gained?

 

It is increasingly clear, that they do not want the democracy we are shoving down their throats. Nitwits like Blindfold Bolton and Pompeo cannot even conceive of that idea. 

 

[billd766]

3 hours ago, Tug said:

I personally don’t believe anything Donald says but in this case I sincerely hope he is telling the truth

That will be a new experience for him. 

[Boon Mee]

3 hours ago, Morch said:

 

I think the underlying assumption was (and is), that the combination of economic sanctions and a military threat would suffice to move Iran to negotiate. The sanctions part workes pretty well (from a narrow point of view), while the military angle was always more talk than substance.

 

Can't invade a country without troops, and there aren't nearly enough USA troops in place. In some ways this is bears a resemblance to the situation with North Korea. A lot of talk but no actual troop movement.

 

Trump may feel more at home playing with the economy, doesn't seem like he's got it in him to actually go to war.

Of course he doesn't want to go to war with Iran or anybody else. 

Seems like there are some folks with memory loss-Trump was one of the very few who opposed the Iraq conflicts. 

Remember? 

[candide]

26 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course he doesn't want to go to war with Iran or anybody else. 

Seems like there are some folks with memory loss-Trump was one of the very few who opposed the Iraq conflicts. 

Remember? 

Which is quite ciherent with hiring Pompeo and Bolton. Lol.

[soalbundy]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

Madman Trump is the perfect antidote to a leadership such as Iran who fancy themselves as the masters of manipulations and subversion, Iran with it's proxy aries in just about everywhere in the middle east knows only one thing, not to fluck with madman Trump coz he just might do the unthinkable, Trump is playing the gambit of president Theodore Roosevelt. ... "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."...

He doesn't speak softly, nor does he speak nicely or diplomatically, he is a thug out of his depth.

[billd766]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course he doesn't want to go to war with Iran or anybody else. 

Seems like there are some folks with memory loss-Trump was one of the very few who opposed the Iraq conflicts. 

Remember? 

Trump changes his mind more often than his underwear. He will say something om a Monday and change it 2 or 3 times by the weekend and then he will have forgotten whxt he said.

 

The 2 more dangerous people are the 2 he seems closest to, Bolton and Pompeo. If he actually does go to war they will be the ones who lead him and the USA into it.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump tells aides he does not want U.S. war with Iran

To heck with his aides, tell that to US allies, Iraq and Iran.

At least the British know better now regarding trusting a US president when it comes to war thunder.

British General contradicts U.S. claim of increased threat from Iran-backed malitias:

 

[connda]

But Bolton and Pompeo do, they are your advisers that you chose, and considering you waffle and flip-flop on all issues, we are unable to believe where you'll actually land.  

[mtls2005]

23 minutes ago, connda said:

But Bolton and Pompeo do, they are your advisers that you chose, and considering you waffle and flip-flop on all issues, we are unable to believe where you'll actually land.  

 

trump raves about being "unpredictable" - always a wonderful trait in a leader - so that would be the defense du jour.

 

 

[Morch]

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course he doesn't want to go to war with Iran or anybody else. 

Seems like there are some folks with memory loss-Trump was one of the very few who opposed the Iraq conflicts. 

Remember? 

 

No, I don't. Probably because he didn't actually oppose it all that much as you imply. Guess someone will be along with them relevant links in a bit, and that you'll ignore them as usual.

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

 

A post containing off topic trolling memes has been removed. 

[JAG]

11 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Then fire Bolton.

Has anyone noticed the astonishing resemblance between Captain Flack of the Trumpton Fire Brigade and John Bolton?

https://images.app.goo.gl/caCkmvKg8aYUwCyL6

 

Is there something we should know?