Pompeo defends U.S. killing of Iranian as Democrats ask 'Why now?'

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Why now?

 

Because the previous administration was weak. They could have done the same but weren't strong enough. Either that or were too aligned with the Iran point of view.

Funny.

I thought his platform was to retreat from the endless Middle east conflicts.

[Jingthing]

Why it matters that the 45 administration is obviously lying about the reasons for this act of war against Iran.
 

Quote

 

Why lying about an ‘imminent’ attack would matter

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and State Department subordinates vigorously argued Friday that the justification for killing Iranian general and terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani was intelligence that an attack was “imminent.”

It is easy to understand why such a rationale would be advanced. An imminent threat would arguably obviate the need for a declaration of war from or even prior consultation with Congress.

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/01/05/why-lying-about-an-imminent-attack-matters/

[Cory1848]

9 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Why now?

 

Because the previous administration was weak. They could have done the same but weren't strong enough. Either that or were too aligned with the Iran point of view.

How about, “they could have done the same” but thought it was wiser to enter into an agreement with Iran along with all of the UN Security Council members plus the EU rather than starting another stupid and useless war costing hundreds of thousands of lives.

[Jingthing]

Dealing with a bad player like Iran means choosing among a set of bad choices. It seems 45 is determined to pick the very worse choices among that set of bad ones. 

 

Sad. 

[bristolboy]

It looks like the US troop presence in Iraq in turning into an occupation:

Donald Trump threatens Iraq with sanctions, says US won't leave unless 'they pay us back' for air base

 

President Donald Trump threatened to impose deep sanctions on Iraq if it moves to expel U.S. troops and said Sunday he would not withdraw entirely unless the military is compensated for the "extraordinarily expensive air base" there.

Trump's remarks came on the same day that Iraq's Parliament voted to support expelling the U.S. military from its country over mounting anger about a drone strike the president ordered last week that killed Iran's Qasem Soleimani and earlier U.S. airstrikes in the country. The vote was nonbinding.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/05/donald-trump-threatens-iraq-sanctions-expel-us-troops/2821255001/

[puipuitom]

An 80 years ago we had a simular situation, where all nations gave way after way to another agressive state. They all thought to have peace in our times. It ended up with a huge 5 years long war, the US had to fight, finance and supply with weapons, and whatever further needed. The US ONLY got awake, when they were attaqued themselves

[car720]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

how the heck can anyone of the TV intelligence experts really know anything about this guy or what was really going on behind the scenes. Maybe the US acquired credible evidence that an attack on US soil was immanent or that this guy was planning something sinister. Who knows ?  so for people to make any kind of practical judgement based on what we know is simply guessing and nothing more.

Your opinion is well founded but I would also like to put this forward.  When I ask my wife who she was talking to on the phone and she says, 'oh nobody', then I know she is hiding something.  The same with these guys.  If they had a legitimate reason to assassinate this guy then they would have gone to the people openly and told them the truth.  I am not hearing any truths here.

[earlinclaifornia]

31 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Why now?

 

Because the previous administration was weak. They could have done the same but weren't strong enough. Either that or were too aligned with the Iran point of view.

I believe your a bit out of touch because the last administration followed the previous Bush one for the following reasons:

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-neither-bush-or-obama-killed-iranian-general-qassem-soleimani-2020-1

Edited January 6, 2020 by earlinclaifornia
spelling

[Cory1848]

21 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

An 80 years ago we had a simular situation, where all nations gave way after way to another agressive state. They all thought to have peace in our times. It ended up with a huge 5 years long war, the US had to fight, finance and supply with weapons, and whatever further needed. The US ONLY got awake, when they were attaqued themselves

While you have a point, I think two critical differences bear reflection. (1) Germany believed that it could actually win a war of conquest throughout Europe and even into Asia and Africa, and it planned accordingly; Iran has no such illusions but seeks to expand its regional influence, mostly through proxy wars in places like Yemen and Syria. Iran has no desire to commit national suicide. And Iran’s adversaries should take that into account when considering responses.

 

And, (2), you mention the “aggressive state.” I don’t know if you’re American, and if you’re not, then pretend for a moment that you are. Look in the mirror: who, really, is the more aggressive state here? Objectively speaking, I don’t think there’s much doubt about that.

[sead]

Turn the attention he got from impeachment??

[jany123]

3 hours ago, Skallywag said:

Doesn't the Quran teach forgiveness?  hahaha

5555... I thought that was a Christian thing espoused by that Jesus guy and all the evangelists... and let’s not forget... thou shalt not kill, or... though shalt not covert thy neighbours oil

 

ink on those pages causes a nappy rash, but what else are you supposed to use those books for, if not for wiping.

[The Theory]

"He is wagging the dog" for different purposes. They call it "politics" and always will be questioned by the other party especially before election, but this is what all presidents have done. Something that the other party does not agree with. 
Why now !!! Was there any time limit for that to be approved by Democrats ? ????
 

[jany123]

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

That's how you know? sounds like a guess to me.

Your in the stock business right? Always bragging on about how much money the trump is making you and handing out free advise.

 

so... real question.... do you advise buying up stock in companies that manufacture body bags? Thanks.

[Thingamabob]

Either one of Bush or Obama should have dealt with this guy a long time ago. Well done to Trump for facing up to Presidential responsibility.

[Jonnapat]

Why now? Election year!

Nothing like a good war to get reelected.

Ask Margaret Thatcher.

And to divert discussion away from impeachment proceedings. 

[Eric Loh]

52 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Either one of Bush or Obama should have dealt with this guy a long time ago. Well done to Trump for facing up to Presidential responsibility.

Wrong. Taking him out wouldn’t change anything. The policies of Iran remained the same which is to made Iraq uncomfortable for US. The other is Assad remained in charge of Syria. These are the 2 major Iran Middle East policies in last few decades. Bush and Obama are smarter to procrastinate taking out a highly influential state official and the man who fought the Taliban and prevented ISIL overrunning Iraq. He may well be the next Iran president and way more pragmatic than current ideological presidents. 

[wwest5829]

7 hours ago, BobBKK said:

It is obvious that TVF members do not have the intelligence information behind this. What if they had killed the 9/11 plotters before the attack?  no doubt some here would cry about that too.

 

A huge terrorist attack could have been/was prevented and one scum was sent to hell. Job well done now shut down the embassies and get US citizens out of there and let them stew in their fundamentalist broth.   

“What if” ... what if The Donald had not been impeached, what if it were not an election year, what if after taking decisive action to kill a foreign nation’s general the documentation of the immediate need were explained to the citizens of the US, allies and others???

[Thingamabob]

22 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Wrong. Taking him out wouldn’t change anything. The policies of Iran remained the same which is to made Iraq uncomfortable for US. The other is Assad remained in charge of Syria. These are the 2 major Iran Middle East policies in last few decades. Bush and Obama are smarter to procrastinate taking out a highly influential state official and the man who fought the Taliban and prevented ISIL overrunning Iraq. He may well be the next Iran president and way more pragmatic than current ideological presidents. 

Utterly ridiculous. How much exprience have you had on the ground in Iran, Iraq and Syria ? None at all I suspect.

[wwest5829]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It seems you you don’t understand the President of the US is not some vicious armed thug, answerable to nobody whenever he feels the urge to kill people.

 

The lack of accountability of military leaders in Iran is irrelevant, the President of the US is accountable for his actions.

You mean the same man who stated that he could shoot someone and still have support? Accountable? Yes, the US House of Representatives have held him accountable but we are all aware that the US Senate will not. History will hold The Donald accountable but he has been given a free ride thus far where Republicans are in the majority.

[malibukid]

8 hours ago, BobBKK said:

It is obvious that TVF members do not have the intelligence information behind this. What if they had killed the 9/11 plotters before the attack?  no doubt some here would cry about that too.

 

A huge terrorist attack could have been/was prevented and one scum was sent to hell. Job well done now shut down the embassies and get US citizens out of there and let them stew in their fundamentalist broth.   

Trump has his head up his back side.  he thinks a tweet is a substitute for a formal congressional notification.

Edited January 6, 2020 by malibukid

[Eric Loh]

33 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Utterly ridiculous. How much exprience have you had on the ground in Iran, Iraq and Syria ? None at all I suspect.

Surely you have more to say than just acting in an ad hominem manner. Come on don’t be modest and show just how much you know. 

[tomazbodner]

4 hours ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Done already: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jan/5/iraq-parliament-votes-expel-us-military/

Now Trump is threatening to flatten 52 cultural sites in Iran (probably unaware that would be a war crime) and hot off the press, is now threatening Iraqi government with sanctions if it follows on parliament decision since US has a multi-billion dollar military base there and Iraq will pay for it.

 

Can some Trump fanatic (and there are some on TV) explain to me why US is above all the international laws?

[Sujo]

16 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Now Trump is threatening to flatten 52 cultural sites in Iran (probably unaware that would be a war crime) and hot off the press, is now threatening Iraqi government with sanctions if it follows on parliament decision since US has a multi-billion dollar military base there and Iraq will pay for it.

 

Can some Trump fanatic (and there are some on TV) explain to me why US is above all the international laws?

Trump promised to bring troops home. Instead he is sending more.

 

Surely this is a great out for him. Iraq doesnt want troops there so just leave. Not leaving means its an occupation. How dare trump tell a sovereign nation that it cannot decide to tell anyone it likes to leave.

[meand]

5 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Personally I am sick and tired of unjustifiable and immoral US aggression around the world. 

The truly sickening part though is the lack of accountability. Hundreds of thousands of lives are lost after lying us into wars, and no person is ever held accountable. 

[meand]

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Either one of Bush or Obama should have dealt with this guy a long time ago. Well done to Trump for facing up to Presidential responsibility.

Bush worked with him as an ally to fight the Taliban. And, Bush was right to do that. 

[meand]

Out of all this, my favorite is the sanctions threat on Iraq.

 

I do not believe this has been confirmed yet, but some sources are saying Soleimani was on an official diplomatic mission at the time of his death. That is some <deleted> up <deleted> if true and the <deleted> is really going to hit the fan in all sorts of <deleted> up ways if it proves to be. 

 

What Trump did was he illegally murdered someone in another country. Why should Iraq citizens have to deal with any of this. After you do something like this, only a person idiotic as Trump goes around and makes demands. This is going to get bad, real bad. 

[Enoon]

11 minutes ago, meand said:

Out of all this, my favorite is the sanctions threat on Iraq.

 

I do not believe this has been confirmed yet, but some sources are saying Soleimani was on an official diplomatic mission at the time of his death. That is some <deleted> up <deleted> if true and the <deleted> is really going to hit the fan in all sorts of <deleted> up ways if it proves to be. 

 

What Trump did was he illegally murdered someone in another country. Why should Iraq citizens have to deal with any of this. After you do something like this, only a person idiotic as Trump goes around and makes demands. This is going to get bad, real bad. 

 

Remember the good old days?

 

When Saddam was in charge, sitting in his lonely, isolated, ineffectual, toothless, pacified, stable country.......and had no WMD or any affiliation with Islamic Fundamentalist organisations?

 

When it was unthinkable that the head of Quds could arrive there and be welcomed, freely and openly?

 

Before the USA and Britain invaded Iraq, to make the world a safer, better place?

 

Happy days..........happy days.

 

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by Enoon

[URMySunshine]

4 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Remember the good old days?

 

When Saddam was in charge, sitting in his lonely, isolated, ineffectual, toothless, stable country.......and had no WMD or any affiliation with Islamic Fundamentalist organisations?

 

When it was unthinkable that the head of Quds could arrive there and be welcomed, freely and openly?

 

Before the USA and Britain invaded Iraq, to make the world a safer, better place?

 

Happy days..........happy days.

 

 

It was great we could all sell arms and gas to Saddam and he could beat the hell out of Iran and his own people. 

 

[Enoon]

26 minutes ago, URMySunshine said:

It was great we could all sell arms and gas to Saddam and he could beat the hell out of Iran and his own people. 

 

 

You missed the point.

 

Post Kuwait pre 2003:

 

" lonely, isolated, ineffectual, toothless, stable country.......and had no WMD or any affiliation with Islamic Fundamentalist organisations?"

 

Arms sales, gassing and threat to Iran had long passed.

 

I'd swap the major regional catastrophe, that transpired since 2003 (and is ongoing) for his minor, tinpot tyranny (and that of his heirs)......any time.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by Enoon

[Cory1848]

30 minutes ago, meand said:

The truly sickening part though is the lack of accountability. Hundreds of thousands of lives are lost after lying us into wars, and no person is ever held accountable. 

Cheney, Kissinger, and dozens of other war criminals go free; bit players like Scooter Libby get pardoned. It is indeed sickening. One can only hope the perpetrators of the present fiasco are not only hounded into disgrace but put behind bars.