Pompeo tiptoes away from talk of 'imminent' attack planned by Iran's Soleimani

[webfact]

Pompeo tiptoes away from talk of 'imminent' attack planned by Iran's Soleimani

By Arshad Mohammed and Daphne Psaledakis

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses a news conference in the Press Briefing Room at the State Department in Washington, U.S., January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared on Tuesday to further distance himself from his assertion last week that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani planned imminent attacks on U.S. targets before he was killed in a U.S. drone strike.

 

The killing on Friday of the military commander, who headed Iran's elite Quds Force and built up Tehran's network of proxy armies in the region, prompted Iranian threats of retaliation and fuelled expectations that a wider war could erupt.

 

Speaking within hours of the drone strike, Pompeo told CNN on Friday that "last night was the time that we needed to strike to make sure that this imminent attack that he was working actively was disrupted."

 

However, appearing before reporters in the State Department briefing room on Tuesday, and in six TV interviews on Sunday, he did not use the word "imminent" to justify the U.S. decision on to kill Soleimani.

 

While Defense Secretary Mike Esper on Tuesday said it was "more fair" to say the attack Soleimani was planning was to be executed in days rather than weeks, Pompeo avoided specifying a timeline.

 

Pompeo also held Soleimani responsible for a Dec. 27 rocket attack in Iraq in which a U.S. civilian contractor was killed and cited it as justifying the expectation of future attacks.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday defended President Trump's decision to authorize a strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

 

"We know what happened ... in December, ultimately leading to the death of an American. So, if you are looking for imminence, you need look no further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani," Pompeo said on Tuesday.

 

"And then you in addition to that have what we could clearly see were continuing efforts on behalf of this terrorist to build out a network of campaign activities that were going to lead, potentially, to the death of many more Americans," he added.

 

Speaking to CNN on Friday, Pompeo was more emphatic, saying Soleimani's death "saved American lives."

 

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Pompeo was distancing himself from his prior statements that Soleimani planned "imminent" attacks on U.S. targets.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has not made public any specific intelligence justifying his decision to kill Soleimani, though administration officials are scheduled to hold a classified briefing with member of Congress on Tuesday.

 

Speaking ahead of the briefing, a congressional source said that intelligence committee members had not yet received any information to suggest that an attack was imminent.

 

Within hours of the attack, some U.S. national security and congressional officials had raised questions about the use of the word "imminent" to justify the killing.

 

Mark Warner, the Democrat who serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Reuters on Friday after a briefing: "I believe there was a threat, but the question of how imminent is still one I want answered."

 

The word "imminent" implies attacks against American targets were about to happen and could help the Trump administration make a legal argument that killing Soleimani was an act of self-defence.

 

(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Daphne Psaledakis; Additonal reporting by David Brunnstrom, Susan Heavey, Patricia Zengerle and Mark Hosenball; Writing by Arshad Mohammed and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-08

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[Boon Mee]

The very idea ???? of a guy the size of Pompeo "tiptoe-ing anywhere is hilarious ???? 

The truth of the matter is that the Trump Administration is cleaning up the mess left behind from the massive foreign policy failures of Obama and his ilk. 

 

MAGA 

[OneMoreFarang]

It must be really hard for the people around Trump to somehow justify what he said or did.

 

Maybe next time they should just say something like this: It was one of those stupid ideas from Trump. We tried to convince him otherwise but you know, he does not listen to any advice. Now you have the chance to legally remove him. Please do it, now! Because if you don't remove him imagine what he will do in the future. We really need a calm and competent POTUS and not a moron who shoots from the hip.

[Cryingdick]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It must be really hard for the people around Trump to somehow justify what he said or did.

 

Maybe next time they should just say something like this: It was one of those stupid ideas from Trump. We tried to convince him otherwise but you know, he does not listen to any advice. Now you have the chance to legally remove him. Please do it, now! Because if you don't remove him imagine what he will do in the future. We really need a calm and competent POTUS and not a moron who shoots from the hip.

 

Well if the news about Iran missiles hitting a base in Iraq and Iran claims responsibility it could be on now.

[Sujo]

He needed to be assassinated to stop an imminent attack.

 

The imminent attack that just happened at an air base. The imminent attack it didnt stop.

 

Assassinating a govt official is definately a dumb idea.

[Cryingdick]

Just now, Sujo said:

He needed to be assassinated to stop an imminent attack.

 

The imminent attack that just happened at an air base. The imminent attack it didnt stop.

 

Assassinating a govt official is definately a dumb idea.

 

Then all things being equal at least that monster was killed.

[Cryingdick]

Seems the source of the missiles were from the inside of Iran and some higher up tweeted an Iranian flag.

[Somtamnication]

And so it begins. Sigh.

[Pedrogaz]

Pompeo must be the least competent SoS that the US has ever had, even outshining Clinton for warmongering. I cannot think of a worse crisis management team than Pompeo/Trump advised on foreign policy by the psychopaths in the Pentagon....all bent on war at all costs, even if they have to 'lie, cheat and steal'* to achieve war.

 

* Pompeo's words to a group of rabbis in New York last year.

[Pedrogaz]

3 hours ago, Sujo said:

He needed to be assassinated to stop an imminent attack.

 

The imminent attack that just happened at an air base. The imminent attack it didnt stop.

 

Assassinating a govt official is definately a dumb idea.

You are clearly the result of US propaganda. Teach yourself to question more and accept government and Pentagon narratives less.

[stevenl]

There was never an imminent threat, so of course he is avoiding that now. Let's just call it what it was, an assassination.

[blazes]

There's none so blind as those who cannot see.

 

Hatred of Trump blinds many to the fact that it is not Trump who is obscene, but American foreign policy since WW2.

 

Apparently it has been ok to invade (long list of countries, name your own), and ok to assassinate or attempt to assassinate foreign leaders....shall we start with JFK and Castro, Kissinger and Allende, Bush 1 and Noriega, Bush 2 and Sadam Hussein, Obama and Bin Laden and Gaddaffy, and now an Iranian terrorist gets done in.

 

And ok to lie all about it (Weapons of Mass Destruction).

 

Chicken and egg....which came first...American policy to the "kaahmmies" or worldwide terrorists seeking to eliminate the Great Satan?  Take your pick.

 

Anyone who opposes Trump's action must be content to stand idly by while Iran or its proxies spread hatred and chaos throughout the Middle East.

 

 

 

[bristolboy]

23 minutes ago, blazes said:

There's none so blind as those who cannot see.

 

Hatred of Trump blinds many to the fact that it is not Trump who is obscene, but American foreign policy since WW2.

 

Apparently it has been ok to invade (long list of countries, name your own), and ok to assassinate or attempt to assassinate foreign leaders....shall we start with JFK and Castro, Kissinger and Allende, Bush 1 and Noriega, Bush 2 and Sadam Hussein, Obama and Bin Laden and Gaddaffy, and now an Iranian terrorist gets done in.

 

And ok to lie all about it (Weapons of Mass Destruction).

 

Chicken and egg....which came first...American policy to the "kaahmmies" or worldwide terrorists seeking to eliminate the Great Satan?  Take your pick.

 

Anyone who opposes Trump's action must be content to stand idly by while Iran or its proxies spread hatred and chaos throughout the Middle East.

 

 

 

On the one hand you condemn American actions before Trump. And then you support Trump doing the same thing.

[bristolboy]

24 minutes ago, blazes said:

Anyone who opposes Trump's action must be content to stand idly by while Iran or its proxies spread hatred and chaos throughout the Middle East.

Anyone who supports Trump's action must be content to stand idly by while Saudi Arabie and the UAE or their proxies spread hatred and chaos throughout the Middle East.

[Thingamabob]

Smart move by Donald Trump. Response by Iran has been measured, with no apparent deaths as a result of their missile attacks. Job well done. Puts Trump's predecessors to shame, both Bush and Obama.

[metisdead]

Posts with off topic deflection comments has been removed as well as the replies.  

 

Personal attack posts and replies have been removed. 

 

Posts with offensive Hitler generalizations and the replies have been removed. 

 

 

[rudi49jr]

Hmm, what does this remind me of, let me think. Wait a minute, didn’t Bush jr. claim that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and invade Iraq and start an illegal war based on that lie? 

[Saint Nick]

You can be 100% sure, that if there only was a hint of a shred of a whim of something resembling evidence , every Trump- friendly agency, Faux Noise, every Republican back seater etc would be shouting it from every roof!

There is NONE and that's why they play hide and go seek with it!

End of!

[bristolboy]

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Smart move by Donald Trump. Response by Iran has been measured, with no apparent deaths as a result of their missile attacks. Job well done. Puts Trump's predecessors to shame, both Bush and Obama.

Did you hear about the likelihood of Iraq ordering the US out brought about by the assassination? That strikes you as a smart move? 

[rickudon]

The iraqi parliament voted unanimously  to request the removal of all US troops.

[Redline]

He simply doesn’t thought it would help him get re-elected 

He’s a thoughtless simpleton 

[Langsuan Man]

 

Wag the dog 

[WonnabeBiker]

Trump should remember his promises from 2016. Bringing the troops home. No more endless foreign wars... https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/01/andrew-p-napolitano/a-lawless-political-assassination/ NOW he has committed an impeachable offense.

 

Seems the State Department is the 'Deep State'

[Bluespunk]

Wonder if this would have happened a week ago...
 

Iran 'mistakenly shot down Ukraine jet' - US media https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51055219