Pompeo says Soleimani killing part of new strategy to deter U.S. foes

[webfact]

Pompeo says Soleimani killing part of new strategy to deter U.S. foes

By Humeyra Pamuk and Jonathan Landay

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks during a news conference in the Press Briefing Room at the State Department in Washington, U.S., January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday said Qassem Soleimani was killed as part of a broader strategy of deterring challenges by U.S. foes that also applies to China and Russia, further diluting the assertion that the top Iranian general was struck because he was plotting imminent attacks on U.S. targets.

 

In his speech at Stanford University's Hoover Institute, Pompeo made no mention of the threat of imminent attacks planned by Soleimani. It only was in response to a question that he repeated his earlier assertion that pre-empting such plots was the reason for the Jan. 3 American drone strike on Iran's second most powerful official.

 

His speech, "The Restoration of Deterrence: The Iranian Example," focused on what he called an administration strategy to establish "real deterrence" against Iran following earlier Republican and Democratic policies that encouraged Tehran's "malign activity."

 

Democratic and some Republican lawmakers have challenged the administration over the self-defence rationale supported by undisclosed intelligence over imminent attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the potential targets included four U.S. embassies.

 

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he had seen no intelligence forewarning of imminent attacks on embassies.

 

Trump on Monday added new fuel to the controversy by saying "it really doesn't matter" whether Soleimani posed an imminent threat.

 

Pompeo said there was "a bigger strategy" behind the killing of Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, Iran's elite foreign espionage and paramilitary force.

 

"President Trump and those of us in his national security team are re-establishing deterrence – real deterrence ‒ against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.

 

"Your adversary must understand not only that you have the capacity to impose cost but that you're in fact willing to do so," Pompeo said, adding that the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew in 2018 had emboldened Tehran.

 

"America now enjoys the greatest position of strength regarding Iran we've ever been in," he said, pointing to the damage done to the Iranian economy by U.S. sanctions that Trump re-imposed following his withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

 

"The importance of deterrence isn't confined to Iran," Pompeo said. "In all cases, we must deter foes to defend freedom. That's the whole point of President Trump's work to make our military the strongest it's ever been."

 

He cited the resumption of lethal military aid to Ukraine for defence against Russia-backed separatists, Trump's withdrawal from an arms control accord with Moscow and tests of a new U.S. intermediate-range cruise missile.

 

Pompeo also pointed to increased U.S. naval exercises in the South China Sea in response to China's militarization of disputed islands and Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports as aspects of the administration's deterrence strategy.

 

"We're restoring credibility to deterrence," he said.

 

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Mary Milliken and Tom Brown)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-14

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[OneMoreFarang]

Some strategy, any strategy, would be a good idea for Trump. But who will explain that to the president? And will he listen?

[Dcheech]

AS no information has been produced to support he claim that an  "attack operation was about to happen" which was the first reason produced.  Looks like they have went to bull excrement reason #2. You have to be impressed by the quantity (not the quality) and outright in your face nature of President Donald Trumps Lies.

 

BTW this targeted assassination was likely nothing more than the result of Trump seeing the mob around the embassy. Visions of Benghazi, in his head, even if that story, as he tells it is a lie too. 

[Somtamnication]

This house of cards can't even play cards. Just reported that ZERO embassies in the region were warned of imminent threats. 

[Tug]

Well go figure I thought it was a recruiting ploy for the quids force and their auxiliaries you know really make them mad and give them a reason to fight us

[Enoon]

 

"We're restoring credibility to deterrence," he said.

 

Absolutely, expect to see all attacks against US forces/interests cease forthwith.

 

Or......renewed, re-doubled agression, with a focus on senior American (and regionally allied) Staff Officers as prime targets.

 

 

 

[legend49]

Trump on Monday added new fuel to the controversy by saying "it really doesn't matter" whether Soleimani posed an imminent threat.

 

There is the answer, there is no evidence.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Quote

"The importance of deterrence isn't confined to Iran," Pompeo said. "In all cases, we must deter foes to defend freedom. 

 

Should anyone really be surprised at more lies coming forth from the Liar in Chief?

 

I'm just waiting to see when Trump and Pompeo's supposed new "deterrence" strategy is applied in assassinating some civilian or military leader in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, etc....  Ya right.....

 

 

[Redline]

So trump got caught lying again, go figure-now we have a new strategy of blowing people up anywhere in the world at any time.  Many other countries have this technology, so any official or officer of the USA can be a target as well-on manufactured charges.  Nothing could go wrong with this strategy ????

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, Tug said:

Well go figure I thought it was a recruiting ploy for the quids force and their auxiliaries you know really make them mad and give them a reason to fight us

 

Don't think they're doing much recruiting at the moment. Probably keeping their heads down with all those protesters about. 

 

You probably think Hilary would've handled this all better, like she did with Libya!

[TheDark]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday said Qassem Soleimani was killed as part of a broader strategy of deterring challenges by U.S. foes that also applies to China and Russia, further diluting the assertion that the top Iranian general was struck because he was plotting imminent attacks on U.S. targets.

 

There was no imminent attack plan. However there probably was different kind of scenarios, what Iran would do, in case USA would start a war with Iran. 

 

I'm pretty sure both Russia and China has such plans as well. Will USA now go after Xi and Putin?

 

What USA is doing is reckless and stupid. Increasing tensions around the globe is really bad for peace. After tensions are high, accidents do happen, like we saw in downing of the plane in Iran.

[Paul Henry]

Certain regular contributors to Thai Visa are conspicuous by their lack of comment. Hopefully all Americans can now see the truth.

[Gweiloman]

America comes across as nothing more than a bully. I can’t help but feel that they will get their comeuppance one day. 

[Nyezhov]

2 minutes ago, Paul Henry said:

Certain regular contributors to Thai Visa are conspicuous by their lack of comment. Hopefully all Americans can now see the truth.

Ya, I see it. Heres the truth: we took out a Iranian state sponsored terrorist responsible for the deaths or maiming of US forces. Payback is a bitch. Maybe it makes the dude with no legs around the corner from me back home sleep a little better, semper fi to him.

 

Anything else is politics, usually of the hypocritical variety. 

[Boon Mee]

Of course we need to go back to the good old days of passivity and weakness ala Jimmy Carter. That's a sure fire winner!! ???? LOL

[opalred]

the lies and b/s continues 

[yardrunner]

15 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Ya, I see it. Heres the truth: we took out a Iranian state sponsored terrorist responsible for the deaths or maiming of US forces. Payback is a bitch. Maybe it makes the dude with no legs around the corner from me back home sleep a little better, semper fi to him.

 

Anything else is politics, usually of the hypocritical variety. 

but who are the terrorists here, it seems to me that the USA in this case is behaving like an international terrorist organisation

[Nyezhov]

3 minutes ago, yardrunner said:

but who are the terrorists here, it seems to me that the USA in this case is behaving like an international terrorist organisation

Thats fine. The dude is dead, whos next. All the whining and yammering is not going to stop the usa from doing their duty to justice and humanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Eric Loh]

7 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

usa from doing their duty to justice and humanity.

Thank you for the sarcasm. Nicely done. ????

 

[Sujo]

31 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Thats fine. The dude is dead, whos next. All the whining and yammering is not going to stop the usa from doing their duty to justice and humanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The duty trump said he was going to stop doing.

[Silurian]

35 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

All the whining and yammering is not going to stop the usa from doing their duty to justice and humanity.

 

Yeah, who needs all that "Due Process" and justifiable reasons. If the impeached POTUS doesn't like someone. BOOM! They are gone. 

 

Some countries care about International Law, but the USA? Screw that. USA is number one! And the world will know it if the US military just assassinates enough of its enemies (real or even perceived ones). Heck, toss in the bombing of some cultural and religious sites while they are at it. Who cares.

 

[Lacessit]

Permit me to doubt the same policy of assassination would be extended to China and Russia. That would be a bridge too far, even for Trump.

IMO the Rocket Man in North Korea represents a bigger threat. Unlike the Iranians, he has nukes already, and the means to deliver them.

[bristolboy]

58 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Thats fine. The dude is dead, whos next. All the whining and yammering is not going to stop the usa from doing their duty to justice and humanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mohammed bin Salman is next?

[Saint Nick]

So, I guess the USA will from now on be okay, if the Iraqies take out Dick Cheney with a drone, right?!

After all, it were his lies, who were responsible for thousands of Iraqi deaths.

  

[mogandave]

1 hour ago, Saint Nick said:

So, I guess the USA will from now on be okay, if the Iraqies take out Dick Cheney with a drone, right?!

After all, it were his lies, who were responsible for thousands of Iraqi deaths.

  

What lies did Dick Cheney tell? 
 

 

 

[mogandave]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Permit me to doubt the same policy of assassination would be extended to China and Russia. That would be a bridge too far, even for Trump.

IMO the Rocket Man in North Korea represents a bigger threat. Unlike the Iranians, he has nukes already, and the means to deliver them.

So we should focus on NK and wait until Iran has nuclear bombs and and an advanced delivery system to worry about them? 
 

 

[billd766]

3 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

Certain regular contributors to Thai Visa are conspicuous by their lack of comment. Hopefully all Americans can now see the truth.

So far that is all Boon Mee has done in this thread. He does not seem to to be able to make a comment so uses emojis instead.

[billd766]

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

What lies did Dick Cheney tell? 

 

 

 

Have a look here

https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/17/opinion/begala-dick-cheney-lies/index.html

or here

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-ten-lies-of-dick-chen_b_153419

or here

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/08/remembering-why-americans-loathe-dick-cheney/244306/

or here

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/leadup-iraq-war-timeline/

or if this is too easy for you try Googling Dick Cheney lies

[Dap]

"Pompeo says Soleimani killing part of new strategy to deter U.S. foes"

Making it up as they go.

 

[billd766]

3 minutes ago, Dap said:

"Pompeo says Soleimani killing part of new strategy to deter U.S. foes"

Making it up as they go.

 

So the Americans won't have a problem if the (terrorists/freedom fighters pick your own term) do the same.