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Bob Woodward’s new book sheds light on Trump’s decision-making (if we can call it that) around the killing of Qassem Soleimani in January.
At the time, many experts in & out of government expressed concerns about the move and were bashed by Trump loyalists (I would know).
At the time, many experts in & out of government expressed concerns about the move and were bashed by Trump loyalists (I would know).
Excerpts from Woodward’s book are now showing that while they were publicly defending the President and, in some cases questioning the motives of critics, Trump’s allies knew this was a risky move and questioned whether the benefits were worth the cost.
Take Lindsay Graham. This is what he reportedly said to Trump at the time:
“This is over the top...How about hitting someone a level below Suleimani, which would be much easier for everyone to absorb?”
But in January, Graham was saying something else. https://apple.news/Aej8X9jrSQhibb4eixXvt5A
“This is over the top...How about hitting someone a level below Suleimani, which would be much easier for everyone to absorb?”
But in January, Graham was saying something else. https://apple.news/Aej8X9jrSQhibb4eixXvt5A
"To all of those Democrats who are criticizing the President, I was aware of what his options were. They were about to unleash holy hell on our people in Iraq and throughout the region, and the President decisively took action.” https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/lindsey-graham-suleimani-drone-strike/index.html
Now, the worst case scenario we were concerned about didn’t happen. In large part due to chance.
Iran hit two bases housing US forces, 100+ were injured (Trump naturally played it down), and accidentally shot down an airliner killing 160+ civilians. Without that tragic event...
Iran hit two bases housing US forces, 100+ were injured (Trump naturally played it down), and accidentally shot down an airliner killing 160+ civilians. Without that tragic event...
... the worst case scenario may have occurred.
But when Trump allies say we killed Soleimani and nothing happened, they’re still downplaying reality. 2 Americans and 1 Brit were killed in Iraq subsequently. Though you barely hear about it, rockets hit US positions there weekly. https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/status/1303571723795611650
But when Trump allies say we killed Soleimani and nothing happened, they’re still downplaying reality. 2 Americans and 1 Brit were killed in Iraq subsequently. Though you barely hear about it, rockets hit US positions there weekly. https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/status/1303571723795611650
This is just one vignette of Trump’s chaotic and reckless foreign policy decision-making. His allies who know better and who try to nudge him in the right direction in private are going to bat for him in public, exacerbating the mess we’re in.
