Posted on 12/31/2019 9:49:22 PM PST by Mariner
Donald Trump announced that the US embassy in Baghdad is safe after some 6,000 pro-Iran militia fighters stormed the compound on Tuesday, set walls ablaze and chanted 'Death to America!' in a violent retaliation for American air strikes.
The president doubled down in his warning to Iran, saying their government will be held 'fully responsible' for the attack that forced the Pentagon to send 100 Marines as reinforcements to the Iraqi embassy.
'The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request,' Trump tweeted Tuesday evening.
'Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!' he added.
In a third tweet he quipped 'The Anti-Bengahzi!' The post was an effort to distinguish his administration's response to that of the Obama administration in the 2012 attack on a diplomatic compound in Libya that left four Americans dead. The tweet, which had a spelling error, was deleted soon after.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
This is not a warning, this is a threat.
And he'd threatening Iran directly and specifically.
Our folks over there are under pressure.
“Warfighters”. Damn, I like the sound of that.
So what, exactly, did the President & Prime Minister of Iraq do?
Looks like a big fat zero to me.
All they did was stay out of the way.
It’s the best we can hope for until we bring everyone home.
People on FR are attacking Trump for this, and I dont know why. Hes absolutely right, we didnt start this, but we certainly cant let Iran get away with it. Theyre not dealing with a subservient leftist Islamist anymore.
Obamass billion dollars wheeled in on a pallet bought them a lot of weapons and now Trump has to deal with it.
“People on FR are attacking Trump for this”
What is the basis of their argument, and is there a thread I can look into?
Some of us aint buying that nonsense.
That picture pretty much says it all.
PS I know it’s not real. Fake but accurate.
If we don’t protect this embassy, and exact retribution to the source, no US embassy anywhere in the world will be safe.
One story had Ronald Reagan being told about Navy Tomcats splashing Libyan Migs over his breakfast. It was the middle of the night and he was asleep in the WH. They didnt wake him up. He asked if all our guys were ok and told yes. Rules of engagement were set. No worries. I think DJT has the same mindset. Our guys have the green light. Dont make them angry.
Mr. Trump better be ready to back that talk up. The whole world is watching. I hope he does smash them good.
“He makes it sound like Iran invaded Iraq and stormed the U.S. embassy. “
Iran organizes and supplies these Iraqi “militias”. Many are the same as those who killed 4,000 US military in Iraq with roadside bombs and sneak attacks of every sort.
To stop it, Iran must be under military pressure.
Buy THAT nonsense.
I think you still may be!
I didn't take it that way at all. There are Iranians in Iraq already. They didn't have to invade. Just like on 9/11, there were Saudis already in the country who hijacked those planes. One could implicate Saudi Arabia as being behind the attacks without suggesting that Saudi Arabia invaded America.
“hold the HOST COUNTRYs GOVERNMENT responsible”
That is, de facto, Iran.
Iraq is their proxy state.
BHusseinOsama would respond with another pallet or two of cash.
The embassy is being reinforced, as it will remain a likely target for retaliation, while operations continue. Iraqi society in the Shi’ite areas has been up in arms against Iranian influence in Iraq over the last few months, with widespread demonstrations, hundreds killed, a major Iranian consulate burned in Karbala, and the Prime Minister of Iraq resigning.
Iran’s surrogates attacking Americans in Iraq with rockets (which caused us to respond with the airstrikes, which today’s embassy demonstration was protesting against), was within the background of these many assaults taking place on Iranian power and influence in Iraq. They may suspect that the USA is behind some of this, or that anti-US actions might bolster their appeal with Iraqis.
In any event, pressures will continue to mount on the Iranian regime, as their economy and finances head over the cliff, so the worst is likely still to come.
No one was killed or injured today, so a non lethal round of crushing economic sanctions might be an appropriate response. It is is not the response the mullahs want, and it has really been hurting them.
That is a textbook example of a straw man.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.