Trump says 52 targets already lined up if Iran retaliates

The reality is that Soleimani was the one man who could have convinced half of the Iraqi government's military (The PMUs/militias of Iraq are officially recognized by the Iraqi government as part of its military, thanks in no small part to Soleimani's ability to turn such groups into disciplined and determined units that rival the performance of professional military units) to swallow their anger at the murderous betrayal the American attack on them was, and focus on the task of mopping up the last traces of ISIS (another murderous betrayal of the population of American occupied Iraq was their role in scraping together the extremists and opportunist scum that became ISIS, and then seeing that they were heavily armed and protected while they worked out how to take entire neighborhoods hostage with a blitz attack of suicide truck bombers, and artillery bombardments) alongside units that had been trained by NATO, and leave the work of freeing Iraq from American occupation to the untrusted and corrupt government, at least until they'd finished mopping up what was left of ISIS.

And the US murdered him and bragged about it.

Think about how that is playing with the families and friends of the Iraqis who volunteered (in the case of the militias) or were drafted (in the case of the other half of Iraq's armed forces) to risk their lives protecting and liberating Iraqis from ISIS.

And then think about what it says to the people of the region about the US.

Donny’s clearly going for the pump presidents get when the US is in armed conflict, or the threat thereof. It’s called the patriotic pump or rally around the flag effect.

He’a also telegraphing our moves to Iran, which he pilloried Obama for having allegedly done.

Say by-by to the last remaining restrictions Iran had on its nuclear program.

SimondB, the answer to your question is yes.

Believe me, zichi, Soleimani was not a man you would invite to your dinner table. World's better off without him

Ah yes, Soleimani.  The man you never even knew existed three days ago.  How quickly one becomes an expert on international affairs.  Now can you give us your views on Abdul Dahalmanti, considered to behind most attacks on Western forces in the last five years?  Should he also be eliminated?

So far approval ratings up and impeachment is working in his favour

Yeah, but you do have to wonder about the intellectual discourse of his followers when his ratings (allegedly) go up after committing murder on an international stage.  And if impeachment is a boost to his polls then again, it says more about his supporters than anything else.  Clue:  being impeached as a POTUS is not a good thing.

if we,re talking about destroying cultural heritage on purpose, that,s a whole nother story... in any case, Iran needs to know who they,re dealing with. one thing,s for sure, their hate is disgusting and the world is sick and tired of it. the whole anti-American speech is outdated and the world needs to move forward and countries like Iran (with this leadership/regime) don,t wanna allow it. let,s see how things play out...

He doesn't want a war with Iran, he wants to build a Trump Tower in Tehran.

But only if the Mullahs dish some dirt on Biden first...think QPQ....

But if the Iranians retaliate, they're going to find out very quickly they are not dealing with Jimmy Carter or Obama.

Oh, they know that - I'm sure they've watched The Apprentice, so they know they're dealing with an imbecile...

Believe me, zichi, Soleimani was not a man you would invite to your dinner table. World's better off without him.

So to quote an Orange Candidate in 2016, why is it the US's job to do that? If he is that bad, let the countries in the region deal with it. Or did you forget that what Trump campaigned on?

The NEOCONs are in heaven - they are getting their long dreamed of war with Iran...and iraq....and Afghanistan... The Egyptians and the Saudis have to be thinking, are we next?

Trump The Great Orange NEOCON!

Having a little buyers remorse Trumpers?

Revenge is a dish best served cold. There will be revenge against Trump and it will probably be done against one of his properties like Mar-a-lago or Trump tower. The innocent will suffer because of his actions. Those that died on 9/11 were innocent people going about their business. When Trump thinks that Iran and their allies are backing off, that is when they will strike.

According to Agnès Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killing, "The targeted killings of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis most likely violate international law [including] human rights law". She said the US "need[s] to demonstrate that the persons targeted [constituted] an imminent threat to others." In addition, Callamard described the killing of other individuals alongside Soleimani as unlawful.[113][114] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Medea Benjamin (the founder of anti-war advocacy group CodePink) and Hillary Mann Leverett (a political risk consultant and former director of Iran affairs at the White House's National Security Council) designated the assassination of Soleimani illegal.[115][116] American politicians reacted along party lines. Republicans generally supported the mission while Democrats were critical of Soleimani but opposed and questioned the wisdom of the attack.[117]

Imagine the conversation between Khamenei and Ghaani...

Ghaani: I'm not worthy of this very prestigious promotion supreme leader, I would rather step aside for someone more deserving.

Khamenei: Every other candidate has told me the same thing. Don't you want to be a martyr in paradise with 72 virgins?

Ghaani: Oh, I'm happily married, I'll let someone else have the virgins, what about Hameed?

How would this affect the presidential race? So far, the democrats that were so aggressive in accusing Trump are strangely quiet

Words on the street says the Iranian miscalculated badly, ie they didn't think there'd be a reset, and they thought getting Trump mired in conflict in the ME would be detrimental to his campaign, make him look like a lame duck etc...they were wrong. Trump moved (time will tell whether the move is good or not), but for now it looks like Trump is on a winner.

So far approval ratings up and impeachment is working in his favour, but he could falter yet...

How would this affect the presidential race? So far, the democrats that were so aggressive in accusing Trump are strangely quiet.

He hasn’t unleashed the dogs of war ...yet

Good to see restraint from Trump. Just the 52 targets in memory of the 52 hostages.

That doesn't sound like restraint.

If there's a silver lining, it's that Donny's gonna get the US kicked out of Iraq.

So Trump said he would bring the troops home. Then he said no war with Iran. Now he's ready and willing for a war with Iran.

He doesn't want a war with Iran, he wants to build a Trump Tower in Tehran. But if the Iranians retaliate, they're going to find out very quickly they are not dealing with Jimmy Carter or Obama. Believe me, zichi, Soleimani was not a man you would invite to your dinner table. World's better off without him.

Good to see restraint from Trump.  Just the 52 targets in memory of the 52 hostages.  I'm pleased he has been so measured and did not go for the 444 target option for each day they were held.  I'm sure he gave the options long and considered thought before speaking to the nati……..sorry, before tweeting.   Also encouraging to note that he has ignored international law on not targeting sites of cultural significance as this would be a war crime.  After all, who cares about 700 - 1,000 year old religious buildings when they are Muslim artefacts?

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Saturday, threatening to hit dozens of targets in the Islamic Republic

But..

Trump also warned: "The USA wants no more threats!”

DISCLAIMER: The facts stated and/or opinions expressed are not indicative of any political party affiliation or ideology.