Were American interests really threatened by "imminent attacks" planned by Qassem Soleimani? Since the strike that eliminated the powerful Iranian general last week, Washington's explanations have changed over time. Friday, Donald Trump spoke of attacks in preparation against four embassies, including that of Baghdad. Statements doubted by some Democrats who attended a classified briefing on Thursday.
TRUMP: I believe Soleimani would have attacked Four Embassies. pic.twitter.com/6xhTGZYRZv
- Benny (@bennyjohnson) January 10, 2020"We can reveal that it was probably going to be the embassy in Baghdad," the American president began with Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Were there other targets? "I think it could have been four embassies," says Donald Trump, without giving more details.
"We didn't know exactly when and where"
A few hours earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had also mentioned attacks in preparation against embassies or military bases, however, adding: "We did not know exactly when, and we did not know precisely where. When asked about his definition of an "imminent threat," Pompeo replied, "It was going to happen, and American lives were threatened. This week, Pentagon chief Mark Esper first spoke of a "matter of weeks" before reducing the urgency to "a matter of days".
"There were a series of imminent attacks that were being plotted by Qasem Soleimani," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says. "We don't know precisely when, and we don't know precisely where."
That last part seems significant.
pic.twitter.com/DSEzMST0vj
The changing explanations of the White House - which had not first mentioned an embassy, then one and now four - were denounced by the Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, who participated in an American intelligence briefing on Thursday . "No words were mentioned on (the embassies)", assures Sanders. “The problem is that we have a president who is a pathological liar. Could it be true? It's possible. Is this probably true? No doubt not. "
The US strike raised tensions in the booming region, and was followed by a Tehran response against two Iraqi bases used by the US military overnight Tuesday to Wednesday. And some, like the democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg, estimate that the Ukrainian plane, which according to Canada, was shot down by an Iranian missile a few hours later, is a collateral victim of this confrontation: "Innocent civilians are dead because they were in the middle of a loan for a military rendering which was not necessary, wrote the young democrat.
Innocent civilians are now dead because they were caught in the middle of an unnecessary and unwanted military tit for tat.
My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all 176 souls lost aboard this flight. https://t.co/zWaVgWxfdL
Trump under pressure from Republican senators?
Several Democrats have accused the President of the United States of having ordered the strike against Soleimani as a distraction in the midst of impeachment. According to the Wall Street Journal , the removal procedure played a role, but on another aspect: "Mr. Trump told relatives that he was under pressure from Republican senators whom he considers as important supporters for his future Senate trial. "
CNN said neutralizing Soleimani was a long-standing goal for Secretary of State (and former senator) Mike Pompeo, a hawk who supports a hard line with Iran. Pompeo detailed the process on Thursday: “We presented all the elements and different options to the president, and he made the decision. "
World
Iran Crash: Video Appears To Be When Missile Hit
- Donald trump
- Iran
- World
- United States