From
the story posted on DaybreakInsider.com:
President Trump ordered a game-changing
U.S. military attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani, the head
of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force, among other
military officials at Baghdad International Airport early
Friday, the Pentagon confirmed (Fox
News).
From Noah Rothman: In a dramatic escalation, demonstrators
loyal to the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia laid siege to the U.S.
embassy in Baghdad, trapping its diplomats and staffers in guarded safe rooms
and directly threatening the American presence in Iraq. The Pentagon
intercepted intelligence suggesting further Soleimani-directed attacks on U.S.
diplomats were imminent.
The president acted preemptively (Commentary
Magazine). Trump tweeted a threat, Iran responded “you can’t do anything”
(Twitter).
According to the White House, “General Soleimani was
actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in
Iraq and throughout the region” (Twitter).
From the Heritage Foundation: This strike
against one of the world’s most odious terrorists is no different than the
mission which took out Osama bin Laden – it is, in fact, even more justifiable
since he was in a foreign country directing terrorist attacks against Americans
(Twitter).
The strike forced Netanyahu to shorten his Greece trip
and return to Israel (Jerusalem
Post).
Background
on Soleimani from 2013 (The
New Yorker).
But the Washington Post tweeted: Breaking news:
Airstrike at Baghdad airport kills Iran’s most revered military leader, Qasem
Soleimani (Twitchy).
Actress Rose McGowan tweeted “Dear #Iran,
The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly
apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a
terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us” (Twitter).
_____________
Conservatives Respond to Attack
From Senator Ben Sasse: “This is very simple:
General Soleimani is dead because he was an evil bastard who murdered
Americans” (Washington
Examiner).
From Dan Crenshaw: Soleimani, the world’s pre-eminent
sponsor of terrorism, is now dead. He spent decades spreading death and
destruction across the region, including engineering and providing IEDs to Shia
militias in Iraq that were used to kill hundreds of Americans (Twitter).
From Ben Shapiro: Trump’s Soleimani airstrike is
utterly righteous. Soleimani was one of the worst human beings on the planet.
America had to re-establish deterrence after Obama’s appeasement. This will not
be the end of the story — Iran will continue to lash out. But they’re certainly
on notice (Twitter).
In a thread, David French explains why “separate
congressional authorization was not necessary” as some have insisted and
includes this: “Iranian-backed militias attacked U.S. troops lawfully
present in a combat zone under valid legal authorities. Moreover, America’s
military response isn’t limited to immediate self-defense or tit for tat. It
can act to remove the threat. That threat includes enemy commanders” (Twitter).
From Sebastian Gorka: One of the most evil
men in the World is dead (Twitter).
From Erick Erickson: I’m not an Iran expert,
but the Ayatollahs tried to kill my dad and my family when I was a kid, so good
for you @realDonaldTrump
(Twitter).
_____________
Democrats Condemn Killing of Terrorist
Of those running for president, Joe Biden called it “a
hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region” (Twitter).
Elizabeth Warren complained it is a “reckless move”
(Twitter).
Bernie Sanders called it a “dangerous escalation”
(Twitter).
Of those not running for president, Pelosi
and Schiff, known for regularly leaking information, were upset they weren’t
told ahead of time (Fox
News).
From Democrat Ilhan Omar: So what if Trump wants war,
knows this leads to war and needs the distraction? (Twitter).
