Trump: ‘Iran Appears to be Standing Down’
“The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”
President Donald Trump told the nation the Iran attacks on Iraqi military bases did not kill any American or Iraqi soldiers.
He also noted that “Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.”
Trump then spoke about Qassem Soleimani, calling him “the world’s top terrorist.” He also claimed Soleimeni planned “new attacks on American targets” right before the military took him out:
“He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He viciously wounded and murdered thousands of US troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims.”
Trump said Soleimani directed the recent attacks on US personnel in Iraq that “badly wounded four service members and killed one American” and he orchestrated “the violent assault” on the US Embassy on Baghdad.
Trump encouraged America’s allies to “break away” from the Iran nuclear deal in order to form a better “deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place.”
Iran will receive new sanctions in light of Tuesday’s attack. Trump insisted these sanctions will remain in place “until Iran changes its behavior.” He did not provide details on the sanctions.
Trump ended his speech speaking to the Iranian people:
“Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future and a great future, one that you deserve,” Trump said. “One of prosperity at home and harmony with the nations of the world.
“The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,” Trump added.
Trump: Missiles fired yesterday were funded by the money the last US-Admin (Obama) was giving them
— Richard C. Schneider (@rc_schneider) January 8, 2020
"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing," says President Trump.
"For far too long, all the way back to 1979 to be exact, nations have tolerated Iran's destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond. Those days are over." pic.twitter.com/acPKkiUdNc
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/TeamTrump/status/1214950308067119106
***Previous reporting…
Iran blasted dozens of missiles at two Iraqi military bases hosting the U.S. military on Tuesday night. Iran is retaliating over the attack that killed Wassem Soleimani.
Officials did not report any casualties.
All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised more attacks in an effort to force American troops out of the region.
Khamenei said Iran gave the U.S. “one slap” last night, but explained that these “military actions are not enough as far the importance of retaliation is concerned.”
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It turns out that Iran WARNED Iraq of the attack in time for the bases to be evacuated. This obviously was intended to save face for the mullahs. Trump will be well advised to de-escalate this now with a stern warning to not attack any American interest in the future or else.
Or, in a demonstration of US superiority, a few dozen air-bursts over some uninhabited desert area to “scorch the earth” in the shape of a fist. Then send them a satellite photo of same.
I am reminded of the possibly apocryphal (yes, I had to look the word up) of the British war effort which went through all the work of making an entire wooden army brigade with wooden soldiers, wooden tanks, wooden buildings, etc… Only to have a German bomber fly over and drop a wooden bomb on it.
I have to wonder why there were no Patriot missile interceptions logged, though. Did they plot the landing spots and determine it was not worth shooting? Or did I just miss the report?
As I understand it, the targets were not protected by patriot missile batteries.
PDJT doesn’t need much advice. He just needs facts.
His own advice seems superior to any prior president since Reagan.
Trump needs to de-escalate?? The fucking mooolahs are the bastards who need to pull their heads in.
Although I think the real problem here is the risk of Iran misinterpreting all the bluster from Democrats and left in general as a sign of weakness and they continue being arseholes who then continue to be bitch slapped because it turns out #45 has gonads the size of Barry’s fucking head!
Thank God adults are in charge.
No matter how they try to publicly spin this, the MSM/DNC axis is no doubt privately angry and disappointed there were no American casualties.
Comes from the same drawer containing the files, “Hoping the economy collapses,” “Things we can do to make Americans suffer more,” “New taxes we’ll impose if we ever back into power.”
Regardless, Iran needs to be set straight. Now is a good time to kick the crap out of them.
I disagree – Iran did a “show” response and no American was killed. So, economic sanctions will be enough.
However, if another American is killed or US interests attacked,then additional & significant bombing would be appropriate.
And what about all the people Iran has killed and maimed. Iran is rabid and while they might law low for awhile, they will continue killing and maiming.
Internal collapse and revolution in Iran.
Better for us.
It will shock people how quickly it occurs.
I went with my friend to the VA and saw what IED’s do to people. The media doesn’t report when members of the military are harmed by Iran or a proxy. If the media doesn’t report something, most people feel it hasn’t happened.
Soleimani introduced the Iraqi insurgency to the “shaped charge” IED , trained them how to use it and then supplied them with the materials (which required precision milling equipment to manufacture). For that alone he should have been killed a LONG time ago.
This was an example of the minimal use of force that our law requires on the part of powerful and skilled men in a fight. It is an elegant answer to Iran, complete with an offer to co-operate in the future and dangling the prospect of real prosperity to its people.
It would appear that Trump is listening to the words of a former president. “The United States goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher of freedom and independence of all,” said John Quincy Adams in 1821. He became president four years later. He continued, “She [America] has a spear and a shield: but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence, Peace.”
The Mullahs were trying to egg Trump on to attack to save their faltering regime. The bigger news was how many Canadians were on that crashed jet. Least we forget that Canada benefited in Cuba by taking over operation of American businesses by Castro and maintained trade Cuba. As for these Canadians….maybe monkey business?
The callout of the Obama policy was unambiguous and specific. That is no longer our way forward. Ditto for policies based on energy dependence. The levers Iran has pulled are no longer working.
He ignores the Iranian response, calling it ineffective. He then befuddles his critics by offering Iran a peaceful way forward, preconditioned only on no nukes and ending terrorist activities. Then he asks NATO, Russia and China to join in making a safer world. Having shown his willingess to use force, he show his statesmanship and offers the olive branch. Now his critics have to join him or explain why a non nuclear, non terrorist Iran is undesirable. Reminding everyone that we could end this on our own makes his peace offer more powerful. If Iran says no, it make our next step less controversial.
I like.
Reminds me of the old TR adage, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
Rush just revealed that Iran tipped us off that they were going to be firing missiles. Twelve missiles were fired, ballistic missiles. Four failed in mid-air. The rest landed far from US troops or apparently, anyone at all, mostly landing in the sand.
This was a “show of force” to save face to fellow Arab allies and citizens.
I’m sure the msm and the dems are furious that thay can’t go into the primaries railing againt the president who started WWIII.
But…but…all the network pundits said we were about to launch WW3! FAKE NEWS, once again.
I think it unlikely that Iran’s conduct will change, and that they will still need their tails kicked at some point in the future.
Folks,
More than one way to skin the cat. Diplomatic and economic sanctions both targeted and general. Militarily with targeted strikes that can be adjusted upwards but remaining disproportionate.
Soleimani had been the prime mover in Iran’s export of terrorism and the training, equipping and use of proxy fighters for over a dozen years. Until about 2014, he stayed out of the limelight, then became the public face. Unfortunately for Soleimani, Trump isn’t Obama and POTUS gave the order to take out a legitimate target while he was in Iraq.
Most European countries have some level of economic ties to Iran, specifically Germany and France. They fully understand that they are trading with folks who hate the U.S. and don’t really care. Their strategy is to pay off the wolf so they are eaten last.
With USMCA cleaning Senate markup and likely passage this month and Canada passing soon afterwards the U.S. has another big stick. We have already gotten WTO clearance to impose $2.5 Billion in sanctions against France for their trade infractions. We announced another $2.5 Billion vs France for their non reciprocal tariffs.
Trump is using economic pressure on Iran’s European trading partners to further isolate Iran. The Iranian on the street doesn’t like the ruling class but they don’t want to see Iran being directly attacked by the U.S. slowly but surely the noose is tightening on the Iranian regime. That is how we won the cold war.
We don’t need to ‘nuke Iran into glass and wash it with Windex’. Options include stopping non-US flagged vessels as they exit the gulf for ‘inspections’. If our NATO partners object then they can join in with a few frigates to preclude their Flagged vessels being stopped for inspection by the U.S. as they would be inspecting their own vessels.
Iran also is very vulnerable to refined gasoline shortages, they don’t have the capacity to supply their domestic demand so any unfortunate ‘accident’ at a couple of their refineries would be very damaging to the regime, as long as we have deniability. We don’t want the average Iranian pissed at us we want them pissed at the regime.
When iran or the chi commms can’t bribe American politicans, we get the likes of PDJT.
No exaggeration: about half our federal elected officials are on the take from our enemies. This says nothing of treasonous bureaucrats infesting our government.