President Donald Trump authorized an airstrike aimed at Iranian General Qassim Suleimani’s entourage as it departed Baghdad International Airport on January 2nd. Suleimani was the commander of Iranian forces and it had recently been discovered that he was planning attacks on Americans in the area. President Trump stated, “Last night, at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number-one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qassim Suleimani. Suleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him.”
Top military officials and Congress were not notified about the impending airstrike against Suleimani, with reports stating officials were stunned after this event took place. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both declined to carry out this operation for the fear that it would lead to war between the two nations. Despite former Presidents not carrying out this action, Trump stated in a January 3rd White House press release, “We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war.”
“We will take revenge — a revenge that will be tough, strong, decisive and finishing and will make them regret.”
Even some Democrats are siding with Trump’s decision. “Suleimani was an enemy of the United States. That’s not a question,” says Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut. However the majority of Democrats are against the events that took place last Thursday. Current Democratic Presidential Candidate and Vice President under the Obama administration Joe Biden stated, “No president has a right to take our country to war without the informed consent of Americans — informed consent. And right now we have no idea what this guy has in mind, we have no idea.”
Iranian leaders and military officials vow for revenge against last Thursdays attack. “We will take revenge — a revenge that will be tough, strong, decisive and finishing and will make them regret,” the corps’s leader, Hossein Salami stated. Crowds of Iranians marched chanting, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”, a long time ally of America.
The discussion regarding the possibility of war has been on the table since Suleimani’s death last Thursday. Throughout social media hashtags including #WWIII and #IranVsUS have been trending. The U.S. deployed over 3,000 troops into the region in response to heightened security threats. When asked his opinion on the likelihood of war Trump stated, “I don’t think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldn’t last very long. Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace.” This poses a question to both Iranian and American citizens. Will this event lead to continued tensions between the two nations. And what consequences may take place because of that?
