January 6, 2020--Trump's Benghazi
If you are still wondering about why Trump gave the order last week to "take out" Qassim Suleimani, Iran's most powerful military leader, it's simple.
It's not because Suleimani was about to launch a terrorist attack on U.S. troops in Syria, or because he was planning an invasion of Israel, or just that Trump wanted to wag the war dog to distract the public from his impeachment.
Bill Clinton did a version of that in mid-December, 1988 just as the House of Representatives was about to impeach him. He had the military join Britain in bombing Iraq because they failed to comply with UN resolutions to not build weapons of mass destruction.
It didn't deter Iraq but did work to slow down the process. Just slow it down as the House only a few days later voted two articles of impeachment.
Rather Trump has us bombing in the Middle East because of Benghazi.
Remember Benghazi?
In September 2012, in Libya, in the city of Benghazi, within the walls of a CIA annex, American ambassador Chris Stevens was killed by rebels along with three other embassy officials. The killers torched the facility and one or more of the Americans was burned to death.
Hillary Clinton was secretary of state at the time and Republicans held her personally responsible for not authorizing sufficient security to protect our citizens. It became an enormous political issue as she was preparing to run for president in 2016.
To that end, in an act of political theater, three years later, in 2015, GOP congressmen hauled Clinton before the House Select Committee On Benghazi and put her through 11 hours of interrogation.
They and nine other congressional committees searched for evidence that Clinton and others in the Obama administration lied about and covered up the truth about the raid.
None of the investigations turned up any incriminating evidence.
Subsequently, in 2016, Clinton became the Democratic nominee but was defeated by Trump.
Last week when Trump saw photos and videos of the fire-gutted facilities in the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that was attacked last week by Iran-supported Iraqi militia it made him think it was deja vu; but this time he, not Hillary would get the blame for not adequately protecting and defending our embassy and staff.
The last thing Trump wanted was to be associated in any way with the Clintons, especially Hillary. To be linked to a woman when being accused of not protecting American interests was more than macho, misogynist Trump could bear. And thus he gave the impulsive order to assassinate Suleimani.
This is also a huge political gamble. If the Iranians respond with restraint that could contribute to reelecting Trump. But if things more likely do not go well his already riled isolationist base (including the likes of Fox News' Tucker Carlson) will be even more outraged and some, a few will abandon him. Perhaps enough to contribute to the election of the Democratic candidate.
It's not because Suleimani was about to launch a terrorist attack on U.S. troops in Syria, or because he was planning an invasion of Israel, or just that Trump wanted to wag the war dog to distract the public from his impeachment.
Bill Clinton did a version of that in mid-December, 1988 just as the House of Representatives was about to impeach him. He had the military join Britain in bombing Iraq because they failed to comply with UN resolutions to not build weapons of mass destruction.
It didn't deter Iraq but did work to slow down the process. Just slow it down as the House only a few days later voted two articles of impeachment.
Rather Trump has us bombing in the Middle East because of Benghazi.
Remember Benghazi?
In September 2012, in Libya, in the city of Benghazi, within the walls of a CIA annex, American ambassador Chris Stevens was killed by rebels along with three other embassy officials. The killers torched the facility and one or more of the Americans was burned to death.
Hillary Clinton was secretary of state at the time and Republicans held her personally responsible for not authorizing sufficient security to protect our citizens. It became an enormous political issue as she was preparing to run for president in 2016.
To that end, in an act of political theater, three years later, in 2015, GOP congressmen hauled Clinton before the House Select Committee On Benghazi and put her through 11 hours of interrogation.
They and nine other congressional committees searched for evidence that Clinton and others in the Obama administration lied about and covered up the truth about the raid.
None of the investigations turned up any incriminating evidence.
Subsequently, in 2016, Clinton became the Democratic nominee but was defeated by Trump.
Last week when Trump saw photos and videos of the fire-gutted facilities in the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that was attacked last week by Iran-supported Iraqi militia it made him think it was deja vu; but this time he, not Hillary would get the blame for not adequately protecting and defending our embassy and staff.
The last thing Trump wanted was to be associated in any way with the Clintons, especially Hillary. To be linked to a woman when being accused of not protecting American interests was more than macho, misogynist Trump could bear. And thus he gave the impulsive order to assassinate Suleimani.
This is also a huge political gamble. If the Iranians respond with restraint that could contribute to reelecting Trump. But if things more likely do not go well his already riled isolationist base (including the likes of Fox News' Tucker Carlson) will be even more outraged and some, a few will abandon him. Perhaps enough to contribute to the election of the Democratic candidate.
Labels: Benghazi, Chis Stevens, Clinton's Impeachment, Hillary Clinton, Qassim Suleimani, Tucker Carlson, U.S. Embassy In Baghdad, Wag the Dog
posted by Steven Zwerling at
4:37 AM
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