Up until now, Americans have been forced to take President Donald Trump at his word that Iran was planning imminent attacks against U.S. installations, thus warranting the presidents directive on Friday to assassinate Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, Irans top military leader.
Thats not good enough. The global community deserves proof that the presidents actions did indeed prevent an escalation of violence.
We need that assurance, desperately, because weve been down this road before with the lie of weapons of mass destruction that took us to war in Iraq in 2003.
Not surprisingly, the response from Iran and Iraq to Fridays attack has been a promise of retribution.
And, unfortunately, our president seems to be delighting in a game of chicken.
According to foreign affairs experts, the United States had tracked the Iranian commander for more than 20 years, fully aware he had American blood on his hands. But because of his status as a military hero across the Middle East, the U.S. did not think eliminating Suleimani at this time was worth the risk of political or military backlash.
On Sunday, that retribution began with Iraqs parliament voting to oust U.S. troops and Iran pledging to ramp up its development of nuclear fuel.
On Saturday, the U.S. sent an additional 3,500 troops to Kuwait to prepare for conflict.
The U.S. has urged all U.S. citizens to evacuate not only Iraq but also Pakistan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, due to heightened tensions.
Mr. Trump said the airstrike at Baghdads airport that killed Suleimani as well as a number of senior Iraqi militia leaders was not meant to provoke war, but to prevent one, and warned Iran not to retaliate.
Thats wishful thinking. Iran regards Suleimanis murder as a terrorist act and a threat to its regime, and as such has no choice but to aggressively respond.
OF SPECIAL concern is Iraqs response. Ever since 2014 at Iraqs request the U.S. has stationed 5,000 troops there to help prevent a resurgence of ISIS and to train Iraqi security forces. At the same time, Suleimanis supporters have gained a foothold in Iraqs Parliament.
On Sunday, this faction persuaded Parliament to expel American troops, which its prime minister is sure to sign.
The decision opens the door not only for a greater Iranian presence there, but also affects our efforts to combat ISIS militants in Syria, which depend on our troops stationed in Iraq.
Our diminished presence in Syria and Iraq only serves to benefit Russia and China, which have increased their military presence in the Mideast.
In its arsenal of weapons, Iran has the option of attacking U.S. allies in the Mideast, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, possibly setting in motion a region-wide conflagration.
