Netanyahu says U.S. had right to self-defense in killing Soleimani: statement

[brooklynite]

Source: Reuters

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the United States had the right to defend itself by killing senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

“Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office.

“Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks.”

Netanyahu spoke on the airport tarmac in Greece after cutting short a trip abroad to fly back to Israel.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-netanyahu-idUSKBN1Z214U

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Self defense? So, Iraq is part of the United States?

Killers just have to kill.

[apnu]

15. embassies are considered part of the remote nation in international law

Thus attacks on the US embassy in Iraq is an attack on US soil.

We, the US, have a long history of assassinations for various reasons.

I'm not saying that assassination an Iranian official because he was out in the open was the right response to the attacks he allegedly engineered, this an act of a toddler throwing his toys in a tantrum.

One that Trump telegraphed years ago on Twitter when projecting that Obama would strike Iran to win the 2012 election. For Trump everything goes back to Obama or Hillary. A successful black man and white woman who have easily exceeded him in every measurable metric save income. And even then, both Obama and Hillary are fabulously wealthy so they are financially a success, maybe not the same net-worth as Trump, but certainly top 10% in America.

[catrose]

2. Then it might have been a good idea to get US citizens out of the area FIRST

[oldsoftie]

4. I think the embassy has ordered all citizens out as of today

[catrose]

7. Yes, now that it's an emergency

[oldsoftie]

3. Honestly, Bush should've killed this guy a dozen yrs ago. He led the insurgency.

It was a well known fact since mid-2000s. Assisted in the deaths of many US troops. He's a military man in a war zone, not a political leader. But how will Iran react to this? Will they say "well shit, nobody is safe" or will they attack anything that moves? They really dont have the long term abilities to do anything large scale, but i'm sure cyber attacks will be coming along with proxy attacks.
But is trump listening to advisors or just tossing shit at the wall to see what sticks? Which is his normal procedure.

[metalbot]

18. This pretty much summarizes my reaction

The guy absolutely was culpable in the death of US troops. He's been a valid target for more than a decade. Was now the right time to kill him? Maybe - time will tell.

Trump is answerable to the outcome here, not to the decision itself.

[ancianita]

5. International leaders will line up on this act, bringing back the hawk/dove talk of cold war years.

This act will galvanize all those who ignore climate crises, domestic suffering, and stigmatize all anti-war people with the usual epithets.

Which direction it will drive the US election isn't yet clear.

[pecosbob]

6. Netanyahu defending Trump...

Sort of like having a child molester as a character reference.

[5X]

8. Best confirmation yet how bad it was. n/t

[Cicada]

9. Netanyahu was 100% behind Americans dying in Iraq and now 100% behind them dying in Iran

We can count on Netanyahu supporting US actions to fight Israel’s enemies.

[yellowwoodII]

10. You got it!

[FBaggins]

11. The US certainly "has the right"

But that isn't the same thing as it being the right thing to do.

[Firestorm49]

12. Well, at least that's more than we've heard from our pretend leader!

The below quote is from another DU post this morning.

Kelly Magsamen @kellymagsamen “I worked the Iran account for years at the NSC under two Presidents. I’m honestly terrified right now that we don’t have a functioning national security process to evaluate options and prepare for contingencies. God help us.”

[gibraltar72]

13. Well that settles that.

[ripcord]

14. When a nation sponsors terrorist groups

Sooner or later someone is going to hold them responsible for those groups actions.

[Progressive Jones]

16. Boo Boo Naziyahoo can kiss my ass. nt

[Bradical79]

17. He had murdered a lot of innocent people...

...but it doesn't make it a smart move to assasinate him by the Baghdad airport with missle strikes. It also doesn't help the case when Trump says he did it "to prevent a war". It's a ridiculous statement.