A Trump directed airstrike that killed high ranking Iranian General Qasem Soleimani is without doubt a major development that is being met with both praise and criticism across party lines. Qasem Soleimani – who was the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force unit and primary tactician behind Iran’s various regional proxies – was no doubt an enemy of the United States. Soleimani was a sponsor of several Shiite militias that engaged in direct combat with U.S. service members during the Iraq War, including the Maahdi Army. These groups were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops and were directly sponsored by Iran. Soleimani has also had a hand in the brutal tactics used against civilians in Syria, including chemical weapons attacks.
For rational Americans – left and right – the debate isn’t over whether or not Soleimani was a bad guy, but whether or not the attack was a wise move. The strike came on the heels of Hezbollah militias storming the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and constitutes one of the largest escalations in Iran – U.S. hostilities since 1979. Right-leaning detractors have criticized the move as an unnecessary escalation that could lead to further, protracted war to the detriment of the United States. Primarily left leaning figures have also said similar, approving of the attack on an enemy of the U.S. but skeptical of the consequences.
Questioning the strategy of the move is entirely acceptable, but since we currently reside in an increasingly divided reality, nothing appears sacred anymore. Far left pundits and influencers have not only criticized Trump for the strike, but have sympathized with Iran and Soleimani.
Just 10 years ago there were certain things that everybody more or less agreed on. One may not have liked Obama, but they weren’t mad when Osama Bin Laden was killed. In fact, they were probably happy no matter their political affiliation because it was a good thing for all Americans. Nobody jumped on Bush in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 because they realized it was a time for unity and healing.
In the present day it seems as though everything that holds our country together is being eroded. Foreign, terrorist adversaries responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops are being defended in the name of “orange man bad”.
My personal favorite right here.
It really doesn’t get sadder than this. Siding with murderous, medieval regimes all for anti-Trump news cycle. When we can’t even agree that Islamic theocrats who murder countless fellow Muslims as well as Americans are bad, one questions how this country is even being held together. It seems as though any and everything is on the table when it comes to stopping Donald Trump, including openly siding with people who chant “death to America” and gas civilians.
It’s only the fourth day of the 2020’s and this is where we’re at.