Statements from the leading Democratic contenders for the nomination for president on his reckless and unilateral decision to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani show why we must defeat Donald Trump in 2020. All of them recognize the dangerous fire Trump is playing with.
"President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox," former Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement. "We could be on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East. I hope the Administration has thought through the second- and third-order consequences of the path they have chosen." The administration has not thought through anything. There is no next step in Trump’s mind.
In a tweet soon after the attack, Sen. Bernie Sanders said, "Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars." He continued, "Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one." He followed up later, tweeting, "I was right about Vietnam. I was right about Iraq. I will do everything in my power to prevent a war with Iran."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted Thursday night that "this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict. Our priority must be to avoid another costly war."
On MSNBC Thursday night, Sen. Cory Booker said, "We have a president who has had, really, a failure in his Iranian policy, who's had no larger strategic plan, and has made that region less stable and less safe, not only for Americans, but for other countries."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar tweeted a statement saying that "the timing, manner, and potential consequences of the Administration's actions raise serious questions and concerns about an escalating conflict. […] The Administration needs to fully consult with Congress on its decision-making, response plans, and strategy for preventing a wider conflict." As of press time, Pete Buttigieg had not tweeted or issued a statement on the situation.
Friday, Jan 3, 2020 · 4:49:16 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter
Buttigieg has issued his statement reading, in part: "Before engaging in military action that could destabilize and entire region, we must take a strategic, deliberate approach that include consultation with Congress, our allies, and stakeholders in the middle east. [...] As we learn more in the coming days and weeks, on thing is clear: this must not be the start of another endless war. We must ask wisely and deliberately, not capriciously or through Twitter."