Donald Trump is wrong on so many things, it becomes hard to keep track. Really bad policy decisions with long-term consequences slip by public notice because of his repeated COVID-19 missteps, racist pandering to white supremacists, and his efforts to pack the Supreme Court with rightwing ideologues.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,” the self-proclaimed “Very Stable Genius,” brought the United States to the brink of war in December 2019 – with the wrong country. As he bungles the Coronavirus pandemic, let’s not forget that his administration has been incompetent on a number of fronts.
On December 27, 2019, a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq killed a U.S. contractor and wounded U.S. military personnel. American officials blamed an Iranian supported militia, Kataib Hezbollah. In response, the United States launched “defensive strikes” against Kataib Hezbollah bases in Iraq and Syria, killing 25 of their fighters and wounding 55.
As the conflict escalated, supporters of pro-Iranian paramilitary forces in Iraq marched on the American embassy in Baghdad. They smashed a door to the compound and set fires in perimeter areas. Donald Trump blamed Iran for killing the American contractor and embassy protests. On Twitter, his favorite medium for conducting official government business, Trump warned “Iran is orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible."
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper echoed Trump’s threats. He claimed there were “some indications” that Iran or groups it supports “may be planning additional attacks” on American bases in the region. “If that happens, then we will act. And by the way, if we get word of attacks or some type [of] indication, we will take pre-emptive action as well to protect American forces to protect American lives.”
On January 3, the United States launched its “pre-emptive action.” An air raid on a Baghdad airport murdered the head of Iran’s Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy commander of Iranian-backed militias.
When Iran threatened to respond, Trump tweeted that the United States would attack 52 Iranian sites, including World Heritage sites, “very hard.” Trump was either unaware or chose to ignore a 1972 convention, signed by the United States, to protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage and a 1954 convention, also signed by the United States, protecting cultural property in the event of an armed conflict.
Iran then announced it would no longer accept restrictions on its ability to produce nuclear bomb quality uranium and launched a missile attack on two Iraqi bases housing United States troops. Iran, fearing a U.S. counter-attack, also shot down a passenger jet killing 176 people.
After the attack on the U.S. bases, Trump told reporters “I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things, but I would say, and I can report, it’s not very serious.” However, Pentagon officials conceded that over 100 U.S. service members were being treated for traumatic brain injuries.
The Trump administration claims it had confidential high-value information that Iran was responsible for the December 27 attack and was planning other attacks on Americans, however it never made that information public or available to Congress. However, the Iraqi military tells a very different story. The December 27 rocket attack was launched from a Sunni Muslim held area responsible for a number of assaults by the Islamic State, an ISIS Sunni terrorist group. Khataib Hezbollah is a Shiite militia not active in that area. The previous November, Iraq’s National Security Council informed U.S. officials “ISIS terrorists have endeavored to target K-1 base in Kirkuk district by indirect fire (Katyusha rockets).”
In March and April 2020, struggling with the Coronavirus pandemic, Iran pleaded with the United States to end sanctions on its economy imposed by the Trump administration. The sanctions prevented Iran from purchasing ventilators to treat coronavirus patients. Despite support for this humanitarian gesture by most of the world, Trump refuses to lift the sanctions.
The Trump administration brought the United States to the brink of war with Iran based on false accusations. He continues to maintain the lie and to block humanitarian COVID-19 aid to Iran.
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