President Trump took to Twitter this morning to explain the reports that he stopped a military strike on Iran at the last minute Thursday, declaring that the strike would not have been ‘proportional’ to the country shooting down a drone.
Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, citing a handful of senior officials, reported that the president was prepared to attack a number of Iranian targets, including radar and missile batteries, but that he pulled the plug at the last moment.
The President explained his actions Friday morning, noting that “We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights.”
“When I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it.” Trump added.
….On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
….proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
The President also took a swipe at his predecessor, noting that “President Obama made a desperate and terrible deal with Iran.”
President Obama made a desperate and terrible deal with Iran – Gave them 150 Billion Dollars plus I.8 Billion Dollars in CASH! Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to Nuclear Weapons, and SOON. Instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
….Death to America. I terminated deal, which was not even ratified by Congress, and imposed strong sanctions. They are a much weakened nation today than at the beginning of my Presidency, when they were causing major problems throughout the Middle East. Now they are Bust!….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
Earlier in the day on Thursday, Trump pondered over whether the downing of the drone was carried out by a ‘rogue’ actor in the Iranian military, and noted that the entire thing could have been a mistake.
Conservatives within the media, including most notably Tucker Carlson, urged Trump not to go ahead with military action, advising that it would be used against him by the deep state.
It seems Trump has staved off another potential military interventionist disaster for now.
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