[ April 24, 2024 ]
“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said.
Finally, the first Western leader since 1979 not cowering in submission to jihad terrorism.
Trump doubles down on striking cultural sites in Iran
Story continues below advertisementAP News, January 6, 2019:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump insisted Sunday that Iranian cultural sites were fair game for the U.S. military, dismissing concerns within his own administration that doing so could constitute a war crime under international law. He also warned Iraq that he would levy punishing sanctions if it expelled American troops in retaliation for a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian official.
Trump’s comments came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds force. Iran has vowed to retaliate and Iraq’s parliament responded by voting Sunday to oust U.S. troops based in the country.
Trump first raised the prospect of targeting Iranian cultural sites Saturday in a tweet. Speaking with reporters Sunday as he returned to Washington from his holiday stay in Florida, he doubled down, despite international prohibitions.
“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said.
The targeted killing of Soleimani sparked outrage in the Middle East, including in Iraq, where more than 5,000 American troops are still on the ground 17 years after the U.S. invasion. Iraq’s parliament voted Sunday in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling for the expulsion of the American forces.
Trump said the U.S. wouldn’t leave without being paid for its military investments in Iraq over the years — then said if the troops do have to withdraw, he would hit Baghdad with economic penalties.
“We will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame,” he said. “If there’s any hostility, that they do anything we think is inappropriate, we are going to put sanctions on Iraq, very big sanctions on Iraq.”
He added: “We’re not leaving until they pay us back for it.”
The administration has scrambled to contend with the backlash to the killing of Soleimani. Though he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, the targeted American strike marked a stark escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. military may well strike more Iranian leaders if the Islamic Republic retaliates. He tip-toed around questions about Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites, a military action that likely would be illegal under the laws of armed conflict and the U.N. charter.
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52 Comments4 years agoHow about the Fordow uranium processing plant?
4 years agoReply to felix1999Yes, even blasting all the above-ground structures would disable Fordow.
4 years agoReply to felix1999Best thing about it being all underground is you only need to permanently shut the doors. 🙂
4 years agoReply to felix1999We can do area denial for all the suspected entrance points to the sub-surface works.
Take some of the low grade nuclear waste stacked up in drums all over the country, palletize it, put it on heavy lift transports and kick it out the back door over the areas where we know the entrance points are.
If they can’t get material in or out of the sites without taking extraordinary decontamination measures their program is set back by years if not decades.4 years agoCould Trump squeeze in a few OIL locations?
I’d like to see them even more upset.As for cultural sites – that is the first thing Muslims do is destroy cultural sites that support a “religion” other than ISLAM. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander….
4 years agohopefully it doesnt, but if war comes, we need to take out their nuke making once and for all
4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'They don’t make nukes? What rock have you been under? They may not have one YET, but they sure are working towards one. They have been refining Uranium for years with just that goal in mind.
4 years agoReply to Mike KevinsTheir uranium refining has not been for use in weapons. It has been used for energy and medical purposes. Now that Trump has reneged on the JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal), they may well develop nuclear weapons.
4 years agoReply to joe shmoeFirst, we need to re-elect this man. He is an Americal cultural treasure.
4 years agoCan the first “cultural site” be their parliament building on a sitting day?
4 years agoThat wouldn’t be very hard. Everything – EVERYTHING – in Iran is holy this, holy that, holy city, holy town, holy plain, holy mountain, holy smoke, holy moly, holy toilet — HOLY CRAP!
4 years agoI am old enough to remember the Iranian Revolution in 1979 that turned Iran into the Islamic Republic of Iran run by the ayatollahs and mullahs. I remember our embassy in Iran being taken hostage and hostages held for about a year under former President Jimmy Carter. I also remember Benghazi and the deaths of Americans under former President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I also remember former President Barack Obama giving large amounts of money to prop up the Islamic regime in Iran. Finally we have President Donald Trump who is finally taking action against these Islamic Terrorist Leaders in Iran. Donald Trump is the best President we have had in a long time.
4 years agoReply to David GrisezIran had nothing to do with Benghazi. Furthermore, assassinating General Soleimani was a brazen act of international terrorism. Terrorist commander Donald Trump threatening to bomb the 52 sites in Iran, intentionally killing civilians in the process, is yet another extreme example of international terrorism.
4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'If we would simply wipe the Muslims off the map it would be fine with me and nearly every other American. What I don’t want to see is spending billions, trillions for no gain. If you haven’t won in 18 or 19 years you are doing it wrong.
4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'As I said above, Muslims are beheading priests and burning down Catholic Churches all over France. Any war crime allegations against those perps?? None that I’ve heard. So let ‘er rip, Prez!!!
4 years agoReply to pete1589Those aren’t war crimes. They’re terrible crimes (assuming they’re true), but war crime has a technical definition, and that’s not it.
4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'Blowing this mass murderer to bits was a terrific success in vermin control.
4 years agoReply to Hans Wellingtonworth all the innocent childrens lives and sending thousands of young americans home in boxes for your ego?
4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'WRONG!
Solemani has long been identified as a Terrorist Mastermind.
His appearance in Iraq presented a Target Of Opportunity and POTUS took advantage of that opportunity to eliminate S. and his General Staff in a precision targeted strike. The only collateral damage was the potholes created in the roadway.
This Terrorist has been responsible for the dissemination of information on IED construction plus the distribution of Iranian made IED technology responsible for Killing more than 600 Americans. The number of US Military Personnel permanently maimed and disabled by thisTerrorists Actions runs well into 4 figures. Add in the deaths and maimings of Allied Military Personnel and the Civilian deaths and maimings and the bloody total is hard to comprehend.
This Terrorist won’t be causing any more grief for the world.4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'“Iran has nothing to do with Benghazi,” for starters.
Suiliman has been one of the Masterminds for terrorist attacks all over the Middle East. His work to distribute not just information on IEDs but actual components, including explosives to terrorist gorups throughout the region has been know for a number of years.
How many of our troops and the troops of allies have been maimed and killed by the knowledge and materials he has distributed is a number I don’t have at hand but I can make an affirmative statement that it is well up in 4 digits at least. His actions have been directly attributed to the death of at least 600 American Troops through IEDs.
Killing a Known and Notorious Terrorist isn’t an act of terrorism, it falls into the same category as exterminating cockroaches, an act to improve the Public Health.4 years agoReply to Public_Citizen“Killing a Known and Notorious Terrorist isn’t an act of terrorism, it falls into the same category as exterminating cockroaches, an act to improve the Public Health.”
No, all suspected criminals should be afforded due process as per international law and the US Constituion. Furthermore, Donald Trump is one of the most prominent “known and notorious terrorists” in the world. He is responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians with his illegal drone strikes as well as illegal military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Niger. On several occasions he has even threatened to initiate a nuclear war. Do you suggest exterminating him?
4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'i normally don’t waste as much time on those afraid to have their remarks exposed to the cold scrutiny of tomorrow.
You have not only reached, you have exceeded your credit limit for a blocked account.
Get your meds adjusted and then get out of that Virtual Potemkin Village your mind is held captive in.
Then read a book. You know, those things with pages and stuff with printing on them.4 years agoReply to Mr. Mojo Risin'It must be terrible to be so brain dead and be totally ignorant of any facts.
4 years agoReply to rickyooI see you’re resorting to ad hominem attacks. That’s because you can’t challenge me on the points I’ve made.
4 years agoI am old enough to remember the Iranian Revolution in 1979 that turned Iran into the Islamic Republic of Iran run by the ayatollahs and mullahs. I remember our embassy in Iran being taken hostage and hostages held for about a year under former President Jimmy Carter. I also remember Benghazi and the deaths of Americans under former President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I also remember former President Barack Obama giving large amounts of money to prop up the Islamic regime in Iran. Finally we have President Donald Trump who is finally taking action against these Islamic Terrorist Leaders in Iran. Donald Trump is the best President we have had in a long time.
4 years agoAccidents happen.
4 years agoDems are beside themselves that Trump said that.
Yet he was perfectly right, and any sane commander would have said the same thing: this will cause Iran to spread its forces thinner because it now needs resources to protect its “holy” sites thought to be off the menu.
On a related note, Islam(ists) had no problem setting Notre Dame on fire and vandalizing/desecrating Christian churches in Europe (about 3000 in 2019 alone).4 years agoMecca is in the territory of our ‘ally’ (of convenience), Iran-hating Saudi Arabia. You may want to consider a more nuanced response.
I do feel sorry for Ms. Geller in that her courage — real ‘guts’ — attracts so many who operate exclusively on gut feelings where some actual study and thoughtfulness would contribute far more to making this a better world.
As a devoté of ancient history, I would be heartbroken if the ancient Persian sites were damaged, as would any currently pro-American Iranian, of which there are many in the US and throughout the world, including in the “Islamic Republic” itself. However, the Iranian anti-American indoctrination centers, AKA ‘schools’ and ‘mosques’, are a different matter, but should be named as what they are, military assets, and not as ‘cultural sites’ — except perhaps as our own propaganda ploy against the mullahs, which may be the method in Trump’s ‘madness’, if you catch my drift.
What do you think?
4 years agoI just wish to hell we would do what Iraq wants and get out. There is no point of spending more time there with no appreciable results. Those people, if they are even human, will NEVER change. Let them fight and kill each other. Trump says he wants the billion dollars for the base built there. We probably spend that much every couple weeks with nothing but death and injuries to Americans to show for it. I am really disappointed in Trump for the first time but the alternative is too horrid to even consider.
4 years agoMuslims are beheading priests and burning down Catholic Churches all over France. Any war crime allegations against those perps?? None that I’ve heard. So let ‘er rip, Prez!!!
4 years agoThe whole raghead administration should be targeted and eliminated so that Iran can have a government again. Most of the Iranian population would be very happy and thankful about that.
4 years agoWouldn’t it be a beautiful sight to watch a mosque come tumbling down to the tune of a Hellfire missile?
4 years agoI don’t give a hoot about cultural landmarks or sites. THAT is were the enemy will hid because they know we are not allowed to “hit” them. I have been to war and it changed my thoughts immensely. If the enemy uses, hides in or around cultural sites then it is fair game. That includes if they hide in a Mosque. You destroy the enemy. You do not babysit them.
4 years agoI don’t give a hoot about cultural landmarks or sites. THAT is were the enemy will hid because they know we are not allowed to “hit” them. I have been to war and it changed my thoughts immensely. If the enemy uses, hides in or around cultural sites then it is fair game. That includes if they hide in a Mosque. You destroy the enemy. You do not babysit them.
4 years agoYes,it is time to lave and re-position American forces in the Kurd territory and recognize the independence of the Kurds and give them the vast oil resources of Northern Iraq.
4 years ago1. Bomb every mosque.
2. Bomb every mosque.
3.Bomb every mosque.
Etc. Etc.4 years agoThe UN has as much credibility as Hollywood. Who cares what they say?
4 years agoAgainst the “un” charter?? What!!! You mean that the “un” is doing things that stop the SLAUGHTER around the world??? HA! HA! HA!!! THAT idea is a LAUGH!!!!!!! WHY should America listen to all of the muslems in the “un”?!?!?!
IF you want to learn what the “un” has as the “human rights”, Take a look at the islamic sharia law!!!!!!!!!4 years agoDear President Trump … hitting cultural heritage will hurt the “normal” people, which – brainwashed or not – would not get convinced to change their beliefs by those measures, nor going to love US more…
Destroy their proxies, their oil-industries, their nuclear plants, their navy – those can be repaired one day.
And – of course – the Ayatollahs need to be wiped out in person – all of them – the normal Iranians have absolutely enough from those creatures.4 years agoWhere was the hand wringing and pearl clutching when the “radical moslems” [actually the ~observant moslems according to the dictates of the Koran and Hadith] were blowing up World Heritage Sites that in their eyes were offensive to the dictates of their Blood Cult?
The Iranians have deliberately sited facilities that are of military significance in areas or adjacent to “culturally sensitive” sites in a deliberate strategic move.We can’t be handcuffed and hamstrung by “International Rules of War” when dealing with terrorists who have no respect for those rules.
4 years agoCultural sites….like churches and Tabernacles? Like statues and paintings and ancient artifacts? They can go to hell, and the H’wood LibTards and B’Way fukheads with them…who didn’t give a damn when Islam destroyed ‘CULTURE SITES’ all over the world…and celebrated. Remember when they pissed and shiit all over Christian and Jewish ‘cultural sites’….burned churches with Christians inside? …. F U C K T H E M and their FAKE NEWS MEDIA
4 years agoTake out cultural sites? That won’t get the job done. Take out all those spinning centrifuges.
4 years agoOK, no cultural sires. Oil refineries, electric generating plants and other infrastructure would make better targets, anyway. g This bullshit of having our hands tied by some stupid UN charter is ridiculous. How many cultural sites have been taken out by other member countries without a bit of complaining from any of the usual appeasement whiners? Not to mention the raping and pillaging that is done by UN forces wherever they happen to be stationed.
4 years agopropaganda. iran hasnt gone to the states militarily and invaded, occupied, killed. strategic military attacks on soldiers occupying a sovereign country is not a reason to justify war
