Lindsey Graham Declares That Under President Trump, ‘There Will Be No Benghazis on His Watch’
John Hanson
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On Tuesday, Senator Lindsey Graham praised President Donald Trump’s warning to Iran after a pro-Tehran mob attacked the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.
Attack on U.S. Embassy in Iraq
In Baghdad, protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy blasting a series of deadly American airstrikes against an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group in Iraq and Syria.
Angry protesters poured in by the hundreds through the heavily fortified “Green Zone” near the compound over Sunday’s strikes against the Kata’ib Hezbollah militia, a group that was blamed by the Pentagon last week for the death of a U.S. contractor in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Many posted on social media showing protesters smashing the embassy’s windows and setting fires in the vicinity.
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US Embassy, #Baghdad.
Pro-Kata’ib Hezbollah protestors chanting: “God is great, America is the Great Satan!”
On the other side of those windows are armed American soldiers. pic.twitter.com/vdUnLq3eMX
— H. Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) December 31, 2019
‘We strongly responded, and always will’
President Trump warned Iran a few hours later that the U.S. will hold the country responsible for the attack.
“We strongly responded, and always will,” the president tweeted. “Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible.”
Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019
Sen. Graham praised President Trump’s comments, saying they put the “world on notice,” signaling that “there will be no Benghazis on his watch,” a reference to the terror attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. That attack resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith.
Graham tweeted a stern warning to Iran, writing, “Be careful what you wish for — a country that depends on the ability to refine oil for its existence needs to be cautious. President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most. Choose your battles wisely.”
To the Iranian government:
Be careful what you wish for — a country that depends on the ability to refine oil for its existence needs to be cautious.
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— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019
The South Carolina Republican added, in a message to Iraq: “This is your moment to convince the American people the US-Iraq relationship is meaningful to you and worth protecting. Protect our American personnel. You will not regret it.”
To our Iraqi allies:
This is your moment to convince the American people the US-Iraq relationship is meaningful to you and worth protecting.
Protect our American personnel. You will not regret it.
(4/4)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019