President Trump threatened to hold Iran “fully responsible,” prepped further crippling sanctions on the nation, and warned that Iraq had better protect American personnel following an attack by a pro-Tehran mob on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.
In other words, he did the opposite of what Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did in Benghazi.
Violent protests were reportedly organized Tuesday by Iran in response to an airstrike by the U.S. military on Sunday that killed dozens of Iran-backed militia members.
That strike was a response to the death of an American contractor last week when the group fired a rocket at an Iraqi military base.
A mob at the embassy in Baghdad, wearing militia uniforms and shouting ‘Death to America!’ managed to smash security cameras, break down a door into the reception area, and set the room on fire.
Trump forcefully responded on social media that these actions will be punished, and he put Iraq security forces on notice.
“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will,” Trump vowed. “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!”
Iraq and Iran are both on notice.
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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
Swift Actions
Despite an all-out effort to overtake the embassy, the Iran-backed group of fighters was thwarted.
“U.S. officials stressed the embassy has not been evacuated, sensitive data has not been compromised, and the ambassador, who is out of the country on a previously scheduled vacation, is safe,” Lifezette reported.
Roughly 100 Marines were sent to the embassy to increase security and “an Army Apache helicopter flew over the premises and dropped flares in a ‘show of force,'” Fox News confirmed.
“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced.
“We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy.”
Aside from beefing up security personnel, the administration was already prepping further sanctions on Iran as a result of this attack.
They had a military response in order with the Marines, the President responded swiftly holding all parties accountable, and they were prepping punishment.
Those were their initial actions – not getting everybody in sync on trying to blame a YouTube video for the attack.
RELATED: Iraqi Nationals and Militia Members Try to Storm U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
#BREAKING: US official tells me: New Iran-related sanctions will be announced “In the next 24 hours”
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) December 30, 2019
Obama Lackey Chimes In
Ben Rhodes, the former deputy national security adviser for strategic communication to Obama, unwisely opted to chime in and criticize American policy as the attack was still ongoing.
“Trump sanctions on Iran have done nothing to change Iranian behavior except make it worse,” Rhodes wrote.
“This is what happens when your foreign policy is based on Obama envy, domestic politics, Saudi interests, and magical right-wing thinking.”
Rhodes is best known for having sold America up a river in the Iran nuclear negotiations, bragging to the New York Times about his ability to lie to the American media regarding details of the deal.
He also worked for a man who gave Iran pallets of cash to secure that nuclear deal; pallets of cash that likely helped fund these militia groups.
Question do you believe that some of the pallets of cash that you dropped off with your boss bought weapons for the thugs that are outside our Embassy right now? Asking for a few million of my friends
— Karla Lomiglio There WereNoRussians (@KLomiglio) December 31, 2019
Rhodes was promptly and rightfully shredded on social media.
“As you attack Trump’s foreign policy, Iranian militia members are — at this very moment — attacking American soldiers using the $1.7B cash you and Team Obama sent to Tehran,” writes Bryan Dean Wright, a former CIA ops officer. “What a time to be self-righteous.”
Embassy workers are more than lucky that this type of self-righteous delusion is no longer running the country.
Thank God President Trump is the commander-in-chief.
