Imminent Stupidity

When I heard Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insist that the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was justified because of imminent threat to U.S. embassies in Iraq and elsewhere without providing any proof or explaining just how close they were to happening, I merely looked at him on the TV screen and had one thought in response:

"Nice tie!" 

I don't think American credibility has been lower than it is right now, but with Trump still in the White House and possibility getting his lease on it renewed in November (more about that in a minute), it could plummet to greater depths than the Marianas Trench soon.  European nations are angry with us and refuse to work with us now to secure Iraq, which wants our military out of its territory and has demanded a meeting to discuss the details of a withdrawal.  (Pompeo refused.)  Senators of both parties are disgusted with Trump about the briefing over the Soleimani killing because of the lack of transparency.  Trump's operation as also united Iraqis and Iranians against America (not to mention turning the entire planet against America!) and has turned Iranians to supporting their government after demonstrating against it. 

Get used to it.  In November, the voters will cast their ballots on two issues.  One is the economy and I can't remember what the other issue is.  And in fact, the economy is chugging full steam ahead.  And no matter how Democrats insist that they are not sorry Soleimani, who made a name for himself murdering Americans, is gone while saying simultaneously that now or any other time was not the right time to take him out because of the backlash it started, Trump will paint them as being soft on terrorism and unpatriotic.  And it will work - especially among older voters who remember the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-81.  He'll likely compare Democratic dissatisfaction with the Soleimani operation and how and where it was carried out (in Baghdad's airport) to opposition to executing Hermann Göring (who actually escaped a hanging at Nuremberg by committing suicide).  Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders - the wrong man at the wrong time - is ahead in Iowa while Joe Biden is in fourth place and attractive candidates like Michael Bennet are getting no place.  (Bright side: Marianne Williamson finally quit the race.)  The Democrats ought to prove themselves in appealing to the general electorate and getting the voters to think of something more essential and more important than the economy, but the 2020 presidential campaign suggests that they're not capable of doing either.

Nice tie.