Iran’s leadership, including the Supreme Leader and President Rouhani, pray before the coffin of Qassem Soleimani, Tehran, Iran, January 6, 2020 (Reuters)
UPDATE, JAN 8:
Hours before Iran fired missiles at two US bases in Iraq, I spoke with talkRADIO’s Eamonn Holmes and Kait Borsay about the situation in Washington and Tehran.
Listen from 16:04 in 1800-1830 Segment
The discussion talks about the position of both the US and Iran in Iraq amid mass protests; the role of Donald Trump’s advisors in ordering the assassination — and in failing to prepare for the consequences; and the legal position over the assassination of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
UPDATE, 1445 GMT:
I spoke on Tuesday with BBC World Service, with Austria’s Radio 24, and with Monocle 24 about the latest developments around the US, Iran, and Iraq, amid mourning in Iran for the assassinated Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, demands in Iraq for the departure of US troops, and confusion in Washington over what to do next.
Listen to BBC World Service from 8:21
We also discuss Mitch McConnell’s protection of Trump, even amid Congressional criticism of Trump for failing to consult legislators about the planned assassination.
Listen to Austria’s Radio FM4 at 12:39 and 12:46
There is no trust in the American administration, in that it will take effective action and that it will consult allies. There is a lack of trust in Donald Trump personally because of his unpredictability, his lack of knowledge, and his lack of competence. And, more worrying, there is a lack of trust in the heads of US agencies because they are not thinking through their actions and they are not going to their allies in Europe and in NATO.
Listen to Monocle 24 from 1:43
ORIGINAL ENTRY: I spoke with BBC outlets on Monday about Iran’s response to the US assassination of its top military commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Listen to BBC Radio Wales from 7:07
The discussion reviews the Iranian reaction to Soleimani’s killing, consider Iran’s immediate response such as suspension of nuclear deal commitments and the push to expel US forces from Iraq, and look at possible next steps.
Listen to BBC Radio Ulster from 24:54
A discussion, alongside David Meyerson of Republicans Overseas, of the US Government’s decisions, its lack of understanding of the situation inside Iran, and its failure to anticipate consequences.
This wasn’t Donald Trump’s decision. This was driven more by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence. Because “maximum pressure” has not broken the regime, they decided to cross this line.
See also Iran Daily, Jan 7: Supreme Leader — “Direct and Proportional Retaliation” v. US over Soleimani Assassination
Iran Daily, Jan 6: Tehran Suspends Commitments Under 2015 Nuclear Deal
Soleimani is a terrorist and like any rabid dog needs to be put down.
The problem with many of you democrats is you complain about division and polarized population, yet, you wouldn’t know what bi-partisanship is if it was a train and hit in your forehead.
“maximum pressure has not made people to rise in iran….”?????
I guess protests in 200 hundred cities 1500 people killed in a less than a week is not protests to you. Of course not, after all it is not the same as the love lever that obama wrote khamenei, or billions dollars crates of cash the your impeccable wisdom, which, promptly appeared in yemen and gaza…..
Oh, no, you are so un-partizan. Has it ever occurred to you that many people gravitate to trump because you having your head stuck somewhere….