Nicholas Kristof
5 January 2020
Qassem Soleimani had a great deal of blood on his hands, but there’s a reason past US presidents were reluctant to assassinate him — the concern that such an assassination would damage American interests. That seems to be what is happening now, and Soleimani is achieving in death what he failed to achieve in life. So far the consequences of Trump’s decision to kill Soleimani seem to be: the likely ouster of US forces from Iraq after thousands of Americans died there in a $3 trillion war; increased Iranian influence in Iraq; inability to support US troops in Syria without bases in Iraq; Iran’s regime benefiting by getting a reprieve from anti-government protests and seeing instead a rallying around the flag. And we haven’t even gotten to Iran’s retaliation against the US, which will likely involve many American lives lost. International relations is chess, and I don’t believe President Trump adequately considered the other moves that Iran would make, nor did he think he necessary five moves in advance. Thoughts?