In my opinion both the US and Iran are culpable in the conflict between them in the Middle East. For someone who grew up seeing the US as morally superior to its opponents, because it was a democracy, because of the Marshall plan this is a shift in view point.
The US doesn't need to be involved in the ME, Iran has no choice.
This particular act is clearly murder, whether it is murder of a malign influence or murder of a patriotic Iranian is a matter of opinion, perhaps both.
Two new things flow from this killing.
The idea of asymmetric war has been turned on its head. it used to mean that small state or non state actors could strike against major powers who were restrained in striking back. This successful drone strike against a man who presumably had serious security shows that the US does not need aircraft carriers or armoured divisions to strike its enemies. Kim Jong 3 will never sleep soundly again.
The other thing is that I believe that this signals Trump's intention to withdraw from Iraq. Last week he couldn't leave, it would have been seen as weakness, now if he leaves his domestic audience won't see it as weakness and the other ME players will think twice about taking advantage. You read it here first, Trump is preparing tl leave Iraq.
The US doesn't need to be involved in the ME, Iran has no choice.
This particular act is clearly murder, whether it is murder of a malign influence or murder of a patriotic Iranian is a matter of opinion, perhaps both.
Two new things flow from this killing.
The idea of asymmetric war has been turned on its head. it used to mean that small state or non state actors could strike against major powers who were restrained in striking back. This successful drone strike against a man who presumably had serious security shows that the US does not need aircraft carriers or armoured divisions to strike its enemies. Kim Jong 3 will never sleep soundly again.
The other thing is that I believe that this signals Trump's intention to withdraw from Iraq. Last week he couldn't leave, it would have been seen as weakness, now if he leaves his domestic audience won't see it as weakness and the other ME players will think twice about taking advantage. You read it here first, Trump is preparing tl leave Iraq.