Juan Cole: Pompeo Slashed Security Funding, took no Preventive Steps in wake of US Airstrikes

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Juan Cole @jricole

US Embassy in Baghdad Invaded after SecState Pompeo Slashed Security Funding, Took no Preventive Steps in wake of US Airstrikes -

https://www.juancole.com/2020/01/secstate-preventive-airstrikes.html …
US Embassy in Baghdad Invaded after SecState Pompeo Slashed Security Funding, Took no Preventive...
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) - There was nothing more predictable than that the US Embassy should come under attack after …

7:40 AM - Jan 1, 2020

Looking for more info on this. If true, this is a REAL scandal, not like Benghazi (although, IIRC, the House repugs slashed Embassy security funding just before the attack on the mission in Benghazi).

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Will there be eight investigations? Will Pompeo have to testify for 11 hours?

[bullwinkle428]

2. The irony is delicious, given that Pompeo was perhaps Hillary's harshest interrogator over

that 11 hours of testimony.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Now that the Dems control the House, maybe there *will* be an investigation,

and maybe Pompeo will have to testify for 11 hours. Karma, baby.

[Cattledog]

4. CNN story on cuts

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/13/politics/state-department-basra-consulate-security-funding/index.html

[Hortensis]

5. This whole thing is shaking out to Russia's advantage.

The Iranian-backed militia and other agents are now demanding the complete withdrawal of the U.S. from Iraq.

So Trump/Pompeo's actions-results are fitting a big pattern.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Most understanding and caring folks

could see this day coming. The ignorance of the Rethugs and their Might is Right policies have lead us to this spot. Once again,Eighteenth Century Nation Building Policies failed miserably.

As Biden,and McCain said,Iraq will tear its self into three distinct State Nations when all is said and done. And those statements were made prior to Cheney's Invasion.

The Pottery Barn Theory is now in real time. And the Orange Anus is Clueless as to how to deal with it.

[Hortensis]

7. Absolutely. And certainly for Iraq. I'm an optimist,

silly as that might sound right now. I actually hope Trump's breaking of an international order that worked, but locked in serious problems, ultimately leads to a new international order that works with some of those flaws eliminated. Optimists of course look for ways that could happen this side of another world war or many millions of deaths from other causes.

Itm, looks like Russia, and Putin in particular, is now going to get to own it, just as climate holocausts, collapsing demand for oil and thus national economies, and increasing religious strife engulf the ME. Enormous problems that make ours look easy in comparison.

Doubt the Russians who died or lost loved ones there have completely forgotten Afghanistan. We'll probably get to see how happily they'll invest their paltry national income in shoring up ME regimes, battling insurgents in multiple nations, and holding onto their new Syrian ports. As it is, localized famine and unavailability of standard medications, and other serious problems, are not uncommon in Russia due to bad management, and they're tired and afraid of the specter of "eternal poverty."

[Wellstone ruled]

10. Your last Paragraph is

one of the main themes running through the ME. Famine caused by Climate Change and Military actions. Before Cheney there was a flourishing Agricultural Region of Iraq that provided a export industry to neighboring Countries .

After Cheney,all of that Regions Irrigated Crop Lands as well as the infrastructure of Canals and Dams and Man Made Lakes was destroyed by the Genius's in the Military Neo Con Establishment. Nation Building in the mode of a Viceroy. Yup,works every time. Just ask the Brit's how that worked out for them.

Iran is the Adult in the room so to speak in the Mid East. And they will determine who and how Iraq will look within four or five years. BTW,I understand they have a four Million Person standing Army. Only Country that has a greater standing Army is China.

Keep a eye out for Germany and France making some type of move shortly. Reason I say is,had a Child hood friend who spent the best part of four decades working for our Country in both Germany and the Mid East.

[Hortensis]

11. Very interesting, and I will keep an eye out hopefully

for France and Germany.

Iran is the relative adult in the room and has big interests at stake. What was (beyond despicably) destroyed physically could have been rebuilt years ago, but it still can be if big power struggles. corruption, and dominant cultural realities allow it, but global warming and all it means to that part of the planet needs Allah's finger and they're not going to get it. It will be wonderful if Iran and other nations can help enough to enable millions of poor Iraqis to remain in their homes. The current and coming conditions are unsustainable without big action.

[Wellstone ruled]

12. Going to be one

ugly year for the inhabitants of the Middle East as it stands today. And it appears today's reaction by the Orange Anus and Crew will know doubt be a major Election Issues by March or April.

Outsiders are playing a zero sum game with our Military as a hired Mercenary Force.

[panader0]

8. I seem to recall HRC asking for funding for security,

and being rejected by the 'pubs before Benghazi.
Now we have an R SoS who cuts security funding. Jeez....

[karynnj]

9. The problem with bringing up Benghazi - as if it were similar - is that this compound was and is

the most fortified, strongest US facility and Benghazi was a lightly guarded consulate - not an embassy. As someone here posted, the comparison - if things get worse (even as they appear to be coming back in control) - is to helicopters leaving Saigon. There a difference will be that in Saigon the concern was people who worked with us falling to enemies -- here, the Iraqi government may just move toward supporting Iran.

One early commentator mentioned that the same "warning to Iran" could have been done striking in Syria only. Attacking Iraq will likely destabilize an already very weak government. There was no coordination with the Iraq government, which is presumably an ally. That is somewhat questionable. They did invite the US back in 2014 because ISIS was nearly in Baghdad. However, they are a majority Shia country that also has connections to Iran and the Trump administration has poured oil on the Sunni/Shia conflict.