Defense chief "didn't see" specific evidence of Iranian threat to embassies

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: CBS News

Washington — Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said he "didn't see" specific evidence that top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was planning attacks on four U.S. embassies, but said he believed such attacks would have occurred.

"The president didn't cite a specific piece of evidence. What he said was he believed," Esper said Sunday on "Face the Nation." "I didn't see one, with regard to four embassies. What I'm saying is that I shared the president's view that probably — my expectation was they were going to go after our embassies. The embassies are the most prominent display of American presence in a country."

The president and his top officials have said the strike that killed Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, was justified because there was an "imminent" threat to American service members and diplomats. Members of Congress, however, have raised questions as to the nature of the threat following briefings on the strike that the administration conducted with all members of the House and Senate.

Congressional Democrats have argued the intelligence they were presented did not demonstrate there was an "imminent" threat to U.S. personnel in the region, while some Republicans said the Trump administration was justified in killing Soleimani.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/defense-chief-didnt-see-specific-evidence-of-iranian-threat-to-embassies/ar-BBYSovw?li=BBnbcA1

[Perseus]

1. Didn't see that it was being planned but he is sure it would occur?

Last edited Sun Jan 12, 2020, 05:42 PM - Edit history (1)

republicans are champions of contradictions, when will they learn that lying is very hard, liars can never remember what they said, and having many people try to be on the same page of a lie is not easy at all.

"No I did not see any evidence, of course that my nose was inside the president's butt, but I heard him say it while in there, so I must agree with it."

[Normanart]

2. Category

Making shit up.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. "Belief" ain't EVIDENCE

lame excuse

[alwaysinasnit]

5. +1000

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

14. Let's just hope Fat Donnie doesn't "believe" Iran is going to nuke us

despite all evidence to the contrary by every country's intelligence agencies.

"No one knows more about intelligence than I do."

[Iliyah]

4. Well . . .

incompetent Republicans are causing actual "imminent" threats to our soldiers and Embassies around the whole.

Dumb shits.

[TeamPooka]

6. I believe I will win the Powerball.

Doesn't mean it's true or real or possible.
They are full of shit and lying.

[Scarsdale]

9. Me, too.

I bought tickets, there was a drawing so I believed I could win. What I find hard to believe is that there are so many people willing to sacrifice their reputation and integrity, defending the less-than person in the WH. What is the hold he has over them? PLEASE do not tell me they respect and admire that obese orange mass of goo. He is the worst person the gop or anyone else could have chosen as their leader. He is a total disaster. The gop will be held responsible for this very worst of presidencies for many years to come.

[Lonestarblue]

7. Esper was a corporate lobbyist for Raytheon.

What the hell does he know about national security! Like all members of the Trump administration, he is a yes man without the knowledge or experience to do the job he was hired to do by an incompetent commander in chief who surrounds himself only with people who never dare to tell him no. I am so sick of these people. They are nothing more than parasites who are endangering our country.

[Scarsdale]

10. How much plain old common sense

does a person need to recognize tRump as a total failure in everything he does? He has never accomplished a thing in his entire life, even with a fortune from daddy. He squandered that. Screwed everyone who ever did business with him over. Taught his "kids" to grift for a living, rather than get an education and WORK. I want to know how much taxpayers have spent so far on this disgusting group of parasites. Mnuchin and tRump want to keep it secret, but we need to know WHERE our money is being wasted.

[PatrickforO]

8. Well, that makes sense. The guy's probably an evangelical right-wing nutter.

Whether in or out of government, these people have made a 'leap of faith' about Republican policies for years.

[paleotn]

11. Oh, good grief.

THIS is what's running our executive branch right now. "Belief" is not evidence, like hope is not a plan. And THAT is what's driving US military strikes. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

[Fritz Walter]

12. Am I the only one reminded of the "Military Intelligence" jokes from past decades?

No insult intended for the career military personnel in service to our country.

However, this political appointee hasn’t the first fucking clue as to what’s at stake here. That stated, I hope this quote will haunt his ass for the rest of his life.

And, oh-by-the-way, how’s JarJar Kushner’s Middle East peace plan working out?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. Could it be the fact that he's a defense contractor?

Don't know if he has any prior active duty experience.

[TexasBushwhacker]

15. He was in the Army for 10 years

Retired as a Lt. Col. But yes, his connection to Raytheon is problematic.

[Jedi Guy]

18. Lt. Colonel after 10 years? Isn't that a little odd, or is it just me?

My old man was in the Air Force for almost 23 years, and he retired as a major. If he'd opted to stay in after Desert Storm, he would've made lieutenant colonel. This Esper guy was in the service for half as long, and he makes it a rank higher? I know that different people in different fields will advance at different rates, but that still seems awfully strange to me.

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. I have a cousin who is a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force

but he's been in for 20 years.

[Southern Blueneck]

16. How Very ESPERATIONAL!

[turbinetree]

17. Was he sitting at the table with cotton in his ears and blindfold on his eyes

or was he singing................LA,LA, LA, LA........................

[malthaussen]

20. If true, why not?

Most of the intelligence agencies report to him. Those that don't would surely want the guy responsible for defense to, like, know about a threat to our defense. Sounds to me like he's trying to have his cake and eat it, and very badly at that.

-- Mal