By Benjamin H. Friedman
The reckless decision to kill Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, along with several other Iraqi and Iranian officials, cannot be undone. But it can be an impetus for the belated exit of U.S. forces from Iraq, who may still avoid needless trouble.
Iraq’s parliament passed a resolution calling for the U.S. military forces (along with other foreign units) to be expelled. Washington should accept the invitation.
Even critics of killing Soleimani note he was a murderer, who had U.S. “blood on his hands.” While this is true, it’s largely beside the point. U.S. foreign policy does not exist to dispense global justice by punishing the wicked. It exists to serve U.S. security and prosperity, and protect our liberties here at home. Talk of justice distracts from consideration of consequences. Soleimani’s death is likely to lead to bad ones, possibly including broader war, especially if we insist on leaving relatively small numbers of forces nearby to absorb the trouble this week’s strike set off.
Soleimani was not a rogue outlaw, but a military official of a sovereign government we were not at war with, making his killing an assassination. His actions, however evil, served Iranian policy. Even Iranians with no love for his ilk now bridle with nationalist outrage. Iranians rally around the flag, too. Adding to the outrage will be Saturday’s news the U.S. strike was a long-planned punitive measure aimed at punishing Iran for actions taken by the Kataeb Hezbollah militias it supports in Iraq — and not a means to stop an imminent attack on U.S. forces as Trump administration officials claimed.
This piece was originally published in USA Today on January 6, 2020. Read more HERE.