# US assassinates commanding general of Iran Quds force **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 3, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821 "2020-01-03T02:01:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/521 "2020-01-07T23:12:03Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > You mean like Obama did when he ordered hundreds of drone strikes without congressional approval, including targeting American civilians? Or perhaps the wars in Libya and Syria which were carried out without congressional authorization? As Obama himself said, “It turns out I’m really good at killing people.” Not so good at getting Congress to approve it. > > Or maybe you mean the Iran ‘deal’, which was clearly a treaty but the word was never used to avoid the pesky constitutional requirement of having Congress vote on it? > > Or maybe you mean DACA, which Obama passed by executive order after spending years telling people he couldn’t do exactly that because the constitution forbade it? > > If Obama had killed Soleimani, Democrats would be cheering and the Republicans would be complaining about oversight. Because that’s the way we roll now, Your irony meter must be broken, because criticizing Obama for not following the Constitution is quite literally the hypocrisy that I was criticizing. I mean, there is literally no more “yep I totally missed the point” response possible than to list your grievances with Obama. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/522 "2020-01-07T23:42:15Z")
The De-escalation has begun. > [@](#): > > Pro-Iran media is reporting that Iran has fired ballistic missile into US bases inside Iraq. > > Simultaneously, a senior US military source in Iraq tells Fox News they’re “under missile attack from Iran, “cruise missiles or short range ballistic missiles”, “All over the country”! > ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/523 "2020-01-07T23:50:59Z")
The justification was (supposedly) to stop an imminent attack. Apparently an attack is underway. That justification is obviously bullshit, but even if we pretend it’s not, then the assassination failed to accomplish its goal. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/524 "2020-01-07T23:55:30Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > You mean like Obama did when he ordered hundreds of drone strikes without congressional approval, including targeting American civilians? Or perhaps the wars in Libya and Syria which were carried out without congressional authorization? As Obama himself said, “It turns out I’m really good at killing people.” Not so good at getting Congress to approve it… And Obama got lots of crap about it many places including on this very site from Democrats, liberals, and progressives: > **[Why aren't Progressives questioning the legality & morality of Obama's...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=684876)** > > Oddly, it seems like the Libertarians might be on the right side of history and morality on this issue. Progressives seem almost supine re the moral and legal questions surrounding the targeting of Americans to be killed by drones sans any judicial... > **[Obama administration arguing they can assassinate anyone without oversight](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579904)** > > That, at least, is how Glenn Greenwald and libertarian blogger Radley Balko interpret their (the administration’s) arguments as reported in this Washington Post article. Any thoughts, legal/political eagles, on how I should interpret it? Just to pick two that I quickly found. Lots of back and forth there, from all sides. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/525 "2020-01-07T23:59:16Z")
So just so I’m clear here - what’s going on right now is an actual exchange of military strikes between two countries, under color of government authority - right? This is not some bullshit with an ill defined “insurgent” force, this is the official governments of the US and Iran, not just saber rattling, but actually coming to blows? If so, that’s … the first time in a while that such an exchange has occurred, isn’t it? That’s not good. Or did a similar thing happen with the US and Syria last year? Or the year before that, fuck it if I can even remember. Either way, Iran seems considerably larger and more of a threat than Syria. I’m not feeling good about the prospects here. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/526 "2020-01-07T23:59:52Z")
Fuuuuuuuuuuck. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/527 "2020-01-07T23:59:55Z")
The al-Asad airbase in Iraq, which houses US military personnel [is under attack](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/politics/rockets-us-airbase-iraq/index.html). Reportedly 10 rockets have been launched so far. And so it begins. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/528 "2020-01-08T00:00:33Z")
“Tens” of rockets, not ten rockets. > [@](#): > > Iran says it has launched “tens” of surface-to-surface missiles at Iraq’s Ain Assad air base housing U.S. troops over America’s killing of a top Iranian general. > > State TV described it early Wednesday as Tehran’s revenge operation over the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani. > **[Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at bases in Iraq](https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-persian-gulf-tensions-tehran-international-news-iraq-add7a702258b4419d796aa5f48e577fc)** > > TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing a top Revolutionary Guards commander, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American troops in a major escalation between the... ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/529 "2020-01-08T00:05:55Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > And Obama got lots of crap about it many places including on this very site from Democrats, liberals, and progressives: > > [Why aren't Progressives questioning the legality & morality of Obama's drone targeting policy? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=684876) > [Obama administration arguing they can assassinate anyone without oversight - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579904) > > Just to pick two that I quickly found. Lots of back and forth there, from all sides. Oh, here’s my very own rant about Obama and the Libyan no-fly zoen: > **[Pre-pitting a Libyan no-fly zone](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=600664)** > > This is my first pit thread, so it’s likely to be not angry enough. I cannot believe that people in power (NATO, Congress, President) are seriously considering putting in place a no-fly zone over Libya! Hey, Democrats – remember Iraq? Do you want... (Full disclosure, I forgot my promise and ended up voting for Obama) ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/530 "2020-01-08T00:10:00Z")
Trump will probably blame Jimmy Carter. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/531 "2020-01-08T00:11:00Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > “Tens” of rockets, not ten rockets.[Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at bases in Iraq | AP News](https://apnews.com/add7a702258b4419d796aa5f48e577fc) The report minutes before I posted said “10.” These stories tend to get more accurate as time goes by. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/532 "2020-01-08T00:27:55Z")
US defense contractors are all having Bacchanalias and more than 1 US site has been attacked ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/533 "2020-01-08T00:49:04Z")
Two bases hit, CNN reporting that Pence had gone to brief congressional leaders. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/534 "2020-01-08T00:51:13Z")
Y’all know I’m alarmist on this subject, but I’m not making a big deal out of “tens of rockets”. Could be the beginning of something bigger, but I’m not compressing my undergarments just yet. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/535 "2020-01-08T00:54:47Z")
Well, you, assuming you’re in America, will probably be fine. A lot of people in Iran and Iraq are probably going to die, though, including American troops. Barring some A+ last-minute diplomacy, which…I’ve not exactly come to expect from the current administration. Although if they’re as beholden to Russia as everyone seems to think, maybe Russia will talk some sense into Trump. Or poison him with Ricin, who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/536 "2020-01-08T01:01:50Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Y’all know I’m alarmist on this subject, but I’m not making a big deal out of “tens of rockets”. Could be the beginning of something bigger, but I’m not compressing my undergarments just yet. Same here. Haven’t Iranian proxies fired thousands of rockets into Israel before, by analogy? I expect some selective US airstrikes to take out the rocket launchers. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/537 "2020-01-08T01:02:43Z")
The chyron at MSNBC notes that Iran says a second wave of missiles has been launched. Might be a good time for Trump to [grant that visa to the Iranian foreign minister to the UN](https://apnews.com/4c2bf7286c2c2854244e5800dea06bf9) that the administration previously denied. (AP) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/538 "2020-01-08T01:04:29Z")
Looks like the war is on. Iran isn’t using proxies or being indirect as I expected. Rather they are clearly engaging in direct attacks on US bases and troops. Trump is going to lose his shit and start hitting cities in Iran and possible cultural sites. Buckle up kids, this is going to be a bumpy ride. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/539 "2020-01-08T01:04:49Z")
The F-22 Raptor, which entered IOC in December 2005, is fourteen years overdue for its first air-to-air kill… ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821/540 "2020-01-08T01:05:26Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Y’all know I’m alarmist on this subject, but I’m not making a big deal out of “tens of rockets”. Could be the beginning of something bigger, but I’m not compressing my undergarments just yet. Let’s see how Trump responds. What if he does bomb culturally significant sites? Trump’s not known for making measured decisions. Or being rational in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-assassinates-commanding-general-of-iran-quds-force/845821.md?page=28)