memeorandum: The U.S. Public Still Doesn't Want War With Iran (Shibley Telhami/Foreign Policy)

8:40 PM ET, January 3, 2020

Top Items:

Nahal Toosi / Politico:

How Trump decided to kill Iran's Soleimani — Hours before the U.S. military sent a Reaper drone to kill one of the most wanted men on the planet, President Donald Trump was relaxing at his palatial Florida properties. In the morning, he played 18 holes at Trump International, his West Palm Beach golf club.

Discussion: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Associated Press, Bloomberg, HuffPost, The Drive and Lawfare

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

Trump Thinks Attacking Iran Will Get Him Reelected. He's Wrong. — Beginning in 2011, and continuing through the next year, Donald Trump began obsessively predicting that President Obama would start a war with Iran in order to be reelected. Trump stated it publicly, on at least a half-dozen occasions …

Discussion: Redstate, Quartz, NBC News, Reason, New York Times, No More Mister Nice Blog, Talking Points Memo and CANNONFIRE

Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

Pelosi Statement on Airstrike in Iraq Against High-Level Iranian Military Officials — Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the Trump Administration conducted a deadly airstrike targeting Iranians and Iraqis at the Baghdad International Airport:

Wesley Clark / Washington Post:

Killing a top Iranian military leader was a whack-for-tat move — Soleimani was no stateless outlaw like Osama bin Laden. This U.S. action sets us on a dangerous path of escalation. — Like the killing of Osama bin Laden, the strike on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad …

Discussion: Esquire, The Times of Israel, Slate and The Guardian

The Daily Beast:

Trump Told Mar-a-Lago Pals to Expect ‘Big’ Iran Action ‘Soon’ — Attendees of a closed-door Senate briefing didn't get much more clarity than the club guests did. Instead, officials spun Soleimani's slaying as a way to “de-escalate” tensions. — In the five days prior to launching …

Discussion: Washington Post, Axios, The Week and The Hill

Avi Selk / Washington Post:

Soleimani posted memes antagonizing Trump on social media — Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq early Friday, wasn't just an infamous terrorist organizer and one of the regime's most powerful officials — he was also one of President Trump's social media antagonists.

Discussion: The Federalist, Michigan Advance, Right Wing Watch, Daily Sounder and Mediaite

David E. Sanger / New York Times:

For Trump, a Risky Gamble to Deter Iran — The goal was to prove American resolve in the face of Iranian attacks. Now, American officials have no doubt the Iranians will respond — but they don't know how quickly, or how furiously. — President Trump's decision to strike and kill …

Discussion: Axios, Associated Press, Washington Post, Vox, Politico, Reason, Breitbart, Billy Penn, The Week and DNyuz

Robin Wright / New Yorker:

The Killing of Qassem Suleimani Is Tantamount to an Act of War — On orders from President Trump, the United States killed Major General Qassem Suleimani, the leader of Iran's élite Quds Force and the mastermind of its military operations across the Middle East, in an overnight air strike at Baghdad's International Airport.

Discussion: Washington Post, The Guardian, Associated Press, MarketWatch, New York Times, Politico, The Diplomat, USA Today, CNN, VICE and Mother Jones, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

For Trump, a Risky Decision Other Presidents Had Avoided — In ordering the drone strike that killed Iran's top security commander, Mr. Trump challenged predictions it could lead to a wider war in the Middle East. — WASHINGTON — President Trump was deep in discussion with political advisers …

Discussion: CNN, Alternet.org, The Guardian, Washington Post, U.S. Embassy & Consulates …, WND, The Week, The American Independent and DNyuz

Newsweek:

Iraqi militia leader may be among six killed in another U.S. drone strike in Baghdad — Six members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an official Iraqi militia organization with ties to Iran, were killed in another U.S. drone strike in northern Baghdad on Friday, multiple officials told Newsweek.

Peter Nicholas / The Atlantic:
Trump Cultivated His Own Credibility Crisis on Iran

Discussion: Gizmodo, HuffPost, BBC, Raw Story, The Daily Wire, The Right Scoop and The American Mirror

George Packer / The Atlantic:
Killing Soleimani Was Worse Than a Crime

Discussion: New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Associated Press

Sean Illing / Vox:
An expert on why the Soleimani assassination was almost certainly illegal

Discussion: The Hill, Wall Street Journal and Raw Story

CBS News:
“There will be dead Americans” as a result of Iran general being killed, ex-CIA deputy director says

Discussion: Washington Post, CBS Boston, Gizmodo, BizPac Review and Breitbart

Mehdi Hasan / The Intercept:
Four Years Ago, Trump Had No Clue Who Iran's Suleimani Was. Now He May Have Kicked Off WWIII.

Discussion: The Week, The Guardian, New York Times, The Dispatch, Townhall, DNyuz, CNN, FOX31 Denver and New Republic

Shibley Telhami / Foreign Policy: The U.S. Public Still Doesn't Want War With Iran

NBC News:
Planned attacks against U.S. targets in Syria, Lebanon were reason for Soleimani strike, say officials

Discussion: The Economic Collapse and Common Dreams

Ray Takeyh / Politico:
Why the Death of an Iranian Commander Won't Mean World War III

Discussion: Associated Press, The Daily Beast, One America News Network, Jacobin, The Miscellanies, The Hill and DNyuz

Associated Press:
Trump says Iranian should have been ‘taken out’ years ago

Discussion: Vox, NBC News, HuffPost, One America News Network, Daily Kos, Breitbart, The Hill, WTOP, The Gateway Pundit and The American Independent

Barbara Slavin / New York Times:
Qassim Suleimani's Killing Will Unleash Chaos

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Talking Points Memo and Gizmodo

Abigail Tracy / Vanity Fair:
“The Administration's Track Record Doesn't Inspire Confidence”: After Killing Soleimani …

Discussion: Wired, The American Independent and New York Times

Suzanne Maloney / Washington Post: Iran knows how to bide its time. Don't expect immediate retaliation for Soleimani.

Marc Champion / Bloomberg:
Iran Options Seem Narrow as It Seeks to Avenge Slain General

Discussion: DNyuz

Ryan C. Brooks / BuzzFeed News:
Trump's Strike Has Drawn A Sharp Line Between The Democrats Running For President

Discussion: IJR and The Week

CNN:
Why now? Lawmakers question timing and legality of Trump's strike against Iranian commander

Discussion: Slate, Q13 FOX News, The Daily Caller, KTLA and FOX2now.com

Noga Tarnopolsky / Los Angeles Times:
Israel had advance notice of U.S. plan to kill Iranian general Suleimani, report says

Discussion: Raw Story

Richard Sisk / Military.com:
Thousands More US Troops Deploying to Middle East in Response to Iranian Threats

Discussion: Task & Purpose

Bloomberg:
Trump's Iran Strike Planned Swiftly With Tight Circle of Aides

Discussion: BuzzFeed News, Washington Post, Vanity Fair and BBC

McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Trump has considered killing Iran's Soleimani since last summer, sources say

Discussion: Raw Story

New York Times:
Qassim Suleimani, Master of Iran's Intrigue, Built a Shiite Axis of Power in Mideast

Discussion: GQ, Associated Press, Breitbart, Axios, NB Blog, Mother Jones, DNyuz, Townhall, americamagazine.org, VICE, Faithwire, The National Interest, Atlantic Council, JustOneMinute and Althouse

Nancy Dillon / New York Daily News:

Ex-Fox News reporter Courtney Friel claims Donald Trump invited her to Trump Tower to ‘kiss’ — Former Fox News reporter Courtney Friel says Donald Trump called her with a creepy come-on before he became president — while they were both married. — Friel, who sometimes worked as a fill …

Discussion: Alternet.org, POLITICUSUSA, The Hill, Mediaite, HuffPost and The Week

Jamie Ross / The Daily Beast:
Ex-Fox Reporter Says Trump Asked Her to Visit His Office for a ‘Kiss’

Discussion: Mediaite

Edward Helmore / The Guardian: Former Fox News reporter says Trump invited her to his office ‘so we can kiss’

New York Times:

White House Withholds 20 Emails Between Two Trump Aides on Ukraine Aid — It contends the release of the documents sought by The Times, would “inhibit the frank and candid exchange of views” in government decision-making. — WASHINGTON — The Trump administration disclosed on Friday …

Discussion: Politico, Raw Story, Common Dreams, CNN and DNyuz

Susan Smith Richardson / Center for Public Integrity:
Time for the Trump administration to release blacked-out Ukraine emails

Discussion: Alternet.org and Vanity Fair

Washington Post:

Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions scramble the politics of Trump's impeachment — President Trump's order to kill an Iranian commander responsible for hundreds of American deaths has scrambled the politics of impeachment, putting Democrats on the defensive in their bid to remove Trump during a possible escalation into war.

Discussion: IJR and Talking Points Memo

Clare Foran / CNN:
McConnell defends communication with White House on impeachment and says it's a 'fantasy …

Discussion: Redstate and Townhall

Brooke Singman / Fox News:
Impeachment impasse deepens as McConnell rejects Pelosi's bid to shape trial: ‘Their turn is over’

Discussion: Redstate and The Hill

Lisa Friedman / New York Times:

Trump Rule Would Exclude Climate Change in Infrastructure Planning — WASHINGTON — Federal agencies would no longer have to take climate change into account when they assess the environmental impacts of highways, pipelines and other major infrastructure projects, according to a Trump administration plan …

Discussion: Mother Jones and Axios

Politico:

The Hill's owner seeks potential buyers, investors — Under fire for its role in promoting alleged Ukraine conspiracy theories, the D.C.-based publication faces new questions about its future. — Jimmy Finkelstein in 2012. Jimmy Finkelstein, owner of The Hill, is shopping his publication …

more at Mediagazer »

Julie Zauzmer / Washington Post:

United Methodist Church is expected to split over gay marriage, fracturing the nation's third-largest denomination — Church leaders said Friday they had agreed to spin off a “traditionalist Methodist” denomination, and allow the remainder of the denomination to permit same-sex marriage …

Discussion: The Hill, The Daily Caller, Meduza.io, National Review, IJR, Disrn and WND

New York Times:
United Methodist Church Announces Plan to Split Over Same-Sex Marriage

Discussion: The Week and TheBlaze

Wall Street Journal:

Carlos Ghosn Sneaked Out of Japan in Box Used for Audio Gear — Two men, providing names matching those of private security contractors, flew with Ghosn to Turkey — A pair of men with names matching those of American security contractors accompanied former auto executive Carlos Ghosn …

Discussion: Law & Crime, Al Jazeera, Financial Times and Bloomberg

Reid J. Epstein / New York Times:

D.N.C. Tells Pollsters to Do More Polls — There hasn't been a single poll in weeks that could help the Democratic presidential candidates qualify for the next debate. The party blames the polling organizations. — NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — The morning after the Democrats' last debate in December …

Discussion: Washington Post

Sarah Gamard / delawareonline:

Two Delaware GOP leaders under fire for Facebook posts called ‘homophobic,’ ‘anti-Semitic’ — Two of Delaware's Republican leaders are under fire after posting comments on Facebook that fellow party members have deemed “homophobic” and “anti-Semitic.” — New Castle County Republican Party …

Discussion: The Hill, The GOP of New Castle County and Delaware State News

Harmeet Kaur / CNN:
Two Delaware GOP leaders are facing backlash over homophobic and anti-Semitic comments

Discussion: PinkNews and Delaware State House …

United States Department of State:

Senior State Department Officials On the Situation in Iraq — WASHINGTON, D.C. — MODERATOR: So I'm going to have [Senior State Department Official One] start out and just give a very - a very - we actually mostly want to make this Q&A, so [Senior State Department Official One] is just going to have a few remarks here.