Fleitz: In terminating Soleimani, Trump ‘laid down a marker’ for Iran’s mullahs

Undermining National Security. @FredFleitz says the Left’s Trump Derangement syndrome has poisoned the national security debate. #MAGA #AmericaFirst #Dobbs pic.twitter.com/cfAbTk4iWX

— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) January 7, 2020

“The president has laid down a marker here that there are consequences for going after US citizens, for hitting a US embassy, he’s not going to just roll over and take it,” Center President Fred Fleitz told Lou Dobbs on Fox News.

Fleitz joined Lou to discuss the rising tensions between Iran and the United States in the wake of the death of Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani, the premier military leader in Iran.

In response to Iran’s announcement that it will no longer comply with the conditions put in place by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Fleitz noted that Iran has in fact been using this rhetoric for the past nine months. This statement is “an effort to try to put the pressure on European states, it’s an effort to cause trouble in the United States.” In addition, prior to the US withdrawing from the JCPOA,  Iran was able to “continue nuclear weapons-related activities, it was allowed to enrich uranium while the deal was in effect, it was allowed to construct a heavy-water reactor, inspections were very weak.”

Trump: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon

“The president has laid down a marker here that there are consequences for going after US citizens, for hitting a US embassy, he’s not going to just roll over and take it,” Fleitz said. When the US doesn’t do anything, “we are emboldening terrorist states like this.”

Following the death of Soleimani, it is expected that Iran will retaliate one way or another, and Fleitz thinks “there could be a cowardly attack by an Iranian surrogate group without Iran’s fingerprints on it.” However, Fleitz notes that Iran’s leaders may be worried because of the President’s response to Iran’s provocations. 

“Unlike the Obama administration, there will be an overwhelming response”

Fleitz believes that contrary to the Obama administration’s passive response when provoked by Iran, President Trump will act with much more strength and determination should Iran do anything more to provoke the US or its allies in the region.

Lastly, Fleitz touched on the left’s response to the killing of Soleimani, which has been, for the most part, negative, and called it a “shame that this Trump derangement syndrome is poisoning the national security debate in not recognizing something that has done so much to promote our national security.”