Sen. Lindsey Graham heaped praise on President Trump for his response to an attack Tuesday on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
“Very proud of [Trump] acting decisively in the face of threats to our embassy in Baghdad,” Graham tweeted as the news unfolded. “He has put the world on notice — there will be no Benghazis on his watch.”
The South Carolina Republican went on to issue warnings to both the Iranian government and American allies in Iraq, telling the former to “choose your battles wisely” and the latter to “protect our American personnel.”
To the Iranian government:
Be careful what you wish for — a country that depends on the ability to refine oil for its existence needs to be cautious.
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— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019
To our Iraqi allies:
This is your moment to convince the American people the US-Iraq relationship is meaningful to you and worth protecting.
Protect our American personnel. You will not regret it.
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— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019
The hundreds of protesters, who shouted “death to America” as they stormed the compound, are enraged by a series of U.S. airstrikes over the weekend on facilities in Iraq and Syria that are controlled by an Iranian-backed militia.
Trump reacted to the incident by accusing Iran of provoking the embassy attack.
“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will,” Trump said. “Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!”
Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019
In 2012, a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Lybia, led to the deaths of four Americans. How the State Department, led by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, handled the attack in Benghazi was used by critics of Clinton and former President Barack Obama as a political cudgel.
Graham, one of Clinton’s loudest critics during the Benghazi scandal, warned Iran that Trump will not be intimidated like previous presidents.
“Be careful what you wish for,” he told Iran. “A country that depends on the ability to refine oil for its existence needs to be cautious. President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most.”
