Reports of Qassem Soleimani’s death triggered a series of reactions in the United States: first skepticism, then shock, triumph, concern, and finally, disdain — not for Soleimani, the terrorist responsible for hundreds of American deaths in the Middle East, but for President Trump, the man who authorized the airstrike in Baghdad.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Trump for bringing tensions with Iran “to the point of no return” and demanded a congressional explanation. Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren agreed, calling Soleimani’s death a “reckless move.” And Bernie Sanders, another Democratic presidential candidate, called it a “dangerous escalation.”
Consider the differences between Democrats’ responses to the killing of Soleimani and the Republicans’ responses to the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, ordered by President Barack Obama. Not a single Republican presidential candidate questioned Obama’s authority to order the attack, though they did avoid giving him credit. And no one dared ask whether the attack was warranted. Bin Laden was a murderer with American blood on his hands, as was Soleimani, and taking both out was undoubtedly the right thing to do.
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Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, then running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, said that though it is “unusual to celebrate a death,” all “Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer, and terrorist Osama bin Laden is dead.” Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was also in the running, declared it a “great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere.” Michele Bachmann praised it as a victory as well, as did Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty, and Chris Christie.
Compare those to the 2020 Democrats’ responses last night:
Trump’s dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars.
Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 3, 2020
Soleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans. But this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict. Our priority must be to avoid another costly war.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 3, 2020
We have a president who has no strategic plan when it comes to Iran and has only made that region less stable and less safe. More thoughts: pic.twitter.com/Cn25X4kOhQ
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 3, 2020
My statement on the killing of Qassem Soleimani. pic.twitter.com/4Q9tlLAYFB
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 3, 2020
The costs associated with taking out bin Laden were just as high then as they are now with Soleimani’s death. But for a little while, both Republicans and Democrats agreed on a few things: Bin Laden deserved to die, it was good the United States was the one to end him, and the U.S.’s military strength should not be questioned.
Some of the Democratic Party response was fair criticism. Iran has vowed to retaliate, and it is worth asking whether Soleimani’s death will prompt another costly war in the Middle East. I argue here that it did not, and that taking out Soleimani was a necessary act of deterrence that put Iran in its place. Iran has much more to lose from a war with the U.S., and now Iran knows that any action it does take will be met with severe consequences. My colleague Tom Rogan explores a few options the Iranian supreme leader might take here.
The question of congressional authorization is also worth asking, as my colleague Tim Carney does here. I would argue that Trump did not need prior congressional authorization, as Rogan says, because the airstrike took place in an area in which the U.S. was lawfully present, and Iran’s continued prodding necessitated a disproportionate response.
Trump’s decision to strike Soleimani dead is not beyond criticism. But it is worth noting that most Democrats would rather use the immediate aftermath of Soleimani’s death to take a shot at Trump than applaud the rightful demise of a murderous terrorist.
