Trump asked for options for attacking Iran last week, but held off: source

[JudyM]

Source: Reuters

President Donald Trump asked for options on attacking Iran’s main nuclear site last week but ultimately decided against taking the dramatic step, a U.S. official said on Monday. Trump made the request during a meeting on Thursday with his top national security aides, including Vice President Mike Pence, his new Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the official said.

The official confirmed the account of the meeting in The New York Times, which reported that the advisers persuaded Trump not to go ahead with a strike because of the risk of a broader conflict. “He asked for options. They gave him the scenarios and he ultimately decided not to go forward,” the official said.
...
His request for options came a day after a U.N. atomic watchdog report showed that Iran had finished moving a first cascade of advanced centrifuges from an above-ground plant at its main uranium enrichment site to an underground one, in a fresh breach of its nuclear deal with big powers.
...
In January, Trump ordered a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military General Qassem Soleimani at the Baghdad airport. But he has shied away from broader military conflicts and sought to withdraw U.S. troops from global hotspots in keeping with a promise to stop what he calls “endless wars.”




Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-trump/trump-asked-for-options-for-attacking-iran-last-week-but-held-off-source-idUSKBN27X02C

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At least he decided not to go forward. Can you imagine him managing that and its aftermath?

[onecaliberal]

1. He can't claim they broke the rule of an agreement he withdrew from.

[Newest Reality]

2. Yes, I can.

You can see what his intent is and how he will proceed before the inauguration.

This is a "put nothing past him" stage. He will consider and perhaps act on many extreme options.

[mr_lebowski]

3. I would not presume this is accurate in the slightest ...

Matter of fact I now expect Trump will order an attack on Iran.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. He wants to use a nuke before he goes

and I see him blaming Iran for his loss.

[Under The Radar]

5. How does a Man who has threatened the lives of so many,

...indirectly and directly caused the death and suffering of so many, not spend the remainder of his life looking over his shoulder and ducking at startling sounds?
Prison may be the safest place for him.

[mjvpi]

12. Good point. Does Iran have a drone program?

[robbob]

6. I don't doubt he thinks if he starts a war

or provokes some crisis in the ME (which could be why he’s pulling troops out, to leave the remaining troops vulnerable), he thinks he can remain in office because “we are at war”. Not saying it would work, but I put nothing past this evil clown. His life is over once he leaves office; he will do literally anything to stay in power.

[JudyM]

16. Painfully true. The world will be sitting on pins and needles for the next 2 months.

[Hoyt]

7. We've been saying trump would start a war with Iran for years.

He hasn’t. He’s still a POS and thankfully a total loser.

[orangecrush]

8. Of course he did

The top brass at the pentagon know full well he's a traitor, which is why he's started getting rid of them.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. Trump would not have to take care of the aftermath

I suspect his Defense Sec quitting or firing a couple weeks ago because Fat Nixon was discussing a "limited" nuclear attack but was advised against it.

Trump needed someone who would follow his commands, even if it meant the end of our nation, because believe me, if he does it the whole world will be at our door.

[The Wizard]

10. Dr. Strangelove

[rickyhall]

11. He needs cash & Saudi Arabia wants Iran out of the picture, so does Israel, for that matter.

[DallasNE]

13. Unimaginable

That Trump would even convene a meeting on this subject without inviting the President-Elect, let alone calling for options. We still have 65 more days to worry about what other nincompoop idea floats around in his head.

[LudwigPastorius]

14. I hate it when I'm right.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142624460#post31

[JudyM]

15. Ugh, let's hope you're wrong.