U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, April 29, 2018. (Photo: Thomas Coex/AP)
Proving Eager to 'Get the War Started,' Pompeo Ramps Up Anti-Iran Rhetoric in Israel and Saudi Arabia
"Less than three years after Iran signed the Iran Deal and began dramatically cutting back its nuclear program, Israel, Saudi, and the U.S. are fast coordinating a military attack on Iran."
Wasting no time confirming fears that he would would bring his disdain for diplomacy and zeal for war to the world stage if confirmed as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo used his first official visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend to escalate the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric while ignoring the horrific atrocities currently being committed by America's key Middle East allies.
"Looks like Netanyahu, Bolton, Pompeo, Haley, and Trump can't wait to get the war started."
--Yousef Munayyer, U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Speaking alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh on Sunday, Pompeo claimed Iran is "the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world" and said the Trump administration is "determined to make sure it never possesses a nuclear weapon."
"The Iran deal in its current form does not provide that assurance," Pompeo asserted, contradicting the testimony of international inspectors who say the agreement has been strong and effective. "We will continue to work with our European allies to fix that deal, but if a deal cannot be reached, the president has said that he will leave that deal."
While Pompeo may insist that he is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes, foreign policy experts have noted that by attacking the nuclear accord, the Trump administration is actively working to undermine "the very agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran" and dangerously heightening the possibility of war.
Piling on the belligerent rhetoric during a visit to Israel on Sunday, Pompeo--who embarked on his Middle East trip before even holding meetings with his diminished, and reportedly demoralized, staff at the State Department--said he is "deeply concerned about Iran's dangerous escalation of threats to Israel and the region, and Iran's ambition to dominate the Middle East remains. The United States is with Israel in this fight."
"You're an incredibly important partner [and] occupy a special place in my heart, too," Pompeo told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was reportedly "delighted" by what he heard from America's new Secretary of State.
Pompeo reportedly did not make plans to meet with Palestinian leaders during his Middle East trip, nor did he publicly mention the fact that Israeli military forces have massacred dozens of non-violent protestors and journalists in Gaza over the past several weeks.
Emboldened by the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric, Netanyahu--who has been issuing hysterical and fact-free warnings about Iran's nuclear ambitious for over a decade--is planning to deliver a speech on Sunday to "expose new intelligence on the Iranian nuclear program."
"Looks like Netanyahu, Bolton, Pompeo, Haley and Trump can't wait to get the war started," Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, wrote in response to news of Netanyahu's planned speech.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Wasting no time confirming fears that he would would bring his disdain for diplomacy and zeal for war to the world stage if confirmed as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo used his first official visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend to escalate the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric while ignoring the horrific atrocities currently being committed by America's key Middle East allies.
"Looks like Netanyahu, Bolton, Pompeo, Haley, and Trump can't wait to get the war started."
--Yousef Munayyer, U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Speaking alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh on Sunday, Pompeo claimed Iran is "the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world" and said the Trump administration is "determined to make sure it never possesses a nuclear weapon."
"The Iran deal in its current form does not provide that assurance," Pompeo asserted, contradicting the testimony of international inspectors who say the agreement has been strong and effective. "We will continue to work with our European allies to fix that deal, but if a deal cannot be reached, the president has said that he will leave that deal."
While Pompeo may insist that he is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes, foreign policy experts have noted that by attacking the nuclear accord, the Trump administration is actively working to undermine "the very agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran" and dangerously heightening the possibility of war.
Piling on the belligerent rhetoric during a visit to Israel on Sunday, Pompeo--who embarked on his Middle East trip before even holding meetings with his diminished, and reportedly demoralized, staff at the State Department--said he is "deeply concerned about Iran's dangerous escalation of threats to Israel and the region, and Iran's ambition to dominate the Middle East remains. The United States is with Israel in this fight."
"You're an incredibly important partner [and] occupy a special place in my heart, too," Pompeo told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was reportedly "delighted" by what he heard from America's new Secretary of State.
Pompeo reportedly did not make plans to meet with Palestinian leaders during his Middle East trip, nor did he publicly mention the fact that Israeli military forces have massacred dozens of non-violent protestors and journalists in Gaza over the past several weeks.
Emboldened by the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric, Netanyahu--who has been issuing hysterical and fact-free warnings about Iran's nuclear ambitious for over a decade--is planning to deliver a speech on Sunday to "expose new intelligence on the Iranian nuclear program."
"Looks like Netanyahu, Bolton, Pompeo, Haley and Trump can't wait to get the war started," Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, wrote in response to news of Netanyahu's planned speech.
Wasting no time confirming fears that he would would bring his disdain for diplomacy and zeal for war to the world stage if confirmed as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo used his first official visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend to escalate the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric while ignoring the horrific atrocities currently being committed by America's key Middle East allies.
"Looks like Netanyahu, Bolton, Pompeo, Haley, and Trump can't wait to get the war started."
--Yousef Munayyer, U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Speaking alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh on Sunday, Pompeo claimed Iran is "the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world" and said the Trump administration is "determined to make sure it never possesses a nuclear weapon."
"The Iran deal in its current form does not provide that assurance," Pompeo asserted, contradicting the testimony of international inspectors who say the agreement has been strong and effective. "We will continue to work with our European allies to fix that deal, but if a deal cannot be reached, the president has said that he will leave that deal."
While Pompeo may insist that he is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes, foreign policy experts have noted that by attacking the nuclear accord, the Trump administration is actively working to undermine "the very agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran" and dangerously heightening the possibility of war.
Piling on the belligerent rhetoric during a visit to Israel on Sunday, Pompeo--who embarked on his Middle East trip before even holding meetings with his diminished, and reportedly demoralized, staff at the State Department--said he is "deeply concerned about Iran's dangerous escalation of threats to Israel and the region, and Iran's ambition to dominate the Middle East remains. The United States is with Israel in this fight."
"You're an incredibly important partner [and] occupy a special place in my heart, too," Pompeo told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was reportedly "delighted" by what he heard from America's new Secretary of State.
Pompeo reportedly did not make plans to meet with Palestinian leaders during his Middle East trip, nor did he publicly mention the fact that Israeli military forces have massacred dozens of non-violent protestors and journalists in Gaza over the past several weeks.
Emboldened by the Trump administration's anti-Iran rhetoric, Netanyahu--who has been issuing hysterical and fact-free warnings about Iran's nuclear ambitious for over a decade--is planning to deliver a speech on Sunday to "expose new intelligence on the Iranian nuclear program."
"Looks like Netanyahu, Bolton, Pompeo, Haley and Trump can't wait to get the war started," Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, wrote in response to news of Netanyahu's planned speech.