Anti-war activist protest in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 4, 2020. (Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
Oct 09, 2020
In an interview with notorious right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh on Friday, President Donald Trump launched into what one commentator described as a "genocidal screed" against Iran, threatening to "do things... that have never been done before" to the nation of more than 80 million people.
"Trump has taken the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war, not Iran. He left a nuclear deal that was working and is economically blockading the country and starving its people."
--Sina Toossi, National Iranian American Council
"If you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are going to do things to you that have never been done before," Trump said of Iran, a frequent target of the president's militaristic bluster and threats of deadly force. In addition to pushing the two nations to the brink of all-out war earlier this year by assassinating Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Trump has also threatened to bomb Iranian cultural sites--which would be a war crime.
The president's comments came less than a month before the November election and just 24 hours after his administration unveiled crippling new sanctions against Iran's financial sector that could severely hinder the country's access to humanitarian goods as it struggles to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Listen to Trump's remarks:
\u201c\u201cIf you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are gonna do things to you that have never been done before.\u201d \u2014 the President of the United States\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1602266710
"Trump has taken the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war, not Iran," Sina Toossi, senior research analyst at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), tweeted in response to Trump's comments. "He left a nuclear deal that was working and is economically blockading the country and starving its people. He could see a war as helping him these next few weeks, or after November 3 if the results aren't decisive. Vote!"
\u201cNew US sanctions on 18 Iranian banks will effectively cut Iran off from the global financial system completely\u2014in the middle of a pandemic. They hurt Iranians and strengthen hardliners; they are counterproductive and cruel. \nThe American people can speak out by VOTING TRUMP OUT!\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1602266286
Foreign policy experts have been warning for months that the president, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and other hawkish administration officials could be laying the groundwork for an attack on Iran just ahead of next month's election--a possible ploy analysts have dubbed Trump's "October Surprise."
"Going to war is a risky political move," Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, wrote last month. "Though the public tends to rally around the sitting president initially, the effect can be short lived if questions arise about the defensive nature of the fighting. The more Iran is seen as the aggressor, the more people will rally around Trump, and the more he will benefit electorally."
In a statement on Thursday, NIAC president Jamal Abdi urged the American public to remain "vigilant to ensure the Trump administration does not do irreparable damage or pull the U.S. into a disastrous war before his time in office comes to a well-deserved end."
"People like Mike Pompeo working from inside the administration," Abdi warned, "are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the next administration can't engage in diplomacy and Iranian society is as thoroughly decimated by sanctions as possible before his time in office ends."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
In an interview with notorious right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh on Friday, President Donald Trump launched into what one commentator described as a "genocidal screed" against Iran, threatening to "do things... that have never been done before" to the nation of more than 80 million people.
"Trump has taken the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war, not Iran. He left a nuclear deal that was working and is economically blockading the country and starving its people."
--Sina Toossi, National Iranian American Council
"If you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are going to do things to you that have never been done before," Trump said of Iran, a frequent target of the president's militaristic bluster and threats of deadly force. In addition to pushing the two nations to the brink of all-out war earlier this year by assassinating Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Trump has also threatened to bomb Iranian cultural sites--which would be a war crime.
The president's comments came less than a month before the November election and just 24 hours after his administration unveiled crippling new sanctions against Iran's financial sector that could severely hinder the country's access to humanitarian goods as it struggles to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Listen to Trump's remarks:
\u201c\u201cIf you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are gonna do things to you that have never been done before.\u201d \u2014 the President of the United States\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1602266710
"Trump has taken the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war, not Iran," Sina Toossi, senior research analyst at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), tweeted in response to Trump's comments. "He left a nuclear deal that was working and is economically blockading the country and starving its people. He could see a war as helping him these next few weeks, or after November 3 if the results aren't decisive. Vote!"
\u201cNew US sanctions on 18 Iranian banks will effectively cut Iran off from the global financial system completely\u2014in the middle of a pandemic. They hurt Iranians and strengthen hardliners; they are counterproductive and cruel. \nThe American people can speak out by VOTING TRUMP OUT!\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1602266286
Foreign policy experts have been warning for months that the president, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and other hawkish administration officials could be laying the groundwork for an attack on Iran just ahead of next month's election--a possible ploy analysts have dubbed Trump's "October Surprise."
"Going to war is a risky political move," Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, wrote last month. "Though the public tends to rally around the sitting president initially, the effect can be short lived if questions arise about the defensive nature of the fighting. The more Iran is seen as the aggressor, the more people will rally around Trump, and the more he will benefit electorally."
In a statement on Thursday, NIAC president Jamal Abdi urged the American public to remain "vigilant to ensure the Trump administration does not do irreparable damage or pull the U.S. into a disastrous war before his time in office comes to a well-deserved end."
"People like Mike Pompeo working from inside the administration," Abdi warned, "are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the next administration can't engage in diplomacy and Iranian society is as thoroughly decimated by sanctions as possible before his time in office ends."
From Your Site Articles
In an interview with notorious right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh on Friday, President Donald Trump launched into what one commentator described as a "genocidal screed" against Iran, threatening to "do things... that have never been done before" to the nation of more than 80 million people.
"Trump has taken the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war, not Iran. He left a nuclear deal that was working and is economically blockading the country and starving its people."
--Sina Toossi, National Iranian American Council
"If you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are going to do things to you that have never been done before," Trump said of Iran, a frequent target of the president's militaristic bluster and threats of deadly force. In addition to pushing the two nations to the brink of all-out war earlier this year by assassinating Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Trump has also threatened to bomb Iranian cultural sites--which would be a war crime.
The president's comments came less than a month before the November election and just 24 hours after his administration unveiled crippling new sanctions against Iran's financial sector that could severely hinder the country's access to humanitarian goods as it struggles to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Listen to Trump's remarks:
\u201c\u201cIf you fuck around with us, if you do something bad to us, we are gonna do things to you that have never been done before.\u201d \u2014 the President of the United States\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1602266710
"Trump has taken the U.S. and Iran to the brink of war, not Iran," Sina Toossi, senior research analyst at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), tweeted in response to Trump's comments. "He left a nuclear deal that was working and is economically blockading the country and starving its people. He could see a war as helping him these next few weeks, or after November 3 if the results aren't decisive. Vote!"
\u201cNew US sanctions on 18 Iranian banks will effectively cut Iran off from the global financial system completely\u2014in the middle of a pandemic. They hurt Iranians and strengthen hardliners; they are counterproductive and cruel. \nThe American people can speak out by VOTING TRUMP OUT!\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1602266286
Foreign policy experts have been warning for months that the president, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and other hawkish administration officials could be laying the groundwork for an attack on Iran just ahead of next month's election--a possible ploy analysts have dubbed Trump's "October Surprise."
"Going to war is a risky political move," Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, wrote last month. "Though the public tends to rally around the sitting president initially, the effect can be short lived if questions arise about the defensive nature of the fighting. The more Iran is seen as the aggressor, the more people will rally around Trump, and the more he will benefit electorally."
In a statement on Thursday, NIAC president Jamal Abdi urged the American public to remain "vigilant to ensure the Trump administration does not do irreparable damage or pull the U.S. into a disastrous war before his time in office comes to a well-deserved end."
"People like Mike Pompeo working from inside the administration," Abdi warned, "are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the next administration can't engage in diplomacy and Iranian society is as thoroughly decimated by sanctions as possible before his time in office ends."
From Your Site Articles
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.