Again a client state sets us policy. Shameful
2
Strikes me as a political move, as T's ratings go up when he is bellicose and militarist...coming across as the great commander pre-election run is his best gambit. This is morally reprehensible, but we know that most of his actions are not considered (from an ethical stance). But note how many hard-line punitive actions/proclamations have been his since the release of the Mueller report...immigration hard-lining, multiple firings, more derogatory name calling than usual, threats against Cuba in terms of their buying oil, their baseball team, threats agains VZ, indeed coup making plans, name calling and lies about Puerto Rican governance and US aid (blaming a contract, for example, orchestrated by Zinke on the Islanders), introducing a heartless Budget proposal and rescinding protections for a clean environment, safe food, while ferociously moving forward on Fossil fuels and their deregulation, despite the blowups at the Louisiana chemical plants. This Manic movement is fiercer than usual! Time to get that nuclear suitcase out of his hands!
3
While Trump is on it, he should take the opportunity to do the same with Maduro’s army. After all Hamas is also in Venezuela.
1
Look up the Pew Research Center recent global poll results titled: "Globally, More People See US Power and Influence as a Major Threat" (August 1, 2017) And the threat perception has risen since 2013. You can also look up the number of US military bases worldwide (800 to 900), the number of countries where the military had operations yearly (80 last year), the thousands of bombs we dropped worldwide yearly, etc. So, who is number one?
7
Just who do Americans think they are? How many know Iran? Or an Iranian? Shame on your government.
6
@Jo Ann
Thank you for asking. Actually very few Americans have any interest in learning about any culture. From the top down politicians use the media to dehumanize people. America's strength comes from the weak nest of our citizens. Americans follow beliefs not soundness or validity of facts.
4
As the article explains was this more of a decision to prop up Netanyahu? In other words, given the risks in that region, some in the admin felt that helping him win was more productive than not going after Iran? In the text, it states that this was Netanyahu's suggestion......
5
Iran is doing the same thing in the Middle East as we are (only we're doing far more of it). We, of course, claim to be on the moral side of history. Meanwhile, we support a disgusting, morally corrupt Saudi Arabian government, as well as several other Middle Eastern countries who oppress their people - especially women. This may be John Bolton's influence at work and a step towards a more radical approach to Iran.
6
Interesting move by Trump. The New Yorker reported on March 2017 that Trump was knowingly working on Trump Tower Baku in Azerbaijan with a known oligarch member of Iran's revolutionary guard. in his edict, Trump stated that anyone doing business with the revolutionary guard was enabling a terrorist. As Rachel Madow and others have pointed out, Trump is also a hypocrite. See the article "Trump's Worst Deal" written in March 5, 2019
5
The handwriting was on the wall the minute Trump was elected. Obama never sought Congressional approval for the deal because he knew he’d never get it. Instead he relied on the assumption Hillary would win the election and then keep the agreement in force. Now the Iranian regime is up against the ropes and Putin needs to reassess his Middle East policy. So many other things went awry. Trump’s election was a turning point in history. The Dems just don’t want to admit it. Obama was so concerned about his legacy. Now Trump has dumped it.
2
Iran's president Hassan Rouhani won the 2017 contested election by a landslide on the basis that he had negotiated the JCPOA which promised opening Iran's economy and benefits to the people of Iran. Trump has chosen to kneecap this moderate leader who is opposed by hardliners that oppose the JCPOA and want to develop nuclear weapons capability.
The IRGC together with the Supreme leader Khamenei control perhaps 2/3 of Iran's economy. The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization does not strengthen the hand of Rouhani against the hardliners. Rather, the hardliners are strengthened increasing prospects for resumption of nuclear weapons development. This U.S. action fits with the drive for overthrow of the government of Iran apparently with the hope by John Bolton that MEK will seize power and eliminate the power of the mullahs.
MEK has little popular support in Iran. If MEK could field a candidate in the next election it would be unlikely to win with margins like Rouhani.
More likely than MEK seizing power would be a Syrian type of revolution in a country with 80 million people neighboring Europe. Facing such a threat it might be appropriate for the EU and its member states to sanction John Bolton as a message to the Trump administration that millions of lives are at stake, not just the election of Netanyahu in Israel.
5
One must ask sometimes, who are the terrorists?
Take a look at our unjust disproportionate incarceration of minorities, our policies at the border, our lack of universal healthcare, our use of guns to solve problems. If we cannot correct our own injustices then how does that create clear-sightedness to view the world's problems? The constant saber rattling by Trump and Bolton seem to be indicative of clumsy and inept myopia. Are we the good guys? Can good come from such stridently, innate, anti-humanitarian impulses?
I don't think so.
Or is it that we really don't know what we are doing?
The fact that Bolton even has a job representing America to the world, with his bluster and belligerence, speaks volumes about our cowboy mentality of 'shoot first and ask questions later.' That speaks to our lack of vision and wisdom. It is due to the Bolton type that we bumbled into the fiasco called Iraq.
No, with our unquestioned support of Israel as they push Palestinians out and our constant desire to go to war with Iran, a country that has a vibrant liberal population that we should cultivate instead of seeking to bomb, we are not thinking with clear heads. Patience and prudence seem not to be our strong suit. Europe is a far better player with Iran than we are. Maybe we should step aside and let them take the lead.
7
this is exactly how the Bush Administration fooled the American people into war in March of 2003. It doesn't seem like 16 years ago so for those of you who are not entirely familiar, I would recommend taking a look at the government propaganda that built up to that war. the media seems slightly less willing to play along in this case but we'll see you never know
5
Exactly what Netanyahu ordered.
7
Once again, American foreign policy is for lease. This move, besides all the potential and real damage to America, has no benefit whatsoever. Please feel free to correct me.
6
Sadly it seems like Bibi is running the US foreign policy in the middle east. Soon he will drag US into another war with Americans tax money...
9
There is a lot to dislike in the Revolutionary Guard. But despite our tawdry history in Iran, they negotiated with Obama to give us a path forward, a path that protected Israel and the region from the possibility of Iranian nuclear weapons. That was what Bibi said he wanted in his “boom” speech at the UN - remember?
But, of course, that’s not Bibi really wanted. He wanted for there to be no Iran, just some kind of a vassal state that would accept military inferiority to Israel. And our so-called allies in Saudi Arabia, who have spread militant Islam around the world and whose citizens attacked America on 9/11, wanted for there to be no Iran, just some kind of a vassal state that would accept religious inferiority to SA.
But we had a path forward, a path that might have empowered moderates in Iran, a path that might have led to a successful Iran, a path that might have built on the very large population of young Iranians, too young to have suffered under the US-imposed Shah, too young to have known the revolution. But that path was unacceptable to those who can’t tolerate a successful Iran, because that means it won’t be a vassal state. And, of course, Donald Trump has demonstrated that he will only accept a vassal Iran.
Problem is, they don’t appear to want to be a vassal state. And since they know that nothing less will be acceptable to Trump, and since they know (like everybody who has a brain) that he is a liar who can never be trusted anyway, what will they do next?
8
Obama was the liar. He lied out of weakness because he didn’t know what he was doing. When he was confronted with the poor results of his policies, he had Susan Rice cover for him. Alone in a room with Putin he had absolutely no credibility. The one thing world leaders count on is honesty. When Obama later went back on his word on various things, e.g. Syria, Benghazi, he was toast. Your analysis of what Iran might have done if the deal was still in place is a pipe dream.
This action does not help improve the security of the United States one little bit. It does, however, help ther security of another state (or so Trump hopes): Saudi Arabia.
6
This latest foolish move from the Trump administration automatically makes Iran’s Supreme Leader a terrorist mastermind, because the IRGC commander in chief reports directly to him.
The IRGC is very active in the Persian Gulf, they are responsible for security in the Straits of Hormuz, and they meet US forces all the time. So its terrorist designation makes a military confrontation almost inevitable.
If the past results in Afghanistan and Iraq are any indicator of success, a war with Iran could set in train events that will spell the end of the American Empire.
For example, while the US is preoccupied with war against Iran, China could offer Taiwan a Hong Kong style reunification, or be invaded, and an overstretched US will be unable to do anything about it.
6
On 1/9/17 the House and Senate initiated HR380 and S67 respectively. On 1/12/17 House 478 was submitted.
HR380 and S67 directed the Secretary of State to submit to congress a report on the designation of the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization.
House 478 directed the President to declare the IRGC a foreign terrorist organization.
Nothing happened. No report. No declaration.
The Republicans were the majority in both houses. They could have passed the bills, declared the IGRC an FTO and be done with it except they didn’t.
HR 3646 and S 2094 were proposed during President Obama’s administration. Nothing was done because it was held that per statute the FTO designation is applied to groups not forces of nation states.
What could possibly be the motivation for Trump to resurrect this issue at this time without any terrorist attacks attributed to IGRC in the past year?
Some have suggested helping Bibi get reelected. Perhaps it’s Trump’s appreciation for the huge painting of him on the exterior of building in Israel.
Or is it another con to make the Democrats appear to be anti-Israel if they disagree?
How can one not be disillusioned when the Republicans could have rammed all their anti-Iran policies, health care repeal and replace, the wall, immigration reform...when they held the majority in Congress?
2
Pres. Obama's Mid-East policy was to be as neutral as possible as a result of the Iraq War experience. I think he saw Iran as a buffer between Russia and the Persian Gulf, provided that they de-nuclearize, which they decided to do. Israel always needs an enemy from among the Muslim nations in order to keep America's attention and financial pipeline flowing, so Israel has picked Iran, although Syria is a mess, and right next door. Probably too messy to advance Israel's agenda in the US. So what does Trump do? He picks sides in the Middle East. He picks Israel and Saudi Arabia and effectively declares Iran a terrorist state. Watch who gets even closer to Iran now...Putin. What was Trump's motivation. One, to get American Jewish and Christian evangelical support in 2020. Two, satisfy John Bolton's Iran fetish. Three, protect his business interests in SA, and perhaps reward them for their financial support of the Trump Organization. Now that all the players there know whose side Trump is on, someone is going to make a violent move, be it outright war or terrorist action. We'll soon know.
11
What Trump’s announcement will do is give the MSM, Fox etc the fuel that will enable their “opinion makers” to go on and on to demonize Iran, continuously , to gain support from unsuspecting viewers to an attack On Iran. We witnessed this in the run up to the Iraq war. Sadly, we have almost a new generation now that doesn’t remember all the lies that were told.
10
@e.s.
This time, the US will be very much alone in its war as I doubt the European and other former allies will be rushing to help promote a foreign policy which, partially dictated by Netanyahu, is chaotic and rotten to the core.
But I'm sure most sane Americans will understand why.
2
The next step is to anger Iran until they do something which will give Mr (I am too bright to go to Vietnam) an excuse to go to his first war. By the way it's a excellent distraction.
6
Section 219 of the Immigration & Naturalization Act spells out the procedure for declaring an entity a foreign terrorist organization.
A presidential declaration is NOT part of the procedure.
Keeping neutral regarding the pros/cons of this designation how is it possible for King Trump to bypass enacted law?
Did the first 2 steps take place while we were barraged by his latest tweet rampage and personnel purge?
Stay tuned for Iran v. USA in a courtroom near us in a few weeks.
At State.gov the steps are:
If the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, decides to make the designation, Congress is notified of the Secretary’s intent to designate the organization and given seven days to review the designation, as the INA requires.
Upon the expiration of the seven-day waiting period and in the absence of Congressional action to block the designation, notice of the designation is published in the Federal Register, at which point the designation takes effect.
By law an organization designated as an FTO may seek judicial review of the designation in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit not later than 30 days after the designation is published in the Federal Register.
5
While the American government's animus toward the Iranian government is not new, adding Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to its list of terrorist organizations has led NYT readers to take sides over the antagonism between the two governments.
However, if we judge these two governments on the violence spectrum, both have attacked people who did not deserve to be attacked -- both exceeding the ethically correct standard. For those on the side of correct ethics, Trump's decision is totally irrelevant to which side we can ethically endorse.
"You're either with us, or against us" is a very old tactic. For example, the Nazis gained supporters by arguing that they were opposing the Communists, and vice-versa. After the destruction of the World Trade Center by Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, George W. Bush used this tactic.
Ignoring correct ethics, many helped him kill innocent people. Once you know correct ethics, you can't easily get played.
Here is a link about this tactic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_either_with_us,_or_against_us
8
I think Trump, Pompeo, & Bolton should move to Israel and run our Middle East policy out of BiBi's office.
9
War got dubbya reelected, why not trump. It always works.
3
Bush was reelected because at that point, it wasnt clear they had lied us into war after we were attacked. Trump's administration is so corrupt and inept they telegraph their lies. War doesnt always guarantee a president's reelection, especially if the war is going badly. Lincoln almost lost in 1864, except he was very popular with the soldiers.
1
Having failed to start a war with N. Korea, Russia or China, Trump now sets his sights on a war with Iran.
6
Trump's game plan:
1. Put down allies if they do not join him in condemning the Iran Nuclear Deal as the worst in history. Didn't work!
2. Back out of the Iran Nuclear Deal and hope that Iran defaults. Didn't work!
3. Accuse Iran of supporting terrorists in Syria. Didn't work!
4. Announce Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Didn't work!
5. Accuse China of breaking Iran sanctions. Didn't work!
6. Announce support for Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights. Didn't work!
7. Now accuse the elite forces of Iran's state run army as a foreign terrorist organization. Will it work???
The name of the game is generate a valid excuse for war with Iran through provocation. Trump need a war in the Middle East to win the 2020 election.
11
These recent policy positions in the middle east are all about one thing, Jewish voters. Jewish voters for bibi and Jewish voters for white house's occupant. All of these recent changes in established policy have gotten the us nothing but a possible war defending Israel.
8
It is past time that all US 'overseas' operations were declared 'Terrorist operations', by the rest of the world and sanctions applied until all bases were closed down. Include all Israeli actions in the package and there is a good chance that most problems in the ME, South America and wherever else the US is meddling would evaporate.
13
By what logic is another country’s military or clandestine service terrorist? If one is, all are. Certainly CIA, FSB,Mossad, MI6, ISI, RAW etc would qualify. A death sentence was passed on Mountbatten by a rogue entity in India in 1947; he was finally murdered [executed?] in 1979. Some say by the IRA some give ‘credit’ to an Indian group.
These naive actions by tRump are reminiscent of FDR’s efforts to incite a Japan attack on the US, to justify entry to war - tRump is PLANNING a war in time for the 2020 elections. I hope the people of the US are sharp enough to give him the boot, war or not.
6
Pentagon and CIA officials are against the designation. Iraq is against the designation. Bibi wants a war with Iran! Saudi Arabia is looking for America to declare war on Iran! This is an insane fabrication. What will animosity achieve? We had a treaty that Trump withdrew from. In some ways, Iran’s society is much more open and liberal than Saudi Arabia. And yet, we support a country that murders free speech and incarcerates anyone who resists an outdated tyrannical religious regime. Two questions come to mind. What have we become? Who are we?
16
We have a crisis at the border, we need to impose tariffs, we have a deep state the mouth just goes on and on, The public is getting sick and tired of a another news flash that makes no sense. Now it’s Iran once again. There is no logic and no policy, proclamations are ridiculous because once again we are a simple minded president going on and on with no plan . it’s been two years of tv theater, hire smart people that you might listen to who know what they are talking about. The world is not a TV show. Even Ronald Regan a real movie star grew into his role as a President. We may not of agree with him but he kept the prestige of the country on the highest level, not destroy it by running and administration staffed with lowlifes. Mr Barr could of learnef something from the Iran Contra issue but he didn’t.
For all you trolls who want to condem me have at it but please explain the policy and what are we really going to do.
Enough with the white noise .Trump fix the problems you create and help the people being destroyed by your tariffs. Stop mouthing off and get to work for all of the American people.
4
Of course there remains the possibility that Trump is creating a very big distraction anticipating that even the redacted version of the Mueller report will cause him some major political problems.
Or not.
5
Perhaps the president can next share with us how this action promotes peace and stability in the Middle East? Or, under the Kushner "Peace" Plan, peace and stability will not be promoted?
Is there even a Kushner Peace Plan or is that in the same category as Mexico paying for the wall?
8
Like so many other actions taken by Donald Trump, such as rejecting the Iran nuclear deal, designating the IRGC a foreign terrorist organization is more about Mr. Obama than it is anything else. When things are not going well—and things are definitely not going well right now—Mr. Trump calls up another imagined failure of Barack Obama and acts accordingly. It won’t be twenty-four hours before Mr. Trump and/or his cadre of sycophants remind us that they are just doing what Mr. Obama failed to do. The ignorance and pettiness of the Trump administration never ceases to amaze.
2
The U.S. invaded Iraq based on a lie. That war has had catastrophic consequences for Iraq and the entire Middle East.
Who are the real state terrorists?
M
12
I set my watch based on news that would boost Netanyahu's election bid. My watch is accurate. I feel like Netanyahu and Putin are President of the United States.
12
The one aspect of this decision that no one is talking about is the repercussions on the Iranian-Americans and Iranian residents in the US. Military service in Iran is mandatory and almost half of the Iranian males who had served; completed their service in IRGC (more than 100,000 each year). There are thousands of Iranian Americans and residents who served at IRGC in Iran, does this mean now they have to declare that they were part of a terrorist organization on their official forms?
9
Misuse of a designation looses its value and the value of the person who degnates it. Unfortunately, it is true in this case.
6
Trump triumphs again. He’s showing Democrats how it’s done. Iran will get into line if its government which is already beset by protests is to survive. In turn Russia will find that its grand schemes with Iran as a key partner will quickly fall apart. Why can’t Democrat’s figure this out on their own?
2
Pompeo, an Evangelical believes that Trump was sent to Earth by God to save Israel from Iran, according to a recent article in the times:https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/30/us/politics/pompeo-christian-policy.html
This is what we're dealing with here, folks.
9
Democrats have a golden opportunity to claim that Trump is wrong. Surely he cannot be right.
1
The IRGC and especially the Quds special forces terrorize their own people, destabilize the entire middle eastern region and enable Iran's Islamic theocracy to rule the country with an iron fist. Those who have lived there or have family there know better than anyone. Freeing Iran from the chains of this theocracy is possible, but will come at a very high price for the Iranian people. The next Revolution looms when the Persian people regain control of their country, restoring basic human rights and freedoms the average New Yorker takes for granted.
4
The Globe and Mail in Canada recently reported that the Iranian government is targeting environmentalists having made environmental information classified information.
Environmentalists could face the death penalty.
I would call that a form of state terrorism. Good for Trump in this case.
4
He took money from them for the Baku Tower when they were a sanctioned entity. Guess they stiffed him.
1
Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria -- all destroyed by U.S invasion or destabilization. Yemen, the latest victim of American intervention, is awaiting its inevitable fate.
As far as the people of the Middle East are concerned, the "terrorist" designation more aptly describes U.S. policy in the region.
10
This act has Netanyahu and the Israeli election written all over it!
Like his BFF, Putin, Trump has no qualms about meddling In some other country's election!
This is no way to conduct foreign policy or American election politics; more shamefully behavior from HE who can not stoop too low....
However, Trump is correct on some political level as the American evangelicals will eat this stuff up!
8
"The designation “underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments,” Mr. Trump said in a statement."
The same can be said for Russia and Saudi Arabia Mr. President, two countries which murder their political enemies on other countries soil.
8
True
2
Actually, murdering your political ememies anywhere should be considered a terrorist act.
And has Trump forgotten that the Saudi government helped fund the 9/11 terrorists?
3
Once again, as in his appeal last week in Las Vegas, Trump ignores the pros and puts helping a foreign government ahead of American interests.
8
Well, it makes sense.
Just because Trump has a rotten character and personality doesn't mean he cannot make a correct decision now and then.
2
Exactly.
I'm ex Israeli who oppose Bibi - that's why I left to the US. I think Trump is horrible. And yet, sometimes he's right... like his reversal of the disastrous Obama's Iran's policy. I have no doubt: the Irani youngsters agree with Trump, not with Obama. And I'm wondering - who are all these guys here who denounce a step which most Irani (and Arabic) democrats support...
1
@Yair
If you opposed Bibi so much, wouldn't it have been a better idea to be in Israel now voting against him rather in the US trying to figure out why progressive Democrats suffer such Israel-derangement while at the same time either look the other way at brutal dysfunctional Palestinian regimes or come up with contorted rationalizations of anti-Semitism if they're expressed by certain public figures within certain favored demographic groups, or are so opposed to sexism, racism, homophobia and misogyny -- unless once again it's prevalent within certain cultures deemed Third-World noble and oppressed by Western white man's culture and therefore everything is relative?
@JW
For me, there is only one relevant context: Humanism - which, necessarily, make 'relativism' immoral. Out of this view, I can oppose Biby/occupation, and, at the same time, strongly oppose fundamental islam ('Shreya', which, unfortunately, make the islam mainstream, unlike judaism and christianity who reformed themselves long ago). That's why I emigrated to the US (plus, I also love America, with all it flaws...)
1
I understand the problems with Iran. That does not give Trump the right to declare military units of a foreign government to be terrorists. He can't seem to get it through his thick skull that he does not run the world and has no say in the actions of other countries. He's a bully and doesn't care if his actions endanger and cause the death of members of our military and intelligence services. As long as an action makes him feel macho, that's all that's necessary.
6
In other words he shouldn’t use the power of America for our own interests? Maybe you prefer someone who would sell us short.
2
Assuming Iran replies, what does it means for the status of our service members in harm’s way. Does the Geneva apply to captured America service members?
2
@Amy Meyer
Why not? What if FDR had declared the German SS a terrorist organization in 1938 right after Kristallnacht using the economic power of the US to impose strict sanctions especially on German financial linkages and on any business or government that kept the Nazi economy functioning, you'd have opposed that, too?
Our military and intelligence officials have every reason to be terrified of this policy change. Do you think someone could look at our drome strikes and consider them an act of terrorism (you know the ones where we are judge, jury and executioner). And what about all those special operations forces deployed all over the world with little if any supervision. Do you think they are just sampling the local food and wine? And what about our support of Israel that appears to be embarked on an even tougher system of apartheid. And the potential list of our own terrorist acts goes on and on (did I mention torture under Bush Jr, Cheney and crew). Our military personnel may not be very bright, but they do have a sense of self preservation.
10
I hope you’re getting your sons and daughters ready. Trump’s reign would be incomplete without his own Viet Nam.
13
"The New Yorker reported in 2017 that the Trump Organization had been involved recently in a hotel project in Azerbaijan whose wealthy backers have ties to Iranians linked to the Revolutionary Guard."
4
When we cut right to the chase here, isn't it just all about semantics? I understand we dont want to actually call (designate) the IRGC as terrorists because of the potential blowback and threat to American lives. That's where the issue is. But by calling them terrorists, isn't trump just basically calling a spade a spade? Isn't it the same semantics used to call illegal aliens "undocumented migrants"?
3
This demonstrates that the term "terrorist" is devoid of meaning and is simply an pejorative term for one's opponents. There is nothing that the so called "terrorists" do that we and our allies do not do on a daily basis.
6
"After Mr. Trump’s morning announcement, Mr. Netanyahu thanked him on Twitter. “Once again you are keeping the world safe from Iran aggression and terrorism,” Mr. Netanyahu wrote."
Keeping the world safe, Mr. Netanyahu? Trump is poking the hornets' nest and doing everything he can to destabilize the region.
The Stable Genius is obviously trying to help Netanyahu score some points before the Israeli election.
Trump and his son-in-law aren't really interested in negotiating peace in the Middle East because there's no money in it for them to do so.
11
@L
Oh, I beg to differ.
Glance at "Kushner, Inc." - the recent expose of Javanka (by Vicky Ward).
The ties between wealthy ME emirates and rulers (viz. MBS) and the Kushner Family will make your blood curdle.
Just take a look at the Quatari re-financing (on extremely liberal terms) of Kushner's 666 Fifth Avenue property.
NOT my president
11
Ninbus,
I agree. But Iran isn't contributing to the Trump and Kushner coffers.
All Donald and Jared really care about is their bottom lines.
5
@L
Agreed.
NOT my president
4
Time to create some issues for 2020 it looks like.
I can't imagine a less qualified person to be making military decisions than Donald Trump.
The man can't even handle a typical post-disaster relief PR lap. He doesn't know how to work a computer and is unable to digest bullet-point style one-page security briefings.
Terrifying.
5
There the Administration goes again, making broad-stroked international declarations in order to appease foreign leaders.
Trump is quick to coddle international "strong men" with questionable domestic records: Putin, Netanyahu, Modi, Erdogan, MBS, -- and to a certain extent-- Kim Jong Un.
He does not hesitate to condemn countries in which he is not interested (Iran), but completely overlooks human rights abuses and state-sponsored murders if it can provide the United States or his base an advantage (Saudi Arabia).
Regardless of whether or not the Revolutionary Guard deserves this designation, I have no doubt that the timing of this announcement, the day before Israel's elections, was no accident.
5
Funny this happened soon after Netanyahu's visit, so far Israel has pushed US to put pressure on Iran because of its own hatred for Iran. Israel and Saudis are tag teaming against Iran. Are these countries an example of democratic regimes, so what gain will US have in the long run with these aggressive policies?
11
obviously, Trump is again moving to help Bibi. how does Trump expect to benefit from this? guess: this buys him a juicy campaign contribution from the likes of Sheldon Adelson and cements his support among American evangelicals awaiting the Rapture.
15
@Pottree
American evangelical voters is the answer!
What’s the big deal?
They are a terrorist organization.
The motivation of the critics seems to be,
“If Trump is for it, I’m against it.”
4
As the saying goes: “Terrorists by some are protectors by others.” Where’s the truth, with arrogance or justice?
3
He is unable to stop in his dogged pursuit of total world chaos.
4
Speaking about foreign influence in elections of sovereign States, the Trump government is no different in the case of Israel than Putin in USA 2016 and other countries recently.
6
Once again a major policy decision is made that has no benefit for the US, and only seems to be done to please Netanyahu and Saudi Arabia. Forget about Russia, Trump is a clearly a puppet of Bibi and MBS, two of the most dangerous and corrupt narcissistic sociopaths on earth. The only upside to this decision is it may backfire on him due to his involvement with the IRGC through his hotel in Azerbijan, which could expose him to prosecution through the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Now wouldn't that be ironic... ?
9
The Saudis support and finance their fair share of terrorism not only in the Middle East, but in Europe as well. European Muslim religious and community leaders go to Saudi Arabia for free schooling and training in hard-line Wahhabi doctrine. The Saudis support thousands of madrasas that teach extreme and false interpretation of the Koran. But trump and his family are buddies with them!
5
@Jeanne Prine. So are the last 4 presidents. Trump would rather tell them to pound sand, but our crooked intelligence groups are bought and sold.
Yet the Saudi's and North Korean's are wonderful people.
5
Well we had “Axis of Evil” before the Iraq war and now abranch of Iran’s military is being called a “Terrorist Group”. Can another war be far behind? Another 3-4 Trillion of taxpayer dollars down the drain, and not for American taxpayer’s benefit!
6
Why is US foreign policy determined by Netanyahu, Bolton and Pompeo, instead of Congress?
12
I find this an extraordinarily provocative, deceiving declaration of war designed to slip past the authority of Congress and to foster an Iranian response that Trump and Bolton can use as an excuse to unleash military action. It smells of the steps of escalation at the outset of the American War Upon Vietnam.
10
It would be nice for Trump to have a war in his back pocket if the economy goes bad ahead of recession.
2
Hi, I am an Iranian, and many of my family live in the United States, and I have no problems with the American people, not only me, but most of the Iranians. Adding the Revolutionary Guard to the terrorist group is not a good thing because Irans people are under pressure, not the president or the Iranian leader, I am 16 years old.
10
On Twitter, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif called Trump’s move “A(nother) misguided election-eve gift” to Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing a tough re-election campaign tomorrow.
Trump has also made someone in Iran happy: President Hassan Rouhani, who has been trying to rein in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), by curbing its influence and its dominant role in the country’s economy – with little success.
In the 2017 election campaign Rouhani accused the elite force of seeking to sabotage the 2015 nuclear agreement that Iran signed with world powers, by testing ballistic missiles emblazoned with provocative anti-Israeli messages. It was a rare criticism of the IRGC in public, which underscored Rouhani’s frustration with Iran’s powerful forces that act independently of his government.
Mike Pompeo, an evangelical and a strident critic of Iran, and John Bolton, a Iran hawk who backs the opposition group in exil - the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) - have both pushed Trump to adopt an even harder line against Iran. It remains to be seen what the US will reap as a result of what Trump has sowed.
5
As an Iranian-American, I am often asked my thoughts on the Trump Administrations day to day policies. “What do you think of the Iran Deal Ending?” “What do you think about the sanctions?” “What do you think about the terrorist designation of the revolutionary guard?”
I always answer the same: it doesn’t matter, because he isn’t doing this for policy or pressure, he is doing this because he wants to go to war.
The Trump Administration has time and time again displayed calculated acts to deteriorate trust in the Iranian government and paint them as a threat to American interests when, in reality, Iran has little to no stake in American foreign policy. It’s quite obvious that the Trump Administration wishes to appease to Israeli war hawks who wish to stoke fear of a pre-emptive strike from Iran and the Saudi government, both of whom have a vetted interest in the downfall of the Iranian regime, no matter how much they have been complying with the provisions of the 2015 deal.
Those within the Administration like Pompeo and Bolton have been saying for YEARS that they envision war with Iran. The small acts like these are done over a schedule, and at the end of the schedule is another foreign war that had nothing to do with American interests that will further detriment the Middle East and benefit this administration through popularity during war time and lobbying interests.
So, it doesn’t matter my beliefs on the regime or the RG, I just don’t want to see Iranians get killed.
14
For someone who claims to be tough on terrorism, this move doesn't bode well for his statistics.
1
Here we go again. All he needs is a Tonkin Gulf incident.
7
This is just another attempt by Trump to manipulate the media narrative about how strong a leader he is.
Everyday -- distract the public with a gut shot to the stomach that will falsely demonstrate how great a president "I am."
The con-man no longer fools intelligent people -- especially U.S. intelligence agencies who recognize his folly. But, of course, we all know he knows more than the generals. He humbly told us so.
Everyday -- it’s truly sickening to watch his persistently intentional con-game.
It’s not just the U.S. intelligence agencies who are watching him closely, even Chief Justice John Roberts is aware of the long-term dangers Trump presents to our country.
4
Between this and his [fornmer] team, it is a bad Monday for me.
I am getting scared, picturing Trump stalking around, grinning and babbling about what the next POWERFUL and MACHO thing he can do and not get challenged, and even strengthen his support among those who like him as the leader of the most powerful military and economic country in the world, ever.
2
Trump will end up starting a war simply to escape and deflect the scrutiny and investigations swirling around him.
Congress needs to get a grip on this worst of presidents.
3
"Why this, why now?" some are asking. Believe it or not, there are decisions like this that are made with no specific timing in mind. It could be that the USG has information about several large business transactions that are soon to take place between IRGC elements and foreign companies abroad and wants to nip these in the bud.
It also could be that the Iranian military are on the cusp of launching some new rocket that can threaten the USA and our allies and the USG wants to humiliate the army to preempt the test.
Does this help Netanyahu on the eve of Israel's election? No, not really. Most Israelis are more concerned about jobs, their ability to find schools for their kids and other mundane matters, just like in other civilized countries around the world. When American's vote, are we thinking about the IRGC?
2
I remember watching a BBC or BBC ch 4 ' follow the money ' doco an age back that spoke about a Trump Org, project in Kazakhstan on the shores of the Caspian , there was some kind of backdoor Iranian money laundering occurring , the Guard were mentioned as part of the scam and some fizz about Mr Trump dealing with a sanctioned organisation ... there was video footage of Ivanka prannying about in some high rise overlooking the water , as I recall they pulled out of the deal at the last moment ... I wonder if it is in the tax returns somewhere .
4
If, as described in the article, the Guard trains and assists terrorist groups in the Mideast, even groups that change sides depending on the conflict and country, the Guard is also a terrorist group. While the timing of the designation is suspect, given the pending Israel election and the constant need of the Trump "administration" to distract from our own domestic turmoil they create, the designation is neither mere name calling or a declaration of war. Essentially it is another economic sanction against Iran, with hopefully serious and deterring consequences against that hostile, disruptive nation.
2
@george - By your definition, the CIA would also be a terrorist group for funding arab mujahideen who would later become Al Qaeda in the Soviet-Afghan war.
4
Militaries are by definition not "terrorist" groups, as they are controlled by nation - states. The entire basis for asserted right to condemn acts of "terror" is that states claim a monopoly on the use of violence to achieve political ends. "Terrorism" has long been an essentially meaningless term, but this action puts the final nail in it.
3
I would like to know what Trump has done for America during his time in office? The economy was well on its way under Obama and we were not running a deficit of approx $1 Trillion per year at that time.
Seems almost everything Trump and his advisors have done is for the benefit of a foreign country(s). Wasn’t Trump elected president for the people of this country?
5
The same people he was laundering money for?
10
Trump's buddy, Bibi, gets re-elected tomorrow. Then the US and Israel form a coalition for a splendid little war against Iran.
5
And this accomplishes what?
1
Obviously the Iranians are bad actors......But no condemnation of Saudi Wahabists? Why not put some of the Saudi family and clerics on the Terror List? It's the Wahabists who supported the 9/11 hijackers, and who currently support Sunni jihadi extremists like al Qeda, IS, Boko Haram, etc.
9
This may be a dangerous move, but it is a right one, at least, morally. Trump is no Chamberlain, he is more of a Churchill. He is a horrid person, but that is beside the point.
1
It's bizarre to read comments here from people claiming to be "Iranian-Americans" who back Trump.
People I know who still live in Iran and who no longer do tell me that Iranians always remember that the USA overthrew a democratically-elected Iranian leader and installed the Shah, leading to the current troubles.
They also explain that American sanctions and saber-rattling have made life terrible for regular Iranians, and that Israel controls American policy.
The USA economy is a war economy, so the corporate elites and their owned politicians always have to be promoting war.
Also, America has a case of chronic, terminal bullying and arrogance. We think we have the right to run and plunder the entire world. Watch the movie "Vice" and you'll see what I mean.
8
Does this mean that the Trump organization will no longer accept funding for its projects from the Iranian revolutionary Guard?
5
The only question anyone should ask is, why did this take so long? No sooner did the American hostages leave Tehran for the U.S. did the Iranian REvolutionary Guard send 1,000 members to Lebanon to set up, recruit for and train the Hezbolah, the "party of God" -- which by the way, is behind the bombing of the American Embassy there and then the bombing of the Marines barracks in 1983. Then they also engineered the kidnapping of CIA station chief William Buckley whom they tortured to death, sending three separate incidences of horrendous torture of that man to the CIA. Why would we ever enter into an agreement with Iran as long as they finance the Revolutionary Guard? If they dismantled and stopped funding them then we have terms to talk. This is long over due.
3
@gmt
You and provided no proof of your charges and the attack on the Marine barracks has not been proven as to the culprit.
Tragically, it is the United States policy towards Iran (always about money, oil, control of a strategic area, and not considering one iota about the welfare, health and rich history of the beautiful people there. The British Empire no better, probably worse, the French. The rise of revolution happened due to frustration of the people after years of no control of their own future, their own government (corrupted and held in place and controlled by corrupt government policies of successful western democracies via capitalistic corporations and their boards). This important, historic nation of civilization has always been betrayed by the West, and when the chickens came home to roost, they were portrayed as evil and radical regardless of the history and treatment and domination by the West. The US and its policies seem to have always been on the wrong side in its effort to interact, influence, and befriend this nation and its people. The mirror of history regarding US and Iranian relations will not be kind to either nation, but I think especially the US and just how really stupid our actions and policies have been. The same came be said of the US and Saudia Arabia history-just as wrong and distasteful at the other end of the spectrum. Additionally, Israel suffers from self-inflicted wounds and boxed-in policies due to the US and West policies, making it necessary to defend its very existence-is there no one in the world that can truly make the change for the better for all?
5
Oh the stupendous hypocrisy. Allowing America's middle -East policies to be subservient to the whims, desires and personal interests of other middle East countries, like Saudi Arabia and Israel, who perpetrate the actual terrorist acts (see Yemen and Palestine and Syria). Compared to Saudi Arabia and Israel, Iran is the model of a good State. It's also nice to see that our esteemed leader has received a history lesson about the West Bank and Gaza, which allows him to make well informed and balanced decisions, probably like the lesson he got on Iran.
7
I'm sure Trump got another '5 minute' lesson regarding the Middle-East and flipped a coin to make his decision. Trump needs an 'enemy', a boogeyman, and he wants his 'own' war so this will be ideal for him. His efforts to divide the US haven't done as much as he wanted so naturally THIS is ideal for him.
Sooner or later, I hope... Congress will do something to save us from the Mad King. Winter is Here!
1
Trump is trying everything to help Netanyahu get reelected. The grand alliance of the corrupt leaders shines. This declaration will do nothing except getting the US closer to military action against Iran. This is Pompeo and especially Bolton at work. Such dangerous ideologs. Now watch for any pretext to drag the US again in an unnecessary war, pretty much like Iraq was. Nothing changes, and everything stays the same. History is about to repeat itself.
5
This issue is really a no-brainer. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was, sadly, a model for Saddam Hussein's Revolutionary Guard, which was headquartered near Tikrit and became the first victims of our engagement there, along with many innocent women and children who were carpet-bombed in the first week of the 2003 Iraqi invasion.
It is the saddest irony that two nations who fought so savagely against one another in the 1980s equipped their respective soldiers with sectarian Islamist doctrinal divisions of the Shia and Shiite sects.
The United States was founded in the spirit of Christianity, and it was peppered by immigrants from all over Europe who brought their own divergent Christian beliefs that came only a few centuries after the Latin/Greek schism which spawned the Christian Crusades against Mohammedanism and - not long after - subsequent wars among the Christian churches and their denominations in Europe.
It should be obvious to any believer, be they Christian or Muslim, that Satan has been at work for centuries on all of us, irrespective of faith, to confuse us and keep us away from the God who reigns over all of us. I have my Christian belief, but it contains not one ounce of the American Humanist Association whose motto is "Good without a God".
Satan wants our souls to destroy God's earth, and he cares not how it happens, be it terrorism in its latest iteration - save that he wants to put God out of our minds and hearts. That is what he fears most.
2
That and a buck might get you a cheap cup of coffee. How about I designate Trump as an international terrorist? Should carry about as much weight.
3
After failing to slow down the development of nuclear weapons in North Korea and pushing a failed coup in Venezuela, Trump is looking for just one foreign policy initiative that isn't a failure.
While Trump ignores the rise of International White Supremacist Terrorism, he has declared a new terrorist organization for us to worry about. What's Trump going to do about it? Absolutely nothing. Even if he had the guts and the willpower to launch an invasion, he doesn't actually know how to initiate one. Getting the Pentagon to do what you want is harder than it looks, even for the "commander in chief". I needn't even mention the newfound isolationist stance of the far-right. They were ready to jump ship when Trump launched a Clintonesque fire-and-forget missile attack on Syria. Invading Iran is a political non-starter.
So Trump has engineered yet another foreign policy failure for himself. Look, everyone! Here's another terrorist organization that Trump is failing to protect us from!
Yet another brilliant move from the Trump brain trust.
Trump should be aware of this becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. From the moment he began campaigning up he has bent over backwards trying to get Iran to vehemently loath our guts.
1
Just a dumb move. The pentagon and CIA disagree but he just takes the contrary action reflecting his pathological drive to control. This follows a unending long list of bad choices and appointments. The GOP supports him with carte blanche approval. Climate is totally ignored d the planet and ocean are barreling toward disaster. It’s irreversible but how business can go on as usual reflects a denial that equals suicide for mankind. We got Trump 100% because of illegal immigration and the 22 - 28 million illegals creating birther babies which are a change the demographics of the nation. I hope he can eliminate the birther clause. Meanwhile my Democrats have presented no solutions, no comprehensive border security plan.
The endless flow to the border for “amnesty” is untenable. Democrats offer me no attractive candidate and like Hillary “he’s a bad man” won’t cut it. California’s Governor adds to the mess with his taxation and amnesty. Biden - too late but enough fire. Sanders brilliant but untenable too. Cory Booker? Come on people.
Buttigieg- possible but his orientation will hurt and he may not be fighter enough. Kamala I like d respect but she’s got no message and is too easy on illegal immigration . We are more than full.
Birther babies will destroy us.
3
Another critically important international decision by a irrational U.S. president that will be smothered by the chaos his dictatorial actions are causing in the U.S. government. The power he is usurping from the Congress leaves him unfettered and the world will pay a terrible price.
1
Sounds like he should have included the “Iranian Officials” the headline refers to in his designation also.
1
The IRCG supports Hezbollah and many other terrorist groups. He that supports terrorists is a terrorist himself. Does anyone remember the bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon?
3
This news of this very important designation is making me feel so much more secure right now that maybe now is a good time to take a nap.
2
I'm an Iranian and I 100% support the decision of president Trump. Let me elaborate:
1) IRGC is the main power in Iran. Everything, let it be our communication companies to everything you can possibly imagine is controlled by IRGC.
2) Everyone in this government that any kind of power has close ties to IRGC and it is impossible to do any thing unless you are one of them.
3)IRGC is responsible for suppressing all objections to the regime. God forbid if you make one bad comment about the supreme leader, you will be fired from your job, imprisoned and tortured and in some cases murdered.
4) IRGC controls all the money flow in the country. We have lots of exports of oils and other goods, but none of that money ever makes a difference. Why? Because they spend it to increase their influence over the region.
5) IRGC is responsible for god knows how many murders in Syria and other countries.
If I wanted to talk about everything in detail I would have to write an article tens of pages long, but just know this, if you believe in the Devil, IRGC is it. In the name of protecting Islam they have commited countless crimes against the good people of Iran. We have tried to show our objections, but as soon as you do any thing you will be either imprisoned or murdered. So to sum it up in 1 last sentence:
Thank you president Trump for designating IRGC as a terrorist organization.
8
@Daniel Thank you Daniel. We Iranians understand that what President Trump is doing is exactly what needs to be done with the mullahs in Tehran. While Trump has been a disaster in some areas, he has been perfect when it comes to dealing with Iran.
1
Should have happened a long time ago.
5
Who does Trump work for? Top Pentagon and C.I.A officials oppose the move, but Netanyahu tweets his support? What a godawful government we have.
8
and will he designate the 'proud boys' and 'bikers for trump' and 'evangelicals' DOMESTIC TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONs? that would be more meaningful.
3
Fat chance, since they're the only people who still support him.
dt's Baku, Azerbaijan building deal went to profit this group.
See Adam Davidson's New Yorker article March 5, 2017, Trump's Worst Deal.
Makin' money with the gangstas, by His Mendaciousness.
2
"The Revolutionary Guard oversaw the previous Iranian nuclear program ....."
Mr. Trump has been trying hard to create conditions where Iranians feel they are cornered and have no choice but to restart their nuclear program.
First he withdrew the US from Iran's Nuclear Agreement hoping that would anger them, sending them back to their nuclear labs. That did not work. Then he imposed economic sanctions on them, leaving Iranians with absolutely no incentives to honor the agreement. But, with some hard work and much assurances by European governments, Iranians were persuaded to keep their centrifuges quiet and ignore Mr. Trump's incitements.
Now Mr. Trump is targeting part of the Iranian government that was directly involved in the nuclear program, designating it a terrorist group.
If there is a logical explanation behind Mr. Trump's attempt to provoke Iranians, it can be one or a combination of the following:
1. He wants to sell Westinghouse nuclear power plants to the Saudis. Currently the Congress is reluctant to give Saudis access to nuclear technology; but it may drop its objection, if Iran restarts its nuclear program.
2. He wants to have a case for attacking Iran militarily. That would be a card that he would play only if his re-election chances appear slim.
3. As Mr. Trump's chances for a nuclear agreement with NK start to evaporate, he wants to show that Obama's agreement was flawed, as did not stop Iranians from going back to nuclear development.
4
@Eddie B.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/04/saudi-arabias-first-nuclear-reactor-nearly-finished-sparking-fears-over-safeguards
I do not believe Westinghouse is building this
So now this will endanger our men and women and our sons and daughters, and their spouses while attempting to do overt and covert missions in the Middle East. Of course, that's okay as long as his sons and daughter and their spouses aren't involved.
Further, when will Trump designate Putin's Wagner Brigade at the same level. They were using arms against our men and women in Syria. And they are in Cuba and in Venezuela, within our sphere of influence, threatening us not to interfere with them.
Not to mention their appearance in the Ukraine. However, this won't happen, with Russia's indirect threats to us not to interfere with the return of Ukraine's soldiers and Ukrainian ships taken in their latest incursion.
There is definitely a double standard the Trump is employing, and there must be a reason for him not to interfere there.
3
No, you won't see Captain Bone-Spurs' feckless, pampered brood doing anything even remotely dangerous. They won't even fly commercial.
1
We've seen this before in 2002 in the neocon build up to the Iraq War. Now with John Bolton and Mike Pompeo they're back. And this time the enemy targeted for regime change is Iran. With proxy wars in Syria and Yemen between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia the stage is being set for a war the will engulf the entire region bringing Russia and the United States. This is another great and potentially calamitous folly that must not be allowed any further escalation.
3
there is almost aueely somebody whispering in Trump's ear that we can pay for any comsequent Iran imbroglio and make a big profit, too, by taking Iran's oil. Trump is pretty in the moment when it comes to social media and Fox News, but as far as everything else is concerned, he is not only conservative but living 25 years in the past.
@Paul Wortman No one, absolutely NO ONE should underestimate the resources of Iran. They are another ancient culture as is China and have strategies and resources far beyond the imagination of this administration and anyone's imagination anywhere. Trump should be aware of the ancient Chinese poem "In the Lion's Mouth". I'm sure there is a counterpart in ancient Persian culture. He and his Bebe buddy are far out of their league.
There are solid and productive ways to pressure a regime. This is not one of them. Were I at home I would be swearing at my tablet screen.
It's extremely convenient to talk about Iranian action against the US while ignoring how the US helped overthrow the democratically elected Mossadegh back in 1953 and installed the considerably less democratic Shah. Ignoring our own faults while magnifying theirs is a quick trip to war.
3
Trump may end up naming so many groups as "Terrorist Groups," that people will apply for the label so they can be taken seriously.
1
The IRGC is not like any military group. They are the secret police that oppress the Iranian people. They are a foreign military force engaging in espionage and illicit military activities in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and even periodically assassinations in western countries. In Iran, they control the majority of the Iranian economy in a mafioso way. They are corrupt and the bane of millions' existence.
This administration may be riddled with incompetence and disgrace in other areas, but this decision is long overdue.
4
Trump is getting worse than Kim Jong-un; truly. I thought Kim was the worst "loose cannon" in power.
Now Trump can share that spotlight, and this proved it. When it comes to US Foreign Relations, Trump is the most ignorant of any POTUS in history.
These are the kind of things wars are started by, and Trump knows this. He is now living in rarefied air, and behaving badly. If he is trying to start another war, he is going about it the right way,
There was no reason whatsoever for him to "declare" something like this; especially after Iran, Iraq, and in Afghanistan, where we have had troops for over 17 years. The man is clinically in sore need of treatment for his mental health condition(s).
5
With this designation Trump is trying to influence the upcoming Israeli elections and play into the hands of Netanyahu and his Iran rhetoric.
Trump is trying to help his fellow soon-to-be-indicted tyrant Bibi Netanyahu with his fraudulent upcoming re-election.
Israelis: don’t be swayed by Trump.
7
Now would be a good time to read or reread BEFORE THE DELUGE by respected journalist Otto Frederich "A portrait of Berlin in the 1920's" from where the road was paved for Hitler's rise. Many instances parallel what is evident today while good people appear to stand by frozen in disbelief, unable to grasp the sheer scope of the dynamics set in motion. Lacking sound policy, thoughtful advisors and the desire to have our government function as designed, Trump creates crises where none exist in order to have his own way. The confounding thing is why people continue to fall for it.
4
@Lynn Russell - "The confounding thing is why people continue to fall for it."
In general, the public tend to convince themselves that their leaders are both smart and trustworthy. They believe that country's leaders must possess higher levels of wisdom; else they won't be where they are. That allows the public to sleep well at night, knowing that their family and country are taken care of by those who are smart and knowledgeable.
Additionally, a large percentage of the population is overwhelmed by today's ubiquitous high-tech gadgets. Deep down, many have concluded that there are things whose inner-workings and functionality are beyond their comprehension. And they have accepted that, when those things do not work as they should, they must be left to those who understand them.
Mr. Trump (I actually think it was Mr. Steve Bannon of Breitbart News) understood this very point. In 2016 election, they managed to convince the public that running the country is also one of the complex things that most people do not understand. And then they exploited that to the fullest by convincing the public that they are the only ones who understand the system and "can fix it."
Today, in preparation for 2020 election, once again Mr. Trump is back to that proven strategy. He keeps talking about being "a genius" and knowing everything there are about international trade, drones, wind mills, etc.
The President is just fulfilling his weekly quota of saying ( or tweeting) something outrageous. And dangerous.
1
And the Revolutionary Guard designated Trump's Executive Branch a terrorist organization.
3
Not surprising from a man who likes to think that everything and everyone has a simple label and every problem a simple solution. This IS someone that once claimed peace in the Middle East is “not as difficult as people thought.” His hubris and stupidity will only end in disaster. It’s almost like he’s never studied history, civics, or Greek tragedy. Oh...right.
1
Another poorly- thought- out, flawed foreign policy statement disconnected from reality.
7
Nice move. Just gave Viagra to Iran’s leaders. Any actions that result from this foolishness are on Trump’s head alone. No way would I risk visiting a Trump property now or sailing through the Strait which is patrolled by the Revolutionary Guard.
2
That is the most stunningly beautiful group of soldiers I have ever seen.
What else do you expect from demagogue like Trump. He needs to go as he is putting the US and its citizens at risk.
3
I smell John Bolton again. He has only one thing in mind -- regime change; in Iran, in Venezuela, in Cuba. The best thing that could happen to American foreign policy would be the dismissal of John Bolton and Stephen Miller, dangerous hardliners.
9
@Nick
And traitors to the interests of the American people, too.
3
One more step toward the war that Bolton, Pompeo, Netanyahu, Mohammed Bone Saw and Jared have been trying to provoke since the ascension of the Mad King. They have convinced Trump that this pending disaster, which will make the Cheney/Bush Iraq debacle look like an act of genius, will make him a hero and guarantee his re-election, if not coronation.
6
No true supporter of democracy could ever support either the Revolutionary Guard or the Iranian theocracy as positive forces in Iranian and world affairs.
That said, the United States has zero credibility in naming vilains we should ostracise. The historical behaviour of the United States in such war theatres as Vietnam or Iraq do not warrant any admiration on the part of authentic partisans of democracy and the right of law.
This is a political stunt on the part of the Trump regime to please his xenophobic and jingoistic masses. He would not dare alienate them by rupturing relations with Vatican City after so many recent indictments confirming the Roman Catholic Church as a worrying nexus of clergy child sex abuse….
1
@AE
Is there a reason why you left out France and Germany as American theatres of war that you disagree with?
Ignore the CIA. Ignore the Pentagon. Let John Bolton whisper in your ear.
Start yet another in the USA’s long history of senseless, pointless wars to serve short-term political purposes and to further enrich your corporate military/industrial supporters.
Then let FOX indulge in a jingoistic orgy of pumping up public hysteria to “Support our President” and “Support the Troops”.
Even someone as tainted and hopelessly incompetent as Trump might get re-elected in that context.
After all, it worked for Dubya.
7
Their hearts will be broken to hear that they have earned his disfavor!
1
Trump may not be a terrorist, but he is for sure causing chaos and terror throughout the country and around the world.
3
"...fundamentally different..." So, if that is the criteria for a terrorist, what does that make Trump who is so fundamentally different from other Presidents?
2
Well of course, if we start a war soon it’ll be just in time for the 2020 elections.
4
The Revolutionary are desinated a terrorist group, but the drug gangs terroring the Latin American counties (killing thousands) and shipping large amounts of drugs into the US are not desinated a terrorist groups?
I'd like to post this link to a review of the book "Everything Trump Touches Dies". It seems apropos to place it here.
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/07/635978021/in-everything-trump-touches-dies-few-are-spared
I'd only add this note; The problem Mr Wilson is avoiding addressing is republicans like himself who dissociate from the fact that all the things he vilifies in this book are in fact the very essence of what the republican party and being a republican is. It has been so since the reagan administration.
His personal objection to Trump looks to me like a hit man looking down on a serial killer as being a sicko. He complains that his fellow republicans are being republicans.
It just goes to show us all that republicans do "see" reality but they are engaged in so much intentional/pathological dissociation and mendacity they simply cannot incorporate the truth they see with their own eyes into the narrative of reality they are playing out in their heads. A narrative they have to keep playing so that they do not forget the lies and manipulations they have to promote to go on perpetrating this fraud of a political ethos on the world.
1
45 has yet to designate domestic white supremacist organizations as terrorist groups. Clearly he understands how it's not Iranians who vote for him.
1
With top Pentagon and C.I.A officials opposed to the president designating a powerful arm of the Iranian military as a foreign terrorist organization it seems to defy the common way terrorist organizations are defined.
It has already provoked Iran into designating our US Central Command as a terrorist organization in retaliation; is an overtly political move with the Israeli election tomorrow and giving Netanyahu a boost, he has already responded, and thanked the US; put our service members in Iraq and the region at additional risk; and all for no reason but it does greatly add to the tensions in the region.
What are the unintended consequences going forward. Has Trump ever had any foreign policy experience?
There is nothing like some loud saber rattling to deflect attention from almost anything.
At least that's one theory that has been tried with and without success over the centuries. Sometimes, you might even be able to brew up an actual war.
Now, what have we next?
1
One of the most worrisome aspects of Trump’s continued ploy of wreaking havoc—
Is where would necessary trust and confidence be in the president of the United States if a true international emergency arose?
1
Seems like a convenient way to roll operations against Iran into the authorization to use military force in the global war on terror.
2
I still recall the March 2017 Rachel Maddow show when she spoke about Trump, and Ivanka, making a deal to build a tower in Azerbaijan at a price three times higher than the bid by the Bechtel Corporation. Her report indicated that the tower was to be built at the request of the IRGC for the purpose of money laundering. The story first appeared in the New Yorker in an article by Adam Davidson. Both items are well worth a look, particularly Ivanka's trip to Azerbaijan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9Qtf3P6Nw @ 9:30
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal
1
For everyone scratching their heads at the timing, the answer is right in the article: Israeli elections. Trump wants Netanyahu reelected. End of story. All other considerations are secondary to this singular goal. Designating the IRGC a terrorist organization is Trump's last ditch effort to save a strongman and earn a favor in return. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. I needn't mention Jared Kushner's hands are on this project too. A man who, according to security experts, shouldn't even have access to the White House. I guess we should add John Bolton to that list as well.
Regardless of how you feel about Iran, this move stinks to high heaven. All the while, the Republican Congress dithers in deference to this President. Cowardice is not strong enough a word.
3
Trump isn't interested in getting along with any nation that's not salivating at the prospect of a future deal with him to build another Trump property in their country. Or in being nice to any country who isn't offering to lend him money.
As long as you are interested in doing business with the Trumps, you're safe - even if your country is ruled by a dictator and is getting away with human rights violations. Mention a deal to this man and he looks the other way.
I detest the mullahs and the tactics they use, but this is a dangerous policy. Iran is a functioning state. When enemy states reach an impasse that is resulting in attacks, they may go to war. (I am emphatically NOT saying a US war against Iran is a good idea, I am spelling out the policy issues.). I think US abandonment of declarations of war by Congress since 1941 has been a terrible precedent, more often than not ending in stalemate (Korea, Iraq) or worse (Vietnam, Afghanistan).
Either Trump wants to authorize something shady, or he sees this as a first step toward a real war. Then again, maybe he just wants to make his base happy. I continue to pray for the Iranian people to find a way to get rid of that disgusting regime, but no more American regime change.
After reading dozens of comments, rather surprised to see no one mention one chilling aspect about Shiite theology : namely, an obsession with the worthiness of dying a martyrs' death in light of their revered Ali's demise during the early days of struggle for Mohammad's successor.
An American attack on Iran would be of tremendous political and eschatological worth for the world's Shiite population. It could even lead to an eternal war upon America and its interests. Some grim food for thought.
Now that our military is an All Volunteer Force no one in the administration has to worry that any of their friends or relatives will be “drafted” and placed in “harms way.” Talk is easy....facing the consequences is hard.
1
@Nancy Connors
It appears that Bolton dismissed the potential of serving in Vietnam as an unworthy endeavour… he scorned the idea of getting killed in a 'rice paddy'. Easier for other 'chumps' to get killed in his place, destiny reserves higher things for him to accomplish, apparently.
1
it's fascinating Trump, Bolton and the rest of the right wing administration's almost fetish obsession over Iran. Yet, they are absolutely silent on the biggest financiers of actionable terrorism in the world today, Saudi Arabia and Russia. The Kingdom of Saud themselves admit that members of their own royal family, in particular those in control of the banks are still money laundering for criminal and terrorist organizations. Russia, where do we start with Russia? Arms sales, money laundering, logistical support via the mysterious Green Men.
The Evangelicals have really pulled a fast one on this country, whispering sweet rapture in Trump's ears, while true believers Pompeo and Bolton are anxiously light fires of war whenever possible.
1
It is time to take another look at the reporting in the New Yorker and the New York Times about the IRGC connections to the Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku. Will Trump now sanction himself for helping to enrich the IRGC or did he put enough middlemen into the deal to avoid sanctions? Will the rule against people who help the IRG entering the USA apply to Ivanka, who oversaw much of the Baku project, including a glossy feature? Lots of questions there to research.
As an Iranian-American, I would have agreed with the Trump Administration's decision to maximally sanction the IRGC.
The problem with their policy, however, is the context: Iran's democratic, moderate, non-IRGC branch was faithful to the JCPOA. By applying blanket, maximum pressure on Iran, it undermines any action targetting the IRGC in particular. The Trump/Bolton policy is blatantly about complete regime change, so no ally or enemy can take their stated motivations seriously.
My frustration with US foreign policy on Iran is that Obama is all-carrots and Trump/Bolton is all-sticks. Iran's democracy has higher participation rates than the US, and while the IRGC is hybrid terroristgroup/mafia, administrations have failed to be both tough and compassionate at the same time.
81
@Cyrus
So what if the Iranian participation rate is higher than ours when folks in Iran can only vote for the Mullah approved candidates. That's not real choice and makes a mockery of the participation rates.
6
@Cyrus The end problem is the incompatability of Wilayat al-Faqih with a popularly elected representative government. Ali-Sistani (the only Muslim cleric nominated for the noble peace prize by Christians) has explicitly called for a “civil state”. Only rarely intervening with guidance in civil discourse. The problem of religous nationalism is also starting to become acute in Israel also, albeit in a different but no less virulent form. But the Arabs of Israel though a minority have a chance to vote as a bloc and overturn the tyrant tommorow.
2
@Cyrus
I agree.The Trump Designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group could also be called the Benjamin Netanyahu Designation or the Muhammed bin Salman Designation. The IRGC is a collection of radical dead-enders, but as the C.I.A. and other western intelligence agencies attest, the actual government of Iran has complied fully with the terms of the JCPOA.
Why give the wild-eyed radicals publicity just to provide political cover to two desperate politicians whose aims for hegemony in the region conflict with long-held American and European policy?
7
It sounds like Franklin Graham is Secretary of State and the entire state department has been taken over by hard right christian fundamentalists and their equally conservative zionist brothers!
Are we near the bottom yet?
12
If this designation advanced US national interests, it would be a positive.
But does it?
And here historical context is important. The Revolutionary Guards are the reason Iran is not a part of Iraq. They shed much blood during the 8-year proxy war between the US and Iran, aka the Iran-Iraq war.
5
Pres Trump or anyone else in the US government designating someone a terrorist group does not make them that. It is regretful that the US President is choosing to do so.
The revolutionary guard is a legitimate governmental body in Iran. Calling them a terrorist group is akin to calling the CIA, or MI6, or CSIS, as terrorist organizations. BECAUSE each and everyone of these organizations conduct terrorist activities outside their borders. Each and everyone of these organizations have killed people, kept people as prisoners (hostages in another language), tortured people, illegally renditioned people, the list goes on.
So, President Trump should get his wits in order and stop rambling around like an man without a clue. These RGs are possibly not the best of people but I doubt any one of these have done any of the above said deeds anywhere in USA, Canada, Britain. Surely, they are potentially guilty of gruesome activities within Iran and possibly close neighbors. Yes, let's add Mossad to this terrorist organization, they killed a Palestinian in Dubai not long ago posing as fat tennis players.
6
Just another attempt by Trump to distract from attention on the Mueller Report being released, his tax returns being released, all of his staff that have been indicted - Trump is so callous, he'd love to stir things up and maybe an international terrorist attack would be just the ticket to get people to focus on something else. Sadly, I would not put it past him & his cronies - he is as slippery and selfish as a Shakespearean villain.
11
They are making this declaration today to help Netanyahu. They don't see any benefit to brokering peace between Sunnis and Shias, because Bibi prefers that they fight. The confict gives the Saudis a reason to work with Israel, despite its treatment of the Palestinians.
1
So the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has the same role as the CIA, NSA, and JSOC have for the US? Got it.
12
It's sad watching fellow Americans side with a hostile foreign power who chants "Death to America" over their own country. It's especially ironic given the Russian Delusion we just recently went through.
6
Not realizing that Russia did interfere in our election, and not admitting that Russia is opposed to U.S. interests, is plenty delusional.
Also Iran merely chants "death to America", whereas Trump, by increasing the amounts of mercury, asbestos, and other toxins in our environment, and by waging war on health care, actually is carrying out "death to America". I know that my main enemy and threat is Trump, Iran has no impact on my life.
3
Why do you see advocating common sense and avoidance of unnecessarily provocative behavior as "siding with a hostile foreign power?"
Also, maybe spend a little time and energy learning why some "foreign powers" view the US with hostility.
3
@Don Q
Why don't you start worrying about the federal government's lack of significant action against the 'Holy City'? The Vatican is the political emanation of a 'church' which has been playing all sorts of diversionary games to deny crimes committed against American youth.
Trump the coward and his friend BiBi along with the Saudi Prince are plotting a war with Iran. Hey, it will be win win just like Afghanistan 18 years and counting, and about Libya. But, Bibi wants a the war for the Greater Good of the People. Maybe people should check who used to use those words. On the same path except as the new book on My Lai title says The Descent into Darkness. We are not the good guys. Iran like it or not has lived up to it end of the agreement, Israel at least 100 nuclear weapons no inspection, Saudi Arabia first small nuclear facility no inspection. So, lets see Iran allows inspection, and they are the evil one. Trump and the merry gang will start World War III and the Evangelicals like Pompeo and Pence will be dancing in the streets making banners for the Return of Christ, gee I do love delusion like Gadot he ain't coming. Trump has signed off on giving our nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia to a man who kills and cuts up peoples bodies in his own embassy, but I notice that has gone away. Arrests and tortures civil rights individuals and not a peep out of Trump or Bibi. As Pogo used to say "We have met the enemy and he is us." Very appropriate for the Vietnam War and even more so today. Trump and the gang won't serve, but to the crime boss the next war will make him and his friends lots of money. Of course hopefully they won't get to spend it. Jim Trautman
6
Nice move but what did Adam Davidson, in the March 5, 2017 New Yorker have to report: Donald Trump’s Worst Deal
“The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.”
4
Curious what the grand plan is in the move. I see a lot of comments from Jeffrey Prescott (and, of course Mr. Un-named source, i.e., 'top pentagon and CIA officials". I find it hard to believe no one outside of the President's staff doesn't support this move. Dig a little harder NYTimes.
2
I remember when Hillary voted for this in 2007.
5
Close the border, don’t close the border, followed by another halfhearted threat of closing the border.
Support sanctions against North Korea, stop all sanctions against Korea,
Support Saudi’s war in Yemen, now he has to stop helping the Saudi’s in Yemen.
Cut Obama care, no don’t cut Obama care, but cut again after the next election,
This list is endless and will always be endless as none of his propositions are based on facts but have only one goal, get his orange face on TV and get the media distracted.
And all media fall for it time and time again and rush toward to each new photo op of a man who can only blurt out lies and nonsense. One really start to wonder if there are still any independent thinking journalists and editors in all media left in our country.
Don’t show up, stop reporting about clowns, there are so many more important things to inform your readers and viewers.
7
It seems clear that DT has discovered there is a sizable regressive Jewish vote in the US that he’d like to tap into. He can’t find voters by means other than stirring up hate and fear so his only avenue to another term is to stir it up to the MAX. I wonder if the white nationalist voters will take objection with being on the same side as some Jewish voters and vice-versa? Naw, they’ll not likely realize the hypocrisy.
6
Someone is looking for a war to galvanize Americans on a fabricated issue to be elected in 2020 ?
9
And their relatives won’t be drafted.....
No need for Canadian commentary.
No friends no more.....
This is the weirdest President in my sixty seven years! I pray that his unprecedented style, doesn't send our nation into the abyss!
9
It's already in the abyss
1
Life is about to get much harder for ordinary Iranians who pray every day for some encouragement for the moderate forces in that country.
We are witnessing another example of how far Donald Trump and the hyper-partisan radicals around him, like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, are willing to go to flaunt international law and the wise counsel of the U.S. intelligence community to give Trump some political ammunition and a distraction to fight impeachment and then to win re-election in 2020.
The only people cheering are the previously marginalized Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
3
The beauty of this move is the ripple effect it will have on other countries in the region. Russia cannot be too happy because it has been operating in tandem with Iran in fomenting trouble in the Middle East. At the same time it helps strengthen Israel’s hand. The Left will always criticize Trump, but they are clueless as ever about how the US should look after its own
interests on the world stage as opposed to Obama’s myopic policies of appeasement.
5
@Edward.... "but they are clueless as ever about how the US should look after its own interests on the world stage."....Could you explain why supporting the Saudis is in our interest?
2
Now the list lost its credibility, and so does its owner.
1
I agree with President Trump, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard is a terrorist group; the military of a terrorist regime. He made the right decision. I am heartened that America has a leader willing to stand up to Iran, not one who gives it the benefit of the doubt to behave as does the rest the civilized world, who enters into agreements with it to limit nuclear weapons, and who pays millions of dollars in ransom to it for the release of prisons. I support the President. I support Trump. America first! Always first, never last! MAGA! Thank you.
6
Sure, but you always agree with Trump, and say MAGA as if it means something. So what?
2
@Southern Boy
Trump did this for the benefit of Netanyahu and Israel. How is that to the benefit of America? Please, open your eyes. Trump doesn't care about you or America. His only agenda is acting tough and cozying up to strongmen.
3
@Southern Boy
Confederate States of America, eh? Not worried about being tailed by FEDERAL authorities for separatist tendencies ? Hardly a very patriotic nor law-abiding aspect on your part.
1
Instead of being so antagonistic to Trump the Democrats should learn from him how foreign affairs should be conducted—with a strong hand and not from weakness. But the Democrats have always been clueless. When they could have stood up to Bush against the Iraq war, they folded. Now, despite Trump’s success in foreign policy they criticize him. Once again they’re on the wrong side of history.
3
@Edward What success?
5
"No collusion", except with foreign powers against American interests; "no obstruction", except of the prospect of peace.
5
More provocation that will marginalize moderate elements in Iran, compel Iran to develop nuclear weapons and increase the threat of war. Obama's nuclear agreement, cancelled by Trump, looks more prescient and intelligent with every antagonistic, arbitrary move Ignorant Donald makes.
3
John Bolton has openly sought war with Iran for more than 20 years. This move is yet more provocation that will marginalize moderate elements in Iran, compel the regime to develop nuclear weapons and increase the threat of war. Obama's nuclear agreement, cancelled by Trump, looks more prescient and intelligent with every antagonistic, arbitrary move Ignorant Donald makes.
Meanwhile Trump continues to speak admiringly of Kim Jong Un, a vicious tyrant who refuses to give up his nuclear warheads and works to improve the range and accuracy of his missiles. The contrast in US policy towards these two nations could not be more stark or more nonsensical.
7
On the upside, it's good to see more military veterans in the House since the last election, several of whom are Democrat and several females. I don't think they're going to be as willing to casually put our soldiers in harms' way.
If we can just flip the Senate and nominate a decent Presidential candidate this next time, we can restore sane policy and repair some of the damage inflicted by the purchased political products currently occupying the seats.
5
@Fern
The problem is that the newly elected still need to raise re-election funds and support to get re-elected.
Trump's obsession with Iran might just be a sort of warped idea of what is good for Israel, or maybe just an opportunity to rattle Iran's cage enough to get it to do something that will give him the excuse to become "a war-time president" - to help his reelection. In any case, for him to ignore the advice of pentagon and the CIA may be symptomatic of a dangerous mental condition.
6
Looks like Trump wants to give fellow corruption-plagued leader Bibi a big show of support going into Israel's upcoming election. Self-interest, of course, as he's thinking about his own 2020 prospects. He and Pompeo know the "religious" right believes anything looking supportive of Israel is a good thing.
Given the unsustainable deficits, trade and debt, staffing problems, and drop in popularity, Trump probably believes becoming a War President will help him win re-election like it did Bush II. It'd take minds off the Barr inspired obstruction of justice/cover up of the Mueller Report, too.
Also, since Bolton is involved, please be wary of false flags that may arise, unnecessarily raising tensions between Iran and Israel and the United States. We don't need to be firing missiles, especially with this president, who seems to want to set the precedent of war using tactical nuclear weapons.
5
So government that does not have nuclear weapons, and engaged the world in a treaty, is a bigger threat that a government that has nuclear weapons and will not engage the world in a treaty? Kim is a friend and the marginally democratic Iran is a enemy? Iran worked with us - to a degree - and Kim has done nothing other than to play to Trump’s flawed ego. We truly live in an upside down world. Were the Trump tells us friends are enemies and enemies friends, corruption is the rule of law, and lies are truth.
6
Unmoderated, unnecessary, uncertain...this is simply a provocation tactic to appease a base which doesn’t believe in diplomacy.
Wartime re-election is almost guaranteed.
10
Hardline Iranians don't need to "justify" operations against Americans. They didn't when they took our diplomats hostage.
They didn't when their proxies blew up the Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U. S. Marines.
This was long overdue.
9
@Jonathan Katz
And what about the intrinsic ethical bankruptcy of the Roman Catholic Church, the emanation of an opaque foreign theocracy? Consider the harm their clergy has exerted upon American youth : the numbers dwarf whatever the obscurantists in Tehran may have done to American civilians in the homeland.
@Jonathan Katz They did when we meddled in their government in the 20th century. Would *you* have a long memory about something like that?
Not justifying any kind of violence. But we have an enforceable agreement with them now (or did POTUS end that? I'm losing track of the damage he's done) . Oh, that's right, Obama helped to get that done, and Trump hates Obama.
2
This precedent would apply to far more than the CIA covert actions mentioned, and the Special Operations Command secret mini-wars. It would apply for example to an awful lot of what Israel does, and to the people who do that too.
Which would Iran designate first, Americans, or Israelis? Which would others in the world risk treating that way?
Being part of a sovereign state was protection, for a lot of things not overt war crimes, and in practice for many that were. But now?
Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. It may not even be a bad thing, but as American operators are saying loudly, the blow back will be serious.
8
I've seen Donald Trump do a lot of unbelievably stupid things but this may be the dumbest thing of all that he's attempted in the last 2 1/2 years. A great diplomat learns how his enemy thinks, he learns how to keep open lines of communication with his enemy, but what this clueless man in the White House is now doing is simply pushing away a potential enemy, the way a high school bully does, but not the way a true diplomat would react.
If he is not suffering from premature dementia or a chemical imbalance that leads him to behave irrationally,
chances are that Dolan's Trump is the least intelligent president we have ever seen or will ever be likely to see again in our lifetimes .
And when somebody is this clueless, and this out of touch, our senators and our congressman need to wake up collectively , put their partisanship aside and save our country from the actions of a man who at this very moment is a clear and present threat to the safety and security of the United States.
8
If it is BAD for US policy, you can count on Trump (and his sycophants) to make it happen. That is the only way to make sense of these things.
I am becoming increasingly convinced that 1/3 of the country really sees EVERY issue from an inverted perspective and are simply irredeemable in their lack of logic.
4
Can we all stop speculating about Game of Thrones or March Madness or Joe Biden’s hands for a moment? We’re paving the way for war with Iran. This is the thing we should be focused on. Trump is preparing the ultimate distraction that will ensure that we never see the Mueller report or his tax returns and that he may use as an excuse to impose “security” measures like an internet blackout (it’s happened in other countries, it can happen here) or either suspending the next election or rigging it to the extent that it’s an empty exercise (ditto.) Trump and his sidekicks are so truly evil and nihilistic they would be rejected from a Batman script for being too ridiculous - which is why we all have a hard time wrapping our heads around it and accepting that it’s real. IT’S REAL. These people actually do know that climate change is real and they’re leaning into it. They know they could be risking nuclear war and they don’t care. They really truly are madmen bent on destruction. I don’t know what their agenda is - bringing on the Rapture? sending the 400 richest people off to a colony on Mars? - but it doesn’t matter. The point is that we are dealing with a combination of extreme bigotry, hatred and insanity and we cannot assume that reason will prevail or that our institutions will save us. War is coming.
10
@James Jacobs
Oh yes. All part of the master plan to destroy the European Union in one fell swoop. An Iranian refugee crisis heading westward would lead to a xenophobic backlash all across the Continent. Washington and Moscow are today on the same level when it comes to diplomatic policy.
@James JacobsIt's Rapture they are waiting for Godo. You are right a war is coming and more than likely the last one. Jim Trautman
Smells like Kushner kissing up to the Saudis again. Of course most Americans have no idea that there is a difference between Shia and Sunni. I would love to see a poll that asks Americans if they think that Iran is associated with or opposed to Al Qaeda and Isis.
9
The other day Chinese government announced that they arrested 30,000 terrorists(Uighur) and now we have 11 million more.
Iran’s armed forces…. Oh right, that military arm of Iran that was financed by Omaba and the Democrats under the Iran Deal.
Wait a moment, do you mean, they are the bad guys?
That’s impossible, Obama loves Iran so much he financed the upgrade of their weapons.
5
War is a winning strategy from the "reelect the idiot" campaign guide. Works every time.
People are seduced by wars nowadays because, unlike past wars for which the killing and the dying was personal, affecting everyday people and their drafted sons, now it takes place off-stage and we get just the sanitized dramatic versions of this or that battle from the media chorus and media heroes who briefly wade into this or that skirmish, but never show a dead Marine.
6
Also, to add to the list of things we all know are true...water is wet, Hillary was a horrible candidate and Socialism killed Venezuela.
3
Seems like Trump and company are throwing down the gauntlet, almost a direct challenge and this ill considered move even could be perceived as an invitation for an attack. Even if they are engaged in planning terrorist action against the US, why use a megaphone to scream it at them and the entire Middle East? This is why GHW Bush said it would be better to treat terrorist groups as criminals and respond to the problem as an international police action. Anyway, you can’t separate a nation’s military from its government. Basically, Trump is branding the entire Iranian government as a terrorist organization, bringing us one step closer to declaring war on the nation.
11
Our unofficial Secretary of State Benjamin Netanyahu continues to upend decades of US Middle East policy.
We need to stop these foreign policy mistakes and vote Trump out in 2020.
26
In short summery, the Revolutionary Guard is guilty of pretty much exactly the same crimes our own CIA is guilty of. Arming militias and inciting revolution; intelligence gathering through torture; using their influence to pressure other governments (by any means necessary) into doing what Iran wants.
As someone who believes a nation should stay out of other nations’ business, I despise both organizations.
10
The one thing the trump administration is great at is it’s neverending list of slippery slope decisions slowly tumbling towards WW3 and chaos . When will a time come when peace is the priority.
23
Trump's lack of emotional intelligence (specifically ability to make non-emotionally driven decisions) is seriously compromised.
8
This is just another attempt by Trump to manipulate the media narrative about strong a leader he is.
Everyday -- distract the public with a gut shot to the stomach that will demonstrate what a great president "I am."
The con-man no longer fools intelligent people -- especially U.S. intelligence agencies who recognize his folly. But, of course, we all know he knows more than the generals. He humbly told us so.
9
"The Obama administration considered a series of actions against the Revolutionary Guard before entering into a nuclear deal with Tehran and world powers in 2015."
So, that means Trump is just following the correct policy?
2
No. The nuclear deal was the correct policy. And it still is, which is why the rest of the signatories are still in the deal.
Designating a governmental military service as a terrorist organization is simply dumb and dangerous.
2
Considered and rejected. So no, not following Obama.
1
@Douglas, the nuclear deal with Iran was, in my view, pure appeasment and the incorrect policy. They are never to be trusted.
Designating a governmental military service as a terrorist organization isn't necessarily dumb and dangerous, and may even be rational and smart.
1
While apparently there can be negative impacts from this, all he really did is call a spade a spade.
8
That statement would be just as accurate if it referred to another national government labeling our CIA as a terrorist organization.
You bet there can be negative impacts. Sheesh.
2
Although the Iranian nation’s awful activities are far from reassuring, nevertheless I see more than a passing resemblance here to the goings-on in W.’s administration. Pompeo and Bolton are advancing their own skewed hardline agendas under Trump just as Cheney and Rumsfeld acted out their lethal narcissistic fantasies under W.’s umbrella. The consequences of that were (and still are being felt as) disastrous and it likely won’t be that much different this time around too. We are sending out rogue operatives wearing nice suits with nice titles doing bad things around the world. Surely, a heavy price will be paid down the road. Our political system suffers a strange and horrible sickness. When will we wake up and point ourselves towards decency, kindness and justice. - even if we stand alone in doing so. Otherwise, we will become like the last of the law-abiding Roman citizens in the West who, apparently, did little as their Caesars became increasing autocratic and dangerous even to their own citizens. To note that their agony was prolonged for nearly four centuries before the final collapse is an awful thing to wish upon anyone including ourselves.
8
Interesting how this designation comes just a day before Israelis go to the polls. Between PM Netanyahu's proposal to annex parts of the West Bank, combined with his constant undermining of the nuclear deal with Iran, I wonder how this move by the Trump administration will factor in tomorrow's election.
5
Notching up the pressure on this rogue state. What a difference an election makes. With Russian collusion out of the way Trump has a stronger hand on the world stage which accounts for the timing of this latest move. The Iranian government now has to recalculate its policies as it contemplates the possibility of six more year years of Trump instead of his hoped for early exit. Poor Kerry. He won’t be able to use up his air travel miles which will now expire before Trump leaves.
3
"The move, which has been debated at the highest levels within the administration"
Unfortunately for us, and the rest of the world, the highest levels of the Trump administration are all Trump with input from Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro, Laura Ingraham, Tucker Carlson, Stuart Varney, Rush Limbaugh and the last person he talked to.
14
If a nation's army can be tagged as a terrorist group, why would not enemy nations like Iran, North Korea, or Russia do the same to our troops. Declaring these Republican Guards a terrorist organization opens the door to a new level of confrontation that may not end well for our people in uniform stationed on foreign soil. Of course, neither our President or Secretary of State will suffer any consequences, just the men and women in uniform. I think this is a mistake.
7
Maybe the real puppet master here isn't Putin after all, but Netanyahu. Israel has been desperately trying to get us into a war with their nemesis, Iran, for years. The moving of the American embassy. The annexation of the Golan Heights. The public plan to annex the West Bank. And now this. Bibi, fresh off being the toast of the town at AIPAC and the shower of love from both Republicans and Democrats sees that he has us hook, line, and sinker. Once again, it's the tail wagging the dog in our relationship with Israel. When will it ever end?
8
Sounds like Trump knows he is in trouble with Mueller and New York investigators and thinks it's time for a GREAT DIVERSION, dictator style.
Time to impeach!
8
@Robert, talk about that with Nancy Palosi.
This action by President Trump carries the same stench as Vice President Dick Chaney’s war mongering obsession that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. Surely, more informed, cooler heads will prevail.
8
Is this the administration's way of keeping the focus OFF current Trump scandals, off of TrumpCare-- healthcare by neglect?
Is this what Republicans meant when they voted in 2018 tax law befitting corporations and tiring everyday Americans to corporate sponsored health care or Trump NoCare?
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/04/adjunct-professors-higher-education-thea-hunter/586168/
3
Read as: a standing, uniformed army that aids and abets armed civilian militants abroad is itself a terrorist organization.
1
Two related stories today.. This one and possibly the reason for doing it.
Donald Trump’s Worst Deal (See Trump announce Iran Guard as Terrorists - today)
The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal
It’s all about Trump’s real job.
3
Trump is a chinese & russian mole. There can't be second thought about it. He has blown (with GOP support) all our credit build after 2nd world war in 2 years.
He is creating so many enemies to keep next 10 Dem administration busy recover the moral ground we used to have til 2016.
4
So what happens when Iran declares US troops in Iraq and Syria as a terrorist organization?
8
'gee no other distracting crisis in sight, time to dust off the old Iran as straw man, canard'. Truly though the emperor has no clothes.
4
I get it. They're not friends. But seriously - right now? Why?
Iran is dealing with major flooding. Can we not cut them a break? Oh, I know, it's all about Israel's election...drum beat goes on. Disgusting.
5
Trump campaigned on getting the US out of stupid conflicts and fixing things at home. Where is the plan to recognize and combat domestic white power terrorism?
4
this sounds like more trying to influence the israeli election.
7
Add it to Trump’s damage tally.
I guess Netanyahu needs to be re-elected and our weapons industry is itching to sell more ammo.
4
We're only doing this because somehow Trump thinks hardline Jews are going to win him a second term.
Never in the history of America has any president been so singular and selfish in their motives.
Throwing away our relations with the rest of the world that also claims that land so he can win a few select votes back here... at least he thinks that.
I just hope American Jews can see through this. Iran was solved. We're just poking someone else's hornets nest.
7
Trump, Bolton and Pompeo: We're going to war, and by '"we", we mean "you"!
6
As an Iranian-American, I couldn't be happier with President Trump's decision to label the IRGC as a terrorist organization. The IRGC is a corrupt, terrorist entity that has a crony capitalist control of the Iranian economy while spreading chaos and disorder throughout Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Pressuring Iran is the only way to get them to change their behavior. Obama's appeasement policy with Iran has been proven to be a failure that Trump is righting.
59
@Iconoclast Texan,
If we remove the part where you are an Iranian-American and therefore make a claim to some type of authority to the subject, you don’t give us any information that would help us understand why this is a good thing. Your descriptions of the actions of the IRGC fits for many other nations. Corrupt? Crony capitalist? Spreading Chaos? Descriptors that feel awfully close to home...
87
@Iconoclast Texan
How has it been proved a failure? The ink was barely dry before Republicans tore it up and ruined any progress towards improving relations between our countries. Now we are tied to being SA's pit bull in the ME. I'm not interested in fighting your partisan squabbles back in Iran, the US should keep it's distance from both sides and play only a balancing role when absolutely necessary.
This move just makes our involvement in another ME conflict more likely.
58
@Iconoclast Texan "The IRGC is a corrupt, terrorist entity that has a crony capitalist control of the Iranian economy while spreading chaos and disorder throughout Syria, Lebanon and Iraq."
So they are the same as OUR military, in other words.
37
Any Republicans out there want to prove that they are not just a bought and sold member of the Trump Party?
12
@Brian Anymore than Democrats were under Obama. Stereotyping and bigotry can be applied just as ignorantly in both directions.
3
I would have been interested in this article going into some of the broader implications of this step re: other countries behavior; for example, Russia. It is pretty clear that Putin has sent assassins to Great Britain and Ukraine-- should the U.S. declare the Russian intelligence service a terrorist organization?
13
@Marco Ribeiro -- Sure.
And how about those Israeli assassinations?
And how about those kidnappings and renditions done by the US?
This goes round and round.
2
@Marco Ribeiro
Yes, and well-deserved.
2
@Marco Ribeiro How about the decades of Republicans blessing of Saudi Arabian dictators?
1
Let’s reinstitute the draft ASAP. See how that goes with trumps base.
27
@Joe And include women, to be fair (just kidding).
1
Probably driven by Bolton, a clear attempt to justify military action against Iran in the name of 'war against terror.'
13
@DDRamone -- If it applies to any civilian, it would apply to Bolton himself.
3
I wonder how many Americans are thrilled at the prospect of watching more shock and awe on their TV sets. Judging by the number of Dem. and Rep. pols who saw fit to authorize the last fiasco, my guess is they judged it to be a majority.
7
Here we go again. Regime change.
9
@Michael
The driver here is Bolton. He's getting his way with Trump, today. Yesterday, Stephen Miller was in the driver seat. Trump should frighten us all, including the Republican Party, but they fear his personal attacks on them, not on our democracy.
1
This unilateral action is a blatant act of election interference on the part of the trump administration to get Netanyahu reelected. Nothing good will come from this act and could backfire on this country putting agency, military and civilians in harms way. Clearly, the Intelligence community is opposed to this action but this president rejects good advice and goes to the aid of not a country but an individual who likes him. This is no way to run a government. He, trump refused to grow into the job by doing minimal studying or listening. He, as he says is a "gut" action guy. He has become a danger to this countries safety. He didn’t listen to the oath of office where is is bound to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. For him its personal gain at all cost.
11
@MLucero
Not to mention distraction from the Mueller report, stacking the courts, tax returns.....and on and on.
2
I believe Stephen Miller is now the de facto president.
11
This changes almost nothing.
The IRG didn’t refrain from attacking American soldiers because of its commercial interests. It refrained because it understood the probability and magnitude of the U.S. response. This will continue to restrain the IRG’s actions.
So, now we’ve declared the IRG a terrorist organization and are expanding sanctions. In response, Iran has declared U.S. Central Command a terrorist organization
Let’s see which declaration has a greater impact.
2
Greater impact? On a global scale it will be Iran's declaration.
Because it will demask the USA as a janus-faced player in the middle-east (why not declaring the Mossad or the Saudis, or the Russian secret services as a terrorist organization?)
And, it shows that the USA allows for being pushed one more step towards another big war by two very unlikely partners, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
1
One has to wonder if there is a single person in the Trump Administration who thinks about the longer term consequences of anything they do. This announcement opens the door to give any nation or group of nations legitimate rationale for making the same claim about American forces, who have killed tens of thousands of innocents over the past two decades for the sole benefit of chickenhawks and war profiteers-----and nobody else.
15
@James no they don't, trump has loans and iowuz to terrorist nation of saudiarabia. he needs to take action with iran or else.
1
When this whole debacle became clear on November 7, 2016 we were all somewhat assured that the guardrails would hold. What guardrails?
12
One more example of why Hillary would have been a superior President to Mr. Trump. He has more opinions than his limited intellect can afford.
8
As they should be, and long overdue.
7
@Michal...Can you explain why?
1
I hope Trump supporters are ready to suit up for this craven, tidy, and deadly distraction.
8
Whether intentionally or out of ignorance Trump is damaging what little credibility that the US retains. Honest broker in the Middle East? Nope. Dependable ally within Nato? Nope. Rational economic policy? Nope. His "friends" are among some of the worst human rights abusers in the world. His supporters still seem to believe that Trump has some plan that, because of his "stable genius", the rest of us cannot understand. It appears this will all end rather badly.
7
This is just another attempt by Trump to manipulate the media narrative about strong a leader he is. Everyday -- distract the public with a gut shot to the stomach that will demonstrate what a great president "I am."
The con-man no longer fools intelligent people -- especially U.S. intelligence agencies who recognize his folly.
But, of course, we all know he knows more than the generals. He told us so.
10
A superpower and its president should stand serenely above partisan considerations and lead crisis-regions towards peace and justice. Mr. Trump is the carbon-copy of one rightwing party in Israel. He does not understand that Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel will have to cohabitate forever and under ever-worsening conditions thanks to his ill decisions.
7
The drama of pro-wrestling and its use to captivate an audience is undoubtedly behind every logic-defying action Trump takes, including this one.
Sooner or later, America is going to reap what it sows as a result of putting the wrong people in leadership positions.
4
To me, this paragraph justifies it-
“Top Pentagon and C.I.A. officials oppose the designation, which they argue would allow hard-line Iranian officials to justify deadly operations against Americans overseas, especially Special Operations units and paramilitary units working under the C.I.A.”
You can debate whether we should have been in Iraq or not but this organization carries a lot of responsibilities in the killing/maiming of our soldiers who were there doing what our government asked them to do
4
"...the first time that the United States had named a part of another nation’s government as such a threat..."
What about Hezbollah, which is a large faction of the Lebanese government?
7
Is it not obvious yet that Trump, Kushner, Pompeo are all puppets of (and desperate for the cash of) the Saudi royal family?
8
"Trump Designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a Foreign Terrorist Group"
I understand the complaints but they are a terrorist organization and everyone knows it. Well done Mr. Trump.
5
@BobC
Are they though? And will other governments recognize them as such? They are certainly responsible for training a number of militia/guerrilla fighters in the region, but I'm not aware that they engage in actual terrorism like the Sunni Wahhabists that our good friend SA funds throughout the Muslim world.
This could well end up with more of our allies trying to find ways around the sanctions like they are doing with the nuclear deal, that actually weaken our power long term. This is a conflict Republicans chose at the behest of our worst ally Saudi Arabia. We had another 13 years to try to improve relations with Iran before the nuclear deal with Iran. Republicans just had to undo one of the great achievements of our first black President to prove their racist, ignorant, belligerent bona fides.
1
This is just another corrupt and blatant attempt to influence other governments. Why weren't Russian agencies also named?
2
I will reiterate it to the point of boredom: Trump is the worst nightmare that the Americans have given to the whole world. It is a black shadow that oppresses us more and more every day.
8
@Mauro Rossetti What makes it even worse is that it happens at a time when China and Russia are undermining the post-WW2 world order. That order is/was far from perfect, but it brought us closer to world-wide cooperation which we will need to adapt to the warming climate and other environmental challenges and threats, and global overpopulation.
This carries all the moral weight of designating the US Marines the exact same thing.
4
Which country was it that delivered poison gas to Iraq so Iraq could shell Iranian soldiers with it during their war with Iran many years ago? Did that country start with a U?
Israel seems to be doing a good job defending itself against possible Iranian aggression. Do we really need to pour more gasoline on the fire?
7
@William Perrigo
And years later it was also revealed that same country provided Iraq with satellite gathered info that showed Iraq just where the iranian troops were.
Since trump likes to follow Reagan's most dubious acts (trickledown 37 years and counting, now Star Wars) can another Iran-Contra be far behind? The only question this time is who is to be infected with the Contras.
The Trump/Netanyahu coalition. Bibi will say he supports Trump 100% in this. Trump's designation brings the U.S. and Israel one step closer to bombing Iran.
5
By this definition the U.S. military is *definitely* a terrorist organization.
7
The Vatican Guard is also extremely dangerous...
5
Iran was completely responsible for 9/11. They deserve Payback.
Right, GOP ??? And the really pathetic part : His Base will believe that, no questions asked. This and " the Wall " are the issues for His 2020 Campaign. Guaranteed.
4
Why them, why now? Iran didn't attack U.S. by undermining our elections Putin/Russia did. Iran fully complied with the JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal) including the inspections. Meanwhile the Saudi's continue indiscriminate slaughter in Yemen. Why them, why now?
374
@Basic
It's to help Netanyahu. Pure politics, which is all Trump does.
59
@Basic
"Putin/Russia did"? no but Saudi Arabia, Israel and the UAE did and demonizing Iran is the policy their puppet is pushing. Russia opposes this just as they do our escalating interference in Venezuela
7
@Basic Why now? Netanyahu has said nice things about him -- pumped him up. Now Trump is trying to give his buddy Benjamin a boost. It's clear as day why he chose now to do it.
25
Military complex is 30% of our economy. I guess we have to be in conflict somewhere. Our economy has to be more important than any other country or culture. Look at some Americans now. They supported the exact opposite of what every church or parents would teach them about good behavior. Their catch phrase of "look at the economy" doesn't fit. Jesus threw out the money changers in the church then. We need to do it now.
8
No matter how bad things may appear, leave it to Trump to make it worse.
37
Where is the "Trump Whisperer" aka Steve Bannon in all of this. Last I heard he and DT were continuing to have daily phone conferences. Bannon is intent on promoting chaos wherever and whenever and a plan like this would suit his agenda. One more reason DT can't give up his private, unmonitored means of communication. Woe to us as he foments more disorder and discontent abroad with the U.S. and soothes his base into continuing support.
8
I realize that Iran has an expansive foreign policy and doesn't mind meddling in the affairs of its neighbors. However, we don't mind meddling either. Trump has openly admitted that our war in Iraq was a "stupid war" and that "we do bad things too." Trump's transactional foreign policy is based upon moral equivalence. He is currently placing nuclear technology into Saudi Arabia's hands. Trump has stated that if we don't do it Russia and other countries will. If you were living in Iran, how would you take this slick justification?
Based upon Trump's own admission , we aren't all that much different from Iran in meddling in the affairs of other nations. I might view Trump's pronouncement differently if Iran's Revolutionary Guard were operating in Mexico. However, we're operating a lot closer to Iran than they are to us. They can call us terrorists with some justification too. Welcome to Trumplandia and his transactional foreign policy. Definitions seem to change on a weekly basis.
11
What more harm can come is not a directive for peaceful diplomacy.
"An interagency lawyers group concluded the designation was too broad, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, pushed for it . . . "
Hawks circling in the air, especially John Bolton, are pointing us toward more violence and war. Bolton as national security adviser is an oxymoron.
Neither of these men has any hesitation in endangering our own military and intelligence. Like so many other old men hawks, they will not be in the line of fire and seem to get a vicarious thrill from the bloody death of others.
7
More subterfuge. It will escalate.
3
So we learned nothing from our escapades in Iraq when we dissolved the Baath Party. I'm going to assume that even with Mr Trump as our president there are people in our government with an understanding of geopolitics, with an understanding of the history of these regions. Why then are we doing something that will only cause further war, dissension, strife, suffering, and for generations? I don't understand this death cult that calls itself the Republican Party. I simply do not understand it.
8
I got an A in AP US Government, and yet I never knew how much the President could do by fiat or by simply declaring it himself.
2
Just because someone or some group is anti trump does not make them the good guys they can be just as bad as him or worse, this is a trap that the liberal left fall into every-time . Just look what happened to Iranian liberals and left when they backed Khomeini.
4
When Iran counters and declares the US military as Terrorist organization, that means President Trump, as commander in chief of the US military, may become a legitimate target legally as far the Shiite Nations are concerned. Possibly also Bolton, Pompeo and maybe even Trump family members serving in the White House.
4
We should all remember that when trump does anything, it’s for his own selfish wants and nothing to do with the greater good. Be alert, the worst it yet to come.
7
There have been concerns that Trump and Bolton want to go to war against Iran. Is this action something to add to the argument for war? With Bolton in the government Americans should be very concerned that another US administration could lead the country into a foolish wan.
3
@Bob
Where is your practical side? Another great war will allow Uncle Sam to cull the lumpenproletariat in the American heartland and the inner city, something quite easy to do with an all-volunteer army.
@AE
Progressives would say it would make tons of money for the weapons manufactures. I wonder if they are ready to wheel out all those retired generals on their payrolls to explain on cable TV why going to war with Iran makes a lot of sense.
Absolutely correct. I'm amazed at the number of comments that minimize Iran's evil or dismiss them as merely an Israeli problem. This is nuts. Allowing Iran's terrorist activity to go unchecked is a crime against humanity.
5
@MJG
The rise of Iran as we know it started a long time ago.
Read the link it might be enlightening.
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/041600iran-coup-timeline.html?scp=1&sq=mossadegh%252520coup&st=cse
@MJG...I am amazed at the number of people who make comments without including factual examples to support their position.
Sure beats sending them pallets of cash.
5
Well, it's a good thing the president hasn't been laundering money for the Republican Guard through his hotel in Azerbaijan or else this could get really sticky.
8
Yet again, the shockingly ignorant Trump unilaterally decided a key, far reaching policy position against the established expertise of our nation’s top experts. He has needlessly antagonized a powerful nation, that could, under different circumstances, rise to a position not quite so hostile to American interests.
The nuclear treaty that the US and key allies (even Russia) negotiated under Obama, was a huge step forward. It’s been established by all the other treaty signers that Iran has NOT BROKEN THE TREATY - but Trump needed an enemy, a national nemesis... so he just decided against all evidence that they were in violation. And here we are....
Congress - yes, Democrats, I am talking to you - must stop this delusional, self gratifying behavior! With every passing day, Trump is making the world a more hostile, and less stable place. How much longer will it be before he is hauled in?
233
@GWBear
So please educate us as to why Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is not a terrorist organization?
10
@GWBear I'd wager Trump cares nothing about this policy and it was driven by Bolton.
8
@GWBear
A huge step forward? The deputy FM told State TV the following after the deal was made:
"We have told them (the Group 5+1 – the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) in the negotiations that we will supply arms to anyone and anywhere necessary and will import weapons from anywhere we want and we have clarified this during the negotiations."
3
So nice to know our nation is ruled by Trump's ugly "gut" (although most women think he thinks with another part of his anatomy.)
So Nielsen was fired because putting children into chainlink cages was not harsh enough. Trump wants two men on the Fed, one who owes his ex-wife and the IRS substantial money and the other who he himself doubts he will pass background cks (and has his own women accusers...oh, thats probably a plus for Trump)......and he's cutting aid to three desperate countries perhaps to really create a migrant crisis rather than a fictional one
.....all while adding temporary immigrants who work for lower wages and no benefits for his golf courses and hotels......
while bypassing safequards and regulatory oversight to give Nuke capability to the Saudis. (As one man said, if you can't trust them with a bone saw, why would you trust them with nuclear info?!......oh sure Kushner and Trump are counting their money received thru corruption.)
GOP? You really want to own this disaster? I guess once the economy goes into a tailspin you will instead try to pin in on Hillary again.
96
@Susan No. GOP will pin any disaster on Obama.
2
@Shell
Kind of like how the democrats blame everything on the GOP? Sorry but both sides are the same and both are to blame for this insanely partisan group think environment.
Trump don't need no stinkin' CIA or Pentagon advice.
23
Trump is all for supporting the military, except when it opposes his rash moves.
3
Sounds like something Bibi would say. Actually, it is funny to hear this from a guy complimentary of a Prince and a government who murders on a regular basis.
12
In 2007 as Congress contemplated the same move, during a Democratic primary debate Joe Biden got agitated: "If you declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization, you will destabilize Pakistan." He knew well: within a short time Benazir Bhutto was assassinated...
14
Are there any terrorist actions that can be traced to these people? I doubt it, but don't let facts get in the way of helping Netanyahu get re-elected and screwing up the middle east more.
13
@felixmk The author very briefly mentions that they trained shiite militants who were in opposition to the US.
I'd also recommend doing your own research; this piece is quite overtly biased.
2
Trying very hard for Netanyahu to win.
13
Sounds somewhat familiar? Sort of what happened in 2015 & 2016? Sure does to me.
i don't see bibi winning. that will be make it different for sure
2
It's another shiny object! Don't get distracted New York Times!
9
Anything to help the other criminal, Netanyahu.
28
What prompted this? Did “Fox and Friends” call Iran one of three “Palestine” countries?
This bigot is gonna try to start another war. Or at least make it smell that way to help Benjamin.
Please, PLEASE just hold your nose and pull the lever for Hillary next time. We don’t learn.
19
@Ryan Swanzey This is war. We have declared that a specific population group within a recognized foreign government an enemy of the U. S. this requires our military to attack and destroy them . How is this different then a declaration of war ?
What else do you think the President can do to help bolster Netanyahu's chances before tomorrow's election? Besides it plays well with his base. This is one more self-serving unilateral international decision made by the President inside his personal bubble.
22
In my opinion, Trump is making decisions that will create situations which will discourage potential 2020 opponents from running against him. I’m going to assume that he’s laser focused on winning in 2020, just as he was before 2016. I’d bet that most of the decisions he makes right now and before the election can be connected to one of his opponents and their interests. He seems very smart and strategic in this way, with his bombast generally serving to distract from what he’s actually doing. Just my opinion.
5
I don't think Trump is capable of being laser focused on anything. As for winning 2016, it's no secret that he assumed he'd lose. That's not why he ran. It seems he's genuine this time since the entire Republican party is behind him,but his "strategy" is just being Trump.
2
Trump needs to realize that if he goes to war with Iran it wont just be Iran fighting back. All Shiites in the region, including Iraq's will participate in countering any aggression in the area. Borders wont matter, military alliances wont matter, Persian and Arab nationalities wont matter and traditional allies will not step up for Trump and company. It will be the equivalent of the Perfect Shiite Storm.
47
@Rick Gage: and the US will LOSE.
3
@Rick Gage Its a good comment, but did you do this just to set up that last line? it is good.
2
@Rick Gage Absolutely nothing Trump has done in office suggests that he plans on going to war. If Obama reclassified an organization KNOWN (even this bias piece acknowledges it) to support terrorists organizations as a terrorist organization, you'd be praising him for increasing his diplomatic (sanctions) options.
2
I was wondering when and where he was going to start a war. For a while I thought it was going to be Argentina. The military industrial complex must be thrilled.
23
@Zoned
Argentina?
Do you mean Venezuela?
1
@Zoned
John, you beat me to it. I realized it when I left the house after posting the comment. Yes, I meant Venezuela. I knew someone would catch it. Thanks.
The importance of diplomacy cannot be overstated. Trump and Pompeo are doing immeasurable damage to our reputation and influence worldwide. Pompeo needs to be reminded that he runs the State Department, not the military. His job isn’t to get us into more conflicts but rather to avoid them and to manage our international relationships, not destroy them. Just as we have seen in Afghanistan and our negotiations with the Taliban, there are times we have to accept dealing with people with whom we would rather not deal with. Iran used to be one of our closest allies. We aren’t safer now that they aren’t. We need to try to forge a detente, not inflame the situation.
33
@Sarah He should draw a few red lines, if he really wants to boost international confidence, am I right?
1
Trump's foreign policy has been a disaster almost from the beginning of his presidency. He does not read. He does not listen to experts. Facts and evidence, along with sage advice are often ignored. This president makes decisions based on gut instincts, with little regard for building relationships with other countries that just might engender what he really values--loyalty. We, the American people are along for this disastrous carnival ride. What happens when the car crashes?
47
What purpose does this actually serve today? Despite the fact that they are anti-American due to geopolitical interests, they haven’t done anything different from what other nations do. I don’t get how it’s a good idea to label a country’s armed forces as a terrorist group at a time when it isn’t really doing much. The height of their activities seem to be fomenting unrest in Yemen, and securing Syria from ISIS (which has lost all its territory, but not its effectiveness), and maybe other small scale influences to combat Saudi regional hegemony. Considering that the country is in no shape for actual warfare, especially since their conditions have been caused by President Trump’s cancelling of the Obama era agreement, it seems like Trump is trying very hard to cozy up to certain partners who aren’t really beneficial to the US, just himself. Countering Iran plays to his Saudi business partners, Jewish family roots, and to perhaps a lesser extent, his more hardcore voter base that likes a president to show strength via bullying other nations. Other than these, I can’t really think of a reason to designate the Iranian military a terrorist force when they are probably at their lowest activity in years.
21
Scary. This is how we end up in a war with Iran without Congressional approval.
The Trump administration, led by the war calls of long-time Iran agitator John Bolton, can now justify attacks on Iran as a fight against a terrorist group as a way of skirting the need to get Congress to approve wars against other countries.
And not just in Iran. Trump could justify engaging Iranian troops in Yemen or Syria or anywhere else simply by saying we are fighting terrorists. This is yet another scary precedent and further erosion of the checks and balances of the American political system.
71
Another use of executive overreach. Trump was NOT elected "King of the World". He has no right to sanction any foreigners from doing as they please, travelling where they want, and associating with whoever they want.
Iranians have been loyal to the nuclear arms accord, continue to trade with the world, except America, and are on the road to normalizing their culture. I will not say Iran has not played a part in aiding extremists, but it is now a small part. Iran is changing.
Americans want peace in the Middle East, not war. Trump said he must demonize the Revolutionary Guard and all its foreign contacts because of “the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments.”
Huh? Well, so are Israel's. So are those of many governments. This indictment arrives with no list of crimes, locations, dates, culpable individuals, even innocent hurt. In fact, I think John Bolton's obsessive anti-Iran stance feeds into Trump's racism. Plus, Trump is trying to give Netanyahu an undeserved boost in the polls tomorrow with this declaration.
The truth is, with this designation, Trump is fomenting more distrust and making the situation worse in the Middle East, with no use of due diligence.
It's all to easy to see, under Trump, and previous presidents, how Middle Easterners, looking at decades of destruction, could deem the American military a terrorist organization.
11
So yet again Saudi Arabia is free to spread their extremism, wahabism, which led to 9/11 and ISIS, yet Iran is once again labeled the bogeyman? What high profile terrorist plot are they actually behind, that warrants this relentless attacks on Iran?
Trump scared us about Hillary Clinton as a war monger, yet it is clear who the war monger is.
We'll we get another round where an American president tells us in Europe that "you are either with us or with the terrorists" if we don't join yet another mindless American invasion?
Who is going to clean up the mess the next time? Are we in Europe going to handle yet another huge flow of refugees from Iraqi, Afghanistan and Syria?
Seriously if the US starts another war, they should own the problem that follow. They should take care of the refugees. It should NOT be Europe's problem to clean up the mess America makes.
45
@Erik E
How can Europe reasonably criticize America with regards to Iran when modern Europe was built with Iran’s oil obtained by the UK with American support? Seriously?
Let's get down to the real rubber-meets-the-road fact: designating the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, and the Iranian government doing the same against our forces, means that any of those forces that become a prisoner of war can be shot on sight, with no expectation of protection under the Geneva convention. Congratulations, Mr. Trump, you've just killed untold numbers of U.S. military with no recourse for justice afterward.
19
American war against countries that is resulting into the destabilization of several regions of the world. look what is happening in Libya today presidents Trump surrounded himself with warmongers the likes of Pompeo Giuliani and most angry John Bolton. They all long time IRAN HATERS.
8
This is about 10 years overdue. Iran has actively sent its troops to destabilize neighboring governments in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In my home country, Syria, they are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The ensuing refugee crises have destabilized Europe and have led to a predictable far right backlash. Don’t let your hate for Trump blind you from political realities.
11
Really? What do you care about those countries? I thought you an Trump were all about “America First.” Looks like Trump has another agenda. Of course, the Fox & Friends crowd will be all on board with Trump's war.
He is trying to provoke a war because he thinks it will help him in 2020.
9
I fully support any war trump wants as long as eric, Donald jr. and ivanka run the first charge through enemy fire.
29
Trump clearly doesn't listen to top Pentagon officials, intelligence officers, etc. He listens to Bannon, Miller, his Fox friends, and people who want to see him re-elected.
7
Why poke the bear? Just leave them alone but punish them with devastating force if and when they get out of line.
1
@F DiLorenzo
Out of line. One can only wonder what that might mean.
2
Wasn't the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a significant investor is Trump's Agibijani project? Per a Vanity Fair Article.
3
How dare the Iranians roam around their own neighborhood? Only we should have the right to change governments, wage wars, carpet bomb, impose inhumane sanctions on whomever wouldn't bend to our will. Only we get to decide for other countries in their neighborhood, on the other side of the planet!
12
This is John Bolton's doing. This needs to stop before he puts our nation at war for no reason except trump thinks it serves him personally to do so. He does not care if men and women are killed. What was it trump said "he knew what he was signing up for."
I hope those people who voted for trump don't have kids in the military although I'm sure he'll easily convince them of the "necessity" of any war he signs us up for. Fox will make sure of that.
Such a cynical waste of life if it happens.
12
That's rich considering the New Yorker's investigation into Trump Tower Baku established that Trump was laundering money - for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
15
I wish for a single day when Trump does nothing to endanger our nation.
15
Trump can't declare war as president, so he is subverting the constitution by calling the country a terrorist organization so he doesn't have to get congressional approval before attacking his personal enemies.
12
Does anyone believe Trump came up with this. This has Bibi hands all over it. These move will make it much harder for Trumps replacement when it happens.
6
Today's must read: Donald Trump’s Worst Deal
The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
(https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal)
"...financially entangled with an Iranian family tied to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps...."
"...owners of Revolutionary Guard-related businesses often become rich. But there is a catch: from time to time, they should expect to be asked to serve the needs of the Guard."
"... one of the C.I.A.’s lead analysts of Iran’s economy; she now works for ... a strategic advisory firm whose services include conducting due diligence for companies. She told me that her team could have compiled a dossier on the Mammadovs and their connection to the Revolutionary Guard in “a couple of days.” She said that any reputable investigative firm conducting a risk assessment would have advised a U.S. company to avoid a deal with a family connected to the Revolutionary Guard."
Regarding Ivanka's security clearance: "On her Web site, Ivanka posted a photograph of herself wearing a hard hat inside the half-completed hotel. A caption reads, “Ivanka has overseen the development of Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku since its inception, and she recently returned from a trip to the fascinating city in Azerbaijan to check in on the project’s progress"
11
To Trump, everything looks like a nail so the only tool he knows how to use is a hammer. That explains his heavy handed approach to Iran, the European allies he abandoned, China and his "easy to win" tariffs, the shutdown of government including the FAA, a concrete wall versus technology, and given Trump's failure with NK, we should expect more hostility.
Trump refuses to attend detailed briefings, and it's been reported that staff has to prepare pictures else his unreliable "gut feel" makes important decisions affecting our country.
No airline would hire a pilot this ignorant, no hospital would retain a doc or nurse this unqualified, not even a plumber could survive with skills as pathetic as Trump.
Yet, America has no means of removing him thanks to a handful of traitorous republicans and knuckle dragging supporters. We are told we must wait 20 months before this uneducated, unknowledgeable, untaught, unschooled, untutored, untrained, unread, uninformed, unenlightened, unscholarly, unqualified, vile man can be removed from power.
God Help Planet Earth.
8
It takes one to know one, as the saying goes.
2
"The move, which has been debated at the highest levels within the administration..."
"Highest Levels within the administration"? That must have been Steven Miller along with the other two.
No wonder the CIA is opposed. It can imagine being hauled before The International Court of Justice to answer for its own atrocities. I'm also betting Dick Cheney's footprints are somewhere on this master-stroke of foolishness:
Democrat's efforts to get a look at his tax returns must really be getting to Trump.
7
Ramping up for war by this fake president has two results: stir up the war mongering base so that they again vote against their own interests, and make more money for the bloated war industry.
We are at war with Eurasia. We have always been at war with Eurasia. Doublethink.
5
What's the old saying? "We're making terrorists faster than we can kill them." Yeah, that'll be the result of this latest Trump knee-jerk reaction as his regime is totally devoid of any solid strategy or ideology whatsoever.
6
And in exchange Sheldon Adelson pledges $15,000,000 to the president's 2020 PAC
8
Beating the drum for war with Iran from right wing Israel’s latest shills. Bolton, Trump, Kushner, AIPAC, Adelson, Pompeo the fall guy no doubt, and others from the “ New American Century “ crowd in the background will continue pushing for this until the last American taxpayer dollar is spent and the last of the children of others are sacrificed. This crew must be stopped.
14
Under this theory, the US military is by far the largest and most lethal terrorist organization in history.
9
This is only a good decision if your ultimate goal is war.
Great to see that Saudis and Netanyahu dictating American Middle East policy.
13
First Trump declares the nuclear deal with Iran a “bad deal” and the spineless politicians let him tear up what took years to negotiate, inspite of our military standing behind it. More importantly, Trump and Netanyahu want to obliterate Iran! He doesn’t care how many people die and the Americans that will be sacrificed in a possible terrorists attack that he needs to start a war. Trump wants to flex his muscle to prove he is a “real” commander in chief as he orders our men and women to die for him, “ fearless leader”, while he skipped Vietnam and his two sons never served!
6
I’m shocked by the level of ignorance displayed here. It seems that everyone commenting here is overlooking one important fact. The RG are a terrorist organization. They are responsible for the death of countless Americans over the past 40 years. From Lebanon to Iraq to Syria, they have murdering their way across the region and sabotaging any effort to establish independent governments free from the mullahs grip.
7
Countless Americans? You must have that confused with the truly countless people the world over who have died in unjust US military action or US funded and supplied military action over the last 70 years.
5
Given Saudi Arabia's extra-territorial kidnappings and murders, why isn't the Mabahith a terrorist organization? Because they worked with the CIA to kidnap Khashoggi?
14
AIPAC and Sheldon Adelson tell Trump to designate The Guard as terrorist organisation one day before the Israeli election in an effort to get hardline Bibi re-elected.
They've just inspired millions more muslims to hate the United States of America
11
@Luciano most of them hate everyone already so no changes there lol.
1
Is he trying to start a third world war? Narcissistic idiocy at its finest.
13
Bolton made me do it; it's all his fault.
7
Anything to please one of his few friends: Bibi.
12
How about the Saudi Arabian murder squads - remember Khashoggi? Oh, I forgot. Their boss is one of Jared's playmates.
24
Conflicting thoughts on this one.
The up-to-now current policy wrt Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRG) has been a failure from all geo-political vantage points. Basically, Trump is calling a spade a spade.
So what's wrong with that? I mean other than the Donald did it?
The big potential issue is that by labeling the IRG a terrorist organization, that implies that any nation which sends its military forces into another country to disrupt the other country's domestic politics is conducting terrorism. That means special ops working abroad. Basically, it means a sizable chunk of American third world government subversions beginning with the Dulles Brothers' era.
Maybe that's not so bad. Many Americans have become thoroughly disenchanted with how American presidents and their cabinets have screwed up foreign policy with wars of ambition. The reality is that strand of foreign policy hasn't worked out all that well in the decades following the various coups etc sponsored by our CIA.
Additionally, the Russians have been practicing this same form of "hiding in plain sight" military subversion of other countries for a while now, Ukraine the most recent example. It kind of goes without saying too much that China's muscle flexing around SW Asia could develop into something much the same.
So let's call a spade a spade. Can't be any worse than the past 5 decades.
But be consistent. Call out Pakistan (Mumbai massacre anyone?) and Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
4
What hypocrisy. Let's see. The US kills 3 million Vietnamese, 4 million in the Korean War, arms the dictatorships and death squads of Latin America, Africa and Asia, encourages the slaughter of 500,000 Indonesians in 1965, 250,000 Colombians (1950s-1980s). Destroys Central America, killing hundreds of thousands. The US encouraged Saddam Hussein to attack Iran unleashing one of the bloodiest wars in history, assisted Iraq's use of chemical weapons that killed, blinded and maimed tens of thousands of Iranians. It overthrew the elected government of Iran in 1953,imposing one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world, and armed it to the teeth, used it to invade neighboring countries to crush rebellions and reinforce reactionary monarchical dictatorships. Yet the Iranians are terrorists. The sanctions are aimed at the Iranian people to increase their misery. No sanctions on Saudi Arabia for its terrorist war crimes in Yemen? No, Obama greenlit the Saudi/US war, and helped with the bombings and blockade that is starving millions. What paragons of virtue.
66
@AR We're just making America Great!!
5
Actually, we have been helping fund that war in Yemen and its atrocities. Ugh.
8
@AR
Bitter and harsh.,,,,, BUT true. In general we have a short memory,, Thanks for reminding the facts.
1
Actions and others like it may well increase the possibility of a new war in the Middle East with little if any diplomatic gain for the US. The true irony is that the Americans who will fight any future war and suffer the casualties & injuries from such fighting are the most fervent supporters of Trump. They have absolutely nothing to gain from this yet support him unquestioningly as they march off to war.
9
In other words Trump has them right where he wants them.
The man who designated himself a genius is now designating groups he doesn’t like terrorists, and declaring national borders (the Golan Heights) to be whatever he wants. There was a time when this country at least tried to find allies before we made unilateral designations.
17
Perhaps Steven Miller showed Trump a chart that indicates American's support for a President during the start of a war improves. A light bulb went off inside Trump's head.
10
Trump and Bolton are purposely trying to start a war with Iran so that Trump can run on that issue to win the 2020 election, just as Bush did after 9/11. Karl Rove gleefully spread the message that Bush could ride the war all the way to 2004 which he did. These guys are willing to sacrifice American lives in search of a campaign idea. As Trump would say "Disgraceful" and that is certainly true.
39
One starts to wonder if this man acts and speaks without first considering the practical consequences.
8
Starts? Wonder?
4
@Brandt I hope no one in this country and perhaps the world is starting to wonder about this. It has been on display for over 2 years.
2
Iran isn’t my enemy, nor is Saudi Arabia my friend. If the greedy war lovers force a war with Iran I will regard my own country as run by war criminals.
We drifted into our last wars and many children and other civilians died.
If Trump gets re-elected I imagine many nightmares like war will follow.
Not in my name.
High
20
Setting the stage for a war before the election. I've been saying it for 2 years.
7
"President Trump said the designation “underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments”."
Does this mean we're terrorists now, too?
12
Just the paramilitary agencies we don’t get to elect, don’t get to audit, and don’t get any information re: mission and means. I’d like a security agency that protects me from the government above the government.
5
As President Eisenhower warned in 1961, America has become a military-industrial-Congressional- led, bankrupted war state: now turning deeper on Iran, the nation whose democracy the CIA overthrew in 1953.
20
This is MADNESS! Convinced Trump stays up all night - each and every night - thinking about what non- issue he can stir up next. Is their no limit to this insanity???
12
No.
3
Trump thinks he's working on his Middle East plan, but unwittingly he's letting Putin and Netanyahu draft it. When the dust settles, Russia and Iran will control everything from Syria to the Caspian Sea and much of Sub-Saharan Africa.
3
Is there a connection with Trump announcing that he was designating a powerful arm of the Iranian military as a foreign terrorist organization and the Israeli elections tomorrow? Is Trump and his administration going to fight the enemies of Saudi Arabia? Why are we not standing up to Putin's Russia who hacked and tried to undermine our last presidential election? Or is this a continuation of undermining Obama's Iran deal which Iran was following the terms of before Trump pulled out of it. Does Bolton have anything to do with this decision?
9
So who is going to be the unlucky country that is Trump's deflection war for the 2020 elections? Iran or Venezuela? Ivanka wants to know before choosing a color for her designer tree ribbons.
10
America, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS.
12
The Arabs of Israel should answer this obvious interference with a clear slap in the face to Trump - by putting down Netanyahu.
8
Trust Trump to do exactly what his Pentagon and intel chiefs advised him not to do. The man stumbles from one stupidity to the next -- all in his desire to help Netanyahu win re-election and thus improve his own standing in Israel, even though Israel's army chiefs opposed his decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear accord and think this too is a bad idea. The Trump-Pompeo-Bolton troika continues to destroy whatever foreign policy we used to have while making us the laughing stock of the world.
19
Does that mean our border patrol are also a terrorist group? Putting children in cages?
15
In a few years, we will be seeing multiple nations designating the CIA and NSA as foreign terrorist organizations. Reap what you sow.
14
@Tom Not in a few years. Likely a few weeks.
2
Trump does what Trump ALWAYS does: he feeds his base raw meat and they gobble it up like kids in a candy store. And this, too: he despises them...
6
Meanwhile he refuses to acknowledge the actual rise of White Nationalist terror.
17
To any country choosing allegiance to great powers in the polarization between China and the US, we've just confirmed their suspicion that "the war on Terrorism" is a euphemism for everlasting war machine.
So much for the moral high ground.
40
I do not much agree with Trump's actions on anything, but the fact is the so called Revolutionary Guard is a government unto itself dedicated to the undermining of the West and the US in particular. Of course, they also wish to destroy the Israel. The Guard is a terrorist organization in every sense. Opposition to calling it as such just does not make a lot of sense. As for Iran, they call us everything anyway and they will continue to do so.
39
Then why isn’t Trump dealing with the others players who are “undermining of the west, and the U.S. in particular”? Like Russia? While you are correct in your assessment of the Revolutionary Guard, Trump’s actions do not represent a strategy and a plan to effectively deal with our enemies. Rather his actions will put us in more danger. Why did Trump do this despite experts advising him not to? Take your pick: to help Netanyahu, divert our attention from his taxes and continuing investigations, and all the other things this administration is doing to undermine this country.
31
Apologies but your comment is pretty reckless, just as this administration’s move. There is a reason why we don’t do so over decades and over 40 presidents. This is not a hard line on an enemy, this is a whim and stupidity to help Bibi and will put American servicemen in line of Iran’s fury. Very easy to say sitting in warm Arizona sun, away from action. Respectfully.
38
Ironically, the same logic applies to US interests, are our government agencies also terrorist agencies? This sets a bad precedent, like much of what President Trump does. I get that you usually don’t agree with him, and in this case you do, but I don’t see how this is a good idea to actually change things in their country. To change a nation you have to get the people to like you and what you bring, so far we have only created cause for them to hate us. If hating the US and Israel is the only requirement for being a terrorist group, then I think democracy is dead.
21
Within a 48 hour period, President Trump has:
(1) designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization; and
(2) given P.M. Netanyahu tacit approval to annex West Bank territory.
If #2 happens, we are likely to see an uprising which makes all others pale in comparison.
And under such a circumstance, it stands to reason that Iran will join the cause, directly or via proxy, with the U.S. in turn getting drawn in.
For what?
What U.S. interests are possibly advanced in this course of events?
Even in the statement accompanying Trump's designation, the justification merely amounts to "they (the Iranian regime") are bad guys."
There is a reason we want subject matter experts, who have devoted their entire careers to foreign policy, to drive our nation's foreign affairs.
35
I wonder if he is doing this to get our minds off his taxes.
22
@Susie Q
Gee golly would he do such a thing? Maybe it will put the border crisis on page 2 for a day?
I can see the yahoos standing around their pickups, filling the bed with empty (made in the USA) beer cans. Happy days.
3
@Susie Q
As has been rapped (a Boomer's para-phrasing 'thereof'):
"I got my mind on his money and his taxes -- and his taxes and his money on my mind " (as ever … 'pending' reveal … I shall).
3
Let me get this straight... the reason not to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group is because they then may (directly or indirectly) further attack US interests? Have we as a nation become so milquetoast that we are afraid of calling terrorists -"terrorists"- because they may then further terrorize us?
4
No, there just isn’t a real justification for calling them terrorists. Can you name a 3 reasons/criteria they fulfill to deserve the moniker?
3
@Waleed Khalid
Is that the new standard to be a terrorist? first two acts of terrorism are ok, 3rd act and your out? A quick search yields the following as a starting point:
The Council on Foreign Relations describe the IRGC and Quds Force as Iran’s “primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad.”* According to a 2010 Pentagon report, the Quds Force “maintains operational capabilities around the world,” and “it is well established in the Middle East and North Africa and recent years have witnessed an increased presence in Latin America, particularly Venezuela.”* Further, the report concluded that if “U.S. involvement in conflict in these regions deepens, contact with the IRGC-QF, directly or through extremist groups it supports, will be more frequent and consequential.”* Illustrating this point, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2012 reportedly ordered the Quds Force to step up attacks against Western targets in retaliation for U.S.-backing of Syrian rebels in that country’s civil war.*
According to a 2013 bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to label the Quds Force a terrorist organization, the Quds Force “stations operatives in foreign embassies, charities, and religious and cultural institutions to foster relationships, often building on existing socio-economic ties with the well-established Shia Diaspora, and recent years have witnessed an increased presence in Latin America.”*
The Three Stooges, Bolton, Pompeo and Trump strike again.
Look out world! Hold on to your hats, we're going down fast.
20
I had to laugh at a phrase in this article:
“The move, which has been debated at the highest levels within the administration...”. The “highest levels” within this administration have done nothing to inspire confidence. As a matter of fact, anything they agree is the right thing to do makes me shudder in disgust and tremble in fear.
7
And China just laughs as it takes control of the region.
10
Trump is asking for a punch in the nose. I think he'll get one. This childish fellow demeans and denigrates, insults and enrages without cause, or, logic. His behavior makes me conclude that he must feel his ego is under threat. I suppose the source of the threat could be The Mueller Report and the probability that his taxes will be forensically examined and reveal tax fraud.
Diverting national attention elsewhere has always been a demagogue and a dictators best friend when under threat at home. If this is the case, Trump is now at his most dangerous and needs to be monitored very carefully as he falls deeper and deeper into personal crises. His narcissistic personality disorder compounds the danger.
17
Is Mitch McConnell the real "POTUSA"? He sure acts like it.Does Donald Trump realize this?
4
One characteristic that Individual one, Bolton and Cheney have in common: They ran like greyhounds when it was their time to serve their country. Amazing how they have conned their supporters. Republican Grifters, one and all.
Same old story.
14
Devoid of civility let alone the diplomatic skill, only a loose cannon like Trump could think of designating a part of a sovereign cointry's government as a terrorist group and invite trouble for own country and its people serving abroad.
11
Just in time for the Israeli election! these right-wingers do help each other out.
8
11 million?
Trump: Influencing the Israeli election and pushing us closer to open military conflict with Iran.
9
This is the result of outsourcing US foreign policy to Netanyahu and MBS.
15
Shall we call it "Project Xerxes" or will that be too hard for everyone to spell?
2
Is Trump dumb enough to allow Netanyahu drag the U.S. into a quagmire that can and probably will result in a new shooting war?
Probably.
4
How many of the 19 terrorists on 9/11 were Iranian again?
21
@Doug
Zero
3
Hey parents better start to wrap your heads around having your kids sent off to another political war based on more lies by our govt. When will they ever learn?
6
@Scott Harris
Except that kids from wealthy and influential families will never fight in another war.....
4
@Scott Harris all wars are politics with guns.
Donald is now one step closer to Trump Tower Riyadh.
4
I used to believe America was a force for good in the world but these last two years have made it very hard. I am sure Trump did the wrong thing by pulling out of the nuclear disarmament pact, but does that mean Trump is again wrong in this situation?
The article says “[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.] has carried out operations across the Middle East” but sadly does not offer specifics. Reader Joe Webber claims “that they've shipped over 100,000 highly accurate missiles to Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.” So probably not good people.
On the other hand, the article says “Top Pentagon and C.I.A. officials oppose the designation” and my guess is that we should go by their opinion (something our President, with disturbing frequency, is disinclined to do). The article goes on to say “Officials in Baghdad also have said they oppose the sanctions” and let’s remember that they are our allies who will be dealing with the consequences of this designation.
Then we have a President who only cares about his own personal interest. I’m sure Trump is calculating how this move will play with his base, how it will affect his chances at reelection, but not whether this is really the right thing to do. Sad times for America.
228
@Bill
"An unopened Trump hotel in Azerbaijan has been linked to corrupt officials who support the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reports Adam Dayidson in New Yorker piece."
Guess Trump has found a new way to stiff partners.
15
America was hardly a force for good if history after WW II was any guide. What has happened in the last two years is that all pretensions of being a force for good is brazenly casted aside.
13
@Bill
No country is a force for good. It's just a country looking out for its own interests. If a country was force for good, it would control population growth, consumerism, etc. But none of us are doing any of that.
3
This designation allows all of the elements of national power to be used against Iran in a more direct manner. While the architects focus on diplomatic and economic means now, military power will be a factor prior to 2020 - just another instance of wagging the dog.
4
Is he trying to start another Middle East war? Trump is concerned that, to quote the NYT, "The [Iranian] military unit has carried out operations across the Middle East, trained Arab Shiite militias and taken part in a wide range of businesses in Iran." Where is his concern that American military units have carried out operations arund the world, trained soldiers of other countries, and has ties to American businesses? I suppose he thinks only the US has the right to bully the world and only US businesses have the right to make money off those operations.
13
Who is the political market for this policy? Most Americans can't even find Iran on a map. Many Americans have had their dental surgery performed by Iranians (all the ones who have worked on my mouth have been stellar - how often do you fall asleep during a root canal?) Most Americans don't even care about Iran. Israel cares about Iran. Is this policy for Sheldon Adelson?
14
@Djt Like everything, it’s for his base. He needs to whip up fear so he creates phony bogeymen and pretends to act tough to deal with them. This one could have serious adverse consequences for our national security, which Trump subverts at every opportunity.
2
What's really sad is that instead of looking at this as just another in a long line of ill-advised foreign policy strategies, done against the professional advice of military and intelligence experts in the field, I now view these moves as tactics that have been shrewdly calculated to help Trump look like a strong, decisive, protective leader ahead of the 2020 election.
By stirring up tensions that can lead to attacks on US citizens, the base (patriots all) gets even more engaged and enraged against these enemies who dare attack us, which of course will require a strong show of US military might led by our fearless leader, who is the only/best one to protect us all from the radical terrorists...it's a really frightening and dangerous form of political theater.
Could there be an actual, well-thought out plan underlying this? Doubtful, based on the triumvirate who cooked it up. I have no faith that this was either necessary, prudent, or will have a positive outcome.
7
Meanwhile Saudi Arabia builds mosques around the Middle East and Africa promoting their Wahhabism madness.
10
Mr. Bonesaw nods in approval.
7
Just in time for the Israli elections. Netanyahu via Kushner gets his way again in the White House. Meanwhile MBS literally gets away with murder. Kushner's "Middle East policy" really is an Israel-Saudi policy, and that is dangerous for the world.
10
At first glance it just looks like Trump is doing something pointlessly stupid based on personal bias and whatever he saw on Fox news this morning. However, I have to wonder, might this be in aid of making Americans more fearful? Designating 11 million people as terrorists, that could be in aid of convincing Americans that they should be terrified. Particularly as we have no head of Homeland Security right now. Striking fear into the hearts of Americans is a good way to get them to vote for a fascist like Trump, so this could be an electioneering move.
However, it could be at the urging of that warmongering walrus Bolton, who desperately wants to go to war with Iran. Nobody is entirely sure why he wants this, but he has always wanted it. Possibly the oil, possibly religious reasons, it doesn't particularly matter. So, this could be the lead-up to a pointless, disastrous war with Iran, which will go worse than the war with Iraq, as Iran has three times the population and is considerably stronger than Iraq was in 2003.
So as I see it, those are the three potential reasons for this move: stupidity, self-serving electioneering, or a lead-up to war. I find myself praying it's just the usual, stupidity.
12
@Dan Stackhouse Ginning up fear? That’s what demagogues do.
2
in light of this declaration against Iran: A message to Israelis from Trump, a day before their election. Trump told Jewish Republicans that Netanyahu is "your prime minister." Now he's telling Bibi's base, "I, Donald J. Trump, am your president."
3
Could this be considered an illegal campaign contribution to Netanyahu’s re-election campaign?
8
Israel and saudi Arabia are jumping for joy.
Who's running this country, anyways?
11
And so too will Iran claim that the government of the United States is a terrorist organization since our government has been known to support ruthless dictators such as Pinochet (Argentina), Marcos (Philippines), Noriega (Panama) and, of course, today under the Trump regime, El-Sisi (Egypt), Duterte (Philippines) and Mohammad bin Salman.
9
Rep Ilhan Omar was correct.
It’s about the Benjamins
22
@steve
Highlighting yet another reason Trump made this move--to underscore division in the Democratic base.
Since Trump, as present President, and past uncivil-civilian,
was, and continues to BE,
personally unaccountable for
his voiced and written words and
done-deeds.
Temporary as well as longer-term ones.
This action will surely be followed by
additional ones.
Tweeted, twittered, "twaddled," or not.
Limbs, lives and psyches of
"the other,"are not of concern to him.
Nor to his complacent, and
complicit-minions,
mega-mantraing "MAGA."
In America's historically rooted,
discrimination-anchored,
WE-THEY culture which enables,
daily violating of created,
selected, targeted "the other(s)."
The unnecessary maiming and
dying of diverse fellow Americans is
just a...
4
How fascinating that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard didn’t bother Trump when he was building a Trump Tower in Baku, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was an investor via an incredibly corrupt oligarch with whom Trump did business. The Trump organization’s were highly suspicious, egregious and sordid, as detailed in an exhaustive investigative article. See https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal.
14
Sounds like an apt description of our military and CIA Throughout Central America, SE Asia, Africa, and the southern border of the US.
7
Time for another Republican war.
9
What a shame the President has aligned himself with the Bolton Neocons who gave us the criminal Iraq war. Trump voters take note since this to me tops the immigration problem. What a shame Donald but your son-in-law Kushner and his merry band of Israel activists will be elated.
10
@Larry
Not if Jared can sell-off another share of 666 to any Persian, anytime.
3
Will the stupidity of our relations w Iran ever end? Their revolution was no surprise to me. I was in college and constantly heard Iranian students complain that the Shah was a brutal dictator and that his Savak were torturing and killing people. The students marched. They protested. I read stories confirming what they said. And what did the US do? Nothing. To paraphrase someone important, the Shah was a brutal dictator, but he was our brutal dictator. That kind of stupidity helped make Iran what it is today. Trump, if instead of treating Iran like a bogeyman, would reach out his hand and apologize for our past behavior, he might just get somewhere. But that would entail him doing something smart.
10
At issue is not the behavior of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, but the meaning and utility of the term and designation "Terrorist Organization" as a U.S. foreign policy tool. The Pentagon and CIA rightly oppose its generalization to include the actions of military and intelligence arms of foreign states, as its scope then includes, in international eyes, many of our own military and intelligence operations, and allies associated with those around the world. Whatever might be gained from imposing economic and travel sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard is more than offset by diluting international consensus to act in concert against non-state terrorist organizations. Trump and his neo-con hardliners, of course, do not believe in diplomacy and international consensus. They believe the U.S. should operate not as the world's policeman but as the world's bully. And that is the peril this action puts us in, that much of the world may shortly come see the U.S. and all of us as they do.
179
@RRI. Is it not clear that that DT wants international chaos and that he doesn’t care if our troops will pay the price?
9
@RRI Bully Trump and the Right Wing is itching for a WAR. Money; profits; patriotism and more profit. GOP Pres always go for the Wars to cover their poor performance at home. Ray Sipe
16
@RRI . Spot on.
4
The only thing shocking about this decision is that it didn't happen under any prior administration.
5
Almost 40% of the Iranian people are below age 24. 'Demographics is their destiny'. We need only wait them until all these young people demand change or removal of the aging clerics. Time is on our side.
5
Bolton is determined to go to war and will keep poking at Iran until he gets a response. I say, NO MORE WARS in the middle east. We spent enough money and lost enough men.
11
Make no mistake, this might look like a show for his base but he is planting seeds to start a fight with Iran over Israel or whatever else so he can pull a GWB to get re-elected during war time.
21
@Oz "The biggest and greatest war the world has ever seen." This is Trump talking to the American people at a future news alert. He is sitting at his fake desk (no TVs?) His cabinet members surround him smiling and nodding their heads. Now that Trump thinks he's been exonerated in all wrong doings he's bored.
2
With the Republicans in the Senate are shaking in Trump's presence and the Republican voters are just too "crazed" to recognize that Trump is not acting in the interests of the US, it's time to designate that Trump is the absolute king or strongman who rules the US by decrees and by the whims of his tweets. What makes this worse is that Trump is acting in the interests of another country, Israel. And the US is inexorably marching towards war, or a shadowy war, with Iran.
7
Trump and his cronies will not stop at anything to destabilize the entire middle east region.
Another decision which shows a complete lack of understanding of the dynamics of this region. More violence will follow.
5
@Francois Wilhelm To effect change you must see reality for what it is, not for what you want to believe it is. Measured using the precepts of Golden Rule, Trump's, and the GOP's, choice of Israel as an infallible ally is badly flawed, as are many of their other choices. Other decisions flowing from that view are equally off base and - as what goes around, comes around- there are going to be consequences unforeseen by the architects, perhaps severe, lurking. It is hard to predict the future but in this case it looks to me as well like more violence is and louder drums are likely.
1
Trump will go to war with Iran after Venezuela. Remember that they both have ginormous oil reserves, and both have governments that refuse to submit to U.S. domination. The pretext of course is that those governments are corrupt and oppressive--unlike the governments we support, e.g. Saudi Arabia.
9
I’d love to hear a reporter ask Mr. Trump: “Can you tell us what the Revolutionary Guard does, what its role in the Iranian government is, and what specifically you expect this action to accomplish.”
18
@Robbiesimon Please. He can't answer questions like that. Hi is too stupid.
1
The same group that financed Ivanka’s building in Baku? No gratitude...once again.
9
Trump is purposely stirring a hornet’s nest. This could be for political favor to either Netanyahu or MBS. But we will never know since his tax returns are being held secret and so is the Mueller report. This certainly does not seem to be in the USA best interest, as our top military advised against it.
7
OK, now do the same to the Saudi Mabahith who are apparently in the same line of work as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
5
And this is what happens when you put a top advisor like Bolton in place who was recommended by officials to NOT get a security clearance.
7
Trump's seemingly insane diplomacy makes perfect sense from the perspective of diminishing the United States and boosting Russia.
4
And Saudi Arabia
2
Kushner really amping things up toward peace in the middle east.
10
“President Trump said on Monday that he was designating a powerful arm of the Iranian military as a foreign terrorist organization,... raising the risk of retaliation against American troops and intelligence officers.”
Trump? What does he know? What does he care?
“...Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, pushed for it...”
That’s all we need to know.
6
Vulgar Trump better be careful in throwing stones at another institutionalized violence...while living it in a glass house at home.
It’s beginning to feel like may be Bibi has something on trump.
2
Top Pentagon and C.I.A. officials opposed the designation....
That's all, folks! That's all you need to know.
Just another Trumpian swerve in the proverbial road.
Less than twenty months of this nonsense is left. Let's hope it ends then.
3
Trump is a national security threat. When will our Congress act to stop this clown pretending to be king?
4
@Karen No- he is a global security threat. And empowered as he is by a sycophantic GOP, and they in turn by True Believers, they are also an integral part of that global threat.
2
I am sure the Chinese government is very much looking forward to a hot war between the US and Iran, so that once again eyes are taken off North Korea and South China Sea, allowing further nuclear buildup in NK, and complete Chinese dominance in SCS.
3
A preparation to wag the dog?
3
Funny how things work. The Iranian people voted for Mossadegh back in '53. The Dulles brothers were worried that he was a 'socialist'. So they get the CIA to run a coup and replace him with the Shah. And the rest is history. Who blames Iran for not trusting Uncle Sam ? Not me.
10
This means that Geneva Convention protections don’t apply to the standing army of Iran. Manipulations of definitions like this undermine the treaties that protect all soldiers. Although the US a horrific history of adherence to international norms as we saw at Abu-Ghraib, this is yet another attack on international agreements aimed to avoid atrocities, torture, abuse of soldiers of all nations, and violations against prisoners of war.
5
Someone should remind trump, bolton and pompeo that it was not Shiite terrorists that bombed the Cole, or the World Trade Center (both in the 90's and on 9/11), but rather, groups of Sunni, SAUDI-FUNDED terrorists. Iran is certainly has some malicious groups out there operating, but they largely target Israel, not the United States.
21
@Jeff K
Thank you, Jeff, for reminding ME!
1
@Jeff K I wonder if Anonymous who wrote an OpEd in the September 5th New York Times titled “I am part of the Resistance in the Trump White House” still has his/her job there.
1
Anything to keep the base revved up, with little if any thought of consequences. Trump keeps itching for a war with Iran or North Korea or anybody in an attempt to keep his job in 2020.
8
Some powerful interest group wants a war with Iran. Just like Cheney and Iraq; They will fabricate the justification for bombing, our soldiers will die, countless civilians will die, and someone behind the scenes connected with trump will make a lot of money.
51
@Tom
And this is why we need to see his tax returns. And Kushner’s too.
6
War with Iran!
Just in time for the 2020 Presidential Election. Trump thinks it will help him get reelected.
I suppose that Iran's Revolutionary Guard are all over their country, so any attacks currently being planned will be of a general nature, blanketing the country with all of our best weapons. I'm sure the defense industry is thrilled. There's money to be made.
I wonder if there will be any noncombatants killed or harmed. I'm certain that Trump and his people (along with the Republican Party) are unconcerned (they haven't thought about it).
Will Israel or Saudi Arabia participate in military operations against Iran? Probably (either overtly or covertly).
If Iran happens to have developed or purchased (maybe from North Korea) any nuclear weapons, would they use them on Saudi Arabia or Israel or our aircraft carriers nearby? If they become desperate enough.
Will Iran try to destroy neighboring Middle East oil fields? Will they try to bottle up the Persian Gulf so that no oil can flow to market?
What will the price of gasoline, home heating oil, natural gas, electricity, and propane rise to once the attacks commence? The oil and gas industry is salivating.
We, the electorate, need to care. We need to make our voices heard. We need to hold all of our political leaders accountable from top to bottom.
The consequences of this action by Trump will be severe.
11
War with Iran would be a disaster. They are well equipped and
trained. Do we really need to allow Trump this distraction.?
2
By the end of the day, Iran will be declaring the Navy SEALS and the Green Berets as terrorist groups, which will jeopardize their Geneva Convention protections if they are captured.
11
"The military unit has carried out operations across the Middle East, trained Arab Shiite militias and taken part in a wide range of businesses in Iran.
The designation “underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments,” Mr. Trump said in a statement."
Tell that to our CIA and to the militias (oh, sorry, paramilitary groups) who trained on-site or at the School of the Americas.
Senior experts in the CIA and the Pentagon are opposed to the move by our President. But who cares about experts?
Iran has remained in compliance with an agreement with 6 nations they negotiated and signed regarding their nuclear programs. But who cares about compliance with multinational agreements?
We need a new President in 2020.
13
@b fagan
We need a new president NOW!
3
There's nothing like a war to distract and bring out primitive feelings. With a recession approaching, our safeguards and treasury pretty much cleaned out, what else is left?
Trump and his fellow oligarchs are a disaster. A government in the control of the rich always ends up in excess. Anyone who has remained in this corrupt administration pretty much is.
11
Thinking of all politically and religiously motivated groups that have been sponsored or hosted by the theocratic regime in Tehran in the past (Isis and the Yemeni Houthi most recently) I can see why Trump is extremely wary. BUT... maybe he could present some evidence first, not just his opinion.
1
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard trains "Arab Shiite militias." Doesn't the CIA also train various militant groups trying to overthrow governments opposed to the United States' government?
9
@Wesley
Yup.
Both 'death squads' and "School of the Americas".
One size fits all.
But what I find really interesting that no US official has ever been asked or volunteered for, is "Why has the United States chosen to support the Sunni branch of Islam and demonize the Shiite branch of Islam?"
We are supposed to have "separation of church and state" and "make no law respecting religion".
Yet, here we are pouring trillions into a military budget to do just that! Only it's someone ELSE'S religion and state! I don't think it's suppose to work that way!
I want my country back!
2
What a surprise....once again the President ignored the recommendations of his top Pentagon and intelligence officials to do what some talking heads on Fox News suggested.
12
Donald Trump is not going to let President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal go, is he? Iran is a terror threat to world stability with less potency than this awful presidency is. This declaration is an election gift to Bibi in Israel ahead of their election tomorrow.
4
Trump and his two right wing war hawks are anxious to provoke a war with Iran . These 3 arm chair warriors will sit back and watch brave American troops get slaughtered to help the political fortunes of Trump. Trump lacks empathy and enjoys seeing violence used vs his opponents and those he feels are animals like immigrants and those under arrest as he encouraged law enforcement to bang their heads vs the door. Trump yearns to rule as our dictator and to do so needs to instill terror with force and encourage hate with his vile rhetoric projecting his dark soul on others.
5
I'm sure they view the US as a terrorist state for the continued killing of women and Children in Yemen.
Fortunately the Obama administration stopped their nuclear weapons program and the allies we abandoned continue to enforce it's compliance.
5
So, here he goes again..with no thought of the consequences..going on his instincts....which are those of a jackal; worse, actually, because undoubtedly Americans and others will die, unnecessarily, because of his off-the-cuff designation, emboldened by the other fascist-want-to-be's in his administration. Mr. Trump, himself, wouldn't even meet the designation of an honest terrorist. Terrorists have motivations, ideological, monetary. The motivational terrorism of Mr. Trump is only to bask in the glow of his base. What will ever happen when they wake up?
5
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is exactly that, a terrorist organization.
They have been fomenting terror and committing assassinations throughout the middle East and the world since the 1979 Iranian revolution. One infamous example being the assassination of Iranian dissidents during a meeting in Germany on the evening of September 17, 1992 chronicled in the book "Assassins of the Turquoise Palace"
3
The report is coming . . .
5
I recall commenting to friends that our current administration is trying to kill us. I stated this after some environmental roll backs. It really seems clear that this president doesn't care about the welfare of Americans. This is clearly a dumb move, and will only cause more problems for Americans abroad. This president appears to be working for some other government, not the American people.
9
Is it me, or is this megalomaniac president trying to start a nuclear war? If so, he might just be the craziest and last president we will ever have to worry about.
8
Trump loves dictators and is helping to prop up a wannabe dictator, Netanyahu. I'm sure MBS and Jared had something to do with this as well. We don't need another war which is what I think Trump is looking for. He's using this as a distraction from all his investigations and his flailing administration.
9
Netanyahu was already complicit in fomenting the hatred that led to assasination of Itzak Ranin, so this is nothing new for him. Trump apoears to now be Bibi's understudy.
2
"Top Pentagon and C.I.A. officials oppose the designation, which they argue would allow hard-line Iranian officials to justify deadly operations against Americans overseas, especially Special Operations units and paramilitary units working under the C.I.A."
Hail to the National-Security-Risk-In-Chief !
Heckuva' job, GOP.
8
@Socrates
I think it is time for the real agenda of the evangelical christians to be investigated and exposed for all the nation to see; in my opinion it is the drive to bring about the "end times", and their fervor will threaten us all.
We keep hearing that it is the appointment of conservative judges and all that could mean as their justification to overlook Trump's "sins", but the deeper and more hidden agenda is, perhaps, that Trump fits the qualities of the "anti-christ" they have been waiting for to signal the beginning of the end.
I don't mean to sound like a wack-a-doodle, but honestly? We need to have some serious investigation by top journalists to expose what may be the actual story this represents.
4
He is pampering Kushner's friends. How sweet!
2
Told you so. Iran is the new ISIS, just in time for the 2020 Campaign.
Sad.
6
Iran trained troops to kill Americans. Long overdue designation. If they want to seek retaliation for this, they got something coming.
And the U S. trains troops to kill anyone the Commander in Chief decides.
3
@Don Q
American civilians, or American troops? The first one they haven't done and the second they are doing the same as every military on Earth that is not an ally of the US (I bet some of our allies have begun planning for a potential war with the US now that we have a wanna-be dictator in power).
3
Most commenters appear critical of the move. I am less certain that it's totally misconceived.
Perhaps the designation will make Iran (and its proxies and agents) more likely to repudiate its express desire of 'death to America'. Whether such a slogan is primarily used for domestic reasons is irrelevant. In an era when even segments of a population can inflict huge harm (e.g. nuclear, cyber), no one should be giving or getting any encouragement.
12
@Karl Gauss
Really? You think Trump announced this designation in order to get Iran to STOP chanting "Death to America"?
23
@Karl Gauss
If only the same would apply to Mr Trump's incitements
5
@Michael Gilman
I think some see Iran as an existential threat.
>Officials in the United States say the broad terrorist designation covers 11 million members of the Iranian group and units in its hierarchy.
Is this the correct number? The Islamic Revolutionary Guard only has 125,000 members. The main Iranian Army and Reserves total less than 1 million. 11 million is over 10% of the entire population of Iran, and if true, would seem to justify total war against Iran in order to meet Trump's commitment to eliminate terrorism.
2
@Radames
Good post, Radames. Good to see that someone here actually thinks about what he's reading. The 11 million number is obviously wrong. Will the Times print a retraction? Watch for one.
The photo shows a dozen or so of those "terrorists" all tightly packed together for some reason. Maybe they're in the chow time line and the guys at the end of the line may ago hungry.
BTW, Radames, are you an opera fan?
3
Well, please read Adam Davidson’s piece in the New Yorker about the Trump Organization’s deal to build a hotel in Baku with a likely Azerbaijani-IRGC money laundering/WMD dealing group. Ivanka oversaw the deal before her ill gotten security clearance arrived courtesy of Donald.
There is just no end to the obscene connections this family has.
15
I read below that many think this action is taken to aid the President's few friendly foreign leaders with their domestic political concerns. That seems better than building the case for some military intervention to increase his own chances of re-election in 2020, particularly should the economy continue to fail to live up to his promises.
2
He needs no nourishment -- he feeds on chaos and anger and fury and inflicting pain
And if our troops are in harm's way or worse it will make him feel important.
And no one in his Cabinet (25th amendment) will call out his clearly aberrant behavior and protect our country. Not a man among them
7
Former President Obama had a strategy to deal with Iran with the nuclear agreement as a good starting point
He also reigned in Netanyahu who got us into the Iraq war and kept us from repeating the mistake with Iran
Who is going to save is now? Israel’s Netanyahu who has us fight his wars for him?
A president who has no clue what he is unleashing?
Where is the leadership?
Bolton Pompeo with the clueless trump will cause the next world war and it’s not going to be pretty
Wake up!
7
Trump's behavior has seriously eroded trust we once held from the rest of the world. Actions like this jeopardize our safety here and abroad. This by the way is nonpartisan, they are not going to ask if you are right or left leaning. Consider 9/11.
4
Is this the same Revolutionary Guard that were investors in Trump's Azerbaijan project?
19
@Chris
Exactly. Trump Hotel Baku was never completed. It would still be in a neighborhood no one with enough money would want to stay. (Read: laundered money almost built it)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal
1
You would think that by now the intelligence agencies and other top Trump advisers would have figured this out: Since Trump never listens to advise and likes to go his own way, just use reverse psychology on him. They should simply advise him to do the opposite of what they want and Trump will actually do the reverse.
That way Trump will feel as though he is in complete control and he can thus take credit because “his” ideas turned out to be the best course. Simple psychology to a president with a debilitating narcissistic personality.
3
Trump, Pompeo, Bolton, and Elliott Abrams--all working together to set up another possible war scenario in case the Venezuela gambit turns out not to be the best way to distract from the Congressional searchlight that is getting closer and closer to exposing Trump's deep corruption.
8
Trump has no sense of any consequences for his reckless and unconsidered mercurial actions. His thuggish friends, Netanyahu and MBS are cheering because Trump is carrying water for them.
The data on Iranian responsibility for US military losses in Iraq is utterly phoney, and has been discredited multiple times, but Trump can't let these specious accusations go.
I can only assume that Trump is trying to goad Iran into a military conflict. Iran will not launch a first strike, but it will launch a ferocious defense against U.S. military aggression. We will be utterly devastated if another war is launched in the Middle East, particularly one that is both useless and based on absolutely nothing.
7
It's too bad that Trump and his administration do not understand basic concepts like diplomacy. A move like this one is only going to make things worse. There is absolutely no benefit to be had here for anyone in the US or even most people in Iran. It is, however, a gift to the Iranian hard liners.
133
@Mr. SeaMonkey
Racist bigoted people don't talk. They fight, literally, to make you believe like them. Talking leads to reason. They want none of that.
8
@Mr. SeaMonkey
Hard to understand diplomacy when he doesn't comprehend decency.
9
Another move by Trump to show his base that's he's busy dealing with the bad guys. May get him a few more points but not sure how this will make America great again. No doubt his advisers aren't sure either.
46
@Art It will make America grate again, on the world's rawest wound.
4
@Art
He's not "busy" dealing with the "bad" guys so to speak, rather, he's just tossing yet another monkey wrench into the gears and trying to screw things up deliberately.
4
Iran dominates the government in Baghdad. Trump is waving a red flag in front of a bull. Since he operates with a State Department he has no checks or balances and so it seems likely this is window dressing for the domestic show.
17
@Stephen Kurtz
Baghdad is Iraq, not Iran.
@Moehoward
He knows that. Still Iran does influence Iraq as Iraq is majorly Shia.
1
@Moehoward
Yep, Stephen Kurtz is saying that the first American loss from this will be its residual credibility and presence in Iraq. Trump undoing the Bushes' invasion... the Middle East IS a complicated place.
2
This looks like agit-prop to aid Netanyahu. But the real winner is Saudi Arabia. The Saudi's run Trump's middle east policy. Ripping up the Iran nuclear deal, vetting peace plans, Yemen, Qatar, now this, is what they want. Trump uses Israel as a foil, the excuse to do what the Saudis want.
That's why he needs Netanyahu. A less extreme Israel wouldn't serve so well to distract Trump's intentions.
162
No surprise here. Trump is Bibi's puppet.
97
Wow, this is really helpful for world peace...NOT
34
@Skuner
Yeah: whirled peas. That's the ticket!
1
A war would help Trump's 2020 prospects...I wonder if that plays a role here?
79
It worked for Bush!
6
@John McLaughlin definitely.
2
@John McLaughlin
Ya think?????
1
What better move, leading up to 2020, then to wag the dog.
63
Another stupid move by people who undoubtedly wouldn't be able to pinpoint Iran on a map.
223
@Georges Recipe for World Peace: We should have a law where the President can´t go to war with a country if you she/he cannot pinpoint it in a map, name the capital and name one or two important/famous people from the country (aside from the president or political head) right of the top or his/her head without googling it.
8
@Georges
Or spell it.
8
Trump, in bed with Saudia Arabia and Israel, is lusting for a war with Iran.
421
@W Ammons The image of a ménage à trois involving Netanyahu, bin Salmon and Trump is enough to become a boogeyman in a children's horror story.
28
@W Ammons
Release your tax returns Donnie. And Kushner’s too.
28
Are those the drums of war we are starting to hear coming out of the White House? Or could it be they are signaling an upcoming election?
163
@avrds It shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that Trump would rather bring the world down in a nuclear holocaust than become the loser in the next election, complete with dénouement and ridicule.
14
Wonder what trump will say when some foreign power declares the US (pick service branch) a terrorist organization?
His head will explode.
40
Except that they are. I'm no supporter of Trump but one must face the fact that the Iranian government supports terrorism.
3
@Jim Fullton
A number of US pols have already done just that; over and over. And guess what: They get re-elected.
1
Here we go, a cornered rat gets desperate.
77
Best of luck with that war lads....was wondering which country the Bolton and others In the Trump Admin would go for but Its been looking like that for a while..once the Iranians helped get rid of ISIS on the Israeli Border. Suppose the presidential election 2020 has kicked off so.
Can never figure out the US Nationalist obsession with the Israeli hard right and having a constant go at Iran. Would have thought the whole Iran-Embassy thing might have moved on but some people stuck in the past I guess. Would have been great if Iran had been encouraged and helped to move towards a proper Middle East democracy (#•the European hope) rather than constant desire to start a war with them (direct or indirect). Gets in the votes I guess.
372
@Anon
Ireland is a fairly unique geographic position.
It's a bit harder to pick sides in a war, sail carriers to far flung seas and send troops to foreign lands than to remain a neutral country shielded from any possible military threat (save the territorial conflict with the U.K., obviously). Recall Ireland was neutral during WWII. That's how indifferent it is to global conflict.
The U.S. on the other hand maintains strategic alliances and military interoperability with dozens of the largest economies on the planet.
It's a little more complicated when you have to pick sides.
9
@Anon I wish it did get in the votes. That would at least mean that Americans have an interest in foreign policy. But the majority of Americans don't vote on it, know about it, or care about it. I lived in Italy and have been to the UK. Non-Americans know more about our country and its foreign policy than we do. Our lack of intellectual curiosity is endlessly dispiriting and what allowed Trump to rise to power in the first place.
45
The Electoral College "allowed Trump to rise." And GWB before him--you know, the war criminal. Time to make it gone.
20
A completely reckless act by Trump. Once again I have to ask why is Iran our enemy? What has that country ever done to us?
It makes sense why Iran has declared us an international terrorist group considering the amount of nations and people we kill. Also the fact that we stand with Saudi Arabia pretty much disqualifies us from any sort of moral decision making in the Middle East.
184
@Luke Ramundo
And the follow up question is what have we done to Iran. The answer is plenty.
11
@Luke Ramundo
You are kidding, right? How about three things to start:
Kidnapping staff at the US Embassy in Tehran
Killing US Marines in Lebanon
Killing US soldiers in Iraq
6
@Luke Ramundo
Well, for one, they've been led by a cadre of extremist, fundamentalist Shi'a clerics since 1979, detest human rights, detest minority rights even more, smile while obviously lying to you, and deny that they have been exporting state-sponsored terrorism since the 1980s.
They are the mirror image of Saüdi Arabia, albeit, with a longer recorded history and traditions that were shattered during the Muslim invasions in the 10th century.
5
There is nothing in your article that references the clandestine activities of the Revolutionary Guards and their likely involvement in blowing up the Jewish center in Buenos Aires. There is no mention in your article of their participation in crushing the Syrian rebellion and keeping Bashir Assad in power. There is also no mention of their hijacking the Iranian economy and using state power to increase their own personal wealth. It leaves the reader scratching his head and wondering why would anyone want to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. Oh, I forgot to mention that they've shipped over 100,000 highly accurate missiles to Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.
16
@Joe Weber
It is Trump's buddy Putin that is keeping Assad in power.
@Joe Weber why isn't this the news? Or is it understood and still not a good idea to designate them as terrorist? I don't trust Bolton.
1
@Joe Weber
I am a little confused here. So if the IRGC does something that is considered clandestine. However, if the US military does something or maintains its military presence in countries that is entirely appropriate? Don't even start on the subject of weapons sales/shipments. I am going to ignore your convenient assumption that the IRGC organised the bombing of a Jewish center in BA.
Iran hasn't invaded another country in about two centuries. Stop fear mongering.
8
This has John Bolton's fingerprints all over it. Bolton has been itching to start a war with Iran since the Bush administration, and has been looking for any justification, however unfounded, to start one. This is an absurdly stupid move, it is needlessly aggressive and jingoistic. The Iraq War was one of the biggest disasters in American foreign policy history. Now, we have a foaming at the mouth radical like John Bolton pushing behind the scenes to make Donald Trump a "war president". God help us.
516
@Dominic But will Bolton or any of his loved ones man up and lay their lives on the line in military confrontations?
25
@Dominic
yes this is Bolton's doing. Only the best people.
14
@Jenifer
If he starts a war 2020 will be a shoe-in. This has been the plan from the start.
4
Killing the Iranian Deal, moving our embassy to Jerusalem, the US support of West bank expansion and now this. What more can we do for Israel? Somehow, all of this is in my country's best interest?
96
Israeli elections at play notwithstanding world view clashes and geopolitics intersection. Russian election interference seems a better target for Trump and Bolton madness. Starting a war without a plan is a bad idea.
10
And so it begins... he is determined to start a war. Why are we letting this person run away with our democracy? Really, I want to know?
93
@KLS Suggest a way to stop him and I'm there!
2
I guess any chance that the Iran Revolutionary Guard could become a stabilizing force in the Middle East, working in conjunction with the American military in Iraq and Syria just went out the window.
I hope the Trump Administration has the Saudis paying for the Syrian refugee crisis.
156
@Steve
Actually, the Saudis are great customers for weapons and airplanes... and enjoy the conveniences of various Trump establishments.
Maybe the keyword needs to be Yemen -- Afghanistan -- along with whatever other states get named in terms of how to waste money by laying waste.
8
@Auntie Mame - You hit that one on the head. The amount of pain and destruction is incredible.
1
@Steve, not sure about the Saudis paying for refugees. However the Trump administration is busy trying to give the Saudis nuclear technology. Very special.
4
We need to designate Trump a threat to the nation!
467
@Jerry, I could not agree more!
23
@JerryNot only the nation but the world!
20
@Jerry
"We need to designate Trump a threat to the nation!"
Millions of us have already done so.
One hopes that all of us, and millions more, show up at the polls in November 2020; assuming we still have a functioning democracy at that time.
17
If it walks like a duck..........
13
quack, quack, 4 sure.
4
Statement from Trump clearly written by someone else. Someone literate and aware of grammar and punctuation rules of the English language.
So, is it real or fake?
18
@Jeff Smith
Miller? Bolton?
If this is part of the secret Middle East peace plan, it will not work, and it will cause acts of violence against Americans. What a foolish, foolish move to district from domestic corruption and incompetence within this administration.
Republicans in Congress need to check this excess and stop enabling it.
20
The more Trump feels cornered by the DOJ and Democrats the more he shows his insanity.
74
A twofer: Trump distracting from Barr, and Trump meddling in Israeli's election.
267
@RP Smith
Quite possible a threefer: Trump's first obvious move on a Wag the Dog distraction.
2
@RP Smith
Add to your list: become a wartime president and use that as a path to the White House in 2020 since you have no other.
3
As per usual Trump does not listen to expert reasoning when making foolish pronouncements. His quick trigger will eventually debase him.
15
@DENOTE MORDANT
He has Bolton and Pompeo advising him, so he could very well be listening.
I don't know what this means but neither does Trump.
33
smells like groundwork for the next war in the Middle East.
31
Does everybody still feel constrained not to suggest that the president is serving somebody other than the American people? There is so much questioning of his mental health, which is reasonable. But how many actions must he take against the interests of this country before it’s okay to say he’s working for somebody else? Republicans joked behind closed doors that the president and a congressman were on the Russians’ payroll. But wait — they weren’t joking. When can it be said by somebody other than Republicans behind closed doors?
133
Bolton and Pompeo pushed for a completely idiotic policy based on their irrational hysteria over Iran? You don't say?
20
Maybe I missed it, but what is the upside to this designation? There are several obvious negatives but what good will come of it?
36
@Bob - It benefits Israel and the Saudi's. Trump is enacting foreign policy for them.
35
It seems like every thing the US does over there brings the area that much closer to war.
57
@Neal When was it at "peace"?
6
@Neal
You mean continuing war. Benefits the military industrial complex. Check to see which stocks are up today!
3
@Herry Rarely, if ever. But, it can get much worse.
1
Where are the Republicans.
Mitch McConnell are you really going to let this happen?
If so you and the others who sit silent will have blood on your hands.
Maybe Putin told Trump to do this since he obviously does not respect the Pentagon or CIA.
41
@J. R. More likely Netanyahu told
Trump to do this.
6
Is that the same Revolutionary Guard he did business with?
30
@Texpatriate
Yup. In Azerbaijan I believe.
8
This is timed for Netanyahu's benefit, the election is tomorrow.
448
@Citizen My first thought exactly!
9
@Citizen
Exactly right.
9
@Citizen
I’m pretty sure the Israelis already believe that the revolutionary guard is a terrorist organization.
Trump is a legend for eventually turning on everyone, but didn't he partner with the Revolutionary Guard fronted by an Oligarch on a property in Azerbaijan?
31
I do not know the merits of the designation, but Trump and his enablers and inflamers now need to heed the advice of their military and intelligence advisors and give them the resources we need to protect our service members and diplomatic and intelligence personnel from the onslaught they predict will come.
8
This is how wars start.
Against the advice of his own intelligence agencies, Trump pumps his chest to appear macho for the 2020 elections, appeasing his hardline advisers.
Tit for tat on terror will lead to deaths. its beyond reckless, as well as feckless, and among the president's most cynical and manipulative ploys.
If he takes this action, he's responsible for its results.
302
@ChristineMcM It will be more than the President. This war has all of the indications of a catastrophe and tragedy on many levels. It could alter everything.
8
War, or at least some military conflict with Iran is what Trump and Bolton and Pence are after Appease the Saudis and Israel is foremost in this administration. And look at all the benefits of war: the “patriots”
6
I might be wrong, but it’s probably not the smartest move to further escalate a holy war with Persia...err, Iran. Oops.
6
This is what you get when you bring neocons into government. It has Bolton's and Pompeo's smudgy fingerprints all over it. But while it's still a con (and we already can suspect Trump's simply gearing up for 2020 and needs his evangelical troops on board, so someone wrote him up some script for Gaza and the Golan Heights, and Bibi would like him to isolate Iran), it's not new any more.
I wonder what deals Trump's business is working in Saudi Arabia . . .
87
@omartraore - good point regarding evangelicals: many of them believe Israel is critical for end-times prophecys to come true (P. Bump, WAPO, May 14th, 2018).
A hard-line Israel, expanding on land seen as a promise from God, combined with increased military aggression towards Iran, will be seen by far-right Christians as a necessary evil to speed up this prophecy.
1
Trump's public designation only endangers our troops and our country - and does nothing for national security. Military threats should never be an election gambit.
558
@common sense advocate
He's trying to gain the "infallibility" cloak that Israel seems to be covered in by proxy.
The thinking is that nothing done to assist Israel can be wrong thus he is gloriously successful when he "helps" them.
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@magicisnotreal - agreed, and we know that Israel is not what Israel was meant to represent while Netanyahu in charge, the same as the U.S. is not really our country under Trump. Nationalism is a contagious scourge that threatens democracy.
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@common sense advocate
Agree.
And the elections that Trump hopes to sway is elections in Israel.
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