Trump Hurts an Ally and Helps the Terrorists

Author Daniel Benaim argues that one of the most dramatic consequences of the Trump administration's recent assassination of Iranian commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani is its impact on the United States' crucial relationship with Iraq.

Iran

Americans will debate the American drone strike that killed the Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani for a long time: whether it was wise, what it means for the Middle East, and how to proceed. But so far, the most dramatic consequences have arisen from where the strike happened — in Iraq. It appears that in undertaking the strike, the Trump administration may have sacrificed a valuable American counterterrorism partnership with Iraq at the altar of a risky pressure campaign against Iran with no end in sight.

The above excerpt was originally published in The New York Times. Click here to view the full article.

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