How have we been made safer from war by the assassination of the No. 2 member of the Iranian government — a legitimate, independent country with whom we are not presently in a declared war? ("No tears for general, but risks are great," editorial, Jan. 5.) I guess it's the same reasoning we were told we would be made safer by abandoning the Iranian nuclear agreement ("Iran: Nuclear deal over," front page, Jan. 6).
It is worth noting the numerous falsehoods shared about this issue by our Republican administration. First, at the time we left the nuclear agreement, it was working. From the moment the agreement was under negotiation, throughout the period we were a part of it, not one American was killed, nor any American assets attacked by Iran or one of its proxies. Further, at every agreed-upon marker Iran was found to be in compliance. Trouble did not begin with U.S. interests until President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement. Now Trump alone owns the decision to abandon the agreement and by extension everything that has occurred afterward. This includes the assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, which is a brazen escalation by Trump that has now become a calamitously bad decision.
Further, Trump's choice to make this decision alone is patently illegal, and he did not inform Congress, or at the very least congressional leadership, before such actions took place.
One historical note to consider: Former presidents Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush both lied to the American public in order to take us to war, and tens of thousands died in two needless wars. But they faced the American public ahead of time and, though they were lying, explained their decisions and accepted the consequences. Both decisions rank among the worst in American history, if not world history, and impact their and our legacies today. Trump has now earned the same ignominious fate, and we Americans will be the ones to pay the price in treasure and blood.
Frank Sachs, Apple Valley
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Trump has chosen 52 targets in Iran, including cultural sites, because of the number of hostages taken by Iranian students 40 years ago ("Trump: U.S. has 52 Iranian targets," Jan. 5). Seems about as rational as any of his other capricious policies. But why stop there? Why not 63 targets for the easternmost longitude of Iran? Or 4,300 for the total number of miles of coastline on the Caspian Sea (and there could be even more if he used kilometers, but I'm sure he won't go there). Or he could choose 1501 for the date that the Safavid dynasty in Iran came to power — the possibilities are endless when your policies are based on trivia.
Jim Cotner, St. Paul
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I do not pretend to know whether Trump's decision to strike Iran is right or wrong, but I would feel better if the opinions of those in Congress were based on something other than party affiliation.
Donn Satrom, Roseville
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Without consulting Congress, Trump has just assassinated an important and revered Iranian leader. Whatever kind of person Gen. Qassem Soleimani was, I have little doubt that our president arranged this in order to distract from his impeachment and to reinforce his image as a strong and indispensable leader. A "war president," as former President George W. Bush described himself.
And since the Iranian government is as vindictive as Trump, the world is now a more dangerous place, and life is more uncertain, not just in the Middle East but right here in the United States.