Washington Post: Terrorist Mastermind Suleimani Was a "Revered Military Leader"

As Twitchy says, "Never change, WaPo."

Jane D'Oh writes:

Ace, CBS went further. Soleimani was not only "revered," but "inspiring" and a "military genius."

Link to Newsbusters' post about that here.

This reporter adds some actual non-OrangeManBad perspective:

THREAD: Middle East waking up to incredible news of Qassem Suleimani's killing in US strike in Iraq, at Baghdad airport. He had reportedly just flown back from Beirut. He was like a Middle East viceroy, trotting around region, giving orders, masterminding small and large ops.

A combination of elation, relief and fear here in the region among people who suffered tremendously from Suleimani's policies, from Lebanon to Syria and Iraq. Elation and relief because he was seen as the evil mastermind of policies of death and destruction, propping up bloodthirsty oppressive militias, overseeing a devastating war in Syria, feeding/playing on sectarian hatred, helping crack down on protestors in Iran (2009/2017/2019), Iraq now, and likely more recently helping Hezb to navigate protests in Lebanon.

Note that he had just flown back from Beirut.... and it's definitely not his first visit.... There were reports of him being in Lebanon in 2006 to help Hezbollah strategise in the war against Israel.

And so there's celebration and relief from Iran, to Iraq to Lebanon and Syria, among those, Sunnis and Shias who suffered from his evil mind. I write about him in my forthcoming book Black Wave and the deadly dynamics of revenge that he pursued after Iran-Iraq war.

There is fear because he was so central to almost every regional event in the last two decades that even people who hate him can't believe he could die, a bit like people couldn't believe Saddam was really gone. He seemed invincible, omnipotent. What happens in his absence?

Some of his aura or reputation was probably overblown, but he really was indispensable to Iran, he was not on a mission, he WAS the mission, the architect of Iran's expansionist regional policy, the indispensable upholder of the Islamic Revolution, keeping it alive for Khamenei.

So what comes next: war? chaos? limited retaliation? nothing? no one really knows, not in the region, and not in DC, because this is unprecedented.

There is anger too of course, among his supporters, allies, proxy militias, who were devoted to him and lionized him and will be lost without him. There is no replacement that I know of or can see. They will be mulling their next step for a bit. First, huge displays of mourning

Lots more to say abt region, US policy, Saudi Arabia reax, Iran domestic reax, local dynamics... more later, but for now then read Dexter Filkins' piece from 2013 on Suleimaini, the best profile out there.

Some more reactions below.

Former FBI lawyer and office pump Lisa Page sympathizes with the "5000 year old culture" which must kill infidels to prove it is "a real and independent country."

Dave Reaboi's doing a little gloating, mocking crying Iranian terrorist commanders:

... and of course a terrorist enabler:

A New York Times reporter tries to humanize Soleimani, the way Rolling Stone gave a Tiger Beat cover shot to the Boston Bomber:

Soleimani actually reports he has some GAINZZZZ...

Brazilian president Jair Bolsanaro weighs in:

Note that was a parody account. Still, kinda funny.

And of course Hollywood is already sending supportive messages to the terror state of Iran:

They do realize that when Iran sends terrors squads into the US, they're going to leftwing cities, right?

For how much longer do they expect the rest of us to care when they do?

In case you missed it from last night:

posted by Ace at 01:41 PM

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