1/3/2020

ASSASSINATION/DEMS/FOREIGN POLICY/IRAN/MIDDLE EAST/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The American strike in Baghdad that killed the Iranian general Qassim Suleimani thrust foreign policy to the center of the Democratic presidential race, drawing expressions of grave concern from the leading candidates and stoking a new debate in the party about the American military presence in the Middle East. The party’s presidential field reacted to the attack with a measure of unity, at least on the surface level, condemning General Suleimani’s role directing violence against Americans but criticizing what they called the Trump administration’s penchant for reckless action and the threat of all-out war. But during a series of campaign events on Friday [1-3-20], the top Democrats began to signal their differences on matters of national security, opening the way for what could become the party’s most serious conversation of the race about war and peace.”

Alexander Burns, “Airstrike Pushes National Security to Forefront of 2020 Race,” The New York Times online, January 3, 2020