After reports of Iraqi’s protestors breaching the US embassy compound in Baghdad….It seems that State Dept. Sec Pompeo, who was also a CIA Sec. did NOT want a Benghazi situation come down on his watch…
A Marine special embassy help unit was sent with US Army Apache attack choppers also…
Iraqi forces also worked to eject protestors from the embassy grounds…
No one was hurt…
In a series of Twitter posts on Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump alluded to the forces, while also threatening Iran and dismissing any comparison to Benghazi.
“The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE!“ he tweeted. “Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request….Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!“
“The Anti-Bengahzi!“ he added, later correcting the spelling of the Libyan city.
The Marine deployment is no accident, a former senior administration official told POLITICO. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was a heavy critic of the Obama administration’s handling of Benghazi and especially of his predecessor Clinton, has been concerned that a similar attack could bring the Trump administration its own version of the scandal.
“Pompeo has long dreaded having a Benghazi-type event on his watch and would be horrified if Americans died in a similar event, in part because of his criticism of Hillary Clinton during Benghazi,” said the former senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Not long after Esper made his announcement, U.S. Central Command distributed photos and video of the Marines packing up and getting ready to leave Kuwait in MV-22 Ospreys, a clear indication they were looking to send a message.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) made the connection between Benghazi and Baghdad in a tweet after meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday. “President Trump is determined to protect American personnel and expects our Iraqi partners to step up to the plate. No more Benghazis,” Graham tweeted. “Very reassuring to see President Trump has beefed up our military capability to protect our personnel in Baghdad.”
Apache helicopters were spotted dropping flares over the embassy as the protests continued Tuesday, in what a U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, called a “show of force.”….
image…dividshub.net