The Associated Press published an extremely misleading article about the Ukrainian plane crash Thursday in writing that the latest escalation between America and Iran started when the U.S. took out Iranian terrorist leader Qassem Soleimani.
"'This is insane. Sickening. Imagine having a family member on that plane.' What began with a drone attack on a top Iranian general rippled outward until dozens of Iranian-Canadians, and dozens of Iranian students studying in Canada, were dead," AP tweeted.
“This is insane. Sickening. Imagine having a family member on that plane.” What began with a drone attack on a top Iranian general rippled outward until dozens of Iranian-Canadians, and dozens of Iranian students studying in Canada, were dead. https://t.co/fVQB4S3FXr
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 10, 2020
First of all, no matter how much the Left insists the U.S. started the conflict with Iran doesn’t make it true.
Soleimani’s Quds Force is responsible for the deaths of roughly 600 U.S. servicemembers, not to mention the maiming of an untold number of others. He’s caused “mayhem” against the Syrians, Lebanese, and his own people in Iran, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said earlier this week.
“He was a legitimate target and his time was due," Esper noted, explaining that in the months leading up to his death he had “planned, orchestrated and/or resourced attacks against the United States” and was in the process of planning more military operations.
President Trump explained Thursday that one of those operations was a bomb plot against the U.S. embassy in Iraq.
Trump on why he ordered a drone attack that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani:
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 9, 2020
"They were looking to blow up our embassy" pic.twitter.com/TtvZ1wcdJx
Secondly, it was the Iranians who shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet with a Russian anti-aircraft missile Tuesday night, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board, and the U.S. is not responsible for that. Earlier that evening it was Iran that was launching dozens of ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq.
Twitter users rightly excoriated the wire service for their misleading claim.
"What began with a drone attack"
— David French (@DavidAFrench) January 10, 2020
No. Tell that to the families of hundreds of slain Americans, to his tens of thousands of victims across the region.
The strike on Suleimani was completely justified.
Iran's tragic incompetence with its own missiles is its own fault. https://t.co/uiDW9AzceD
You spelled "what began with a long list of aggression by Iran, coming to a head with an attack on an embassy in a foreign country..."
— Aldous Huxley's Ghost™ (@AF632) January 10, 2020
History didn't begin a week ago, you absolute hacks.
What's insane is Iran attacked an airplane that departed their airport flying in their airspace with a Russian made missile killing all on board
— Barbara Mcentyre (@Barbara_A_1977) January 10, 2020
What's fn inconceivable is your blaming Trump for Iran's rogue military & the gov'ts continued disregard for their citizens& foreigners
Maybe change your name to IP - Iran Press.
— Lilly@muttrescue (@justme_lilly) January 10, 2020
"What began with a drone attack"? pic.twitter.com/oRW5iFm1U5
— Blackers (@DaveBlackers66) January 10, 2020