It’s kind of too bad that this administration has less credibility than Joe Isuzu or Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar because we really can’t rely on the word of anyone, including the Secretary of Defense.
Defense Secretary James Mattis on Friday disputed a news report that the U.S. is preparing military action against Iran, calling it “fiction.”
Australian outlet ABC News published an article Thursday saying the United States could initiate a missile strike against Iran as early as next month.
“I have no idea where the Australian news people got that information,” Mattis told reporters. “I’m confident it is not something that’s being considered right now, and I think it’s a complete – frankly, it’s – it’s fiction.”
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also denied the report, which cites unnamed Australian officials.
“It’s speculation,” Turnbull said, according to The Straits Times. “It is citing anonymous sources.”
Sure, it’s speculation based on sources who won’t go on the record. But it’s not too hard to get a fevered imagination when the president is tweeting out stuff like this:
To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
Also, it’s not like Trump didn’t just hire John Bolton to be his national security advisor. John Bolton has told every national security advisor to serve since the Cretaceous Era that we should bomb Iran down to the triceratops.
I kind of doubt he’ll fail to forcefully advocate for that now that he’s in charge.
