Hogan Gidley, the deputy White House press secretary, desperately tried to defend President Donald Trump’s assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by attacking former President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, but fell flat on his face when his “facts” didn’t match reality.
Gidley asserted via Twitter that President Trump’s policy on preemptive strikes and threats to American national security were the same as Obama’s, but the examples he used were specious to say the least. Take a look:
Soleimani was, in fact, planning “imminent attacks.” While Democrats and the media quibble over its definition, quick point: When Obama killed bin Laden, al-Awlaki and Gaddafi, without Congressional approval, there were NO “imminent attacks” and Democrats did not ask or care.
— Hogan Gidley (@hogangidley45) January 10, 2020
Of course, Gidley provided no proof that Soleimani was planning “imminent attacks,” and the other parts of his tweet were quickly ripped apart by fact checkers:
Bin Laden’s killing was under the 2002 AUMF because it centered on al Qaeda. Reporters are asking questions about the “imminent attacks” because that was the administration’s stated justification for taking out Soleimani. https://t.co/GSzYfFL7kP
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) January 10, 2020
1.) Obama didn’t kill Gaddafi. He was killed by a mob. 2.) The Obama administration consulted members of Congress in advance of killing bin Laden. Republican Mike Rogers said he was talking to the CIA four months before the operation. https://t.co/VpIBnQQDJg https://t.co/uBJvuoBLt7
— Shane Harris (@shaneharris) January 10, 2020
In the Trump White House, history can be whatever you want it to be, just follow your dreams
— Clue Heywood (@ClueHeywood) January 10, 2020
The objective was to capture bin Laden, not kill him; he was killed in the firefight.
Gaddafi was captured by Libyan rebels who then killed him; there’s literally video. The US wasn’t involved.
Al-Alwaki’s killing was criminal; no evidence has been released justifying it.
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) January 10, 2020
Obama didn’t say they were killed due to planning imminent attacks.
If your administration isn’t lying about the imminent attacks, it makes logical sense to ask what the imminent attacks were.
Spoiler alert: You’re lying.
— Saucy Stacey (@DrSCubed) January 10, 2020
Dude, can you do the basic level of homework to know that “Obama” didn’t kill Gaddafi? He was caught by a rebel militia and executed, you ridiculous goof.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 10, 2020
Much like his boss, Gidley could have avoided all this embarrassment by taking five seconds to do a Google search and get the facts about foreign policy in the Obama administration, but that would have required work and a functioning brain, two things this administration shuns.
As we’ve seen repeatedly since Trump announced he was running for president, the first line of defense is always, But but but….Obama! But but but Hillary!
Featured Image Via Fox News
