With due respect to Jonathan Baird’s column (Monitor Forum, Feb. 11), I must disagree with his characterization of the targeting of Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Perhaps the greatest effect of our misguided invasion of Iraq was the turning of governmental power to the Shiite majority, thus making Iraq, a prior enemy, into a close ally of Iran. In return for this benefit to Iran, Soleimani stood up to Shiite militias, armed them with advanced Iranian roadside bombs, and directed their use against U.S. troops, causing thousands of casualties, including 603 U.S. dead. We were not in conflict with Iran, yet an Iranian general caused the killing, wounding and maiming of thousands of our kids. Who wants to tell their loved ones that this attack wasn’t justified?
Recently, in response to U.S. economic sanctions, Soleimani orchestrated several provocations, including attacks on commercial shipping, the downing of a U.S. drone, rocketing of a U.S. base resulting in the death of a U.S. citizen and attacks on a U.S. embassy. There is no doubt these types of attacks would have continued.
I’m no Trump fan, but he got this one right.
BRIAN MILLER
Bow