In comments Monday at the University of Louisville, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed protests in the Middle East, and as with most things Pompeo addresses related to the Middle East, he was quick to blame Iran, calling them the “common villain” in all of them.
Pompeo singled out Iran in the protests in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, declaring brief protests over a gas price increase in Iran to be the Iranians “fed up” with the theocracy.
In Iraq, Pompeo claimed the resignation of Adil Abdul-Mahdi was “due in large part to Iranian influence.” Iran had been backing the Abdul-Mahdi government, and protesters burned an Iranian consulate in the protests.
But while it’s fair to say Iran is involved in the Iran protests, if not the way Pompeo presents it, and tangentially involved in Iraq, opposing the protesters, Pompeo’s attempt to tie Iran to the Lebanon protests is plainly untrue.
Lebanon’s protest of the past month has seen protesters faulting the government for its inability to handle economic struggles, and chiefly the government’s inability to reliably provide electricity across the country.
Pompeo said Lebanese protesters “want Hezbollah and Iran out of their country,” which is simply not true. Indeed, the only politician that suffered from the protest movement was Prime Minister Hariri, a long-time political rival of Hezbollah.
In all three countries, the protests have been non-sectarian in nature, and despite Pompeo’s claims to the contrary, none of them have presented their protests are at all about removing the Ayatollahs from power.
How many places in America have drinkable water?
…and this pompous ass continues to be paid princely sums of taxpayer money to bloviate about Iran. Someone needs to tell these fools to reach up their asses, way up past their elbows…until they can feel hair, then pull until they can see daylight again…
You have a valid point here. Yes, Pompous Pompeo continues to be paid lots of taxpayer money to bloviate about Iran. DJT needs to fire this arrogant, ignorant dolt, so that the Middle East may be able to find peace.
In addition, Pompous should reimburse us taxpayers for all of his bloviating about Iran. We shouldn’t be paying for his antics .. After all, DJT fired Bonkers Bolton for nearly the same reason, but most of his antics had to do with North Korea after the success of his boss’s 1st summit with DPRK Chairman Kim-Jong-Un in Singapore,
The difference between Pompous and Bonkers has to do with their personalities .. Pompous simply bloviated in a relatively quiet manner, while Bonkers ranted and raved. This difference doesn’t mean anything; Pompous is just as dangerous to US security and diplomacy around the world, and he must be fired. Period.
Does anyone even pay any attention to this fool at this point? The regional states are making their own arrangements now and no one’s asking for pompous’s views.
The Porcine One is just trying to outdo his boss, Agent Orange, in being a gasbag.
The only people dumber and more evil than Pompeo are the reporters who cover him.
‘Hezbollah to leave their country’ – not one points out that they ARE Lebanese, where does Pompeo want to send them.
Iraq – Iran has some influence but we don’t, why doesn’t anyone ever ask about U.S. influence.
Iran – Not one reporter could ask if our global trade embargo caused the economic protests?
Common villain … U.S. … Iraq invaded, Iran embargoed, Lebanon sanctioned.
“Pompeo said Lebanese protesters ‘want Hezbollah and Iran out of their country,’ which is simply not true.”
If the protesters have no problem with Hezbollah, then why is there fighting in the streets between Hezbollah supporters and the protesters?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/hezbollah-supporters-attack-lebanon-anti-graft-protesters/vi-BBXicNY
Part of CIA instigated protests, is to spin the protests in the media to their narrative. No doubt some in Lebanon don’t like Hezbollah, yet is there some polity that everyone likes ? I suppose if someone spent enough, they could raise a demonstration against Cirque De Soleil.
Because there’s always fighting in the streets between the various confessional groupings of Lebannon?
Doesn’t take away from the idiocy of claiming the protesters want the largest part of Lebannon (the Shiites that make up and vote Hezbollah) to leave their own country!
Btw, the news story you linked to says the Hezbollah (and Amal, a Christian group) supporters attacked the protesters, not the other war round. Subtle difference, but the nuance indicates to me a difference when compared with, say, the Iraq protests.
Fair cop.
But there does seem to be SOME kind of conflict between the protesters and supporters of Hezbollah/Amal.
My guess is that that conflict is less about the protesters wanting Hezbollah “out of Lebanon” and more about the protesters wanting a re-composition of the distribution of political power in Lebanon itself that might be less favorable to Hezbollah and its aims.
It would not surprise me if the protesters believe there’s too much Iranian influence in Lebanese politics. Most people in most countries take a dim view of foreign influence of any kind in their political institutions.
Agree … I think Iran has overplayed its hand quite a bit here and definitely in Iraq. Thing is though, with our history in this region, the US Sec of State should be just about the last person to pontificate about this.
This could not be further from truth.
It may have been so before 2006 Israeli attack on Lebanon. And before Western role in Syria, openly arming and funding Islamic groups that brought carnage to Shia and Christian villages . Or before sudden rise of Sunni ISIS, a movement heartily supported by our allies Saudi Arabia and UAE.
So much water under the bridge , over million Syrian refugees in Lebanon to tell the tale of Western munificence and Iran villainy.
This is what is happening. Yes, distribution of power is the issue, but not the way it is portrayed.
Unlike the era of Western sponsored Cedar revolution, when Hariri came to power, on the rise of Sunni and Christian dissatisfaction. But now, Christian, Shia and vast number of Sunni are AGAINST Hariri politics that tied them to Saudi Arabia. Hariri is also Saudi citizen.
The demonstrators are mostly elite Sunni, Hariri supporters. Hariri was hoping for support after resignation and it did not work.
With many Sunnis, all Shia and about all Christians now in the same camp, accusations against Hezbollah are ridiculous.
This is why they hate Christian president, and all attempts at getting at him will bring Hezbollah out in force as well as Christian groups.
But there are always special ops in Lebanon to try something creative.
“a re-composition of the distribution of political power in Lebanon itself” would likely take account of the actual distribution of population. Lebanon has not had a census since the French left, because it would be a challenge to the confessional system that splits power by those old ratios.
The population segment that has grown the most has been the Shia. The population segment that has shrunken the most is Christian.
If power is realigned to match the population, it is Hezbollah that would gain.
Thus, I don’t expect this idea to get further than opinion pages, in which the actual numbers can be conveniently ignored in favor of prejudices against the enemies of Israel.
Hezbollah is the effective government in the South of Lebanon, and there are protests all over Lebanon. They are much more intense in the areas not controlled by Hezbollah, judging by the violence and casualties.
Normally when I see pompass and Iran in the same headline, I stop reading. This, however is too good to pass up: I would say that pompass should pack his bags.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/trump-says-he-may-need-pompeo-to-run-for-senate-to-retain-kansas-seat
The only common villain here is Pompey.
Odd, Pompeo says both, that the gas price controversy in Iran is being fed up with theocracy, and that it is proof that American economic warfare is having an effect.
Perhaps he means we would not attack them if only they’d obey. They could be like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, with happy people satisfied with their governments (sarcasm).
I can’t believe this guy is Secretary of State. However, it’s what one can expect from a USA SOD! Iran is the “bad guy”? How can that be? What about South America Pomp Ass? Is Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba and the like . . . are they the “bad guys” there? Not from where I sit! What’s any different about the Middle East? You have an immoral nation sticking its nose everywhere it doesn’t belong- the USA. The USA is NOT a world policeman so it should stick to international laws and treaties instead of constantly breaking them. For Pomp Ass to claim Iran is a destabilizing and bad influence for the Middle East is like a bad joke! Saudi Arabia bombs the crap out of innocent defenseless Yemenis, Israel violates EVERYTHING it can and the USA stands by as a cheerleader and promoter of sovereign violations- this is all fact. Iran gets threatened on a daily basis and its inner workings are violated by covert agents and assets and it is the “bad guy”. They might as well make a law that accuses a raped woman of being the “bad influence”! One thing’s for sure- we don’t have to study Nazi Germany history anymore because it has been revived by the machinations of Israel and the USA! Just observe!
I observe the fattened and pompous confessed liar and cheat Pompeo, might do better to reverse the polarities of his thinking, would find Israel front and center the problems now inflaming the Middle East. His Israel. Odet YINON and Balfours, Israel. The Israel of 911.