[Breitbart] In the days after President Trump authorized the killing of Iranian Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, mainstream media reports and pundits painted a picture of an erratic commander in chief ‐ one who had made a hasty, ill-thought out decision that would prompt a new war.
Yet, current and former administration officials and analysts say his handling of Iran showed restraint, deliberateness, and the ability to make tough decisions.
Before using force, "he always does the same thing," said one senior administration official in a phone interview on background with Breitbart News earlier this month.
"He consults with his cabinet, asks for the intelligence, and takes the opinion of his leadership...and so I think he takes a very calculated and measured response over time," the official said.
"He is very methodical about it and very calm in these meetings, and asks lots of questions and lots of updates before he jumps to any conclusions. So it’s a very detailed and thought out process," the official added.
Critics decried the lack of a decision-making process, but Army Gen. (Ret.) Jack Keane, former vice chief of staff of the Army, who has informally advised the president, confirmed there is a process to present Trump with options and the risks and ladder of escalation associated with each one.
"The national security team goes through this in some level of detail," he said. "When it comes to decisions that involve potential loss of American lives or even our adversaries lives, the President from everything I know is very involved in the process."
Air Force Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Robert S. Spalding III, former senior director for Strategic Planning at the NSC under the Trump administration, said "[Trump] especially likes differing points of view. He wants people to debate, and he wants to see the debate, which I think is important." |