LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Dr. Gregory Hall has authored books about diplomacy, so his words were spot on when discussing President Donald Trump's response to Iran's missile attack, which didn't claim any American or Iraqi casualties.
"I think the two sides approached the abyss of war and unbridled destruction, looked in and decided, not this time," said Hall.
Hall is a professor at the University of Kentucky's Patterson School of Diplomacy, and said he felt a sense of calm, even as the destruction from the missile launch into American interests in Iraq hadn't yet been assessed.
"I slept much better," he said, perhaps knowing Trump would be advised not to retaliate any further. A decision, which he made and shared with the public on Wednesday morning.
Iran launched the attack in retaliation for the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who had been accused of being the mastermind behind numerous terrorist attacks across the world.
“I have a lot of respect for many of my democratic colleagues,” said Congressman Andy Barr on WLAP radio, “But they are so blinded by their hatred of this president that they cannot realize this was a true victory for the United States; to take off the map a terrorist who killed more than 600 Americans.”
Hall said Soleimani's removal was often times the focal point of a spirited discussion in his classroom.
"It's problematic to prosecute punishment, or the death of Soleimani, strictly on the terms that he was a terrorist, because he was an agent of the Iranian government," Hall said.
According to Hall, reports that the Iranian's fired off verbal warnings to Iraq, before firing those missiles, could be accurate and that the Iraqis would have then warned Americans of what was coming. That could explain why bases, and not personnel, were attacked.
"Very surgical," said Hall of the strikes, before admitting that some luck could have been involved.
Or, that was their intent.
"Clearly this was an attempt to make a political statement, as opposed to causing harm," Barr told WLAP radio on Wednesday morning.
Which is likely why Trump has decided to essentially say the sides are even, and won't order further military action. At least, "not this time," as Hall would say.
"Great relief!" he said.
