Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas and the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, recently appeared on Shannon Bream's show to discuss President Donald Trump's controversial decision to revoke security protection for several of his former aides.
Cotton urged the President to reconsider this decision, particularly for those individuals who have been targeted by Iran.
During the conversation, Bream highlighted the editorial board's concerns, stating, "President Trump has taken back the security detail for a number of people Anthony Fauci, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook among them, John Bolton too. The editorial board says, Pray it wont happen, but what if one of them now gets attacked If Iran commits violence against any of these men, Mr. Trump wont be able to escape some responsibility. As reported by Mediaite, Cotton responded by emphasizing the gravity of the situation, "I would encourage the President to revisit the decision for those people who are being targeted by Iran as the President was targeted for assassination by Iran."
The backdrop to this issue is Iran's ongoing vendetta against members of Trump's first administration, as well as Trump himself, following the 2020 assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Commander Qassim Suleimani. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly mourned Suleimani's death and vowed retaliation against those involved in the drone strike that killed him. Cotton, known for his hawkish stance, underscored the persistent threat, stating, "As the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Ive reviewed the intelligence in the last few days. The threat to anyone involved in President Trumps strike on Qassim Suleimani. Its persistent. Its real. Iran is committed to vengeance against all of these people."
Cotton further elaborated on the potential risks, noting that even the chief of staff of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence concurred with his assessment. "In fact, the chief of staff of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence agreed with me that if these threats were against him or his family, that he would want security because the threats are real. There are gaps in our coverage. We dont know what we dont know. And its better to be safe than sorry," he remarked. Cotton highlighted the broader implications of the decision, pointing out that it affects not only the individuals directly involved but also their families, friends, and innocent bystanders. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the presiden1t can attract competent advisors and receive sound advice without fear of retribution.
The decision to revoke security protection has been interpreted by many as a punitive measure against those who have criticized Trump's leadership. John Bolton, a former national security advisor to Trump, has been particularly vocal in his criticism, questioning the President's moral and mental fitness for office. This move raises concerns about the potential chilling effect on future advisors who may hesitate to serve or offer candid advice due to security concerns.
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