Iraq Joins Iran To Issue Their Own Arrest Warrant For Trump
On Thursday, Iraq, who is an U.S. ally, joined Iran by issuing their own warrant for the arrest of Donald Trump.
The warrant was issued for the killing of top Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. He was killed along with General Qassem Soleimani on January 3, 2020 in a drone strike ordered by Trump.
Iraq’s request follows an arrest warrant request by Iran.
On Tuesday, Iran issued their second request for an Interpol “Red Notice” arrest warrant for Trump and 48 others in the death of General Soleimani.
Trump reportedly boasted about killing Soleimani and Al-Muhandis stating he had taken out “two for the price of one.”
Trump’s presidency ends at noon on January 20th. Iran and Iraq are hoping that it will become easier to arrest him and force him to face consequences for the deaths of Soleimani and Al-Muhandis.
The First Arrest Warrant by Iran
In June of 2020, Iran issued their first arrest warrant for Trump and thirty others. They also requested assistance from Interpol. Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr stated at that time that Trump faces “murder and terrorism charges” after the killing of Soleimani.
Interpol declined this request.
Fact: This is the highest level arrest request that a country can make. It asks that law enforcement worldwide locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
Trump Violated War Powers Resolution
Soleimani and Al-Muhandis were killed in a drone strike on January 3, 2020 in Iraq when the Trump administration blew up their convoy. Trump took this action without seeking approval from Congress, as required by the War Powers Resolution.
The War Powers Resolution provides a set of procedures for the President to follow prior to engaging in armed conflict. It requires that any president notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action.
Trump claimed that Soleimani posed an imminent threat, but his claims have reportedly changed multiple times.
Who Were They?
Soleimani was the leader of Iran’s Quds Force. Many Iranians believe that he prevented ISIS from taking hold in their country.
Al-Muhandis was the deputy commander of the Popular Mobilisation Forces in Iraq.
Conflicting Stories From Trump
After killing Soleimani, Trump first claimed that he ordered the drone strike to prevent an imminent attack against U.S. personnel and embassies.
However, Trump’s letter to Congress contradicted his initial claim. The letter reportedly stated that Trump directed the drone strike that killed Soleimani “in response to an escalating series of attacks in preceding months by Iran and Iran-backed militias on the United States forces and interests in the Middle East.”
There was nothing addressing an “imminent threat.”
Representative Eliot L. Engel stated in June, “This official report directly contradicts the president’s false assertion that he attacked Iran to prevent an imminent attack against United States personnel and embassies. The administration’s explanation in this report makes no mention of any imminent threat and shows that the justification the president offered to the American people was false, plain and simple.”
House Speak Nancy Pelosi stated that Trump’s letter raised “serious and urgent questions.”
Trump Distraction From Impeachment Proceedings?
Many believed that Trump targeted Soleimani and Al-Muhandis to distract Americans from his impeachment proceedings.
In the days following the drone strike, Trump administration officials offered a plethora of justifications about why Trump took such drastic action that could have led to war with Iran.
The U.S. Senate Was Alarmed
The United States Senate was alarmed enough to immediately vote and pass a bipartisan resolution to curtail Trump from taking any other military action against Iran without approval by Congress.
Interpol
In June, Interpol rejected the first request by Iran for an arrest warrant for Trump. It’s not going to grant Iran’s second request either.
Interpol's General Secretariat reportedly told NPR that according to the international police body's constitution, “It is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.”
Baghdad Issues Arrest Warrant For Trump
According to the judiciary, the court for east Baghdad has issued a warrant for Trump’s arrest under Article 406 of the penal code, which provides for the death penalty in all cases of premeditated murder.
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