The Danger of Terrorist Retaliation

Since his death at the hands of a US drone strike in Baghdad last week, much has been said about Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and his ties to terrorism. Iraq’s Prime Minister claimed that at the time of his death, Soleimani was in the country to take part in indirect talks between the Saudis and Iran aimed at easing tensions, and Iraq was serving as broker in the deal.  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shot that idea down earlier this week in a particularly candid, on the record moment, mockingly asking reporters “Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order, Qassem Soleimani, had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission? We know that wasn’t true.”

Soleimani’s ties to terrorism and his roles in leading and planning terrorist attacks against Americans is a far longer and more complicated story than most TV commentators have even touched on. The Cipher Brief spoke with our expert, Georgetown University and Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow professor Bruce Hoffman, about Soleimani’s long history of hate and now that he’s gone, the danger of terrorist retaliation.