[rad-green] Without Evidence, Trump Accuses Iran of 'Orchestrating an Attack' on US Embassy in Iraq as Fears of War Grow

*https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/31/without-evidence-trump-accuses-iran-orchestrating-attack-us-embassy-iraq-fears-war
<https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/31/without-evidence-trump-accuses-iran-orchestrating-attack-us-embassy-iraq-fears-war>*

Common Dreams          December 31, 2019





*Without Evidence, Trump Accuses Iran of 'Orchestrating an Attack' on US
Embassy in Iraq as Fears of War Grow"This may be the beginning of the end
for the U.S. occupation."by Jake Johnson, staff writer*

*Thousands of Iraqis descended on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to protest
the Trump administration's airstrikes. (Photo: Liz Sly/Twitter)*

*Update:*

President Donald Trump Tuesday morning accused Iran, without offering any
evidence, of "orchestrating an attack" on the American embassy in Baghdad
as thousands of Iraqis surrounded the building to protest U.S. airstrikes
and occupation of the region.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many," Trump tweeted
<https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump>. "We strongly responded, and always
will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They
will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its
forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!"

Trump's tweet closely mirrored Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) response to the
embassy protests. "Iran is directly responsible for orchestrating the
storming of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and must be held accountable for it
and the safety of every American serving there," tweeted Rubio, a longtime
supporter of regime change in Iran.

U.S. airstrikes on targets in Iraq and Syria on Sunday killed at least 25
fighters and injured dozens more. While the Pentagon and Trump claimed Iran
was behind a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base last week that killed
an American contractor, Iran denied responsibility and condemned the U.S.
airstrikes as a "clear example of terrorism
<https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/30/clear-example-terrorism-iran-denounces-deadly-us-bombings-iraq-and-syria>
."

*Earlier:*

Thousands of Iraqis smashed through a checkpoint
<https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-iraq-airstrikes-protests-american-embassy-baghdad-anger-over-strikes-iran-militia-today-2019-12-31/>
and
converged on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday to protest the Trump
administration's deadly airstrikes
<https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/30/iraqi-pm-condemns-dangerous-escalation-us-kills-25-airstrikes-and-threatens-iran>
over
the weekend and demand that American troops and diplomats leave the country.

Matthew Tueller, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, and members of his staff were
reportedly forced to flee the building as the embassy protests intensified.

According to *Reuters*, "some protesters threw stones at the gate while
others chanted, 'No, no, America! ... No, no, Trump!'" Demonstrators said
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iran-backed-militia-supporters-converge-on-us-embassy-in-baghdad-shouting-death-to-america/2019/12/31/93f050b2-2bb1-11ea-bffe-020c88b3f120_story.html>
they
intend to remain outside the embassy until it closes.

*Washington Post* journalist Liz Sly, who is on the ground covering the
protest, called it a very "dangerous situation
<https://twitter.com/LizSly/status/1211936180532588544>" as tear gas was
fired <https://apnews.com/75228a8a607a44863b57021ac33264dc> at
demonstrators and some reported hearing gunshots.

"This may be the beginning of the end for the U.S. occupation," tweeted
<https://twitter.com/Partisangirl/status/1211939455134654464> one observer.

The Pentagon said Sunday's airstrikes against the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah
militia were retaliation for rocket attacks that killed an American
contractor. The U.S. strikes, which hit targets in Syria and Iraq, killed
at least 25 people and injured dozens more.

The bombing campaign sparked swift condemnation from Iraqi leaders and
warnings of a devastating proxy war between the U.S. and Iran, which the
Trump administration says is funding and arming Iraqi militias.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Sunday called the U.S. strikes "a
violation of Iraqi sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that threatens
the security of Iraq and the region."

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