News Releases

  • Print

“With the death of Iran’s General Soleimani, the American people, and people around the world, are much safer”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s remarks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor about the president’s decision to end Iranian General Qassem Soleimani’s reign of terror.

Excerpts of Senator Barrasso’s remarks:

“I come to the floor today following the U.S. airstrike in Iraq.

“The airstrike that killed Iran’s terrorist mastermind.

“I fully support President Trump’s decision.

“As commander in chief, he had an obligation to do what he did, to act, when American lives are at stake.

“With the death of Iran’s General Soleimani, the American people, and people around the world, are much safer.

“This general was an emboldened blood-thirsty terrorist. He was a killer.

“He has the blood of countless people around the world on his hands.

“In the last two months, we’ve seen 11 attacks on U.S. forces and bases, including the killing of an American citizen.

“He became bolder. He became more aggressive in both his actions and his ambitions.

“And he was stepping up his attacks on Americans.

“In fact, General Soleimani was at war with the United States his entire career. It was a military career. He was the commander of Iran’s terrorist network.

“We watched in recent months as he personally directed brazen attacks on our embassy and personnel in Iraq.

“We knew that more attacks were coming. And so the United States took action.

“Soleimani’s death makes America safer in the long run.

“Taking out this war criminal will help us avoid war in the future.

“Let me be clear: I don’t want a war with Iran. The United States does not want war with Iran.

“We know that appeasement does not work.

“The Obama administration strategy of wishful thinking failed.

“Soleimani’s terrorist network was made more powerful by U.S. money.

“The Obama administration gave billions and billions of dollars, U.S. dollars, as part of that Iran nuclear deal.

“What did they do with the money? They used the money to support terrorists around the world.

“Without a doubt, appeasement only brought failure. It made Iran stronger. And it hurt the United States and our allies.

“We know that the winning strategy is peace through strength. We knew it through Ronald Reagan, and we know it today.

“Already, U.S. sanctions on Iran have been crushing and crippling. We must continue President Trump’s maximum-pressure campaign. Now Iran knows the United States means what it says.

“We are prepared for retaliations should they come.

“This past weekend Joe Biden actually said Iran is in the driver’s seat. Iran is not in the driver’s seat. Iran is in the center of the bullseye.

“U.S. forces will respond to any future attacks on Americans and or Americans’ safety. And we will do it swiftly and with a punishing response.

“It would be a grave mistake for Iran to further escalate tensions.

“Instead, what Iran ought to do is dial down its aggressive nature and posture.

“The facts are these: General Soleimani was a blood-thirsty terrorist. He had the blood of innocent civilians on his hands. And he would have killed many more if given the chance.

“This general spent his entire career at war with the United States.

“He was responsible for the deaths of American soldiers, hundreds of deaths through IED’s. And for the maiming of American soldiers with roadside bombs. And that would be thousands of Americans who have been permanently disabled because of him.

“Thankfully, the general’s 20-year reign of terror is now ended.

“And there is broad condemnation all around the world for the mass destruction and the death that he caused.

“It’s time now for Iran to take a step back, away from nuclear weapons, away from terrorism, away from aggressions.

“Come to the table. It’s time for them to discuss peace.”

###