President Joe Biden’s previous comments about going after terrorists appear to contradict his latest remark about killing al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri.
In 2020, Biden issued a statement on former President Donald Trump’s order to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“No American will mourn Qassem Soleimani’s passing. He deserved to be brought to justice for his crimes against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region. He supported terror and sowed chaos,” Biden said.
He continued, “None of that negates the fact that this is a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region. The administration says that its goal is to deter future attacks by Iran, but this action almost certainly will have the opposite effect.”
Read Biden’s statement below:
Former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden's statement on the death of Qassem #Soleimani: No American will mourn Qassem Soleimani's passing. pic.twitter.com/d04eZs3AHE
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) January 3, 2020
Biden argued Trump “just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep safe our troops and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, both here at home and abroad, and our partners through the region and beyond.”
However, Biden appeared to have a different take when it came to the death of Zawahri.
During a televised address Monday, Biden told Americans, “To those around the world who continue to seek to harm the United States, hear me now: We will always remain vigilant, and we will act.”
He added, “And we will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and around the globe.”
In case you missed it:
BIDEN: "To those around the world who continue to seek to harm the United States, hear me now. We will always remain vigilant, and we will act, and we will always do what is necessary to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and around the globe…" pic.twitter.com/IkgYVvUlbp
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 1, 2022
The president made it clear the United States will “never waiver from defending our nation and its people.”
According to CNN, the drone strike that killed Zawahiri was a result of months of “highly secret planning” by Biden and a group of his senior advisers.
An official reported that members of Zawahiri’s family were not harmed.
“People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer,” Biden said.
He continued, “The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm.”
