Award-winning columnist, writer, speaker and editor
CHARLOTTE, NC — Dueling narratives over the strike that killed Qassem Soleimani. The White House, defending the strike against Iran’s top military leader, while democrats question whether there was actually an “imminent threat.”
Also, thousands of demonstrators continue to protest the Iranian government, after officials admitted the country mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet.
Click above for more with WCCB Charlotte political contributor Mary C. Curtis.
CHARLOTTE, NC — The pentagon says Iran has retaliated against the United States for killing their top military commander. Political contributor Mary C. Curtis discusses what’s next.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – President Trump is informing members of Congress about potential action against Iran, via tweet. Trump has already said the U.S. has targeted 52 Iranian sites for attack should the country strike “Any Americans, or American Assets” in retaliation for the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani.
CHARLOTTE, NC — The Trump administration has announced it is sending Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the Persian Gulf to discuss a response to an attack on Saudi oil facilities. The president campaigned on not involving the U.S. in wars across the globe, but this crisis has escalated tensions in the region. Though rebels in Yemen claimed credit for attacks on Saudi oil facilities, intelligence services say Iran is the culprit; after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, the president has been looking for a way to re-start talks with the country’s leaders.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 international Iran nuclear deal and imposed strict sanctions, it was to put pressure on Iran to pull back from any plans for expansion in the Middle East. The sanctions have hurt the economy, which has also been damaged by Washington canceling waivers for countries to buy Iranian oil without a penalty.
But tensions are hotter than ever after explosions damaged two Japanese- and Norwegian-owned oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
Is America headed for more conflicts in the Middle East?
CHARLOTTE, NC — President Trump did not say “America First”; but he didn’t have to. His message this week to world leaders was the same one his administration has been sharing since he was elected.
In a speech influenced by his senior domestic adviser Stephen Miller and national security adviser John Bolton, Trump rejected globalism and affirmed the U.S. withdrawal from international agreements.
“America will always choose independence and cooperation over global governance, control and domination,” Trump said.
President Trump’s boasts about accomplishments in the first two years of his presidency also drew laughter from the assembled leaders.
WCCB political contributor, Mary C. Curtis weighs in on Trump’s speech and the reaction.
