WHAT WOULD TRUMP HAVE DONE IF THE MISSILE THAT LANDED IN QATAR KILLED 4 AMERICANS?

WHAT WOULD TRUMP HAVE DONE IF THE MISSILE THAT LANDED IN QATAR KILLED 4 AMERICANS?

 

 

By Rich Loudenback

 

I am one of 47’s biggest fans and having read his book ‘The Art of the Deal’  I understand his incredible talent in negotiating.  However, I question his haranguing the Israelis’ for responding to the missile Iran fired after their cease fire agreement that killed at least a family of 4 immediately and possibly others or injured yet to be found in a lot of rubble.

 

President Trump strongly repeated many times the threat of how we would overwhelmingly respond if such would have happened to any Americans.  Luckily the missile Iran fired, also after the cease fire, that landed in Qatar near our largest base in the region didn’t kill any Americans.  But what if it had?  Therefore, I think Trump should have given Israel slack by letting them have their due retribution with their ace air force.

 

I think it’s possible Trump was really looking forward to successfully negotiating his biggest of deals ever with these two biggest of archenemies and his response is wrought largely from that disappointment.

 

I hate to acknowledge it, but he has an ego that should be said is deserved, but perhaps it’s growing from his successes on this biggest of stages. I think he may look forward to conquest, knowing that he usually is doing the right thing and the world is better for his successful efforts.

 

IN THE FIRST PLACE, IRAN TODAY IS MORE OF A RELIGIOUS/TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAN A NATION

 

The fanatical Shi’ite religion is so all controlling in Iran that it killed 92 of its own citizens in protests against a woman’s death for not wearing a hijab.

 

ChatGPT states: “Iran has been linked to numerous attacks and covert operations abroad, often through its military and intelligence branches like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its elite Quds Force, as well as proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and various Shi’ite militias in Iraq and Syria. Below is a list (not exhaustive) of Iran’s direct and proxy-linked attacks, mostly from the 1979 Islamic Revolution to present:

 

Major Attacks or Plots Linked to Iran (Direct or Proxy Involvement)

 

1980s

  • 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing (Lebanon): Suicide bombings killed 241 U.S. Marines and 58 French paratroopers. Carried out by Hezbollah, backed by Iran.
  • 1984 U.S. Embassy Annex Bombing (Beirut): 24 people killed. Hezbollah responsible.
  • 1985 TWA Flight 847 Hijacking: Hezbollah operatives hijacked a U.S. flight, killing one U.S. Navy diver.
  • 1986–1989 Paris bombings (France): A wave of bombings linked to Hezbollah cells backed by Iran.

 

1990s

  • 1992 Israeli Embassy Bombing (Buenos Aires): 29 killed. Planned by Iran and carried out by Hezbollah.
  • 1994 AMIA Jewish Center Bombing (Buenos Aires): 85 killed. Argentine investigators traced it to Iranian and Hezbollah operatives.
  • 1996 Khobar Towers Bombing (Saudi Arabia): 19 U.S. Air Force personnel killed. Perpetrated by Saudi Hezbollah with alleged IRGC support.

 

2000s

  • Support for Iraqi Insurgents: IRGC Quds Force armed Shi’ite militias (e.g. Kata’ib Hezbollah) with EFPs (explosively formed penetrators)—responsible for killing hundreds of U.S. troops during the Iraq War.
  • 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War: Iran-backed Hezbollah launched a cross-border raid, sparking war with Israel.
  • 2008 Israeli Diplomat Car Bombing Plot (India, Thailand, Georgia): Foiled or partially carried out attempts linked to Iranian operatives.

 

2010s

  • Assassination of Iranian Dissidents Abroad: Numerous reports of assassinations or attempted hits in Turkey, Europe.
  • 2011 Assassination Plot of Saudi Ambassador (U.S.): U.S. foiled plot to bomb a D.C. restaurant and kill Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir—allegedly directed by IRGC Quds Force.
  • Yemen Conflict (Ongoing since 2015): Iran backs Houthi rebels, who have attacked Saudi Arabia and UAE with drones/missiles.
  • Syria Civil War (from 2011): Iran deployed thousands of fighters (IRGC + proxies) to support Assad regime and target opposition groups.
  • 2019 Gulf Tanker Attacks (Strait of Hormuz): U.S. blamed Iran for limpet mine attacks on oil tankers.
  • 2019 Saudi Aramco Oil Facility Attack: Claimed by Houthis, but the weapons and precision indicated Iranian orchestration.

 

2020s

  • Drone and Missile Strikes via Proxies:
    • Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Red Sea shipping.
    • Iraqi militias attacking U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria.
  • 2022 Attempted Assassination of John Bolton and Mike Pompeo (U.S.): IRGC operative charged in plot to kill former U.S. officials.
  • 2023–2024 Red Sea Attacks by Houthis: Targeting international shipping—enabled by Iranian drone/missile tech.
  • 2024 Hamas-Israel War Support: Iran backed Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel with planning, funding, and training support, though Iran denied direct involvement.

 

Common Methods Used

  • Proxy warfare: through Hezbollah, Houthis, Shi’ite militias.
  • Cyber attacks: Against U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia.
  • Assassinations & sabotage: Targeting dissidents, Israeli interests.
  • Maritime harassment: Persian Gulf incidents with U.S. Navy and merchant ships.
  • Terror plots: Often foiled in Europe, South America, and the U.S.

ChatGPT also states that Iran’s population, as of 2025, is estimated to be around 89 to 90 million people.

Key Population Facts:

  • Capital: Tehran (largest city, over 9 million in the metro area)
  • Population Growth: Slowing in recent years due to lower birth rates
  • Median Age: Around 32 years
  • Religion: ~99% Muslim (majority Twelver Shi’a – about 90–95% of population)
  • Urbanization: Over 75% of Iranians live in cities

 

There’s no exact public number for how many mullahs—or Islamic clerics—there are in Iran, but estimates generally range from 200,000 to 300,000 people involved in religious clerical roles across the country, with varying ranks and responsibilities.

Here’s a breakdown of what that includes:

 

Definitions:

  • “Mullah” is an informal term often used to refer to Muslim clerics, especially those with training in Islamic theology and law. In Iran, they may also be referred to as:
    • Ayatollahs – senior clerics with authority to issue religious rulings.
    • Hujjat al-Islams – mid-ranking clerics.
    • Talabehs – seminary students.

 

Clerical System in Iran:

  • Qom, the religious capital of Iran, has around 60,000–80,000 seminarians and clerics.
  • Other major seminaries are in Mashhad, Isfahan, and Tehran.
  • Many serve as teachers, preachers, judges, or government officials, especially since the Islamic Republic’s system merges religion and governance.

 

Political Role:

  • Thousands of clerics hold government or judicial positions under the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (Velayat-e Faqih) system.
  • Some estimates suggest 10,000–20,000 clerics are directly involved in politics, law, or administration.

 

Shi’a Islam (or Shi’ism) is one of the two main branches of Islam, the other being Sunni Islam. While they share many core beliefs with Sunnis—such as belief in one God (Allah), the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur’an, daily prayer, and charity—Shi’as have several distinct theological, historical, and leadership beliefs. Here’s a summary of key Shi’a beliefs:

 

Core Beliefs (Shared with All Muslims)

  • Tawhid: Belief in the oneness of God.
  • Prophethood: Muhammad is the final prophet.
  • Qur’an: Holy book revealed by God.
  • Day of Judgment: Belief in the afterlife and accountability.
  • Prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage: The Five Pillars are generally followed but with slight differences in practice.

 

Distinctive Shi’a Beliefs

1. Distinctive Shi’a Beliefs Imamate (Leadership)

  • Shi’as believe that after Prophet Muhammad, leadership should have passed to Ali ibn Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law—not to Abu Bakr as Sunnis believe.
  • They believe in a line of divinely appointed Imams, starting with Ali.
  • Twelver Shi’ism (the largest Shi’a group) holds that there are 12 Imams, the last of whom—Imam Mahdi—is in occultation and will return as a messianic figure to bring justice.

2. Infallibility of the Imams

  • Imams are considered ma’sum (infallible) and free from sin and error in religious matters.
  • They are seen as the only legitimate interpreters of the Qur’an and Islamic law.

3. Ashura and Martyrdom

  • Shi’as deeply commemorate Ashura, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (Ali’s son and the Prophet’s grandson) at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.
  • Martyrdom is viewed as a noble path in standing against injustice.

4. Wilayah (Spiritual and Political Authority)

  • Loyalty to the Imams and their rightful successors is central.
  • In Iran, this has evolved into the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih—where a senior cleric holds ultimate authority until the return of the Mahdi.

5. Temporary Marriage (Mut’ah)

Shi’as allow mut’ah, a form of temporary marriage with agreed conditions, which is forbidden in Sunni Islam.

Subsects of Shi’a Islam

  • Twelvers (Ithna Ashariyya) – Majority in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon.
  • Ismailis – Follow a different line of Imams; led today by the Aga Khan.
  • Zaydis – Found mostly in Yemen; closer to Sunni Islam in some beliefs.

– Unquote ChatGPT

 

Ilse Méndez in her concise article ‘Iran’s Leaders, Explained: The Clerics, Presidents, and Councils That Control a Nation’ opens with these comments:

 

“Iran’s government is often described as complex, opaque, and contradictory—for good reason. While the country holds presidential elections, its most powerful figures are not elected by popular vote. At the center is a layered system of religious councils, appointed authorities, and military-aligned clerics who operate far beyond public scrutiny.

 

Understanding who holds power in Iran means understanding who can override it.  And often, that’s not the president.” – Unquote Ilse Méndez

 

As much as we would all love to see President Trump make a deal, as big as it could be, I don’t believe you can make a deal with such fanatics.  I also think that Israel deserves nothing but kudos for the remarkable accomplishments they made against these evil doers and wish Israel had time and the means to finish what needs to be finished.

 

Although Donald Trump is one of the best Presidents we’ve ever had and certainly heads above any President in my lifetime, it has to be said that ‘Who among us is perfect?’  I wish he hadn’t chastised Israel for doing what I believe he would also have done had that Qatar missile killed 4 Americans.

 

It’s interesting that Fox News reported on June 24th that Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that they are suspending their association with them.

 

Also, the YouTube channel named The Enforcer just announced that Iran has another underground site named Pickaxe Mountain just 1 1/2 miles to the east of the Natanz enrichment plant that’s even deeper in a mountain than Fordow where they could have moved some of the material from Fordow before our bombingj, or perhaps that might really be the site where the 60% enrichment uranium was all the time.

 

Keep in mind that they have been manufacturing their own missiles as well. Speculation remains very foreboding.

 

I will close with these two points.

 

1st.  I believe these fanatics will never change. They are religious zealots that probably believe in justiying most anything can be considered as a means to an end.  They should never be trusted, and unless the larger population is assisted with outside military or arms assistance for change they will continue their brand of utter control via terrorism if necessary.

 

2nd. I also believe they are so driven to want nuclear weapons that should they have retrieved the uranium from the Fordow deep bunker and loaded it into the long line of trucks that appeared a couple days before we bombed it they may seek help from others if necessary to continue refining it or just go retail and buy bombs and or missiles from North Korea, Russia or others.

 

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