Trump's Iran problem: he's blown America's credibility
(CNN)Sowing mistrust has consequences. President Donald Trump has sown mistrust by questioning his own intelligence community, withdrawing from critical international coalitions and spreading disdain for the media.
And now, as questions about US intelligence regarding Iran abound, Trump is seeing the fruits of his labor. After all, if Trump doesn't trust his own intelligence community or the media, why should we?
As tensions with Iran escalate, doubts over whether to trust the intelligence community are percolating. But this isn't a new phenomenon. Last month, the State Department withdrew personnel from Iraq, citing an increased threat from Iran. Shortly after the announcement, there were questions, including from members of Congress, about whether the intelligence cited held water.
Now, fresh debate has ensued regarding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's rapid assessment that Iran was responsible for recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman. The United Kingdom has supported the US assessment, while other allies, like Germany, have taken a more cautious approach.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/16/opinions/donald-trump-iran-problem-distrust-intelligence-vinograd/index.html