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Ex-Trump National Security Adviser: Biden’s Ransom to Iran Incentivized Hamas to Take American Hostages
Breitbart ^ | 8 Oct 2023 | KRISTINA WONG

Posted on 10/09/2023 12:16:44 PM PDT by SoConPubbie

Former Trump National Security Adviser Robert C. O’Brien criticized the Biden administration for paying Iran $6 billion in ransom money, saying that it incentivized Hamas to take Americans in Israel hostage on Saturday as it launched a number of terrorist attacks across the country.

“While welcoming our Iran hostages home, I said at the time — paying ransom (eg unfreezing $6 billion) is problematic because it incentivizes new hostage taking & gives terrorists money for new operations. I didn’t think we would see these points illustrated so vividly, so quickly,” O’Brien posted on X.

O’Brien served during the Trump administration as the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs from 2018 through 2019 and helped secure the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey in 2018. He also helped secure the release of Danny Burch, an American oil worker in Yemen.

O’Brien said he called on President Joe Biden on Saturday to deploy the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and Joint Special Operations Command’s hostage extraction forces to assist Israel.

“We now know [American citizens] have been taken by Hamas,” O’Brien posted. “Those teams should be airborne to the region now to be in a position to rescue our countrymen.”

While welcoming our Iran hostages home, I said at the time- paying ransom (eg unfreezing $6 billion) is problematic because it incentivizes new hostage taking & gives terrorists money for new operations. I didn't think we would see these points illustrated so vividly, so quickly.

— Robert C. O'Brien (@robertcobrien) October 8, 2023

Earlier Sunday morning, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC News the Biden administration was still “very actively working” to verify reports that Americans were among those dead in Israel and taken hostage.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: biden; bidenfunded; bidensfault; dementiajoe; fjb; hamas; hostages; iran; israel; robertobrien; trump
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1 posted on 10/09/2023 12:16:44 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie

Of course it did.


2 posted on 10/09/2023 12:19:03 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
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To: SoConPubbie

This attack was not planned over two weeks.

You don’t just line up 5,000 rockets overnight. This has been in planning for a long time.

While I think releasing the funds was a stupid thing to do and it does embolden the Iranians. But I believe this was going to happen anyway.


3 posted on 10/09/2023 12:21:56 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: SoConPubbie

100s have already mentioned it. But we traded...so we got something, too. why we had to add the money...instead of doing 5 for 5....cuz biden and blinkin are stupid.


4 posted on 10/09/2023 12:23:09 PM PDT by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Vermont Lt

agree


5 posted on 10/09/2023 12:24:33 PM PDT by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Vermont Lt
While I think releasing the funds was a stupid thing to do and it does embolden the Iranians. But I believe this was going to happen anyway.

If what you are saying with respect to the longevity of the planning is correct, and I believe it is correct, the real problem is our "intelligence" agencies. If they were doing their job, and as this has shown they are not, this would have never happened, or, Israel would have been better prepared.
6 posted on 10/09/2023 12:25:32 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Trump has all the right enemies, DeSantis has all the wrong friends.)
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To: SoConPubbie
While welcoming our Iran hostages home, I said at the time- paying ransom (eg unfreezing $6 billion) is problematic because it incentivizes new hostage taking & gives terrorists money for new operations. I didn't think we would see these points illustrated so vividly, so quickly. — Robert C. O'Brien (@robertcobrien) October 8, 2023

Biden is guilty of treason

7 posted on 10/09/2023 12:25:45 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: SoConPubbie

I like this guy.

https://twitter.com/AvivaKlompas/status/1711391653355815403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1711391653355815403%7Ctwgr%5E3bef07f3adc33ba57a96c94734471d741687bb33%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrendingpoliticsnews.com%2Fwatch-nba-legend-slams-pro-palestine-americans-cheering-hamas-slaughter-dont-respect-none-of-yall-mstef%2F


8 posted on 10/09/2023 12:26:29 PM PDT by dforest
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To: SoConPubbie

Feels like the hostage crisis all over again...


9 posted on 10/09/2023 12:26:59 PM PDT by EBH (America Blackmailed, The True Story of the World War...Coming Soon (1/21-))
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To: SoConPubbie

Heck yeah, with the ayatollah getting a billion dollars a head from each kidnapee lately, he’s counting heads.


10 posted on 10/09/2023 12:30:41 PM PDT by redcatcherb412
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To: SoConPubbie

But the Big Guy gets 10% of the transaction...


11 posted on 10/09/2023 12:30:54 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: dforest

Me too!


12 posted on 10/09/2023 12:32:06 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Trump has all the right enemies, DeSantis has all the wrong friends.)
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To: SoConPubbie

https://apnews.com/article/gulf-iran-us-tensions-shipping-oil-127f8b77aa7e41dcd8266b6fbe5800dc

Iran is the aggressor here but last paragraph tells us it’s Trump’s fault for being too tough on Iran.


13 posted on 10/09/2023 12:32:17 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: Vermont Lt; SoConPubbie
This attack was not planned over two weeks.

Iran has known for a while that they were going to get this money released. Maybe even for many months they've known. With that knowledge in hand they started supplying, planning and training the necessary hamasjihadi's.

14 posted on 10/09/2023 12:34:07 PM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: BlackbirdSST

I would wager that Iran already had this money well ahead of any public knowledge.


15 posted on 10/09/2023 12:35:53 PM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: Vermont Lt
True. But since April 2022 the Biden regime has given over half a billion directly to Palestime: https://www.state.gov/u-s-support-for-the-palestinian-people/:

"U.S. Assistance to the Palestinian People

As we work toward a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we are also increasing our assistance to the Palestinian people. Since April 2021, the United States has provided over half a billion dollars in assistance for the Palestinians, including more than $417 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestinian refugees through UNRWA, $75 million in support through USAID, and $20.5 million in COVID and Gaza recovery assistance.

The U.S. government plans to provide an additional $75 million in economic assistance to the Palestinian people this year. Additionally, the United States is also providing $45 million for programs to support the security sector including important improvements to the rule of law."

The $6B freed up those funds to spend on this and other terrorist attacks.

16 posted on 10/09/2023 12:38:54 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
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To: piytar

BTW Palestine equals Hamas.


17 posted on 10/09/2023 12:40:06 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
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To: piytar

And I meant the expected $6B, which did happen thanks to the Biden regime.


18 posted on 10/09/2023 12:42:25 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
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To: SoConPubbie

Anything other than brute force and related death encourages terrorists.


19 posted on 10/09/2023 12:43:20 PM PDT by Jonny7797
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To: BlackbirdSST

Think you might find my comment at https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4188213/posts?page=16#16 and my following two comments informative. Lines up with what you said.


20 posted on 10/09/2023 12:45:10 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
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