Hypothetical - What if this guy had just retired ffom official militsry duties or had just quit in order to become a free lance mercenary general? I mean, quit 5 or 10 days ago, very very recently. In that scenario, what if Trump claimed that they "attempted to capture him before having to kill him instead", ike Bin Laden, despite providing no evidence tbat this was the case. Keep in mind that he would still have very good friendly relations with Iran and a very good reputation and favourability with your average Iranian citizen.
Based on your criteria provided, would this be okay?
Is this hypothetical popular Iranian general a public and official guest (or employee) of the government of Iraq or is he in hiding? Has he been indicted as bin Laden was?
Alternative hypothetical:
Next week, Sec. Esper and several American generals are blown to bits by an airstrike outside Lviv as they visit Ukraine. Putin addresses the Duma and explains that he ordered Secretary Esper's killing because he was operating as an illegal arms dealer to illicit Ukrainian forces who had used US-supplied weapons to murder innocent Russian civilians living in the Donbass and was planning more attacks in concert with elements of the Ukrainian government (although he makes it clear he doesn't hold President Zelensky responsible). Is that okay? (I sure as hell don't think so.)
He is neither in hiding nor an official Iraqi guest, simply a man doing private business.
Your hypothetical is not okay, I agree. Those Americans were members of the US government and that is an act of war by Russia .
