CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., oversaw a roundtable on Friday regarding America’s role in the Middle East and the country’s relationship with Iran.
Around 40 West Virginians took part in the roundtable at the West Virginia Lottery building in Charleston. Attendees, according to Manchin’s office, included veterans and religious leaders.
During an appearance Friday morning on MetroNews “Talkline,” Manchin said he supports the decision to kill Iranian Gen. Qassam Soleimani, calling him an imminent threat to the United States,
“This one hit on the guy was justified to get rid of him because he was ratching up to do more things against Americans because that’s the thing he knows,” he said. “The Sunni and Shiites will rally because both of them, even though they hate each other, they hate us more.”
Justice and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., have noted American lives were at risk before the airstrike killing Soleimani.
Manchin noted in a statement Thursday there should also be a pathway to diplomacy.