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Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Would you consider sending troops to the Middle East to counter Iran, as it was reported?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I would if we need them.  I don’t think we’re going to need them.  I really don’t.  But I have a meeting on it in about an hour.  I would certainly send troops if we need them.

Iran has been a very dangerous player — a very bad player.  They’re a nation of terror and we won’t put up with it.  The deal that was signed by President Obama was a horror show.  It’s a terrible deal.

The minute I collapsed that deal and terminated it, Iran went in a very bad direction.  They’re now suffering massive problems, financially.  They have inflation that’s about the highest in the world.  They’re people — and they’re great people.  I know many Iranians; they’re great people.  But the country is in very bad shape.

When I first came here, that was a country of terror.  They were all over.  I remember — and I’ve told this story — but I’ve been at many different meetings where every single problem caused in the Middle East — and maybe beyond, but in the Middle East — was caused by Iran.  They were behind every single — we had 14 different attacks at one point.  They were behind every attack.

So we’ll see what happens with Iran.  No, I don’t think we’ll need it.  But if we need it, we’ll have — we’ll be there in whatever number we need.

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