NYT: Plans for Soleimani killing began 18 months ago According to a report in The New York Times, the U.S. military began preparations for taking out Iranian General Qassem Soleimani 18 months ago. New York Times investigative journalist Ronen Bergman, author of "Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations," joins CBSN to discuss the drone strike that took the U.S. to the brink of war with Iran.