Foreign Policy Archives

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As Israel systematically dismantles Iranian proxies in the Middle East, Iran is lashing out in an increasingly erratic manner.

This week, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on Israel in an escalatory attack. Thankfully, the missiles did little damage to Israel or Israeli citizens. But we cannot allow Iran to continue this aggression against our ally, and Israel cannot wait for another Iranian escalation. They must hit back hard and decisively.

Iran’s reckless aggression has sealed its fate. Now, Israel has the momentum, and they’re not going to let it slip away. When you’re dealing with a threat like this, you don’t let your enemy rebuild—you keep the pressure on.

Equally important, the United States must give Israel the latitude and support Israel needs to deter further aggression from Iran. Only Israel can decide the time, place, and manner of their counter attack, but they should seize the initiative against an increasingly weak Iran.

The Biden-Harris Administration is unfortunately but unsurprisingly showing weakness at precisely the wrong time elsewhere in the region, vacating U.S. presence from longstanding bases in Iraq in a misguided deal with the Iraqi government.

This sends the wrong message at the worst possible time—just when Iran’s regional proxy terror network is collapsing. Their leadership is in disarray, and their capabilities are crumbling. Now Biden-Harris want to give them some breathing room by handing over Iraq to Iran.

In the Middle East, strength is respected, and any sign of weakness is exploited. This deal will be seen as a display of weakness because it gives the Iranians exactly what they’ve wanted since 2003: less American influence in Iraq, giving them the opportunity to make Iraq a fully-fledged proxy state.

Pulling back now would be a catastrophic mistake—a repeat of the Afghanistan debacle. It would be the unnecessary concession of hard fought gains, protected by a relatively small and cheap US footprint. And what would we gain from the deal? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let’s not make the same mistake again.

Biden’s Silence in the Face of Brutal Authoritarian Regimes

Freedom is a natural state. Humans yearn for freedom—as we’re seeing across the globe in China, Iran, and Cuba—among others. They don’t need much from the US. Just moral support, and recognition for their righteous cause of freedom. But Biden stays silent, of course.

Yesterday, WH official John Kirby was asked about the President’s reaction to the protestors in China chanting “freedom!” His response? We’re “not going to speak for protestors.”

Interesting. They had no problem endorsing BLM protests, right?

It doesn’t stop there. Iranian citizens are standing up to the regime, too. Women are removing and burning their hijabs. Iran’s soccer team refused to sing their national anthem at the World Cup. In Cuba, citizens took to the streets to protest the lack of food, electricity and basic medicines. They’re also demanding the release of political prisoners—those jailed for criticizing the regime.

In all of these scenarios, the Biden Administration is nowhere to be found in giving a full-hearted message of support on behalf of the freest nation in the history of mankind. Is it ignorance? A lack of caring? Gutlessness? Maybe a mix of all three.

America is a beacon of light for freedom fighters around the world. We should be standing hand-in-hand with those protesting oppressive regimes. This isn’t rocket science. Let’s once again be that shining city on a hill that Reagan talked about.