Staff Reports
President Biden has officially taken the stance that he does not support Israel conducting retaliatory strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, even as the U.S. scrambles to uphold its age-old ally. This comes on the heels of a massive missile attack launched by Iran against Israel, a move so unprovoked that even a toddler throwing a tantrum would seem composed in comparison.
During his time at Joint Base Andrews, Biden answered a reporter’s inquiry about Israel’s potential military options. His response was a firm “no,” as if he were doing the parental thing of wagging a finger at a misbehaving child. The president also stated that while the leaders of the Group of Seven allies agree that Israel has the right to respond, they would prefer a measured approach. Apparently, under this administration, the measured response is akin to bringing a butter knife to a gunfight.
US President Biden said he would not support an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites, stating that any response to Iran's attack should be 'proportional' https://t.co/X0d8riEjYz pic.twitter.com/AjwAYwXZFe
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 2, 2024
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan added an extra layer of confusion by declaring that Iran would face severe consequences for their missile onslaught. However, the specifics of what these consequences might entail seems to be shrouded in more mystery than Biden’s own cognitive state. Sullivan characterized the Iranian aggression as a “significant escalation,” which sounds dramatic, but one wonders if the only escalation Democrats favor is one that involves heated debates over which flavor of ice cream to stock in the White House kitchen.
In the midst of all this uncertainty, Biden and his crew have decided that America’s interests will come first… somewhere in the line of priorities. It seems that they are focused on “promoting stability to the maximum extent possible,” a phrase that’s as elusive as the actual consequences they promised to deliver against Iran. At this point, the only thing that could be promoted further is perhaps a new line of apathetic bumper stickers.
Iran’s missile attack against Israel did occur shortly after Israeli forces took out Hezbollah’s notorious leader, Hassan Nasrallah. While the U.S. officials have downplayed the attack, saying it was largely ineffective—with only one civilian casualty reported—it raises the question: what kind of victory dance does the Biden administration have planned for such underwhelming results? If this is the level of response to a direct attack on an ally, it’s reasonable to ponder whether next, we’ll see Biden inviting the Iranians over for tea and cookies.
