admin
American strength just showed its teeth this week as U.S. F-22 Raptors touched down at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel — the first operational deployment of American combat aircraft on Israeli soil. This is not some token photo-op; elite stealth fighters arrived at a forward base that gives the United States and Israel unprecedented reach in the region. The move is a clear signal that when America says it will deter aggression, it means business.
Reports say eleven Raptors made the trip, escorted and supported by tanker aircraft on a complex transatlantic and regional movement that underscores U.S. logistical muscle. Officials and analysts are calling this deployment unprecedented, and rightly so: positioning fifth-generation air superiority jets this close to potential Iranian targets fundamentally changes the calculus for Tehran. Forward basing like this is how you prevent miscalculation; it is not warmongering, it is deterrence by overwhelming capability.
Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin pointed out there are a lot of clues suggesting President Donald Trump has “made up his mind” about how to handle rising tensions with Iran, and the F-22 move is one of the clearest. Whether you like his style or not, decisions in foreign policy are about effect, not optics — and this deployment effects a very strong message to Tehran and its proxies. The administration’s posture shows leadership that prioritizes American and allied security over hedging and hand-wringing.
Military experts noted exactly why the F-22 matters: air superiority, stealth, and the ability to operate in contested environments where lesser aircraft would be at risk. Retired commanders and policy shops have described the arrival as a force multiplier for deterrence and an expansion of presidential options if strikes ever become necessary. In short, this is the kind of decisive capability that keeps wars short and prevents greater bloodshed.
Some of our supposed partners in the region have made it clear they will not allow U.S. forces to use their airspace or bases for strikes on Iran, which makes the Ovda deployment all the more important. When friends limit options out of fear, America must still be able to act from sovereign basing or our own forward locations — and we must do so without begging permission from states that prioritize their own safety over collective deterrence. The Raptor deployment fills a dangerous gap created by diplomatic hesitation among certain Gulf capitals.
This is the kind of bold, unapologetic posture conservatives have been arguing for: peace through strength, not appeasement. If the alternative is asking for permission or hoping sanctions alone will deter a rogue theocracy, then we need more Raptors and fewer handshakes. President Trump’s willingness to move the assets shows he understands the kind of muscular policy that actually protects American lives and interests.
Now is the time for Congress and the American people to rally behind our troops and the president’s clear signal of deterrence. Cut through the noise from the predictable chorus of naysayers and career diplomats who mistake caution for principle; support the men and women who keep the skies free and our nation safe. Our policy should be funded, our posture unambiguous, and our resolve ironclad.
Hardworking Americans should take pride that the United States still has the capability and the will to stand with our allies and confront threats head-on. Soft power has its place, but in a dangerous neighborhood, muscle is the language that prevents war. If our leaders keep showing strength where it counts, the peace we want is the peace that will last.
