Iran’s Saturday attack on Israel has introduced a new focal point in Middle East geopolitics against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. Speculation about America’s possible response to the development has taken center stage on the airwaves and interwebs.
While President Joe Biden has indicated that the U.S. would not become embroiled in a potential war between Israel and Iran, it is clear that Washington is expected to take some type of action in response to the Iranian regime’s actions.
Many eyes are also on Congress, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have reacted to the matter. Republicans in the legislative branch have expressed their continued support for the Jewish state, with many insisting that the United States do more to support its ally.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) lashed out at the Biden administration, echoing several others who have criticized what many perceive as a weak approach to the Middle East that has empowered the Iranian regime to continue flexing its muscles.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was one of the strongest voices, and he placed the blame squarely on Biden’s appeasement of Iran:
Iran has encircled Israel and has been attacking our Israeli allies from almost every front for months. They’ve launched attacks from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the West Bank, Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon and of course the Hamas controlled -Gaza Strip. Now they have escalated by launching attacks directly from the Iranian territory.
These attacks are enabled and financed by deliberate policy choices made by Joe Biden and Biden officials, who’ve allowed roughly 100 billion to flow to Iran since 2020. Americans and Israelis have been made catastrophically more vulnerable by these policies.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” argued that Iran’s attack should prompt the U.S. to focus less on propping up Ukraine and more on supporting Israel.
Vance has been opposed to sending additional aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, writing in a New York Times op-ed on Friday that more funding for the embattled nation will not change the outcome of the war he believes Ukraine can’t win. He said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the U.S. needs to focus on rebuilding its industrial base instead.
“Well, I think foreign policy is not a nursery rhyme, and it should serve as a wakeup call, but it should serve as a wakeup call that we have to rebuild our own industrial base,” he said.
…
He said that the U.S. does not have the capacity to support Israel, Ukraine and itself.
“We cannot possibly — I’ve repeated this for years now. We cannot possibly support Ukraine and Israel and our own defense needs in the way that these guys demand,” he said, adding that the U.S. should focus on supporting Israel because it is a closer ally with more of the U.S.’s national security interests.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) also chimed in on CNN’s “State of the Union,” saying that Iran wants to turn Israel into “an impossible place to live.”
Well, Iran’s goal has always been the same and that is to make Israel in unlivable place. Iran does not believe that it can —Iran knows it cannot beat Israel militarily. But what it does aspire to do is make Israel an impossible place to live in and a place no one wants to visit.
But what do you think tourism numbers are today in Israel and in the next couple of weeks, where we think business numbers are going to look like… All of this is harmful to the Jewish state, because that is the goal of Iran ultimately, and that’s why they want us out of Iraq. That’s why they want us out of Syria.
READ MORE: Rubio Nails Biden Team for More Game-Playing With Leaks About Iran Attack
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” cautioned about the “risk” of a broader military conflict that could break out if the United States does not take a strong stance against the Iranian regime.
Well, there is a risk. But I think there’s a bigger risk if you respond weakly or if Israel responses weakly.
I think it will just invite Iran to escalate because they will sense weakness on our part, or fear. And I think they’ve seen that with our current president. He’s not responded forcefully too. Hundreds of attacks against American forces in Iraq and Syria and other places in the Middle East. And if they sense weakness, they’re gonna keep ramping up the heat in America and Israel.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) gave the strongest response against Iran in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which she called for “retaliatory strikes” against the Iranian regime.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) announced that the House would be prioritizing legislation related to Israel in the coming week.
Finally, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would be working with the White House to formulate a response.
The post ends with, “The Biden Administration’s undermining of Israel and appeasement of Iran have contributed to these terrible developments.”
