“National security is in free fall”

Policy

by Ryan King

Senator Lindsey Graham spoke about the way retaliatory strikes were carried out in the Middle East, saying that the response was completely insufficient to create an effective deterrent.

The South Carolina Republican has privately complained about the timing of the attacks, positing that the targets had too much advance warning.

“The idea of ​​hitting hundreds of targets is not important. The only Iranian we've killed in Syria or Iraq is some idiot who doesn't know how to get out of the way. We gave them a week's notice,” Graham told “Fox News Sunday.”

“If the goal is to deter Iran, you are failing miserably.”

Initial estimates on the ground indicate that dozens of Iranian-backed proxy elements have been killed. Reuters reported.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan declined to reveal the exact number of casualties Sunday during an appearance on NBC's “Meet the Press” while the military continues to assess the situation.

So far, the Biden administration has carried out two sets of retaliatory strikes in response to the drone attack that killed three American soldiers at the Tower 22 military base in Jordan last month and wounded dozens of others.

On Friday, the army struck more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq. The administration blamed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group supported by Iran, for the deadly drone attack last month.

This retaliation occurred just hours after the conclusion of a ceremony honoring the three soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Then, on Saturday, US and British forces bombed 36 Houthi targets in Yemen.

“We intend to take additional strikes and additional actions to continue sending a clear message,” Sullivan predicted on Sunday.

“Of course, there will always be armchair midfielders, but we are confident in the steps we have taken so far,” Sullivan told Meet the Press.

Between the October 7, 2023 surprise attack in Israel and the drone attack in Jordan, there were about 158 ​​attacks on US and allied forces in the region, according to the Pentagon.

Graham, known for his hawkish views on foreign policy, was not satisfied.

“Our national security is in free fall,” he said. “Look at what happened in Afghanistan in 21. Look what happened in Europe in 2022, 2023, Hamas is attacking Israel. It is not working. We need to change our policy. People are not afraid of us.”

“if there was [is] He added: “There is another round of strikes coming. I hope they really hurt Iran in their pocket or kill their leadership because if they don't, nothing will change.”

Graham also ran briefly on border cover in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) opposed the bipartisan border deal drawn up by a bipartisan group of senators.

“I hope that Speaker Johnson will look at the substance of it, and we will see if it is worth a vote on in the House,” he said. “I just want to let you know that Senator Lankford is doing everything he can to fix a problem that has been around for a long time.”

The White House has torn Republicans apart over their opposition.

He added: “Instead of working in a bipartisan manner, House Republicans are playing a political game that does nothing to secure the border, does not help the people of Ukraine, and deprives Palestinian civilians of humanitarian aid.” The White House responded late Saturday.

“The administration strongly opposes their proposal.”