Staff Reports
The Biden-Harris administration has once again shown that it can’t seem to make up its mind about the Middle East. In a dramatic turn of events, the White House has ordered the U.S. military to assist Israel as Iran showered rockets across its borders. Simultaneously, the same administration that once advocated for a nuclear deal with the mullahs in Tehran now finds itself intervening in a situation they could have carefully negotiated out of, if only they trusted Israel to defend itself adequately in the first place.
WH’s Jake Sullivan on the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel:
“Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards targets in Israel. The United States military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend Israel against this attack. U.S. naval… pic.twitter.com/EZQSFQ9kK0
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 1, 2024
In an impressive feat of political juggling, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre publicly announced that President Biden assembled a meeting with Vice President Harris and their band of national security advisers. This gathering, which suspiciously seems like a last-minute effort to contain the fallout of their previous foreign policy blunders, was convened to discuss Iran’s actions, which had been anything but a mystery. For months, they have been monitoring threats but only recently decided to spring into action—nothing like a barrage of rockets to spur a little urgency.
This new military aid directive stands in stark contrast to the administration’s ongoing dalliance with Iran. Many conservatives find it hard to believe that the same leaders who once expressed skepticism regarding Israel’s right to defend itself are now so suddenly protective when the missiles start flying. It’s almost as if they’re playing a game of diplomatic Whac-A-Mole, trying to hit down an enemy threat without a consistent strategy—just trust that last year’s plan will work better now.
.@POTUS and @VP convened two meetings with their national security team in the WH Situation Room today and are receiving regular updates. The President directed the US military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks & shoot down missiles targeting Israel. They also…
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) October 1, 2024
While this chaos unfolded, Iran’s puppet Iraqi militias took the stage, issuing thinly-veiled threats towards U.S. interests in the region. These militias, emboldened by the perception of U.S. weakness under this administration, hostilely warned that any American involvement would lead to dire consequences for American forces stationed in Iraq. It’s a classic case of negotiating from a position of fear and uncertainty—exactly what happens when a government loses credibility on the global stage.
As the story develops, it becomes more apparent that the Biden administration is navigating these treacherous waters with increasing clumsiness. What started as a misguided attempt to restore ties with Iran may end up complicating what should be a clear line of solidarity with Israel. The only silver lining is that Israel has always known how to fend for itself, and this new twist might just encourage them to take matters into their own hands, proving yet again that where there’s a will—and a rocket—there’s a way.
