Biden slow to respond to Salman Rushdie stabbing, leaves out critical factor behind attack

President Joe Biden is under fire for his continued efforts to strike a nuclear deal with Iran in the wake of the attempted murder of author Salman Rushdie, against whose life Iran has supported a fatwa since the publication of his book, The Satanic Verses, more than three decades ago.

As American Wire reported, Rushdie was stabbed while on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York by Hadi Matar, a New Jersey resident with a fake driver’s license and sympathies for Shia extremism and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, a branch of the Iranian Armed forces tasked with protecting the country’s Islamic republic political system.

Immediately following the vicious attack that temporarily put Rushdie on a ventilator with damage to his liver and the nerves in his arm and the likely loss of his eye, the media in Iran celebrated the attacker.

https://twitter.com/KhosroKalbasi/status/1558383467997577216?s=20&t=K9vAXnXMAy0twMfEAujpUg

President Joe Biden and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued statements on the attack.

Sullivan called the attack “reprehensible” and “appalling.”

“Today, the country and the world witnessed a reprehensible attack against the writer Salman Rushdie,” he wrote. “This act of violence is appalling. All of us in the Biden-Harris Administration are praying for his speedy recovery. We are thankful to good citizens and first responders for helping Mr. Rushdie so quickly after the attack and to law enforcement for its swift and effective work, which is ongoing.”

In his statement, Biden said, “Jill and I were shocked and saddened to learn of the vicious attack on Salman Rushdie yesterday in New York. We, together with all Americans and people around the world, are praying for his health and recovery. I am grateful to the first responders and the brave individuals who jumped into action to render aid to Rushdie and subdue the attacker.”

“Salman Rushdie—with his insight into humanity, with his unmatched sense for story, with his refusal to be intimidated or silenced—stands for essential, universal ideals. Truth. Courage. Resilience. The ability to share ideas without fear,” the President continued. “These are the building blocks of any free and open society. And today, we reaffirm our commitment to those deeply American values in solidarity with Rushdie and all those who stand for freedom of expression.”

Notably missing from both statements were any mentions of Iran, the fatwa, or the nuclear talks, officially known as the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” or JCPOA.

“This White House statement on Salman Rushdie is appalling,” tweeted author Gary Weiss. “No mention is made of Iran putting a price on his head. Or that the fatwa was reaffirmed by the ayatollah in 2005 and in 2019. Is Joe Biden is THAT anxious to move ahead with the lousy JCPOA?”

“Iran’s leaders have been calling for the murder of Salman Rushdie for decades,” stated Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). “We know they’re trying to assassinate American officials today. Biden needs to immediately end negotiations with this terrorist regime.”

“Iran has been plotting for the death of Salman Rushdie since 1989 and offered a bounty to anyone who assassinates him. Yesterday, he was attacked on stage,” tweeted Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). “Meanwhile, the Biden administration is open to having additional talks with this dangerous, terrorist regime.”

And Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) stated, “Iran has offered a bounty to anyone who assassinates Salman Rushdie Today he was stabbed in America Why is Biden still negotiating a ‘deal’ with these terrorists in Tehran?”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid didn’t mince words.

“The attack on Salman Rushdie is an attack on our freedoms and values. It is the result of decades of incitement led by the extremist regime in Tehran,” he tweeted. “On behalf of the people of Israel, we wish him a full and speedy recovery.”

Melissa Fine

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