The Biden administration hit the Sunday circuit after Iranian aggression as one senator warned against the tepid response: “…if we turn the other cheek on them, we’re going to get it in the neck.”
President Joe Biden’s steady backtracking on “ironclad” support for Israel in favor of mealy-mouthed political posturing saw further escalation in the Middle East Saturday after Iran attempted a missile and drone strike against the Jewish state.
While South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) had promptly taken to X to bang the war drums asserting “It is long past time for Iran to pay a heavy price for the terrorism they sow throughout the world,” his Louisiana peer Sen. John Kennedy (R) waited until an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” to voice concern over how America would respond to the latest salvo from the Islamist regime.
“We need to stand with Israel. It’s very clear,” the senator told host Shannon Bream. “We’re not at war with Hamas — Israel’s not at war with Hamas, or Hezbollah or Yemen. Those are all surrogates for Iran. Those are — they’re prostitutes, the pimp is Iran. Israel is at war with Iran. Iran hates Americans. Iran hates Jews. Iran wants to kill Americans and Jews. And if we turn the other cheek on them, we’re going to get it in the neck.”
WATCH: @SenJohnKennedy gives his advice to President Biden after Iran attacks Israel. pic.twitter.com/dPMJNkZ7jz
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 14, 2024
Kennedy also took aim at Biden’s pandering to Hamas sympathizers as he expressed, “Let me say it again, more sheep is not going to solve the wolf problem. My advice to the president today — for what it’s worth — Mr. President, don’t. Stop it. Support Israel. With respect, got to Amazon and buy a spine online. Peace through weakness never works, not with these hard, hard men.”
As had been covered, the president had chosen to retreat to his beach house in Delaware despite knowledge of the potential for an Iranian attack; a reality that forced a sudden return to the White House Saturday where a lid was called and no public remarks were offered.
Instead, it was reported that Biden got on the phone with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him against retaliation for the attack, asserting according to Axios, “You got a win; take the win.”
Having appeared on “Fox News Sunday” before Kennedy, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby had included NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on his media circuit and assured host Kristen Welker who asked if tensions had escalated to a wider war, “The president doesn’t believe that it needs to move in that direction whatsoever.”
Of course, Kirby may have also revealed a more concerning phrase than the oft-invoked, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help,” as he expressed, “know that the president is working the diplomatic side of this personally.”
NEW: Fears of escalation in the Middle East grow after Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel.
NSC spox John Kirby: “The president’s been clear: We don’t want to see this escalate. We’re not looking for a wider war with Iran. I think the coming hours and days will tell us a lot.” pic.twitter.com/9Q9rpF5RRQ
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 14, 2024
Attempting to have it both ways, the White House spokesperson talked up the American military presence in the region that had helped swat down the majority of the attack from Iran while also bolstering Israel’s own capabilities, stating, “And also, Israel demonstrated again, as I said, that they’re not standing alone, that they have friends.”
“So the president’s been clear,” argued Kirby wherein Kennedy had slammed the “wobbly” administration. “We don’t want to see this escalate. We’re not looking for a wider way with Iran. I think, you know, the coming hours and days will tell us a lot.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives was expected to use the latest escalation to advance overseas military funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan and Biden, handling the diplomatic side “personally,” had called a meeting of G7 leaders “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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