As the conflict between Israel and Palestine spirals, the situation in the Middle East grows more complicated. Republicans across the House and Senate have called for escalation, with Lindsey Graham stating, "The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force." Graham is nothing if not predictable.
The Republican senator called on the Biden administration to "strike targets of significance inside Iran", claiming that this would work "as deterrence against future aggression". It is hard to conceive any way that striking Iran would be considered a deterrent. In fact, the supply of U.S. arms and military equipment to Israel appears to be stoking militia groups within the region, who attempt to bait America into direct conflict.
Unfortunately, our GOP leaders seem to be falling for the trick. Mitch McConnell claims: "We cannot afford to keep responding to this violent aggression with hesitation and half-measures." At the same time, responding with violent aggression is also, obviously, the wrong move.
Now is the time for careful diplomacy and tactical operations. The threat of being drawn into regional warfare in the Middle East has never been so stark. Republicans love to advocate for increased militarisation – even bombing and tactical strikes – in the name of deterrence.
But that's not how war works. Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton, who served four tours as a Marine in Iraq, stressed that we need an "effective, strategic response". The Republicans don't seem to have any real goal, except to "teach Iran a lesson", in the words of Don Bacon (R-NE).
Moulton's response? "To the chicken hawks calling for war with Iran, you’re playing into the enemy’s hands—and I’d like to see you send your sons and daughters to fight"... Three service members are already dead. How many more have to die for the greed of our GOP lawmakers?
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