Republicans criticized President Joe Biden after three American troops were killed and 25 injured in a drone attack in Jordan.
Senators Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and John Cornyn called for retaliation, with Cotton and Graham specifically urging military action against Iran.
Sen. Tom Cotton said, “Joe Biden emboldened Iran for years by tolerating attacks on our troops, bribing the ayatollahs with billions of dollars, and appeasing them to no end. He left our troops as sitting ducks and now three are dead and dozens wounded, sadly as I’ve predicted would happen for months.”
Heidi and I are praying for the families of the American warriors who were killed this weekend, and for the speedy and full recovery of the dozens who were injured.
Joe Biden and Biden administration officials made a Day 1 decision not just to appease the Iranian regime, but…
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 28, 2024
“On behalf of Arkansans, I extend my deepest condolence to the families of our brave fallen warriors. May God comfort them as He welcomes their loved ones into His embrace. And may God quickly and completely heal their wounded comrades,” he continued.
Sen. Lindsey Graham said, “There have been over 100 attacks against U.S. forces in the region. Iran is undeterred.”
“I am sending my condolences to the families of our fallen heroes in Jordan. I am also wishing a full recovery to those injured. Our forces in Jordan and Syria are there to protect the American homeland and to provide stability in a troubled region. Their service and sacrifice will always be appreciated. They are true heroes,” he added.
Sen. Ted Cruz said, “Day 1 decision not just to appease the Iranian regime, but indeed to enable the Ayatollah to attack Americans and American interests across the Middle East.”
Sen. Graham said, “The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force. Until they pay a price with their infrastructure and their personnel, the attacks on U.S. troops will continue.”
“Secretary Austin’s efforts to deter aggression against our forces in the region has failed miserably. I’ve long since lost confidence in the Biden national security team to deter Iran. If they do not change their policies now, more American service members in the region will pay the price. Hit Iran now. Hit them hard,” the senator continued.
They blamed Biden for failing to deter Iran and enabling attacks on American forces.
Sen. Cotton said, “The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East. Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward unworthy of being commander-in-chief.”
Sen. Cruz said, “In recent months Iranian-directed proxies attacked Americans over 170 times across the Middle East, but the Biden administration limited any responses to those proxies. The Trump administration’s liquidation of Qasem Soleimani had established deterrence by shattering the regime’s confidence and signaling that the U.S. would not distinguish between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies. The administration restored the IRGC’s immunity, collapsing that hard-won deterrence.”
“These deliberate, explicit choices by Joe Biden and Biden officials directly led to this weekend’s attack, and they should all be reversed immediately,” insisted Cruz.
The House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and Rep. Mike Waltz also condemned Biden’s approach toward Iran, calling it tragic and preventable.
Rep. Mike Rogers said, “It was only a matter of a time before Biden’s appeasement strategy towards Iran got American service-members killed. Tragic and preventable.”
