Senator Lindsey Graham criticized the way retaliatory strikes were carried out in the Middle East, arguing that the response has been woefully insufficient to establish effective deterrence.
The South Carolina Republican particularly complained about the timing of the attacks, claiming that the targets had been warned too far in advance.
“This idea of achieving hundreds of goals doesn’t matter. The only Iranian we kill in Syria or Iraq is an idiot who doesn’t know how to get out of the way. We gave them a week’s notice,” Graham told “Fox News Sunday.”
“If the goal is to deter Iran, you are failing miserably.”
Initial estimates on the ground indicate that dozens of Iran-backed power brokers were killed, Reuters reported.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan declined to release the exact casualty count Sunday during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” as the military continues to assess the situation.
The Biden administration has so far carried out two series of retaliatory strikes in response to the drone attack that killed three US soldiers at the Tower 22 military base in Jordan last month and injured dozens more.
Lindsey Graham worried that “our national security is in free fall.” FOX NEWS
On Friday, the military attacked more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq. The administration blamed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed group, for last month’s deadly drone attack.
That retaliation took place just hours after the conclusion of a dignified transfer ceremony honoring the three soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Then on Saturday, US and British forces attacked 36 Houthi targets in Yemen.
Three American soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Jordan last month. Via REUTERS
Sullivan predicted Sunday that “we intend to take additional strikes and additional measures to continue to send a clear message.”
“Of course, there will always be armchair quarterbacks, but we’re confident in the steps we’ve taken so far,” Sullivan said on “Meet the Press.”
Between the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack in Israel and the drone attack in Jordan, there were about 158 attacks against U.S. and allied forces in the region, according to the Pentagon.
Graham, known for his tough views on foreign policy, was not satisfied.
“Our national security is in free fall,” he said. “Look what happened in Afghanistan in ’21. Look what happened in Europe in 2022, 2023, Hamas attacks Israel. Not working. We need to change our policy. “People are not afraid of us.”
“So if there is [is] “Another round of attacks is coming, I hope they really hurt Iran in its pocket or kill its leaders because if they don’t, nothing changes,” he added.
Joe Biden had promised to retaliate for the attack that killed three Americans. REUTERS
Graham also intervened briefly in the border debate in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has opposed the bipartisan border deal crafted by a bipartisan group of senators.
“I hope that President Johnson will look at the substance of the issue and we will see if it is worthy of a vote in the House,” he said. “I just want to tell you that Senator Lankford is doing the best he can to solve a problem that has existed for a long time.”
President Biden paid his respects to the three soldiers killed in Jordan during the dignified transfer ceremony on Friday. REUTERS
The White House has criticized Republicans for their opposition.
“Instead of working in a bipartisan manner, House Republicans are playing a political game that does nothing to secure the border, nothing to help the people of Ukraine, and denies humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians.” the White House responded Saturday night.
“The Administration is firmly opposed to your proposal.”
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