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Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, emphasized the need for a more robust approach towards Iran by the Biden administration, advocating for a “massive retaliation” to deter attacks on U.S. assets.
“Since Joe Biden took office, Iran has attacked American positions in the Middle East over 150 times,” Cotton stated on “Fox News Sunday,” underscoring that the United States has responded only a few times, and not necessarily at the targets he would prioritize as commander in chief. As a member of the Senate Armed Services and Senate Intelligence Committees, Cotton proposed targeting Iranians operating in Iraq and Syria.
Cotton suggested sending a clear message to Iran, indicating that if the attacks persist, the U.S. would begin to threaten their assets, drawing a parallel to President Ronald Reagan’s response when he sank half of Iran’s navy in retaliation for an attack on a U.S. Navy ship.
The senator expressed his belief that President Biden aims to avoid Iranian casualties, lacking what he termed “escalation dominance over a terrorist-supporting regime like Iran.”
In contrast, Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat from Massachusetts, asserted later in the program that the Biden administration is taking a tough stance on Iran. Auchincloss highlighted the implementation of nearly 50 sets of sanctions, contributing to almost 50% inflation in the Iranian economy.
He emphasized the effectiveness of economic actions, particularly through political isolation using the Abraham Accords—a diplomatic agreement between Israel and several Arab nations.
Auchincloss argued that Iran fears political isolation more than military action, citing the positive impacts of the Abraham Accords on diplomatic relations and regional development in the Middle East.
He cautioned against pursuing a path of escalated military engagement, advocating for a different approach to avoid another “failed forever war” in the region. Auchincloss, who served in Afghanistan in 2012, stressed the importance of considering alternative strategies.
