Staff Reports
The Biden administration’s latest approach to the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran reveals a strategy that can only be described as a blend of miscalculated appeasement and diplomatic gymnastics. According to reports from Israeli media, the Biden White House has offered Israel what can only be termed a “compensation package” in exchange for restraining military strikes against selected Iranian targets. It’s as if someone from the Biden camp mistook international politics for a game of poker, looking to stack the deck in a way that offers minimal risk to their own hand.
This proposed package includes comprehensive diplomatic protection for Israel, along with a weapons shipment, all tied to a request to hold off on attacking certain Iranian assets. One can imagine the conversation over there resonating with the sounds of “just one more deal” from those who seem to believe in the power of negotiation over military action. Despite this, the Israeli government appears to be less than thrilled, taking a decidedly “we’ll see about that” stance as they continue consultations with U.S. officials regarding Iran’s recent missile aggression.
The Biden administration declined to defend Israel at a United Nations Security Council meeting Thursday called to rebuke Israel for allowing a Jewish minister to visit the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. https://t.co/OAe6td3C0x
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 8, 2023
Iran’s audacious missile attack on Israel last week, which played out like a bad action movie, involved over 180 missiles launched in retaliation for Israel taking out Hezbollah’s big cheese, Hassan Nasrallah. While the irate mullahs in Tehran consider themselves victors, the lack of successful damage from their endeavors leaves one questioning their claims. The missiles flew but the Iranian military must still feel the sting from the reality check administered by Israel’s defense systems.
The Iranian leadership, however, remains blissfully unaware of their own shortcomings, with Ayatollah Khamenei donning a medal on the chest of one of their generals for what could generously be termed a “mostly ineffective” display of aggression. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian might want to consider a new career in stand-up comedy with his claims of the missile attack as both “decisive” and a “legitimate response.” His idea of finesse appears to be nothing more than a series of threats and jabs aimed at painting Israel as the fragile party in a high-stakes game, while somehow ignoring the instability that Iran itself represents.
With Biden’s hand evidently wrapped around the diplomatic reins, a striking contradiction lurks: he tells Israel to hold off on attacking Iran’s oil fields while simultaneously sparking international oil price spikes with mixed signals. When asked about military options, Biden’s comments seem to veer off into odd territory, lacking the assertiveness that was once a hallmark of U.S. foreign policy. Layering confusion on top of confusion, it raises the question: is he actually trying to protect Israel or merely trying to avoid an international conflict that might further complicate his presidency?
Former President Donald Trump has voiced a sardonic critique of Biden’s diplomatic approach, highlighting a glaring oversight that leaves many scratching their heads. By indicating a reluctance to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which could be considered the most pressing concern in this ongoing chess game, Biden’s strategy comes off as overly cautious—almost to a fault. A warrior ethos seems to have been replaced by a bureaucratic mindset, leaving those who support strong Israeli defense feeling as if the very essence of realpolitik is being forgotten amid appeasement and convoluted negotiations.
