Kirby, in an interview on CBS Mornings, stressed the U.S. commitment to “protect ourselves” but only after emphasizing the Biden administration’s desire to avoid “broader conflict in the region.”
The attack occurred on a support base in Jordan known as Tower 22, The Associated Press reported. The base is along the Jordan-Syria border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces.
Meanwhile, at least one Republican congressman says a U.S. response should not only be bold but should also be strategic.
U.S. House member Mike Waltz, of Florida says it's time to take out Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“We should disrupt it, delay it … it would take a pretty massive strike to wipe it out, but let’s kill two birds with one stone,” Waltz said on Washington Watch Monday. “We should believe them when they say they want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, and (if that happens) the rest of the Middle East will explode in a nuclear arms race, the Saudis, the Turks, the Emiratis and so on. That is something that should raise the hair on the neck of every American.
“So we have to hit back in a way that demonstrates strength, a way that imposes consequences then restores stability.”
According to AP, President Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the attack, something Iran has denied.
The fatalities are the first for the U.S. after months of attacks by similar groups against American forces and interests in the region since Hamas terrorists murdered and kidnapped Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
On the same topic of Iran, retired U.S. Army general Jerry Boykin told show host Tony Perkins it’s past time for such a U.S. attack against Iran.
“The question is why haven’t we done that before? Why haven’t we looked at their nuclear facilities before? Why haven’t we gone in there with nuclear inspectors and done just that?” he asked.
Ignoring authority granted by JCPOA
Boykin said the U.S. has the authority to inspect Iran’s weapons and facilities as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2015 agreement signed by Iran and six counties including the U.S., China, France, Russia, Great Britian and Germany.
The agreement required Iran to reduce its nukes count and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. In exchange it would see a gradual reduction of economic sanctions.
“We had the authority to do that then we started backing out of it, and it went away,” Boykin said.
Boykin said Iran’s current nuclear capability is such that it can produce a nuclear weapon in a matter of days.
“The reality is they only need three or four days to have a warhead. If they only need that much time, odds are they already have the warhead. That’s why I find it so bizarre that we don’t force their hand on this, force them to pony up and show what they have because that’s what the JCPOA says. We haven’t looked at them yet,” Boykin said.
Waltz told Perkins that the very thing the administration says it does not want – escalation – is happening in real time because of Biden’s weakness as commander in chief.
“We want to deescalate, we don’t want this thing to spread, but look at the results. The exact opposite has happened and that’s because our adversaries hear something very different. They hear Biden and his team around him in the Pentagon won’t punch back. Iran sees (troops) as a target of opportunity. They’re getting away with it because they can,” he said.
“Until you hit them in a way that counts to them, hitting back at their proxies or bombing a warehouse in the middle of the night to check a box to say you did something isn’t an effective response. That’s not how you demonstrate strength to restore peace,” Waltz said.
Waltz said there can be a strong response without an invasion that starts World War III.
There are ways the U.S. can hurt Iran through cyberwarfare, he said, but the best target is Iran’s cash flow.
“Dry up the cash, right? We’re releasing it, and right now Iran is selling billions in oil to China. Their foreign currency reserves are through the roof. We have to have a maximum pressure campaign because otherwise they’re just going to keep funding all of this terrorism,” Waltz said.
Boykin: Be strong in response but be humane
No type of response should be off the table as long as it is “humane,” Boykin said.
“This is the time for us to get hard with them not only in the battle spaces that we have some influence over but also with this nuclear program. We need to see what they have,” he said.
Boykin believes escalation of the conflict is unavoidable.
“I will stay this. The Israelis will not be defeated. They just simply will not be defeated, and I believe that with all my heart. That is biblical. I think you’re going to see a lot more bloodshed before this thing is brought to an end,” he said.
