As part of Israel's war with Hamas, the Jewish State struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing two Iranian generals and five other officers. However, the Biden Administration remains mealy-mouthed in its support of Israel, which earned criticism from Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) in a recent appearance on Fox News, where he said we have "a White House that continually tells Iran what it is not going to do."
Host Shannon Bream began by quoting an opinion from the Wall Street Journal, which said Iran has threatened retaliation, yet "The stakes, as Iran considers its options, are high. Tehran needs to hear a clear message from the White House. Not criticism to undermine the Israeli government but steadfast support that makes the Ayatollahs think twice before giving an order they would come to regret."
Rep. Waltz agreed with the sentiment, saying Iran is wise to avoid direct conflict with Israel and the United States "because they know they would horribly lose." However, the United States, in its bid to avoid escalating and expanding the conflict, has frequently hampered the Jewish State's war effort against Hamas through sanctions on Israeli individuals, building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza, and warning against the planned invasion of Rafah.
In essence, Rep. Waltz said, "You have a White House that continually tells Iran what it is not going to do," to the point that the Pentagon announced they had no awareness or involvement in the Israeli strike on Iranian officials in Syria.
As a result, the Florida Congressman added the Biden Administration "essentially were telegraphing what [Iran] can get away with and how far they can push, and ironically, as much as the White House talks about non-escalation, that is actually the thing that invites escalation," comparing it to telling a schoolyard bully you would not fight back.
Waltz previously made the analogy of Iran as a bully in October, and in this recent interview, reiterated the importance of depriving Iran of funds to arm proxy militias such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others by cutting off their ability to sell oil to China.
"It is all a reflection of bad policy on this White House," Waltz concluded.
