In Afghanistan and Iraq, violent attacks against U.S. forces are rising steeply. From January through April, attacks on U.S. forces increased 40 percent. President Joe Biden’s announcement that the United States will withdraw its forces from the country by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the jihadist attacks on the United States, worsened the situation by communicating a message of profound American weakness and defeatism. The Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Iran clearly believe they are now free to humiliate and bleed the United States as they take control of the country.
In Iraq, Iranian-controlled Shi’ite militias launched three missile strikes against U.S. bases last week. Hoping to avoid confrontation with Iran as its emissaries appease Tehran in Vienna, the Biden administration is assiduously avoiding acknowledging that Iran is behind the attacks, and so it guarantees that more attacks will soon follow. As in Afghanistan, Iran reads U.S. behavior as an invitation to strike with impunity.
In Syria, Iran’s Syrian proxy President Bashar Assad and Iran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah continue to wage a war of extermination against Syrians who oppose them.
While turning a blind eye to Syria, the Biden administration continues to empower the Lebanese armed forces and government—both wholly controlled by Iran through Hezbollah. Last month, the administration transferred armored trucks valued at $14 million to the Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese military and asked that Congress provide financial assistance to the government.
Hezbollah for its part has launched a charm campaign on the public. Having caused the government to go bankrupt and forced the people of a once prosperous land into destitution, Hezbollah is now carrying out a well-publicized food drive, handing out Iranian basic foodstuffs to starving Lebanese, along with Hezbollah membership cards.
Just months ago, hope abounded that Saudi Arabia would join the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan in normalizing relations with Israel. But the picture is now reversed. Recognizing the United States has changed sides, the Saudis no longer believe that with Israel they can contain Iran. So now they are hoping to cut a deal with the ayatollahs. READ MORE
