SE North Carolina News

Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has criticized the Biden administration's approach towards Iran in an opinion piece for the Washington Examiner. Budd's article comes in the aftermath of an Iranian-backed drone attack that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. servicemembers in Jordan.

Budd argues that there are crucial U.S. national interests at stake, including the free flow of energy and trade to world markets, as well as counterterrorism efforts. He emphasizes that appeasement is not the solution and suggests that a weak response or further appeasement would only increase the danger to U.S. troops.

The senator points out that Iran's ultimate goal is to push the United States out of the Middle East and gain regional hegemony. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining core U.S. national interests, such as defending Israel and ensuring the free flow of energy and trade.

Regarding the presence of U.S. troops in the region, Budd explains that although the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended, it is still in the national interest to have a significant troop presence. This presence allows for the training, advising, and assistance of partners in the region and ensures the ability to eliminate terrorist threats before they reach the U.S. homeland.

Budd also highlights the economic impact of attacks against shipping in the Red Sea, estimating a cost of over $250 million per day. He warns that these costs have yet to be fully felt and emphasizes the importance of protecting the free flow of goods.

The senator acknowledges that there is no consensus on how to respond to Iran and its proxies. Some colleagues have called for direct attacks on targets inside Iran, while others have suggested removing all U.S. forces from the region. However, Budd argues that these approaches would only embolden Iran, threaten Israel's existence, and give control of important waterways to terrorists and their supporters in Tehran.

Budd commends former President Donald Trump for understanding the need to respond with strength, citing the drone strike in January 2020 that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. He notes that after this strike, attacks against U.S. forces in the region significantly decreased, demonstrating the effectiveness of deterrence.

The senator concludes by stating that a similar response, showing U.S. willingness to impose direct costs on Iranian interests and the leaders responsible for enabling proxy attacks, is necessary for much-needed change. Without such a response, the risk of escalation will only increase.

In summary, Senator Ted Budd criticizes the Biden administration's perceived appeasement towards Iran in an op-ed for the Washington Examiner. Budd argues for a change in policy and a strong response to Iran and its proxies, citing the importance of core U.S. national interests and the need to deter further aggression. He highlights the economic impact of attacks in the region and warns against approaches that would embolden Iran and threaten Israel's existence. The senator commends former President Trump's response to Soleimani's killing as an example of effective deterrence and calls for a similar response to bring about the necessary change.