Appeasement has failed. The U.S. needs to restore deterrence in the Middle East and elsewhere.



WSJ Opinion: Pence + Pompeo
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House in Washington, Feb. 6. PHOTO: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERS
Escalating Iranian aggression cost the lives of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. These intolerable acts of violence by the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism can no longer go unpunished. The U.S. must respond with an immediate and unequivocal show of force that will begin to restore the deterrence that has decayed not only in the Middle East but around the world.

Over the past three years, President Biden’s diplomats have repeatedly made overtures and concessions to Iran, which has only emboldened the regime’s aggressive behavior. The Biden administration rolled back the Trump administration’s maximum-pressure strategy, agreed to a $6 billion ransom payment for five American hostages, allowed Iran to export more oil to China than ever, and removed the Houthis’ terrorist designation. Worse, the Biden administration has continued trying to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which would put Tehran back on the fast track to obtaining nuclear weapons.

The result of this appeasement is war, beginning Oct. 7 with Hamas’s atrocities against Israel. In the four months since, the Biden administration has continued to resort to appeasement by declining to respond forcefully to Iran’s escalation and attacks.

The mullahs have unceremoniously snapped every olive branch Mr. Biden and his diplomats extended. It is past time to accept that this approach has utterly failed and cost American lives. To keep our soldiers and our nation safe, the Biden administration must adopt a more robust stance toward Iran.

The mullahs understand only strength. In addition to canceling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Trump administration launched a campaign of maximum pressure that included the enforcement of crippling sanctions on Iran. We didn’t hesitate to take decisive action to stop Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani when he threatened American lives. By 2020, the Iranian regime was more isolated than ever. Both its capacity and its will to plunge the region into chaos were at an all-time low.

Only by returning to maximum pressure can the U.S. restore stability to the region and adequately protect the lives of American service members and our allies. We encourage the Biden administration to revoke the $10 billion sanctions waiver it reissued in November. The regime in Tehran uses these funds to finance terror, death and suffering across the Mideast. As the leader of the free world, the president must also call on international banks to seize the funds of all Iranian proxies operating in the region.

No one wants war; every decent person despises it. This is why we in the Trump administration built a model of deterrence that successfully kept America’s adversaries from engaging in aggression. That model of deterrence has been allowed to decay in favor of appeasement and, as a result, the costs necessary to resurrect it have risen, not only in the Middle East, but around the world.

Our first step should be to respond to Iran’s deadly attacks with devastating strikes: not only to end Tehran’s escalation and keep American soldiers safe, but to begin re-establishing the model of deterrence that keeps war at bay. The U.S. military must destroy high-value Iranian targets, including Tehran’s nuclear program, navy and oil infrastructure. Telegraphed strikes on empty warehouses achieve nothing. Appeasement has never worked a single time in history, and it won’t work now.

The safety and security of the nation and its citizens must always remain paramount. Those who volunteer to defend our freedoms shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves. Those who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country deserve justice. And those who dare to threaten America’s interests deserve a reminder that they’ll regret it.



Mr. Pence served as vice president of the United States, 2017-21. Mr. Pompeo served as secretary of state, 2018-21.

You lost me at Pence + Pompeo 🤐

OP

When do you deploy?

Eisenhower's Farewell Address (1961) On January 17, 1961, in this farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower warned against the establishment of a "military-industrial complex."

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The OP only highlights how important it is to have leadership. Right now, we're on an autopilot course to the Sun.

Just a mere 4 years ago, America wasn't the nation we are now. Weakened. Laughed at. Constant sniping by nations that shout death to us and Israel. Fumbling and stumbling with green new deal stupidity at a cost only designed to fail and line pockets of the chosen.

Remember all the crap they said Trump was going to do? Well, he even told you this was going to happen. It's all there in the last debates. We've watched psyop after psyop destroy the Constitution and claw back rights never given the federal government , the 3 branches in DC, and the gaslighting of Americans that know better and voice out.

This editorial brought to you by Raytheon,Lockheed Martin and Blackrock.

Bleed the plebes!

Robert is (imo) the need for leadership.

The Republicans in the house should read and live it.

“The U.S. military must destroy high-value Iranian targets, including Tehran’s nuclear program, navy and oil infrastructure.”

Them thar is fighting words! Just the other day Joe Biden was talking to the Shah of Iran about this.

Why doesn’t Israel just take out the Iranian reactor like they did around 1980?

Better Biden than, Nikki Haley, right?

I’ve always said I’ll hold my nose and vote for Haley if she were the nominee.

One thing I know is she will bomb Iran. Biden might get confused and bomb Israel. Or Idaho.

Missed that (you’d take Haley over Biden). Holding your nose and voting for Haley is easily the nicest thing any of you Far Righties have Sadi about her.

Hope it didn’t hurt too much, or you get Trump chasing you down.

34 trillion in debt. Shouldn’t Mossad take care of that?

Or send the Charlottesville Militia? Those boys with the flashlights sure could march, chant and carry torches real purdylike.

🔦🔥

Far righties? I'm pretty sure I am further to the right than HD... and I don't consider myself "far" anything. I just see the forest through the trees.

I understand what you are saying.

By the measurement of people who support Trump (you, HD, DMV, etc.) all consider moderate conservatives are considered rhinos. Moderate conservatives and moderate Republicans are supporting Haley.

If she is center right, you guys are rather to the right, therefore Far Right. At the very least, Farther Right.

When the left takes a rocket ship trip to the left, RFK is a right wing wing nut.

Sad to see when identity politics works. Rational thought and discussion of ideas used to be admired.

Understood. However, I do not believe Nikki Haley is truly a conservative. Nor are many of the jackwagons with an R next to their names.

They can SAY they are, but actions prove they're liars.

What exactly is a True Conservative?

Are Trump and the Right Wing Group of 8 defined as True Conservatives? Are you a True Conservative?

Who else is, and by what standard? What are their attributes?

Boy, do I agree with you there. It hasn’t been the same since 7 out of the 10 of the self identified Lefties got chased out of CigarBid.

It’s gotten so out of hand, I believe you guys look at me as a lefty now.

All you have to do is chase out rfenst, Frank, and Brewha and you’ll almost have the pure, one dimensional echo chamber that has been built over the last two years.

Then I’m guessing I’m next.

We probably first should establish the correct terminology.

First it was people who cling to their guns and Bibles.
Then it was “deplorables”.
Now it is semi-fascist MAGA Republicans.

I supported Desantis but you pigeonholed me as a Trump guy.

Nikki is Davos WEF. She is the kind of Republican that stops the Democrats from adding 2 trillion to the national debt and negotiates them down to 1.6 trillion and declares victory. Let’s face it, she isn’t getting much support.