Retired CENTCOM Commander claims Middle East in turmoil as Iran dismisses Biden as weak
Retired General Claims Biden Administration Has Failed to Deter Iran
In an article published in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, retired Marine general Kenneth McKenzie argued that President Joe Biden’s administration has squandered the deterrence against Iran established under former president Donald Trump.
According to McKenzie, Iranian leaders follow Lenin’s dictum of “you probe with bayonets: if you find mush, you push. If you find steel, you withdraw.” He believes that Tehran and its proxies continue to press their attacks because they haven’t encountered a strong response.
McKenzie, who led CENTCOM from 2019 to 2022, highlights the killing of military commander Qassem Soleimani in January 2020 as a key factor in deterring Iran from further coordinating strikes on American assets and allies in the Middle East.
However, he emphasizes that establishing and maintaining deterrence requires both will and capability. McKenzie asserts that the U.S. needs to apply violence that Tehran understands in order to reset deterrence, even if it may have been more effective to do so earlier on a smaller scale.
McKenzie also stresses the importance of a forceful response to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, as it not only addresses the disruption of passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden but also sends a message to China, who is closely observing the situation in Taiwan.
As the Biden administration considers its response, McKenzie urges the U.S. to set aside the fear of escalation and act according to strategic priorities.
Recently, a U.S. strike killed a militia leader in Iraq, marking the most forceful response from the Biden administration after numerous attacks on American troops by Iranian proxies in the region.
While Biden has refrained from striking the Houthi group in Yemen, critics argue that the administration’s response to Iranian proxies has been inconsequential and insufficient.
The editors of the Washington Free Beacon wrote in early December that the Biden administration must choose between enabling Iran’s aggression or reasserting American strength in the face of a teetering international order.
What concerns has General McKenzie expressed about the current administration’s approach to Iran?
President Donald Trump. General McKenzie, who served as the commander of U.S. Central Command from 2019 to 2021, expressed concern over the current administration’s approach to Iran and its failure to effectively deter the country’s aggressive behavior in the region.
McKenzie asserted that the Biden administration’s decision to engage in negotiations with Iran without first establishing a strong deterrent posture has undermined U.S. credibility and emboldened Iran to pursue its destabilizing activities. He argued that the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which imposed economic sanctions and withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, had effectively curbed Iran’s malign activities and forced it to negotiate a more favorable agreement.
According to McKenzie, the current approach of the Biden administration has weakened the leverage that the United States had previously held over Iran. He claimed that instead of using economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure as tools to deter Iran, the Biden administration has prioritized reentering the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
McKenzie highlighted Iran’s provocative actions in the region, such as the recent attack on an Israeli-owned ship and the ongoing support for proxy militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. He argued that these actions demonstrate Iran’s intent to continue its aggressive behavior despite the change in U.S. administrations.
The retired general criticized the Biden administration’s reluctance to respond forcefully to Iran’s provocations, stating that this lack of action sends a dangerous message to both Iran and U.S. allies in the Middle East. He emphasized the need for the United States to maintain a credible deterrent posture in order to protect its interests and ensure the stability of the region.
McKenzie also expressed concern over the potential impact of the Biden administration’s push to reenter the JCPOA. He argued that rejoining the deal without addressing Iran’s other destabilizing activities would simply provide the country with economic relief and allow it to continue its aggressive behavior unchecked.
In conclusion, General McKenzie’s article emphasizes the importance of a strong deterrent posture in dealing with Iran. He criticizes the Biden administration for prioritizing negotiations over deterrence and argues that this approach has allowed Iran to become more emboldened in its aggressive actions. The retired general urges the administration to reconsider its strategy and adopt a more robust approach to dealing with Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region.
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