(NewsNation) — Pressure is mounting on President Joe Biden to take decisive action following the killing of three American service members in Jordan.
“We need to establish deterrence again, through action,” retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, said in a monday interview on NewsNation’s “On Balance.”
The incident occurred at Tower 22, a logistics base in the Jordanian desert, where 40 others were also injured. The attack, orchestrated by Shia militias linked to Iran, has reignited the debate on the Biden administration’s approach to the Middle East.
Critics argue that the deaths were not a failure but a direct consequence of policies that provided Iran with billions of dollars and failed to restore deterrence after 158 separate attacks on U.S. service members in recent months.
Breedlove argued that the current approach, characterized by limited reactions and a reluctance to retaliate forcefully, only emboldens Iran.
“Iran, right now, fully believes that we are going to strike back at their proxies. And I think they are hopeful and worried that maybe this was the time that tripped over the edge and would require a strike back at them,” Breedlove urged a return to offensive measures and the reestablishment of deterrence through decisive action.
Breedlove emphasized the necessity of acknowledging the reality of the Iranian regime and the importance of taking action that resonates with Iran’s priorities.
In an interview on “CUOMO,” former Trump White House official and Abraham Accords negotiator Adam Boehler expressed skepticism about the practicality of involving Congress in immediate military decisions and emphasized the importance of executive action.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Newton suggested a multifaceted approach, encompassing economic sanctions, diplomatic efforts and a targeted military campaign against proxy forces responsible for recent attacks.
“At this very moment, U.S. Central Command is providing the president, his national security leadership team with a range of options that go from just single targets of strikes to … perhaps even looking at targets inside Iran,” Newton said, advocating for a five to seven-day air campaign, targeting proxy forces in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Boehler attributed the current escalation to a policy of appeasement, highlighting the significance of the Abraham Accords in uniting moderate countries against Iran. He stressed the need for a proactive approach, targeting specific Islamic Guard locations.
Biden said Sunday that the U.S. “shall respond” and blamed Iran-backed militias for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Biden, who was traveling in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church’s banquet hall.
“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases,” he said. After the moment of silence, Biden added, “and we shall respond.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.