Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

World awaits Biden’s response to death of U.S. servicemembers in drone strike...White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby says administration “does not want a war” and “does not want to escalate.”
Just The News ^ | Published: January 29, 2024 11:23pm | By Casey Harper | The Center Square

Posted on 01/30/2024 5:59:49 AM PST by Red Badger

(The Center Square) - The world is awaiting President Joe Biden’s response to a drone attack in Jordan over the weekend that left three U.S. servicemembers dead and more than 30 injured.

In his statement Sunday, Biden said “we know [the attack] was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq” and pledged to respond to the “despicable and wholly unjust attack.”

That statement raised questions about what the response could look like and if it would be severe enough to escalate to a broader war in the region.

White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby said at the White House briefing Monday that the administration “does not want a war” and “does not want to escalate.”

“But we will absolutely do what is required to protect ourselves and to continue that mission and to respond appropriately to these attacks,” Kirby said.

Kirby went on to say he would not get ahead of the president’s decision-making or give much information about what a response could look like. He said Biden is “weighing the options before him” and reiterated that the groups responsible for the attack are “backed by Tehran,” the capital of Iran.

The weekend drone strike is the latest in a string of attempted attacks by various terror and militia groups in the region. Those attacks have amplified since the Iranian-backed Hamas fighters carried out their deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Some experts and U.S. lawmakers called for a retaliatory strike against Iran, which has nuclear capabilities, but that strike could quickly grow into a wider regional war involving Israel and other Middle East nations.

Iran has publicly pushed back against the claim it is tied to the deaths of the U.S. servicemembers.

So far, the U.S. has not responded with a strike in the region, which is already on edge.

Biden’s response could be crucial for the Israeli-Hamas war and for determining whether the ongoing Middle East issues escalate into a larger conflict.

Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen have fired on ships in the Red Sea attempting to pass through the Suez canal, forcing billions of dollars in shipping to begin going south around the tip of Africa instead.

Biden responded by sending a U.S. mobile Naval base to the region, where U.S. forces are shooting down Houthi missiles and drones. Houthis have targeted the U.S. forces as well.

The Department of Defense released the names of the servicemembers, “Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Ga.; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Ga.; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Ga.”

In his statement Sunday, Biden honored the fallen troops.

“These service members embodied the very best of our nation: Unwavering in their bravery. Unflinching in their duty,” he said. “Unbending in their commitment to our country – risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. It is a fight we will not cease.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Iran; Israel; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last
To: MuttTheHoople

They can’t cover the 10s of thousands of Fentanyl deaths from open borders on American soil either. Although I do believe News Nation and Fox News will cover it briefly.


61 posted on 01/30/2024 8:29:59 AM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Does not want war. Doe not want open borders. Does not want to put Trump in jail for fake crimes.


62 posted on 01/30/2024 8:34:57 AM PST by Leep (I've got a virus twice in one month. Should i lock myself down for 2 yrs. Just to be safe?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: airborne

War with Russia - good.

War with Iran - bad.
***************

Questions: where is Valjar from? Who is running the country?

Answer those questions and you have your answer.


63 posted on 01/30/2024 8:35:59 AM PST by hoagy62 (Evil won...again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Doesn’t want a war, doesn’t want to escalate.? Do nothing and we’ll have both.


64 posted on 01/30/2024 8:47:27 AM PST by Extra-Ordinary Objectives (My preferred pronouns are intuitively obvious to the most casual observer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child
From everything I've read about this incident, the U.S. "Tower 22" facility in Jordan is a supply depot for a U.S. military outpost in Syria that is a blatant violation of another nation’s sovereignty. The U.S. military has no business being there, and should be considered a legitimate military target by any adversary.

Of concern is that the Government of Jordan has apparently disclaimed the news that Tower 22 exists on their territory.

There is also a UN run 'refugee camp' at that location.

65 posted on 01/30/2024 8:56:53 AM PST by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: mac_truck
The initial public statement from the Jordanian government indicated that the incident in question took place in Syria, not Jordan. So I am open to all possibilities.

I would point out, though, that you can search the area on Google Earth and see some low-resolution imagery on the Jordan side of the border that definitely looks to be a military facility of some kind — including a number of helicopters that appear to be military types like Blackhawks.

66 posted on 01/30/2024 9:14:49 AM PST by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

Jordan has been a very close major non-NATO ally of the United States in the Middle East since 1996.

Our “Tower 22” is totally legit and has the backing of the Jordan Government.


67 posted on 01/30/2024 9:33:47 AM PST by USA-FRANCE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: USA-FRANCE
"Totally legit" to whom?

If it's being used to supply a military outpost that is operating in a foreign country against the wishes of that country's government, then it sure as hell isn't "legit" by any objective measure.

If Mexico allowed China to set up a military outpost along the U.S. border to supply fentanyl and weapons to Chinese gangs in the U.S., would that be "totally legit," too?

68 posted on 01/30/2024 10:14:51 AM PST by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Kirby is wringing his hands and wetting the bed. Thats a great look for US military deterrance.


69 posted on 01/30/2024 11:11:45 AM PST by Candor7 (Ask not for whom Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!),<img src="" width=500</img><a href="">tag</a>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bob434

Iran hit a base in Iraq earlier this month and took credit, why do the say they didn’t do this?


70 posted on 01/30/2024 11:24:58 AM PST by rottweiller_inc (inter canem et lupum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

News Nation showed the mother of the woman who was killed. It was heartbreaking.


71 posted on 01/30/2024 1:20:29 PM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby says administration “does not want a war” and “does not want to escalate.””

in other words: please kill some more U.S. soldiers; nothing bad will happen if you do ...


72 posted on 01/30/2024 3:00:31 PM PST by catnipman (A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

The US base is legit because it has been authorized to be there by the Jordanian Government.


73 posted on 01/30/2024 3:15:52 PM PST by USA-FRANCE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

America should destroy half of Iran’s naval fleet.

In 1988, in response to Iran’s attack on the U.S.S. Samuel Roberts, President Ronald Reagan “destroyed half of Iran’s Navy.”


74 posted on 01/30/2024 3:32:34 PM PST by USA-FRANCE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: USA-FRANCE
OK -- by that definition. I don't know anyone who suggested it wasn't.

But if the U.S. has invaded and occupied neighboring Syria (which it has), then the base is a legitimate military target.

75 posted on 01/30/2024 3:36:09 PM PST by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Well, Sloe Joe, you gotta war!

Whether you want it or not, you gotta war!

DUMBASS!


76 posted on 01/30/2024 3:37:19 PM PST by Taxman ((SAVE AMERICA! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2024! SAVE AMERICA!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: USA-FRANCE

I’m not so sure the U.S.S. Samuel Roberts was “attacked.” It was heavily damaged after striking an Iranian mine.


77 posted on 01/30/2024 3:39:55 PM PST by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: USA-FRANCE
Ok, mister keyboard general.
78 posted on 01/30/2024 3:48:51 PM PST by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: rottweiller_inc

they musta got wind that someone in the obiden admin is gettign upset and might glare at them-


79 posted on 01/30/2024 7:10:29 PM PST by Bob434
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I’m pretty sure the Biden “solution” will be to give them another $10 or $20 billion to finance killing more Americans, delivered by John Kerry in his private jet.


80 posted on 01/30/2024 7:15:08 PM PST by Bernard Marx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson