Biden’s action in Iraq and Syria is merely delayed reaction

The Spectator ^ | 3 Feb 2024 | Roger Kimball

[Rummyfan]

He doesn’t do, he dithers

What do you think of the apothegm “Better late than never?” I think it is often dubious. For confirmation, I adduce the airstrike the Biden administration just conducted against eighty-five targets in Iraq and Syria. The attacks, against infrastructure associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, are billed as the opening salvo in response to last week’s drone attack by Iranian assets in Jordan that left three Americans dead and more than forty injured. Taking a page from an earlier, square-jawed time, officials from the administration tersely commented that America’s “multi-tiered” response would continue at a “time and in a manner of our choosing.”

Spoken like a real administration. I wonder from what storeroom they got the script? Memo to the memo writers: if you are going to conduct a a military campaign, it’s generally advantageous to avoid telling your adversary when you are planning to strike. The Biden administration forgot that detail — or perhaps they were worried about causing too much damage to Iranian assets. For several days leading up to yesterday’s strike, the administration reported that a strike was in the works and that it would take place in just a couple of days. As it did.

Wasn’t it kind of Joe to tell the Iranians when he was planning to strike?

In fact, he has been the soul of courtesy, for he has also said that America would not be striking Iran itself.

[Rummyfan]

A view of destruction after US warplanes carried out an airstrike on the headquarters of Hashd al-Shaabi in Al-Qa’im, Anbar, Iraq (Hashd al-Shaabi Media Office/Handout/Anadolu via Getty)

[Avalon Memories]

at a “time and in a manner of our choosing

That is lifted directly from a speech by Pres. George W. Bush in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on 9/11/01. Following is quoted verbatim from Bush's speech at the National Cathedral during the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance on 9/14/01:

This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing.

[hanamizu]

“It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing.”

---

I doubt if even GWB could foresee it would end with our choosing to arm the Taliban with billions of dollars worth of military equipment.

[MinorityRepublican]

“CIA intelligence had indicated that bin Laden and the al-Qaeda leadership were trapped in the caves early in the battle, and Berntsen had wanted to send less than 1,000 American Army Rangers to eliminate them, which he believed would have ended the War on Terror very quickly. However, the request was turned down by the Bush administration, which had argued that the Pakistanis would capture bin Laden if he attempted to flee into Pakistan.”

[Rummyfan]

However, the request was turned down by the Bush administration, which had argued that the Pakistanis would capture bin Laden if he attempted to flee into Pakistan.”

I wonder what idiot promoted that strategy, and hopefully they were fired shortly afterward.

[silverleaf]

This brigade ( though Shia and therefore with some ties to Iran) has a history of cooperating with the Iraqi govt ( most members are Iraqi) and the Peshmerga Kurds against ISIS, a common enemy. Looks like the US went in and destroyed their weapons.

ISIS must have helped prepare the target list.

[Avalon Memories]

I doubt if even GWB could foresee it would end with our choosing to arm the Taliban with billions of dollars worth of military equipment.

Although I'm sure that's true, it was not my point. Biden is a known plagiarizer from way back. He stole the "time of our choosing" language from Bush without attribution as usual for Biden, who always tries to portray himself as a tough guy.

[Vaduz]

The Biden administration idiots extraordinaire and proud of it.

[silverleaf]

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1754213185668657577

Iraqi parliament member Mustafa Sanad:

“Whenever news from the White House claims that US airstrikes are directed against Iranian-backed armed factions that targeted US bases in the region, and that these airstrikes are effective, be sure they are fake news.

All of the strikes are aimed at Iraqi national forces associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, an official government entity."

[Grampa Dave]

Iraqi parliament member Mustafa Sanad:
https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1754213185668657577“

Whenever news from the White House claims that US airstrikes are directed against Iranian-backed armed factions that targeted US bases in the region, and that these airstrikes are effective, be sure they are fake news.

All of the strikes are aimed at Iraqi national forces associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, an official government entity.”