Late last night, an Iranian missile strike hit two apparently abandoned American military bases in an act of retaliation after the U.S. killing of Iranian general and terrorist-in-chief Qassem Soleimani. These strikes might sound like an escalation at first glance, yet they actually could be a step toward a cease-fire.
Thankfully, no Americans were killed, and that may have been the point. Some experts and government insiders are saying that this could have been a strike meant to “save face,” symbolically striking back at the United States to please angered Iranians at home without actually doing enough damage to spark an all-out war. In response, Rep. Will Hurd said on Fox News that “if they wanted to hit targets that caused damage, they could have.” As Phil Klein noted, “If there were no casualties in this case, Trump has an opening to declare victory and avoid a retaliatory strike.”
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Responding to this strike, President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday morning. He said that “Iran appears to be standing down … which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.” He went on to say that “as we continue to evaluate options in response to Iran … powerful [economic] sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior.”
The president said, “We do not want to use [military force]. American strength … is the best deterrent.” He stressed the opportunity for working with Iran, saying that “the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”
Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future, and a great future.
One that you deserve.
One of prosperity at home, and harmony with the nations of the world.
The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.
– @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Hij6guMUbd
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 8, 2020
It’s clear there’s an opportunity to de-escalate military tensions here. Trump should take it.
As I’ve previously written, war with Iran would be a complete disaster, far worse than the failed war in Iraq:
The president surely knows this. He campaigned against our multiple endless foreign wars in the Middle East, rightfully decrying them as a waste of our resources and American lives. The president promised an “America First” foreign policy that prioritizes our country over regime-change wars and protracted nation-building exercises overseas.
Trump must take this opportunity to avoid war with Iran. If the president now needlessly escalates the situation further in lieu of serious Iranian aggression, it will be a betrayal of the foreign policy promises he made to voters.
