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Erfan Fard

Act now: A need for a strong US response to Iran

FORT CARSON, CO - NOVEMBER 10: A U.S. Army soldier bows her head in prayer at a welcome home ceremony for troops returning from Iraq on November 10, 2011 in Fort Carson, Colorado. More than 100 soldiers from the 549th Quartermaster Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade returned after a seven-month deployment. They played a key role in removing excess equipment from Iraq as other troops withdrew from the region.  (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
A US Army soldier bows her head in prayer at a welcome home ceremony for troops returning from Iraq on November 10, 2011 in Fort Carson, Colorado. (John Moore/Getty Images)

In the shadow of a tragic day that has left three American families in mourning, the stark reality of a failed US policy towards Iran’s regime in Tehran has come into the unforgiving light of day. This incident, a direct assault on American lives at Tower 22 in Jordan near the Syrian border, serves not just as a somber moment of loss but as a clarion call for a recalibration of US strategy in the Middle East.

For years, voices like mine have been vocal about the dangerous path the US has tread, marked by an almost paralyzing fear of escalation with Iran. Our warnings, dismissed by some as hawkish rhetoric, have unfortunately been validated by this inevitable tragedy. The United States now stands at a crossroads, faced with a critical decision that could shape the future of its foreign policy and its standing on the global stage.

The Biden administration, at this pivotal moment, is tasked with a decision that transcends political calculus. The response to this act of aggression by Iran and its terrorist proxies, notably the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cannot be tepid or half-measured. History and the present circumstances demand a full-throated, decisive action that signals not just to Iran but to the world that attacks on American lives and interests will meet with unwavering resistance.

This incident is not an isolated occurrence but part of a pattern of aggression that has seen the IRGC terrorists feel increasingly emboldened. With the 180th attack since October 18, it’s clear that what we face is not a series of isolated incidents but a coherent strategy by Iran to challenge US presence and influence in the region. This latest attack, resulting in the death and injury of American soldiers, is a game-changer that necessitates a response commensurate with the severity of the threat it represents.

The urgency of a decisive US response is not merely about retribution; it’s a matter of national security and safeguarding US interests in a region where balance and stability are perennially on a knife-edge. The strategy should not be limited to targeting the proxies of Iran but should aim at the strategic assets and capabilities of the IRGC itself. This approach is about cutting off the head of the snake, dealing a significant blow to the operational and strategic capabilities of Iran’s terrorist regime.

Moreover, this tragic incident highlights a critical vulnerability in US foreign policy: a hesitancy towards escalation that has, paradoxically, only escalated the threats against US personnel and interests. The principle of avoiding escalation at all costs has emboldened adversaries like Iran, who perceive this as a weakness to be exploited. The attack on US forces, a stark breach of international norms, underscores the perils of a foreign policy overly concerned with the avoidance of conflict at the expense of deterrence.

As the Biden administration weighs its options, it must consider the broader implications of its response. A strong, decisive action against the IRGC thugs and its terrorist network will not only serve as a deterrent against future aggression but also reaffirm US commitment to protecting its people and preserving its strategic interests. Anything less would not only undermine US credibility but also embolden Iran and its proxies, inviting further attacks and potentially dragging the US deeper into the quagmire of regional instability.

In conclusion, the United States must respond decisively to this act of aggression. This response is not just about avenging the loss of American lives but about sending a clear message that the US will not stand idly by in the face of threats to its national security and interests. The time for half-measures is over; the stakes are too high, and the cost of inaction is too great. The US must act, and it must act now.

Biden’s apprehension and the White House’s strategy to prevent the expansion of regional conflicts have emboldened the Iranian regime to brazenly perpetrate any act of aggression against America and its armed forces.

The current U.S. President has squandered three years engaging in fruitless diplomacy with the criminal mullahs, yet now demands a moment for decisive action. If the notion of regime change is considered taboo for you, then, at the very least, earnest efforts should be made to safeguard American lives and uphold the reputation and integrity of the United States against what is arguably the world’s most brutal terrorist regime.

The sole effective measure is to dismantle the terrorist bases of the IRGC and the Quds Force; failing to do so will only delight America’s adversaries, who take pleasure in attacking America and its personnel.

Who will history hold accountable for this perverse satisfaction of America’s foes? President Biden. He took a stand against apartheid during your senatorial career and celebrated the collapse of communism. Why, then, do you now appear indecisive in the face of the epicenter of Islamic Terrorism?

Mr. President, your lack of action has only encouraged Islamic terrorists, who, along with the Kremlin, toast to their victories with a smug sense of triumph. Act Now!

About the Author
Erfan Fard is a counter-terrorism analyst and Middle East Studies researcher based in Washington, DC. He is in Middle Eastern regional security affairs with a particular focus on Iran, Counter terrorism, IRGC, MOIS and Ethnic conflicts in MENA. \He graduated in International Security Studies (London M. University, UK), and in International Relations (CSU-LA), and is fluent in Persian, Kurdish, Arabic and English. Follow him in this twitter account @EQFARD
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