Exclusive: The top Republican on the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committee argues that the Biden administration’s foreign policy decisions led to the deaths of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan last month and could put thousands more “at risk.” There is.
Republican Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia, suggested on Fox News Digital that he believes President Biden’s military response to the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea was the right response, but one that came too late.
Asked if he believed there was a direct causal relationship between the delayed response and recent deaths of U.S. service members, Austin flatly replied, “I do.”
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Congressman Austin Scott argues that President Biden’s foreign policy is putting American troops overseas at risk. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images | AP/Osama Abdulrahman)
“I don’t understand why anyone would think they’d stop shooting when there were no consequences when they first fired,” Scott said. “They’re not going to just quit because they’ve decided, ‘I’m going to be a good person from now on.'” They’ll only quit if their actions lead to punishment…and the same thing. If they do, we will punish them again. ”
The Pentagon has blamed Iranian-backed extremists for drone attacks on American troops stationed in Jordan, near the border with Syria. In addition to the three killed, at least 34 American soldiers were injured.
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U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 150 times since October 7, when Hamas militants invaded Israel and killed more than 1,200 people in surprise attacks. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have also attacked commercial ships and warships in the Red Sea dozens of times in response to support from Israel and the United States.
Biden has responded to repeated attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships with a series of coordinated airstrikes. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden has since responded to Houthi strongholds in Yemen with several airstrikes starting on January 11, in coordination with Britain and other allies. On Friday, the United States launched attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the deaths of soldiers.
Mr Scott praised those who staged the strike on Friday. “I admire his courage and skill.” [U.S. Central Command]carried out multiple airstrikes today against the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its affiliated militias. Those who attack the United States will face consequences.”
But he argued on Fox News Digital that Biden’s failure to respond to the initial attacks sent a message of weakness to America’s adversaries.
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“I’m very pessimistic about how his inaction is putting America and the American people at risk. And remember, there are people in Africa, there are people deployed all over the world. Part of their security is because they understand that if they attack American soldiers, there will be consequences,” Scott said.
Sergeant William Rivers, Spc. Breonna Moffett and Spc. Kennedy Sanders were killed in Jordan. (Fox News)
“When any president of the United States, whether Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or George Bush, attacks American soldiers or American assets, there will be consequences,” Scott said. . .
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“This is the first time I can remember where someone shot us over 100 times and we didn’t respond. So I think that action clearly puts people at risk. You can’t do that, you can’t do that.” Allowing people to fire on their own people without response puts all deployed Americans at risk. ”
Mr. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden participated in the dignified transfer of the remains of three slain service members on Friday. William Jerome Rivers, 46, Special Forces. Kennedy Landon Sanders, 24, Spc. Breonna Alexandria Moffett, 23 – all from Georgia.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for a response to Scott’s criticism.
