Retired Army Gen. Jack Keene has warned that the Biden administration's “hands-off approach” to Iran and the United States' lack of appetite to confront Iran will result in continued “aggression.”
“This administration has a hands-off approach to Iran,” Keene said in an interview with John Catsimatidis on the “Cats Roundtable” radio show. “If we continue down this path without the will to confront our enemies, they will only come after us.”
“That's the reality we're facing,” Keene added.
In a Sunday interview with Catsimatidis, Keene, who served as the Army's vice chief of staff from 1999 to 2003, highlighted the 2021 Suez Canal closure, rising tensions in the Middle East and the U.S. warship that was subsequently attacked. did. Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missiles into the country in January, an area of concern under the Biden administration.
Asked why Biden would not use the U.S. military to reopen the Red Sea, a vital shipping lane that Houthi rebels have effectively closed due to attacks on commercial ships, Keene said Biden and He said the administration was “afraid of escalation.”
“This administration is paralyzed by fear of negative consequences. They advocate diplomacy but never back it up with hard power. They believe that the consequences of inaction will produce negative consequences. They're afraid of escalation,” Keene said.
On Saturday, Biden told reporters he was “responding” to a missile attack from an Iranian-backed group in the Red Sea.
Keene said in an interview that the United States is in a “pre-war era” and that adversaries believe now is the time.
“We are in a pre-war era…China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are cooperating and cooperating,” he said, adding, “They believe that the United States is politically superior, so they He has become quite aggressive over the years.” weak. “
“They could take advantage of our vulnerabilities,” Keene added. “And they think now is a good time.”
This is not the first time Keene has criticized the White House's foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran.
Keene Appeared on Fox News Just days after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year, he expressed concern that the administration was not paying enough attention to Iran.
“The president wholeheartedly supported the suffering that has occurred and the need to help Israel carry this operation through to its conclusion,” Keene said at the time. “But he never mentioned Iran directing their proxies to attack Israel.
But Keene on Sunday emphasized his confidence that the Biden administration will continue to support Israel.
“I can't imagine the Biden administration or its successor administration saying no. The Biden administration has an obligation to respond if it does.” [Israel] We need help,” he said.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
