Story of the Week •
February 1st, 2024
Will America Get Pulled Into Another War in the Middle East?
Getty Images / BBC
Three U.S. soldiers were killed and more than 30 were injured in a drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan Saturday night. The Department of Defense identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia.
The attack occurred near Jordan's border with Syria. U.S. officials blamed Iran-backed militias for the attack. Iran has denied involvement.
The attack was reportedly carried out using an unmanned aerial drone that managed to infiltrate the base's airspace by approaching at the same time as an American drone returned to base, creating confusion on whether the attacking drone was hostile or friendly.
The attack is the most recent escalation of tension and violence in the region. Outlets across the spectrum are speculating about the likelihood of America being pulled into a wider war.
"Have no doubt — we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing," read a statement from President Joe Biden.
On Thursday, U.S. officials announced a series of strikes against targets including Iranian personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria.
The National Review Editorial Board (Right bias) determined that "Iran can be deterred when the elements of the regime that believe it will not survive a direct conflict with the United States are confronted with just that possibility" and concluded, "Americans shouldn’t tolerate another rote response to Sunday’s attack that merely levels a handful of weapons depots or takes some replaceable militants in eastern Syria off the battlefield. The IRGC is the author of these attacks, and Iran must pay for them."
A writer in the New York Post Opinion (Right bias) labeled Biden's approach to the Middle East "monumentally disastrous," writing, "this White House is unrelenting in its diplomatic outreach to Iran — the source of the region’s instability and enemy of America — rather than the countries that are our allies or at least not our adversaries. The Biden administration has endless patience for the violence and brutality of the Iran regime, always dedicated to getting a renewed nuclear deal, but no patience for Gulf partners like the Saudis, who are willing to cooperate with the United States against Iran."
In the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias), Tom Rogan (Center bias) wrote that the U.S. response must "ensure that any retaliation alters Iran’s strategic calculus" and not just the specific militia in question. Rogan added, "the attack in Jordan has proved that Iran clearly believes the U.S. will tolerate at least some American funerals without offering serious riposte. The White House has likely fueled Iran’s risk appetite by its unnecessarily ad nauseam assertions that it does not seek escalation while at the same time making only occasional military responses to Houthi and other militia attacks. The U.S. must therefore educate Iran to a new understanding of American tolerances."
A writer in The Nation (Left bias) pushed back on "saber-rattling" lawmakers seeking retaliation against Iran, instead determining that to quell hostilities in the region, Biden should call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Determining the increased militia hostilities to be a reaction to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the writer argues that Biden should shift course away from his "quiet diplomacy" and call on Israel to change course, concluding, "The chaos that Biden is spreading in the Middle East will inevitably be felt in the homeland."
Thomas L. Friedman (Lean Left bias) outlined a potential "Biden Doctrine" that could include a "robust military retaliation," the promotion of a "demilitarized Palestinian state" in Gaza and the West Bank, and a "vastly expanded U.S. security alliance with Saudi Arabia, which would also involve Saudi normalization of relations with Israel." Friedman believes this doctrine could "become the biggest strategic realignment in the region since the 1979 Camp David treaty."
More from AllSides
- Opinion from the Center: "Biden cannot win this election on immigration. His best possible outcome is to mitigate the damage and turn the conversation to abortion rights and other issues that work in his favor."
- January News Quiz: Did you stay informed with balanced news last month? Take our quiz to test your knowledge!
More from the Center
Pentagon says it is not seeking war with Iran after Jordan attack
Reuters
"The attacks are piling political pressure on Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a step he has been reluctant to take out of fear of igniting a broader war. Biden met with Austin and other members of his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Monday morning to discuss the latest developments regarding the attack, the White House said. The president's options could include targeting Iranian forces outside or inside Iran and opting for a more cautious retaliatory attack solely against the Iran-backed militants responsible, experts say."
More from the Left
The US pulled resources out of the Middle East. Now it is rethinking that decision.
Politico
"The U.S. had spent years pulling back intelligence and military resources from the Middle East and shifting focus elsewhere, believing Russia and China posed greater threats. That shift was now being felt more acutely than ever. Analysts whose work had been focused on other regions were forced to quickly switch to Hamas and the Middle East. As they did, they strained to sift through and make sense of hundreds of reports of potential threats posed by a wide variety of groups, including those backed by Iran."
More from the Right
The Middle East war Biden tried to avoid may be thrust upon him
The Washington Times
"Strikes on Iran would be a much different matter. They would represent a significant step that could draw the U.S. into a prolonged war in the region — exactly the kind of conflict Mr. Biden and his predecessor, Mr. Trump, sought to avoid. The administration has consistently tried to distance its military recent strikes in Iraq, Syria and Yemen from the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stressing that the U.S. will do everything in its power to stop a broader war."
