 Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied any American responsibility for the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh. His denial is nothing about which to be proud. (Photo: Shutterstock) |
Yesterday, an apparent Israeli airstrike killed Ismail Haniyeh, the Qatar-based political chief of Hamas, as he retired to a Tehran house after attending the inauguration of newly installed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to television to deny any American responsibility.
That is nothing about which to be proud. Certainly, Blinken may see such a statement as a way to de-escalate tension or at least prevent Iran and Hamas from going after American targets. The problem, however, is Iran and Hamas already target Americans. Blinken and many journalists may consider Pezeshkian a "reformer" but "Death to America" chants characterized his inauguration. As President Joe Biden, Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have sought to appease Iran, the Iranian government quite openly has put bounties on former government officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Iran point man Brian Hook and has sought to kidnap Iranian and Iranian American dissidents from American soil. Showing weakness in the face of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps outrage does not bring security; it encourages aggression.
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