• Republicans and former Trump administration officials criticized President Joe Biden after the U.S. military launched airstrikes in response to a deadly drone attack on January 28.
• Several people accused the Biden administration of “telegraphing” the attacks on the targets.
• “He waited too long,” said one former Trump administration official.

Republicans and former Trump administration officials on Friday accused the Biden administration of delaying retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria following a drone strike in Jordan that killed three U.S. soldiers on Sunday.

The U.S. military carried out retaliatory strikes on Friday against dozens of targets linked to Iranian-backed militias after Sunday's drone strike killed three American soldiers. Some Republicans criticized President Joe Biden for warning militia groups about their response. (Related: “Has U.S. Deterrence Policy Failed?”: Dana Bash Burns Pentagon Spox After Deadly Drone Attack)

“So we are bombing Syria and Iraq after we sent the telegram. Iran has moved key personnel, but we are leaving our troops in the same place so that Iran can attack us when it wants.” '' said Joe Kent, a former Green Beret and Republican candidate for Congress in Washington. Posted “Congress should put a resolution on the floor to withdraw our troops immediately. Look who is coming forward to leave our troops as decoys.”

I mean, we're bombing Syria and Iraq after we telegraphed, and Iran moved important personnel, but we left troops in the same places, so Iran can attack us when it wants. can do.

Congress should bring to the floor a resolution to immediately withdraw U.S. troops. See who wants to enter…

— Joe Kent of WA-3 (@joekent16jan19) February 2, 2024

Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, “The Biden administration has foolishly spent nearly a week telegraphing America's intentions to our enemies, “We gave them time to relocate and hide.” “It is past time for our nation's commander-in-chief to adopt a new approach that targets actual sponsors of terrorism in the region.”

Other Republicans and former Trump administration officials have made similar remarks in media appearances.

“This is overdue. It should have been done more decisively like President Trump,” Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York told Fox Business host Larry Kudlow. “But as you know, President Biden's policy toward Iran is to try to return to the failed nuclear deal, and also to allow sanctions on Iran to be lifted so that Iran can earn up to 80 billion It's also about being able to sell $90 billion worth of oil.'' Most of it, by the way, is China. ”

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“Unfortunately, we are in such a bad position against Iran that we need to fight back with more aggressive forces,” Tenney added.

Republican Rep. Byron Donald of Florida, who appeared with Tenney, called for the reinstatement of economic sanctions against Iran.

“We have to cut off the Iranians economically,” Donald told Kudlow. “Donald Trump cut them off economically. He had them really scrap things for that economy, so they put money into these proxy fighters all over the Middle East. I couldn’t do that.”

“We must continue to increase pressure on Iran and its terrorist organizations across the Middle East,” said Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. statement. “However, these efforts should include additional sanctions on Iranian oil, which would enable Iran to finance violence and terrorist activities across the region.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who served as an adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence during the Trump administration, questioned whether the attack would deter future attacks.

“I want to warn you all because that's not enough. Now is not the time to tear up your shirt and brag about how great this really is. Because it shouldn't be about numbers, it's about what actually happens. Because it’s the right thing to do.’ It’s the result of your attack,” Kellogg told Kudrow. “And, look, what we gave the Iranians is sanctuary. I've been through sanctuary wars before, during the Vietnam era, where Cambodia was sanctuary, North Vietnam was sanctuary. You gave sanctuary. If you allow it, he will retreat, go back there and deal with it later.”

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Kellogg criticized Biden for the delay in his attack.

“Those packages were there. It just usurped the power of the president, and it's the president who does it, it's the president who says go,” Kellogg said. “And he waited too long. In fact, those aircraft, as I understand it, the B-1 bombers that took off came from the United States and took off this morning. Two days ago, three days ago. It could have taken off.”

Since Hamas launched deadly terrorist attacks on multiple locations in southern Israel on October 7, the Iranian-backed militia has carried out more than 150 attacks, killing more than 1,200 people and killing more than 200. Reuters reported that hostages were taken. reportThis includes the use of ballistic missiles and drones.

'Finally' Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst Posted. “Iran needs to know the price of American lives.”

One Republican lawmaker questioned whether Biden had the authority to launch an attack.

Once again, this president has bypassed Congress and put our military at risk.

The loss of one soldier's life, let alone three, is too many.

Our troops need to come home. Our president needs to follow the Constitution.

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) February 2, 2024

“Once again, this president has bypassed Congress and put our troops at risk,” South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace wrote on X. “One soldier's life lost is too many, let alone three. Our troops need to come home. Our president needs to follow the Constitution.”

The White House has commissioned the Daily Caller News Foundation to: transcript Press conference held by National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby and Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims II.

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