Hesitation Is Weakness: How Biden Is Letting Iran and Its Proxies Rule the Middle East

 

The Biden administration’s refusal to confront Iran directly is betraying Israel, America’s closest ally in the region, and putting millions of lives at risk.

It seems like President Biden has been caught playing a dangerous game of snakes and ladders in the Middle East. But instead of climbing the ladder of peace, he is sliding down a snake that keeps coiling tighter and tighter around Israel’s neck. Iran has been slithering in the region for years, using its proxies Hezbollah and Hamas to terrorize Israel. If Iran is the snake causing all the trouble, why is the president so hesitant to step on its head?

To understand why Iran is seen as the main culprit, we have to look at the long and tangled history of the Middle East. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has positioned itself as a leading power in the region. The revolution brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power, setting up a theocratic regime with a strong anti-Western and anti-Israel agenda. Iran’s ambitions weren’t just about control within its borders, though. It sought to spread its influence by supporting militant groups that shared its worldview.

Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, is one of Iran’s most powerful proxies. Formed in the early 1980s, Hezbollah was initially a response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War. Over time, the group evolved into a formidable military force, receiving funding, weapons, and training from Iran. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has made no secret of his hatred for Israel, vowing to continue the fight against the Jewish state. In the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, more than 1,000 people were killed, mostly civilians, highlighting the devastating impact of this proxy war.

Meanwhile, Hamas, another group that receives significant support from Iran, has been a thorn in Israel’s side since the late 1980s. Based in Gaza, Hamas has launched countless rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, leading to numerous wars and skirmishes over the past two decades. In 2021 alone, during an 11-day conflict, over 4,300 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, causing widespread destruction and fear. Iran’s hand in supporting Hamas is clear, with Iranian leaders openly boasting about their role in providing weapons and financial aid to the group.

So, if Iran is arming and funding these groups, why is Biden so reluctant to confront the snake? Some argue that it’s a question of strategy. The U.S. has been involved in the Middle East for decades, and every intervention seems to come with unintended consequences. The invasion of Iraq in 2003, which was meant to eliminate weapons of mass destruction that were never found, only strengthened Iran’s position in the region. By toppling Saddam Hussein, a key counterbalance to Iran, the U.S. inadvertently gave Tehran more power.

Biden might also be wary of escalating tensions with Iran, especially given the nuclear issue. The Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 under President Obama, with Biden serving as vice president. The deal aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. However, in 2018, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement, arguing that it didn’t go far enough in addressing Iran’s behavior in the region. Iran responded by ramping up its nuclear activities, bringing the country closer to the ability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Since taking office, Biden has expressed a desire to return to the nuclear deal, believing that diplomacy is the best way to prevent Iran from going nuclear. But this approach has been met with skepticism, especially from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued that Iran cannot be trusted and that any deal allowing it to continue its nuclear program, even under restrictions, is a threat to Israel’s very existence.

Critics of Biden’s approach argue that his reluctance to take a harder stance on Iran is emboldening Tehran and its proxies. They point to the recent surge in attacks on U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq by Iranian-backed militias as evidence that Iran is testing the administration’s resolve. In October 2023, for example, Iranian proxies launched a series of drone and rocket attacks against U.S. bases in Syria, injuring several American soldiers. Yet, the Biden administration’s response has been measured, opting for limited airstrikes rather than a broader confrontation.

Some see this as a sign of weakness, arguing that Iran will continue to push the boundaries until it faces real consequences. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, has called for a more aggressive approach, suggesting that the U.S. should target Iran’s leaders and military infrastructure directly. “The only thing the mullahs understand is strength,” Pompeo said in a recent interview. “If we continue to appease them, they will continue to terrorize the region and threaten our allies.”

Others, however, argue that a more confrontational approach could lead to disaster. Iran has shown that it is willing to retaliate when provoked, and any military action against the country could spark a wider conflict. Moreover, Iran’s proxies are deeply embedded in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, making it difficult to target them without causing further instability in an already volatile region.

In the end, Biden’s reluctance to confront the snake might be a reflection of the difficult choices facing any U.S. president when it comes to the Middle East. The region is a web of alliances, rivalries, and historical grievances that defy easy solutions. But as Iran continues to support Hezbollah and Hamas in their attacks on Israel, the question remains: how long can the U.S. afford to ignore the snake in the garden?

Maybe Biden’s strategy is more akin to playing with a rubber snake, hoping it doesn’t bite back too hard. But at some point, the rubber might snap, and he’ll find himself dealing with the real venom.