Betray the free world? :: Gatestone Institute

An ally, a true friend, is someone you can rely on in times of crisis, especially when under attack. Throughout history, alliances have been formed based on mutual support and protection. Still, it can be strongly argued that no administration in the history of the United States has left its allies in such a vulnerable position as the Biden-Harris administration.

No longer content to act solely through its proxies, Iran has taken direct and aggressive action against America’s long-time ally Israel, attacking not just Israel but through its proxies and militias more than 160 times the region has been attacking since October 2023 – whenever it suits. Iran-backed Hamas terrorists murdered 43 Americans during their invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023.

The rapacity of the Iranian regime, which appears to feel free to launch attacks on U.S. troops at will – especially after enjoying enormous U.S. largesse – is breathtaking.

This turnaround can be traced back to the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration. When this government took office, it made decisions that signaled weakness and appeasement, particularly toward the Taliban in Afghanistan, China and Iran. The Biden-Harris administration immediately removed Iran’s proxies in Yemen, the Houthis, from the U.S. terrorist list but never fully reinstated them there. The Houthis showed their gratitude by attacking Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

The Biden-Harris administration also failed to fully enforce sanctions against Iran, instead allowing the regime to sell oil at the new high prices caused by President Joe Biden’s slamming the U.S. in his first days in office – Oil exploration paralyzed. The Biden-Harris administration also provided the regime with “nearly $60 billion” – most likely funding its militias; its terrorist proxy organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis; its expansionist agenda extends to Venezuela and its repressive domestic policies, which the US has turned a blind eye to for a decade. When widespread protests erupt in Iran, citizens bravely rise up against the regime, only to be brutally repressed – without even a peep from the US

Not surprisingly, Iran’s Islamist regime interpreted the lack of any international response as a green light to pursue its regional ambitions without fear of US retaliation. The tragic consequences of this became clear on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a group openly supported by Qatar and Iran, launched an unprovoked, brutal invasion of Israel, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping 241 others, including US citizens became.

Hamas has committed many atrocities – acts that Human Rights Watch has described as crimes against humanity. Despite these brazen violations, the Biden-Harris administration’s response has always been disturbingly muted, containing little more than symbolic condemnation. The only country in the Middle East that was constantly pressured to make concessions “to avoid escalation” was Israel, the victim of October 7th.

The Biden-Harris administration’s silence and its insistence on toothless “diplomacy” not only emboldened Iran, but also encouraged it to activate its other proxies in the region against Israel. The Houthis, Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militias all increased their attacks on Israel, clearly aware that the US would not intervene in any meaningful way. Israel, now under siege on multiple fronts, was left to its own devices and received only weak and conditional support from its most powerful ally. Here again, the Biden-Harris administration’s cold shoulder to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington in July can only be seen by Iran as another green light to continue its aggression. The Red Sea is currently blocked, forcing ships to circumnavigate the African continent.

The Biden-Harris administration then went a step further and began publicly criticizing Israel’s defense measures by setting conditions, establishing red lines and withholding weapons. As Israel struggled to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks, the government’s failure to provide necessary military or diplomatic support demonstrated that the United States not only would not come to Israel’s aid, but would also question Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks Groups and other supported groups defended by Iran.

Taking inspiration from the Biden-Harris administration’s blockade of Israel, Iran unsurprisingly intensified its campaign against Israel. If there are no serious consequences, why stop? Emboldened by the lack of significant countermeasures, Iran accelerated its long-held goal of wiping Israel off the map. On April 13, in an unprecedented move, Iran directly fired hundreds of its own missiles and attack drones at Israel – a clear departure from previous engagements in which Iran operated through its proxy forces.

Even more troubling was the Biden-Harris administration’s lack of response to these direct attacks. The regime in Tehran had not only launched an attack on Israel, but also committed an act of war against an important US ally. Instead of rallying to defend Israel, the government took the incomprehensible step of demanding restraint from Israel. The message was that the US would not intervene and that Israel was expected to stand back.

Nor is it surprising that this encouraged Iran to launch another direct attack on October 1, 2024 – this time by launching 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. If the Biden-Harris administration continues on its current path, these attacks are certain to escalate.

Israel is now fighting for its survival on several fronts. Thanks to the apparent lack of support from the Biden administration, Israel is left alone to defend itself against Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the United Nations, much of Europe, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and professionally whipped up Western university campuses and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran.

The dangerous reality that arises when a once-reliable ally is abandoned is that enemies can become increasingly aggressive as long as no one stops them.

The rise in attacks on Israel and the United States and the growing number of terrorist groups they target are direct consequences of weak and indecisive American leadership.

The message is that the allies are left to their own devices and the enemies of freedom and democracy can destroy them with impunity.

The Free World, once a beacon of security, is vulnerable, isolated and under siege.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and consultant, Harvard-trained academic, political scientist, board member of the Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He is the author of several books on Islam and US foreign policy. He can be reached at [email protected]