Biden's Day-Late-Dollar-Short Airstrike In Syria Has Probably Made Things Much Worse Than Doing Nothing

A couple of days ago, I posted on the failure of the Biden bunch to take any action to protect American lives and property in Iraq. Since February 15, US facilities have been targeted for rocket attacks by Iranian-backed militias on at least three occasions. I say “at least three” because there could have been more and it is doubtful that, given Biden’s monomania about being a member of Khameini’s harem, that we say with certainty how many attacks have taken place and the reports suppressed. The post got some attention. The Operation Inherent Resolve public affairs officers sent me a passive-aggressive email, see UPDATED: Biden and His Enablers Kowtow to Iranian Attacks on American Facilities and the Media Covers For Him.

That post made three central points. First, Iranian proxies were targeting US forces and facilities in Iraq without any retaliation by the US military. Second, even though the attacks resulted in the injury of US servicemembers and the death of a contractor (the OIR PAO went to lengths to point out that the man killed by these Iranian-sponsored terrorists was a Filipino fireman and not, you know, an American), the US media downplayed the events almost to the point of ignoring them especially when compared to the media reaction to similar events under President Trump. The last point being my inference that the lack of reaction by the Biden bunch and the lack of interest or curiosity on the part of the media are linked because those two entities are united in their desire to appease Iran.

After some wheezing about “we can’t be sure who did it,” the Biden bunch finally ordered action. Overnight, the US attacked “facilities” associated with Iranian-backed militas. The widespread use of the term “facilities” caught my eye.

The US launched airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by Iranian-backed militia groups. The strikes were in retaliation for an attack against US forces in Iraq. https://t.co/FpMiR3lua5

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 26, 2021

As it turns out, there was good reason.

American officials said the strikes were a relatively small, carefully calibrated military response: seven 500-pound bombs dropped on a small cluster of buildings at an unofficial crossing at the Syria-Iraq border used to smuggle across weapons and fighters.

The strikes were just over the border in Syria to avoid diplomatic blowback to the Iraqi government. The Pentagon offered up larger groups of targets but Mr. Biden approved a less aggressive option, American officials said.

The American airstrikes on Thursday “specifically destroyed multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militia troops, including Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada,” Mr. Kirby said.

“This proportionate military response was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with coalition partners,” he added. “The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel.”

Facilities=shacks.

The casualty reporting is also instructive.

Reuters is reporting carnage;

#UPDATE US airstrikes have struck facilities in Syria used by Iran-backed armed groups.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 17 people were killed when the strike hit three trucks loaded with munitions coming from Iraq near the Syrian city of Bukamalhttps://t.co/ukYhN4lGvq pic.twitter.com/mxegNnl60s

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 26, 2021

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights appears to be nothing more than one or two guys telephoning “contacts” about whom we know nothing. The official reporting doesn’t mention hitting ammunition vehicles, something you’d think they would have noticed. The reaction from the terrorist side is mixed. They claim one guy was killed (given the target selection this is not unlikely) but there is outrage that they were hit. It’s almost like they were promised that nothing would happen and are angry because they were lied to. Read the thread:

2) Responses from Shia militant supporters downplaying strikes. One outlet claims strikes hit “unoccupied (empty) structure,” resulting in “one person martyred and…light injuries.” Calls news of significant destruction “wishful thinking” of their enemies.https://t.co/Oxjjzq2bCw

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) February 26, 2021

None of this is going anywhere good. Biden’s defenders claim that what he did yesterday is so much different and more sophisticated than what President Trump ordered, see The Ridiculous Hair Splitting on Biden Bombing Syria Begins. It isn’t. It is nothing close to the effectiveness or the purpose behind the strikes carried out last year.

The Biden bunch came into office looking weak on Iran. We know that John Kerry and other current Biden cronies engaged in extensive discussions with Iranian intermediaries about dismantling the system of alliances and sanctions President Trump had constructed to deter the Iranians. That weakness provoked the rocket attacks on US facilities. The non-reaction of Biden’s team to those attacks gave a clear signal that such behavior would be tolerated. The lateness of the attack indicates a significant reluctance on the part of Biden to go through with it. The target selection was calculated to do minimal damage; to “send a message.” Now we seem to have the worst of all worlds. The Iranian-backed terrorists are not afraid of our retaliation and they are spoiling for a fight.

Remember this. It will apply to every Biden foreign policy decision in the future.

But at least David French is happy with the guy he wanted to win the presidency.