McConnell: Biden Admin. Must Make Adversaries Fear Costs of Escalating Violence

Floor Speech

"Yesterday, the Biden Administration added the Houthis to the government's terrorist list.

In light of the group's sustained terrorist violence against U.S. military and commercial ships in the Red Sea, this might seem like the sensible response of a clear-eyed Commander-in-Chief…

Except that Iran-backed Houthi terror isn't new. For years, this group has made no secret of its aims. Here is their motto: "God is great. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.'

Why on earth did President Biden remove the Houthis from the terror list in the first place?

And why did it take so long to admit that denying the reality of Iran-backed Houthi terror was a mistake?

It is good that the President has finally mustered the fortitude to authorize strikes against the terrorists who threaten America.

But just like its response to Putin's war against Ukraine, the Biden Administration's response to Iran-backed terrorism has been hesitant. Half-measured. And openly conflicted over the risks of escalation.

It is Iran that should fear the costs of escalation. Not the United States and our allies.

Iran must fear that terror against America's interests will result in military responses against its interests.

That its complicity in Houthi attacks on global shipping will produce devastating economic pressure from across the free world.

That continued terrorism -- whether by proxy or by Iranian personnel, themselves -- will be met with swift and costly retribution.

It's all well and good for President Biden to authorize yet another round of strikes against Houthi missiles. But having to do so multiple times in the span of a week is a pretty good indication that his initial effort did not exactly send the desired message to Tehran or its proxies.

The world's most active state sponsor of terrorism is stepping up its violence against U.S. personnel in the Middle East precisely because it doesn't believe we have the resolve to respond with strength and impose serious costs.

And the chronic, compulsive effort to tie our own hands only validates this assumption. It only encourages our adversaries to lash out with impunity.

We know exactly what an undeterred Iran looks like. After three years of the Biden Administration's desperate policy of conciliation, it's what we're experiencing right now.

Regardless of which corners of our politics are willing to acknowledge it, America cannot hope to deter aggression with weakness. We need to start investing seriously in the capabilities and capacity to meet the tasks at hand.

We're facing an axis of connected threats that stretches from Moscow to Beijing and Tehran to Pyongyang.

Our adversaries speak the language of strength. And America can't afford not to be fluent."

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