Staff Reports
The Biden administration’s handling of support for Israel after the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas has come under serious scrutiny. The latest controversy surrounds the administration’s decision to extend a waiver sanction for Iran, known to back Hamas, allowing them to receive around $10 billion from Iraq in exchange for electricity purchases. The waiver, signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is identical to one issued in July, which raises concerns about the timing of the decision.
According to anonymous officials cited in the article, the administration signed the waiver to prevent cutting off Iraq’s critical source of energy. They claim that a rigorous vetting process is in place to ensure the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes. However, critics argue that these waivers allow Iran to divert domestic revenue, which could have been spent on humanitarian goods, to fund proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Biden State Department spokesman Matt Miller has a very difficult time rebutting the "fungibility" argument with the tens of billions of dollars Biden has unlocked for the Iranian regime pic.twitter.com/yHLdHnwu38
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 14, 2023
Notably, the article fails to mention the October 7 terrorist attack and only briefly refers to the “Israel-Hamas war.” This one-sided reporting is not surprising given the Associated Press’s alleged complicity with Hamas, having reporters embedded with the terrorist group.
During a State Department briefing, spokesperson Matt Miller defended the waiver and insisted that the funds would only be used for the benefit of the Iranian people. He dismissed concerns about optics and fungibility, pointing out that the previous administration also supported this policy. However, Miller’s statements failed to address the valid concerns raised by critics.
The Biden administration’s response has been sharply criticized by Republicans, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law heightened sanctions on Iran. This contrast in approaches underscores the growing divide between the administration and its conservative opponents.
In summary, the Biden administration’s decision to extend the waiver sanction for Iran raises serious concerns about the allocation of funds and their potential use to support terrorist groups. The lack of transparency and acknowledgement of the October 7 terrorist attack further fuels criticism and raises questions about the administration’s commitment to Israel’s security.
