By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Eastern Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt says the United States must move to protect its personnel in wake of Israel’s strikes against Iran.
“It’s a very difficult time and I’m hopeful that the Iranian nuclear program is now disabled and also that this confrontation can be contained,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Early Friday morning, Israel launched a targeted attack on Iran’s nuclear program, both material and personnel. It has continued its assault on Iran through the past weekend. A counter-attack by Iran killed at least eight in Israel early Monday. Israel warned residents of Tehran to evacuate as the conflict entered its fourth day.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to neutralize any threat from Iran’s nuclear program.
Schmidt says the U.S. must be clear Israel made this decision on its own.
“The United States has made clear that this was a decision of the Israelis, not of the United States government, and that the Israelis were within their rights to ensure that Iran, which has obviously been overtly hostile to Israel, has launched attacks on Israel within recent months, does not become a nuclear-capable power,” Schmidt says.
Schmidt says the Trump Administration has warned Iran not to harm any Americans in its retaliation.
“We should defend our own,” Schmidt says. “It is an America first policy and that ought to be our top priority as well as obviously trying to deescalate at this point and prevent the spread of the fighting.”
Schmidt says the United States has long opposed Iran becoming a nuclear power.
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