In a recent interview on "Fox News Sunday," Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called for a strong and forceful response from President Biden to the spate of attacks on US assets in the Middle East. Cotton criticized the president for being too restrained in his approach to Iran, which has been carrying out attacks through its proxies since the conflict in Israel began. He pointed out that the US has only retaliated a few times, often targeting empty proxy warehouses or forces in Iraq and Syria. Cotton argued that the president's reluctance to cause Iranian casualties sends a message of weakness and called for targeted strikes against Iranians operating in Iraq and Syria to deter further attacks.

According to the Department of Defense, there have been at least 66 attacks on US forces since October 17th. Senator Cotton, a 46-year-old army veteran and member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, has long been a hawk on Iran. He believes that Biden's cautious approach stems from a fear of escalation but argues that demonstrating "escalation dominance" would actually deter aggression. When asked about the risk of triggering a conflict similar to World War III, Cotton downplayed the possibility, citing historical examples such as Ronald Reagan's sinking of half of Iran's navy and the killing of Qasem Soleimani under Donald Trump's administration, which he claimed led to a decrease in Iranian aggression.

Cotton emphasized that the way to stop these attacks is through massive retaliation that makes it clear the US will not tolerate them. He believes that being fearful, hesitant, and cautious in response only encourages more attacks. Iran, a Shiite-majority nation, has strongly opposed Israel's war against Hamas, a Sunni Islamic terrorist group that Tehran supports. The Biden administration has faced criticism from Republicans, particularly regarding the suspension of Robert Malley, Biden's Iran envoy who is currently under investigation.

Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, who also appeared on the program, defended President Biden's policy toward Iran. Auchincloss argued that the administration has implemented nearly 50 sets of sanctions, leading to significant inflation in the Iranian economy and making Iran desperate. He stated that the "thing that Iran fears more" than military action is political isolation through the Abraham Accords, a declaration signed by Israel and several Arab nations. Auchincloss believes that following the Republican Party's path of military action in the Middle East would only result in another failed forever war.

Overall, there is a clear divide between Senator Tom Cotton and Representative Jake Auchincloss regarding the Biden administration's response to Iran. While Cotton advocates for a massive retaliation to end the attacks, Auchincloss argues that the administration's tough stance and economic actions, along with political isolation through the Abraham Accords, are sufficient in dealing with Iran's aggression. The debate continues as tensions in the region persist.