President Biden has sparked outrage after it was revealed he may not attend a ceremony honoring the three US Army reservists killed in Jordan – amid reports he may be planning retaliatory attacks on Iranian assets in the Persian Gulf in the next few days.
The bodies of Sgt. William Rivers, 46, Spc. Brianna Moffatt, 23, and Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, all of Georgia, is to be flown back to Dover Air Force in a dignified transfer after being killed by Iran-backed militants in an attack on a small outpost near the Syrian border on Saturday evening.
But when asked Monday whether the president would attend the ceremony, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he had “nothing on.” [the president’s] Appointment for discussion.”
Many online found the reaction “disgraceful.”
“Joe Biden just killed three black service members,” the free speech advocate said Philip Anderson posted on X.
“Their lives as Black people were so important to Joe Biden that he doesn’t even bother showing up to receive their bodies, from what I’ve heard.”
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, announced Monday that he was “not wearing anything.” [the president’s] Appointment for conversation,” when he was asked whether Biden would attend the dignified repatriation of the three soldiers killed in Jordan. Getty Images Biden has vowed to retaliate against Iran for the deadly attack. AP
Another user suggested that the president “has nothing on his schedule” and that “the people of Ohio are still waiting for a visit after train derailments last year.”
Also Jon Sweet, a former military intelligence officer said the answer was “not a good look for the president.”
Biden has vowed to retaliate against Iran over the deadly attack, and on Monday evening US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that a response could be “multi-tiered, phased in and sustained over a longer period of time.”
There are few details about what such a response might entail, but the president is considering the possibility of an attack on Iranian personnel in Syria and Iraq or on Iranian naval facilities in the Persian Gulf, according to Politico.
He even asked his advisers to show him options for responding to the attack without dragging the United States further into the war in the Middle East, two government officials told the newspaper.
Reserve Sgt. U.S. Army William Jerome Rivers, Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, who were killed in a drone strike on an outpost in northeastern Jordan. via Portal
According to the New York Times, the Pentagon and the State Department have already spent decades compiling a list of possible Iranian targets in the event of a war breaking out between the country and Israel.
These include large drone factories and their suppliers abroad that help Russia in Ukraine and supply weapons to the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Pentagon also reportedly has existing plans for airstrikes on Iranian missile sites and air bases, and the US has even developed a cyber attack option that would cripple Iran's air defenses, communications systems and key parts of its power grid – although it is unclear how long the cyber attack may last .
Yemen's Houthi fighters carry their weapons in vehicles as they take part in an armed rally and parade against the US-British airstrikes and in solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip near Sana'a, Yemen, on January 28, 2024. Getty Images The site of a drone attack on US troops in Jordan at a base called Tower 22 is seen on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Google Earth
But Iranian officials have so far denied any involvement in the attack – even after the Iran-backed Axis of Resistance claimed responsibility, saying the attack was a “continuation of our approach to resisting American occupying forces in Iraq and the region.” .
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Monday the militias “do not take orders from Iran” and act independently.
He called the allegations that the country was involved “baseless accusations” aimed at expanding the war between Israel and Hamas.
“Responsibility for the consequences of provoking allegations against Iran lies with those who make such unfounded allegations,” Kanaani said.