The U.S. has an obligation to protect its citizens when traveling abroad. Itay Chen was killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. He was a U.S. citizen — one of 1200 Israelis and foreigners killed that day. Another 251 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage by Hamas. In total, 117 hostages have been returned to Israel, including eight that Israel rescued. Eight U.S. citizens were taken hostage.
Yesterday’s murder of an American hostage is the fourth of our eight captured Americans to die at Hamas’ hands.
The Biden-Harris Administration has given negotiations almost a year, patiently trying to reach a deal while Hamas proceeded to kill four of our countrymen.
This was beyond naive. The right response, day 1, was to join Israel in fighting Hamas and responding militarily against Iran as it used its proxies, Hezbollah and the Houthis, to rocket Israel and, in the case of the Houthis, target commercial shipping in the Red Sea. To date, the Houthis have attacked and, in some cases, sunk, 70 commercial vessels, with two attacks occurring this week.
Here is today’s statement by President Biden. It suggests no change in U.S. policy.
"Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages."
Time to Stop Talking Softly and Start Using Our Big Stick
President Biden and Vice President Harris need to get very tough. Here’s an action plan that is certainly full of risks, but has the potential to end the Middle East conflict without further bloodshed.
Immediately replace all Israeli ground forces in Gaza with U.S. forces.
Publicly announce that further attacks on Israel by any combination of Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis will be viewed as attacks on the United States by all four entities.
Put Iran on public notice that any further attacks by it or its proxies on Israel, the United States, America’s allies, or international shipping will lead to immediate attacks on Iran’s nuclear weapons development facilities, its military, its refineries and other energy facilities, and its ports. It will also trigger an embargo on all Iranian energy exports.
Dramatically expand U.S. naval, air, and ground forces in the area
Take over the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza
Take control of vital security areas, including the 14-mile long strip of land — the Philadelphi corridor — that Hamas has used for years to smuggle rockets, armaments, and tunneling equipment and materials.
Declare a cease fire in Gaza commencing with the withdraw of Israeli ground forces.
Organize free elections in Gaza and the West Bank to elect non-militant leadership of a demilitarized, peaceful Palestinian state within existing borders — Gaza and the present-day West Bank — with appropriate ability of the Israeli military to ensure the Palestinian state does not import armaments of any kind.
Offer Iran the end to international economic sanctions in exchange for supervised immediate elimination of its nuclear armaments program and long-range missiles and the immediate end of any and all arms shipments to its proxies.
Give Hamas two weeks to surrender all remaining hostages alive, not dead or further physically impaired. In exchange, the U.S. will arrange sanctuary for Hamas members, either in Saudi Arabia or another country, which will supervise its activities. If all hostages are not so surrendered, pledge to use all U.S. military resources to destroy all remaining members of Hamas and rescue all hostages.
Residents of Gaza, Israelis, and we Americans have paid a terrible price for indulging Iran in its support of terrorism. We can no longer sit back and let Israel fight a proxy war for us with a country who’s latest President was just sworn in to chants of “Death to America.” It’s high time for the U.S. military to rescue our people. It’s high time for the U.S. to get serious with Iran. It’s high time for the U.S. to do what only we can do — impose a just peace on the Middle East.
Hi Chris, Israel isn't trusted by the Arabs to oversee and protect a free Palestinian state. The U.S. is, on balance. Gaza needs a trusted security force. Otherwise, Hamas or its equal will return. Plus, we have our own interests is getting Iran to behave or making it irrelevant militarily. We have only a limited period of hegemonic power. It's time to use it. best, Larry
Aaron. Thank you for what you do for all of us and certainly me and my family. Pls email me at kotlikoff@gmail.com and I will assist you for free. As for the plan, the idea is to bring the war to an end, not to have the U.S. fight it. But we can discuss. best, Larry