Fox News’ coverage of Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel has exposed the media empire’s willingness to exploit controversy, putting partisanship ahead of patriotism even at the risk of causing polarizing political paralysis.
During military action rising from the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Fox News coverage is rooting for American failure by providing a platform for divisive and partisan narratives intended to undermine Democratic President Joe Biden’s domestic political support.
The network recently aired comments by Aryeh Lightstone, former chief of staff to Donald Trump’s Ambassador to Israel, who asserted that “Iran looks at the Biden administration and sees complete and total weakness.”
This partisan commentary, made while the military action was taking place, is a transparent attempt to sow discord along political lines.
Republican Senator Arthur Vandenberg, who opposed most of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s domestic policies and the United States’ involvement in World War II, first said that “politics stops at the water’s edge” around the time that he abandoned his isolationism after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
Republicans no longer have any sense that ‘politics stops’ as former President Donald Trump ripped into President Biden during Iran’s attack on Israel, claiming it would not have occurred if he had not lost the 2020 election.
“I want to say God bless the people of Israel — they’re under attack right now,” said the 2020 election loser during a rally in Pennsylvania, shortly after Iran launched the drone and missile strikes on Israel. “That’s because we show great weakness. This would not happen.”
“The great weakness that we’ve shown is unbelievable, and it would not have happened if we were in office. You know that, they know that, everybody knows that,” said Trump, while Biden was busy commanding troops engaged in blunting the assault and working to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from escalating into a global war.
“I just think Trump is delusional on this point,” said John Bolton, his former national security adviser called that a ridiculous statement on Sunday. “It’s a point that nobody can refute or confirm one way or the other. He doesn’t have any idea what to do in the Middle East in this situation.”
Israel later said the “vast majority” of the Iranian missiles were intercepted outside of the country by the country’s air defenses and the assistance of its allies, including U.S. forces.
The idea that partisan politics should end at the water’s edge is wise statesmanship. Although honest differences of opinion on foreign policy are still possible even during the urgency of events when it comes to military intervention, trying to manipulate such episodes for a domestic political advantage should be a disqualifying act.
It is too much to expect any respect for conventional norms from MAGA Republicans who have attempted to scuttle election results using violence and subterfuge, accepted aid from America’s foreign adversaries, engaged in massive lies, obstructed urgent legislation, and deprived Americans of their right to vote.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, also appearing on Fox News, criticized President Biden’s handling of the situation with Iran.
Pompeo, who delivered Trump’s surrender to the Taliban in February 2020, claimed that Biden’s warnings to Iran lacked teeth, stating, “He said ‘don’t’ multiple times and ‘don’t’ isn’t a national security policy. It’s not even a deterrent.”
The network also featured statements from other former officials, such as David Friedman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, who accused Biden of granting Iran sanctions relief. Friedman’s remarks included criticisms of Biden’s policies regarding Iraq’s energy imports from Iran.
In response to these assertions, it’s worth noting that Israeli authorities and Arab allies have confirmed Biden’s support during the recent conflict.
The U.S. collaborated with allies to help Israel defend against a significant missile and drone attack from Iran, resulting in minimal damage and successful interception of most projectiles.
Biden reaffirmed “ironclad” U.S. support for Israel and condemned Iran’s actions during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bipartisan support for Biden’s decision to aid Israel has emerged from lawmakers like Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell.
The incident has reignited discussions about the proverbial notion that “politics stops at the water’s edge,” emphasizing the importance of a united front in foreign affairs, highlighting a dangerous political climate, marked by deep partisan divisions and unconventional tactics, in which one party is willing to do anything to win.
While patriots argue for a unified and principled approach to foreign policy matters during times of crisis, regardless of political affiliation, right-wing extremists now exhibit dangerous unAmerican partisan priorities even during times of crisis and military action.