Biden to receive bodies of soldiers killed in Jordan base attack | News
DOVER, United States, Feb 2, 2024 – President Joe Biden will oversee the return to the United States of the bodies of three American soldiers, killed in a drone attack at a base in Jordan that Washington has blamed on Iran-backed militants.
The bodies of William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and Breonna Alexsondria Moffett will arrive at an air force base in Dover, Delaware, where they will be received with military honors.
The White House has said a militia called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq was behind the attack on the base in Jordan, near the Syrian border. Biden has vowed a response, the nature and timing of which have not been declared publicly.
Pressure is mounting on the Democratic president during an election year where Republicans, including his predecessor Donald Trump, hope to retake the White House.
The Democrat, who has suffered many family tragedies of his own, is known to get emotional when greeting mourning Americans.
I know there is nothing anybody can say or do to ease the pain, I’ve been there, Biden said in one call, recorded and shared by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper.
I got one of these phone calls, Biden says in the video, his voice coming in over speakerphone, referring to the death in a car accident of his first wife and their infant daughter in 1972.
His son Beau died of cancer in 2015.
He had to wait for people to die to say, OK, maybe we need to do something. Are you kidding me? Republican primary candidate Nikki Haley said.
Trump, her primary challenger for the party’s nomination, has attacked Biden as weak.
The White House has promised a very consequential response to the Jordan base attack.
Amid strikes between US forces and Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as exchanges with Yemen’s Huthi rebels, these were the first US military personnel killed by hostile fire in the region following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Anger over Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza — which it launched after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 — has grown across the Middle East, stoking violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, as well as Yemen.
American forces in the region have been attacked more than 165 times since mid-October.
US forces have been striking targets in response, while Washington has said it wants to avoid a regional war and conflict with Iran.
As President Biden greets the bodies of the fallen soldiers, the nation mourns their loss and demands action. The President’s emotional connection with grieving families serves as a reminder of his own personal tragedies, bringing empathy and understanding to the table. However, critics argue that his response has taken too long and question his commitment to national security.
The world watches as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran-backed groups across the Middle East. With mounting pressure on President Biden in an election year, there are high stakes involved. The White House has promised a significant response to the attack on the Jordan base, but details of the retaliatory action remain undisclosed.
Friday’s ceremony in Dover, Delaware, will be a somber occasion filled with military honors and reverence. It will, however, do little to pacify critics who believe a stronger stance against Iran is necessary. The Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have accused Biden of weakness and called for a more forceful response.
The attack on the Jordan base is part of a larger pattern of violence and unrest in the region. American forces have been targeted multiple times since mid-October, prompting retaliatory strikes. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has further fueled tensions and resulted in increased violence involving Iran-backed groups across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
As President Biden navigates these complex challenges, he faces the difficult task of balancing national security with the desire to avoid a region-wide war. The global audience keenly watches the developments, knowing the potential consequences of a misstep.
In the face of tragedy, President Biden’s commitment to honoring the fallen soldiers and comforting their families is a testament to his character. However, the responsibility to protect American interests abroad is an urgent matter that demands swift action. The nation waits to see how President Biden’s response will unfold and whether it will satisfy those who seek a stronger stance against Iran-backed militants.
The return of the fallen soldiers marks a solemn moment in American history, reminding us of the sacrifices made by military personnel around the world. As the bodies of William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and Breonna Alexsondria Moffett arrive on US soil, the nation mourns their loss and pays tribute to their service and dedication.
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