In a scorching congressional hearing that laid bare America's chaotic response to the October 7 attacks on Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced withering criticism over both the immediate crisis response and years of policies that allegedly strengthened Iran and its proxies.
"A horrible incident occurred where over 1,200 people lost their lives. And yet the State Department had done nothing to come in and actually rescue Americans who had been left behind," thundered the congressman, who personally conducted evacuation operations in Israel. The contrast between official inaction and other nations' swift response painted a damning picture of U.S. preparedness.
While Blinken defended his department by citing embassy presence, the congressman revealed he personally evacuated 32 Americans on October 11 alone from Nazareth, Tiberias, and Haifa, later extending operations to the West Bank, Jerusalem, and areas near Gaza. "I got 255 Americans out by myself before the State Department lifted a finger," he declared, while other nations were already flying their citizens to safety.
The hearing exposed broader policy failures that allegedly emboldened Israel's enemies. Under the Biden administration, Iran's petroleum exports exploded to $144 billion - a staggering $100 billion increase over Trump-era figures, according to Energy Information Agency data. This windfall, critics argue, directly funded Hamas and Hezbollah.
The administration's decision to delist Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization came under particular fire, with 12% of global Red Sea trade now disrupted by Houthi attacks. "Hezbollah got stronger while you were in office. Hamas was funded because of your failures to impose necessary sanctions," the congressman charged.
In one of the hearing's most heated exchanges, the congressman argued that recent successes against Hamas leadership, including the elimination of Hamas leader Sinwar, came despite U.S. guidance. "Hamas leadership would not have been eliminated if they would have listened to what Biden had advised, which is cease fire and stop," he stated, adding that Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah similarly would have remained untouched under U.S. recommendations.
When Blinken attempted to defend his record by citing embassy presence, the congressman delivered a crushing retort: "How many Americans did you personally rescue, sir?" When Blinken admitted "None," the room fell silent.
The explosive session ended with a stark assessment: "I can tell you right now that we are better off as a nation, we are safer a nation, and our American citizens will be safer with you not sitting in that seat," the congressman concluded, leaving observers to question whether U.S. Middle East policy has fundamentally strengthened America's adversaries while leaving its allies and citizens exposed.
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