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Transcript/ScriptUS Congress Middle East (TV)
HEADLINE: US Lawmakers Concerned About Escalating War in Middle East
TEASER: Some senators call for new authorization of the use of military force following Jordan attack
PUBLISHED AT: 2/01/2024 at 8:18 pm
BYLINE: Katherine Gypson/Saqib Ul Islam
PRODUCERS: Katherine Gypson
CONTRIBUTING:
DATELINE: Capitol Hill
VIDEOGRAPHER: Saqib Ul Islam
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, sb
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
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VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVR
UPDATE: See script courtesies – bite in Farsi is No Use VOA Persian
((INTRO))
[[U.S. President Joe Biden is weighing responses to the death of three U.S. service members in Jordan Sunday, in a drone strike the White House attributed to Iranian-backed militias. The attack has many U.S. lawmakers concerned about increasing U.S. military involvement in the Middle East following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. VOA congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.]]
((NARRATOR)) ((MANDATORY COURTESY: Planet PBC))
The deaths of three U.S. service members at a military base in Jordan on Sunday will not go unanswered, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday …despite fears a U.S. response could escalate regional tensions.
((Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense))
"This is a dangerous moment in the Middle East. We will continue to work to avoid a wider conflict in the region. But we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our interest and our people. And we will respond when we choose, where we choose, and how we choose."
((NARRATOR))
Iran-backed militants have carried out 166 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Iran has denied responsibility for the attack that killed three U.S. service members and says it is not deterred by a potential U.S. response.
((Gen. Hossein Salami, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander (male, Farsi))
((NO Use VOA Persian))
“You know that we do not leave any threats unanswered. While we are not looking for war, we are not afraid of war, and we do not run away from it.”
[[radio: General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, said, "You know that we do not leave any threats unanswered. While we are not looking for war, we are not afraid of war, and we do not run away from it.” ]]
((NARRATOR))
On Capitol Hill, some Democratic Senators are concerned a U.S response could rapidly escalate a military conflict before lawmakers have a chance to authorize war.
((Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat))
“This is an escalating war in the Middle East. The U.S. is getting drawn more and more into it. There's no congressional authorization for the U.S. participation of the war in the Middle East, so the time is probably now for Congress to begin that discussion.”
((NARRATOR))
But lawmakers also recognize the need for a strong U.S. response.
((Sen. Joe Manchin, Democrat))
“Anyone who attacks the troops and puts Americans in harm's way – we’re going to do really everything we can defend our citizens and our troops especially and let them know that this is not going to be tolerated, and they'll have paid extreme prices for it.”
((NARRATOR))
Earlier this week, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said the Biden administration’s policies had increased the threat posed by Iran.
((Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader))
“For three years, the threat of Iran-backed terror against American personnel and interests in the Middle East has been growing. Iran is emboldened and believes it can use its proxies to attack America with impunity. And the Biden administration has hastened this erosion of deterrence. Their public hand-wringing and fear of escalation sends exactly the wrong message to Tehran.”
((NARRATOR))
And other Republican lawmakers said Thursday any response should be carefully calibrated.
((Sen. Rick Scott, Republican))
“I would like to know the president has a plan to put - to not just stop this - but to put Iran in a position they will never do this again.”
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. has responded to previous attacks on U.S. service members with actions including an October strike on a weapons storage site in Syria used by Iranian-backed militias.
((Katherine Gypson, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Capitol Hill Washington D. C.
Embargo DateFebruary 1, 2024 22:49 EST
Byline
Katherine Gypson, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
