Foreign Policy Analyst: White House Wrong Not To Push Back On Iran
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Foreign policy analyst Ed Turzanski attempted to assess the aftermath of ten Navy soldiers being captured in the Persian Gulf by the Iranians. They were released hours later, but not before being photographed and forced to apologize for an incursion into Iranian waters.
Turzanski, the John Templeton Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 that while we may never find out exactly what happened, the response from the White House was lacking.
"We don't know whether our troops have been told, if you encounter Iranian vessels, whether you stay and defend your vessel or whether you give up...We just don't know what the rules of engagement were, but we do know this, we are double-jointed in the spine, not to push back against any kind of Iranian misconduct. So they can test missiles that runs counter to what's in that agreement. They can fire rockets 1,500 yards away from an American aircraft carrier. They can do all these things. We will exercise self-restraint. We will not touch them."
He insisted that Iran is intent on abusing President Obama's new strategic policy with our longtime nemesis.
"The Administration has done everything it could to create the impression that it would craft a new approach to Iran that would be more much more constructive. Unfortunately, all of the proof we have coming back is that Iranian behavior has not moderated. It hasn't become better. This isn't supporting our national interests and all of our allies in the region look at this with deep alarm."
Turzanski compared the situation of these Navy sailors to another famous soldier captured in the region.
"This is like all of the murky circumstances surrounding the Bowe Bergdahl swap. In the case of Bergdahl there is not a chance we should've traded him for those five Taliban and the Administration goes into this lofty 'no man left behind' rhetoric and, in fact, this is all about their grand policy pronouncements."
