On September 11, 2023, the day when Americans remembered the horrors of 9/11, President Biden approved the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian money. He did so in an effort to exchange the frozen funds for the release of 5 American Citizens who were being held hostage by Iran. Nearly one month later, Iran helped fund and plan the deadliest attack on Israel, in the Country’s history. Yet, most if not all media outlets refuse to acknowledge the connection, save for the Wall Street Journal. Top U.S. state officials have even gone on the record to say that there is no connection. “Let’s be clear: the deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel. Not a penny has been spent,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Saturday.” How does he know? Where is his proof? On social media, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “The Biden Administration must be held accountable for its appeasement of these Hamas terrorists, including handing over billions of dollars to them and their Iranian backers.”
Money is fungible
A number of critics to the latest Biden Iran deal, have stated that money is fungible. Even if it is true that Iran has not directly used the $6 billion to fund the latest Hamas terror, nonetheless, the new unfrozen money still allows Iran to use other money that has been freed up as a result. “You can say certain funds can’t be used, but you can use other funds that may be freed up as a result,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, told reporters on Saturday. “To think that they’re not moving money around is irresponsible,” Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations said.
Iran’s ties to Hamas
Iran provides up to $100 million annually to Hamas and other terrorist groups, according to a 2021 State Department report. Iran has publicly called for Israel’s destruction, and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has publicly stated that Hamas would not be Hamas without funding and training from Iran. After the terror attacks, which occurred on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, Iran’s Supreme leader, Khamenei, publicly praised the attacks.
Biden’s Gesture Sent Clear Message to Hamas
Even if it were true that the newly unfrozen $6 billion was not used to fund the latest Hamas terror, Biden still shares the blame. His actions sent a clear message to terrorists everywhere: If you take hostages, we will pay you billions of dollars. One month later, that is exactly what Hamas did. They took over 150 hostages, including United States citizens. This is not to say that human life is not valuable. However, make no mistake, Hamas took the hint, and what ensued, will reverberate for generations to come. History will Judge Biden, as perhaps one of the worst foreign policy Presidents in the history of America.
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Don’t forget the $7 billion in weaponry left in Afghanistan. It’s a horrible thought, but was it left there deliberately for this to happen?
Deliberately? Don’t be rediculous.
Yes, deliberately. He could have brought the materials back to America, or destroyed it all.
The weapons were garbage they’re not worth bringing back! All of a sudden everyone in a military advisor….Sign up and serve…Put your body where your mouth is!
The weapons in Afghanistan were trash? Really? So according to you America didn’t bring quality arms, tanks etc. to fight in Afghanistan. Even if you’re right that it wasn’t worth the cost of bringing planes etc. back. you still don’t leave it in the hands of terrorists. You destroy them. Every military expert said that was protocal. But I guess Biden knew better.
So what you’re saying is that since Israel has routinely swapped thousands of prisoners including known terrorist leaders for minimal Israelis over the years then those Israeli leaders bear responsibility for future attacks that they perpetrated? Considering not a penny had been transferred back to Iran (story updated on WSJ 10/13/23 8:23am) makes your opinion moot. Besides, if you think that they could have put together the training, planning and implementation of such a sophisticated operation in just one month then I have a bridge to sell you. Iran and others were most probably involved one way or another. But if you want to blame Biden for this then you have to blame Bush for 9/11, Reagan for the Marine corp barrack bombing and the list goes on.
Thank you for your common sense reply.
Bafoon. The minute the money left Americas hands it was in Iranian hands. No country between had any interest in holding it back. Biden lifted the Trump sanctions, equaling about 50 billion in business. Iran uses all funds for it’s terror programs. Nothing goes for an American style welfare system and its people. Get to understand the politics of the middle east before posting stupidity.
Stupidity is stating that the money was in our hands when it never was (strike one of your assumptions). South Korea had a interest in holding the money back because it was worried about running afoul of sanctions against Iran. Qatar who has the money agreed with the US to refreeze the funds. (strike two of your assumptions). The current administration has issued multiple sanctions against Iran (easily researched on the state department’s website amongst other government sites, not left or right leaning sites) which includes banking, weapons, shipping and many other things. It hasn’t fully repealed all of Trumps sanctions and has reinstated many of them (strike three). And nowhere did I state where the money would go if released and even stated that “Iran and others were involved” is strike 4 for your lack of reading comprehension and interjection of your agenda.
They made 50 billion on lifted sanctions. So you believe Qatar that they still had the money. The same Qatar that supports Hamas openly in your simple opinion can be trusted. I never said we had the money. We had a certain amount of control on the what happened with the money. America used to be respected around the world. How many countries respect America today? I believe the answer is zero. Though I’m sure there’s some small island somewhere that still considers America and Biden relevant. Just to further prove how little the world cares about what Biden says: He told the world and the middle east countries to stay out of the battle or there will be consequences. Well Hezbolah has been firing away at Israel and no response from America or their powerful show of force in the Mediterranean. I wonder what happened? The all powerful Biden spoke, and nada, nothing, why not?
what was already was, the point is to get the US weapons and destroy them
Why can’t we learn our lesson. Hashem is responsible. לב מלאכים ביד השם. אם השם לא ישמור עיר שוא שקד שומר. Both of the events are tied, they are both meant to teach us. Don’t trust in the US and don’t trust in the IDF. Trust in Hashem alone. Yes, there is something called השתדלות writing these articles and blaming Biden or the likes isn’t part of השתדלות.
It’s a shame so many of us have an (Anti-Biden, no I don’t like him) agenda that we say anything to prove our narrative.
This is about one thing & one thing only.
A peace deal between Israel & Saudi Arabia. Which Iran was able to stop the momentum.
Saudi Arabia is the “Big Daddy” of the Arab world & a deal with Israel would isolate Iran to a dangerous level for them.
We see Iran as another minor country in the big scheme of things but they don’t. Persia/Iran (same thing) was once the world superpower & they see no reason why they shouldn’t once again be the world leader. In old school world leadership it’s important to always be growing your empire. In today’s climate Iran rolling tanks into other countries won’t work. So they (don’t create but) find terror groups & countries they can use to expand their control.
They helped the Syrian govt in their civil war. That gives Iran influence in Syria. They fund Hezbollah. That gives Iran influence in Syria, Lebanon & Israel. They provide aid to paramilitary groups in Iraq. That gives Iran influence in Iraq. They fund terror groups in Gaza. This gives them influence in Gaza, Israel & Egypt. They fund the Houthies in Yemen. This gives them influence in Yemen & Saudi Arabia.
I don’t know about you but if you took a map of the middle east & circled Iran & all the places it exerts influence it sure looks like empire building to me.
True. But Biden isn’t doing anything to help with peace or to stop Iran
How is this helpful? I’m no Biden fan, but whoever wrote this may want to consider a chazara of chovos halvovos share habitochon
This is about the gashmiyus side.
Biden has to go!!!!!!!!!
Let me just understand the logic: it was OK for Israel to release to Hamas 1,027 actual terrorists to gain the freedom of one Israeli soldier, but the US isn’t allowed to return to Iran a few billion of their own money to gain the release of 5 Americans?
Plus additional terrorists.
Many felt Israel shouldn’t. However, some felt it was pidyon shevuyim. A machlokes. Though I believe most rabanim would have said no mitzvah.
Or that Trump negotiated with the taliban to release 5 thousand prisoners including known terrorists without Afghan government direct involvement in the negotiations (they were vehemently against the release).
And Biden who’s dividen’ the country tried to shove the Covid Clot-shot down everyone’s throat.
We do appreciate his [apparent] support for Israel, but indeed, the matter is far from simple.
Senseless argument…Biden Derangement Syndrome
Dont forget he restarted sending the palis millions of dollars including to gaza while acknowledging that it could be and would probably be used by Hamas to fund terror attacks, they had to get a waiver to send it.