Iran is funding protests in America
but Biden still won’t treat Tehran as the enemy it is
Post Editorial Board, New York Post
Is anyone surprised that Iran is boosting anti-Israel protests in America?
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines confirmed it Tuesday: “Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza, using a playbook we’ve seen other actors use.”
That is, people “tied to Iran’s government” are “posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests and even providing financial support to protesters.”
That is, funding “pro-Palestine” demonstrations
Most of the useful idiots railing against Israel (and America!) on our streets and campuses won’t realize they’re being manipulated, Haines notes.
Iran’s goal: to “stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions” — just as Americans prepare to hit the voting booths.
Yet Iran doesn’t just want to sow discord here; it wants to weaken US support for Israel, too, and indeed these demonstrations have moved President Biden to offer sympathy for the protesters and denounce (nonexistent) Israeli “excesses” — and even to slow the supply of arms to the beleaguered Jewish state.
Tehran’s shadow war complements its proxies’ actions on the ground, such as their strikes on US bases in the Middle East, killing three US soldiers in January — attacks the prez has hesitated to answer with the devastating response they deserve.
Yet while Iran clearly sees “The Great Satan” as its enemy, the Bidenites don’t get it; they’re wedded to a misguided belief that Tehran can play a positive role in the region.
Our president has worked to protect Iran — demanding, for example, Israel not retaliate after Tehran launched 300+ missiles and attack drones directly at it.
And in the years before that, he rolled back sanctions on Iran, allowing billions to fund its terror pawns.
We hear the White House staff don’t like to share bad news with the prez, as it can trigger a rage: Have his handlers even let him hear this ugly truth from his director of national intelligence?
And if so, what must Iran do to get Biden & Co. to treat it as the enemy it clearly is?
