Assuming, as is likely, that the Iranians were responsible for the crippling drone attack on Saudi oil production over the weekend, the question on all the talk shows yesterday has been what should the American response be?
I think a more fundamental question is why the United States should respond, at least militarily, at all. It seems to be assumed that it's incumbent upon the U.S. to punish the Iranians, but why?
We are energy independent thanks to fracking (which many Democrats want to do away with) and are a net exporter of petroleum. It seems to me that the people who should punch back against the Iranians are the people hurt by the reduction of Saudi oil production, i.e. the Saudis, Asians and Europeans. It's their fight, not ours.
We certainly should lend logistical and intelligence support to allies and we should keep up the sanctions pressure that's apparently causing a lot of pain in Iran, but, unless there's something I'm overlooking, it would be foolish for us to get involved in a shooting war with the Iranians when their aggressions have mainly affected other countries.
The Iranians seem to be trying to goad us into a war, but until they attack American interests or take American lives, our response should not involve military force. It would be a big mistake to spend American blood and treasure to protect the interests of countries which would be essentially getting a free ride. Until the Iranians try to harm us, we have no dog in the fight.
President Trump is walking a tightrope between insufficient and excessive reaction. His instinct has in the past been to favor caution. Let's hope that that remains his instinct after this latest provocation.
