The United States is facing several challenges in addition to Iran, and must maintain flexibility to deal with them, Sen. Chris Coons said Monday, also pointing out that he is "underwhelmed" by the clarity of scenarios that have been laid out in a briefing last week.
"A number of military leaders who are not currently serving have said publicly, pointedly, an actual full-scale war with Iran would be incredibly costly, very long, and of uncertain outcome," the Delaware Democrat said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "Iran is larger, more populous, has more hardened experience, combat troops with experience throughout the region compared to Iraq."
Even if just a small exchange takes place and remains contained, Coons said, there is still a possibility the situation would escalate.
"We don't have a lot of running room for error here," said Coons. "We have other challenges in the world, North Korea, China, Russia. And we need to maintain some of the strategic flexibility and resources to tackle other challenges in the world in addition to Iran."
Coons also discussed the ongoing questions about Huawei and 5G internet, calling for the United States and core allies to be sure that the 5G system is built out in a way that does not put US national security at risk.
"The US and China are fairly closely integrated right now in terms of supply chains, economics, and research," said Coons. "It would be difficult to accomplish but I think it is well worth our looking hard at an all of government and all of society effort by the west in partnership with companies like Samsung and Nokia."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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