Sen. John Fetterman’s recent remarks on Newsmax made plain what too many in Washington refuse to admit: the United States and our allies must be willing to strike Iran again if necessary to stop its march toward a nuclear arsenal. Fetterman told Greta Van Susteren he supports the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and warned that Iran “has to get the message,” a clear, muscular stance that the foreign-policy elites and many in his own party are loath to take.
This is the kind of common-sense, America-first leadership that conservatives have been demanding for years, and it’s encouraging to see a Democratic senator break with the reflexive anti-defense posture of the modern left. Fetterman pointed out that his party often gets Iran wrong and that the decision to degrade Iran’s nuclear capability was “entirely appropriate,” a blunt assessment of the stakes our country faces if Tehran is allowed to weaponize its enrichment program.
Make no mistake: the strikes that hit known nuclear sites like Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were not theatre — they were necessary, precision blows aimed at stopping a deadly program before it crosses the line. Americans who value peace through strength should be thankful for elected officials who understand deterrence; those who wring their hands about procedure while our enemies grow stronger are playing a dangerous game with our security.
The left’s instinct to lecture and legislate while the world burns is a moral and strategic failure, and Fetterman’s willingness to name that failure should be applauded across the aisle. He has been consistent in supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and has even backed targeted operations against Hamas and its enablers — positions that any honest patriot recognizes as necessary in a world where evil organizations operate with impunity.
If Washington is serious about protecting American families and allies, it must stop tolerating the disunity and cowardice that have emboldened Tehran for decades. Congress should back policies that give commanders the tools they need to keep weapons of mass destruction off of the world stage, and the American people should demand leaders who choose strength over sermonizing.
Sen. Fetterman’s comments are a reminder that patriotism isn’t a party line but a responsibility — to deter aggression, defend our partners, and preserve the peace for our children. Hardworking Americans know we owe nothing to appeasement; we owe our leaders resolve, and we should reward those who show it.
