The latest Fox News reporting shows a substantial U.S. military buildup steaming into the Middle East as President Donald Trump publicly weighs precision strikes against Iranian targets. Correspondent Lucas Tomlinson described a “massive armada” moving into position while retired Gen. Jack Keane joined the discussion to assess Tehran’s vulnerabilities. This is not saber-rattling for show — it’s calibrated pressure backed by real force posture ready to punish bad actors if diplomacy fails.
Retired Gen. Jack Keane’s blunt assessment that Iran sits at a uniquely weak moment is worth taking seriously; months of economic collapse, mass protests, and regime repression have left the theocracy exposed and overstretched. The American public has watched the Iranian regime crack down on its own people even as its proxies and nuclear ambitions persist, creating an opening for decisive action. Conservative foreign policy has always understood that strength, not appeasement, creates leverage — and right now the leverage is ours.
Of course, the constitutional and political questions are alive: lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are asking about war powers and whether the White House can act without congressional authorization. That debate is healthy, but it should not be an excuse for paralysis when intelligence and on-the-ground posture suggest a narrow window to degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Americans should demand careful legal oversight, but they should also recognize that speed and resolve can avert a far worse, longer conflict down the road.
Let’s be honest about where past weakness got us: the JCPOA and years of muddled policies allowed Iran to rebuild revenues and expand malign activity across the region. The contrast with a presidency that reasserts deterrence is stark — and for conservatives who prize national security, this administration’s willingness to back words with force is gratifying. Those who reflexively call for endless diplomacy without consequences are the same voices that loaned time and resources to Tehran’s adventurism.
There are real risks in any military action, including retaliation against U.S. forces or allies, but the alternative is allowing a regime that chants “death to America” to inch toward a nuclear threshold unchecked. The prudent path is to combine overwhelming military readiness with coordinated pressure on Tehran’s finances and proxies so any strike is surgically effective and limited in scope. That kind of strategy protects American lives and preserves regional stability better than ceding the field to tyrants.
Patriots who care about American safety should demand clarity, lawful authority, and decisive leadership from their elected officials. Congress can do its duty by providing the necessary oversight without tying the president’s hands at the exact moment when American power can produce results. If our leaders are serious about preventing a nuclear Iran and defending allies, now is the time to stand firm — not to indulge the comfortable delusions of appeasement.
