Duval Times

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Rick Scott and Senator Tom Cotton, along with six congressional colleagues, have expressed their concerns to President Joe Biden regarding the upcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to the White House in April. In a letter addressed to President Biden, the senators highlighted their deep apprehensions about the meeting.

The letter, co-signed by Senators Ted Budd and Bill Hagerty, as well as Congressmen Jake Ellzey, French Hill, Mike Turner, and Mike Waltz, emphasized that hosting Prime Minister al-Sudani at this time could send the message that the Biden administration is more focused on appeasing Iran than supporting Israel's efforts against Hamas. The senators raised issues about Iraq's support for terror groups, its significant Iranian influence, and attacks on American personnel and Kurdistan.

The letter outlined the senators' concerns about the Iraqi government's ties to Iran and its funding of Iran-backed militias, urging President Biden to take actions to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq and support Kurdish allies. The senators pointed out the importance of prioritizing the reopening of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline to support the Kurdistan Region and ensure that U.S. dollars do not benefit the Iranian regime or its proxies.

In conclusion, the senators expressed their discontent with what they perceive as appeasement of Iran, stating, "Your appeasement of Iran has endangered American national security and weakened our relationship with our allies." They called on President Biden to take corrective actions to address the concerns raised in the letter.

Senator Rick Scott's recent trip to Israel and his meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were highlighted in the context of the shared priority between the United States and Israel to combat Iran-backed Hamas terrorists.

This letter underscores the ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding the Biden administration's foreign policy decisions, particularly in relation to Iran, Iraq, and Israel.