USA

‘Sometimes you have to kill a few chickens to scare the monkeys’

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Sunday that President Trump enjoys daily attacks on Iran, with strikes pausing toward the weekend after nearly two weeks of attacks on Iran’s infrastructure.

“I think we should continue the blockade and starve them. I think we should bomb Mount Ida and try to get to what’s underneath,” Kennedy told CBS News’ Margaret Brennan during an appearance on “Face the Nation.”

“The President enjoys daily attacks,” Kennedy added. “He believes that sometimes you have to kill a few chickens to scare the monkeys away.”

Kennedy compared Iran’s leaders to American serial killer Son of Sam and cult leader Charles Manson, calling them “more than a little crazy.” But he added that the United States should not “just cut and run.”

“If we can endure the pain of rising energy costs, we should stay the course,” he said. “At least for a few more months. And I don’t think we need to send troops. That’s my opinion.”

The United States and Iran resumed hostilities earlier this month, effectively abandoning an interim peace deal that would have led to the easing of high gas prices and the lifting of sanctions. Polls on the war have been consistently weak since the United States and Israel began fighting on February 28. risking Republican turnout during the fall midterm elections.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who has been more critical of the war’s goal and the administration’s messaging on the conflict, said Sunday that an end to the war “seems unlikely” any time soon.

“At this point, I think there needs to be a broader national discussion about how we move forward,” Cassidy told CNN. “If the president gets this done quickly – which seems unlikely – but they are reassuring that it can happen. OK, no problem.”

Cassidy insisted that Congress “must trigger this conversation” about the future and goals of war.

Although the administration downplayed the ongoing negotiations, both countries remained open to resuming negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Trump’s new policy toward Iran is “head for eyeAfter Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s policy was “an eye for an eye”.

On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei rejected the path to peace.

“Today, as the nations of the world are fed up with the tyranny and oppression of the US government and the murderous Zionists who are destroying lives and generations, there is no way forward other than jihad and resistance.” wrote on social media.

Head to The Hill for the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video.