Dayton Reporter

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford recently spoke with Mike Emanuel on The Fox News Rundown about the U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites and their potential implications for the United States.

Crawford praised President Trump's firm stance against Iran, stating, "Iran has been a problem since 1979… They have been... daring the United States and Israel for the better part of half a century and we’ve finally got a President that was willing to say this is a red line and this is an immovable red line."

He highlighted the meticulous planning involved in the operation, saying, "This took a lot of planning over time to be able to execute on something like this and so the level of OPSEC is commendable."

Crawford warned of possible Iranian retaliation through asymmetric warfare, particularly cyber-attacks, noting, "We know there are cells in various countries around the world—if not directly Iranian, then certainly sympathetic to the Iranians."

He also commented on regional reactions, suggesting that silence from neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates indicates their approval of the strikes against what they see as a regional threat.

Regarding internal dynamics within Iran, Crawford expressed hope for change: "I am hopeful for a popular uprising" against what he described as an oppressive regime.

Criticizing previous administrations' policies towards Iran's nuclear development, Crawford stated, "President Trump has taken decisive action to alter the course of Iranian history here."

Finally, he emphasized that these strikes send a clear message to adversaries: "This sends a strong message to our adversaries that may want to challenge the United States that there is a new sheriff in town."