Allen West Questions Circumstances Of Iranian Incident
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former Congressman and CEO of the National Center for Policy Analysis, Allen West, expressed skepticism following the capture and subsequent release of ten US soldiers by Iran in the Persian Gulf.
West, speaking with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, thinks there is more to the event that has yet to be revealed.
"I don't understand the story behind this. I'm sure we'll get more information, but during the State of the Union Address, when the President was talking about how great the military was and its capabilities, then someone has to explain to me how the engines in both of these riverine assault boats failed at the same, which led to this incident. First and foremost, our people should not have been taken hostage for the time period that they were. We should not be apologizing for thanking the Iranians who are, without a doubt, an enemy. Just recently, they fired off a missile test not too far away from our carrier battle group that is there."
He contends the nuclear agreement reached last year is only encouraging the Iranians to act out more.
"Iran feels emboldened because they know that since this joint comprehensive plan of action, the nuclear deal, was signed last summer we have seen countless amounts of provocations. As a matter of fact, we've seen an increased aggressiveness of the Iranian fast patrol boats in the Persian Gulf coming up and getting very close and taunting our carrier battle group shipping that is in that area. We see what is happening between Iran and Saudi Arabia, so this propaganda will bolster and, as a matter of fact, they have already put out that this is what happens to the evil doers, which is the United States of America. They're going to play this up that they captured our sailors."
West was also critical of the President for not addressing the shooting of police officer Jesse Hartnett during his State of the Union speech.
"I got to tell you and I want everyone in Philadelphia to hear this, what really upset me was not mentioning Officer Hartnett's last night. To try to lecture us about how we need to respect people of other religions and what have you, we've got a problem in this country with home-grown domestic jihadism. That was shown on the streets of Philadelphia and we don't need the President to lecture us about decorum or things of this nature. The American people are afraid. My prayers go out to Officer Hartnett."
