Senator Warner Criticizes U.S. 'War of Choice' Against Iran, Cites Lack of Progress and High Costs

Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sharply criticized the U.S. administration's decision to engage in a "war of choice" against Iran, asserting that there was no imminent threat justifying the conflict. Speaking on "Face the Nation," Warner expressed condolences to the families of service members killed in recent attacks on American bases in Jordan, noting that the situation could have been far worse given the number of casualties.

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First of all, condolences to the service members' families, and it's remarkable in many ways that we've not had more casualties. We literally have hundreds of seriously wounded, but I think we're at 16 fatalities.

Warner questioned the stated goals of the administration's Iran policy, including regime change and degrading Iran's missile and drone capabilities. He argued that there has been no progress on these fronts and pointed to the significant costs involved. For instance, he cited the immense expense of using $2.5 million missiles to shoot down $50,000 Iranian drones. "The country that has figured out how to do this cheaply, efficiently is Ukraine," Warner stated, expressing frustration that the U.S. had turned down Ukraine's offer of their drone-countering technology.

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I would argue, Margaret, this is what happens when you start a war of choice. And as a member of the Gang of Eight, I can say unequivocally there was no imminent threat from Iran.

He also raised concerns about the ongoing situation in the Strait of Hormuz, noting the rise in gas prices since the conflict began. Warner indicated that there is no clear plan to ensure the strait remains open, a critical chokepoint for global oil transport. Furthermore, he addressed the difficulty of accessing and neutralizing Iran's enriched uranium, estimating that it would require 15,000 troops on the ground, a deployment nobody appears willing to undertake.

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The country that has figured out how to do this cheaply, efficiently is Ukraine. They can take out Iranian drones with $5,000 drones, and we turn down their offer of their technology.

When asked about potential targeting assistance to Iran from adversaries like China, Warner stated he had not been briefed on such specifics. However, he acknowledged that the bases in question have been under intermittent attack since the conflict started five months ago. Warner's remarks underscore a deep division and skepticism within the U.S. political establishment regarding the rationale and execution of the current military engagement with Iran.

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And finally, the Strait of Hormuz, you know, gas is now back up to four bucks. That's $1.20 more than it was, at least in Virginia when the war started, and there is no plan on how we keep the Strait open.