Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) declared that he’s lost of confidence in Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — in response to the former general’s recent comments about the Israel-Hamas War.

As Graham spoke about the war during his interview with Dana Bash, the CNN anchor brought up Lloyd’s warning that Israel risks “[replacing] a tactical victory with a strategic defeat” in Gaza unless they do everything they can to protect civilians in the region. Since Israel is currently under scrutiny over the civilian death toll from their counteroffensive against Hamas, Bash asked if Austin has a point in warning that Palestinians will be driven “into the arms of the enemy” unless Israel does more to help them.

Graham flatly rejected the idea, saying “He’s so naïve! I mean, I just lost all confidence in this guy.”

“How about focusing on protecting our soldiers, men and women in Syria and Iraq?” Graham continued. “Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? They’re already inflamed! They’re taught from the time they’re born to hate the Jews and to kill them.”

Graham continued calling it “really naive” to say that Israel is fighting against a “tranquil population” that was “only inflamed after Israel goes in to defend itself.”

“I don’t want to kill innocent people,” he said. “but Israel is fighting not just Hamas, but the infrastructure around Hamas… Strategic failure is letting Hamas stand.”

When Bash noted Graham’s positive opinion about Austin in the past, he reaffirmed his disappointment in the defense secretary while dismissing fears that civilian casualties will eventually lead to a new generation of anti-Israeli insurgents.

“The population has been radicalized for decades. You don’t get that?” He said. “The idea that somehow Israel is radicalizing people in Gaza is ridiculous. They’ve been radicalized for years.”

Graham’s comments come after he previously said “there is no limit” to the number of Palestinian deaths that would cause him to question Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Watch above via CNN.

The post ‘He’s So Naive!’ Lindsey Graham Scoffs at General Austin’s Warning of ‘Strategic Defeat’ for Israel Over Civilian Casualties first appeared on Mediaite.

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