Sen. Angus King said Thursday he has seen classified information that indicates there is “heightened Iranian activity” in the region, but he said it could be in response to the U.S. getting more involved in the region.
“I think the president is absolutely right, according to the reporting we heard this morning to slow this thing down and express a little restraint on some of his advisers who seem to be getting us into a position where something pretty awful could happen,” the Maine independent said on CNN’s “New Day” show.
This follows a Washington Post report Wednesday that said President Trump is getting frustrated with his top advisers, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John R. Bolton, for rushing him into a conflict with Iran.
“They are getting way out ahead of themselves, and Trump is annoyed. There was a scramble for Bolton and Pompeo and others to get on the same page,” an official said, The Post reported.
Mr. King said the intelligence could be “misinterpreted” and may lead to a conflict that hurts both the U.S. and the Middle East.
“I think it’s a very volatile and dangerous situation. I am gravely concerned, Alisyn, again because of the possibility of miscalculation, misunderstanding, misreading of some event, and all of a sudden you are on a ladder of escalation that could be very, very dangerous for this country and for the Middle East,” he said, referring to “New Day” host Alisyn Camerota.
The New York Times reported Monday night that the Trump administration is planning to send 120,000 troops to the region.
Mr. Trump denied planning for it right now, but he said a land invasion would require him to “send a hell of a lot more troops than” 120,000.
Since the report, the Trump administration has deployed additional military to the Persian Gulf and ordered U.S. Embassy personnel in Iraq to vacate amid the Iranian tensions.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.