Senator Schumer refuses to admit damage to Iran military is ‘a good thing’

Schumer responded by raising concerns about future economic fallout and avoided addressing the question directly.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., declined to directly say whether degrading Iran’s military capabilities was a positive outcome during a televised exchange Monday, as MSNBC host Joe Scarborough pressed him repeatedly on the issue.

Speaking on “Morning Joe,” Scarborough asked Schumer whether it was “a good thing” that Iran’s military infrastructure had been weakened. Schumer did not give a direct answer, instead shifting to concerns about rising gas prices and broader economic consequences tied to halted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“All right, so senator, hold on a second. You gotta answer my question first. Is it a good thing that Iran — and I think you would agree with me, epicenter of terrorism in the world since 1979 — is it good that their military infrastructure is being degraded to the degree that it is, yes or no?” Scarborough asked.

Schumer responded by raising concerns about future economic fallout and avoided addressing the question directly, prompting Scarborough to press again. “I’m simply asking on the military side: Is it good, regardless of whether we agree with going in or not, is it good that Iran’s military infrastructure has been seriously degraded?” he said.

Mika Brzezinski, Scarborough’s co-host, said the question was a “trick question,” arguing that military actions must be evaluated alongside their consequences. “It’s a trick question because if you do not strategize the consequences of the action — the military action — if you obliterate and do all these things, but you don’t actually play out in your minds and have strategy for the consequences, then it’s not-,” she said.

Scarborough rejected that framing and said weakening Iran’s capabilities was a positive development. He added that Americans would likely agree.

Schumer continued to focus on economic trade-offs, saying, “Joe, in all due respect, if you ask the American people if you have the choice of degrading the military structure in Iran, but having gasoline be $6 a gallon and our economy falling into a deep recession where millions lose their job, what do you think?”

After further exchanges, Schumer said he did not disagree with Scarborough’s underlying point. “The fact that the leader, Khamenei, is gone, no one regrets that. The fact that Iran has less ability to create military trouble, no one disputes that.”