{"id":73634,"date":"2023-12-08T01:32:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T01:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/12\/08\/communication-of-intent-and-the-importance-of-language-to-deterrence\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:51:35","slug":"communication-of-intent-and-the-importance-of-language-to-deterrence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/opinion\/2023\/12\/08\/communication-of-intent-and-the-importance-of-language-to-deterrence\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication of intent and the importance of language to deterrence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Nov. 14, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/News-Stories\/Article\/Article\/3588803\/pentagon-official-says-deterrence-in-middle-east-is-working\/\" target=\"_blank\">stated<\/a> that \u201cdeterrence in the Middle East is working.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But how does one know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a fair question, when less than a month after Singh\u2019s statement the Iran-backed Houthis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/12\/04\/uss-carney-responds-to-multiple-attacks-on-commercial-ships-in-red-sea\/\" target=\"_blank\">attacked<\/a> several commercial vessels in the Red Sea, and another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/us-drone-thwarts-militia-attack-american-troops-iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\">attempted an attack<\/a> on U.S. troops by another Iranian proxy, the militias in Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deterrence is traditionally understood as the demonstration of a capability and the communication of intent to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/opinions\/2023\/12\/07\/what-would-happen-if-congress-stopped-supporting-allies-under-siege\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"173\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Scott-Sacknoff.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">What would happen if Congress stopped supporting allies under siege?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Lawmakers are ignoring the trillion-dollar impact their actions might have \u2014 actions that may reverberate over the next 20 years and beyond.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the Iranian regime and its proxies clearly continue to launch attacks on U.S. troops and assets \u2014 and at Israel \u2014 one can argue that major escalation has, so far, been largely avoided since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Escalation, in this case, has been strategically deterred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of that is no doubt because of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/10\/08\/us-military-to-move-a-carrier-strike-group-in-support-of-israel\/\" target=\"_blank\">impressive capabilities the U.S. has deployed to the region<\/a>, which include two carrier strike groups, a range of fighter jets, 300 troops, an Ohio-class submarine, as well as consistent ammunition and other support to Israel \u2014 all in just over a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has only used force six times \u2014 on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/10\/27\/us-strikes-iran-linked-sites-in-syria-after-attacks-on-us-troops\/\" target=\"_blank\">Oct. 26<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/11\/08\/us-launches-airstrike-on-syria-site-linked-to-iranian-backed-militants\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nov. 8<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/11\/13\/us-conducts-more-airstrikes-against-iran-backed-groups-in-syria\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nov. 12<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/11\/21\/us-fires-back-after-ballistic-missile-attack-on-iraq-base\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nov. 21<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/us-fighter-jets-strike-iran-backed-targets-in-iraq-after-repeated-attacks-on-us-bases\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nov. 22<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2023\/12\/04\/uss-carney-responds-to-multiple-attacks-on-commercial-ships-in-red-sea\/\" target=\"_blank\">Dec. 3<\/a>. All were described as \u201cself-defense\u201d strikes, and the latter two each killed several Iran-connected fighters. Each action was described as a response to a series of attacks on U.S. troops. And while National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/12\/04\/us-allies-in-talks-on-naval-task-force-to-protect-shipping-in-red-sea\/\" target=\"_blank\">acknowledge<\/a> Iran as \u201cthe ultimate party responsible\u201d for the Dec. 3 Houthi attack on commercial vessels, his response was to confer with regional allies about a task force to protect commercial vessels \u2014 hardly the rhetoric that would put an adversary on notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Iranian regime has clearly made the calculation that a major regional escalation at the moment does not advance their interests. But their continued attacks on U.S. targets is not evidence of the persuasiveness of U.S. rhetoric and actions. There have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/us-drone-thwarts-militia-attack-american-troops-iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\">been <\/a>at least 76 attacks on U.S. forces over the last two months, which have caused injuries to at least 59 U.S. personnel. Iran-backed Houthis also shot down a U.S. drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can more be done to deter not only escalation, but to stop these persistent attacks? The administration\u2019s rhetoric may be critical here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Joe Biden\u2019s administration has variously explained its approach as maintaining solidarity with Israel, preventing the conflict from spreading, operating in self-defense and, of course, achieving deterrence. Explicit statements regarding deterrence of Iran and its proxies have thus far not been included in those explanations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/speeches-remarks\/2023\/10\/10\/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel-2\/\" target=\"_blank\">speech <\/a>since the Oct. 7 attack, delivered on Oct. 10, Biden explained the rationale for the force posture changes in the region, noting it was \u201cto strengthen deterrence.\u201d Against whom? Biden explained further, \u201cLet me say again \u2014 to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it seems obvious that the country in question is Iran and the organizations alluded to are its proxies, the words \u201cany\u201d and \u201canyone\u201d could apply to Russia, China, ISIS, or any other. Is the U.S. ready to use force against these, and if so, what do these entities \u201ctaking advantage of this situation\u201d look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Nov. 8 strike on Iranian facilities was aimed at sending a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3584458\/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-statement-on-us-military-strike-in-east\/\" target=\"_blank\">message <\/a>that \u201cthe United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3570798\/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iiis-statement-on-us-military-strikes-in-ea\/\" target=\"_blank\">language <\/a>the Biden administration used during the second strike, which came on Oct. 26, included the following disclaimer: \u201cThese narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense were intended solely to protect and defend U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In that \u201cseparate and distinct\u201d conflict, the statement continued, the administration urged \u201call state and non-state entities not to take action that would escalate into a broader regional conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iran is not mentioned in the official statements regarding the deployment of either the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3551716\/statement-from-secretary-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-us-force-posture-changes-in-the\/\" target=\"_blank\">deployed <\/a>on Oct. 8, or the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group, which was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3557560\/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-deployment-of-uss-eis\/\" target=\"_blank\">deployed <\/a>the following week. Both deployments were explained as measures to support Israel, and only the latter was mentioned as deploying \u201cto deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having focused on demonstrating capability and having used force for \u201cself-defense,\u201d the administration must clarify that deterrence is not only meant to prevent escalation, but to stop attacks on U.S. personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This requires two steps. First, directly identify the Iranian regime as the catalyst for Oct. 7 and the regional escalation since \u2014 from Hezbollah\u2019s attacks against Israel to the attacks on U.S. troops. America and Israel are engaged in a single regional conflict that extends far beyond Hamas in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, the administration must identify to the Iranian regime the scenario that would constitute crossing a threshold \u2014 and invite a significant U.S. response \u2014 by its actions or those of its proxies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While deterrence may be working in preventing escalation, the situation can change in an instant, as Oct. 7 demonstrated. Such an event can challenge the administration and expose miscalculation. Indeed, ambiguity often fosters tragic miscalculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clarity of rhetoric can at least serve as a warning to an adversary, who, if nothing else, is certainly listening carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Retired Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, former deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command and former Chief of the National Guard Bureau, served for 42 years.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Jacob Olidort serves as director of research at the Gemunder Center for Defense &amp; Strategy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, or JINSA.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have an opinion?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>This article is an Op-Ed and as such, the opinions expressed are those of the author.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, or submit an editorial of your own, please email <\/i><a href=\"mailto:opinions@militarytimes.com\"><i>opinions@militarytimes.com<\/i><\/a><i> for Military Times or our services sites.<\/i> <i>Please email <\/i><a href=\"mailto:opinion@defensenews.com\"><i>opinion@defensenews.com<\/i><\/a><i> to reach <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/\"><i>Defense News<\/i><\/a><i>, <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/*%20Please%20email%20it%20to%C2%A0opinions%40militarytimes.com%C2%A0for%20Military%20Times%20or%20Army,%20Navy,%20Air%20Force%20or%20Marine%20Corps%20Times.%E2%80%A8Please%20email%C2%A0opinion@defensenews.com%20to%20reach%20defense%20news,%20c4isrnet%20or%20federal%20times.%20%2A%20https\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/\"><i>C4ISRNet <\/i><\/a><i>or <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/\"><i>Federal Times<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i> <i>Want more perspectives like this sent straight to you? <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/link.militarytimes.com\/join\/5b9\/sign-up-opinion\"><i>Subscribe to get our Commentary &amp; Opinion newsletter<\/i><\/a><i> once a week.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Biden administration\u2019s rhetoric may be critical to deter not only escalation, but to stop persistent attacks in the Middle East.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":81512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":18,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[75,101,24,26,18],"tags":[],"coauthors":[6126,7074],"class_list":["post-73634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-newsletters","category-opinion"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"PUIOTZNY7RFXFDVE4PFXEK2Q2Q","arc_canonical_url":"\/opinion\/2023\/12\/08\/communication-of-intent-and-the-importance-of-language-to-deterrence\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Communication of intent and the importance of language to deterrence - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Biden administration\u2019s rhetoric may be critical to deter not only escalation, but to stop persistent attacks in the Middle East.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Communication of intent and the importance of language to deterrence\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Biden administration\u2019s rhetoric may be critical to deter not only escalation, but to stop persistent attacks in the Middle East.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/opinion\/2023\/12\/08\/communication-of-intent-and-the-importance-of-language-to-deterrence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-08T01:32:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T15:51:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"H. 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