Analysis Casts Lindsey Graham’s 30-Year Middle East Legacy as Backing War and Gaza Destruction
Updated
Updated · The New Arab · Jul 22
Analysis Casts Lindsey Graham’s 30-Year Middle East Legacy as Backing War and Gaza Destruction
3 articles · Updated · The New Arab · Jul 22
Summary
Lindsey Graham’s death has prompted a sharply critical reassessment of his Middle East record, portraying decades of support for invasion, regime change and unconditional backing for Israel as a legacy of mass civilian harm.
The analysis traces that record from his 2003 support for the Iraq invasion to years of calls for attacking Iran, including backing Trump’s 2026 assault and proposing seizure of Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s crude exports.
Graham’s stance on Gaza is presented as the clearest example: after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, he told Israel to “level the place” and said no level of Palestinian civilian deaths would make him question its conduct.
It also highlights a reversal on Saudi Arabia, noting Graham went from calling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “beyond toxic” after Jamal Khashoggi’s murder to praising him within five years while promoting security ties and investment.
The article argues Graham normalized extreme military rhetoric in Washington, framing his career less as international leadership than as a warning about treating Middle Eastern populations as expendable.