President Biden has a dangerous habit of issuing strong statements to be followed up by weak responses and backsliding under pressure from various interest groups. He often fails to implement his strong statements when warnings are disregarded or red lines crossed.
We have seen that in his too little/too late approach to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have seen that in the aftermath of his surrender to the terrorist Taliban in Afghanistan. Nowhere has it been more obvious than in his response to the Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war.
You will recall that Biden pledged unequivocal support for Israel’s declaration of war on Hamas after the barbaric attack on Israel – killing more than 1200 people, including several Americans. Hamas took an estimated 240 hostages, including Americans – many of whom are now known to be dead — and others likely so.
Biden said American support was solid – and that he would not interfere with Israel’s conduct of the War. He warned other terrorist groups and terrorist nations to stand down with a one-word warning – “Don’t!” He underscored that commitment with a trip to Israel in which he figuratively and literally hugged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – a hug that enraged members of his own party.
Since then, things have changed dramatically. Iran and other Middle East terrorist organizations showed their contempt for Biden’s warnings by attacking Israel from Hezbollah controlled Lebanon and Houthi controlled Syria. Anticipating a weak response from Biden, they routinely attacked U.S. assets and personnel – killing four American soldiers. Iran mounted the first ever attack on Israel from Iranian soil. Biden’s response has been underwhelming – and nothing that would discourage future terrorism.
As a significant faction of his Democrat base rose up in opposition to Israel – and not just the conduct of the war – Biden caved. He essentially joined the Hamas propaganda machine as a strident critic of Netanyahu and the Israeli war on Hamas. It is not an exaggeration to say that Biden had become the among the world’s most powerful critics of Israel – and triggered the worst schism between America and the Jewish State since its founding in 1948.
Biden has joined the Hamas call for a permanent ceasefire. He has declared that Israel is needlessly killing too many “innocent civilians” — ignoring the fact that Hamas started the war and callously embeds among civilians – including at schools, hospitals and refugee centers.
For all his anti-Israel rhetoric, Biden has at least remained committed to supplying Israel with much-needed military equipment and munitions. He endorsed and signed the recently passed $17 billion military aid package.
But again, Biden backslides.
Biden has now “paused” the delivery 1,800 of the 2000-pound bombs and 1,700 of the 500-pound bombs – with no indication of when or if the shipments will be resumed. This was said to be out of concern over Israeli plans to take control of Rafah. Once again, Biden is caving to the anti-Israel antisemitic faction of the Democratic Party and the terrorist propaganda program.
The foundational issue is not Rafah or a ceasefire. Biden is literally embracing those who want to undermine the existence of Israel. They want to end all military aid to Israel. They support the BDS Movement – to boycott, disinvest and impose sanctions on Israel, essentially destroying it as a nation. They accuse Israel of war crimes while chanting the genocidal mantra “river to the sea.”
Biden needs to be seen for his actions – not his shallow and unreliable words. They are two very different things.
So, there ‘tis.