Biden rolls out the welcome mat for Putin

What more can President Biden do to place a welcome mat over Ukraine for Russian despot Vladimir Putin?  

Week after week – as Putin built up his war machine on the border of Ukraine — Biden promised to impose Draconian sanctions if Russian troops crossed the border.  He never said what they would be – and based on the effectiveness of past sanctions, they may not be quite as Draconian as Biden alleges.

Biden speaks of the unprecedented unity of the NATO nations in taking strong actions against an invasion.  In reality, NATO is far from unified.  Germany not only rejected sending arms to Ukraine, but they also denied permission of arms-bearing British aircraft to enter German airspace.  While Biden says that a Russian invasion will cause the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline from Russia. German Chancellor Scholtz has not confirmed that.

Apart from some vague language about sanctions, Biden has done nothing to discourage Putin.  In fact, he has done a lot to give the Russian dictator the green light.

First, Biden has said that no matter what Putin does, no American troops will be sent to discourage an invasion or repel one.  He has repeated it so many times, that Putin well understands that America will stand down in the face of an invasion – as will NATO.  To further clear the path for Putin, Biden has pulled out our National Guard military advisors.

Biden has now emphatically told Putin that under no circumstances will the United States come to the rescue of any Americans trapped in Ukraine.  They have been advised to leave.  If they do not … tough.  I cannot recall another time that an American President did not proclaim that America will protect Americans overseas — or wreak retribution on any country or terrorist organization that will harm or hold Americans as hostages.  

Biden has replaced the no American left behind policy with a “screw you” policy.  At least this time, Biden is proclaiming his abandonment policy up front – unlike Afghanistan, where he promised to leave no American (or friendly Afghan) behind –until he did.

As a further symbol of abandoning Ukraine, Biden is drawing down the American embassy to a skeleton staff – and it is likely they will fly out on military aircraft the moment the first Russian tank breaches the border.

To make sure Biden gets the message that the United States will not defend Ukraine, Biden said that no American soldiers will fight Russian soldiers under any circumstances.  As a show of strength, however, Biden moves our European troops around within NATO where they will not interfere with a Putin invasion.

Geez!  How many times can Biden give assurances to Putin that America will not take any specific action against a Russian invasion other than some sanctions that Putin will accept as a small payment for acquiring Ukraine – with all its assets and its strategic location?

Putin already has the Crimea. He has effective control of the Donbas region of Ukraine – and now he is poised to take it all.

There are those on the right and on the left who believe that America has no security interest in Ukraine.  They are an amalgam of isolationist and anti-war zealots.  It is an “island America” mentality.  Biden’s incompetence has an appeal for them.

Of course, America has a significant security interest in Ukraine.  It is a modern nation with major resources and productivity.  They are a buffer that keeps Russian troops off the eastern border of Europe (NATO).  The fall of Ukraine – especially after Afghanistan – empowers American adversaries and re-enkindles the once declining terrorism.  It moves one more significant piece of geography from our side to their side.

The potential invasion of Ukraine is not a one-off.  It is the next step in the series of successes for Putin in rebuilding the old Soviet Union — successes that we opposed with sanctions and endless diplomatic double-talk, to no avail.

The loss of Ukraine makes America weaker on the world stage.  And the American President is virtually inviting Putin to invade.  That will inevitably cause a lot more damage to the American Republic than several hundred rioters in a four-hour riot on Capitol Hill.

So, there ‘tis.