President Joe Biden, 79, acts like he can threaten and dictate to 69-uear-old Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would soon have a video conference with the Russian leader to warn him about invading Ukraine. Fake news reports from the Washington Post strongly indicate the Putin’s ordered an invasion of Ukraine sometime in early 2002. True to form for the fake news, the Washington Post cites anonymous sources, meaning the reporter either has no sources at all or the sources are unverified. “We’ve been aware of Russia’s actions for a long time and my expectation is we’re gonna have a long discussion with Putin,” Biden told reporters in Camp David, Maryland. Where Biden thinks he can arrogantly threaten another world leader is anyone’s guess? At this point, it’s clear that Putin doesn’t take Biden seriously, because he knows he’s in over his head.
Biden administration National Security Officials, led by 45-year-old National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, have been dead wrong on all recent challenges, including the nuclear submarine deal with Australia which infuriated France. So when it comes to Biden leading critical national security issues, the country doesn’t have much confidence.in White House decisions. Stating publicly that he plans “to have a long discussion with Putin,” sounds like he’d calling the Russian leader on the carpet with more threats. Putin has 94,000 troops and heavy equipment amassed on the Ukrainian border with alleged plans to double the size after Jan. 1. “What I am doing is putting together why I believe to be will be the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it, very, very difficult for Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do,” Biden said Friday.
Biden’s statements to the press are deliberately ambiguous or reflect his murky state of mind that vacillates from playing the American tough-guy with the Kremlin or someone with cognitive challenges. Biden has no plan with his call with Putin other than threatening more economic sanctions if Putin goes ahead with a Ukraine invasion. But every time Putin speaks with the press, he says he doesn’t want to invade Ukraine, he wants the U.S., European Union [EU] and NATO to stop discussing membership in the Transatlantic Alliance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin’s said publicly on many occasions that Ukraine joining NATO would be a “red line,” possibly prompting another Ukrainian land grab. “I don’t accept anyone’s red line,” Biden said, acting like he’s prepared to get the U.S., EU and NATO into an armed conflict with the Russian Federation.
When Biden says, “I don’t accept anyone’s red line,” he’s calling Putin’s bluff that if NATO moves into Ukaine it might trigger Russian military act. But does Biden really want to call Putin’s bluff and find out he was dead serious about NATO moving into Ukraine? What’s the U.S. face-saving position if Biden triggers Putin to annex the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine? NATO Secretary-General Jens Stotenberg has made clear he wants no part of any war with the Russian Federation. Does Biden really think he has the EU behind his threats to go to war or slap the Kremlin with new economic sanctions? Whatever unverified reports comes from U.S. intel or from anonymous sources at the Washington Post, does Biden really want to risk war with Russia? Instetad of relying on spurious intel or reporting, Biden would be far wiser to listen to Putin about what he wants to defuse the situation.
Today’s fake news industry provide too much un-sourced or anonymously sourced information on which to make critical national security decisions. “The Russian plans call for a military offensive against Ukraine as soon as early 2022 with a scale of force twice what we saw this past spring during Russian’s snap exercise near Ukraine’s borders,” said an unnamed “senior” White House official. When Biden talks with Putin via video conference, he’d better not rely on fake news or intel and listen carefully to what Putin wants to deescalate the situation. Putin has said publicly that he wants Biden to commit to calling back NATO from involving itself in Ukraine. Zelensky has been begging NATO since taking office April 21, 2019 for membership. Stoletenberg told him the NATO charter prohibits the Transtalantic partnership from adding new members actively engaged in armed conflict.
Before Biden blows another opportunity to defuse potential armed conflict, he should stop threatening Putin and listen to what the Russian leader expects of the U.S., EU and NATO. “The plans involve extensive movement of 100 battalion tactical groups with an estimated 175,000 personnel, along with armor, artillery and equipment,” said the unnamed government official. No one in the White House should rely on the fake news to supply questionable intel about what Putin might or no do in Ukraine. “It certainly would be an opportunity to discuss our serious concerns about the bellicose rhetoric about the military buildup that we’re seeing on the border of Ukraine,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Psaki doesn’t admit that the threats and “bellicose” rhetoric are coming from the White House with Biden saying, “I don’t accept anyone’s red line,” prompting Biden to rethink his approach to Putin.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
