LOS ANGELES.–Former Defense Secretary William Cohen, 84, says 74-year-old Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “no confidence” in his relationship with 81-year-old President Joe Biden, something that should come as no surprise to anyone. Biden has been pushing Netanyahu into a ceasefire agreement with Hamas terrorists in Gaza that would allow Hamas to continue running the Gaza Strip, making a farce out of the nearly one-year-old war that has cost Israel dearly in terms of deaths and casualties in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre that killed over 1,200 Israelis, taking another 251 hostages. Biden wants a ceasefire deal to help his 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris get elected with only one month left to the Nov. 5 election. Cohen knows that Biden was removed July 21 as Democrat nominee for his abysmal debate performance June 27, showing 70 million viewers that he was not fit for commander-in-chief, something obvious to everyone.
How could any foreign leader have confidence in Biden knowing his age-related cognitive decline, whether or not admitted to by the press and Democrat Party? Kamala still insists that there’s nothing at all wrong with Joe, he just had one bad night at the Sept. 27, something preposterous. Kamala and other White House officials have been covering for Joe for his entire presidency, when, only a month into his first term, he started insulting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Biden had not even met with Putin before calling him as “murderous dictator,” making U.S.-Russian relations next to impossible. Then, Biden, at the same time March 18, 2021, accused China of genocide against Muslim Uyghurs in Western China, wrecking for the foreseeable future U.S.-Chinese relations, now approaching possible war over Taiwan.
Cohen wanted to make the point that Biden’s is no longer fit as commander-in-chief to make any consequential foreign policy decisions, especially committing to more war in Ukraine or to possible war with Communist China. “I think because Prime Minister Netanyahu does not have any confidence with President Biden, he’s not eager to share the information for fear we might disclose it in advance and undermine or sabotage the event,” said Cohen. Cohen, of course, knows what it takes to manage the Pentagon and send U.S. forces overseas. Cohen was Secretary of State under former President Bill Clinton [1997-2001], knows all about dealing with Israel and Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO]. Clinton and Cohen knew the delicate nature of peace negotiations.
When it comes to Netanyahu, Biden looks for a foreign policy win for himself with a Gaza ceasefire, and, more importantly, to give Kamala a boost before the election. Netanyahu has been fighting a three-front war, one in Gaza, another in Lebanon, and the ultimate war with Iran. Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been humiliated in recent weeks watching his armed Hezbollah militia, part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC], wage war against Israel on multiple fronts. Israel has spent a year dismantling the Hamas terror network in Gaza, with very little left other than its leader Yahya Sinwar still hiding out in Gaza’s labyrinth of military tunnels. But every time Biden speaks publicly, it only about what’s good for his legacy or Kamala’s election bid. Biden doesn’t think of the hardship faced by Israel battling a multi-front war.
Cohen sees real problems with Netanyahu trusting Biden given his legacy and political agenda in 2024. If Biden wished to show he’s still in charge, he would organize some consequences for Iran for sponsoring proxy war against Israel all over the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, where the Ayatollah has used his Houthi terrorists to destroy commercial shipping. Only yesterday Biden ordered the U.S. navy to fire on Houthi targets in Sanaa, Yemen a Houthi bastion. But many military experts think the time is long overdue for the Pentagon to take out Iran’s oil refineries or nuclear sites, something Biden hasn’t done. If he wished to help Israel, Biden would do what’s necessary to stop the Ayatollah’s reign of terror in the Mideast and Horn of Africa. Cohen doesn’t get Biden publicly feuding with Netanyahu, causing even more problems for Israel.
Netanyahu is always the target of international criticism for defending Israel, with critics, like Biden, saying the time is long overdue for a ceasefire deal. Biden acts like Netanyahu can deal with ruthless terrorists like Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. “I think that is wrong thinking on his part, but there is such a strain in the relationship that I think it complicates it,” Cohen said, referring to Biden’s public feud with Netanyahu. So, Netanyahu is supposed to deal with Hamas terrorists and a U.S. president with cognitive impairments. “The answer is no,” Biden told reporters at Join Base Andrews, when asked about Israel’s possible plan to hit Iran’s nuclear facilities. Biden is right that Israel should not strike Iran’s oil or nuclear sites. But it’s abundantly clear that Biden should have done it long ago to stop the Ayatollah’s state-sponsored terrorism.
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.
