By Grace Vuoto
President Joe Biden has made the gravest error of his presidency.
He is permitting Ukrainian military leaders to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs), or long-range missiles, to strike into Russian territory. After 1000 days of inconclusive fighting, Ukraine has now escalated the war by launching six such missiles into Russia; five were shot down and one hit an ammunition depot. How long will it be before Russian President Vladimir Putin resorts to nuclear war?
Biden’s halting, meandering stewardship of foreign affairs has contributed to the carnage. America’s foes around the world observed our pathetic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 and pounced. Putin continued a massive military build-up on the Ukrainian border, waiting for the moment to strike. He surely noticed Biden’s idiotic statement during a news conference on January 19, 2022 stating Western nations were disunited in their views on how to handle the emerging conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do,” Biden said. “But if they actually do what they’re capable of doing with the forces amassed on the border, it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine.”
Kyiv was horrified that this sounded as though a “minor incursion” into Ukrainian territory would be overlooked by Western nations and Putin could proceed with minimal consequences. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ready to test the boundaries of what they could achieve while the American president appeared half-asleep at the wheel.
Rather than finding a solution and get all parties to de-escalate, Biden only exacerbated existing wounds. He encouraged Ukrainians to pound the table for their right to self-determination, validating their desire to join NATO and the European Union. Thus, on the one hand Biden emboldened Putin by showing weakness, and on the other hand he bolstered Ukraine by making their dreams appear within reach, setting in motion a bloody powder keg.
Furthermore, throughout the war, Biden has repeatedly transgressed his own red lines—such as on Patriot missiles, Abrams tanks and F-16 fighter jets. Each time, he initially stated permission would not be granted, but eventually buckled. Thus, he has been an ally with one foot in and one foot out, further aggravating Putin. The U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in aid out of the staggering $175 billion that has been approved by Congress. And yet, there is still no indication that Ukraine can do better than ultimately negotiate a settlement—the same option that was available before the war began.
“To act by half-measures, with a lack of conviction miscalled 'caution,' is to run the greatest risks and lose the prize,” said Winston Churchill. Biden claims Putin poses an existential threat to Ukraine, Europe and beyond—yet assails Putin only with flurries of little punches, hiding behind the skirt of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hoping he does our dirty work for us.
Putin has rightly concluded that America is not simply assisting Ukraine but is using that nation as a proxy to wage aggression on Russian vital interests and thus ultimately on Russia. He has now revised their nuclear doctrine to allow for the use of nuclear weapons retaliating to a conventional attack if that strike is supported by a nation with a nuclear arsenal. In other words, Putin is making it clear that if America and NATO does not back down, he will take ultimate, dreadful measures, if necessary.
Is the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine really worth this growing brinksmanship? Is Ukrainian’s desire to join NATO worth a nuclear war? Ukraine’s approach is counterproductive, while the American strategy is a giant mess.
Moreover, the outgoing Biden administration, following a humiliating election loss, should refrain from any actions at this time so that President-elect Donald Trump can craft the foreign policy he desires. Instead, Biden is actively working to box in Trump, poisoning the well between Russia and the United States as much as possible.
“The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives," Donald Trump Jr. posted on social media. He’s right.
Let us hope that Putin has the wisdom to discern that in this last election, the American people repudiated Biden and all his policies, both domestic and foreign. Putin need only wait for Trump to be sworn into office in January 2025. Then, our nefarious role in this conflict will end as Trump focuses on America First; Trump will terminate this nonsensical meddling that is taking the world to the brink of a nuclear nightmare.
-Grace Vuoto, Ph.D. is a political commentator and columnist. She can be heard Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am on The Kuhner Report WRKO-AM 680.
-Photo Courtesy of Getty Images