When a Democrat president loses the Washington Post as thoroughly as the publication’s front page implies, you’ve truly entered into the unknown. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky’s thinly veiled scolding of Joe Biden for leading from behind had a dramatic influence on coverage of the floundering Biden regime, at least for now. Just how dramatic? Take a peek at the Post’s midday front page on its website:
Just gonna say that this @washingtonpost front web page is looking brutal for Joe Biden & his White House. pic.twitter.com/ZdNaDHTD2q
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) March 16, 2022
Previously, United States media outlets have tried to paint Biden as a behind-the-scenes consensus peddler rather than a reactive and/or passive entity we’ve seen. The scales have actually begun to fall away, nevertheless, even from some of Biden’s most ardent supporters. Progressive writer Greg Sargent keeps in mind Zelensky’s effort to “embarassment” Biden, although Sargent safeguards Biden’s care:
“In perhaps the most powerful moment, Zelensky aired video of the horrors Russia is inflicting on the Ukrainian people, followed by the stark words: “Close the sky over Ukraine.” Addressing President Biden directly in halting English, Zelensky said: “Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”
In so doing, Zelensky reiterated his call for the United States and its allies to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and again demanded new shipments of fighter jets, which the administration has been reluctant to deliver.
This is already being portrayed as an effort to shame Biden into plunging deeper into the conflict. But in a way, both men are right.
Zelensky is unquestionably right that the United States and its allies could do more. Yet Biden is also right to be proceeding with extreme caution, and media coverage that obscures the complexities of that calculus is not exactly enhancing the long term prospects for humanity.”
One may concur with Sargent that there’s a big threat to acting too hastily. We’ve seen some pretty unusual knee-jerk responses from the Right for the US to assassinate Vladimir Putin (thanks, Lindsey Graham), to criminalize dissent to policies supporting Ukraine (Mitt Romney, oddly), and specifically in preliminary calls to enforce a no-fly zone in Ukraine (Adam Kinzinger… but since when is he on the ‘right’?). That would put NATO planes in a position where they would be committed to assaulting Russian planes that fly into Ukrainian airspace, a fantastic method to start World War III. Some level of caution is plainly needed from United States and Western global leaders.
Nevertheless, Biden keeps showing that he has no genuine strategic methodology in dealing with this crisis. On the MiGs, the Biden administration first provided a “green light” on a transfer, only to backpedal days later on after Poland set up the transfer. They have actually vacillated since, although no one can truly determine why other lethal-weapons systems are acceptable for transfer however in some way MiGs are a bridge too far.
And about other weapons systems, Biden’s only just getting around to sending out weapons systems that can counter Russian air attacks and artillery. If those weapons systems can be transferred to Ukraine now, they should have been transferred to Ukraine 2 weeks ago, when it might have saved Ukrainian population centers from Putin’s devastating attacks. And even more inexplicably, the White Home changed its position once again on simply which weapons systems will go– balking at first on the more efficient S-300s Zelensky clearly asked for, and then apparently approving them:
That’s news: @RepMcCaul tells me S-300 air defense systems have already been sent into Ukraine.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 16, 2022
NEW — S-300 air defense systems have been sent into #Ukraine, by U.S. or #NATO allies — per @RepMcCaul, the top Republican in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
(stock image) pic.twitter.com/7LeRyGyD0U
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) March 16, 2022
Or did he? Wait.. What?!?
NEW: Here’s the detailed list of the $800M in military equipment President Biden just announced the US is providing Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/q2C9sG8f0K
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) March 16, 2022
The S-300s are significantly not included on that list. Allahpundit will have more on this decision later, however it raises a couple of concerns. First, we do not own any S-300 systems, but our allies do– and one would anticipate Biden to take credit for such transfers at this moment.
Ed Morrissey from Hot Air asked,
“Did they already get shipped? Even if they did, why not send more, and/or at least mention those transfers to show the scope of support? And again, why did it take Zelensky begging Congress for action to shake loose the weapons, rather than Biden acting on his own at the beginning of the conflict — or better yet, before it as a deterrent? That’s not strategic caution. It’s not strategic anything. It’s called winging it.”
Aaron Blake has a clearer take on Zelensky’s message. It deserves reading completely, particularly in covering the months that Biden needed to show leadership on the issue, however I’ll excerpt the particularly sharp points:
“As the leader of my nation, I’m addressing the President Biden,” Zelensky said. “You are the leader of the nation — of your great nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”
Zelensky made the remarks shortly after switching from his native language to English, and it was diplomatically stated, so as not to be seen as so directly criticizing Biden, necessarily. But that subtext and the context were unmistakable: This was Zelensky’s using a speech he was invited to give by American political leaders to effectively challenge the fortitude of American political leaders — and one leader, in particular. …
But although those finer details are important, what matters to Zelensky right now is reaching for anything he can to apply pressure. In doing so, he is serving notice that whatever comes of the war in Ukraine can be laid at Biden’s feet. That’s because Zelensky has repeatedly told Biden — in no uncertain terms — that he was allowing the continuation of something that could be stopped, if only Biden and the United States had the will to stop it.
It’s some fascinating and hugely consequential interplay, and Zelensky turned the screw even more Wednesday — using a platform the U.S. government itself provided.”
That started with Biden’s raising the Nord Stream 2 sanctions and continued right approximately today. Biden hasn’t projected leadership at all on Russia and Ukraine. In truth, instead of countering Putin on Ukraine, Biden allowed Putin to function as an intercessor on his idiotic efforts to return to the worthless Iran deal. That puts Putin in a position as guarantor of Iran’s compliance at the same time that Biden’s recommending that Putin may use chemical weapons in Ukraine. Morrisey continued saying “That’s not strategic– it’s ridiculous.” And he was right.
Zelensky was successful today in forcing Americans to differentiate leadership from doddering. The reality that the Beltway’s favorite newspaper reflects that distinction should give Biden’s retainers a deep and deathly chill … in addition to Democrats in Congress who will likely pay a price for it in November.
Notably, the same day.. #25thAmendment is trending again on Twitter.
H/T Hot Air