Appearing on MSNBC Wednesday morning, the Eurasia Center’s Melinda Haring slammed the Biden White House for being “weak” when it came to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s brutal invasion, especially after the administration quashed an attempt by Poland to give fighter jets to it’s war-ravaged neighbor. She also remarked that she “wouldn’t expect very much from” Vice President Harris visiting eastern Europe, who is “not a foreign policy specialist at all.”
At 9:00 AM ET, Chris Jansing was asked this question by anchor Chris Jansing: “…so what are the other diplomatic options, what are the options beyond fighter jets, what are the conversations that might be being had among NATO leaders, might be being had with the Vice President as she travels to Poland today, that look for an off-ramp for Vladimir Putin?”
Haring replied: “Chris, I think we need to talk about the fighter jets a little bit more. I know you want to look at other options.” She then ripped into the Biden administration:
It is absurd to believe what the Pentagon claimed. They said that it’s logistically difficult to move about 30 Migs from Poland to Ukraine. That’s absolute nonsense.According to military experts, the flight time from Poland’s base to Ukraine is under an hour. The Russian Air Force isn’t there and it is not dangerous. The White House doesn’t want it. The White House is weak and doesn’t have any chutzpah, that’s what this boils down to.
The White House must consult military experts from outside to obtain different opinions. I think it’s unconscionable that millions of Ukrainians are going to die, innocent children, innocent women who have done nothing wrong and we’re standing in the way. This is why I’m really disappointed in the Biden administration.
Haring dismissed any notions that the visit of the Vice President to Poland would benefit anyone by dismissing the suggestion: “But I wouldn’t expect very much from the Harris visit. She’s not a foreign policy specialist at all.”
Earlier in the discussion, Jansing asked former NATO commander General John Allen: “Militarily right now at this point in the war, does getting those jets into the hands of the Ukrainian military make sense today, tomorrow, as soon as possible?” Allen replied: “I think it does, actually….the capacity to deliver close air support against Russian formations or against those long columns of Russian support troops, and Russian reinforcements could have a real effect upon Russian morale, have a real effect upon the Russian capacity to achieve its objectives.”
Later, when Jansing melodramatically raised the possibility of NATO supplying Ukraine with jets sparking “World War III,” Haring pushed back:
It isn’t possible to have World War III. The conflict won’t escalate by moving fewer than 30 fighter jets per hour. Real strength is required if Putin wants to be removed. That’s the only thing that’s going to stop this war.
Allen then called in: “I agree.”
A surprised Jansing concluded: “Such a consequential debate that’s going on – You agree. Alright, so the story continues.”
The liberal media occasionally brings in a guest who challenges the pro-Democrat narrative, and catches anchors off guard.
Below is the transcript from the discussion of March 9.
9:00 AM ET
(…)
CHRIS JANSING: General, the Pentagon’s press person, John Kirby, said this yesterday: “There’s not a substantive rationale for a deal on Polish jets because of that risk of wider confrontation.” But from Zelenskyy’s point of view, it’s the one hope to end all of this before it gets to the point, almost, of no return. Militarily – militarily right now at this point in the war, does getting those jets into the hands of the Ukrainian military make sense today, tomorrow, as soon as possible?
GEN. JOHN ALLEN [NATO INTL. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE FORMER COMMANDER]: Yes, I believe it. As President Zelenskyy has said, and as we’ve been watching this tactical situation unfold, particularly as the Russians attempt to encircle, unsuccessfully, Kyiv, they’re moving into assembly areas potentially for the final assault on the capital. As they advance into these positions, Russian reinforcements, with the ability to close air support Russian formations, or those long columns Russian support troops, could have a significant effect on Russian morale and help the Russian achieve their objectives.
(…)
9:00 AM ET
JANSING: Well, Melinda, let’s go to that big picture because obviously what has been done so far has not changed Vladimir Putin’s calculus, so what are the other diplomatic options, what are the options beyond fighter jets, what are the conversations that might be being had among NATO leaders, might be being had with the Vice President as she travels to Poland today, that look for an off-ramp for Vladimir Putin?
MELINDA HARING [THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL DEPUTY DIRECTOR, EURASIA CENTER]Chris: Chris, we should talk a bit more about fighter jets. You want to consider other options, I’m sure.
JANSING: Sure.
HARING. This is what the Pentagon claimed was nonsense. They said that it’s logistically difficult to move about 30 Migs from Poland to Ukraine. That’s absolute nonsense. According to military experts, the time it takes to fly from the Polish base to the Ukrainian base where we have to transfer them is approximately one hour. It isn’t risky, and the Russian air force doesn’t exist. The White House doesn’t want it. The White House is weak and doesn’t have any chutzpah, that’s what this boils down to.
Therefore, I believe the White House must consult external military experts in order to obtain different opinions. I think it’s unconscionable that millions of Ukrainians are going to die, innocent children, innocent women who have done nothing wrong and we’re standing in the way. Therefore, I find the Biden government really disappointing.
Now in terms of diplomacy, the Russians and the Ukrainians have started talking about options, and yesterday, Zelenskyy said that he’s open to some options and the Russians have said that they want Crimea to be recognized as theirs and they want the people’s republics to be recognized as theirs, and they want Ukraine to give up on its NATO aspirations, so that’s the first sort of real opening between Ukraine and Russia and there’s going to be talks very soon.
The Harris visit is not something I expected. She’s not a foreign policy specialist at all.
JANSING: So I want to go back to what you said at the beginning – and we’re out of time but I think it deserves a follow up – which is this, so what do you say to the Biden administration, what do you say to the NATO leaders who say, “Yes, even if we can do this, what you’re looking at is the very real possibility of World War III”?
HARING: This is wrong, there’s no possibility of World War III. It is unlikely that the conflict will escalate if there are less than 30 aircraft flying in one hour. Putin must be made to recognize his strength. That’s the only thing that’s going to stop this war.
JANSING: Such a consequential debate that’s going on –
ALLEN:
JANSING: I agree. So the story is continued.
(…)
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