Joe Biden Makes a Big Announcement on Ukraine That Only Raises More Questions About His Competency – Opinion

Joe Biden, 55 minutes late today, arrived to deliver a brief press conference on Ukraine-Russian relations. Following his comments, the president then took only three, pre-selected questions, before leaving for what I’d assume is another long weekend of naps and pudding.

Is that the kind of effort you’d expect from a man supposedly trying to defuse a major incursion into Europe? Probably not, but it’s what we’ve come to expect from Biden, perhaps the least hard-working president in American history.

Biden still managed to speak a few words in spite his worrying physical appearance, and apparent drowsiness. Namely, he is once again proclaiming that a Russian invasion of Ukraine will come in the “coming days.”

BIDEN: “We have reason to believe that Russian forces are planning and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week—coming days.”

“We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital Kyiv…”pic.twitter.com/17LFyMb8Te

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 18, 2022

NOW – Biden: “As of this moment I’m convinced he [Putin]The decision was made to invade Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/qyGGl54bpi

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 18, 2022

This proclamation is repeated every week by the White House. Do you remember when the invasion was scheduled to take place before the Olympics began? This was happening a week after the United States evacuated their Embassy. On Wednesday, the Russians planned to strike. That day came and went like those before it — without incident.

I’m not saying Russia won’t eventually invade. In fact, I think it’s more than likely at this point in time. It is a weakening sign that the United States can keep repeating these predictions and they don’t always come to pass. In fact, I’d posit that Putin knows exactly what he’s doing in that respect, and that Biden is playing right into his hands.

Besides, to the extent that Biden’s continual beating of war drums can be considered a strategy, I’m convinced it’s the absolute worst one imaginable if the goal is to discourage Russia from invading Ukraine. By spending almost a month confidently insisting that a Russian invasion is “imminent,” Putin has now been unnecessarily backed into a corner. He almost has to invade now, in order to avoid the embarrassment he would suffer if he doesn’t, at home and abroad.

Instead of giving Putin numerous off-ramps to save face, without actually gaining any, the White House has deliberately taken away the possibility for de-escalation by its shortsighted rhetoric. Putin can now gain concessions even from NATO and the United States by making Russia look weaker. Since an invasion of Russia is inevitable, all last-ditch attempts to stop it from happening will likely include further giveaways.

Biden gave Russia more power by legitimizing Russia’s threat. It’s also worth noting that the White House’s strategy has run directly counter to that of Ukraine, whose leaders have sought to quell fears and talk down the possibility of war in order to not tempt Putin.

Is there a point? Does Biden believe he’ll benefit politically from a Russian invasion if he is seen as having predicted it? I’d suggest that’s incredibly naive. Perhaps Biden believes that Putin might be too petty to keep saying the same thing enough that Putin would just say it again. It also appears to me that this is a desperate plot from a man in excess of his own head.

They are completely incapable of accomplishing whatever the administration wants. It is shocking to see the incompetence displayed from the top. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Ben Rhodes was back in the White House. That’s how ludicrous the administration’s response to all this has been.

And to be clear, I’m not suggesting Biden’s rhetoric means he actually wants a war. Anyone who says that is crazy thinks they are insane. There is no situation where the Democrat Party doesn’t get utterly destroyed domestically if a war breaks out in Europe on their watch. Rather, what we are seeing is a president who just doesn’t have anything better to offer. This “cry wolf” strategy is the best he’s got.