Better watch out, Hamas. Biden has just thrown a marshmallow your way.
The Biden administration’s arsenal.
For days, we waited for President Joe Biden to say something, anything substantial about United States policy regarding Hamas’ brutal invasion of Israel.
Today, we got word he’d say what we needed to hear at 1 p.m. Eastern. Almost an hour-and-a half later he showed up to unload truckloads of banalities and bromides. Oh, so heartfelt.
Obviously, a president cannot reveal any tactical details about our nation’s response. But Biden, squinting to read his script on the teleprompter said, basically, nothing. Zero. Zilch.
The main question left unanswered was what would he do about Iran, the sponsor of Hamas and other terrorism. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan who faced the press later (Biden, of course, didn’t.) listed in detail the ways Iran was complicit in the Hamas attack. He said:
They have provided the lion's share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas. They provide training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over the years and years. All of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen now."
But, he added (once again and again), “We do not as of the moment...have confirmation of [Iran’s complicity in the attack]"
What more do you need? Iran did all the prep work that made the invasion possible, but what are you saying exactly? That Iran did not push the start button? And that absolves Iran from responsibility? What if you can’t find an immediate connection, does that mean you’ll do nothing? Of better yet, what will you do if you find that Iran is directly complicit in this invasion? Anything?
For anyone thinking of interfering in the conflict, he had one simple word: “don’t.” So who are the unnamed anyones? Whoever they are, they must be shaking in their boots.
Sullivan was asked (finally) in the press conference about the $6 billion in Iranian money that was promised as part of the recent American prisoner exchange. Will you refreeze it? He couldn’t even answer that question without dodging. To wit: We haven’t released it yet. Question: Will you? Won’t say.
What about sanctions? Biden having lifted them returned Iran to prosperity. Why not restore them? No answers.
Former House Speaker a few days ago filled a leadership vacuum by outlining five steps that should be taken in response to the invasion. It was disappointing that Biden could not have done the same.
The Hamas invasion was enabled by Biden’s foreign policy that has failed to challenge incremental moves by China, Russia and Iran to weaken the Western democracies. Such challenges will continue—increasingly if Biden continues on the same path.
I’ll have more to say later on the history of the conflict.