Posted on 02/20/2023 3:16:09 PM PST by conservative98
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), who is currently on a bipartisan congressional trip in Europe, issued a scathing rebuke of President Joe Biden’s visit to Ukraine on Monday, describing the visit as a “strategic failure.”
Issa, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who has served in Congress for two decades, made the statement while in neighboring Poland.
“President Biden was right to make his trip to Ukraine. And we recognize the hundreds of American officials who worked long and hard to make this a secure visit,” Issa said. “But while today was a logistical success, it was a strategic failure. Rather than an inspiring mission from a commander in chief, this resembled a VIP drop-by from a global celebrity.”
The president’s secret visit to Ukraine, which, as laid out in a CNN report, took months of planning, became public Monday morning when Biden appeared in social media posts in Kiev next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Biden announced while he was there that the U.S. would give nearly half a billion dollars in additional military aid to Ukraine, telling Zelensky the U.S. would support his country “for as long as it takes.”
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Obviously. This is a big plus for Biden.
He is going to own it, and in the process a lot of dumb #@&#, like letting it happen in the first place, is going to be forgotten.
That is, unless there is a disastrous reversal for Ukraine at some point, which I can’t see at the moment, but anything is possible.
In neither case is it smart for Republicans, conservatives, or whatever, to get tarred with supporting Putin. If current policies lead to victory for Ukraine, opponents of Ukraine will look foolish, at least. If Putin wins, he will probably win ugly, and his supporters (or perceived to be) will look like monsters.
If Putin had attacked Biden (who is an expendable potted plant), it would have been a huge plus to the Democrats, what with a dead hero. A proper, but non-fatal, attack would have been almost as good.
It would have been very stupid to attack Biden.
Russians only kill Polish Presidents.
That’s because at the time the Russians thought they could get away with it, and moreover intimidate the Poles.
Didn’t work, in the end, but the Poles weren’t able to do much about it at the time. But down the road the payback wrt the reputation of Russia has been part of what has led to the general anti-Russian atmosphere.
In neither case is it smart for Republicans, conservatives, or whatever, to get tarred with supporting Putin. If current policies lead to victory for Ukraine, opponents of Ukraine will look foolish, at least. If Putin wins, he will probably win ugly, and his supporters (or perceived to be) will look like monsters.
Desiring a peaceful settlement is not the same as supporting Putin. Only a few cranks on this forum support Russia.
Of course. He can’t be honest about who he really supports.
Fact is Jake Sullivan had to get “ permission “ from Putin. Putin was notified so nothing unfortunate would happen while senile Joe visited. Weak, weak, very weak.
I don’t recall Bush or any other President having to get permission from an advisary or “ enemy” to visit…which brings up his visit- senile Joe couldn’t visit the East Palestine chemical spill but goes 6,000 miles to visit a corrupted comedian? This whole Ukie thing stinks bad, real bad.
Yes. It would be. But Secret Service isn't going to take that chance, are they?
Regardless, its ironic that Biden needed Russia's allowance and assurance for his photo-op.
And notice no matter how they go about doing it, the usual suspect cranks here on the flip side find a way to talk up Biden, even if indirectly or by going after those opposed to him, even if ever so slightly?
Come on Man, it’s the Biden family retirement plan.
Joe doesn’t want to be a burden on the working man.
And poor Hunter, I am sure Zelensky has thousand of hours of compromising video with underage Ukrainians confiscated from the prosecutor Joe used a billion dollars of Foreign aid to get fired, Son of a bitch.
A few actual details on the aid, sanctions, etc.
(There are not many details in most articles, and critical info. not here either, but ‘tis a start.)
Questions & further comment to follow.
The domestic purpose was doubtless paramount, this sort of thing helps Biden’s popularity.
Agreed that the trip is mostly a PR exercise. However:
Everybody (allied leaders) but their brother or sister seems to have been to Kyiv already. People wonder if this is just Joe being slow, again, or if Ukraine really is gradually being chewed up / gradually falling to the Russians, and in dire need of a "rah-rah" boost.
Considering that we informed Russia of the trip, risk was minimal. That's the correct procedure in this case - Putin is not some Muzzy desiring glorious immolation - but this was obviously not a "too boldly go..." moment. The obviously timid actions vs. huffing and puffing rhetoric widens the "disconnect" in the US.
On the one hand the multiple re-announcements of the same aid (at least in $$ -- this has long been appropriated) adds to the mental image of Ukraine being a bottomless pit into which the US is sinking treasure it can't afford. So to the extent there was any substance, it is meat for the Putinists and isolationists. OTOH, for anybody pro-Ukraine and paying attention, there is no indication that Brandon is making any kind of swift, decisive action to help the Ukies beat back Russia in the East (which IS an area of concern.) Does the ammo get there by spring? Are even a dozen HIMARS going to be on ships or planes this week? The first 100 GLSDB's, and how many more in coming weeks, not months? (I'm ok with a little misdirection on dates and qty's.) Where is a commitment of NATO and it's allies to match Russia's artillery munitions production? (Make it over-optimistic, and make some added fake / decoy deliveries, to mess with the Russians.)
Where, and WHEN (better be damn soon) is the beef?
Abroad it serves the US image (US domestic politics, believe it or not, is neither obsessed over nor much understood in foreign countries) it helps the US image.
Despite my criticisms above, Biden's trip does indicate the US is sticking with the effort, which generally will be well taken in Europe, if friends I have there are any indication.
It helps Ukraine, collectively, and Zelensky personally, in obtaining continuing aid and buy-in from other countries.
It might help some with popular opinion for aid, in other countries already favorably disposed to assist Ukraine. But I'd think decision makers already understand this aid, a modest amount, was already appropriated. Nonetheless, European citizens' popular opinion should not be discounted.
This sort of thing works on several levels. It helps to have some experience in seeing the US from the outside.
Emphasis mine.
Yes, I'd agree, limited as noted with the first part of that, and particularly (agreed) with the underlined. As a generality, isolationist leaning Americans in particular tend to have few good friends in Europe, don't have much connection with Europe, or prior interest in, Eastern European countries, and so on. And, a lot of people are just busy. Me too: I find myself often short on current info. For example, how is Biden's trip being taken by Russia's lukewarm "sometime allies", such as China and India?
I am very interested in Europe, Poland in particular. My take is our government will only make the situation worse.
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