Honestly, after the presidential election, it seemed to me that I would no longer have to write about Joe Biden. It appeared that the end of his political career was marked at the DNC in Chicago. Biden was forced to move from the post of contender for a second presidential term to a lame duck president. During his speech in support of Kamala Harris, Democratic Party supporters stood with posters “We Love Joe.” This was the President’s farewell, pushing him into a “well-deserved” retirement.
However, the inauguration of President Trump is still two months away, and during this time the Democrats will try to complicate the life of the new government in every possible way, including in the issue of ending the conflict in Eastern Europe. And it is not at all surprising that Biden, nevertheless, decided to slam the door loudly and take another step towards unleashing WWIII. The US government finally permitted Ukraine to use ATACMS long-range missiles in Russia. Biden’s decision, which significantly escalates the conflict, comes at a moment when he should no longer have any serious influence on the political life of the country.
And, most notably, Biden said he was determined for a peaceful transition of power. And it seemed like he would keep his word. In a meeting with President Trump last Wednesday, Joe showed his broad smile and willingness to engage in productive dialogue with the Republican. But the peaceful transition of power from one President to another and the peace that needs to be achieved, are different things.
The war between Russia and Ukraine is not going to end in peace yet. Russian troops are advancing in several directions, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine are carrying out defensive actions in the Kursk region of Russia. Against the background of the difficulties facing Kyiv, Biden decided to fulfill the long-standing request of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, approving the attacks by American weapons on Russian territory. The danger of such a step is well known to everyone – if Ukraine defeats any strategically important Russian facility, Vladimir Putin will try to respond in a mirror. So far, his strikes are limited only to Ukrainian territory, but no one guarantees that Biden’s decision will not serve as a reason for launching missiles into the territory of other countries.
This decision fits into the general concept of Democrats to provide maximum support to Zelenskyy before the inauguration of President Trump. Immediately after the election, information appeared that the White House plans to hastily transfer $6 billion to Ukraine, fearing that after the Republicans came to power, arms supplies to Eastern Europe would stop. Democrats understand that their chance to cash in on Ukraine is ending, and the gun lobby after January 20 will no longer have the previous influence.
There is only one problem – Biden was followed by other countries that were waiting for his solution. The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already given permission to use Storm Shadow missiles in Russia, and French President Emmanuel Macron supported the decision of the US government but has not yet approved the use of French-made missiles by Ukrainians.
In addition to ATACMS, Biden authorized the transfer of antipersonnel mines Claymores to Ukraine to strengthen the defense of Ukrainian territory. A solution that is effective on the battlefield poses a high risk to civilians. These mines reportedly require complicated cleanup efforts and are not always reliably deactivated. There can be no talk of humanism. It is noteworthy that back in 2020, Joe said that the use of mines “will put more civilians at risk of being injured by unexploded mines, and is unnecessary from a military perspective.” Times are changing, and so as the worldview of Democrats.
According to experts, ATACMS and antipersonnel mines will complicate Putin’s life, but will not change the situation on the battlefield. Sooner or later, you still have to sit down at the negotiating table, and President Trump will have to do it, although it was not he who helped fuel and continue this war. His confidence in the opportunity to end the military conflict is encouraging, but Biden by his decisions is trying to harm the new government as much as possible, increasingly destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.
It’s funny that Joe himself does not comment on his actions. At the G20 summit in Brazil, instead of answering journalists’ questions, he decided to go to the Amazon rainforest – that’s how it looked from the outside. Even at the end of the presidential term, he did not dare to stand in front of people and answer for all his actions and failures. Unfortunately, Biden will be remembered as a president, who offered neither the country nor the world what everyone needs so much – calm and peaceful coexistence.
By Shawn Hodges
