Opinion: Critics are wrong. Biden is getting Ukraine right.

[Uncle Joe]

By Jennifer Rubin

(snip)

He has rightly rejected the invitation to start World War III, opting instead for an “all of the above” strategy. On the arms front, he previously decided against sending aircraft to Ukraine because, contrary to claims from his critics, they proved unnecessary in the battle for Kyiv. Now that the action has shifted to the Donbas region, Biden has responded appropriately. After sending a $800 million security assistance package the prior week, Biden announced on Thursday that he would send “another $800 million to further augment Ukraine’s ability to fight in the east,” which will include dozens of Howitzers, 144,000 rounds of ammunition and tactical drones. All of which was to begin shipping within 24 to 48 hours.

(snip)

In addition to arms, the United States gave Ukraine this week another $500 million in non-military aid, bringing the total to about $1 billion in two months. Biden explained: “This is money the [Ukrainian] government can help use to stabilize their economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services to the people of Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, Biden has assembled an unprecedented international sanctions regimen that halts U.S. imports of Russian fuel and commits Europe to weaning itself from Russian oil and gas. In addition to the raft of financial sanctions added almost weekly, Biden announced on Thursday a complete ban on Russian ships in U.S. ports.

(snip)

In our age of perpetual cynicism, distrust and discontent, it would be unheard of for an opposing party to acknowledge that an administration is doing just about everything humanly possible to confront evil. But this administration is. For that, Biden deserves a great deal of credit.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/24/biden-is-getting-ukraine-right-russia-war-critics/

[empedocles]

1. +1

[gab13by13]

2. #1 reason,

president Biden kept NATO and our allies united, something Putin wasn't counting on.

Not enough credit is given him for this, he led by example.

[oldsoftie]

10. NATO should award Putin with a "solidarity award". A big horses ass

You KNOW he never thought all these countries would join together so quickly. Yes there's a few stragglers but its been amazing.

[stopdiggin]

3. Agree wholeheartedly.

There's not much that Biden could have done that he hasn't. And even less of those things that he might have - but with very good reason did not. And I'll one up that by saying, I think history and the fullness of time will reveal that this president has been even wiser, more adept, and a greater force, during this global crisis - than even current credit bestowed is accounting for.

He is going to go down as a statesman and a hero for whipping up the forces - and making sure the wagons got circled.
----- -----

[lees1975]

5. Well said!

[maxsolomon]

4. Rubin's really had an awakening since Asshole was elected.

She's still a hawk, but she's right: it's hard to criticize how Biden's handled this war. This would have been a bipartisan hawks coalition 20 years ago, but Repukes have to criticize Dems, because they're in a political war here in the US.

[tavernier]

6. I wondered when we left Afghanistan

if Joe wasn’t expecting a Russian invasion in Ukraine. Afghanistan forces just were not interested in defeating the Taliban. They were just interested in the money that the USA most generously poured out to them in buckets.
Joe seemed to know that money and supplies and equipment better served a country who would take the reins and fight tooth and nail against its oppressors.
Having said that, my heart goes out to the women of Afghanistan. They have 1000 times more heart and guts than their men.

[oldsoftie]

11. Yes, what a difference in populations. AFG actually had it far EASIER.

Modern equipment, trained forces, ragtag opposition, air power, etc.
UKR had newly trained forces, but were up against one of the biggest militaries in the world.
The Afghans were just sorry; plain & simple. Some people may not like putting it that way but there's just no excuse.
What a difference so far in UKR

[True Blue American]

7. Right.

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/03/15/public-expresses-mixed-views-of-u-s-response-to-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/

[BumRushDaShow]

12. As an ancillary to that since those results were published

https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/04/06/seven-in-ten-americans-now-see-russia-as-an-enemy/

Report April 6, 2022
Seven-in-Ten Americans Now See Russia as an Enemy

Attitudes toward NATO increasingly positive
By Richard Wike, Janell Fetterolf, Moira Fagan and J.J. Moncus


Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a dramatic shift in American public opinion: 70% of Americans now consider Russia an enemy of the United States, up from 41% in January. And on this topic, Democrats and Republicans largely agree, with 72% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans describing Russia as an enemy. A new Pew Research Center survey, conducted March 21-27, finds that just 7% of U.S. adults have an overall favorable opinion of Russia. Only 6% express confidence in its leader, President Vladimir Putin. In contrast, 72% have confidence in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The ongoing war has brought renewed attention to NATO. Ukraine is not a NATO member, but it borders several member states, and NATO leaders have worked together in recent weeks to coordinate their responses to the crisis. Attitudes toward the alliance have grown more positive since Russia’s invasion: 67% express a favorable opinion of the organization, up from 61% in 2021. Meanwhile, 69% say the U.S. benefits a great deal or a fair amount from being a NATO member.

While both Democrats and Republicans (including those who lean to each party) hold largely positive views about NATO and U.S. membership in the organization, Democrats are consistently more positive, especially liberal Democrats. For instance, 85% of liberal Democrats think the U.S. benefits a great deal or a fair amount from NATO membership; among conservative Republicans, only 51% hold this view. Still, partisan differences over NATO have shrunk somewhat over the past year.

The share of Democrats and Democratic leaners with a favorable overall opinion of NATO has held steady at nearly eight-in-ten, but among Republicans and GOP leaners, positive views have increased from 44% in spring 2021 to 55% today. The partisan gap on Russia favorability has also decreased. In 2020 – the last time this question was asked – there was a 17 percentage point difference between the share of Democrats with a very unfavorable opinion of Russia and the share of Republicans with that view; now the gap is only 5 points.

(snip)

(the above is narrowing down to the known insurrectionists! )

[True Blue American]

13. Agree!

The media keeps saying how low Biden’s polls are.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. President Biden has done an amazing job in opposing Putin and helping Ukraine

[TeamProg]

9. K&R Thanks for posting. n/t

[KPN]

14. Good to see Rubin spporting Joe. Thanks for posting Uncle.

[Dopers_Greed]

15. The M$M has "Biden Derangement Syndrome"

They feel they have to be "neutral" and give Biden exactly the same amount of criticism the Slobfather got.

[Hekate]

16. 🌻KnR

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻