Ukraine and Georgia sure made an impression on Joe Biden. On his trip home from those democracies, the vice president played Lear’s jester by speaking the truth about their erstwhile master, Russia. In an interview, Biden pointed out that the U.S. and Russia aren’t strategic equals. “I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold,” he said, noting that Russia’s economy and population are “withering.” As for the arsenal Russia inherited from the U.S.S.R., Biden said, “They can’t sustain it.” Biden’s commonsense observations undermine President Obama’s rationale for a “reset” with Russia built on arms control and a softening of U.S. support for Eurasia’s democracies. For example, why lock in lower numbers of U.S. nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles such as bombers and missiles in a new arms deal if Russia can’t afford to maintain its stockpile of either? Biden may not like the comparison. But in his willingness to speak the truth about Russia, Biden reminds us of Dick Cheney. — Wall Street Journal editorial
Vice President Joe Biden recently claimed that, because Russia’s economy is “withering,” Moscow will have to bend to the West, specifically on issues relating to the former Soviet republics and the reduction of its nuclear arsenal. But what Biden seems to be forgetting is the important role that Russia can play in the war in Afghanistan. Russia has no obligation to bend one way or the other. The country still exerts strong influence over most Central Asian states, including those directly bordering Afghanistan. In fact, Russia recently allowed — after nearly eight years of war — the United States to use its airspace to transport troops and military equipment into Afghanistan. After Biden’s comment, there appears to be a gap between the administration’s objective of stabilizing Afghanistan and the means with which it hopes to achieve it. Gratuitously antagonizing Russia risks prompting officials in Moscow to either retract their concession on Afghanistan, to pressure Central Asian republics to act in kind, or both. — Malou Innocent, RealClearWorld.com
9 Comments
After a decade-and-a-half of Newtie Gingrich, Tom (the Hammer) DeLay, and Shrub/Cheney, journalists forgotten politics without marching in lock-step obedience.
Far from being a “loose canon,” Biden’s remarks reveal a presidency that welcomes open expression of nuanced and perspective.
CONs tend to subscribe to George WMD Bush’s “You’re either for us or against us” approach to complex matters.
Russia’s a big country with a lot of oil and a lot of old-but-still-deadly weapons. And while it may have an interest in a stable Afghanistan, I doubt they’re gonna return with any more enthusiasm than Americans would if someone said, “Let’s go re-fight the Vietnam War!”
The Saudis would rather people buy their than Russia’s, but Arabs aren’t that thrilled with the Persians having a nuke. No one is thrilled at Pakistan having nukes, though. And even Iran has enough people who know any nuclear arsenal they might develop is an exercise in diplomatic machismo.
Any nation with nukes knows the result of using them will turn the world into the closing credits of “Dr. Strangelove.”
Even Kim Jong Il. But Kim Jong Il is ill and China has dogs much closer to that potential fight. Spreading fear of the DPRK in America is just for domestic political posturing.
CONs would rather parrot talk radio sloganeering and dream up fake wedge issues.
Even if Biden’s observations are true, it’s not the thing to say publicly. It doesn’t help US/Russian cooperation and diplomacy to publicly insult the other party.
But then, Biden’s an idiot. That’s been apparant for years. How long will the administration continue to let him flap his pearly whites?
Even worse! –
Now that the Moose-Dresser quit her job, who’s watching Russia for us?
Far from being a “loose canon,” Biden’s remarks reveal a presidency that welcomes open expression of nuanced and perspective.
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That’s just a polite way of saying if you cant dazzle em with your brilliance baffle em with your bullsh*t
And the DIM/Palin love fest continues.
Why do I suspect that every word Biden utters has been sanitized and run through the wringer back at the White House? Every country/corporation needs a fall guy to stand up and say what everybody else thinks but can’t say for diplomatic reasons.
There isn’t much that is spontaneous at that level. If it serves the country to have Biden flap his yap, then he is the perfect person to do it. SecState can’t do it and still get along with everybody. But the Veep can, because he has been appointed to say the unsayable.
Countries/corporations/people don’t have friends or enemies,they have interests.
First rule of geopolitics.
Dennis
How quickly they forget, bomb, bomb, Iran, and Mccain’s unfettered support for Georgia, talk about a loose cannon.
Biden like Cheney?
Sure, why not. Obama’s sorta like Bush.
digital android cooling continue companies