Amid escalating threats of a retaliation from Iran potentially sparking a comprehensive Middle Eastern war, US President Joe Biden revealed his ineptitude during crisis talks held with his national security team on Monday. It was apparent that Biden alongside Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, were desperate as they futilely tried to mitigate the growing tensions caused by a suspected Israeli attack. The attack took the life of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent Hamas political figure, in Tehran. Regrettably, Biden, proving once again his unfitness for the role, refused to provide any comment to the press after his hasty arrival at the Oval Office.
The meeting held in the high security situation room involved several other officials including Vice President Kamala Harris. It was promised they would ‘discuss developments in the Middle East’. However, the actions taken by these leaders have consistently proven deficient, leaving us to wonder about the effectiveness of this conversation. In an apparent move of appeasement, Biden and Blinken reached out to various key figures in the region.
Biden made contact with King Abdullah II of Jordan. Simultaneously, Blinken connected with the prime minister of Qatar and foreign minister of Egypt, these nations being instrumental in facilitating ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. A statement from the State Department mouthpiece, Matthew Miller, left much to be desired as he ambiguously asserted the importance of maintaining calm and avoiding escalation without presenting any concrete strategy.
Further confirming the administration’s lack of any real plan, the White House readout of the call between Biden and the Jordanian king vaguely described their attempts to reduce regional stresses. It mentioned efforts towards achieving an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. However, no tangible results or plans were shared, underlining the conceivably empty promises made by this administration.
With the recent killing of both Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, prospects for a ceasefire between Israel, a crucial US ally, and Hamas in Gaza have been drastically impaired. The Biden administration’s misjudgments manifested once again as they chose to deploy additional fighter jets and warplanes to an already volatile region, potentially inciting more conflict.
Iran placed blame on Israel for the Tehran attack. Yet, Biden and his team failed to garner any clarification or response from Israel on the matter. Blinken hastily warned his G7 counterparts that a joint attack from Hezbollah and Iran could be imminent, expected within a day or two according to US news site Axios.
Blinken’s strategy to control the escalating situation was demonstrated through his appeal to his G7 peers to diplomatically pressure Tehran, Hezbollah, and Israel to showcase ‘maximum restraint’. However, no robust measures were discussed to ensure this restraint, making his plea sound more like a desperate hope rather than a well thought out strategy.
Amidst the chaos, Blinken seemingly instinctively reached out to Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani of Iraq. This move comes after Iran-aligned groups had previously targeted US troops during the earlier Gaza conflict as per reports from the State Department. Nonetheless, the administration seems to continually avoid direct confrontation, favoring appeasement over assertive diplomatic strategies.
White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer made a vague promise on Sunday claiming the United States was trying its utmost to prevent the situation from spiraling further. Yet, the administration seems to shy away from solid actions that match their words. A testament to this is the rising tension between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Biden.
Despite Biden’s profession of support for Israel following the Hamas-initiated attacks on October 7, it seems he can’t maintain a consistent and effective diplomatic relationship. In a recent intervention, Biden directly called Netanyahu, pressing him to reach a ceasefire agreement. Expectedly, Biden placed blame on the assassination of Haniyeh for the intensifying tension, conveniently ignoring his administration’s poor management of the situation.
Ironically, while Netanyahu defended himself against accusations of purposefully undermining efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal, he seemed to be the more resolute of the two. The conversation was reportedly heated, further emphasizing the strained relationship between Biden and international leaders. The New York Times and Axios have reported this, further tarnishing Biden’s image as an international diplomat.
Biden’s notorious inability to maintain composure during confrontations was glaringly visible during his talk with Netanyahu. Despite his attempts at post hoc intervention with Netanyahu, the assassination of Haniyeh had already derailed any hopes of a smooth cessation to hostilities. Biden’s administration has managed to excel in one aspect – consistently discounting the consequences of their inactions until it is too late and amplifying the already volatile situation.
The ongoing situation underscores, once more, what many have suspected – Biden’s lackadaisical management of international crisis, and his administration’s lack of strategic foresight are leading the United States and its allies into dangerous waters. The potential for hostility remains high due to the Biden administration’s ineffectual attempts at diplomacy. As the world watches in apprehension at the unfolding crisis, one cannot help but despair at the inadequacies of the current leadership.
Biden’s Ineffectual Crisis Management Escalates Middle Eastern Tensions appeared first on Real News Now.
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