February 4, 2023
- Thanks to the Biden administration’s weak and vacillating leadership, Iran, Russia and China have been emboldened to levels never before seen.
- [T]he Biden administration has not been taking any action to deter, disincentivize or punish those who breach the sanctions. Ever since the Biden administration assumed office, in fact, Iran’s oil exports have been on the rise… of which more than 800,000 barrels a day are being exported to China.
- Thanks to the Biden administration’s abject posture towards China; its dithering over help to Ukraine; its ruining the US economy by shutting down America’s energy independence then rushing to buy oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela rather than Canada; the unconscionable abandonment of Afghanistan and our allies there; the Biden family’s appearance of influence-peddling, and, by closing down the China Initiative, the administration’s failure to stop Communist China’s runaway espionage, Russia, Iran and China are simply not taking the US seriously.
- So long as the Biden administration does not demonstrate real leadership, Iran, Russia and China will continue to seize all opportunities to become more empowered and emboldened. The Biden administration’s legacy so far appears to be leaving the world a far more dangerous place.
Thanks to the Biden administration’s weak and vacillating leadership, Iran, Russia and China have been emboldened to levels never before seen.
First, the US sanctions against Russia are completely being smoothly violated by Iran’s mullahs and China. Despite the Biden administration’s sanctions, Iran’s oil exports have reached a new peak last month.
Bloomberg reported:
“While everyone looks at Russia, another oil-rich country under Western sanctions has quietly increased its production: Iran…. Iran’s oil exports are surging… Much of it appears to be finding its way to China. The country’s oil exports surged to about 1.3 million barrels a day in November [2022], and last month held near the highest in four years, according to data from Vortexa Ltd. and Kpler, two well-known shipping analytics firms.”
Although the US sanctions did have a negative impact on the Iranian economy prior to the Biden administration, as more countries violate them, the US sanctions have become cosmetic.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has not been taking any action to deter, disincentivize or punish those who breach the sanctions. Ever since the Biden administration assumed office, in fact, Iran’s oil exports have been on the rise.
While in 2018 and 2019, Iran’s oil exports were significantly reduced to 100,000 to 200,000 barrels a day, Iran is currently exporting more than a million barrels a day — of which more than 800,000 barrels a day are being exported to China.
The Iranian regime is also assisting Russia in war crimes without facing any consequences, according to The Sunday Guardian:
“Speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter, [a US] official said that [on August 19] one [Russian] plane carried $150m in cash and a number of captured UK and US weapons to Iran in exchange for a large number of deadly drones for Russia’s use in its war against Ukraine…. These had all been shipped to Ukraine for their use against the invaders, but had “fallen into Russian hands….For their part, the Iranians supplied Russia in excess of 200 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which included more than 100 … drones, nicknamed “kamikaze” drones because they are designed to crash into their targets and explode on impact. They are capable of delivering explosive payloads at distances of up to 1,500 miles. The rest of the load was … able to carry guided missiles or bombs…. [Russia’s] use of a combination of cruise missiles and Iranian self-detonating UAVs, packed with explosives, has deprived millions of Ukrainian citizens of electricity and running water, deliberately contravening the Geneva Convention…. The WHO has documented 703 attacks by Russia on Ukrainian health infrastructure since its invasion began.”
The White House has acknowledged that it has evidence that Iranian troops were “directly engaged on the ground” in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated:
“The [drone] systems themselves were suffering failures and not performing to the standards that apparently the customers expected… So the Iranians decided to move in some trainers and some technical support to help the Russians use them with better lethality.”
Both Russia and Iran are also strengthening their military links. While Russia is receiving weapons and military personnel from Iran, the mullahs — in addition to reverse-engineering the state-of-the-art US and British materiel that Russia captured — are reportedly seeking Moscow’s assistance to complete Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Thanks to the Biden administration’s abject posture towards China; its dithering over help to Ukraine; its ruining the US economy by shutting down America’s energy independence then rushing to buy oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela rather than Canada; the unconscionable abandonment of Afghanistan and our allies there; the Biden family’s appearance of influence-peddling, and, by closing down the China Initiative, the administration’s failure to stop Communist China’s runaway espionage, Russia, Iran and China are simply not taking the US seriously.
“Biden is a complete joke with regard to foreign policy,” U.S. Senator Rick Scott pointed out.
“Why is Putin doing this? Because he knows Biden is weak. Biden would rather have ice cream with somebody than stand up for Americans… “It’s a disaster. I mean, Biden’s a clown. Biden’s never been a serious person. He’s just a talker. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, that’s all he’s ever done.”
Scott also cited former President Barack Obama is reported to have warned the US: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up.”
Even some of America’s European allies, despite the US sanctions, are freely doing business with Iran’s theocratic establishment. Mehr News Agency stated:
“Iran and the European Union’s 27 member states traded €4.36 billion worth of goods during the first 10 months of 2022, registering a 14.28% rise compared with last year’s corresponding period… Germany was the top trading partner of Iran in the EU region during the period, as the two countries exchanged over €1.6 billion worth of goods, 15.44% more than in a similar period of the year before. Italy came next with €555.39 million worth of trade with Iran to register an 11.14% year-on-year rise…. the Netherlands with €351.94 million (down 10.76%) and Spain with €296.06 million (up 13.12%) were Iran’s other major European trade partners.”
So long as the Biden administration does not demonstrate real leadership, Iran, Russia and China will continue to seize all opportunities to become more empowered and emboldened. The Biden administration’s legacy so far appears to be leaving the world a far more dangerous place.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
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Frankly, weakness and cowardice have no place in American politics. We are the arsenal and upholders of freedom and democracy. If we don’t stand strong in the face of oppression and evil, who will? There is no one else. Period.
In each day of his presidency, Biden has never shown strength or determination, but plenty of overblown caution and weakness.
However…
“Even some of America’s European allies, despite the US sanctions, are freely doing business with Iran’s theocratic establishment.”
Too many others in the West are weak and downright corrupt.
We have China, its huge economy and its 1.4 billion people to oppose. What about India? The world’s biggest democracy? Bullshit! It’s a shithole with another large economy and 1.4 billion people that we can’t really count on. What about Brazil? What about Pakistan? What about the next few large countries, population-wise?
The West MUST wake up, and this very soon, otherwise we’ll be in a terrible bind. We have well over 4 billion (!) people and a large portion of the globe’s economy AGAINST us. We simply cannot afford weakness, wokeness and cowardice anymore. We’ve entered a new and dangerous phase of our current history. We cannot afford a Biden, a Macron or a Scholz. Instead, we need intelligent and courageous leaders with good foresight.
Blah blah blah
Same old same old partizan bullshit.
In one year:
Russian losses are estimated by the CIA at nearly 200k casualties.
Their convential missile arsenal has been depleated.
Their air force has lost over 25% of it’s air frames including some their most modern and irrreplacable.
They have lost over 5k armored vehicles.
We have gained access to some of their most modern technology and can now counter it.
NATO is adding two new and very capable memebers.
Europe is no longer dependant of Russian energy.
The Russian economy is in the crapper.
China has pretty much stayed out of it.
No WMDs have been used so that Gennie has stayed in the bottle which is not a small matter for the Ukraineian people since they would have been in the Russian cross haires.
Biden, thanks to massive amounts Ukraine guts, has nearly destoryed Russia as a near peer threat. This has ended the possiblity of corrdinated action by Russia and China againest the West AND Asia. A VERY REAL THREAT.
And he did it with only 5% of the US defense budget and ZERO US servicemen killed.
Name me ONE president who accomplished more for so little?
There is a diffrence between weak leadership and Statemenship.
Oh and by the way Trump said Putin was a genius and the invasion was beautiful. So don’t bring him up.
I agree to some extent but I do think the war is taking much longer than needed.
I do think Biden is the best guy among the trio Macron, Biden and Scholz.
I do think Scholz is truly a bad guy that doesn’t really care about Ukraine. As I social democrat I should like him the most, but he is more compromat than social democrat.
I do think Biden has his heart in the right place and I think he is as pro-Ukrainian as one can be but he is so damn cautious and hesitant for which Ukrainians have to pay with their lives.
I must say I think I might be more angry than I should as provably a lot more is happening behind the scenes than I know off.
For example, I have criticised Biden for the deal with Scholz on not sanctioning Germany for Nord Stream 2, which made me mad.
But Biden is not a stupid guy, I think he knew very well what would happen in Ukraine by then and that he needed Germany to maintain unity in the EU and for weapons/assistance.
I think he was looking further ahead than I did, as Nord Stream was nearing completion regardless of any sanctions, while sanctioning Germany would mean Biden would lose both: good relationship with Germany and the pipe would be there anyway.
I think EU unity with Orban’s, Austrians, Italians, questionable people like Scholz and narcist people like Macron who thinks he can persuade Putin with a phone call is a miracle and I must give Biden credit for this as I don’t think this would have happened without some political craftsmanship.
But still I wished Biden to hesitate less and send these ATACMS and F-16’s.
Liked
Some people are giving Biden far too much credit. Biden was too hesitant to approve weapons and ammo, and when he okays something, it’s often late and always too little. Numerous experts agree with this assessment.
It was Poland, the UK and the Baltic nations who were at the forefront of military aid to Ukraine, not the US. They have also given a larger share of aid in relation to their GDP. Biden is also the one who vehemently denies Ukraine the right to attack mafia soil. Ask Estonia, or Latvia, or Lithuania, or Poland what they think about this. That’s a disgrace of the first magnitude! And yes, it’s completely shameful and cowardly.
A determined, strong and courageous president would have even prevented this war from happening in the first place. Years of incompetent presidents, from Obama, to Trump to Biden have virtually encouraged mafia land to initiate a full-scale invasion, because mafia land feeds on our weakness. It sees it, hears, it feels it and smells it. It exists on the fears of others. It’s foundation of power is fear and lies. Unless we get leaders who understand the russian mentality, we’re fucked.
It’s safe to say that any other country with less determined and less smart people would have already stricken the white flag in the face of such overwhelming odds. They would be totally enslaved by now. The successes on the battlefield were paid for with lots of Ukrainian blood that could have been gotten much cheaper. We do not know how much longer Ukraine can hold out. Yes, FINALLY tanks are coming … in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months! They come one or a few at a time. Slowly. Gradually. Still no planes! No long-range missiles!
This is also what China sees. It sees all. It’s taking notes and it’s learning. The lessons are bearing fruit.
Read this:
“China Helping Russia’s War With Ukraine With Military Aid—Violating Sanctions—Reports”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/02/04/china-helping-russias-war-with-ukraine-with-military-aid-violating-sanctions-reports-show/
This is due in part to our weakness and cowardice, like it or not.
Liked
“Biden is also the one who vehemently denies Ukraine the right to attack mafia soil.”
That’s not true.
Biden is trying to avoid starting World War III. As part of that effort, he’s saying that the US is only supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine. So he asks that Ukraine only use US-supplied weapons to attack Russian forces on Ukrainian territory. There’s never been any suggestion that Ukraine couldn’t conduct attacks on mafia soil using weapons that weren’t supplied by the US. (Consider, for example, the Engels-2 and Dyagilevo airbases.)
Well, I meant with US weapons. This is still unacceptable. How much longer will Biden fear mafia land? You know, I know, everyone knows that mafia land will do nothing if ATACMS, or HIMARS or whatever touch mafia soil. We’ve already crossed numerous red lines. Mafia land’s n´been rattling the nuclear saber since 2014.
If that is true, why does the Biden administration keep saying Ukraine is free to use the weapons as they see fit? Don’t forget, Biden ordered the military to restrict the HIMARS from being capable to fire the ATACMS.
Prevent WWIII? Nobody except Putin can do that, everyone else that uses that as a restriction is full of it and not supportive of Ukraine. That’s known as a red herring.
I didn’t see anything partisan nor false in the piece. Sometimes truth is like a 2-edged sword and hard to identify both sides.
yay, a bert has learned a new word
“dithering”.
And, you’ll forever think about Biden when you use or hear or read this word. 😂