Biden leads in another crisis

Biden Announces Americans Won't Be Rescued if Russia Invades  . . ." Good news for China and bad news for America, he's got a few more years in office.

"You don't simply declare that you won't help Americans because it's too dangerous. Even if it's true, it signals weakness to the world and tells the other side that they have a blank check to do anything they want.

"The strategy here is absolutely terrible. 

"But don't underestimate Biden. There is a strategy here.

"Biden has learned from Afghanistan. These comments incorporate his two lessons.". . .

Now the White House Says Putin Will Invade Ukraine ‘Any Day Now’ (legalinsurrection.com)  

Oil Spikes To $95/Barrel Over Fears Of Ruso-Ukraine War… | Weasel Zippers   "Oil prices jumped in afternoon trading Friday amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

"With about 2 hours left to the trading day, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a White House briefing that there were signs of Russian escalation at the Ukraine border and that it was possible that an invasion could take place during the Olympics, despite speculation to the contrary.

"We continue to see signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border. As we’ve said before, we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time,” Sullivan said Friday." . . .

Opinion | Biden Is the Biggest Weakness in America's Russia Pol - The New York Times (nytimes.com)  This commentary begins with a positive outlook on Biden's role in this current issue. But then takes us to this more somber view:

. . ."Despite these successes, Russia still looks poised to invade Ukraine. Mr. Putin is still threatening to use military force, whereas President Biden is sending the message that the United States is afraid of confronting Russia militarily. Even if the United States is unwilling to fight alongside Ukrainians, it’s a big bargaining advantage for Russia if it’s telegraphing willingness to go to war and we’re ultimately reassuring it that it doesn’t need to worry about us.

"The real problem in administration policy is President Biden. The insular nature of his decision-making, including his reliance on like-minded advisers, lacks rigorous thinking and fuels a kind of arrogance that can lead to unforced errors. His casual suggestion last month that “a minor incursion” by Russia might not draw a tough response required mopping up by the administration. It also drew a bitter rebuke from Ukraine’s president. Most egregiously, Mr. Biden let Russia know it need not fear the prospect of U.S. troops fighting to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine and postwar order, saying publicly that “there is not going to be any American forces moving into Ukraine.' ”. . .