While better than nothing, its really the same old story with the Biden administration. For three months Ukraine supporters have waited for an opportunity to push the Russians out, to turn the war distinctly in their favor. For almost as many months military observers and intelligence agencies have predicted aa moment to strike, when Russian forces are battered and exhausted, before they can replenish their substantial losses. And yet, when that moment arrived once more the administration pulls back and saves Putin from being severely punished.
When most needed to exploit Russia's weakness, the talk of more HIMARS or M270s or anything else suddenly dies. The administration has admitted that it could easily supply up to 16 more without consideration of its effect on inventory, and with over a 1000 M270s produced there isn't close to a shortage of those yet...yet...another untimely obstruction by the Biden cadre.
When I first noticed this behavior, a friend of mine was certain this could only be explained by Biden's festering hostility over Hunter's troubles and/or by his desire to save his failing negotiations with Iran by not alienating Putin so much as to scuttle them.
That seemed to be a rather cynical view to me, and I told him that one should not attribute to malice that which may be more easily explained as a case of political stupidity. For many weeks I held out the prospect that these inexplicable and timely sabotages of Ukraine by the administration were more of a product of Biden's growing senility and lack of grasp, or bad advisors, than anything else.
Yet, now one can almost believe that Biden and/or his staff are more than useful idiots, more like Putin's agents of influence to cripple and slow decisive aide to Ukraine. From the outset many of them have publicly roared like lions, only to secretly decide as a 'no we can't to that' lobby. How is it they constantly finding reasons not to facilitate the transfer of planes (which has proceeded without them by other allies), resisted sending heavy weapons, and refused strategic missiles to eliminate Russian supply hubs and rail lines?
This can no longer be excused or explained by innocent dumbness. The can be no excuse for a nation with 550 HIMARS and over 1000 M270s that a paltry 16 launchers is our "best effort". That is shameful bull excrement.
This is not the result of some innocent act of incompetence, its an unspoken administration policy designed to keep Ukraine bleeding. It's goal is now clear: Putin and Russia cannot have its ego damaged, Putin and Russia shouldn't suffer as Ukraine has suffered, Putin and Russia must be given some major territorial gifts and we must provide a fragile peace that Putin may exploit later.
Thankfully, those of us who support Ukraine are catching on:
The Hill
"Mr. President, take the winning shot in Ukraine already
Opinion by Jonathan Sweet and Mark Toth, Opinion Contributor - Wednesday
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his military forces in Donbas and Kherson are running on empty, and the Biden administration once again has entangled itself in escalation paralysis, unwilling to seize the initiative needed to deliver a knockout blow to Russian troops in Ukraine. Seemingly fearful of forcing the Kremlin into a decisive endgame, President Biden is playing for a European football-style of a tie: win if you can, but primarily focus on not losing. That kind of “wait and see” approach can work in a soccer match given a hard time limit; however, in Ukraine where there is no clock, it could be a recipe for turning the conflict into a “forever war.”