CRISIS MANAGEMENT VIS-À-VIS BIDEN'S ERROR
CRISIS MANAGEMENT VIS-À-VIS BIDEN'S ERROR
Crisis management might not suffice:
It was clear from the speed with which administration officials worked to clarify Biden's remark that they knew it could be a big problem that could potentially make an already fraught European geopolitical showdown much worse.
In a jab not in his scripted remarks, Biden said, "For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power" in a reference to Putin. A White House official said Biden meant that "Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region" and said Biden wasn't referring to regime change. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was even more categorical during a trip to Jerusalem on Sunday.
"We do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia, or anywhere else for that matter," Blinken said. "In this case, as it is in any case, it's up to the people of the country in question. It is up to the Russian people."
Biden's comment about the Russian leader's tenure on power was not the only striking rhetoric of his tour. After meeting refugees on Saturday, Biden called Putin a "butcher." Previously, Biden had called him a "thug" and a "murderous dictator." And the script from which he departed to make the now notorious remark was in itself hawkish, previewing what Biden said was a long struggle, which sounded a lot like a new Cold War.
We believe you will be able to determine for yourself in the days ahead whether Biden's meeting with NATO and European leaders has done more harm than good to the West.
We will surely bring you updates.
