In Washington, the President is facing the harsh reality of political limitations in two global conflicts. Despite substantial financial, military, and strategic aid, President Biden has observed with alarm that his influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Ukrainian conflict is not as strong as anticipated.
In Israel and Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected his appeals for “humanitarian pauses” in the ongoing fighting. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s most senior military commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny has concluded that the conflict has reached a “stalemate.”
Despite being the key supplier of arms and intelligence in both conflicts, Biden finds himself unable to dictate military strategy. He is deeply invested in finding resolution to both since the U.S. holds a vital role as Israel’s strongest ally and Ukraine’s beacon of freedom and independence.
Biden’s commitment to these crises is fueled by his career in government and is regarded as his legacy-defining moment. However, he is unwavering in his policy of not involving U.S. troops directly in these conflicts, a stance rooted in his experiences during the Vietnam War and the subsequent failure in Afghanistan.
Yet, despite his cautious approach, mounting pressure to reconsider his political stance in the face of civilian casualties in Gaza is creating concerns. Similarly, while Biden continues to support Ukraine with arms, there is growing skepticism from both the left and the right about the effectiveness of these efforts.
