German Efficiency Might Save American Democrats
There will be no state dinners, no press entourage and little fanfare. On a two-day visit to Washington to see President Biden, Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, wants to get straight to business...
The chancellor’s press office published a one-line statement announcing the visit to Washington in advance of the trip: The two leaders will discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine one year on, and support for Kyiv...
“I think we are at a difficult moment, because the question about the endgame is becoming louder, bigger and more important in the U.S., but also in Europe,” said Ulrich Speck, a German foreign policy analyst. “So I think it is one year on and looking back, it’s also looking forward, and to the question: How will this end?”...
Speculation has been growing in Europe and Washington that despite vocal public statements that they would back Kyiv “as long as necessary,” as Mr. Scholz has put it, some Western leaders worry how long a strong, unified front can last.
European leaders are fretting over how support for Ukraine will fare during a U.S. presidential election next year, with parts of the Republican Party skeptical of military support for Kyiv. The White House said on Thursday that it would announce more military aid to Ukraine on Friday.
Nearly all Western leaders have concerns over whether their populations may tire of sustained and costly backing of Ukraine, especially as the war exposes many shortcomings in their own countries — including military preparedness and energy supplies.
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It will be good for others outside American media and political circles to speak with President Biden up close to determine if his alleged mental failings would make him a strong leader and reliable partner for the war years to come. Here at home, we hide a lot, and pretend, but promising America is in this for the long haul means nothing if our leader is weak and there is no confidence in the words he speaks.
It would allow an "out": a determination to return to negotiations, and do the heavy lifting of working out a way of peacefully incorporating borders, including the parts of Ukraine that the Obama/Biden administration saw taken by Russia back in 2014. There is surely a map that Russian-speakers and Ukrainian freedom fighters can live with -- in an intact country with a thriving, not just surviving, civilian population. No one need fear Putin is planning to roll into Poland or to take over Eastern Europe. The Hitler comparisons show personal fears, not today's realities.
It would also give the Democratic party a chance at retaining political power in our country. The writing is on the wall: if the Ukrainian war continues, American voters who have lived through war fatigue of the past two decades with no commensurate rebuilding plans for communities here at home or investment in people's freedoms and safety in our own lands, will not vote for yet more war. We won't allow our billions to go toward military spending while our own social services are incapable of keeping up with the needs of our young. The reason Barack Obama and Donald Trump were both elected? Voters wanted change from the bush/cheney war policies. Obama could not deliver, as he just did not have the persuasive power, failed to end his predecessor's wars as promised, and fell under the DC-area military contracting business power by becoming a mini-me of the Bush administration in his foreign policy adventures.
We want our country to stop fighting other people's civil wars, and promising to bring about change at gunpoint. It's just not that easy.
The upcoming death of Jimmy Carter will demonstrate discussion of how leaders can work to bring about agreements like the one he crafted for Egypt and Israel, the importance of diplomacy.
Images of natural destruction from earthquakes or train derailments, and the plight of refugees being absorbed, but not assimilated, into America today remind voters that we don't need to be buying wars to invest in, when we are incapable of taking care of our own people at home in many regions.
If the German leader can step up and help the American president to see that further escalation is not in Europe's best interest, the Democrats might have a chance at remaining in power politically here at home.
You wish that some unifying and realistic candidate could be found -- a smarter younger wiser voice -- to replace Joe Biden at the top of the ticket. From what we've seen of late, it would be a good omen if that party concedes he is perhaps capable of leading out his term but needs to turn over the baton to a faster runner in 2024. Denial of reality doesn't work in politics or wartime. Maybe the Germans will help the Americans realize that before our own country continues to destroy itself here at home?
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