When it comes to national security, the only skill the Biden administration has mastered is shifting blame. Backed by allies in the media who dare not whisper the slightest criticism for fear of Donald Trump, Team Biden presides over a disastrous Ukraine mispolicy, but their only accomplishment is accountability. to impose on the Republican Party.
waste of public opinion
Despite all the complaints, there is no doubt that the Republican Party does not support Vladimir Putin and Russia. YouGov has been consistently polling on this issue for the past two years. March 19th Polls show that Republicans view Putin negatively, with 80% unfavorable and only 10% favorable. These results are consistent with the poll results. 2023 (75% unfavorable, 17% favorable) 2022 (82% unfavorable, 11% favorable).
Russia is viewed similarly poorly, with 85% of Republicans considering Russia “unfriendly” or an “enemy,” but only a minority considering Russia a “friendly” or “ally.” That’s 6%. Like Putin’s views, the Republicans’ views differ slightly from those of the Democrats. In fact, independent voters and voters ages 18 to 29 have the most moderate views of Putin and Russia. However, if Polling is biased in one direction by more than 50 points, the difference will be negligible.
A month into the war, majorities in both parties supported active aid. Republican voters are more hawkish than Democrats, with 58% supporting Biden’s “harder” policies compared to 46% of Democrats. Sending weapons was supported by 66%, 16% of Democrats opposed, and even fewer Republicans (13%) opposed. The idea of sanctions was supported by 74% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans. Independents and those aged 18 to 29 were the weakest.
But over the past two years, poll support for military aid has fallen significantly, revealing the trappings of partisan rifts that exist on most issues. The percentage of increases in military aid and decreases in aid is evenly split at 30% overall (26% unchanged), but 51% of Democrats support more aid compared to 51% of Republicans. 49% of Americans want less aid (several independents support cutting aid).
It’s not that they support Russia in pushing for this change, it’s that they are indifferent. Majorities of Republicans and independents remain sympathetic to Ukraine, at 59% and 56%, respectively (55% of 18-29 year olds). However, the proportion disapproving of either camp rose to 29% for both. Sympathy for Russia remains low at 7% among Republicans and 2% among independents, meaning virtually nothing.
Biden’s non-strategy is costly.
For all Team Biden’s rhetoric, their war policy is non-strategic with no clear outcome, a floating craps game of diplomacy and disjointed military strategy. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the amount of bumper he stickers, blue and yellow flags, and other ego-gratifying virtue-signaling plastered on his Twitter profile. These are as influential as Change.org petitions. All the while, his fumbling non-strategy undermines support from the American public – not to mention it is a humanitarian, military and moral disaster for Ukraine.
For the past two years, Team Biden has been fooled by President Putin’s nuclear bluff, delaying aid and blocking uniform aid delivery. Used Soviet military jet plane.Team Biden fears Putin’s imaginary ‘red line’ manage in detail and handcuffs Ukraine. There are few signs of real cooperation between Biden and America’s putative NATO allies. Even if there is a collaborative group directing policy and pursuing end goals, it is invisible and powerless. As long as Russia’s military power is limited, sanctions It has almost the same effect as a screen door during a hurricane.
Of course, Putin himself has no red lines to cross, bombing and slaughtering civilians, looting, and engaging in effective propaganda. Team Biden will only be saved by Russian corruption and backwardness.Russia is engaged in its own shadow war against America with impunity in the presence of NATO discuss whether Shoot down a missile over NATO territory. It is this weakness that emboldens Putin, and no one in the mainstream media is actively criticizing it.
Ukraine is in the midst of a fight for survival. Russia has made clear her determination to use maximum force to achieve her objectives. But Team Biden has shown little sense of urgency. historically, Russia has been forced to the negotiating table, but only when the costs of war are intolerable. Russia is unlikely to be forced to negotiate in the face of an ambivalent, schizophrenic and capricious West. Team Biden has a strategy: throw money at the problem and hope for the best.
Biden’s message to Republicans: Die.
Republican voters are increasingly focused on immigration and border security. They are weighing the cost of aid in the face of stubborn inflation and withdrawing from further transfers to Ukraine. Republican support was already showing signs of weakening in the fall of 2022, but Team Biden, in its typically slow and unpredictable manner, was unable to allay the concerns of Republican voters.
Immigration matters to 10% of Republicans, compared to 10% of Republicans in March 2023 (62% said the issue was “very important”) to 33% (81%) in March 2024. % said this issue was “very important.” Inflation also remains a top concern, with 90% of Republicans calling inflation “very important” and 81% calling taxes and spending “very important.”
Republican reluctance toward military aid is not limited to Ukraine. 65% of Republicans sympathize with Israel, compared to 4% for Hamas, whereas only 35% support sending more military aid. , 53% claim the same level or lower. And Republicans’ support for Israel is 38 points higher than independents and 51 points higher than Democrats.
But Biden’s incompetent White House staffers appear to think he can ride on the public’s overall support for Ukraine and not address Republican concerns. They seem completely unaware that Republicans (for now) have a majority in the House, and that members of both parties are at the mercy of ever more partisan voting bases.
Team Biden took a tough stance on Johnson when approached in December about a trade by Border Patrol Chairman Mike Johnson to help Ukraine, but it turns out Johnson wasn’t bluffing (Biden Another terrible poker read). Since then, Johnson’s position has become untenable, making border politics even more difficult for Biden.
Even more irrational is the fact that there is $300 billion in funding. Frozen Russian assets It declined without being influenced by the West. Leaving these assets in suspended animation, apart from sending a message to aggressive despots that there is always hope of getting their funds back regardless of destruction or war crimes, suggests that these funds should not be used. It would directly address the concerns of Republican voters and counteract the biggest criticism from conservatives. Circle.
Both the outcome and outcome of the Ukraine war are uncertain. But if there’s one conclusion that all Americans can agree on, it’s that the Democratic foreign policy establishment cannot be trusted when it comes to national security.
Dr. Keith Naughton is co-founder of Silent Majority Strategies, a public and regulatory affairs consulting firm. Norton is a former Pennsylvania political campaign consultant. Follow him on Twitter @KNaughton711.
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