Lingamfelter: No
In national security matters, it is vital that America is clear and not pusillanimous. That’s a big word for “gutless.” Strength and clarity must be what defines our diplomatic affairs. To be sure, diplomacy requires a deft hand applied to direct and guide our national security actions while avoiding the popular political themes that are extraneous and unhelpful in securing our national security interests.
For example, some politicians think that lacing our foreign policy communiques with far-left progressive language like “advancing equity” or “ending white supremacy” or “fighting climate change”—or other trendy political nostrums that soothe the ears of “woke” people and politicians—is effective. None of that is remotely useful to dealing with our cynical adversaries in the world. Most of these progressive themes are fatuous on their face. In fact, our enemies scoff at us in private for employing such flimsiness.
As Russian troops—over 100,000—are postured to threaten to invade the Ukraine, does anyone think that we can dissuade an aggressive Putin from invading because we must spend our resources as world powers to fight sea rise? Putin will understand one thing and only one thing: the certainty that he will face the wrath of U.S. power diplomatically, economically, and militarily if he attempts to invade Ukraine. And as far as inviting the Ukraine into NATO, it should be done this week followed by a major deployment of NATO forces standing ready to punch the bully’s nose in a demonstrable manner. Putin will get that.
Consider Iran’s efforts to enrich uranium, now at 60% enriched and moving rapidly to a weapons-grade level. The silliness of the Obama efforts to accept Iran’s word that they wouldn’t pursue a nuclear weapon was the modern-day version of Neville Chamberlain’s naivete that Hitler would not start another war if he was appeased after seizing land that wasn’t his. Iran lies. They have been lying for years. They will lie for many more. And like the bully Putin, they understand one thing: power and the fear of American action against them if they nuclearize. But that fear does not exist today with an Administration that almost grovels to secure yet another feckless nuclear agreement with the terror mullahs in Tehran. It is time for a well-placed guided munition to encourage Iran to take another path.
The same could be said of North Korea, which should be cut off from all the world until they relinquish their nuclear arsenal. The little dictator there must be dealt with firmly and, because he does not suffer fools lightly, neither should we.
And of course, there is China. They have raced to the front of the line to be our chief adversary. They steal our technology, imprison countless people of a religious minority in slave labor camps, threaten to seize territory in the Spratly Islands that is not theirs, renege on the promise to maintain Hong Kong as a democracy, unapologetically unleash a deadly pandemic on the world, and now are threatening war with Taiwan, a free state.
All of these expansionist adversaries require firm handling. And when they get the milquetoast treatment that they get today from the Biden administration, they are not deterred. What is needed is effective deterrence. That means making it clear to our adversaries by our actions as well as our words, that they will pay a price for their aggressive actions that far exceeds anything they will gain. And that requires determined leadership that does not “major in the minors.” To be sure, a diplomatic tone is needed. But so too is consistent and serious-minded action that projects American power in a synchronized fashion. We are seeing none of that today, which is why our adversaries mock us daily. One need look no further than Afghanistan to see U.S. irresoluteness.
During my time in the U.S. Army, I often reminded my subordinate officers of a simple admonition concerning leadership. “When in charge, be in charge.” That means taking decisive action and avoiding wobbly responses when backbone is necessary. Our current American national security apparatus is failing miserably at this. For example, President Biden’s suggestion that we should boycott the Chinese Olympics diplomatically is a half measure that will produce no deterrence to a country that is not our friend, indeed our enemy. His facile response will be as useless as lighting the candles on a birthday cake in a windstorm. It won’t work. What will work with China is firmness. We are not doing that. We must reset our tone and make clear to them that their actions will come at a real price.
So, regarding Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, or allowing Iran to nuclearize, or whether we will send a U.S. Olympic team to China, one clear and unequivocal word will suffice.
No.
