Thanks for the memory jogger Les. I always wondered if April's was a simple cock-up or open diplomatic message. Media outrage over her comments lasted at least 2 days as I recall.
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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Joe Biden's gaffe may have inadvertently revealed the truth about his Ukraine policy |
| 2022-01-22 |
| [Telegraph UK via InstaPundit] The President appeared to suggest that a 'minor incursion' by Russia wouldn't result in harsh sanctions It was 28 minutes into Joe Biden's press conference when the gaffe came - and it was a jaw-dropper. Especially if you were watching in Kyiv or the Kremlin. The US President appeared to say that, if Vladimir Putin were to make only a "minor incursion" into Ukraine, then Russia would not face devastating sanctions. His exact words were: "Russia will be held accountable if it invades. And it depends on what it does. It's one thing if it's a minor incursion and we (in Nato) end up having to fight about what to do and what to not do, etcetera. "But if they actually do what they're capable of doing, it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine." The comment whizzed around the world and, as the implications of what he had said sank in, a journalist read it back to him. Was Mr Biden giving "permission" for a "minor incursion" by Russia into Ukraine, the journalist asked. Mr Biden laughed and said: "Good question. It did sound (like) that, didn't it..." In Kyiv, there were accusations Mr Biden was giving a "green light" to the Kremlin, and anger that he would publicly make a distinction between different levels of Russian attack. According to the Ukrainians, that was a particularly dangerous thing to do as Mr Putin's preferred option is believed to be a limited incursion. It led to suspicions a deal was being done behind Ukraine's back. Indeed, the fear in Kyiv was that Mr Biden had not so much been wrong, but that he had inadvertently told the truth. "We're in a situation where we have put together, and you guys did it for President Obama's administration before this, we have put together, I think, the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics," Whatever he meant, it was an example of Mr Biden saying too much, and talking loosely, a failing for which he has form. |
| Posted by:Cheager Snailet4625 |
| #4 I took the April Glaspie position as the USA wanted to stay out of the Iraq-Kuwait financial dispute. Kuwait wanted the war loans repaid, Iraq did not. She (State Dept) had no idea Saddam was planning the hostile takeover of the Bank of Kuwait. |
| Posted by: Omolung Juns5303 2022-01-22 19:37 |
| #3 I always concluded it was a case of a messenger feeling self-important and letting slip a briefing discussion of courses-of-action snippet she observed. The massive display of the last great military coalition of the West(mostly US) to retake Kuwait and then the utter destruction of Saddams forces up to the Highway of Death was amazing to watch. Then the surrender and poof, we let him off the hook for another decade or so. That we let him off after our leadership didn't like the look of total war, told me we just wanted the status quo reinstated, so the green light thesis made no sense.. |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2022-01-22 14:36 |
| #2 Thanks for the memory jogger Les. I always wondered if April's was a simple cock-up or open diplomatic message. Media outrage over her comments lasted at least 2 days as I recall. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2022-01-22 07:56 |
| #1 It's like when they gave the green light to Saddam to invade Kuwait. |
| Posted by: Sheter the Lesser9291 2022-01-22 06:16 |