Even Democrats are calling for Harris-Biden to lift Ukraine’s restraints
Despite Moscow’s escalations and now even demands from fellow Democrats, Team Harris-Biden continues to twiddle its thumb on lifting restrictions on Kyiv’s use of US weapons against Russia.
Do they want Ukraine to lose?
On Wednesday, Democratic Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin declared the “time has come” for easing Harris-Biden restrictions on Kyiv’s use of US weapons, given “Vladimir Putin’s relentless attacks on Ukrainian civilians.”
Actually, it’s long past time: If Harris-Biden had sent Ukraine sufficient stocks of restriction-free weaponry before Putin invaded, he might’ve been deterred from invading in the first place.
After he attacked and Ukraine rebuffed his forces, a generous supply of long-range weapons, aircraft and other materiel, sans restrictions, might have turned the tide, or at least made Putin seek an out.
Instead, the Harris-Biden team has only gradually ratcheted up the weapons it sends, and it still forbids their use in Russia, except in a few, small border areas.
Long-range missiles, like US ATACMS, could let Ukraine hit Putin’s assets deep inside Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Iran supplies Moscow with massive drone stocks and now even ballistic missiles — with no restrictions.
No wonder even Democrats finally want the White House to get real: Besides Cardin, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH) also demanded restrictions be lifted.
A bipartisan House group issued similar calls: “Unless these restrictions are lifted, Ukraine will continue to struggle to achieve victory” and Ukrainians will “suffer unnecessary death, loss and hardship,” they said.
Yet asked Tuesday if he’d heed such calls, President Biden said only, “We’re working on it.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken added: “We have adjusted” as needs have changed, “and I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do that.”
What is the White House waiting for?
Harris-Biden’s slow-walking incrementalism has only dragged out the war, and time is not on Ukraine’s side.
During Tuesday’s debate, notably, Kamala Harris wouldn’t even say she backs a Ukraine victory.
Yet as Trump noted, three days after her “diplomacy,” Russia invaded.
Regardless of November’s results, Ukraine would be in a far stronger negotiating position based on gains it could make if restrictions on long-range weapons are rolled back.
Harris and Biden need to shed their cowardly fear of responding to Russian escalation and heed the calls to provide serious help to Ukraine.
