Staff Reports
The failed foreign policies of the Biden-Harris administration continue to unravel before our eyes, this time with the Iranian-backed Houthis ramping up attacks like a villain in a bad action movie. The administration’s efforts to tackle the Houthi threat have been as effective as trying to stop a toddler from throwing a tantrum with ice cream. More than eight months after President Biden declared a mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the new strategy has done nothing but watch as the Houthis launched relentless strikes, proving that deterrence is not just a suggestion; it’s a requirement.
Currently, a Greek oil tanker is ablaze in the Red Sea after a series of Houthi attacks, resulting in an environmental catastrophe that would make even the most hardened environmentalist wince. To put this disaster into perspective, the burning ship holds 150,000 tons of crude oil—shockingly more than the infamous Exxon Valdez disaster, which released just over half that amount. It’s almost as if the Biden administration woke up one morning and decided to take a nap at the wheel of foreign policy, while global threats were busy making mischief.
Continued attacks by Iran-backed Houthis a stark warning that Biden/Harris policy continues to fail https://t.co/dnb0XyrtfN
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) August 28, 2024
Senior military officials have expressed frustration with the administration’s lack of a backbone in response to these provocations. A rear admiral involved in the operation pointed out that military high command appeared reluctant to take the gloves off. Apparently, the Biden administration is more worried about what Iran might think than actually confronting these threats head-on. The rear admiral argued for a more aggressive approach, implicitly suggesting that sitting on one’s hands is not a viable military strategy.
Despite the limited number of strikes aimed at the Houthis earlier this year, the question looms large: do those seven strikes count as progress, or merely a “temporary downtick in activity”? With attacks continuing unabated, it’s clear that the scaled-back measures have been less about deterrence and more about offering the illusion of control. Allies in the region may be wondering if this weak-kneed approach is a tactical move or just further proof of the incompetence that has defined this administration.
As the 2024 election approaches, critiques of Biden’s handling of international issues will only intensify, especially from the GOP. Former President Trump is using the opportunity to highlight Biden’s foreign policy blunders, emphasizing that the previous administration had managed to maintain a semblance of peace in the Middle East, often referring to Biden’s approach as creating a “disaster.” With Biden having reportedly freed up $70 billion in Iranian assets while simultaneously revoking the terrorist designation of the Houthis, it’s hard not to feel like the administration is handing out candy to a kid on Halloween—except the kids are actually hostile dictators.
In a shocking combination of alarming naivety and apparent incompetence, Biden’s administration continues to find new and creative ways to sidestep the fundamental truth: foreign policy requires strength, not weakness. The current trajectory only serves to embolden adversaries like Iran while leaving allies to fend for themselves, wondering if they need to start taking notes from history’s worst foreign policy blunders. If the Biden administration hopes to turn things around, they need to learn that tough decisions—like aggressive military action—are sometimes necessary, especially when confronted by threats that seem more motivated by chaos than diplomacy.
