Staff Reports
The Biden administration is sticking to its guns, or piers, insisting that the Gaza pier will be back in action this week. But let’s face it, this $230 million pier seems to have more issues than a leaky boat in a storm. Reports show that it has spent more time being repaired or out of service due to security concerns than fulfilling its intended mission of delivering aid to Gaza.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder may be optimistic about getting the pier operational again soon, but the reality is far from smooth sailing. The dock, which was envisioned to handle 150 trucks of aid per day, has only managed the equivalent of seven truckloads in the brief time it has been operational.
Let’s just wait and see. The liberal damage has already been highlighted. Biden Administration Insists the $230M Gaza Pier Will Reopen This Week, Despite Reports It Is Failing https://t.co/G1Gjn1HNCn
— Lady Tigress (@LadyConstance8) June 19, 2024
President Biden made a big show directing the military to build this temporary pier during his State of the Union address. Still, the execution is more of a comedy of errors. Troops and their families were given short notice before being sent to the Middle East to build and operate the pier, only to break apart just days after opening.
Naval experts have pointed out that the pier, known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore System (JLOTS), needs to be equipped to handle anything but the calmest of seas, making its effectiveness in aiding Gaza questionable. And let’s not forget the ridicule and mocking the pier has faced, with comparisons to sets from Waterworld and doubts about its functionality.
Despite ongoing issues and setbacks, Pentagon officials are hesitant to admit defeat, claiming that a significant amount of aid has been delivered over the pier. However, with concerns about the safety of aid workers and doubts about the pier’s ability to withstand attacks or harsh weather, the future of this expensive makeshift solution remains uncertain.
As military officials warn that the pier may be dismantled as early as next month, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this temporary fix may have been more trouble than it’s worth. With no confirmed end date in sight and ongoing challenges in distributing aid effectively, the saga of the Gaza pier continues to be a source of frustration and embarrassment for the Biden administration.
