Whether on the street corner, in the boardroom, or on the World Stage weakness is a provocative force. When your opponent thinks you are weak, they will pounce, and when they believe you to be strong, they will think twice before making their move.
Joe Biden is weak in both perception and reality. When the President of the United States is weak, America suffers in every measurable way.
The consequences of Biden's weakness have become a manifest threat to our nation. First and foremost of those threats is the erosion of fear and respect for America by friend (few) and foe (many) alike. Our friends and allies now see America as the weak link in chain NATO. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, it would have been a stretch for anyone to believe that our NATO allies who are close enough to hear the sounds of the Russian guns would have been the lead advocates rather than America in coming to aid of Ukraine.
The post-WWII Nato alliance had no heft, credibility, or effective meaning without the U.S. defense umbrella as a deterrent to the Soviet threat. In other words, the U.S. was the indispensable party to NATO and The Free World. Now, based upon Biden’s recent hollow threats (to China, Russia, Iran, etc.) there will be consequences... America’s big stick has morphed into a less than al dente wet noodle.
Recently, Joe Biden called both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the boosting of oil exports to offset the price hikes linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed refused Biden’s calls and made clear that no accommodation would be made to the U.S. begging for oil production increases. This refusal was likely the first time that a non-belligerent foreign leader refused to speak with a sitting President of the United States.
The refusal to take that call was not just an insult to Biden or America; It may have the profound and increasingly likely consequence of destroying the Petrodollar Agreement, inked in 1974, that made the U.S. dollar the world’s reserve currency. Through this deal, Saudi Arabia, and all other OPEC countries, in exchange for certain U.S. defense guarantees and favored considerations, agreed to trade exclusively in US dollars.
The U.S. dollar, as the world’s reserve currency, gives America a vast advantage and influence in shaping the world financial system and had created a nearly perpetual financial liquidity that America will lose should the U.S. dollar lose its reserve currency status. The consequences of that happening would be disastrous.
But whose calls will the Saudi and UAE Royalty (dictators) take? China of course…. There are reportedly negotiations underway between the Arab Royals and the Chinese to accept the Chinese Yuan in lieu of dollars for their liquid gold.
Why? There are many reasons, but there is none more accurately descriptive than "weakness". That is the perceived weakness of America’s current resolve and dependability to shoulder its defense and financial obligations.
Once upon a time, not too long ago, everyone wanted to hitch their wagon to America. Naturally, who wouldn't want to be pals with the nation having the largest GDP, strongest military, and trade benefits of being awarded America’s most favored nation status? In other words, the world had confidence in America’s unrivaled strength and leadership.
Not anymore… The world’s perception of weak American leadership has caused everyone who is anyone on the world stage to rethink their relationship with America. Nations, just like people, must weigh the costs and benefits of their relationships.
Our friends and traditional allies see the weakness in our defense commitments to them, the fragility of our underlying economy, and the lack of American resolve to lead with the power, courage, and determination that the Free World has come to expect, and more importantly, requires.
Our enemies see our American weakness of leadership as the golden opportunity for global advance by any means necessary.
Why shouldn't they?
Our enemies are just like the bully on the street corner… When they sense weakness, they will pounce. If America does not recommit to holding its place as the indispensable leader of the Free World, there will be no Free World left to lead.
In such a case America will reap a very bitter harvest…
-Emes
I could not agree more. However, where do we draw the lines in foreign interventions when we lose so many since Vietnam with so much blood, and our treasure?
SO SAD BUT TRUE