OPINION:
Weakness opens the door to evil. President Biden’s weakness over the past two years has invited many of the problems we see in the world today.
For all the complaints about former President Donald Trump’s tweets, I would take one now. Remember when he said this?
“To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!”
Right now, I would appreciate more of his mean tweets — and decisive actions. Hamas was not successful with blatant acts of terrorism while Mr. Trump was in office, and Iran did not flaunt its financial support of the terrorist group in the past. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin did not invade Ukraine during the Trump administration.
As president, Mr. Trump ordered the precision strike that took out the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force in 2020. A drone strike on the Baghdad airport killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. After the attack, the president said: “He was planning a very major attack and we got him.”
Peace through strength works. Just as they did during the Reagan administration, the capabilities of our armed forces increased under the Trump administration. Mr. Trump kept us out of war by being strong, not weak.
Mr. Biden, on the other hand, is a wimp on national security. His weakness is putting the rest of the world at risk.
Despite pleas from military advisers, Mr. Biden pushed forward with an arbitrary deadline for the removal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Tragically, 13 U.S. service members lost their lives, as did countless allies of our government in that country.
In addition, the implementation of a better plan for a drawdown would have allowed Afghan forces to maintain control of the country. Instead, the Taliban now dictate the actions of the nation.
Worst of all, about $7 billion worth of military equipment was left behind and is being used to oppress the people of Afghanistan. Some of it either has been or will be used against Israel and eventually even against the United States.
The failure of the withdrawal from Afghanistan revealed the weakness of the Biden administration. In turn, Mr. Putin saw an opening and moved into Ukraine. The people of that sovereign nation rejected the attacks by the Russian military, but the rest of the world saw a weak response from Mr. Biden.
Then the Biden administration rewarded the oppressive leaders of Iran by announcing plans to lift economic sanctions and make $6 billion available to the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. This gave the green light for the attacks we saw against Israel this past weekend. Iran must pay for its involvement in these attacks.
The people of Israel have every right to respond to these attacks on their citizens. This was their 9/11. They must restore a deterrence to actions against them.
The United States must help in this effort. Support Israel’s efforts to restore its Iron Dome missile defense system. Provide Israel with all the arms and intelligence it needs to eliminate the terrorists. Speak out against those siding with Hamas and the terrorists — abroad and at home.
We must also push back against those supporting the terrorist acts. Freeze the $6 billion transfer payment to Iran. Renew economic sanctions. Expand the Abraham Accords. Let all governments in the region know that they must not allow their territory to be used to wage the war against Israel. Hold the leaders of Hamas accountable for their actions.
Mr. Biden wasn’t even briefed on what happened in Israel until Saturday morning, even though the attackers started late Friday night. Even then, he was slow in his response.
We need a commander in chief who takes charge and understands that the United States is the leader of the free world. We need a president who will keep us out of another world war through strength, not appeasement.
It is time for America to lead again.
• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.
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