The Ukraine mirage: Biden to take credit for stopping his own manufactured crisis

More rhetoric than reality.

Is it better to win a war without firing a shot, or rather, convince people that you stopped a “war” that never had a chance of actually starting? 

With poll numbers continuing to tank, and midterm elections right around the corner, the Biden Administration desperately needs a win. It appears they’re enacting a bold strategy that involves first manifesting a crisis and then proceeding to take credit for solving the non-existent crisis they created.

For weeks, the White House has been telling us, without evidence, that the Russian military is on the verge of launching a massive land and air invasion into Ukraine. Citing apparent troop movements within Russia’s own territory on their border with Ukraine, the White House has continually signaled that Russia is swelling its numbers for an imminent attack.

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President Joe Biden says the U.S. will not fight Russia in Ukraine. But if Putin were to take his offensive to NATO allies, Biden said, “the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power."

bit.lyRisk of a Ukraine war spreading in Europe rests on unknownsA Russian invasion and takeover of Ukraine would deliver a blow to European order like none since World War II

The Kremlin, for its part, has remained pretty consistent in denying the allegation that it wants war in Ukraine. Though Russia has in recent years annexed parts of Ukraine (and we cannot dismiss the possibility that Moscow may annex more land), a territory with a long history of Russian control, Moscow has fervently denied the allegation that a massive military invasion was on the table. Russia’s successful Crimea annexation was met with almost no resistance, but we were continually told that this time, Vladimir Putin would seek pure, unfettered violence.

The United States government seems to be the only entity in the world that has advanced the imminent invasion narrative. Throughout Ukraine itself and the rest of Europe, nation states showcased, through their behavior, a posture of being unconvinced that anything significant was going to happen on the border. Even as the State Department urged Americans to evacuate Kiev, Ukrainians living right on the Russia border region went about their days without much concern. 

KaroHytrek-Prosiecka @hytrekprosiecka

Putin would cause significant damage to Biden's prestige and inflict real-time consequences on Americans in an already tense midterm election year -- including with likely new hikes to already soaring gasoline prices.

edition.cnn.comAnalysis: Why a Russian invasion of Ukraine would hurt Americans tooPresident Joe Biden spent the weekend leading what is looking like an increasingly desperate final effort to forestall a Russian invasion of Ukraine -- an incursion that could have grave consequences for his own political standing.

Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a longtime political operative for Hillary Clinton, claimed in a recent briefing to reporters that Russia was ready to go full throttle into Ukraine.

Sky News @SkyNews

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says any Russian attack is "likely to begin with aerial bombings and missile attacks" before a subsequent ground invasion. Latest: trib.al/iNSGPHh 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube

“If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality,” Sullivan said. “A subsequent ground invasion would involve the onslaught of a massive force.”

State Department spokesperson Ned Price continued to perpetuate the narrative, claiming that Russia was creating a false flag pretext for war in Ukraine.

Beyond that, the supposed secret U.S. “intelligence reports” laundered through the corporate press warned of an even more brutal outcome.

Allan Woods @WoodsAllan

« Sullivan’s public comments were more measured than confidential briefings in which the U.S. cited next Wednesday as the potential start of a Russian invasion into Ukraine, and warned that cyberattacks should be expected even sooner, perhaps imminently »

politico.euUS warns war could be ‘imminent’ in UkraineUS and UK citizens urged to leave Ukraine, as are nonessential staff at EU’s diplomatic service.

Finally, White House officials and anonymous intelligence officials claimed, through their corporate press stenographers, that Putin’s war was going to start the invasion Wednesday morning. Barring some last minute diplomacy, the Kremlin was going to commit to action, we were told.

Joel Rubin @JoelMartinRubin

.@POTUS is putting the pressure on Putin to not launch an illegal war of choice against our democratic ally Ukraine. To keep the peace Biden is correctly isolating Russia, forging alliance unity, calling out misinformation & creating leverage thru sanctions.

Clearly, the emphasis on last minute diplomacy was the seed they wanted to plant in the minds of Americans.

11th Hour @11thHour

While President Biden has hope for a diplomatic solution between Russia and Ukraine, he made it clear the U.S. is ready to defend its allies against any Russian aggression. #11thHour More: on.msnbc.com/3oShKj9

That invasion deadline has now come and gone. Don’t be surprised when the Biden White House attempts to claim that the result is a clear “victory” for America’s cognitively struggling commander in chief. 

The Russian government, for its part, has proceeded to openly mock the idea that the Russian military was going to invade Ukraine.

Russia in RSA 🇷🇺 @EmbassyofRussia

16 February 2022. Meanwhile in Ukraine @mfa_russia

The Biden Administration is not going to let a good crisis go to waste, especially when it comes to crises of the manufactured variety.