President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House on Sunday to deliver his administration’s initial response to the events unfolding in Syria. This comes after a turbulent week that resulted in the removal of dictator Bashar al-Assad from office.
This statement is best understood as the parting shot of a failed, lame-duck president trying to carve out a legacy for himself. It is deeply dishonest on many points, but this is Biden, so the dishonesty is baked in.
Biden tries to take credit for Russia, Hezbollah, and Iran being unable to pull Assad’s chestnuts out of the fire; he says, “Because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office, and let’s remember why.”
Of course, we remember why. Hamas attacked Israel. Against the advice of the White House, Israel undertook a systematic operation to root Hamas out of Gaza. White House opposition was so well known that Israel refused to share its plans with Washington. When Hezbollah and Iran tried to take the pressure off, Israel went after Hezbollah and its IRGC leaders in a systematic way that left it unable to carry out coordinated offensive operations. The losses of IRGC cadres in Lebanon and Syria reduced the ability of Tehran to intervene and influence the war.
As Israel pursued its operation against Hezbollah and the IRGC, Biden threatened to cut off Israel’s munitions supply.
Yes, Ukraine has bled Russia white in their war, and at a terrible cost, but Ukraine’s success has been large despite White House efforts. The White House has limited Ukraine’s use of offensive weaponry, giving Russia a safe haven to quarter troops and build up supplies. Ukraine, like Israel, stopped sharing details of its planned operations because that information was being traded to the Russians and leaked to US media.
Syria fell because Russia, Hezbollah, and Iran could not intervene, but that was despite the best efforts of Joe Biden.
The vision that Biden sketches is more UN-supported nation-building bullshit. President Trump had it right. The last thing we need to do is get ourselves embroiled in another scheme to create a Jeffersonian republic in the Middle East.
BACKGROUND
We should not support any UN effort, and we should use any diplomatic and economic power in support of Turkish efforts. The existence of Syria, much less its territorial integrity and sovereignty, should not be one of our objectives. If peace requires a patchwork of ethno-ministates under Turkey’s influence, I think that would be a good way to go.
A final thought on these remarks. They are the last act of a failed administration. They are weak and detached from reality. I’m not sure how we would’ve survived another four years of this garbage.
TRANSCRIPT
At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty. As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk.
You know, for years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. But over the last week, their support collapsed, all three of them. Because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office, and let’s remember why. After Hamas attacked Israel on October the 7th, 2023, when much of the world responded with horror, Iran and its proxies chose to launch a multi-front war against Israel. That was a historic mistake on Iran’s part. Today, Iran’s main territorial proxy, Hezbollah, is also on its back. Only 12 days ago, I spoke from the Rose Garden about the ceasefire deal in Lebanon. A deal that was only possible because Hezbollah has been badly degraded. Meanwhile, Hamas has been badly degraded as well. Iran’s own military capabilities have been weakened. Iran tried two times to attack Israel. The United States built a coalition of countries to directly defend Israel and help defeat those attacks. All this made possible for Iran and Hezbollah to continue to prop up…impossible I should say… for them to prop up the Assad regime. Additionally, Russia’s support for Assad also failed, and that’s because Ukraine, backed by our American allies, has put up a wall of resistance against the invading Russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the Russian forces. And that has left Russia unable to protect its main ally in the Middle East.
Excuse my cold.
The upshot for all this is for the first time ever, neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria. And this is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine, Israel have delivered upon their own self-defense with unflagging support of the United States.
You know, over the past four years, my administration pursued a clear principle of policy towards Syria.
- First, we made clear from the start sanctions on Assad would remain in place unless he engaged seriously in a political process to end the civil war as outlined by the UN Security Council resolution passing 2015. But Assad refused. So we carried out a comprehensive sanction program against him and all those responsible for atrocities against the Syrian people.
- Second, we maintained our military presence in Syria. Our counter-ISIS, to counter the support of local partners as well on the ground… their partners… never seizing an inch of territory, taking out leaders of ISIS, ensuring that ISIS can never establish a safe haven there again.
- Third, we’ve supported Israel’s freedom of action against Iranian networks in Syria and against actors aligned with Iran who transported lethal aid to Lebanon. And when necessary, I ordered the use of military force against Iranian networks to protect US forces.
Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. Through this combination of support for our partners sanctions, diplomacy, and targeted military force when necessary, we now see new opportunities opening up for the people of Syria and for the entire region.
Looking ahead, the United States will do the following.
- First, we’ll support Syria’s neighbors, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel, should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition. I will speak with leaders of the region in the coming days. I had long discussions with all of our people early this morning, and I’ll send senior officials from my administration to the region as well.
- Second, we will help stability…ensure stability in eastern Syria. protecting any personnel…our personnel against any threats and remain our mission against ISIS will be maintained, including security of detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners. We’re cleared-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen. In fact, just today, US forces conducting dozen of precision strikes, air strikes, within Syria, targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives.
- Third, we will engage with all Syrian groups, including, within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent sovereign and independent, independent, I might to say again, sovereign Syria with a new constitution, a new government that serves all Syrians. This process will be determined by the Syrian people themselves, and the United States will do whatever we can to support them, including through humanitarian relief to help restore Syria after more than a decade of war and generations of brutality by the Assad family.
- And finally, we will remain vigilant.
Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human…human rights abuses. We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days, and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions. And we are mindful, we are mindful that there are Americans in Syria, including those who reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captive more than 12 years ago. We remain committed to returning him to his family.
As I’ve said, this is a moment of considerable risk and uncertainty, but I also believe this is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future, free of opposition. It’s also an opportunity, though far from certain, though far from certain, for more secure and prosperous Middle East where our friends are safe, our enemies are contained, and it would be a waste of this historic opportunity if one tyrant were toppled and only to see a new one rise up in this place. So it’s now incumbent upon all the opposition groups to seek a role in governing Syria. To demonstrate their commitment to the rights of all Syrians, the rule of law, and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities. These past few days have been historic, and you know, uh, it’s in the days ahead that will determine the future of this country. We intend to approach them with strength, wisdom, and resolve, so thank you very much.
God bless America, and God protect our troops. Thank you.
