(New York) From the Oval Office of the White House, Joe Biden deployed all the pomp of rhetoric Thursday evening during his address to the American nation, describing the United States as “the arsenal of democracy” and “ the essential nation”, expressions borrowed from Franklin D. Roosevelt and Madeleine Albright.
He also made a comparison of his own that surprised many viewers, including some experts. “Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they have this in common: they both want to destroy a neighboring democracy,” he insisted.
Hearing this sentence, the word “strange” came to mind of Michael Kimmage, a historian of US-Russia relations and a former official at the US State Department in the Barack Obama administration. “This is quite a strange comparison in many ways, because there are many differences between Hamas, which is a political movement and a terrorist enterprise, and the Russian state, which is a very different structure,” he said the day after the speech. “It may not matter much since Biden already called Putin a thug and a killer when he was campaigning for president. He has harshly criticized Putin and the war in Ukraine, and this may be just one rhetorical excess on that continuum. »
PHOTO JONATHAN ERNST, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Joe Biden during his speech Thursday evening
Asher Kaufman, director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, speaks of a “historically and factually problematic” comparison that must be analyzed from a political point of view.
Biden is trying to gain support in the United States for the huge funding he is demanding for Israel and Ukraine. It therefore links the two. He also wants to mix in the moral question of America protecting democracies.
Asher Kaufman, director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
The funding requested by Joe Biden from the American Congress amounts to 61.4 billion dollars for Ukraine (of which 30 would be spent on arms) and 14.3 billion for Israel (of which 10.6 on arms). This money would be part of an envelope of 105.85 billion which also includes 9 million dollars to respond to humanitarian crises, including in the Gaza Strip; 7.4 billion to contain China’s military aims; 13 billion to secure the southern border.
If Republicans in Congress almost unanimously support aid to Israel, they are more resistant to support for Ukraine. In contrast, Democratic voters are less supportive of aid to Israel, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Thursday. A majority (53%) are opposed to sending weapons and supplies to the Jewish state, while a majority of Republican voters (57%) are in favor.
Selling an “idea”
While recognizing that the comparison drawn by Joe Biden between Hamas and Putin is “imperfect”, Aaron David Miller, former American negotiator in the Middle East, finds it a certain relevance. “The president is looking for a conceptual framework to sell the idea that American values and interests are threatened by a number of interrelated developments,” said the former diplomat, who is now with the Foundation Carnegie for International Peace. “One way to do this is to identify adversaries. What is the disadvantage of such an approach? The downside is that the Palestinian issue, which is a legitimate issue that must be resolved, is associated with Putin’s illegitimate aggression against Ukraine. But that’s not what the president really tried to do. He talked about Hamas. »
Nevertheless: according to Michael Kimmage, the Joe Biden comparison is likely to “complicate things rather than simplify them” outside the United States. “I don’t think Hamas is popular anywhere, including Gaza and the West Bank,” said the professor and chair of the history department at the Catholic University of America.
The problem is that in many parts of the world, the United States’ position toward Israel appears unbalanced and one-sided.
Michael Kimmage, professor and chair of the history department at the Catholic University of America.
“I don’t think the United States is speaking out with credibility on this issue internationally. In this sense, this comparison harms Biden’s cause instead of helping it, whatever that cause may be,” believes the historian.
Michael Kimmage nevertheless recognizes Joe Biden for having established himself as the “most visible international leader” since the infiltration of Hamas into Israel, “certainly much more than Putin and Xi Jinping”.
For his part, Asher Kaufman defends the unwavering support expressed by Joe Biden for Israel, whose criticisms have become more vocal since the Israeli response, which could shortly lead to an invasion of the Gaza Strip. “On the one hand, we must not forget that Biden warned Israel against overreacting,” said the history professor at the University of Notre Dame. On the other hand, by siding with Israel, Biden is also trying to dissuade Hezbollah and Iran from joining this war. And I think it’s a smart move on his part. Because if Hezbollah and Iran join the fighting, it will be hell. »