The American journalist writer Thomas Friedman criticized some statements made by officials in the administration of US President Joe Biden, warning of the dangerous repercussions that may result from them.
Writing in the New York Times, Friedman said that a statement made by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week, while in Poland near the border with Ukraine, "caught my attention - and it must have caught the attention of the Russian president." Vladimir Putin - when he declared that the goal of the US war in Ukraine was no longer merely to help Ukraine regain its sovereignty, but to weaken Russia as well.
Friedman wondered whether this statement came after a meeting of the National Security Council headed by President Joe Biden, during which it was decided - after carefully evaluating all the consequences - that it is in the interest of the United States and can severely weaken the Russian army to the extent that it loses the ability to project its strength again in the near term or forever.
And if Washington can do so without risking a nuclear response from the humiliated Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Explaining his objection to his country's foreign minister's statement, Friedman said, "Without a doubt, I hope this war will end with the Russian army being severely weakened and Putin out of power. But I would never say that publicly if I were in command of the country, because it would not serve you in Something that could cost you dearly.
The writer warned that too much talk may create a gap between the ends and the means, and may lead to major unintended repercussions.
Another controversial statement
The article pointed out that many statements, such as those made by the Secretary of Defense, were issued by officials in the Biden administration, and the administration later sought to avoid the matter by providing a different interpretation of these statements, as happened shortly after Austin's statement, as CNN reported. (CNN) A spokesperson for the National Security Council said the defense secretary's comments reflected the United States' goals, specifically its goal to "make this invasion a major strategic failure for Russia."
Friedman commented that the speaker's made-up explanation was an attempt to cover up the statements, since forcing Russia to withdraw from Ukraine is very different from "declaring that we want to see it (that is, Russia) too weak" to invade any other country.
Friedman also highlighted another example of the US administration's erroneous statements in his opinion. Last March, Biden described - in a speech in Poland - Putin as "a dictator determined to rebuild an empire, and he will never be able to erase the people's love for freedom." This man can still be in power."
Friedman said that the White House tried to cover up what came in Biden's statement by asserting that the president "was not talking about Putin's authority in Russia, or changing the Russian regime," but was indicating that "Putin cannot be allowed to exercise his authority over his neighbors or the region." .
Find trouble
The article highlighted that the goal of the United States in Ukraine was clear, and should remain so, which is to help the Ukrainians fight against the Russian invasion, and to sit down to the negotiating table when they feel the time is right, so that they can restore sovereignty over their country, and America can Emphasizing that no country can easily devour a neighboring country, and any other goals in addition to that means looking for trouble.
Friedman enumerated the damage that US officials' statements regarding regime change in Moscow and the prolongation of the war could result in to exhaust the Russian army, pointing out that such goals may transform the crisis from a conflict between Putin and the rest of the world into a conflict between Putin and America.
The writer reminded that many countries of the world adopt a neutral position in this war, and despite their sympathy with the Ukrainians, they will not want to see America or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bully anyone, even if it is Putin.
The article cited a comment by Nader Mousavizadeh, founder and CEO of Macro Advisory Partners - a geostrategic consulting firm - in which he said that the war in Ukraine gave the US administration an opportunity to demonstrate the unique ability of the United States to form a global coalition of many countries to confront tyrannical aggression;
As well as its ability to use sanctions as a highly effective economic weapon in the face of that aggression, indicating that the dollar's dominance over the global economy is what enables it to do so.
Mousavizadeh added that if America can continue to employ these two advantages effectively, "this will contribute to strengthening its power and position in the world in the long run, and will serve as a very strong deterrent message to both Russia and China."