Biden criticized over remarks on US military preparedness

President Biden Faces Criticism Over Comments on Military Readiness

President Joe Biden is facing backlash for his recent remarks on the U.S. military’s readiness in relation to providing cluster munitions to Ukraine during their conflict with Russia. In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, Biden acknowledged that both Ukraine and the U.S. are running low on ammunition. This statement has drawn scrutiny, particularly from congressional Republicans who argue that assisting Ukraine is compromising national security.

“The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition. The ammunition that they used to call them 155-millimeter weapons. This is a war relating to munitions, and they are running out of that ammunition and we’re low on it. And so what I finally did, I took the recommendation of the Defense Department to, not permanently, but to allow for in this transition period where we have more 155 weapons, these shells for the Ukrainians, to provide them with something that has a very low dud rate. It’s about — I think it’s 1.50, which is the least likely to be blown,” Biden said in the interview.

The Department of Defense has previously stated that the U.S. will not fall below “readiness levels” in its support for Ukraine. However, they have also emphasized their commitment to assisting Ukraine in its war against Russia for the long term.

“We’re not going to dip below our readiness levels and we continue to assess our readiness levels with each, whether it’s a presidential drawdown package or security assistance that we announce. Our goal is to make sure that we are setting up Ukraine for this enduring war that Russia started in February. And we’re in it for the long haul,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a press briefing in November 2022.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) described Biden’s statement as a “stunning admission,” while Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) asserted that the U.S. should prioritize its own needs before providing further assistance to Ukraine. Conservative commentator Steve Guest criticized Biden for revealing sensitive information to potential adversaries.

Others online have raised concerns about the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, as these weapons are banned by several countries. In the CNN interview, Biden assured that the munitions would not be used in civilian areas and acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to send them to Ukraine.

“It’s not used in civilian areas. They’re trying to get through those trenches and stop those tanks from rolling. And so — but it was not an easy decision. And it’s not — we’re not signatories of that agreement. But I — it took me a while to be convinced to do it. But the main thing is they either have the weapons to stop the Russians now from their — keeping them from stopping the Ukrainian offensive through these areas, or they don’t. And I think they needed them,” Biden said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) denounced the provision of weapons to Ukraine, accusing the Biden administration of prioritizing war over peace negotiations.

“The Biden administration sending cluster munitions to Ukraine may be a war crime. These are dangerous weapons banned by Congress. It is an accelerated aggression that will kill many people. Shame on our leaders that are obsessed with funding and fueling war and death in foreign lands instead of actively negotiating peace,” Greene said in a tweet.

The interview took place ahead of Biden’s trip to Europe, where he will meet with King Charles III in the United Kingdom and attend a NATO meeting in Lithuania. Several NATO nations have expressed their disagreement with the U.S. providing cluster munitions to Ukraine, as they are part of a convention that prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of such weapons.

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