THREAD UNROLL:


It may be worth saying something out loud here.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is obviously the greatest international security crisis since 9/11.

And, at this point, it’s got to be said that Joe Biden and his team have handled it masterfully. 1/

From forging (mostly behind the scenes) a united NATO diplomatic front against Moscow, one that has not cracked;

to the wrecking of the Russian economy, a process still in its early stages, which includes supporting European efforts to find alternative sources of energy; 2/

to the clear red line drawn at the Ukrainian border that has kept the US and NATO out of any fighting , and so far given Vladimir Putin no excuse to widen the war;
to the steady flow of US intelligence to Ukrainian forces, supporting their stunning achievements in the field; 3/

to the gigantic amount of arms and aid the US government has supplied directly to Ukraine, which is now proving decisive in the rout of Russian forces in Kharkiv, and changed the dynamic across the country—Joe Biden has, at this point, aced this test of his leadership. 4/

Of course, that is largely thanks to the amazing skill, resourcefulness and courage of the Ukrainian forces. But Biden has put the might of the USA behind them every step of the way. 5/

It wasn’t easy. Here at home, there have been plenty of nationalist naysayers all along the way—Donald Trump and many of his followers, from Tucker Carlson to Marjorie Taylor-Greene to J.D. Vance and a horde of online armchair strategists and right-wing media types. 6/

They’ve praised Russia, blamed NATO, and predicted doom and defeat for Ukraine from the start. They’ve been exposed time and again as ill-informed at best, Putin stooges at worst. 7/

Polls suggest that Biden has not earned much goodwill from the American public for his statesmanship on Ukraine. He’s in a deep hole with voters on so many issues, geostrategy is unlikely to help him much. 8/

But the long-term, follow-on effects from American leadership of the effort to support Ukraine and punish Russia for this war are likely to be profound.

China will think twice about seizing Taiwan. 9/

NATO is expanded. Old strategic bonds with the US are strengthened. Europe will accelerate its decoupling from Russian energy. 10/

Putin’s brand of illiberal nationalism—which has been so seductive in so many countries to those who see liberal democracy as an outdated, weak and soulless model of governance—has been shown as a con, a cheap costume donned by the thieves and gangsters in the Kremlin. 11/

Even the neo-fascism of the “Z” movement that Putin has sponsored in Russia is looking more farcical than threatening (unless you’re Russian, of course.) 12/

And, most important, the United States looks different in the world. Because of Biden’s leadership, especially coming on the heels of the Trump disruption, Europeans and others have been reminded of the good America can do, given skillful American leadership. 13/

We may no longer be “the indispensable nation,” as Madeleine Albright said (truth is, we never were). But Joe Biden has shown again that American power and American values can be a difference-maker in the long struggle for freedom.

That’s a big f***ing deal.

14/14