Russian-British philosopher Isaiah Berlin once said: “To understand is to perceive patterns. To make intelligible is to reveal the basic pattern.”
With that framework, recent comments may indicate that White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is beginning to comprehend why Russian President Vladimir Putin is now invading Ukraine. On Wednesday morning, Psaki appeared to admit there is a basic “pattern” to his actions — and it involves both her and her boss in the White House.
On Wednesday, Psaki told CNN that the last time Putin invaded Ukraine, she was at the U.S. State Department and President Joe Biden was vice president to President Barack Obama.
Over the last week, that has also been pointed out by many conservatives who have argued that Putin invaded Ukraine precisely because of Biden’s weak global leadership — much like he did under Obama.
“I was at the State Department, the President was the vice president the last time Russia invaded Ukraine, this is a pattern of horror from President Putin and the cronies around him,” Psaki said. In 2014, Putin attempted an invasion of Ukraine as well, albeit not the full-scale invasion that the country is experiencing currently.
Jen Psaki on Russia:
"I was at the State Department, the President was the vice president the last time Russia invaded Ukraine, this is a pattern" pic.twitter.com/qTAkKrwRB5
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 2, 2022
On Twitter, Psaki was blasted for her unforced confession that Putin has taken alarming action while Biden is in a position of power.
“Reminding people that a top adversary has taken advantage of your boss not just once, but twice, is…not great messaging,” the Heritage Foundation’s John Cooper tweeted.
Reminding people that a top adversary has taken advantage of your boss not just once, but twice, is…not great messaging. #Ukraine https://t.co/Zj7l6T9zZN
— John Cooper (@thejcoop) March 2, 2022
Former Trump official Chad Gilmartin observed, “The pattern is Biden’s record of weakness and chaos.”
The pattern is Biden’s record of weakness and chaos https://t.co/5TG55T4agb
— Chad Gilmartin (@ChadGilmartinCA) March 2, 2022
Other folks have noticed a pattern of behavior in geopolitical relations as well.
Recently, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) slammed Biden’s “weakness” in a lengthy speech from the senate floor, detailing exactly how Biden’s “pattern” of ineptitude on the world stage has led to the war in Ukraine, The Daily Wire reported. The list of debacles Cruz pointed out is worth reading in full to understand the calamity that the Biden team has caused:
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): It’s a pattern. As a result of President Biden’s weakness and appeasement, this administration gave Afghanistan to the Taliban, and 13 American service members were tragically murdered. As a result of President Biden’s weakness and appeasement, this administration is ramping up to give a nuclear arsenal to the Ayatollah in Iran.
The very same Ayatollah who chants “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” the Biden administration is preparing to facilitate that Ayatollah having the weapons of mass murder to carry out those pledges.
As a result of President Biden’s weakness and appeasement, the Biden administration is in the process of ceding Taiwan to Xi. President Biden has even banned any Taiwanese official from displaying a Taiwanese military uniform or displaying a Taiwanese flag on U.S. government property.
Why? Because it offends the communist government in China.
And again, right now — today — as a result of President Biden’s weakness and appeasement, the Biden administration is in the process of abandoning Ukraine to Vladimir Putin. Putin didn’t just wake up one day and decide to invade Ukraine. He has wanted to invade Ukraine for years.
And he did so in 2014. But he stopped short of a full invasion then because he couldn’t endanger Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which Putin needs to get Russian natural gas to Europe.
So, Russia formed a consortium to build Nord Stream 2, a pipeline stretching directly from Russia to Germany under the sea so that Russian gas could circumvent Ukraine altogether.
Whether or not Psaki will begin to “understand,” — as Berlin said was what it meant to notice patterns — that Biden invites Putin’s aggression remains doubtful.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.