Staff Reports
Biden’s impending farewell address to the U.N. General Assembly, his first since the October 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas on innocent Israelis, promises to be a spectacle worth tuning in for—if only for the bemusement it might bring. With world leaders picking sides like a playground full of kids choosing teams, the support for Israel from other nations has plummeted faster than a lead balloon. It seems that while some leaders have decided to overlook the horrific acts committed by Hamas, Biden is left to pick up the pieces and lead an increasingly enfeebled alliance.
John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, recently set the stage for Biden’s speech, which is intended to lay out a grand vision for a collective global response to unruly terrorists, alongside a defense of “fundamental principles” as embodied in the U.N. Charter. One has to wonder what these principles are when countries are seemingly more interested in appeasement than in standing firm against terrorism. After all, nothing says “strong leadership” like addressing a room full of world leaders who can’t seem to decide whether they’re on the side of freedom or fanaticism.
"We cannot grow weary. We cannot look away and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine."
Pres. Biden delivers a farewell speech to leaders at the UN General Assembly, says Russian Pres. Putin's war on Ukraine "has failed at its core aim." https://t.co/LQqIxeSuxK pic.twitter.com/Jx4I9Vqg1o
— ABC News (@ABC) September 24, 2024
It’s tempting to imagine what this U.N. spectacle will look like. Will Biden deliver what could be his final presidential remarks with the vigor of a man who still believes in American exceptionalism? Or will he instead come off more like a beleaguered professor lecturing a group of apathetic students who’ve forgotten to do their homework? One thing is certain: the international community will be watching this performance, eager to see if Biden can transform the U.N. from an ineffective debating club into a true bastion of justice for Israel.
Meanwhile, countries that could’ve rallied around Israel are turning their back, treating the crisis like a “not my problem” moment. It’s almost laughable how some leaders have chosen to ignore the bloodshed at the hands of Hamas while standing idly by as Israel fights back. The absence of unified support for Israel reveals not just a lack of leadership on the world stage, but a dangerous trend of moral relativism that only emboldens those who threaten global safety.
As Biden prepares his remarks, it’ll be intriguing to gauge whether he can flip the script and inspire allies to take a stand. Or will he slip into a series of diplomatic doublespeak that manages to satisfy neither side and leaves everyone scratching their heads? Whatever the outcome, one can only hope that our president reflects the values that make America strong and unafraid to stand by its friends—because the world could surely use a little less waffle and a lot more backbone.
