Joe Biden: We Have An ‘Obligation’ To Take On Two Wars

In an interview with “60 Minutes,” Joe Biden said the United States has an “obligation” to take on the foreign conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.

“Are the wars in Israel and Ukraine more than the United States can take on at the same time?” Scott Pelley asked.

“We’re the United States of America for God’s sake! The most powerful nation in the history, not in the world, in the history of the world! The history of the world!” Biden responded.

“We can take care of both of these and still maintain our overall international defense. We have the capacity to do this and we have an obligation to. We are the essential nation, to, to paraphrase the former secretary of State. And if we don’t who does?” he continued.

WATCH:

"Are the wars in Israel and Ukraine more than the United States can take on at the same time?" Scott Pelley asks President Biden.

60 Minutes, tonight. https://t.co/mEN4CWeXMW pic.twitter.com/b3FC9yQiVE

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 15, 2023

CNBC reports:

President Joe Biden in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday reiterated Washington’s “unwavering support” for Israel in its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas, and said he had provided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an update on both U.S. military support and efforts to protect civilians as the conflict escalates.

ADVERTISEMENT

Though the White House has so far fully endorsed what it terms “Israel’s right to defend itself,” Biden noted in an interview with the CBS program “60 Minutes” that an Israeli re-occupation of Gaza would be a “big mistake” and that although Hamas should be eliminated entirely, there “must be a path to a Palestinian state.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unscheduled return to Israel on Monday, the 10th day of an Israeli aerial bombardment campaign of the Gaza Strip as part of an all-out siege that has seen water, food and electricity cut off to around 2 million people.

Asked in an interview with Britain’s Sky News on Monday whether the U.S. could afford to be providing military support to Israel and to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia, Yellen said “the answer is absolutely.”

Like Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has no qualms bankrupting the American people to support death and destruction abroad.

She told Sky News the United States ‘certainly’ could afford two wars.

WATCH:

Q: “Can America.. afford another War at this time?”

Janet Yellen: “I think the answer is absolutely” pic.twitter.com/pZWJgTsuly

— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) October 16, 2023

Per Sky News:

Talking exclusively to Wilfred Frost ahead of a meeting of finance ministers in Luxembourg, the US Treasury secretary said the economy and public finances were in good shape to ensure backing for US interests abroad.

She said it remained too early to understand the economic ramifications of the latest conflict, with oil and natural gas prices remaining volatile amid growing concerns of a wider war in the Middle East.

ADVERTISEMENT

Those elements were key factors behind the energy-driven cost of living crisis that started facing Western economies last year.

She pointed to a big easing in inflation but appealed for Republicans to fill the void left by the removal from office of House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy, in order for greater financial support to flow.

“We do need to come up with funds, both for Israel and for Ukraine. This is a priority”, Ms Yellen said.

Yellen urged the House of Representatives to elect a Speaker and pass legislation to fund the foreign wars.