A Republican lawmaker on Wednesday invoked the name of Neville Chamberlain, remembered in history as the British prime minister who tried to appease Hitler, in an attack on President Joe Biden for being lenient with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
It comes after Russian warplanes intercepted a US drone in international airspace, forcing it to crash into the Black Sea.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who serves on the Homeland Security Committee, said Biden’s weakness was to blame for Russia’s boldness.
“Look, Biden could be the chamberlain of our time,” he told Fox News. ‘And if you don’t know who Chamberlain was, Chamberlain was the man who [said]”This is peace in our time” with Hitler as he had with Hitler, and that led to World War II.
“So when you’re weak, you’re inviting trouble.
“If you are strong, you invite peace.”
British Prime Minister Neville Chambelain returned from a summit with German Chancellor Adolf Hitler in Munich in October 1938, waving their agreement in his hand. He said it was “peace for our time,” but a year later, Hitler invaded Poland
Deputy Carlos Gimenez (left), who serves on the Homeland Security Committee, compared Biden’s response to Vladimir Putin’s aggression to Chamberlain’s track record
Nazi Germany had annexed Austria and was threatening to invade Czechoslovakia in the fall of 1938 when Chamberlain traveled to Munich to meet with both Hitler and Italian dictator Mussolini and the French Prime Minister to find a diplomatic solution that would prevent war.
The deal handed over the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia to Germany.
Chamberlain also assured Hitler what he thought was an agreement that the deal symbolized Germany and the United Kingdom’s commitment not to go to war with each other.
When the British Prime Minister returned to London, he was greeted by jubilant crowds.
“I believe it is peace for our times,” he told the crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace.
But within months, Hitler had annexed the rest of Czechoslovakia. A year later he invaded Poland and left Chamberlain’s reputation in tatters.
Gimenez, whose own party is divided over whether to resist Putin or give him Ukraine, used the history lesson to attack Biden.
“This president has shown time and time again throughout his political career that he is utterly weak,” he said.
“When it comes to foreign affairs, he will try to negotiate with people you can’t really negotiate with.
“You have to… you have to show strength and that is the only way you can achieve peace – through strength. Never, ever negotiate with bullies, and that’s Putin.”
According to US officials, the MQ-9 Reaper drone was intercepted by two Russian Su-27 jets that dumped fuel on the drone before clipping the propeller, causing it to crash
This comes after two Russian fighter jet pilots downed an unnamed US aircraft (UAV, as pictured above) over the Black Sea yesterday, March 14.
He was one of many voices demanding that the Biden administration hold Moscow responsible for the loss of the MQ-9 Reaper drone.
Senator Lindsey Graham said Biden should threaten to shoot down Putin’s warplanes if they approach US assets, even over international waters.
According to military officials, the Russian pilots repeatedly dumped fuel on the drone and flew ahead of it in a “reckless” and “professional” manner before a collision caused the U.S. drone to crash.
The senator told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the US must hold Russia accountable and warned the Kremlin: “If you ever get anywhere near another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down.” the senator. News week.
He criticized the Biden administration, saying the president acted like “a deer in the headlights” in the face of foreign threats like Russia.
South Carolina GOP Senator Graham (pictured) said the US should shoot down Russian warplanes approaching a US airway asset over international waters
He said weakness creates provocation and that Russia knew they would get away with shooting down the drone, as other presidents like Reagan would have already started shooting down Russian planes if they threatened US assets.
Fox News host Hannity suggested that Putin may have been watching Biden’s reaction when a Chinese spy balloon flew over the mainland US only to be shot down after a week.
Senator Graham also compared the president to comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who was known for joking the phrase “I don’t get no respect,” as he said that “no one” respected the president either.
He warned that if Biden did not change his game plan, there would be a Third World War.
The Russian ambassador has now accused the US of an “act of provocation,” claiming his warplane failed to hit a US drone that crashed into the Black Sea on Tuesday.
“We see this incident as a provocation,” said Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the US.
The senator told Fox News host Seam Hannity that the US must hold Russia accountable and warned the Kremlin: “If you ever get anywhere near another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down.”
He made the comments after being called by the US State Department to answer for the downing of one of its surveillance drones in international airspace.
‘What would the reaction of the United States be if you saw such a Russian drone very close to, say, San Francisco or New York?’ Antonov asked reporters as he left the department building in Washington. “It’s clear to me, and it’s clear to you too.”
The US surveillance drone crashed into the sea after two Russian Su-27 jets ambushed it, dumped fuel on it and eventually hit its propeller, the Pentagon said.
Russia has denied any contact, saying the drone crashed after “sharp maneuvering”. The Defense Ministry claimed the drone flew into its airspace with its transponder turned off, and the Russian fighters were dispatched to investigate.