Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – President Joe Biden’s victory in Syria is a vital national security achievement after his messy withdrawal from Afghanistan. While he tries hard to present a strong image in a confrontation with Russia, the analysts stated that the U.S. strike in Syria led to the death Islamic State leader.

Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi al-Islamic State, the leader of Islamic State, began to blow himself up while U.S. forces were approaching. Biden authorized the raid against the leader of the Jihadist Movement earlier in this week, after months-long planning.

Biden is currently locked in a strategic dispute over Ukraine with Russia and the raid dealt an avenging blow to ISIS. John Bolton was a former national security advisor to Donald Trump. He said that the operation’s success could prove beneficial to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He acknowledged that “it can’t hurt” in the sense of a win. Bolton, who was a U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, said that “a lot of people need to notice that.”

After 20 years of war and a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US’s image suffered. Although Trump’s predecessor also supported a withdrawal, and he reached a deal to the Taliban with his successor, Biden’s poll numbers plummeted after this messy withdrawal.

David Gergen is a former adviser to Republican and Democratic presidents. He said that the Afghan chaos continues to hang over Biden’s record in foreign policy despite his success against the Islamic State.

I think that the problems he has to face in international circles is more serious than it seems. Gergen stated that it will be difficult to change public opinion.

Bolton was one of the most prominent foreign policy hawks under the Bush administration. He said that going after Quraishi northwestern Syria was the “right thing to do.” However, the Afghanistan legacy continues to weigh heavily on Biden, despite the raid.

I don’t believe it can fix the damage done to America’s credibility through withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Biden will also be tested by Russia’s standoff over Ukraine. United States of America and Western nations believe that Russia’s recent massing at least 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border is an indicator of a possible invasion.

Gergen stated that “I believe the main question will be how it gets solved with the Russians.” His toughness will be tested. He’ll also be assessed on his competence.

What are the POLITICAL GAINS?

Biden’s home polls are in an extended slump for months, reflecting Americans frustration with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inflation-plagued economic system. It is concerning for Democrats before the midterm elections in November.

Even though the midterms will be months away and foreign policies are not the main priorities for voters, showing leadership in Quraishi’s raid and standing up to Putin may help Biden to improve his position with U.S. voter, stated David Axelrod. He was an adviser to President Barack Obama.

One of Biden’s problems is that everything in the world appears out of control. Axelrod explained that Biden is needed to be in command and said any opportunity for him to do so would be valuable. These things are important from a political perspective. Strength shows are worth it.

Biden visited New York Thursday to meet Eric Adams, the mayor of New York. He called for more investments in social services and local police departments. Republicans claim Biden has been weak in crime prevention and have tried to make him part of calls for defunding the police by Democrats. Biden rejected the call to “defund”.

Gergen suggested that President Obama seems to have made an effort to display strength. Biden, Gergen said, “I think Biden’s trying to get tougher in the public eye.”

Trump was defeated by Biden in 2020 because he argued that he could bring competence to his job. He also enjoyed high approval ratings of close to 60% in his first months as president. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion survey found that 41% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s work in office, while 56% disagree.

The combination of the Syria raid and the New York visit could offset some Republican criticism, said Mo Elleithee, executive director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.

Elleithee stated that it is difficult to claim someone weak in fighting terror after taking out one of the top terrorists around the globe. Elleithee said, “He was capable of showing results – important results – in national security and I think that you can see him looking like the grown up in the room about crime.”