'Biden's snubs to our closest allies tears apart centuries of peace through strength'

The first President of the United States, George Washington, said, “If we desire to secure peace … it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.”

America’s third President, Thomas Jefferson, said, “the power of making war often prevents it.”

This was a theme which infused American foreign policy throughout history and was brought to the forefront again during the Cold War with Russia in the 1980s.

Then President Ronald Reagan often talked about “Peace Through Strength” saying, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace" and “Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used.”

Washington, Jefferson, and Reagan knew that preserving peace required intentional, bold, proactive steps of strength.

The type of strength which would give confidence and a sense of security to our allies and provide a deterrent to aggression for our enemies.

This strength is not military might alone, but also includes financial stability, and clarity about what America values and is willing to defend. Underpinning everything was the United States Constitution, a document unique to America.

Under President Reagan, we saw a reestablished commitment to the Constitution, and a rebuilding of America’s great military. This created a renewed sense of enthusiasm and pride from service members, and rekindled patriotism in the American people who knew they were safe because they were strong.

Strong enough to defend their own borders and provide a beacon of freedom and a shield of protection for people and nations globally also seeking freedom.

Essential to America has always been “Peace Through Strength.”

So how does President Biden expect to achieve “Peace Through Weakness”?

Again, George Washington, warned against this saying, “There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness.”

Joe Biden has put us in a dangerous place. Our allies don’t trust us, and our enemies don’t fear us. Without the armor of strength, peace is not possible, and we see the dangerous global ramifications of Biden’s weakness. His weakness is not even questioned, but the motivation behind this weakness is.

Many fear WWIII is looming, yet war will not be necessary if America continues down its current path of self-destruction under Biden. China’s doctrine, called unrestricted warfare, is one where they win without firing a single shot. They are already engaged in this effort, and President Biden is allowing - and at times - even accelerating it.

The chaotic, failed withdrawal from Afghanistan was Biden’s international announcement that America no longer wanted to be seen as strong. That the world was now a free-for-all for aggressors and Biden was choosing retreat over resolve.

This wasn’t due to a problem he inherited or a situation beyond his control, this was a conscious choice he made which not only led to disaster in and around Kabul but was the green light for our enemies that America’s blinders were up and aggression would be tolerated there and globally.

And our enemies responded predictably. Russia invaded Ukraine and has been aggressive toward American drones and aircraft, China is flying spy balloons over the United States, restricting passage in the South China Sea, and making increasing advances on Taiwan. Iran continues to pursue their nuclear ambitions while North Korea continues to launch ballistic missiles. These nations are not only emboldened individually but are increasingly aligning. A dangerous trend.

And what is the response of the United States? Joe Biden skips the opening dinner of the NATO Summit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says we don’t seek confrontation but healthy competition, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen bows like a bobble-head doll to her Chinese counterpart. Weakness, not strength, on display for the world to see.

It is not just internationally though that we see the results of Biden’s weakness and retreat. Domestically also, China is trolling the US, and Biden is taking the bait. The Chinese leaders must laugh at and love it when America continues down the path of energy poverty, buying the lie that they can save the planet while China exponentially pollutes. (And profits from selling the US wind turbines and solar panels.) China celebrates the erosion of America’s education system which cares more about feelings than facts.

They use social media algorithms to ensure that American children are insecure, depressed, afraid, and climate alarmed. They applaud the military prioritizing pronouns over preparedness and pushing for an all-electric fleet of military vehicles. Imagine how well those will work in the wide-open deserts of the Middle East.

Not only China, but all America’s enemies love watching the open border invade US sovereignty with unknown people and unclear intentions. They revel in watching runaway government spending put the US into great debt, hampering its potential to respond to future crises and needs, they cheer on the fentanyl and drug crisis stealing the futures of so many youths. They celebrate the crime in America’s cities - the theft, the murders, the fear. America’s enemies love Americans feeling sad, scared, and hopeless.

The world needs and depends on a strong America, but Joe Biden has created the exact opposite. And it has been done on purpose. He is eroding our families, our freedoms, and America’s future through weakness. As the US declines, others advance.

President Biden has created a vacuum of power and resolve which is being filled by authoritarian nations who are capitalizing on this historical moment of opportunity to advance their own interests. They are unafraid and unrestricted by this administration’s lack of strength. The Biden administration is unwilling – or unable – to project strength. They don’t want to be seen as strong. They don’t want to be seen as a deterrent. They don’t want to be an obstacle to the objectives of other nations. And they aren’t.

The Constitution charges the government with maintaining adequate power to protect and defend the nation against enemies or threats, both foreign and domestic. This is a mandate, not a suggestion. Joe Biden needs to end America’s posture of weakness and return to American greatness and global security by recommitting to the Founders’ principle of “Peace Through Strength.”

Peggy Grande was executive assistant to Ronald Reagan and is author of “The President Will See You Now.” She was Chair of World for Brexit and served as a political appointee in the Trump Administration. Peggy serves on the Board of Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and the Board of The Center for American Ideas.