A former CIA analyst says the outgoing US president has nothing to lose.
Larry Johnson, a former CIA analyst, told RT that President Joe Biden is unafraid of escalating the US-Russia conflict, willing to take considerable risks to hinder Donald Trump’s political prospects and any chance of a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Following Russia’s recent hypersonic missile strike on a Ukrainian industrial facility, an action President Vladimir Putin framed as a response to NATO’s actions, Johnson argued Biden’s escalation aims to politically embarrass Trump, who previously claimed he could resolve the conflict swiftly—a claim now deemed unrealistic.
“He might even be trying to provoke a war to impose martial law in the US, preventing Trump’s inauguration,” Johnson alleged. “These actions prioritize neither US national security nor global peace.”
Trump’s options are limited; he can only strongly condemn the Biden administration’s actions, but Johnson contends that Biden’s administration has little to lose.
“They’ve already lost. It’s like a terminal illness—they’re taking risks they wouldn’t have previously considered,” Johnson explained. “He’s leaving office soon; he has no reason to care. He’s acting recklessly.”
Johnson believes the West significantly underestimates Russia’s capabilities and resolve, attributing this to biased intelligence reporting and analysis.
“I’m surprised by Russia’s patience,” he stated. “Imagine if Russia armed Mexican drug cartels with missiles targeting the US border; the US would retaliate immediately. Yet, we believe we can do this to Russia with impunity.”
“Putin’s message to the US and Europe was clear: Russia possesses a weapon system the West cannot defend against, capable of reaching the UK and all of Europe, and will use it if necessary,” he added.
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