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Joe Biden: From tragedy to verge of triumph in storied political career

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4 years ago

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by Michael Mathes

He has suffered profound personal tragedy and seen his earlier political ambitions thwarted, but veteran Democrat Joe Biden hopes his pledge to unify Americans will deliver him the presidency after nearly half a century in Washington.

Rarely has the profile of opposing presidential nominees differed so sharply as in the 2020 race, which pits the empathetic Biden, with decades of leadership and a blue-collar upbringing, against brawling President Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman who insists he remains the outsider.

But in his decades-long White House quest — Biden has run twice before — the optimist from Delaware maintains he can shift the tone in America from anger and suspicion to dignity and respect.

“The divisions in our nation are getting wider… and our wounds are getting deeper,” Biden said in a Tuesday speech in Georgia.

“Have we passed the point of no return? Has the heart of this nation turned to stone?” he asked. “I don’t think so, I refuse to believe it. I know this country, I know our people, and I know we can unite and heal this nation.”

At 77 and leading in the polls just days ahead of the November 3 vote, Biden is on the cusp of becoming America’s oldest ever president.

He would inherit a coronavirus pandemic that shows no signs of abating and an office he believes has had its credibility shattered by the “liar” Trump.

A loss to the unpopular president, the challenger said in a candid moment recently, would mean Biden is a “lousy” candidate — and would certainly lower the curtain on a prolific if ultimately unfulfilling political career.

But Biden is no shrinking violet. He has relentlessly hammered away at Trump’s handling of the pandemic and, in 2018, told students at a Florida university that he would “beat the hell out of him” if the two men were in high school.

Enduring compassion

Biden hit the national stage at just 29, with a surprise US Senate win in Delaware in 1972.

But just one month later, tragedy struck: his wife Neilia and their one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car crash as they were Christmas shopping.

Biden’s two sons were severely injured but survived, only for the eldest, Beau, to succumb to cancer in 2015. The tragedies help nourish the empathy that shines through in Biden’s interactions with everyday Americans.

His retail politicking skills are peerless: he can flash his million-watt smile at college students, commiserate with unemployed Rust Belt machinists, or deliver a fiery admonishment of rivals.

That personable, gregarious propensity has been curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, which brought in-person campaigning to a halt in March and has prompted a more cautious Biden on the trail.

He no longer cuts the same figure he did during his eight years as Barack Obama’s vice president. Though the dazzling smile remains, Biden’s gait is more delicate and his fine white hair thinned.

Opponents, and even some Democrats, wondered whether Biden, garrulous and gaffe-prone, would stumble in his long campaign against Trump.

The 74-year-old president regularly calls him “Sleepy Joe” and accuses him of diminished mental acuity.

But Biden has shrugged off the attacks, and in a flash of frustration with the relentlessly interrupting Trump during their first debate, at one point told the president to “shut up.”

Elected one of the youngest senators ever, he spent more than three decades in the upper chamber before serving eight years a Barack Obama’s deputy.

Biden’s message is built largely on his association with the still-popular Obama and on his ability to do business with the many world leaders that his former boss sent him to meet (“I know these guys,” he often reminds people).

He offers moderate politics in a divisive time, but he has pledged to take progressive action as president, on climate change, racial injustice and student debt relief.

Historic comeback

Biden almost did not make it this far. Despite being the favorite of the Democratic establishment, he was deemed by some to be too old or too centrist.

His campaign looked like it was headed for disaster after disappointing primary losses to the fiery Bernie Sanders early this year.

But Biden came roaring back in South Carolina’s primary on the strength of overwhelming backing from African-American voters, a crucial base of Democratic support.

Clinching the nomination marked a sharp contrast to his 1988 flameout, when he quit in disgrace after being caught plagiarizing a speech by British politician Neil Kinnock.

In 2008 he hardly fared better, dropping out after mustering less than one percent of the vote in Iowa’s caucuses.

That year he was ultimately picked as running mate by Obama, who dubbed him “America’s happy warrior.”

After their victory Obama quickly assigned Biden to oversee the economic recovery during the last recession.

The two men differed over Afghanistan at the front end of Obama’s first term, with Biden opposing a 30,000-troop “surge.”

As a senator for more than 30 years, Biden was known to forge unlikely alliances — and, like Trump, he developed a lack of fidelity to script.

He faced a reckoning among Democrats — including Kamala Harris, who would become his running mate — for associating with known segregationists in the Senate and, in the midst of 1970s desegregation, for opposing “busing” policies aimed at transporting Black children to predominantly white schools.

He also caught flak for helping draft a 1994 crime bill which many Democrats believe drove up incarcerations, disproportionately affecting African Americans. Biden recently called the push a “mistake.”

Other Senate episodes also threatened to spoil his presidential campaign: his 2003 vote for the Iraq war, and his chairmanship of controversial hearings in 1991 in which Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.

Last year he faced a storm over his own notoriously tactile approach with female voters that could suggest a man out of step with his modernizing party.

He apologized, and promised to be more “mindful” of women’s personal space.

Biden relays the heart-wrenching details of his family stories so often that, despite his obvious grief, they have become part of a political brand.

The 1972 accident left his sons Beau, four, and Hunter, two, badly injured, and the 30-year-old Biden was sworn in beside their hospital beds.

Biden met his second wife, teacher Jill Jacobs, in 1975 and they married two years later. They have a daughter, Ashley.

Both boys recovered from their injuries and Beau followed his father into politics, becoming attorney general of Delaware, but the Democratic rising star died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46.

‘Get back up’

Lawyer and lobbyist Hunter Biden has had a different trajectory.

He received a lucrative salary serving on the board of a Ukrainian gas company accused of corruption while his father was vice president.

Trump’s push for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens led to the president’s impeachment last December by the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives, but he was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate.

Hunter was not personally accused of any criminal wrongdoing, but Trump hasn’t let the issue die.

He repeatedly insists the Bidens are a “crime family” getting rich off of corruption, but the accusations are of dubious origin and polling suggests they have not stuck with American voters.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr was born November 20, 1942 and raised in the Rust Belt town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in an Irish-Catholic family.

His father was a car salesman, but when the city went through tough times in the 1950s and he lost his job, he moved the family to neighboring Delaware when Joe Biden was 10.

“My dad always said, ‘Champ, when you get knocked down, you get back up,'” Biden says.

He made Delaware his political domain. As a young man he served as a lifeguard in a majority-Black neighborhood, an experience he said sharpened his awareness of systemic inequalities and strengthened his political interest.

Biden studied at the University of Delaware and the Syracuse University law school, and has expressed pride that he is not a product of the elite Ivy League.

He touts his working-class roots and recalls being hampered as a child by a stutter so bad he was cruelly nicknamed “Dash.”

But he overcame the condition, and on the campaign trail has spoken about how he still counsels youngsters who stutter.

Biden often points to Jill, 69, as a powerful asset for his campaign, and recalled recently how she took over as mother to her husband’s two boys.

“She put us back together,” Biden has said.

‘Proud of me?’

“It never goes away,” Biden said of the pain that lives within him since losing Beau. The tragedy prevented him from launching a presidential bid in 2016.

Even today, he often stops to greet firefighters, recalling that it was they who saved his boys.

They saved Biden too. In 1988 firefighters rushed him to hospital after an aneurysm.

Biden’s condition was so dire that a priest was called to give him last rites.

Nearly every Sunday Biden prays at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, a Catholic church in his affluent Wilmington neighborhood.

There in the cemetery rest his parents, his first wife and daughter — and his son Beau, under a tombstone decorated with small American flags.

In January Biden confided about Beau and his undeniable influence: “Every morning I get up… and I think to myself, ‘Is he proud of me?'”

– AFP

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International

US warns Israel to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza or face possible military aid cut

The US has sent a letter to Israel, urging it to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza within 30 days or risk a reduction in US military assistance. This demand comes amid escalating civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel intensifies its offensive.

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2 days ago

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16 October 2024

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The United States has issued a written ultimatum to Israel, urging the country to increase humanitarian aid access to Gaza or face potential cuts to military assistance.

The letter, sent on Sunday, marks the strongest known warning from the US to Israel on this issue, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate amid ongoing military operations. The communication, confirmed by the US State Department, was signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The letter highlights Washington’s concerns over the rising civilian casualties and the humanitarian blockade in Gaza.

It notes that Israel impeded nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between the northern and southern regions of Gaza last month. These actions, it asserts, are contributing to worsening conditions for the Palestinian population.

Israel’s northern offensive, targeting Hamas militants, has reportedly caused significant civilian harm, drawing international scrutiny.

The letter demands immediate actions from Israel to allow humanitarian aid, stressing that failure to comply could impact future US military assistance. According to US law, military aid can be cut off if a recipient country impedes the delivery of US humanitarian aid.

The US is the largest supplier of arms to Israel, which has relied on US-supplied military equipment during its recent operations in Gaza.

However, Washington is now calling for a rapid increase in humanitarian assistance, particularly ahead of the winter season. The letter outlines concrete steps that Israel must take, including allowing the entry of at least 350 aid trucks per day through multiple border crossings and ending the isolation of northern Gaza.

Secretary Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin expressed deep concern over the “accelerated deterioration” of living conditions for Palestinians, especially the 1.7 million people forced into the overcrowded al-Mawasi area. These displaced individuals are facing the risk of lethal disease outbreaks due to the dire living conditions.

On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed that the letter was a private diplomatic communication, though he did not speculate on what specific consequences Israel might face if it does not comply.

He emphasised that US law prohibits military assistance to countries obstructing humanitarian aid, but expressed optimism that Israel would address the concerns raised.

In response to criticisms about the timing of the ultimatum, Miller clarified that the 30-day period was unrelated to the upcoming US presidential election in November. Instead, he said it was an appropriate timeframe for Israel to address the issues involved.

For its part, Israel maintains that it is not obstructing humanitarian aid, insisting that the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations are responsible for the distribution of supplies. The Israeli military also accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its own purposes, which Hamas has consistently denied.

Despite these claims, the UN has reported severe shortages in Gaza, particularly in the northern regions.

The two-week pause in aid deliveries to northern Gaza ended on Monday when the Israeli military allowed 30 trucks of aid from the World Food Programme to enter through the Erez crossing. The United Nations had previously warned that food and essential supplies were running out for the 400,000 Palestinians still living in the north.

The Israeli military, while acknowledging the US concerns, has continued its ground operations, particularly in Jabalia, a town in northern Gaza.

This latest offensive has caused heavy civilian casualties, with Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reporting that 42 bodies were recovered from air and artillery strikes on Tuesday. The victims reportedly included 11 members of the same family.

The offensive in Jabalia is part of Israel’s broader campaign to root out Hamas fighters, which was launched after the group’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel.

That assault left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 others taken hostage, prompting Israel to initiate a military response aimed at destroying Hamas’ infrastructure in Gaza.

As part of the current ground campaign, Israeli forces have ordered evacuations from several northern Gaza areas, including Jabalia and Beit Lahia, pushing residents toward the al-Mawasi region.

However, local reports suggest that many civilians are unable or unwilling to leave due to the ongoing fighting, sickness, or physical incapacity.

Israeli human rights groups have warned of a possible “forced transfer” of civilians, citing the controversial Generals’ Plan, which aims to evacuate the northern population entirely. Israeli authorities deny this, claiming that evacuation orders are only intended to keep civilians safe.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn widespread international concern. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Tuesday that families in northern Gaza are facing “unimaginable fear, loss of loved ones, confusion, and exhaustion.” The organisation stressed the urgency of addressing the humanitarian needs in the region as the Israeli military continues its operations.

Amidst these developments, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights group in the US, has called for the resignation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. CAIR’s demand follows reports that Blinken allegedly misled Congress earlier this year by denying that Israel was blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

According to an investigation by ProPublica, Blinken told Congress in May that “we do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of US humanitarian assistance.”

However, ProPublica reports that two US government authorities—the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department’s refugee bureau—had concluded that Israel was deliberately blocking the delivery of food and medicine to Gaza.

These findings were reportedly shared with senior diplomats in late April, weeks before Blinken’s statement to Congress. CAIR has accused Blinken of lying to lawmakers and has called for his resignation due to what it sees as a serious breach of trust and accountability.

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International

Israeli tanks breach UNIFIL base amid calls for peacekeeper evacuation

Israeli tanks breached a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on 13 October, sparking condemnation from Israel’s allies. Prime Minister Netanyahu called for UNIFIL’s withdrawal from combat zones, accusing it of shielding Hezbollah militants. UNIFIL reported increasing attacks, leading to concerns about the force’s safety and regional stability.

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4 days ago

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14 October 2024

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Israeli tanks breached a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on 13 October, prompting condemnation and escalating tensions between Israel and its allies. The incident marks the latest in a series of reported violations involving Israel and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United Nations to evacuate the peacekeepers from combat zones, particularly areas under Hezbollah’s control.

In a statement to UN Secretary General António Guterres, Netanyahu claimed the peacekeepers’ presence provided cover for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, by acting as “human shields.”

Netanyahu’s appeal followed several alleged attacks on peacekeepers in recent days.

UNIFIL confirmed the tank incursion at one of its bases, describing it as part of a pattern of Israeli violations, including the wounding of five peacekeepers.

Italy, one of the largest contributors to UNIFIL, has also expressed deep concern. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attacks during a phone call with Netanyahu. She reiterated the unacceptability of Israeli strikes targeting UN peacekeepers, reflecting growing unease among Western allies.

UNIFIL OPERATIONS UNDER THREAT

UNIFIL, established in 1978 to monitor peace in southern Lebanon, has frequently been caught in the middle of Israeli-Hezbollah conflict.

Following Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 mandated that the region remain free of unauthorised military forces. However, Israel has accused UNIFIL of failing to prevent Hezbollah from stockpiling weapons and operating in the area.

Over the past weeks, hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified. UNIFIL reported attacks on peacekeeping equipment, such as watchtowers and surveillance systems, compromising their ability to monitor the area. Peacekeeping operations have been nearly suspended since late September, with over 300 peacekeepers temporarily relocated to larger bases for safety.

The escalating violence has also raised alarms in other nations contributing to UNIFIL.

In addition to Italy, France and Spain—both of which have significant contingents in the force—have issued statements condemning Israeli actions against peacekeepers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by reiterating Israel’s dissatisfaction with the UN, particularly its perceived failure to condemn Iran’s missile attacks in early October.

Late on Sunday, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said: “Unifil peacekeepers remain in all positions and the UN flag continues to fly.

“The secretary-general reiterates that Unifil personnel and its premises must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime,” he said.

US urges restraint, heightened tensions in region

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern over the attacks on peacekeeper positions in a call with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Austin stressed the need for Israel to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel, as well as that of the Lebanese military, which is not directly involved in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Tensions in the region remain high following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Hezbollah’s involvement has further complicated the situation, with fears that Israeli military actions could provoke a larger regional conflict involving Iran.

The latest reports suggest Israel may retaliate against Iran for an earlier missile attack on 1 October. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, declared that Iran has “no red lines” in its defence, heightening the risk of further escalation.

Lebanon’s government reported over 2,100 deaths and 10,000 injuries resulting from the conflict over the past year, with significant casualties occurring in recent weeks.

While the Lebanese death toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, it includes numerous women and children, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing violence.

Calls for peace amid fears of wider conflict

The possibility of a broader war looms large, with neighbouring Iraq also expressing concern. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, speaking alongside Araqchi, warned of the dangers an all-out war could pose to global energy markets.

“We call on all influential and concerned countries to work to stop the war and start a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon,” Hussein said, underscoring the geopolitical risks involved.

As of now, the fate of UNIFIL remains uncertain. Despite Israel’s calls for their evacuation, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix insisted that the force would continue its mission.

Lacroix acknowledged, however, that the safety of peacekeepers had become “increasingly jeopardised,” with their ability to monitor violations severely restricted.

UNIFIL has been a key stabilising factor in southern Lebanon for decades, but with Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities worsening, its continued presence in the region could lead to further conflicts involving international forces.

The United Nations is facing increasing pressure to either reinforce or reassess its peacekeeping mission in one of the Middle East’s most volatile regions.

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