Opinion: President is a sheep among lions

At a recent CNN Town Hall, featuring President Joe Biden, hosted by Anderson Cooper, the following exchange took place between a questioner, the president and Cooper:

Q: China just tested a hypersonic missile. What will you do to keep up with them militarily? And can you vow to protect Taiwan?

Biden: Yes, and yes. We are — militarily, China, Russia, and the rest of the world knows we have the most powerful military in the history of the world. Don’t worry about whether we’re going to — they’re going to be more powerful. What you do have to worry about is whether or not they’re going to engage in activities that will put them in a position where there — they may make a serious mistake.

And so, I have had — I have spoken and spent more time with Xi Jinping than any other world leader has. That’s why you have — you know, you hear people saying, “Biden wants to start a new Cold War with China.” I don’t want a Cold War with China. I just want to make China understand that we are not going to step back. We are not going to change any of our views.

Cooper: So, are you saying that the United States would come to Taiwan’s defense if —

Biden: Yes.

Cooper: — China attacked?

Biden: Yes, we have a commitment to do that.

While I agree with the president that we have the most powerful military in the history of the world, I am reminded of the following quote from Alexander the Great: “An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep.”

An army led by a lion does not cede a fully functional air field to the enemy.

An army led by a lion does not rely on the enemy for their security during extraction.

An army led by a lion knows that he cannot dictate who is in the new government of his old enemy.

An army led by a lion does not condone a chairman of joint chiefs who tattles to our adversaries aboutour nation’s plans.

An army led by a lion knows that what does not make the army more lethal is superfluous.

The lions in all of our military forces have my prayers and my support. The sheep have my sympathy.

There will be a presentation to the city of Clovis of a memorial flag to commemorate the 50th

anniversary of the Vietnam War. This flag will join flags from World War II and Korea in the Clovis-Carver Public Library.

The ceremony will be held in the commission room of the library at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. All are welcome, particularly Vietnam veterans.

Rube Render is a former Clovis city commissioner and former chair of the Curry County Republican Party. Contact him:

[email protected]