In his revealing new book titled “War,” veteran journalist Bob Woodward shares some candid insights from President Biden regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to excerpts released by CNN, Biden expressed strong opinions about Netanyahu, calling him a “son of a bitch” and a “bad guy” during private conversations with friends. These comments were reportedly made amid escalating military actions in Gaza during the spring of 2024. Biden conveyed his frustration, feeling that Netanyahu often misled him, particularly regarding the Israeli leader’s assurances about eliminating every member of Hamas. Biden reportedly warned Netanyahu that such expectations were unrealistic and even suggested the possibility of withholding U.S. weaponry from Israel.
The book also dives into Biden’s unfiltered thoughts on Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In discussions held in the Oval Office, Biden labeled Putin as “evil,” highlighting what he sees as a clear example of malevolent behavior on the global stage. Woodward discloses that Biden’s national security team assessed a 50 percent chance that Putin might resort to nuclear weapons in the conflict in Ukraine.
Furthermore, Biden candidly reflected on his son Hunter’s ongoing legal issues, admitting that he shouldn’t have appointed Merrick Garland as Attorney General. He also critiqued former President Obama’s approach to Putin’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, arguing that Obama failed to take Putin seriously. Biden believes this inaction contributed to Putin’s later aggressions, stating, “They messed up in 2014” and “They shouldn’t have let Putin walk into Crimea so easily.”
Before the invasion, U.S. intelligence had collected significant evidence suggesting that Putin intended to mobilize a 175,000-strong army for an invasion of Ukraine as early as October 2021, with sources within the Kremlin supporting this information. The book underscores that while Biden and his team were aware of the seriousness of Putin’s plans, they struggled to fully grasp the extent of his intentions.
