'I just can't do it'
| 'I just can't do it'  The first time Joe Biden went to Europe as President, foreign leaders were curious about what they would get from a new leader preaching that "America is back." Now, as he embarks for the G20 summit and the Glasgow climate conference, they have some idea.
Since June, the world has witnessed a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal; a showdown with France after the US, UK and Australia went behind its back on a submarine deal; and months more of Covid curbs on foreign travelers to the US — which are only now about to be eased.
The lesson from all these sore points with US allies is that although Biden will not set out to trash alliances like his predecessor, Donald Trump, his first and overwhelming focus is on what is good for the United States. He doesn't seem that bothered about how US actions will roil the political waters in which his foreign counterparts must operate.
Some pundits argued during the Afghanistan withdrawal that Biden was just a nicer version of Trump. That's hardly true, but Biden does have a watered-down vision of American First. So it's natural for allies to wonder whether Washington can be relied upon in all circumstances. Biden is also fixated on Asia and the challenge from China, and unlike some previous US presidents — his old boss Barack Obama, for instance — he isn't into multilateralism for its own sake.
While he's in Italy for the G20, Biden will butter up French President Emmanuel Macron, who was politically embarrassed by the submarine fiasco. He'll also likely push foreign leaders to do more in following the US lead in donating millions of Covid-19 vaccine doses to the developing world.
But an impression that the US is entering a more domestically oriented era after two decades of war will be strengthened unless Democrats in Congress send Biden to the UN climate summit in Glasgow with a bill underwriting US commitments to cut carbon emissions. And the deepening crisis of American democracy -- and the specter of a possible Trump return after 2024 -- means world leaders still have good reason to take Biden's promises with a grain of salt.  'I just can't do it'
Asked about the provision on Wednesday, Manchin -- who has also resisted clean energy incentives and free community college -- said: "I just can't do it." The world and America Iran said it would resume stalled nuclear talks.
'Democratic countries should come together' Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has decided to take Biden's assurance that the US would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by China at face value — in public at least. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Tsai said she believed that the US and other regional democracies would come to the self-governing island's aid if such an invasion unfolded.
US presidents usually avoid specifically saying what they would do in such a situation, under the long-standing policy of strategic ambiguity meant to deter a Taiwanese independence declaration or Chinese action. Yet Biden didn't appear at all ambiguous in a recent CNN town hall when asked several times if the US would come to Taiwan's aid if China attacked. "Yes," he said. "Yes, we have a commitment to do that."
Actually, the US has no such obligation. And the White House insisted that US policy had not changed despite Biden's comment. The Taiwan Relations Act does however require Washington to help the island to defend itself— for instance by buying US-made weapons. Biden's intervention came at a time when there is increasing debate in Washington over whether strategic ambiguity has passed its sell-by date and whether the US should be more clear about the potential costs to China if it ever considered invading Taiwan.
However, many experts warn that a more assertive approach could have the opposite of the intended effect — and could raise the political heat on an already outspoken President Xi Jinping to respond, and make conflict more likely.
Tsai's comments on the US were part of a wide-ranging interview in which she warned that Taiwan was a test case for how the world shielded democracy: — She called on regional democratic partners, including Japan, South Korea and Australia, to help support the island. "When authoritarian regimes demonstrate expansionist tendencies, democratic countries should come together to stand against them. Taiwan is on the front lines," she said. — Echoing a recent call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Tsai said it was time for Taiwan to play a greater role at the United Nations. "We have expressed our hope that we want to be part of the UN system. And China has their story to tell. And it's for the international community to judge," she said. — But she also said she had not abandoned the possibility of improved relations with Beijing, and would sit down with Xi for talks if he were willing. "We have said again and again that we want to have dialogue with China and this is the best way to avoid misunderstanding, miscalculation and misjudgment in the management of the cross-strait relations." $15,001 to $50,000 Georgia Rep. and Trump acolyte Marjorie Taylor Greene bought as much as $50,000 worth of shares in a shell company that is merging with the former President's new media venture, according to a financial disclosure form.
The form, dated Tuesday, indicates Greene purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp. last Friday, when they were skyrocketing to breathtaking levels. It does not say at what price Greene acquired the shares, but she very likely lost money on the trade, at least on paper -- days later, it plunged in value. Thanks for reading. On Thursday, Biden and first lady Jill Biden depart the White House for a jaunt through Europe. Moscow will reintroduce Covid-19 lockdown measures. German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Athens. And Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg addresses the social media company's annual online "Connect Conference." View in browser | All CNN Newsletters
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