As the Biden administration limps disgracefully toward its end, the Mideast once again serves as a theater not just for geopolitical conflicts but for showcasing the most egregious display of leadership failure since the 1980s.
The ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, strategically timed just as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, eerily echoes the dramatic resolution of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis under Jimmy Carter.
This parallel does more than highlight historical parallels; it starkly contrasts the leadership of President Biden with that of President-elect Donald J. Trump, reminiscent of the stark divide between Carter and Reagan.
Under Biden's faltering watch, the Mideast has suffered through what can only be described as a parade of indecision and weakness.
His handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly concerning the hostages held by Hamas, has been marked by drawing lines only to retreat from them.
This dithering has not just extended the conflict but has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, drawing damning comparisons to Carter's ineffective leadership where decisive action was promised but never delivered.
But then enters President-elect Trump, the architect of this ceasefire-hostage deal, with his unwavering "Peace Through Strength" doctrine that gave us four years without major foreign entanglements.
Mr. Trump, arguably the most formidable foreign policy president of our time, used America's military might not as a blunt instrument but as a surgical tool, reserved for when diplomacy failed.
His latest stern warning, "All hell will break loose in the Middle East if these hostages aren't released before my inauguration," followed by "There better be a deal before I’m sworn in or there will be hell to pay," was not just rhetoric; it was a clear signal of what was to come under his leadership.
This decisive approach recalls Reagan's era, where his impending presidency alone expedited the release of hostages in Iran.
The doctrine of peace through strength under Trump demands a clear, forceful condemnation of Islamic terrorism and an unwavering support for Israel's right to self-defense, distinguishing it starkly from acts of terror.
This reflects Trump’s foreign policy ethos where moral clarity and strategic firmness are not just policy but a creed.
The Biden administration, in stark contrast, squandered over 460 days, failing to negotiate a ceasefire or secure the hostages' release.
Their inaction can be chalked up to diplomatic cowardice, an over-reliance on ineffective soft power, or a catastrophic underestimation of Hamas's resolve, all of which have only intensified the conflict and the suffering in Gaza.
The timing of this deal at the very end of Biden's term is not coincidental.
It screams of the urgency and fear instilled by Trump's incoming administration, directly critiquing the departing one. The deal's sudden realization points to one fact: the looming prospect of dealing with Trump's unpredictable and resolute administration was what finally pushed both sides to the table.
Trump, like Reagan, uses direct threats and promises of action as his foreign policy toolkit, leveraging his reputation for unpredictability.
This strategy might remind Hamas of the tough repercussions they faced under similar U.S. leadership, known for not succumbing to weakness.
The lesson here is as clear as it is harsh: in the volatile arenas of international diplomacy, weakness invites aggression.
Biden's tenure, akin to Carter's, might be remembered for its lack of decisive action when most needed.
In contrast, Trump’s incoming term recalls Reagan's, promising a return to a robust U.S. foreign policy where the consequences of opposition are laid bare.
At this pivotal moment, celebrating the resolution of this hostage crisis isn't just about diplomacy; it's a clarion call for how America should project its power. If history is any guide, the days of indecision and retreat are numbered.
Under Trump, America's resolve might once again be not just recognized but feared by those who dare challenge it. This is not merely a replay of 1981 but a decisive new chapter where, with Trump as the leader, we might finally see a stable and secure Mideast.
Jason D. Meister is a former advisory board member of Donald J. Trump for President. Meister frequently appears on national television and radio broadcasts, including various interviews on Fox News, Fox Business Network, Bloomberg, the BBC, Sky News, and Sirius XM. You can find him on X @jason_meister.