I don’t think the phrase ”leader of the free world” means what it used to. It might not even be a useful framework. Back in the days of the Cold War, the division implied by phrases like the “free world” meant something. Now globalization and entanglements generated by such things as Russian energy fuzz up the easy distinctions of the past. There is no question that Biden could take more servere and meaningful anti-Putin action, but he thinks he is limited by other considerations. And Biden was Obama’s guy in Ukraine. What role does that play? On the other hand Germany, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden don't see such limitations and they each show leadership. Hell, Switzerland and Sweden didn’t even take sides against Hitler, now look. And Germany? What a quick, remarkable and complete about face for them.
I keep thinking about our strong action taken when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The firm US leadership then is remarkably different from our luke-warm response today and I wonder what’s changed. Is it because Russia has nukes and Putin has a button? Maybe. If so, then why did Biden take his knee off of Iran’s neck? Inexplicable.