A.G. Gancarski
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott continues to tread an aggressive path when it comes to American defense of traditional geopolitical prerogatives.
On Thursday, Scott offered a sharp critique of former Vice President Joe Biden, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for President in recent polls of the 2020 field.
Biden, who is still finding his sea legs as a candidate, said that the threat posed by communist China is no big deal during a stump speech this week.
Biden reassured the crowd, saying “they’re not bad folks, folks … They’re not competition for us.”
Whether he misspoke or misunderstands the situation, Biden’s words were teed up for responses such as that from Scott.
“Vice President Biden seems to have lost touch with reality. His comments downplaying the threat China poses to our economic and national security interests were stunningly naïve and frankly dangerous. China is our greatest geopolitical threat. They are trying to beat us on the world stage,” Scott said.
“China is supporting Nicolas Maduro who is killing little kids in Venezuela. They are supporting genocide in our hemisphere,” Scott added.
“During my trip to Latin America last week,” Scott continued, “it was clear that China’s influence has spread deep into the Western Hemisphere and their economic and technological aggression has created intelligence issues and national security threats.”
“We cannot ignore the threat any longer. Our leaders need to recognize China for what it is: our enemy,” Scott added.
Scott has messaged heavily on the continuing crisis in Venezuela, where American global adversaries seek to continue the reign of Nicolas Maduro.
Scott has advocated military involvement, as he sees the stakes as high.
“The U.S. military must be ready to supply humanitarian aid and defend freedom and democracy in Venezuela,” Scott said earlier this week.
“The Maduro regime is starving its own people while our enemies are using Venezuela as a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. President Trump should immediately position American military assets to be ready to deliver aid to the people and defend freedom and democracy as well as U.S. national security interests in our hemisphere,” Scott added.
“This is a fight against Cuba, Russia, China, Iran and Hezbollah who are all in Venezuela right now and want to inflict pain and torture on the people. The time for talking is over. It’s time for action,” Scott concluded.
As a candidate for Senate in 2018, then Gov. Scott was criticized for his “blind trust” investments in a myriad of companies.
As the left-leaning Florida Bulldog pointed out, “Scott and his wife had an enormous, hidden financial stake in a Chinese railway company that supplies components to the U.S. contractor building Brightline passenger trains for All Aboard Florida, a venture the Governor strongly backed.”
However, the campaign of 2018 is ancient history now, and Scott’s political fortunes are tied to aggressive movement to protect American interests and assets in Venezuela and Latin America at large.
