President Biden's $230 million taxpayer-funded attempt to deliver aid to Gaza has collapsed, mirroring the challenges facing his re-election campaign as the costly pier project ends in failure and criticism.
President Biden's attempt to use taxpayer dollars to address political challenges in battleground Michigan has failed spectacularly. In an effort to appeal to pro-Hamas voters, Biden announced a $230 million project to build a temporary pier to deliver aid to Gaza. However, the plan failed as the aid was hijacked, and the pier, operational for only 20 days, was dismantled after breaking apart. During a NATO press conference, Biden admitted the failure of the project, which has become a costly symbol of his struggling re-election campaign.
“I’ve been disappointed that some of the things that I’ve put forward have not succeeded as well, like the port we attached from Cyprus. I was hopeful that would be more successful,” he said.
Despite the initial fanfare during his State of the Union speech in March, the pier, constructed by over 1,000 U.S. troops, was dismantled after a series of mishaps and harsh weather conditions. Naval experts criticized the use of the Joint Logistics Over the Shore system (JLOTS) in open sea conditions, stating it was never designed to handle waves larger than four feet.
The pier's brief operation yielded minimal aid delivery, with reports indicating that much of the aid remains stored in Cyprus or Gaza. Humanitarian efforts were further hampered by security concerns, including daily gunfire and mortar attacks. One U.S. soldier was critically injured during the operation.
Biden administration officials cited unforeseeable weather as the reason for the pier's failure, but the costly debacle has drawn sharp criticism and highlighted the challenges facing Biden's re-election bid. The final cost of the project remains undisclosed.
.png)