It boggles my mind that after two years of the Ukrainian people fighting and dying to bleed our #2 national security threat dry, one of our major political parties (the GOP) appears happy to step back and let Russia win. They gussy their insanity up with all manner of justification, to include 1) that Ukraine is a corrupt state; 2) that OUR border is being ignored while we worry about Ukraine’s border and 3) that we have all manner of needs here inside our own country that aren’t being met. Let’s take each of these in turn.
First and most importantly, my thoughts on the passing of your father; a difficult period and a bumpy, winding emotional road I, and many others, have navigated with tears and eventually laughter.
I could not agree with you more re: supporting Ukraine, however the open borders insanity of Cadaver Joe and his party require him to restore ALL the Executive orders he rescinded that caused this crisis, close the border, and start mass deportations before ANY further funding of others border security. It’s the only fulcrum available to STOP the lunatic left’s flooding this country with ILLEGAL ALIENS for their political advantage. The financial cost is stunning as well as the destruction of this country and the rule of law is beyond comprehension. And they need to STOP LYING!!
I would like to ask Speaker Johnson and Rep. Gaetz how they feel about allowing so many Ukranians get killed and wounded for this country while they twiddle there thumbs. If they don't then I think that they should be recommended a good Psychiatrist.
Why does it boggle your mind that the GOP is withdrawing support from Ukraine? Trump is in bed with Putin, and Trump is supported by a Know-Nothing MAGA base that cares not about the rest of the world; only “America First”. With the 2024 election heating up, firm lines are being drawn and MAGA emotions are rising. There’s nothing to be boggled about - the GOP has been taken over by myopic isolationists and culture warriors, and has long abandoned many decades of traditional GOP center-right positions and policies.
Beg pardon, but I think you're letting your anti-Trump sentiments override your common sense.
First, Ukraine is a corrupt state. The citizens of it will admit that their government is crooked. But they would rather be ruled by their own crooks than Putin's crooks...who will cheerfully kill them as well as loot the till. The real issue is the fear that some of the looted funds are making their way into American politics, both as illegal campaign contributions and even more illegal bribes.
Second, it is true that we are burning through Putin's Cold War weapons stockpile...but the cost is burning through our own stockpiles. It's hard to tell who is really ahead at this point, aside from the count of the dead. And the funds being used to replenish the stockpiles are the funds desperately needed to rearm the Navy. (If there was an explicit plan to shift from Europe to the Pacific by using the replenishment funds, it might sell better)
But what has troubled me the most is the eagerness of BOTH sides to accuse the other or disloyalty. I believe this is one of the situations where both sides have defensible arguments, and shouting "J'accuse!" helps nobody.
While I strongly support Ukraine and think beating Russia is a non-brainer I don't think it's intellectually honest to just blame American voters for their hesitancy to get into yet another expensive and potentially endless war.
While I am not American, If I was to steel man the argument for the other side (which I think everyone should do to help formulate the best counter argument) I imagine their arguments might be:
1. Inflation has been at multi-decade levels and the government deficit debt servicing already exceeds the entire military budget for 2023. Spending more trillions on foreign wars will only exacerbate these problems.
2. Trillions and many lives were spent on two decades of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with seemingly little gain - the region seems to hate the USA and is siding closer with enemies like Iran and China
3. With a president actively encouraging and enabling illegal immigration on the southern border of millions of people it would see like common sense that security at home might be more on voters minds as being a priority. People will be more likely to support legal immigration if there are strong borders.
4. The president simply hasn't shown leadership to explain the stakes at play in Ukraine and why it's important and also explain that the vast majority of money spent on aid is spent at home. Is it any wonder he hasn't done this when he can barely string a coherent sentence together without a teleprompter.
The arguments above seem pretty reasonable to me. Biden did a lot of things right early in the war, but I honestly don't think he has shown the leadership someone like Reagan would have to repeatedly and regularly keep explaining why the war is important to the American people. I also agree Reagan would be turning in his grave but he would have brought the people along with him rather than just demonising the other side which democrats seem to think is a legitimate political strategy. How's that working out for them? Biden's other domestic failures also don't help his case by being massive distraction and seriously call into question his competency for the top job.
I was reading Wayne S. Coles book, "Roosevelt & the Isolationist,"1932- 45. The "America First Committee and some of its leaders read allot like Mr. Trump and his supporters. R. Douglas Sturat Jr., believed that Americans wanted to stay out of the war more than they wanted a Britsh victory over Germany. (p. 481) Following the sinking of the "Robin Moor," an American freighter, by a German U-boat, Senator Nye urged the United States to "abandon any assertion of freedom of the seas," and to "adopt a mind-our-own business policy." (p. 442) The study of history can be of value. Just the opinion of an old hermit. (The freighter was sunk on May 21, 1941) By the way really enjoyed your article and agree with your thesis.
"The opportunity to hobble Russia for decades is not to be missed, and it should be atop our grand strategic priorities."
I'm always horrified when people say this. If our strategic objective really is to "hobble Russia", then our national interest is that the war should be long and prolonged. But this means hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides, and the eventual destruction of Ukraine itself. In fact, if Ukraine really did "win" the war, reclaim all the lost territory including Crimea, and end the fighting, this would be contrary to American interests, because it would halt the proxy war. How cynical is that?
In any case, this issue is moot. Russia is winning, and at this point the only question is how badly Ukraine will lose.
Once again, a "media" outlet resorts to name calling instead of just giving me the facts. When someone resorts to name calling, it tells me the person has nothing factual to say and is hateful of another group. I will use a "Dragnet" line and say, "Just the facts." Let me make up my own mind of who is good and who is bad through factual information only; not through grade-school playground name calling.
AFAIK, 45 has never called for an end to Ukraine funding. It is entirely possible that, as 47, he pulls a 'Nixon goes to China' and comes out in favour of rapidly increasing Ukraine aid. At that point, the flip-flopping from the likes of JD Vance and the Newsmax types will be amazing to watch.
A nit pic; Please don't conflate Russia with Putin and his oligarchs. Putin and his type will be gone just like Mao and Tito are gone. Our policies should be forward looking. What comes after Putin. More of the same or worse? We should be working towards a Russian system that joins the modern world. To do that we have to give the Russian people's a reason to remove him. Bogging him down in an unrewarding war with Ukraine is a start. We should support Ukraine as long as they are willing to fight. We should give them the weapons that give them a reason to keep fighting.
Hear hear. It’s a moment of clarity for the credulity and character of many in the US. A historic opportunity to greatly diminish a long time global foe and force for evil, and MAGA seems directly allied with it. It’s much more than a disgrace.
Only the orange messiah could turn the Republican Party into Russia lovers. Reagan must be turning over in his grave.
If we were willing to support the Bosnians and the Kuwaitis, then how can we not support the Ukrainians against this aggression? Much better to send bullets vs. battalions. Moreover, if we pay attention, we’re getting a painless lesson in 21st century warfare against a peer nation and how different it is from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
First and most importantly, my thoughts on the passing of your father; a difficult period and a bumpy, winding emotional road I, and many others, have navigated with tears and eventually laughter.
I could not agree with you more re: supporting Ukraine, however the open borders insanity of Cadaver Joe and his party require him to restore ALL the Executive orders he rescinded that caused this crisis, close the border, and start mass deportations before ANY further funding of others border security. It’s the only fulcrum available to STOP the lunatic left’s flooding this country with ILLEGAL ALIENS for their political advantage. The financial cost is stunning as well as the destruction of this country and the rule of law is beyond comprehension. And they need to STOP LYING!!
Glad to have discovered your Substack! I couldn't agree more on Ukraine. And I'm profoundly sorry to hear about the loss of your father.
I would like to ask Speaker Johnson and Rep. Gaetz how they feel about allowing so many Ukranians get killed and wounded for this country while they twiddle there thumbs. If they don't then I think that they should be recommended a good Psychiatrist.
Why does it boggle your mind that the GOP is withdrawing support from Ukraine? Trump is in bed with Putin, and Trump is supported by a Know-Nothing MAGA base that cares not about the rest of the world; only “America First”. With the 2024 election heating up, firm lines are being drawn and MAGA emotions are rising. There’s nothing to be boggled about - the GOP has been taken over by myopic isolationists and culture warriors, and has long abandoned many decades of traditional GOP center-right positions and policies.
Beg pardon, but I think you're letting your anti-Trump sentiments override your common sense.
First, Ukraine is a corrupt state. The citizens of it will admit that their government is crooked. But they would rather be ruled by their own crooks than Putin's crooks...who will cheerfully kill them as well as loot the till. The real issue is the fear that some of the looted funds are making their way into American politics, both as illegal campaign contributions and even more illegal bribes.
Second, it is true that we are burning through Putin's Cold War weapons stockpile...but the cost is burning through our own stockpiles. It's hard to tell who is really ahead at this point, aside from the count of the dead. And the funds being used to replenish the stockpiles are the funds desperately needed to rearm the Navy. (If there was an explicit plan to shift from Europe to the Pacific by using the replenishment funds, it might sell better)
But what has troubled me the most is the eagerness of BOTH sides to accuse the other or disloyalty. I believe this is one of the situations where both sides have defensible arguments, and shouting "J'accuse!" helps nobody.
Fantastic article. I'm stunned by the lack of GOP support to help Ukraine.
On a personal note I am saddened by your loss. Please know that your family is in my prayers.
https://open.substack.com/pub/tankster/p/two-years-on-from-russias-invasion?r=fnjl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
While I strongly support Ukraine and think beating Russia is a non-brainer I don't think it's intellectually honest to just blame American voters for their hesitancy to get into yet another expensive and potentially endless war.
While I am not American, If I was to steel man the argument for the other side (which I think everyone should do to help formulate the best counter argument) I imagine their arguments might be:
1. Inflation has been at multi-decade levels and the government deficit debt servicing already exceeds the entire military budget for 2023. Spending more trillions on foreign wars will only exacerbate these problems.
2. Trillions and many lives were spent on two decades of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with seemingly little gain - the region seems to hate the USA and is siding closer with enemies like Iran and China
3. With a president actively encouraging and enabling illegal immigration on the southern border of millions of people it would see like common sense that security at home might be more on voters minds as being a priority. People will be more likely to support legal immigration if there are strong borders.
4. The president simply hasn't shown leadership to explain the stakes at play in Ukraine and why it's important and also explain that the vast majority of money spent on aid is spent at home. Is it any wonder he hasn't done this when he can barely string a coherent sentence together without a teleprompter.
The arguments above seem pretty reasonable to me. Biden did a lot of things right early in the war, but I honestly don't think he has shown the leadership someone like Reagan would have to repeatedly and regularly keep explaining why the war is important to the American people. I also agree Reagan would be turning in his grave but he would have brought the people along with him rather than just demonising the other side which democrats seem to think is a legitimate political strategy. How's that working out for them? Biden's other domestic failures also don't help his case by being massive distraction and seriously call into question his competency for the top job.
I was reading Wayne S. Coles book, "Roosevelt & the Isolationist,"1932- 45. The "America First Committee and some of its leaders read allot like Mr. Trump and his supporters. R. Douglas Sturat Jr., believed that Americans wanted to stay out of the war more than they wanted a Britsh victory over Germany. (p. 481) Following the sinking of the "Robin Moor," an American freighter, by a German U-boat, Senator Nye urged the United States to "abandon any assertion of freedom of the seas," and to "adopt a mind-our-own business policy." (p. 442) The study of history can be of value. Just the opinion of an old hermit. (The freighter was sunk on May 21, 1941) By the way really enjoyed your article and agree with your thesis.
Some of the commenters you've drawn here make me lose hope
"The opportunity to hobble Russia for decades is not to be missed, and it should be atop our grand strategic priorities."
I'm always horrified when people say this. If our strategic objective really is to "hobble Russia", then our national interest is that the war should be long and prolonged. But this means hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides, and the eventual destruction of Ukraine itself. In fact, if Ukraine really did "win" the war, reclaim all the lost territory including Crimea, and end the fighting, this would be contrary to American interests, because it would halt the proxy war. How cynical is that?
In any case, this issue is moot. Russia is winning, and at this point the only question is how badly Ukraine will lose.
Once again, a "media" outlet resorts to name calling instead of just giving me the facts. When someone resorts to name calling, it tells me the person has nothing factual to say and is hateful of another group. I will use a "Dragnet" line and say, "Just the facts." Let me make up my own mind of who is good and who is bad through factual information only; not through grade-school playground name calling.
AFAIK, 45 has never called for an end to Ukraine funding. It is entirely possible that, as 47, he pulls a 'Nixon goes to China' and comes out in favour of rapidly increasing Ukraine aid. At that point, the flip-flopping from the likes of JD Vance and the Newsmax types will be amazing to watch.
A nit pic; Please don't conflate Russia with Putin and his oligarchs. Putin and his type will be gone just like Mao and Tito are gone. Our policies should be forward looking. What comes after Putin. More of the same or worse? We should be working towards a Russian system that joins the modern world. To do that we have to give the Russian people's a reason to remove him. Bogging him down in an unrewarding war with Ukraine is a start. We should support Ukraine as long as they are willing to fight. We should give them the weapons that give them a reason to keep fighting.
Hear hear. It’s a moment of clarity for the credulity and character of many in the US. A historic opportunity to greatly diminish a long time global foe and force for evil, and MAGA seems directly allied with it. It’s much more than a disgrace.
Only the orange messiah could turn the Republican Party into Russia lovers. Reagan must be turning over in his grave.
If we were willing to support the Bosnians and the Kuwaitis, then how can we not support the Ukrainians against this aggression? Much better to send bullets vs. battalions. Moreover, if we pay attention, we’re getting a painless lesson in 21st century warfare against a peer nation and how different it is from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.