We Should Be More Involved in Ukraine Conflict

Under former President Trump, this nation selfishly pursued an "America First" policy that sewed the seeds for Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He fomented what former LV Congressman Charlie Dent decried as the "three-headed monster" of isolationism, nativism and protectionism. We turned our back on the rest of the world, alienating long-time allies, while courting autocrats. The Republican party has morphed into a modern equivalent of the Know Nothing party of the 1850s, led by Q-Anon demagogues. It is Trump, not Biden, who pledged to withdraw troops from Afghanistan without bothering to discuss it with the government in place. In fact, he actually ordered the withdrawal of US troops from Germany, a move that Biden stopped after being sworn into office. He also wanted to pull out of NATO. His blunders only encouraged Putin to take advantage of what he thought was a weakened NATO. Ironically, his invasion had the opposite effect. But other than providing assistance, NATO has been leery to get more involved. We've shied away from a no fly zone and even rejected a swap of planes with Poland that would eventually beef up Ukraine's air force. Given the butchery in Bucha and elsewhere, we need to be more involved. 

The wanton murder of Ukranian noncombants should come as no surprise to anyone who has read about Russia;s antics in Syria and Chechnya. No one can effectively deny that there have been widespread war crimes by Russian troops. Yet there are those who say that, as disturbing as these murders have been, we just have no strategic interest in this conflict. I disagree, 

We all know that this conflict has sharply escalated the prices and possibly supplies of fossil fuel on a global level. More importantly, the war is going to disrupt global food supplies. We like to call ourselves the breadbasket of the world. But it is actually Russia and Ukraine who supply most of the globe's cereal crops and vegetable oil. So it's clear that the conflict could easily cause a collapse in the global economy. 

I have little doubt that NATO, including the US, will get involved militarily if Putin begins using chemical weapons or attacks military hardware heading from NATO country Poland to Ukraine. But if we allow this conflict to drag out, there will be a worldwide depression and more conflicts will erupt elsewhere. 

We all know the UN, as President Zelenskyy has observed is useless. Russia can simply veto any move it dislikes  What NATO should do is give Russia an ultimatum to enter into a ceasefire and negotiate an agreement or be subjected to both a no-fly zone and naval blockade.

Given what I've seen of Russia's military, I think Ukranians can take care of themselves on the ground. They have asked for help in the air. We need to make clear to Russia that we will do so unless they end the conflict.