Taylor Beia liked this
Supporting Ukraine
I was at an event the other night and we were discussing international affairs. I was asked, "Why should we still be spending money to support Ukraine?" "How can we afford it?" My answer was as follows:
"We are a rich Nation .... if all paid the taxes they owed and the IRS collected same, and the very rich paid a bit more .... if we had a national sales tax of 1-2% and we cut spending, raised the age for Social Security and increased payroll deduction for Medicare, we could do a lot. But why Ukraine?
We gave them a bi-lateral security guarantee in the late 90s when they gave up their nuclear weapons. And we have politically supported them against the lawless violation of their territory by Russia. We support international law. Additionally, the word of America has to mean something. We cannot continue to ask people like the Ukrainians and the Afghans to trust us and then to leave them to fend for themselves when things get tough.
Second, Russia though we have tried is never going to join the world of law abiding Nations. They along with Iran, North Korea and the PRC are committed to changing the post WWII world of laws and economic opportunity. They cannot be allowed to win. We may have had a chance with Russia back in the 90s if we had asked them to join NATO .... imagine if they had said yes.... but that train has left the station. Their aggression cannot be rewarded. They paid no price for taking the Crimea, South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia.
Finally, the cost is minimal.... only money and stuff.... no Americans in the fight ...though we are surely learning many things from the combat.... who would have imagined the Russian Army after a great refit would be so inept. And the Ukrainians have fought with their legacy, US and NATO allies equipment with skill and bravery, but their numbers are no where near Russia's who spend the lives of their citizens without much thought.
So the world is watching. We have engaged our allies in Europe and elsewhere and they are committed and stepping up, as they should. We all have skin in the game and must double down on assisting Ukraine to include working diplomatically to bring an end to the fight. But Russia cannot be victorious. The line is drawn. I say we must support Ukraine.