It is a time of Russia indulging in nuke talk, yanking people out of prisons to replace the dead soldiers in Ukrainian battlefields and China saying it just might hand Russia more fighting tools. While Ukraine was simultaneously losing some land it had won, there were also some positives, not the least of them a surprise visit by President Joe Biden standing in a danger zone to make it clear that the United States is steadfastly behind Ukraine and NATO.
President Biden, thank you. Here was a bold move, and no doubt it boosted Ukrainian confidence in the United States continuing to supply it with loads of moolah and weapons, not just defensive weapons, but offensive weapons. NATO, with more at stake, is not doing all it could, but is still saying yes, we are with you. Ukraine remains blessed with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the former TV comedian with courage, charisma, high intelligence and rare leadership capacities, no laughing matter to Ukraine’s enemies.
Was it OK for him to force 11 political parties with ties to Russia to get out of parliament? It makes it harder to see him as a respecter of rule of law, but may have been necessary for national survival. His speech to Congress awhile back was touching, encouraging and democratically heroic. He doesn’t want to give an inch, has accomplished what no one imagined, but could not have done it without the help of America and NATO. Here is the big question. Should America keep helping out? The experts disagree with each other, and here, first, is the point of view that says no.
