Failing to defeat Putin's invasion of Ukraine will convince Putin that he alone has the will to defeat the weak West even as some advisors doubted the wisdom of the hard struggle to defeat Ukraine. And then we won't be arguing if we are in a proxy war with Russia. We'll have real war. And it doesn't matter if it "distracts" us from China. America can't afford to lose Europe.
Why "conservatives" oppose aiding Ukraine (tip to Instapundit).
One, abandoning Ukraine won't secure our southern border. Or was it secure before we started spending money to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion? It isn't a lack of money that prevents securing the southern border. It is Democrats who so very recently--and bizarrely--decided controlling our border to prevent illegal immigration and smuggling is wrong.
Two, just because Democrats are suddenly anti-Russian doesn't make me flip my position of opposing Russia. Sure, I find it annoying that Democrats apparently have more Ukrainian flags than American flags. So to Democrats I say, welcome to the party, pal.
And three, corruption doesn't mean Ukraine deserves to be
conquered--by a dictatorial and even more corrupt Russia, no less. Given growing evidence of government corruption here at home, be careful what you wish for.
And
the rest of the reasons offered for opposing aid to Ukraine are weaker, as far as I can tell.
I think that the risk of nuclear war with Russia is the biggest caution to guide our actions, but that outcome is extremely low notwithstanding Russian poo-flinging and chest-beating. Russia would have to start it. Which destroys Russia, too.
While I don't think America should directly fight Russia over the fate of Ukraine, I absolutely think America should support Ukraine in fighting and defeating Russia.
If Russia wins, in time as Russia pushes west, the risk of direct war with Russia to hold Europe goes up a lot. Or do you really think Putin has no more territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine?
[Putin] believed, more deeply than ever, his own mythology, viewing the retaking of Crimea as the first step toward restoring the Russian Empire, a dream he’d harbored since witnessing the collapse of the Soviet Union as a young KGB officer stationed in Dresden when the wall came tumbling down. ...
His decisions about the war—political, strategic, and even tactical—have stemmed from his own instincts and the urgings of his most ideological aides, not from the professional advice of senior military officers.
Don't make Putin's arguments for
him. It just encourages him to continue nuclear threats to remove Western opposition to invading more countries. No matter what the obstacles or cautionary advice, he will believe he can overcome them with his will to win.
We must make sure Russia loses this war. And yes, our objectives will no doubt diverge from Ukraine's at some point. And then we must reassess what Russia's defeat means. But we aren't there yet.
As I remarked a couple months ago, "When you start to kneecap a geopolitical rival, kneecap a geopolitical rival, eh?" Hell, I can go back to June--at least--for that advice.
Honestly, I just don't get those Putin-convenient conservatives any more than I've understood those on the left who until now in Ukraine--until a Republican is president, anyway--thought America is on the wrong of any foreign conflict or question.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
