But today, a significant number of insubstantial Republicans in Congress are contemplating acts so despicable that even their indiscretions go beyond indiscretions. By denying Ukraine material means of resistance, these Republicans could hand Russian President Vladimir Putin a victory that could be just the beginning of Putin’s war to restore “Greater Russia” do not have.
Putin has made two bets so far, but he quickly lost his first bet by not being able to quickly take control of Ukraine. But he might win the second bet. It’s about enduring the contempt he sees as America’s decadence. Indeed, his disdain is partly a reaction to former President Donald Trump’s political durability, which Putin understands as evidence that America is retreating from seriousness.
Only 22 Republican senators (45% of the caucus) helped pass the bill providing, among other things, aid to Ukraine. But in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson’s opaque thinking and uncertain hands could leave the bill at the mercy of isolationist factions within Johnson’s caucus.
It’s really uncharitable to attribute these lawmakers’ pandering to their most pro-Trump voters to cynical opportunism. The alternative is to convict lawmakers who believe two absurd things. That is, we cannot afford to support Ukraine, and we cannot support Ukraine while also dealing with the crisis on our southern border.
In 1862, the year of the terror at Shiloh, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, Congress funded and oversaw resistance to secession while enacting the Homestead Act (promoting settlement of the Great Plains) and the Morrill Act (creating land-grant universities). ), passed the Pacific Railroad. Bill (to hasten the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad). Congress can now do several things at the same time. Lawmakers today can’t even create a budget. For the past 10 years, the government has operated on the basis of his 36% chance of continuing resolutions.
Since February 2022, U.S. military and other aid to Ukraine has totaled $75.4 billion, much of it spent on replenishing U.S. military supplies. Even with the $60 billion in the Senate bill, the total cost to the United States so far would be less than three months’ worth of debt service. And since the war began two years ago next week, Medicare and Medicaid fraud is less than $200 billion (low estimate).
If Putin were to annex Ukraine, he would have a combat-seasoned military and a revived military industrial base, contributing to his unabated revivalism. The Institute for the Study of War says this would require deploying a significant portion of U.S. ground forces to Eastern Europe, stationing large numbers of stealth aircraft in Europe, and making decisions on whether to protect Taiwan or other Asian allies. He said he would be forced to make “terrible choices.” Deter or defeat a Russian attack on a NATO member state.
Sweden’s prime minister warned Swedes (in the words of the Financial Times) to “prepare mentally for war.” Denmark’s defense minister said last week that “we cannot rule out the possibility that Russia will test Article 5 and NATO cohesion within three to five years.” Article 5 requires NATO to treat an attack against one member state as an attack against all. It’s what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calls “the effort that sustained the longest major conflict drought in human history.”
Ukraine’s survival, and possibly preventing war in the Baltics and Taiwan Strait, will depend on Prime Minister Johnson’s desire and ability to prevent House Republicans from forcing Ukraine’s surrender, both of which may not exist. . Mr. Johnson became chairman in order to temporarily stop the Republican chaos that could flare up again. He could be overthrown by a large minority in the caucus who would prefer to be tied to Mr. Trump, whose sentiments toward NATO are less passionate than Mr. Putin.
To rally a reluctant public to persist in even low-cost foreign ventures, President Franklin D. Roosevelt relied primarily on isolationist What is needed is the kind of persistent presidential rhetoric that he used to persuade the public.Today’s sad and faded president is incapable of performing this typical presidential function. to support his own beliefs and policies.
The United States, whose sympathies had shrunk to the point of no use in preserving Ukrainian heroism, would much rather the world had exhausted its supply of mean surprises. This America is unprepared for a future that resembles the past.