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Why Congress Must Provide New Aid to Ukraine. 1/ THREAD
There are many realpolitik arguments for continued aid to Ukraine. Real realists understand that U.S. military assistance to Ukraine directly serves our own national security interests.
There are many realpolitik arguments for continued aid to Ukraine. Real realists understand that U.S. military assistance to Ukraine directly serves our own national security interests.
First, Putin’s Russia threatens our NATO allies’ security in Europe. By fighting, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are weakening the Russian military threat every day. 2/
Ukrainians are fighting the Russian invaders today so that Poles, Estonians, and Americans do not have to do so tomorrow. 3/
This cold-hearted realism does not offend Ukrainians. In Kyiv last month, I heard many senior Ukrainian officials say that they understand that their warriors are doing the dirty work for us. & all they ask for is more and better weapons. Not our soldiers; just our ammunition. 4/
Second, some Republican elected officials argue that we need to focus on the China threat, not the Russia threat. This is a false dichotomy. Putin’s defeat in Ukraine will compel Xi Jinping to think harder about invading Taiwan. Putin’s victory in Ukraine will embolden Xi. 5/
Our withdrawal from Ukraine will confirm Xi’s assessment of the U.S. as an isolationist, weak, and declining power unprepared to deter an invasion of Taiwan. That is exactly the wrong message to be sending to Beijing right now. 6/
Third, after World War II, imperialism and annexation rightfully became taboos. If we allow Putin to annex and control Ukrainian territory through military conquest, we will be opening a Pandora’s box of anarchy. 7/
This could not be further away from serving U.S. security interests. If annexation and imperialism return as standard practices in international affairs, the U.S. will constantly be pulled into wars and conflicts like we were before 1945. 8/
After World War I, some Americans argued that wars in Asia, Africa, and Europe were not our problem. Japan’s invasion of China – not our problem. Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia – not our problem. 9/
Germany’s (and the Soviet Union’s) invasion of Poland and then other countries – not our problem. Back then, leaders of the America First Committee believed that we could stick our heads in the sand, and everything would be fine. 10/
That strategy did not work out so well back then. It will not work out well today either. 11/ END
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