
<p>With all the election and Trump news, is anyone paying attention to the War in Ukraine – what the United States is doing, or not doing?</p>



<p>America has done a lot for Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia, to be sure – but maybe not enough. ; That could also be said for several other nations in NATO and the European Union.</p>



<p>While we have sent a lot of military equipment and human relief goods, it always seems to be too little, too late – such as the longer-range missile batteries. ; Some things we have refused – such as declaring a no-fly zone or providing the Jet fighters currently in Poland. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;</p>



<p>We have denied Ukraine-specific intelligence that can pinpoint potential targets – although we will confirm the existence of targets. ; We will not provide the critical co-ordinates. ; Some say we are providing the co-ordinates, but not admitting to it.</p>



<p>One of the conditions America has placed on some of the longer-range weapons is that they are not to be fired into Russia. ; Really? ; How can one expect to win a war if you are not allowed to take out key military installations – such as weapon locations and supply dumps?</p>



<p>As Winter approaches, Putin’s army is engaging in prima facie war crimes by targeting energy facilities with the overt purpose of denying the civilian population essential heat. ; This is premeditated mass murder. ; Even as this outrange escalates, the United States is not responding … not increasing support of Ukraine … not taking actions against Russia. ; There are no new sanctions – and certainly no improved military response. ; ;</p>



<p>It is not even clear if the West is increasing a humanitarian response to mitigate the impact of Putin’s incessant bombing of civilian targets. ; There is a shortage of doctors and field medical facilities.</p>



<p>We may have seen one change of policy. ; Ukraine forces have attacked military targets inside Russia – in one case, a storage depot just two miles outside of Moscow. ; Some interpret this as meaning that the United States has given a wink-of-the-eye approval to attack Mother Russia. ; Officially, we do not approve.</p>



<p>There is no reason we should be coy about that. In fact, we should provide the supplies and encouragement to attacks inside Russia more often – to take out as much of Putin’s military infrastructure, resources, and equipment as possible. ; The strategy should be to cut off the supply lines to the Russian troops in Ukraine.</p>



<p>Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin had the best answer to when the War in Ukraine ends. ; She said, “When there are no more Russian troops in Ukraine.” ; (A pretty bold statement from a nation awaiting final approval of its NATO application.)  ; Anything short of that – such as a negotiated settlement that some in Washington are proposing – is a victory for Putin … period.</p>



<p>If there is to be a real Ukrainian victory, then the West – led by the United States – should be providing more than so-called defensive weapons.  ; The Ukrainian military should be equipped with whatever they need to bring the War to Russian soil. ; We should provide all the necessary target intelligence and the equipment to attack every military resource currently feeding the Russian invasion.</p>



<p>And as a sideshow, we should pressure Iran to cease supplying drones and technicians to bomb those civilian targets. ; ;</p>



<p>Yes, I know Putin will again rattle the nuclear saber – using limited tactical nuclear weapons. ; He should be told with steely eyes that NATO has far more nuclear ability than Russia – and will use It in response. ; That message should be sent to China and North Korea – encouraging them to put pressure on Putin.</p>



<p>Even if nuclear weapons were used, there would no Third World War nuclear Armageddon. ; As insane as Putin may be, those surrounding him would not allow it. ; As in the United States, the President does not have a button or a single order that launches the atomic arsenal. ; It goes through a complicated chain-of-command in which an order from the top can be aborted. ; It is time we stop being intimidated by Putin’s bluster and get on with winning the War.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

What is going on in Ukraine?
