
<p>The Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to have split America – and Europe – along a horizontal (bipartisan) axis instead of the usual vertical (partisan) axis. ; There seems to be both Republican and Democrat – conservative and progressive – voices that oppose America’s intervention in the war in Ukraine and others of both sides who support it.</p>



<p>FOX News’ Tucker Carlson is the personification of the “no involvement” position. ; He questioned what Russian Madman Putin had done to him personally. ; That is a ridiculous argument. ; Others fear that were America to push back at Russia, it would trigger a nuclear war. ; And others see no national security issues for the United States. ; ;</p>



<p>Taking those arguments in that order, I would suggest that Carlson’s is just too stupid to even debate. ; There were Jews in America who could have said the same thing about Hitler. ; What was he doing to them personally? ; Put another way … why should I worry about fighting drug gangs in the inner cities. ; They have not done anything to me personally. ; Tucker’s argument is just absurd.</p>



<p>The concern about triggering a nuclear war is more valid – but should even that preclude driving Putin back to his Kremlin bunker? ; Would he really use nuclear weapons? ; His threats may be a bluff.</p>



<p>If we were to accept his threats and not respond in a meaningful way, Putin is free to continue to invade and conquer – having only to endure harsh words and ineffective sanctions. ; Sanctions may make the Russian people suffer – and even those countries imposing the sanctions – but they do not make Putin suffer. ; And that is all that matters to him.</p>



<p>It has been the lack of a military confrontation that has enabled Putin to feel free to invade Georgia, crush the Chechens, defeat the insurgents in Syria, grab off the Crimea, and essentially create a separatist movement in the Donbas Region of Ukraine.</p>



<p>If the threat of using a nuclear weapon means no military response, then Putin can go after Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and … ; He has already demanded that NATO withdraw to the 1990s boundaries – removing from the Alliance all those nations that were once held captive under the banner of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.</p>



<p>Would Putin be so audacious? ; Go back a couple of years … and did anyone think he would invade Ukraine? ;  ; Every success will embolden Putin more … provide him with more resources … convince him that there are no real obstacles to the next invasion. ; Other nations may also succumb to Putin out of fear. ; That is how Genghis Kahn concurred his empire – brutally wipe out one village and accept the bloodless surrender of the next.</p>



<p>The world’s democracies simply cannot allow the threat of a nuclear strike to allow Putin to continue his maniacal ambitions of an ever-expanding Russian empire to continue.</p>



<p>Then there is the issue of American National security. ; The Carlson types see no American security issues. ; But they are just wrong. ; Every time an adversary takes over another piece of world real estate, they gain enormous natural resources. ; That is especially true of Ukraine. It is rightfully called the breadbasket of the world. ; Its wheat is exported throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. ; Control that much grain would give Putin another money-making export. ; He could weaponize food like he has weaponized oil. ; Ukraine also has a wealth of minerals. ; It is an important market for imports and exports. ; It is not only an ally of the United States, it is an asset.</p>



<p>It is also important to the strategic security of NATO – and ergo America. ; Right now Ukraine is a buffer state between Russia and the NATO alliance. ; If it should fall into Putin’s empire. The guns of Russia would be amassed at the border of NATO – the very portion of NATO that Putin covets.</p>



<p>The fall of Ukraine would also embolden America&#8217;s enemies throughout the world. ; Some argue that the surrender in Afghanistan has already emboldened the autocratic states – and play a role in Putin’s thinking regarding Ukraine.</p>



<p>And finally, there is the question of what good people do when confronted with evil – even if the good people that are confronted are not us personally or nationally. ; One of the most fundamental characteristics of the United States and the world’s democracies is they come to the aid of those innocents who are in need … are oppressed … or are suffering outrageous misfortune. ; We have shown that character in times of natural disasters … famines … plagues … and in times of war.</p>



<p>Too often in modern times, we have turned a blind eye and a cold heart to those in need. ; We have lost our spirit of Good Samaritanism.</p>



<p>I cannot imagine that the America I know and love would stand down as the murderer in Moscow kills innocent people by the tens of thousands – men, women and children. ; I cannot believe that America would say that as long as it is not our maternity hospital being bombed … or our schools … or our family, it is not our job to get involved. ; There is such a thing as moral responsibility.</p>



<p>If Putin is not stopped now &#8212; cold in his tracks – we will leave a far more dangerous world for our children and grandchildren. ; Tens of thousands of innocent people will die – and millions suffer.</p>



<p>We are paying the price today for the decisions in the past that did not stop Putin. ; It would be an obscenity to leave our children and grandchildren and an even more dangerous world.</p>



<p>What happens in Ukraine is very critical to both America’s and our allies’ security AND honor. ; Our internal enemy is acquiescence and appeasement.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Why America and allies need to fight for Ukraine
