QOTD -- Saving Ukraine

 

"... Mr. Zelensky’s decision to move now was surely made with an eye on the U.S. political calendar and worries that Ukraine will face pressure to negotiate with Russia after the November election, especially if Republican nominee Donald Trump wins. Mr. Trump’s continuing praise of Mr. Putin and his party’s reluctance this year about aid to Ukraine are worrisome signs of what they would do given more power.

"Mr. Zelensky might be thinking practically about how to save Ukraine regardless of who wins in November. If Ukraine manages to hold a sizable chunk of Russian territory, it could provide valuable leverage for a land-for-land trade in any future peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Ukraine is sending drones deep into Russian territory and might renew its request for permission to use longer-range U.S. missiles to target Russian air bases that have been used to stage the bombing of Ukrainian civilians.

"Ukraine has proved yet again its determination to resist Russian aggression despite long odds, discrediting those who argue its cause is unworthy or futile. The United States and Europe should give Ukraine all possible means to end the war in a position of strength and as a functioning, prosperous democracy aligned with the West." -- Washington Post editorial board, on Ukraine's continuing, successful incursion into the Kursk region of Russia.  There's little doubt what would happen should Putin puppet Malignant Loser win in November, just one more reason to make sure that doesn't come to pass. 

QOTD -- Appease Putin, Lose Freedom

 

"...Within months of my release, during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Putin invaded Ukraine. He could not tolerate the emergence of a vibrant, young democracy aligned with European values on his doorstep, so he attacked, seizing Crimea, backing separatists in Donbas and spreading lies, disinformation and confusion. The West’s woefully inadequate response meant that Putin thought he could get away with more and paved the way for the full-scale invasion of 2022.

"Putin must be defeated in Ukraine, or he will not stop there. Western powers have armed Ukraine just enough for it not to lose but not enough for it to win decisively. President Biden recognized the insufficiency of this approach when he announced a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine in October.

"When Congress stepped in to play politics with global security, delaying the aid package, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin was seeing his “dreams come true.” And Putin’s dream today will be the West’s nightmare tomorrow..." -- Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former head of Russian oil company Yukos, addressing the House Republican Putin caucus in an op/ ed in the Washington Post.  That collection of seditionists and coup participants has fled town, gathering its strength not for shoring up democracy here and in Ukraine, but in pursuing a bogus impeachment inquiry into President Biden at the behest of their demagogic cult leader. Because playing politics with our national security is all they can or want to do.