As I awake each morning, I pick up an iPad and go to Google News. I look for news about Putin’s war in Ukraine. I hope for a miracle and an end to the bombing. My fear is that the war has expanded. I dread the possibility of a report that a nuclear or biological weapon has been used or that somehow the U.S. has shot down a Russian aircraft or vice versa.
The war is now entering a crucial stage. Kyiv is surrounded. Russia has begun bombing military bases in Western Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainians flee the country every day. And Putin is getting more desperate. The sanctions are working. The Russian economy is grinding to a halt. The assets of Russian oligarchs are being seized. Political rhetoric is becoming more reckless.
There is a lot to cause us worry. Speculation that Putin is insane continues. Amateur historians look to history to predict what Putin might do next. Nobody suggests that the Russian dictator will admit he made a mistake, apologize, and go home. To the contrary, experts suggest that Putin desperately needs to “win” quickly and may be willing to kill thousands more people to do so.
Amid the confusion about what Putin will do, we see political discord at home. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recommended assassination. Mitt Romney (R-UT) urged President Biden to give Ukraine the MIG-29s it wants from Poland. Should this “advice” be given in press conferences and on twitter?
U.S. public opinion is solidly behind Ukraine, but against the type of military commitment that may be necessary to prevent Russia from murdering President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and installing a puppet in his place. I sense that the public just wants the war to be over and for things to return to normal.
I share that desire but know it is unrealistic. I fear that things will never return to what I regard as normal. The sheer brutality of the war has shattered my image of a world that had put world wars behind it. I fear that if Putin wins, he will inspire other dictators to turn to military force to build their empires or achieve other goals. China and Taiwan come to mind. If the U.S. was not willing to engage directly with Russia, how likely is a military response to a Chinese invasion, especially if the war in Ukraine has not ended?
I am troubled that an “end game” has not yet become clear. I am more troubled by the fact that any end to the war that includes Ukraine surviving as an independent country is rapidly becoming inconceivable. I hope I am wrong.
So, what should the U.S. do? For now, we are doing the right thing by not engaging Russia directly. Biden is right in telling us that imposing a “no-fly” zone over Ukraine, an area the size of Texas, would ignite World War III. He is also right in forcefully stipulating that the U.S. and NATO will respond militarily to any Russian attack on any NATO country. Biden, and Congress, are also right to offer arms and other military assistance (short of a troop commitment) to Ukraine in the hopes that Russia will somehow be forced to abandon its dream of reincorporating Ukraine as part of Russia.
America does not want another war. That is why I am troubled by those who criticize Biden for not having a more forceful response to Putin.
In endorsing current Biden/U.S. policy, I am not endorsing Russia’s war. Instead, I wish the worst for Russia. My heart goes out to Ukraine and its people. They are caught in the middle of the dilemma of a world that abhors Putin’s aggression and fears another world war.
This war is an ugly situation that is likely to get worse. The world needs a miracle. I pray we get one.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and other subjects.
Charles Barranco says
Mr Dean,
Thank You for your compassionate analysis of this desperate situation in Ukraine.
Nobody wants another war, but are we to watch Putin take Ukraine and then take country after country.
Where does it stop, does the US and NATO continue to sit on the sidelines. Putin will gain confidence everyday that the US et al, allows him to bomb continuously and indiscriminately.
The World knows the outcome, it’s a repeat performance of Stalin and Hitler.
Eventually Putin must be stopped;
Why Not Now!
I too fear China’s move on Taiwan. Will our troops in Japan, Korea, Okinawa and rest of the Pacific be ordered to watch?
The US and NATO must show strength and force Now!
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment which should be part of the conversation. I share your frustration over the U.S. and NATO not doing more to stop Putin now, but believe President Biden is right to not engage in actions that might trigger a world war.
The war is now three weeks old. There are signs that Russia does not have the resources to continue the war indefinitely. I am hopeful that Putin might see the invasion as a mistake and sit down for negotiations. This war might be stopped without the U.S. involvement in direct combat.
I recognize we are on different pages here, but I believe Biden and the NATO allies are acting on intelligence that supports the current approach. If circumstances change, such as Putin using biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, I believe the west will respond forcefully.
Brian Wroten says
Calling a “No Fly Zone” will NOT result in WWIII. This is the myth of the “automatic” war used by Kruschev. Calling a “No Fly Zone” will result in Russia not flying planes it can’t afford to lose and less innocent Ukranians being murdered. Russia already can’t control the air with the anti-air the US openly provides to the Ukrainians. If Putin, was really gonna let nukes fly he should have already done so over that – not over the academic distinction of whom is enforcing a “no fly zone”.
“America does not want another war.” This is liberal “westernsplaining”. Do you think Ukraine asked for this war and that’s why they have it? This conflict has been manufactured 100% by Putin from day 1 and NATO and the west are abdicating security to Europe.
The reason I’m passionate about this is because liberals need to seriously go to a yoga class or something and find their inner self because this panicking about WWIII is giving Putin the fealty he requires to carry out genocide level war crimes on Ukrainians.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. Despite your recommendation that I go to a yoga class “or something” to find my inner self, I appreciate your comment.
I suspect you are not familiar with the difficulties associated with establishing a “no-fly” zone in Ukraine. The country is the size of Texas. A no-fly zone entails eliminating ground radar prior to starting to patrol the sky. This would entail airstrikes inside Russia. Experts suggest that more than 2,000 aircraft would be necessary to patrol the skies, including tankers that could be easy targets for the Russians. Also, Russia can easily launch missile attacks from outside Ukrainian airspace–this means that the “no-fly zone” would not be the solution you may think it is.
I share your frustration over not doing more to stop Putin’s war, but disagree with you that the U.S. should risk igniting a world war to do so. We would not have the support of our NATO allies. Also, if you agree that Putin is mentally deranged, you should see the risk of a nuclear attack by Russia as a real possibility.