Freedom-lovers all around the world are hoping that tonight President Biden will reverse his previous floundering efforts in foreign policy and announce a substantial support package for the brave Ukrainians. Ukrainians, like their forbears in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania before them, have revolted against Russian totalitarianism. Our President has the opportunity to show he is a President of whom freedom-loving Americans can be proud. He needs to stand up tall and place the full panoply of American capabilities at the disposal of those who are sacrificing their lives and fortunes by defending their country against Russian expansionism through military force. Moreover, he needs to do it tonight at the traditional State of the Union speech to both Houses of Congress.
His recent behavior doesn’t suggest that he will do that. But that is what he needs to do at a time when it counts! A strong statement backed up with immediate and substantial movement of military supplies and civilian goods to feed, clothe and heal the wounded is called for. The already-invaded economy of the Ukraine needs help now, not the promise of sanctions that may help, if at all, only after their emergency has passed.
American foreign policy, particularly regarding the twin threats from China and Russia, has looked weak and flailing. Under this President, real deterrence has not been in play. Deterrence begins with positive displays of meaningful action which our enemies need to worry about. This is not a time to cater to the prevalent view of “no more foreign wars.” The Ukrainians have demonstrated that they are willing to fight and die for their country. We must immediately supply them for their struggle. This illegal attempt to take over a free country by military force is exactly what we must resist with substantive actions. The Free World cannot afford any further delay by America in meaningful support for the Ukraine.
Totalitarian countries watch what we do, not what we say. They formulate their own strategies by estimating how we will respond. A flaccid response by the USA is an open invitation by Putin and Ji pin to-implement their own aggressive policies with military means now and in the future.
This is nothing new. Have we learned nothing from the history leading up to WWII? Have we no guidance from our struggles during the Cold War? Didn’t the confrontation with the
Khrushchev-led Soviet Union with Missiles in Cuba in 1962 teach us anything? A Putin-led Russia wishes to similarly assert its world presence by demonstrated military power coupled with a nuclear threat precisely because our leadership has been a blither of words lacking forceful actions. This is the time, Mr. President, to “walk the walk.” Americans of all political persuasions know this. Your prestige hangs on your actions, not your speech, and so does the prestige of our country. As Benjamin Franklin once said at that critical moment of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
Mr. President: Don’t denigrate our traditions of defending freedom by talking brave but doing little. Now is not the time for the “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot.” Now is the time to be the Leader of free peoples everywhere and of those who yearn still to be Free.
The Whole World is Watching!