After 8 years of arming and training Ukraine’s army and air force, spending billions of tax payer dollars, the United States no longer has a viable strategy to defeat the Russian forces and compel Vladimir Putin to accept a humiliating defeat. Yes, the US and NATO are pouring a large amount of HIMARS, Army Tactical Missile Systems (aks ATACMS), tanks, vehicles and aircraft into the fight, but this is only prolonging the inevitable surrender of Ukraine. Worse, it is poisoning any chance of restoring normal relations with Russia.
Readers younger than fifty have little or no memory of the Cold War. During the 45 year period after World War II (1945-1990), the United States and the Soviet Union fought each other in proxy wars–Vietnam, Angola, Nicaragua and Afghanistan were major battlegrounds. Yet, despite the fighting and spying by each side in their respective efforts to subvert the other, the United States and the Soviet Union kept diplomatic channels open and succeeded in reaching critical nuclear weapons disarmament treaties. Both sides realized that a nuclear war would be a nightmare neither was likely to survive.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States took a victory lap. But instead of promoting policies to help restore the Russian economy, western entrepreneurs, with the willing help of Russian oligarchs, succumbed to greed and tried to loot Russia of its critical oil, gas and mineral deposits. A number of American capitalists and politicians made money off of that. Russia was still a nuclear power, but western leaders calculated they could bully Moscow without fear of retribution.
Throughout the period from 1990 to February 24, 2022, there were still people in the Russian political leadership who believed that negotiations with the United States and Europe was a viable option. That is no longer the case. Whether the United States and Europe want to believe it, the Russian leaders and people now believe that the west poses an existential threat to them and they will do what is necessary to defend themselves and survive.
I am old enough to remember a time when the freedom of the press and freedom of speech set the United States apart as a special place. American culture and economic prowess was something that many in Russia and the rest of the world envied. But that was then.
When foreigners now consider the state of America they see something radically different. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are now under regular, sustained attack directed at Christians and conservatives. I remember when the Soviets labeled dissidents as terrorists. Now, America’s own Department of Justice is doing the same to parents opposed to critical race theory and outraged over their daughters being asked to shower with males who claim they are female. Many US citizens who entered the Capitol on January 6th at the invitation of US Capitol Police, were arrested and incarcerated without charges being brought. A clear violation of the 6th Amendment of the US Constitution:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Many of those arrested are being held without access to legal counsel for more than a year. That is not speedy. But the Biden Administration justifies this because it labels these citizens as “terrorists” and “insurrectionists.” In the aftermath of 9-11, the American public has been anesthetized to ignore the Constitution in order to punish terrorists.
American culture is now awash with filth. Child pornography, pedophilia and transgenderism is being touted as normal. Anyone who dares challenge these things as abnormal are tagged as racists and hatemongers. Comedians like Dave Chappelle are attacked physically and verbally for daring to ridicule a testosterone laden man who insists he is a woman that can get pregnant and have a menstrual cycle. Most people in the world, not just Russians, see this and can only conclude that the United States is in the grip of mass psychosis.
In the aftermath of the horrors of World War II, the United States eschewed exterminating its enemies–Germany and Japan–and helped rebuild those societies. Let me posit a hypothetical. Let’s suppose that Ukraine, through some miracle, defeats Russia and retakes all of the territory in Ukraine. Do you think that the Biden Administration or the people of the United States would be willing to treat a defeated Russia as it did Japan? I do not think so.
And that is the point. The Russians do not think so either. The previous perception of America as a potentially benevolent partner is dead. Kaput. When Russia secures its victory in Ukraine–regardless of how much time and bloodshed is required to achieve that end–it will be committed to building global relations that exclude the United States. The era of the United States as the supreme military and economic power in the world is over.
I am an American patriot. I love this country and what it is supposed to stand for. But the actions of the Biden Administration are weakening dramatically the US economy and military. The weapon systems that are flooding into Ukraine are being destroyed by Russia or sold on the black market by Ukrainian profiteers. I fear that when the war in Ukraine is settled that the United States will have burnt all bridges that could have led to a reconciliation with Russia. I hope I am wrong.
Reprinted with permission from A Son of the American Revolution.
