Mr. Zelenskyy Goes to Washington (Via Zoom)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to Washington today via a Zoom connection from Kyiv. In a moment that only can be described as pure Churchillian he called upon the United States not only to supply his beleagered country with arms, but also to act like a great power. His video presentation showing the horrors of the Russian bombardment of Ukraine was reminiscent of the Joris Ivens 1937 film "The Spanish Earth" that was made in support of the Spanish Republican fight against fascism. To be sure, President Biden offered up a host of arms, but he remains understandably reluctant, but wrong, to put U.S. forces into the conflict.

There have been several suggestions short of a no-fly zone that can be done by the Administration if it only had the will. The first would be a limited no fly zone in western Ukraine that could be enfored by anti-aircraft missiles based in Poland and Romania. The second would be a humanitarian airlift flying in food and medical supplies to Kyiv, a move analagous to the 1948 Berlin Airlift. Remember in the 1990's President Clinton declared we wouldn't get involved in the Bosnian War until the horrific news coverage forced him to directly act militarily.

The most unfortunate thing about this whole episode is that it was totally predictable. Reprinted below, typos and all, is my blog posted on May 7, 2014.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Reliving the 1930s

According to aphorism attributed to Mark Twain, “history does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.” I am afraid our generation is reliving some of the horrible experiences of the 1930s. The Great Recession of 2008-09 was our version of the Great Depression. The recent experience certainly was not as bad, but after many decades of plenty, it certainly felt that way.

As the 1930s progressed concerns shifted from the still depressed economy to the rise of fascism and a series of foreign policy crises in Europe and Asia. Instead of Hitler fascism we are now witnessing the rise of Vlad, “The Impaler,” Putin’s version of it. In the 1930s Germany was the revisionist power seeking to undo the strictures of the post- world War One settlements. Today Putin is attempting to revise the post-Cold War settlement established from 1991-1994. His seizure of the Crimea and his attempts to further dismember Ukraine are part and parcel with his strategy to restore the past greatness of Russia. Just like Hitler, he is succeeding.

Why? The West is doing its best to rhyme the failed policies of the 1930s of vacillation and appeasement. Both the United States and Europe want the world go away so they can hide in cocoon of isolation. This is true of factions of both the left and the right of the political spectrum. Unfortunately this policy is a luxury we cannot afford. To paraphrase the Russian revolutionary Trotsky, the U.S. and Europe might not be interested in the world, but the world is interested in them.

Instead of making speeches, our vacillating President should act by imposing real sanctions on Russia, providing direct military aid to the Ukrainian government, increasing rather than decreasing the military budget, moving NATO forces into the front line states on a more permanent basis and take the energy infrastructure steps necessary to wean Europe off of Russian gas. Will President Obama act? The stakes are high!