Thinking Hard About Ukraine War and Peace: One Year Out
WASHINGTON -- "Slava Ukraini" is heard in the halls and streets here, especially when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a ringing speech to Congress before Christmas. That was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's crowning act before she gave up the gavel.
President Joe Biden loves trains so much he took one across Ukraine -- for 10 hours -- to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy, like British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, conquered the task before him: winning over the American government and people to help his country battle an aggressor.
Serious money and advanced arms are going to the fight against Russia. After meeting the scrappy leader in person, Biden announced that 31 Abrams tanks will equip and bolster Ukraine's soldiers.
The Metropolitan Opera just gave a concert at the year mark of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Let's get sobered up and skeptical at this strategic point. Clearly, Ukraine's independence must prevail.
But the official all-out American policy, "We're in it as long as it takes," also says the war is not worth risking our own soldiers. We'll just pay the bills.
What we have is tragic bloodshed, broken cities and bombed farmland. This is a home game for Ukraine, the breadbasket of the world. Soon the global economy will pay a high price.
Is it time for the United States, proud of its revived leadership of NATO for a noble stand, to cut a path to peace negotiations?
Everybody loves a good war.
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Copyright 2023 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
