The Ukrainians, for now, have stopped the Russians. They have done a much better job than I, or, for that matter, a bunch of better-connected experts, believed possible.

Putin, however, is still president of Russia. He is angry and hurt that a less powerful nation knocked the socks off his nuclear power, one of the largest armies in the world nation. He needs a face saving way out of the mess he has made. Barring the remote, but still possible Russian coup, there are few possible face saving events that would stop the bloodshed in the Ukraine and leave Putin looking like a hero to his people. According to the experts, while keeping in mind that the experts have been mostly wrong about the war so far, is that Putin is about to turn his canons onto Eastern Ukraine and try to bomb it into submission. So more war, more bloodshed for the Ukrainians because Putin needs to look like a winner even though he is a loser.

What to do? The whole world, including Putin’s nominal allies in Belarus and China, now know him to be a liar and a loser and just all around asshole. The world knows the Ukrainians won the war. Well, not everyone. The Russians who have not been exposed to western media probably don’t know the Ukrainians have won the war. If the war continues, there is no guarantee that the Russians will perform any better than they have to date. Perhaps Putin could be persuaded that to save his nation any further humiliation, the world will let him claim victory as long as he stays within his borders. Since, at this point, the Russians are the only people who need to be convinced Putin is the winner, can’t we all agree to just tell the Russians they have won the war.

Now, before you get all grumpy about this, give me a hearing.

Even though the Ukrainians have beaten the Russians soundly, they have been bloodied by the war. It would be better if the war was over. The world outside of Russia knows the truth, only the Russians would be kept in the dark. Let’s face it, the Russians are used to being lied to by their government. It is nothing new. The wise ones would figure it out, and the rest would think Putin is a winner and that’s all that matters. Putin can even say he has decided to be magnanimous with the Ukrainians by allowing them to keep their government. Putin saves face. The Ukrainians can start rebuilding their war torn country. The refugees could return. The war would be over.

It would take some co-ordination but I think the citizens of the world could agree to this little white lie to save the Ukrainians any further suffering.

President Zelensky says Putin is bluffing about using nuclear weapons. This means we can give the Ukraine more weapons without worrying about it. Except I do worry about it.

The 24/7 news coverage of the war seems to be leading us to intervention on behalf of the Ukrainians. As far as I am concerned, the Western World has one overarching goal — to avoid World War III. Everything else is secondary. Calling Putin’s bluff in this case could be suicidal.

This was my opinion when the war started. Now I seem less sure of what I think. The Russians have inflicted terrible suffering upon the Ukrainians. I feel guilty for just standing by and watching them get massacred. It’s like watching a little old lady getting beat up by a street gang. Other than cheering her on from the sidelines, I am doing absolutely nothing as I see the gang destroying her house. I should be doing something, right? The nightly news is giving me all the evidence I need to jump in and help the little old lady.

Perhaps if the nightly news showed the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I would have a different perspective about what to do. The news is very now. This is going on now. Watch these horrible events. And I do. These Ukraine stories are wringing me out. Every night I end up in tears because I feel so terrible for the Ukrainians. But is it leading me to make a rational decision what to do about the war.

Here is my problem. Rationally, I know I shouldn’t decide something so important as going to war based on sad or moving stories. There are a lot of sad stories in this world, billions I am sure of it. Why is this war so important to risk World War III? After all, there are other wars going on right now with similar stories. There are other disasters with their own victims and their own sad stories. Those people need help too. Why is every news outlet focused on the sad stories emanating from this war and not the other stories?

There is no question in my mind Putin was wrong to invade the Ukraine. He is a menace the the world. He has repeatedly lied about his intentions. When he invaded, he gave a crazy ass reason for invading. And, most importantly, seems willing to kill innocent women and children to win this war. He deserves to lose this war. The problem with Putin is he has nuclear weapons which he could launch leading to a disaster consequences to the entire world.

The Ukrainians, on the other hand, deserve to win this war. They were invaded because they have the misfortune of bordering Russia. Their president has galvanized the Ukrainian people to fight this war and the world community to provide limited support for their cause. The Ukrainians bravery under these terrible circumstances is inspiring. I want the Ukrainians crush their Russian invaders. But is it worth worldwide destruction to do so?

A nuclear war is the worst possible outcome for everyone including the Ukrainians themselves. The whole world loses if there is a nuclear war. No one knows what is going to set off Putin. He is dangerous, angry at the world and perhaps unstable. Since avoiding nuclear war is our number one mission, why I am so confused? The right thing to do is there, coldly staring me in the face. Stay out of this war.

Except. Except the Ukrainians are doing surprising well and could possibly fight the Russians to a stalemate. Which could mean a much better resolution for the Ukrainians and destroy Putin’s power in Russia in the process. He has wrecked the Russian economy for an avoidable war. I am betting that the average Russian doesn’t give two shits about the Ukraine and certainly don’t appreciate becoming a world pariah so Putin can bring back the Ukraine into the Russian fold. The Russian movers and shakers might view an endless war with the Ukraine as a good reason to change Russian leadership and then perhaps a better resolution to the war could be found for the Ukrainians. It looks possible. If the Ukrainians are willing to fight, I will cheer them on but I am afraid that is the extent of the support I would be willing to give.

In the meantime, Ukrainian cities are getting bombed and bloodied. Millions of Ukrainians are fleeing their country to avoid the war. Is it really right to encourage the Ukrainians to continue fighting such a destructive war if we really have no intention of giving military assistance they need to win. And, let’s face it, the Western public, if not their governments, is encouraging the Ukrainians to fight. The Ukraine is crawling with media who are bringing their story to the Western public. The Ukrainians know their stories are reaching the West because they hear the support coming back to them every night from journalist telling them how inspiring their struggle is for the West. They know that the British Parliament gave President Zelensky a standing ovation for his rousing speech.

But what we see as great television, the Ukrainians might see as hope. Hope that we will change our minds and give more substantial military aid. When I see some Ukrainians on television, I get this sense that there is an exhaustion with explaining their situation day after day and nothing really happening in regards to military help. They are thinking what is wrong with you people. You say that we inspire you, yet you sit idly by as our world is blasted apart. When are you going to stop asking question and give us the help we need to turn back the Russians.

This passive encouragement is wrong. The Western press and the Western public are misleading the Ukrainian people with their reactions to the Ukrainians plight. We need to let them know that no matter how inspiring their stories are, no one is coming to rescue them. I wish I knew how to stop it. How do you stop encouraging people to fight a just war?

So far Western governments have behaved well and with restraint. They have done the absolute maximum they can do without sending Putin over the edge to nuclear war. That the Ukrainians want us to do more might make sense to them. They are in a desperate struggle. I am afraid we will have to live with seeing the terrible things happening in the Ukraine. We will have to get used to doing nothing as good people are killed and their homes destroyed. But let’s not be guilted into fighting a nuclear war. Nuclear war isn’t going to help anyone.

I don’t think the USA will be drug into a wider war if Russia invades the Ukraine but it is worrisome. I can’t help thinking here we go again — another war. It seems the last thing that can garner some partisan agreement is war. Have a war when things go to shit. Why do Americans have to stick our noses into every quarrel in the world? We almost always screw it up. Nobody likes us afterwards because we screwed it up. And we pay an enormous amount in both lives and money for screwing it up.

Can we just agree not to stumble into another war. I mean if everything goes right and Putin backs down, won’t we have to station troops in the Ukraine to make sure the agreement sticks? More resources redirected to another country. More American lives on the line. For how long? That is a lousy ending as far as I am concerned.

People will say that as the country with the strongest military in the Western World, we somehow are obligated to rescue every country in trouble. I ask — why is that? Because we don’t want China or Russia taking on this bigger role of the world’s policeman. Why not? Being the policeman of the Western World has only been a burden to us and, if you forget World War II, mostly a failure and certainly a lot of money down the toilet. Let the Chinese and Russians drain their resources in a hopeless task for a while and see how they like it.

The Ukrainian people deserve our support in dealing with a bully neighbor. This one hurts. Of course, they do. They do. I know it but I just don’t have the energy for another war. Russia and the Ukraine are next door neighbors. The USA is thousands of miles away. Can some other country take the lead? Europe for instance. Wasn’t that the whole idea behind big Europe in the first place. A united Europe could take on a more significant role in the world. Take it. It is all yours.

All I know is take this cup from me.