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.
