The Biden administration’s latest sanctions and criminal charges against Russia for election interference are déjà vu all over again. Since 2016, the US has been slapping Russia with sanctions like a drunk at a piñata party — wildly swinging, hoping to hit something. Yet, the Russians are still at it, manipulating US public opinion to… Read more.
Ukraine
EU’s Shameful Failure to Fully Arm Ukraine
Failure of US leadership The US Congress has dithered and reveled in dysfunction for months, delaying a crucial national security bill. This, even though members knew each day’s delay was costing an increasingly defenseless Ukraine dearly in both blood and treasure. US allies and enemies alike watched in utter stupefaction: Democratic allies expressed shock and dismay — as US politicians displayed… Read more.
Kyiv Mayor Klitschko Banking on Trump Saving Ukraine
Klitschko’s antic pitch to a reelected Trump Ukraine is bracing for Russia to make a second attempt to take Kyiv. Hence, Zelensky’s desperate SOS to the US: cut the political dithering and deliver the long-promised weapons. For months, Ukraine has been bemoaning the failure of its US-led allies to supply weapons. This key factor has caused its forces to abandon villages in retreat. And all… Read more.
Biden Slams Trump’s Threat Against NATO as ‘Dumb’ and ‘Un-American’
Trump threatens NATO members Donald Trump’s norm-busting behavior has redefined the term “unprecedented.” Indeed, he has given political reporters and pundits cause to toss that term around like confetti at a New Year’s Eve bash. Case in point is the unprecedented way Trump threatened he would encourage Russia to have its way with NATO members who “do not pay… Read more.
Carlson Interviewing Putin Shows That Trump Has Normalized Treason
Carlson interviewing Putin reflects the new (Trumpian) norm Alas, we live in an America that now blithely tolerates treason. Only that explains American Tucker Carlson traveling to Moscow to interview America’s foreign enemy No. 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, has interviewed President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, the Kremlin… Read more.
Border Bill: Loyalty to Trump Has ‘Moderate’ Republicans Looking Like Dodo Birds
Loyalty to Trump is dooming border bill Republicans have shown time and again that they are willing to lose their own souls to gain favor with Donald Trump. So it’s hardly surprising that they are also willing to sacrifice border security and foreign alliances, NATO included. Remarkably, Republicans are more invested in passing a Trumpian loyalty test than in governing for the general welfare.… Read more.
Biden’s ‘Slow Yes’ for Weapons Doomed Ukraine to a Stalemate with Russia
Biden’s ‘slow yes’ helped Russia From the outset, US President Biden framed the war in Ukraine as a tectonic battle between autocracy and democracy. Yet, the US and NATO have been helping Ukraine, a democratic country, fight merely to survive rather than win. Last week, Time Magazine published a definitive update with this striking headline: “The Biden Administration’s… Read more.
Zelensky in Washington Seeking More US Aid. But Goes from Hero to Zero
Zelensky seeking more aid A year ago this month, President Volodymyr Zelensky came to Washington. He was seeking additional US aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s genocidal aggression. He addressed a Joint Session of Congress, where members hailed him as a hero. They viewed him as a beacon of democratic resilience. I duly commented on the Churchillian… Read more.
Happy Halloween, America! But Don’t Trick Ukraine to Treat Israel
Jews, God’s chosen people Speaker Mike Johnson is a Bible-thumping, scripture-quoting zealot. He thinks God ordained him to be House Speaker. And, like most MAGA Republicans, he wears his evangelical Christianity on his sleeve. I am the son of an evangelical preacher man. I know evangelicals believe God commanded them to convert and save the Jews, who… Read more.
Supporting Ukraine, Israel, and (the People of) Palestine? Yes We Can
Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine There is no contradiction or conflict in supporting Ukraine, Israel, and the people of Palestine at the same time. Just yesterday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin used an American idiom to make this point, declaring, “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.” Except that even Austin was only referring to… Read more.