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The Fall of Avdiivka: US and NATO Should Be Ashamed

Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 7:19 PM
Written by Anthony L. Hall

Suddenly Trump has Congress competing with NATO to frustrate Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia’s genocidal onslaught.Congress dithers while Ukraine falls

This week, Republicans set yet another precedent for congressional shame and dysfunction. With one gesture, they shocked NATO and pleased Russia in equal measure. Members skipped town for a two-week vacation, not bothering to vote on, much less pass, a critical aid bill.

The House of Representatives has broken up for its winter recess without voting on the $95bn aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan passed by the Senate.

The Senate stayed in session last weekend to ensure the bill passed but House Republicans have expressed opposition over its failure to include provisions to address illegal immigration at the US southern border with Mexico, a subject they are incensed about and which inspired them to impeach homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this week.

(The Independent, February 16, 2024)

cartoon of Speaker Johnson on beach vacation after failing to pass aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

Then, as if on cue, Russia celebrated gaining territory in Ukraine for the first time in nearly a year. 

Ukraine ordered the complete withdrawal from the decimated city of Avdiivka before dawn on Saturday, surrendering a position that had been a military stronghold for the better part of a decade, in the face of withering Russian assault.

(The New York Times, February 17, 2024)

Do-nothing Congress helping Russia

Yet, it’s hardly surprising that these Republicans are letting Russia have its way with Ukraine. After all, they are only doing the bidding of their cult leader, former President Donald Trump.

And Trump shocked NATO even more than they did, warning this week that he would encourage Russia to have its way with any member that does not “pay its dues.”

In short, MAGA Republicans seem hell-bent on seeing Biden age 10 years and Ukraine bombed to smithereens before sending the bill at issue for him to sign.

bombed out building in Ukraine with image of Zelensky at Munich Security Conference and Biden in Oval Office inset.

NATO is even more to blame 

Unbelievably, in terms of shame and dysfunction, NATO has aped Congress. And, remarkably, no NATO leader bears more blame than US President Joe Biden.

I’ve been decrying NATO’s dithering from day one. But titles to only four of my commentaries should explain why NATO leaders have Ukraine in this untenable position. Because it is having to depend on Putin fanboys in Congress to fend off Russia’s genocidal onslaught.

  1. “NATO Farce Over Polish Jets to Ukraine Undermining Article 5″ on March 9, 2022
  2. “Biden’s Dithering Over Sending Weapons to Ukraine Will Be the Biggest Blunder of the War” on December 14, 2022
  3. “NATO Infighting Over Sending Tanks to Ukraine” January 24, 2023
  4. “Biden’s ‘Slow Yes’ for Weapons Doomed Ukraine to a Stalemate with Russia” on December 28, 2023

So, here we are, nearly two years into this war, and Ukraine is still unable to match Russia’s firepower. And that’s despite the US organizing more than 50 rich countries to supply arms to Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, sanctioned Russia has been relying on supplies from equally sanctioned allies, namely North Korea and Iran. So, even sans US leadership, Ukraine’s EU neighbors should’ve been able to ramp up arms production to outmatch Russia’s firepower 3 to 1.

Instead, the lack of weapons and ammunition is forcing Ukrainians to retreat from Avdiivka today. But they will be forced to do so from other Ukrainian villages in the weeks to come.

Frankly, this retreat is a tragic farce. And it should cause Europeans to hold their democratic values cheap for allowing the lack of weapons and ammunition to doom Ukraine’s frontline defense of democracy.

Ukrainians are understandably dismayed. Moreover, I reiterate my contention that they will end up resenting the Americans, for their Chinese-water-torture method of supplying weapons, almost as much as they will end up hating the Russians, for their genocidal invasion. 

At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bemoaned the ‘artificial weapons shortage’ as he made another despairing plea for more firepower. He also hinted at simmering resentment among Ukrainians:  

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the West to swiftly and decisively aid Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion while taking an apparent swipe at Congress for its continued stalemate over foreign assistance.

‘First, we all must do not something, but everything possible to defeat the aggressor,’ Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. ‘Please, everyone remember that dictators do not go on vacation.’

(USA Today, February 17, 2024)

Except that Congress is on vacation because, as far as Republicans are concerned, the fall of Avdiivk means this war is finally going to plan. That’s how far Trump has led Republicans astray when it comes to fighting autocracies and supporting democracies.