How in heaven’s name is it even remotely possible to say that a country led by a Jewish President (considered to be a hero to his countrymen and the entire civilized world); a country that has a chief rabbi; and a country that has a vibrant Jewish community is a Nazi state makes less sense than calling Russia a democracy.
Worldwide condemnation of Putin’s invasion was entirely predictable. Only someone who lacks any common sense at all would have not seen that coming. In a post WWII world that has been chastised by the unimaginable genocide of 6 million Jews, the massive additional deaths caused by the war itself; and two nuclear bombs that destroyed the entirety of two Japanese cities- pulverizing their inhabitants - the post WWII world civilized seemed to be enlightened to idea that one nation can no longer ethically attack another nation without provocation.
All of this argued against what Putin is doing now. As did what seemed to be the willingness of Russia to become integrated into the family of nations that includes the US. There was economic interaction with fellow European nations. The Russian standard of living improved as did their standing in the world.
It did not seem plausible that Putin would abandon all of that progress for the sake of restoring the FSU. Even though Putin had serious faults, it nevertheless did not seem likely that in today’s world – unprovoked - he would ever decide to to invade a neighboring country. Not to mention the certain casualties that any war causes. To both sides
Putin is an autocrat and no one in Russia can stop him. He is determined to achieve his goal regardless of what the rest of the civilized world thinks or does - or what it does to his own country.
Putin has placed his military on a high nuclear alert. That suggests the possibility of nuclear war. Not long ago, I would have called that a bluff. Nuclear war between the US and Russia would mean mutually assured destruction. But the last time I said he was bluffing I was tragically proven wrong. Backed into a corner, there is no telling what Putin will do.
Why did he do it now? I think he sensed a weakness on the part of Europe and the US on several levels. The botched retreat from Afghanistan; President Biden’s war on fossil fuels that resulted in increased reliance on foreign oil - part of which is supplied by Russia, Europe’s even greater dependence on Russian oil and its strong dependence commerce; and the perception that Americans have no appetite to get involved in yet another foreign war - all energized Putin to make his move now.
If there is a bright side to this, it is the worldwide unity Putin has caused. The entire civilized world is united even though it means sacrifice on the part of us all. The world has never been as united as it is right now, thanks to Putin. A recent poll has shown that a sizable majority of Americans say that the US should boycott Russian oil even if it means prices will go up at the pump (As will the price of all goods that require being transported by trucks which use a lot of fuel).
Most Americans have said they are willing to tolerate those increases as the price of supporting freedom and democracy in the world. It seems that the ‘me generation’ of our time has ben a bit oversold. There have been protests and messages of solidarity with the Ukrainian people all over the world. (Including the streets of Russia. Which - unsurprisingly - has been put down by the Russian government.)
Putin has also accomplished what I believed was the impossible. He has united Democrats and Republicans in agreeing to support the Ukraine. If anything Republicans are even more determined than Democrats - urging even stronger sanctions sooner; to arm the Ukrainians with more sophisticated weaponry; and to convince Poland to send the Ukraine their sophisticated fighter jets to better counter Russian aircraft.
Hopefully the President will not hesitate in doing all of that - short of implementing a no fly zone which would very likely require NATO members to enforce it by directly engaging Russian aircraft in the air.
World War III, anyone?
If Putin succeeds, who’s next? Some of Putin’s potential targets are members of NATO. That will drag the US into the war since as per NATO’s charter which states that attacking one NATO member is considered to be attacking all of them.
I will say it again only this time with feeling: World War III, anyone?
There is a sense by almost the entire world to do whatever is necessary to stop Putin. The question remains whether this will have any affect on him. Sanctions are surely impacting Russia's citizens. But will that matter to Putin? I would have thought so before he started this war. But now I think it doesn’t matter a bit to him. He seems to be determined to succeed no matter what.
Will he? That’s a tough one.
I am gratified to see the the Ukraine of today is not the Ukraine of our fathers and grandfathers. Ukrainian Jews are in solidarity with their non Jewish fellow citizens. They serve in the army together as well as in civilian resistance groups fighting the Russian army. Jewish Ukrainians consider themselves in complete fellowship with non Jewish Ukrainians in the common cause of defending their country. Their determination has slowed down Putin’s advances. Putin underestimated Ukrainian resistance. He thought he would walk in and take over. That did not happen. Ukrainians have gotten used to their freedom and are not going to give it up lightly.
A few days ago, I stated my unqualified support for the Ukrainian people. But I also said I could not fully identify with them because of their antisemitic history. But I changed my mind. Today I stand with them. Their antisemitic history is just that: History. Because although there are still pockets of antisemtism there, it no longer underlies the average Ukrainian mindset. Putin must be defeated. And today I say that I too am a Ukrainian.
