Questioning President Biden's War With Russia
The Biden administration’s policy, such as it is, seems completely off the cuff, but is this because the president is misspeaking or just saying things he's not supposed to say out loud? For example, he seemed to suggest the possibility of U.S. troops eventually being deployed to Ukraine. Can we assume he meant as part of an eventual "peace keeping" force after a ceasefire? Or did he just get confused? What about his remark about responding "in kind" to a Russian chemical attack in Ukraine? Wouldn't Ukraine respond? Why would the U.S need to respond? Is regime change in Russia now the Biden administration’s official policy? Just as aspiration?
The United States, along with its NATO allies, is engaged in a proxy war with Russia on behalf of Ukraine. Billions of dollars of weapons and other aid is being provided to the country as it continues to resist a Russian invasion that is just over a month old. As effective the Stinger and Javelin missiles are they will not expel the Russian military from Ukraine so what is the goal? Is it to bleed the invaders enough so Putin sues for peace? It seems as though just enough support has been provide to Ukraine to cause a stalemate. But even a stalemate means many Ukrainians will continue to die. Is president Biden and NATO willing to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian? Isn’t a ceasefire as soon as possible what’s best for Ukraine and best for everyone? Why hasn’t the Biden administration been very loudly clamoring for one?
As far as war crimes and criminals - there are such things of course, but we have to be very careful about accusing a military of committing them because it usually comes down to context and intent. Civilians, and nonmilitary targets are casualties in all wars both unintentionally and intentionally. There legitimate military reasons to attack what are considered civilian targets like an airport or a power station. What about an apartment building soldiers are using? We only have to look to America’s recent experiences with war to see it is not always a simple issue. We have to limit the war crime talk to very specific charges like strafing refugee camps and executing prisoners. No one had lawyers in mind when the phrase “prosecuting a war” was coined. War is horrible enough without going unnecessarily down the law fare rabbit hole.
Washington might want to rethink this drive to make Russia into some kind of international pariah like N. Korea. Putin won’t be in charge forever, but the damage to U.S., such that they are, could could easily get worse before they get better. (Why were we never allowed to hate Militant Islamists nearly as much as we're being encouraged to hate Russians? They actually attacked America and killed thousands of Americans.) Is an outcast Russia with closer ties to China in America’s national interest?
How does this war end? President Zelensky will likely have to accept a treaty that includes giving up significant pieces of Ukraine. Given the the Russian military’s difficulties Putin might accept a ceasefire sooner rather than later. Does the Biden administration want a ceasefire to happen as soon as possible or is it more focused on prolonging the fighting to punish Russia? We deserve answers?