Speaker Johnson: Save Ukraine, or be a Shameful Name in History

The House GOP can save, or tank, Ukraine. History is watching

This week, the House returns after yet another two week vacation. This will begin a time written about in history books, for decades. A big question, the only question, looms: will Speaker Johnson put Ukraine aid on the floor for a vote?

Not in my lifetime have we faced such an existential question as this. Will the post WW2 order, flawed as it may be, prevail? Or do we enter a new dark era, where the sheer determination of military might and a disregard of human life prevails? It is that serious, and Speaker Johnson will etch his name in history. Which side of the ledger will his name appear on?

There are a few factors that determine strength in foreign policy, and we are all familiar with the DIME model, Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic. But there is another factor that lends strength to the despots of the world like Vladimir Putin: A disregard for human life.

Let’s explore this. The United States could flatten the Russian military in Ukraine in a matter of days, this is undeniable. We aren’t for a simple and valid reason; we believe human life matters, American life matters most to us, and the risk of escalation is too great (a valid but I think flawed consideration.) The United States would be willing to put American lives at risk if certain red lines are crossed, but we aren’t there yet. Vladimir Putin knows of our hesitancy, which gives him a super power. He doesn’t care if lives are lost, Ukrainian or Russian. He can continue to put men into the meat grinder of war to buy time until the election, or to outlive the will of the west to confront him.

This weekend, Slovakia elected a government favorable to Putin, we see pro-Putin right wing movements popping up in Europe fed by the Russian (mis)information machine, and time appears to be working in Vlad’s favor. The United States left Afghanistan after losing an average 100 soldiers a year. Currently, Russia is losing around 500 soldiers….PER DAY. Every five days, they lose what we lost in the entire Afghan war. Vlad doesn’t care, and time ticks.

Which leads us back to this moment in history. We don’t need to introduce American troops into Ukraine to beat back our chief enemy. Ukraine is willing to do the work on our behalf. Any aid we give to Ukraine is not generous, its necessary. Vladimir Putin knows a fully armed Ukraine will not be beaten, and if we show that our determination is as stubborn as Vlad’s, he will recognize he cannot win. Mike Johnson has to make that determination this week.

It bears repeating, just two house Republicans, JUST TWO, can walk into the Speaker’s office and threaten to vote against every rule that governs floor debate, thereby paralyzing the house, unless and until Johnson puts the aid package up for a vote. This would compel this action, and statues will be built of these Republicans on the streets of a free Kyiv. Why there aren’t Republicans jumping on this opportunity is beyond me. Courage is in desperately short supply.

There is no scenario I can imaging in which Jesus, or any real follower of him, would cower in fear of the mob when violence is raining down on innocent people defending their homeland. Then again, I never imagined the party of Reagan would support Putin’s conquest.

As an aside, if you aren’t planning to see the eclipse today, please change your plans. I’ve seen a few, and they are spectacular. It’s a simple, yet breathtaking reminder of how small we are, and how are problems pale in comparison to the vastness of the universe!

Eclipse 2017: