U.S. must stand against aggression

To the editor:

Finally.

On April 24, President Joe Biden signed into law a $95 billion package of military and humanitarian foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel/Gaza and Taiwan. The largest component of the bill is $61 billion in support of Ukraine in resisting Russia’s invasion. The aid goes primarily to U.S. weapons manufacturers to build back U.S. weapon supplies that will be sent to Ukraine (about 20% of the funding is for direct financial support).

The package was approved in the House of Representatives 311-112. The bill could be fairly called bipartisan, as 101 Republicans joined 210 Democrats in its passage. Unfortunately, 112 Republicans voted no, including our Rep. Jim Bank. (In the Senate, Todd Young voted in favor while Mike Braun opposed it.)

A foreign-aid bill similar to the one finally enacted was approved in the U.S. Senate in February. But military support for Ukraine had been stalled in the House since last fall due to the isolationist politics of far-right Republican legislators. Over that time, Ukraine struggled with critical shortages of ammunition and military hardware. As a result, Russia made significant gains by seizing more territory and destroying Ukrainian infrastructure. 

Had the delay in support continued, Ukraine would have certainly lost additional territory. The greater danger was the potential collapse of the front lines due to Russia’s tremendous advantage in ammunition and military hardware. While our NATO allies have provided a great deal of military and humanitarian assistance, the absence of U.S. aid has been telling. 

The $61 billion in support will do more than increase Ukrainian military capacity. It will also assure our NATO allies that the United States has their back. As well, the aid will decrease the likelihood that American military lives will be at risk. Vladimir Putin will notice. So will Russia’s allies — China, North Korea, Belarus and Iran. 

Why would a Russian victory be a tragedy for the rest of the free world?

First, it would mean a fellow democracy submitted to a power-mad authoritarian. Russian president Vladimir Putin denies basic freedoms to Russian citizens and concentrates power and finances in the hands of a few. Any Russian who demonstrates opposition is soon dead, imprisoned or, if lucky, in exile. Ukraine could expect the same. 

Second, Putin has demonstrated that whatever he gains is never enough. If he succeeds in defeating Ukraine, one of his objectives will likely be a NATO country. If Russia attacks a NATO member, all other NATO nations, including the United States, are obligated by treaty to defend that country. This would put U.S. lives in danger. 

Third, should Ukraine submit to Russia due to American abandonment, a powerful message would be sent to our allies: “Don’t count on the USA.” It would resonate well beyond NATO to Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan.       

Ukraine’s population is one-quarter of that of Russia. No reasonable person could expect that Ukraine could resist Russian aggression on its own. Fortunately, the United States initially provided significant military support. Other NATO nations have done the same. 

As of February, the other members of NATO had provided more humanitarian and military support in total than the United States (U.S. News and World Report – Feb. 23). With the new foreign aid bill, the U.S. retakes the lead, which is appropriate for the leader of the free world. 

Still, the two most important components of this war of resistance have been provided by the people of Ukraine: the military forces bravely fighting and dying for Ukraine’s freedom and the innocent civilians who persevere despite Russia’s bombs, drones, missiles, rape and torture. 

There are those who say Russia’s assault on Ukraine is a European problem. Yes, it is. Yet it is also our problem. It is short-sighted to ignore the message a Russian victory would send to our friends and enemies. 

The Ukrainian people have demonstrated the will to resist an unprovoked assault by its much larger neighbor. Ukraine deserves our support. And the United States will be protecting the safety of its people by standing with one of our fellow democracies willing to fight a monstrous regime. 

Eric R. Rogers

Portland