Forgive me in advance for this post. I started it several weeks ago and overtime the objective has changed. It started with an objective of describing our free press. Then came the differences between prewar Republican and Democratic discourse. So you may find this a lot disjointed.
I must admit to not following daily events in Ukraine, but would like to attempt a big picture viewpoint. I hope readers find my perspective interesting.
The News Media
We get many different viewpoints in our news media. Tucker Carlson and Anderson Cooper both hit the airways on a regular basis. We have a free press. Our job as citizens is to decide what is correct and important.
Fox News was formed to provide an alternative to the news.
It’s charter is to present a conservative slant. For those reasons alone it is biased. Any commentary on Fox News is slanted and hence must be looked at with a critical eye. They observe the Reagan mantra of never speaking ill of a fellow Republican / Donald Trump.
CNN and MSNBC
Are both liberally based. Over time the commentary has become less fact based and more slanted to a liberal viewpoint. What I will say is that CNN and MSNBC both point out Biden’s failures.
Conclusion
A personal recollection is from a former Russian co-worker. He felt a major difference between a Russian and an American is that a Russian was much more apt to read between the lines, since a Russian knew all news was propaganda. Most Americans accept the news at face value since we have a free press.
While we have a free press, we as interpreters of the news, must also factor in the source and read between the lines. While I consider Republicans mean spirited, obstinate, unintelligent bullies. I must also consider the fact they are well intentioned, and some Republicans might even be trying to do what is right.
So how does it apply to Today’s big News Story.
Russia and Ukraine
There is little doubt that in this current struggle Russia is the aggressor. They are attacking Ukraine. While commentary that the declaration that parts of Ukraine are independent states may be a brilliant justification. It is as now most Americans on both sides it is propaganda and not a justification for the destruction of lives and property which is occurring.,
Entry into a war against Ukraine is an act of choice. A war of choice, just as Afghanistan and Iraq were wars of choice by the US. The news media on both sides supported the US in both wars.
So what is different this time.
Russia is the aggressor and we are mostly on the sidelines reacting to an unjustified act of violence by a foreign power. Russia is also not an ally, but a competitor nation. Vladimir Putin has made the statement that western democracy is dead and dying.
This action in Ukraine and by his words in the past we must not consider Vladimir Putin anything but an enemy to democracy. If we are to protect our democracy, we must also recognize his continued attempts to weaken us in every way possible.
On a domestic side, make no mistake, it is Russia and not Ukraine attacking our cyber space. It is Russia attempting to disrupt our democracy by pitting us against ourselves by amplifying our differences.
Domestically One side has voiced support of Russia
While not universally true, not all Republicans consider Russia an ally. But only in the Republican party has action been taken which supports Vladimir Putin’s long term goals. Individuals in the Republican party may call Democrats “communists”.
The Republicans are mistaken when they refuse to impeach Donald Trump for using foreign aid to coerce an ally to investigate an opponent or when he attempted to overthrow the results of a legitimate election. Both actions or inactions supported the goals of Vladimir Putin.
It is Republicans who are failing us on foreign policy. Who lack the foresight to see the world in modern terms. It is Republicans who wish to isolate the US and turn their backs on our fellow democracies which undermines our status in the world.
Being a Strong Nation.
While a strong military is necessary, it is not the most important aspect of being strong. To be strong we must also be right. By being right we can develop undivided support of our friends and allies. This aspect is what failed us in the Iraq war.
When we were wrong about weapons of mass destruction it undermined our support. Nation building is difficult. It can not occur during conflict. Winning the peace brings about lasting prosperity for both the victors and the defeated. It is a chance to improve the world.
In World War II
We both won the war and won the peace. To win the peace you must be right and you must be steadfast. While there were major economic and humanitarian problems after the war. As a world, both in Japan and in Europe we spent every available resource to rebuild both the victors and the defeated. It improved the world and both prospered.
After the defeat of the Taliban, the US and our allies had an opportunity to do the same. But we did not focus on winning the peace, but instead on broadening the conflict and objective. The result was Afghanistan was not supported as we should have.
An Iraq, because of the lack of consensus became a quagmire. We lost the peace in both incidences.
The problems with the withdrawal from Afghanistan are the results of the failures to win the peace. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden all share the blame in this failure. The final picture is the result of years of not focusing on the prize.
To Win the peace.
We must be right.
At this point both FOX and the liberal media are opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While it is doubtful that Ukraine will actually prevail in this struggle short term. It is equally unlikely that Russia will stifle the will of the Ukrainian people to create a democratic state.
Russia may win the war, but lose the peace. Much as the US has in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the meantime, we in the US should take this signal of Russia’s true objectives and find a way to a more open and honest dialog. If we can not compromise and move forward, we as a country and a democracy will fail.
Russia Probably will win the war
But long term, they are not right and do not enjoy the support of most of the world. The result is rebuilding the iron curtain. The walls may be further east then after WWII, but the isolation of Russia has already begun.
In the end Russia is creating an economy which will not support the people of Russia.
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