Global stability, democratic values at stake in Ukraine
In recent days, the two leading contenders for the Republican nomination for president - Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis - have weighed in on the war in Ukraine.
DeSantis, who has yet to declare, has been on a "book tour" in early primary states. Trump has followed DeSantis to Iowa.
DeSantis generated headlines by declaring that the war in Ukraine is not a vital interest of the United States and is a "territorial dispute." Echoing a line from Speaker McCarthy, he decried the "blank check" approach of the Biden administration. He argued that the real threat to U.S. interests is China.
Trump, being Trump, stated that if he is voted back into the White House, he would bring the war to an end in 24 hours. He did not venture to explain how. This is the same Trump whose antipathy toward NATO is well documented and who tried to shake down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and was impeached for his trouble.
As for DeSantis, his statement has faint historical echoes of Charles Lindbergh's America First view that Germany's war on Europe in 1939 was a dispute between white tribes and that America should keep its powder dry for an eventual confrontation with Blacks, Asians and other people of color.
Saying there should be no "blank check" is a fine bumper sticker and being against something because Joe Biden is for it might, as one commentator pointed out, help you win the Fox News primary, but neither qualifies as a well-thought out and well-anchored foreign policy. In particular, it is notable that some of the harshest criticism of DeSantis' statement has come from fellow Republicans.
Start with the basics. Do you believe that America is more secure as part of an alliance such as NATO or not? Do you believe that the prohibition against changing internationally recognized borders by force should be upheld? Do you believe America is more secure being engaged with the world or that it should withdraw and mind its own business, concentrating on issues at home? Explain.
DeSantis will need to explain why he apparently sees no connection between Putin's declaration that "Ukraine is not a real country" and should be part of Russia, and China's long held position that Taiwan is part of China. Many have pointed out that if Putin's efforts are blunted, President Xi will at least have to think twice about moving militarily against Taiwan. At least that is the theory.
The U.S. has provided roughly $75 billion in aid - military/financial/humanitarian - to Ukraine in the first year of the war while another 41 countries and institutions have provided close to $65 billion, primarily the EU and EU nations. Roughly $38 billion more has been authorized by the Congress. We are not alone in supporting Ukraine.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines recently testified before Congress that Putin believes that he can outlast the West - that Americans will get tired of supporting Ukraine. DeSantis's characterization of the conflict as a "territorial dispute" is right out of the Kremlin's talking points. That is both puzzling and disturbing.
Russia's attempt to secure the rest of the Donbas has, apparently, stalled. The Ukrainian military has managed to hold back significant numbers of troops who are training in NATO countries just as new armor - fighting vehicles and tanks - are arriving. A spring offensive is in the offing that could fundamentally change the course of the war.
As Margaret Thatcher might have said, this is no time to go "wobbly." Ukrainians are not just fighting and dying for their land, but for the rule of law and for democratic values. Upholding these things will always be a vital national interest of the United States.
• Keith Peterson, of Lake Barrington, served 29 years as a press and cultural officer for the United States Information Agency and Department of State. He was chief editorial writer of the Daily Herald 1984-86.