During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump was adamantly opposed to the idea of arming Ukraine, seeing it as contrary to a potential diplomatic rapprochement with Russia. As with a lot of candidate Trump’s positions, President Trump’s position seems to be shifting.
The possibility of arming Ukraine is now the topic of intense debate within the cabinet, with proponents arguing that such arms would be a great way to increasing the pressure on Russia after a flurry of anti-Russia sanctions.
Such a move is potentially risky, because Ukraine is in the midst of a shaky ceasefire with eastern rebels, a ceasefire the US hasn’t publicly endorsed. The armament of one side could be seen as overtly trying to undermine the ceasefire, and encouraging Ukraine to attack the rebels.
Practical reasons not to make such a move might not matter, however, as President Trump is seen to be under serious pressure to accept any serious plan that would be anti-Russia, as part of an ongoing effort to escape the “pro-Russia” label.
Trump is SO strong, that anyone can taunt him with a few words and make him do what they want, instead of what he wanted.
Arming Ukraine? The country which exports its homemade tanks? That is the proverbial coal carried to Newcastle.
Ukraine was home to important parts of the Soviet arms industry. They don’t need our arms. They have needs, but arms is not one of them.
Hillary promised arms to Ukraine, and Special Forces, and intensified fighting. She promised more war in Syria, and re-starting American fighting in Libya. She talked of going back into Iraq and staying in Afghanistan. She talked of killing in other places too, and even discussed nuclear attack on Iran as “on the table.”
So Trump might surrender to the demands of The Blob. He’s weak. That does not clean up the candidate of the Blob and the promise of The Hillary Wars.
We mustn’t pretend there was a better anti-war alternative than Trump. The only other choice was worse, much worse.
That is an ugly truth, and the ugliness of it makes it all the more important to see it so we can prevent it happening again.