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To the editor:
The past two weeks all we've heard about on the news, be it CNN, MSN or Fox is Ukraine. Stories ranging from the refugee crisis to (Ukraine president Volodymyr) Zelensky arming civilians. In the midst of it all I'm seeing people in the U.S. begin to demand action. Last week a Mr. Brittain wrote a letter saying he wants us to become involved militarily. He's not alone, more and more people on both sides of the aisle are calling for action which in the long run translates to WWIII I believe.
But these calls to action trouble me to say the least. I'm not downplaying the situation in Ukraine nor am I a Putin supporter, though I suspect folks will be calling me such after reading this.
So to start, we've already had a "misinformation" incident with the current conflict. The story of the Snake Island Defenders. They had died heroes and told a Russian ship to "Go f— yourself." It gives a patriotic high like no other, if it were true. Turns out they didn't die but were captured alive. Allegedly they'll be returned to Ukraine by Russia, but who knows if that will happen. The war has been going on only two weeks and already we've heard false information. Now, yes, it was corrected, but what else have we been told that isn't true?
Currently it's being speculated that Putin may soon use "chemical weapons." It's already been speculated that some of the bombs dropped on Ukraine violate the Geneva convention, key word speculated. We also are being told two stories in regards to the hospital bombings. According to Ukraine it was a senseless act that was borderline genocide. According to Russia they were being used as a Ukrainian military base. Why am I even bringing these things up? Because history shows we have been sucked into foreign conflicts under false pretenses before.
Let's go back to 1990. Iraq had pushed into Kuwait and the United States was sending troops to Saudi Arabia in response. While this was happening a 15-year-old girl from Kuwait named Nayirah arrived in the U.S. and testified to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus about the horrors she had seen. The Iraqis were attacking hospitals, killing the babies inside and stealing incubators she claimed. Her testimony was so convincing that it is believed to be possibly the biggest factor in convincing Americans that the Gulf War was necessary. President George H.W. Bush repeatedly cited the story as a reason we had to invade. And the rest is history. But when the smoke cleared it turned out Nayirah had made it all up and she was the daughter of the Kuwait ambassador to the United States. But the lies worked very well in swaying public opinion.
Now we go to 2003. Also involving Iraq. I won't spend much time on this one because we all know the "weapons of mass destruction" myth. But yet again the lies worked and the public backed another involvement in foreign affairs. And lest any of the Democrats reading smirk and say "Well that invasion happened under a Republican presidency" do not forget the invasion needed congressional approval. And while they may have not of been on board as much as the Republicans, 29 Democrat senators and 81 Democrat representatives voted yes on the 2003 invasion.
Ultimately I believe we'll probably end up involved in Ukraine. Maybe boots on the ground, maybe an air campaign, who knows? But when the dust settles we will most likely have been lied to again in some way shape or form. I hope I'm wrong but history shows how easy it is to forget the past deceit. To be clear I'm no Putin fan, nor am I a die hard conservative. Any more, I'm a libertarian leaning Independent. But most likely the folks like me will be attacked by both the right and the left and accused of everything from being Putin fans to being unpatriotic. It happens every time.
Ethan Snyder
Belleville