Biden is not warmonger in Ukraine v. Russia

To the Editor:

I am responding to Judge Andrew Napolitano’s recent article, “Pres. Biden’s lust for war costs all.” From what I’ve read the Judge’s account is a crock. He basically said Biden is a warmonger and Putin was “forced into his action including the invasion of Ukraine.

Here is my summary of what has happened.

1991 USSR breaks up, Ukraine is created as an independent nation. Through several pro Russian presidents Putin was fine. In 2010 to 2014 there was political unrest as the pro EU/west movement emerged. 2014 Putin annexed Crimea, unidentified troops carrying Russian weapons and equipment seized government buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk regions sparking conflict. 2019 Zelenskyy elected, with strong lean, away from Russia and toward EU and NATO memberships. Feb. 2022 Russia invades Ukraine. Putin says he will not have a NATO country beside him. Russian troops swarm into Ukraine in days but are driven back to approx, lines held till today approx 18-20% of Ukraine territory,

So Judge N says Putin was “forced” to invade. Remember April 2005 Putin announced to the nation, “Breakup of the USSR was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” In the first year of the war Putin, in a speech to military students in St. Petersburg, compared himself to Peter the Great, with the goal of returning “Russian lands” to a greater empire. So Putin’s line is, I am forced to take Ukraine to keep it from joining the west. In February 2024 Tucker Carlson went to Moscow for a Putin interview. Putin repeated his desire to “restore traditional Russia territory,” Tucker tried to correct him but Putin had his own version of history. Ukraine says we are a sovereign nation, will do as we want and get out of Ukraine.

The evidence is clear, Putin either controls or takes Ukraine as his goal.

After Crimea was taken in 2014, a few sanctions were put on Putin. According to Fox News, Obama gave Ukraine blankets, Trump elected 2016 came in and gave them anti-tank Javelin weapons. Biden elected in 2020, Putin invades, 2022. Biden and NATO aid Ukraine with weapons and money. Putin threatens nukes (nuclear weapons) at every turn, drawing red lines that are basically ignored. West gives ammo, red line, gives tanks, red line, Himars, red line, F-16’s red line, last ATACMS, a short 150-190 mile range missiles, another red line threatening nucs.

So if you believe Putin chose to invade and NATO recognizing the risk of an invading Russia chose to help Ukraine, it’s a fact that Biden is NOT a warmonger. He chose to deal with Putin’s invasion.

World leaders have unsuccessfully tried to get a peace deal. Ukraine’s position, Russia, get out, restore borders to 2014, pay for war damage and return approximately 10,000 kidnapped Ukraine children taken to Russia. Russia’s position, Ukraine give up and agree to Russia keeping the four regions it is currently holding and Crimea and to never join NATO.

My opinion, Biden is not at all a warmonger. His mistake has been to say we will support Ukraine as long as needed. Putin interprets this till American people get tired of providing support. Biden should have said our goal is for Ukraine to win and act that way. After hearing Putin’s many red lines on nukes, the west very slowly made steps to provide better weapons. Biden in the LAST week just decided it will be OK for Ukraine to hit targets in Russia. Previously they could only hit targets in Ukraine territory held by Russia. All the while Putin was free by his rules to hit any target anywhere in Ukraine including schools, hospitals, maternity wards, and apartments.

The Judge stated, war has resulted in 600,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers, and $240 billion aid from US. I see many varying numbers of deaths but several estimates are 750,000 total Russian casualties and about 250,000 Ukraine’s, not the judges 600,000 number deaths, realize deaths are part of casualties totals. From Google US dollars 173 billion, not the judge’s 240, but using his math… On the cost to US taxpayers, consider the US military budget 800 billion a year, more than three years of war, 80 billion a year or 10% of our military budget to weaken our greatest military threat since WW2. China is our biggest threat now. But the threat of Putin winning is very bad. Iran, N. Korea and China are all watching the world’s resolve to stop Putin. We do not want a war with China. But president Xi has vowed to retake Taiwan. Peace thru strength and resolve prevent bigger conflicts. It’s not Biden’s lust for war at all. The war in Ukraine is about the sociopathic nature of Putin and his ego. He needs to be stopped for the world’s peace and security. I’m all in on concern on the US debt, but this fight against Putin is worth fighting.

Donald Wayne Loht

McClure