Ukraine update: Weakening Russia is a noble goal, well worth the cost
This post was originally published on this site
On Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made it clear that the U.S. has a broader goal in assisting Ukraine against the invasion by Russian forces. “We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine,” said Austin.
The secretary of defence’s words have generated a good deal of faux outrage and blustering from those who claim this represents some sort of change from the mission of seeing Ukraine preserve its nation against an illegal and brutal invasion. It’s not. This is that same goal, elevated.
In 1987, historian Barbara Fields said this about of the importance of battles and tactics when discussing the American Civil War: “It’s not about soldiers except to the extent that weapons and soldiers at that crucial moment joined a discussion about something higher, about humanity, about human dignity, about human freedom.”
That’s where we are in Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is, as Fields said then, not about “battles and glory and carnage.” If that’s all there was to it, this would be a very ugly story, no matter which side we were on. For this story to mean something, for the cost of the war in both blood and money to be redeemed, requires a greater goal. The weakening of Russian power under Vladimir Putin might not have the same incalculable good as equality and freedom, but it is an almost unsullied good.
Decades ago, Putin turned his back on joining the family of nations and recreated Russia as an engine of destruction. He has used that engine in disrupting democracies and furthering authoritarian governments, not just in Russia, but around the world—including the United States. He’s used the Russian military to expand his own power by systematically attacking civilian populations in Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere. He’s turned his own nation into a crime-driven and criminal-obsessed parody of what it could be.
Reducing Russia’s ability to conduct more invasions like the one underway in Ukraine isn’t just a side note, it’s a noble goal. It’s a goal that elevates both the contributions we are making to this cause, and the suffering and sacrifice by the Ukrainian people.
Weapons and soldiers are once more in a discussion about something that can’t be measured in the number of tanks destroyed or the acres of land under control. We’re not just obligated to take part in that conversation, we are privileged to do so.
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022 · 4:21:08 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
We’ve talked several times about Transnistria, sliver of Russian-controlled territory running along the eastern edge of Moldova. In describing their updated goals for Ukraine (when Russia admits that they’ve fallen short on their original goals of simply absorbing Ukraine), Russian officials have suggested that they plan to construct a “land bridge” of territory that would stretch from the Donbas on the east, to Crimea, then on through Odesa to connect with Transnistria. At that point, this whole Ukraine / Moldova hodge-podge would be swallowed up as a new Russian district.
Though Russia hasn’t had a lot of success in attempts to progress past Kherson when it comes to capturing the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, over the last few days, it seems that they’ve been preparing to somehow evolve Transnistria in their chaotic action.
On Monday, a series of explosions in Transnistria included attacks on television towers in the region. There have been suggestions that this is intended as a false-flag operation with Russia claiming that Ukrainian forces had attacked across the border, but it also seems perfectly in line with efforts Russia has made throughout Ukraine to destroy broadcast communications.
In response to the threat of a complete Russian takeover and the possibility of bringing the region into the conflict, hundreds (if not thousands) of those who live in the small region made a break for the border with the rest of Moldova.
And in another bad sign, Russia’s favorite YouTube propagandist has moved his act from explaining how Russia was being so nice to civilians in Mariupol, to explaining how enthusiastic everyone in Transnistria is about getting involved with this invasion.