Editorial: "The American Conservative" published an article by Bradley Devlin analyzing the occurrence of 19 Republican congressmen against the continuation of the war in Ukraine and unlimited assistance to it from the US. any of the arguments and suggestions put forward by the signatories to Joe Biden may seem controversial, but the most crucial is their main message – this war must end! Here's the text:
President Biden and his subordinates consistently promised to stand on the side of Ukraine "as long as necessary", seemingly without any obligation. But as the conflict in Ukraine prolongs, approaching the possible of its escalation, any members of legislature are pushing the Biden administration to prosecute peace.
J.D. Vance from Ohio, Mike Lee from Utah And Rand Paul from Kentucky joined sixteen another members of legislature by writing a letter to the Biden administration on Thursday. "Over the last year, the U.S. has been the main backing for Ukrainian defence activities. The war enters the second year, there is no end to it, and there is no clear strategy to end it," says the letter. ‘The replacement war with Russia in Ukraine is not in the strategical interest of the United States and threatens to escalate that may get out of control."
Surely the United States has already contributed to the escalation of the war through unlimited support for Ukrainian war effort and government. To date, the US has allocated more than $138 billion for military, economical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, becoming their largest donor. "The contribution of our NATO allies pales compared to us," says the letter. ‘There is besides a clear difference in motivation beyond the aid scale. While the United States is increasingly in debt to deliver Ukraine's tanks, air defence systems, missiles and long-range rockets to the battlefield beyond the ocean, those who have a conflict at their borders have contented themselves with sending out uniforms and individual protective equipment. Our allies make their contribution in the form of dense military equipment dependent on the US's appropriate commitment – and at the same time call on the US to do so on the issue of aid Ukraine is even more.
‘With each fresh aid package and each fresh weapon supplied Ukraine's hazard of direct conflict with Russia is increasing“ – Republican signatories say.
However, the authorities do not seem to be afraid and displeased by specified prospects. On Thursday, the Pentagon revealed another tranche of assistance to Ukraine. The package, which includes 155 mm, 105 mm and advanced Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-tank missiles and another unnamed "precision aerial missiles" and many more, is valued at $325 million.
Meanwhile, “undue US aid to Ukraine is fundamentally incompatible with our strategical interests”, writes Vance, Lee, Paul and the company. Further: “There are many ways to support the Ukrainian people, but unlimited arms supplies do not belong to them. Our national interests and interests of the Ukrainian people are best served by encouraging negotiations that are urgently needed to resolve this conflict. We call warmly for a negotiated peace between the 2 parties, ending this terrible conflict."
Eli Crane, signatory of the letter, told The American Conservative that "The establishment is ready to pay a lot to push our country into a train towards planet war‘. A Republican from Arizona continued: "The U.S. government absolutely cannot afford to proceed to fund another eternal war on the back of the American people".
After sending the letter, Lee's office issued a press release that included a comment from the Vice president of the Center for Renewing America, Dan Caldwell. "To a large extent, Biden's open support for Ukraine increased the hazard of a direct conflict with Russia's atomic weapons and diverted attention from more urgent national safety priorities," Caldwell assured. "Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine is immoral, but in fact it is simply a challenge to European security. Above all, the burden of supporting Ukraine must be borne by rich European welfare states, which have more to lose in this conflict and which have utilized the American safety umbrella for decades," he added.
Admittedly, the letter did not contain details of what the negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine would look like. In the latest TAC issue William Lind suggests respective preliminary peace conditions in Ukraine:
"Russia gets Crimea, Donbas and a land corridor connecting these 2 countries, but must pay Ukraine for them, say, $1.5 trillion, money that will be spent on rebuilding Ukrainian cities. Until the money is paid, Russia will not be entitled to territories or the full abolition of sanctions. Russia will hand over Ukraine occupied by it East Prussia [Kaliningrad Region – ed. MP], making available Ukraine 2 seas, Black and Baltic, through which it could export its cereals.”
This is not an exhaustive position, but it is simply a sensible and feasible first step. Each negotiation requires an offer of beginning and the United States should implement this option together with another countries in and outside Europe, Whether Ukraine wants it or not. If the Ukrainians don't want to come to the negotiating table, they should be forced to do so by twisting the tap with US taxpayers' dollars.
Republican signatories have no illusions that the letter will change or correct the dangerous strategy that the Biden administration has chosen. However, the coalition of those who advocate a policy of restraint in Europe, whether in the name of focusing on America First's slogan or preparing to face China, or both, continues to grow.
Bradley Devlin
Bradley Devlin is simply a writer for The American Conservative. He had previously written for the regular Caller. He completed political economics at the University of California, Berkeley.
Behind: The American Conservative
photo public domain
