Demoralcrats wait while casualties mount in Ukraine
Barrack Obama sat while Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. Obama's approach was too gradual and tepid. Obama leaned on sanctions to penalize Putin's Russia with no deterrence on Putin to scale back Russian troops or end the occupation of Crimea. The West's failure to stand up to Putin in 2014 emboldened him to move on Ukraine beginning February 24, 2022.
Former German Chancellor Merkel met Putin in 2017, shook his hand during a photo op and presented an image to the Soviet Russian leader of ambiguity. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has put on hold certifying the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline,, while Europe is considering Middle East oil to help make up the difference of lost Russian production. These types of economic sanctions hurt Russia now, though offer more of a long term problem for the Russian economy.
Today's strike on the Yavorev military compound less than twenty kilometres from Poland, a NATO member, must not go unanswered by western intelligence. 35 people were killed/135 injured. This site is home to IPSC (International Peace-Keeping and Security Center. European powers/ NATO/ American forces must act now to sent Putin a direct message. Javelin (anti tank) and Stinger (surface to air) missiles are not enough. Ukraine needs the Polish MiG 29 fighter jets and they should make that deal with or without American approval. The Poles can buy French Dassault Rafale or Mirage, SAAB Gripen, or European Typhoon to replace that ageing fleet of Soviet era planes. European NATO members can cobble together 20 -30 planes to ensure that Poland has some robust jets.
American President Joe Biden claims not to want WW3 and insists the US is doing all it can to help. Yet, he pulled American forces out of Afghanistan when that exit was ill prepared - no wonder Putin and Xi scoff at US threats and sanctions.
If Vladimir Putin launches a limited nuclear strike he knows that he is going fo get them back; similar to sanctions, they may come from all directions. Now, China and North Korea/ Iran are wild cards and if they get involved then we have global carnage. But, if they are smart enough, they will try and talk Putin down from the ledge to avoid a nuclear episode that imperils everyone. At minimal, they can follow the Turkish lead and seek to diffuse the situation between Russian and Ukraine officials. Whether we can accept it or not, WW3 is in it's infancy and another Euro- centric conflict. Putin's threats must be met with tough measures. If Russian forces strike western officials delivering military goods to Ukraine, a counter strike within Russia on a military target is reasonable.
Putin is frustrated and western officials cannot let a repeat of WW2 happen where millions of innocent lives are lost. Refugee numbers, deaths up to now demand action.
Biden blaming Putin for oil price woes and gas prices in America is a mover to shore up his own weak polling numbers. Reuters report that 49% of Americans disapprove of Biden's performance; 45% approve. The mid terms in November can see the loss of the Senate and House to Republicans where Biden will have to modify his foreign policy if he continually dithers on Russia. He must still maintain pressure on China to mitigate against an outright attack on Taiwan. If he can do a deal with Venezuela for oil, Republicans already are warning against any deal with the autocrat - Maduro. Democrat waffling while laying the foundation for a return of Donald Trump will solve nothing in foreign policy circles. The time is now for Biden and Western powers to act.
American officials estimate that 2,000- 4,000 Ukrainian armed forces including volunteer forces and national guard have been killed. Further, they estimate that 5,000 - 6,000 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict.
