Hope is Being Pinched Between Putin’s Finger and Thumb

Summary

The article reflects on the role of America in global conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, and criticizes the US for not taking more decisive action against Russia's aggression, suggesting that the current level of support is insufficient to prevent Ukraine from falling into totalitarianism.

Abstract

The author of the article contemplates the paradox of America's global influence, where despite its power and wealth, there is a perceived timidity in confronting international conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. The constant exposure to war footage has made the horrors of conflict commonplace to Americans, yet the author feels that the US is not doing enough to support Ukraine against Russia's aggression. The piece questions the balance between the risks of nuclear war and the moral imperative to support democratic allies. It also points out the lack of a methodological framework in historical studies to guide better outcomes and the need for America to critically assess its role in exporting democracy and patriotism. The author argues that America's response to the crisis has been "criminally modest" and suggests that the US should take a stronger stance by working with European allies to cut off the flow of oil and gas that finances Russia's war efforts.

Opinions

The author believes that America's response to the war in Ukraine has been inadequate and that the country is not living up to its potential to influence global events positively.
There is a criticism of the over-familiarity with war imagery in American society, which has not translated into significant action to prevent further tragedies.
The article suggests that America's approach to the conflict is calculated, prioritizing financial interests and the safety of its oligarchs over the support of a democratic ally.
The author is skeptical about the effectiveness of faith and hope in resolving conflicts and prefers a more pragmatic approach to understanding and addressing war.
There is a call for America to lead in stopping the flow of oil and gas that funds Russia's military actions, highlighting the role of democracies in potentially financing their own downfall.
The author posits that Putin's actions are a direct threat to democracy itself, with the implication that the US and its allies have a responsibility to protect it.
The piece expresses frustration with America's past failures to establish a new world order and bring peace to regions like the Middle East, despite its military interventions.

History is set between Bibles and Drill Bits, and we are mere spectators of greater and greater tragedies

What will be the pivotal moment?

The growing familiarity of war being shown live on our screens, twenty-four hours a day, seeing men, women, and children lying like rag dolls, lifeless in the streets of Ukraine, is just another day in America. Lviv and Mariupol are now more familiar to Americans than some of our Midwest cities.

People here have been generous with me, sensitive to my heartaches, kind in their responses, sincere in educating me that America is not upstanding on all fronts, that we have power, and we have greed in equal amount. Our politicians are corrupt, lobbyists disingenuous, corporations more powerful than government itself. No study that I can find has attempted to identify recurrent themes in history that would provide a methodological framework to see our way forward to improvement.

Medium members have helped educate me, for sure, and done this by directing me toward books, striving to fill the vacuum that is my brain on this subject.

America talks loudly about faith, but faith has a secular, civic dimension, propelling Americans to export their concepts of patriotism and democracy abroad. Should I believe that faith is as unlikely to be a factor in helping me understand war as hope is to fix it?

What is risk? Well, it’s when I board an airplane, drive down the highway, or walk under a ladder. It is calculated. It is a risk I’m more than willing to accept.

The risk of nuclear war. This, too, is a calculated risk, is it not. We build such terrible weapons in the belief that we will never have to use them because the deterrent factor comes into play. The United States did accept the risk of using the most terrible weapon. It was calculated, one must assume. That calculation determined that war would be brought to an end. So it did. The cost, of course, is infamous.

Will Putin in his rage start a nuclear war? It can be calculated, I’m sure. Putin might wish to, should he lose Ukraine, but China would not be happy, and those people beneath him are more likely to end his life than their own. That is a calculation.

I’ve been accused of romantic notions in faulting America for its timidity. I’m sure such shyness by America is a calculated one. It will allow Americans to see that building up more military might is acceptable, it will protect our own oligarchs and poorly educated children. War is a very profitable business, so ending it quickly has financial drawbacks. benefit.

I’m surprised many more countries don’t want war with America. Look at Germany, Japan, Vietnam, all thriving democracies, built back by American money, better than before. Yet in the Middle East, especially the liberation of Kuwait after the Iraq invasion, the United States promised to enact a new world order, bringing peace to the Middle East. When the Towers fell, all such illusions collapsed.

Is it so wrong that I want to feel gratitude to my government, demand it confronts its own faults, responsibly wield its power for the sake of democracy everywhere, show resolute, prudent demonstrations of power to assist our allies in their moment of need.

Risk, then.

Our assistance to Ukraine has been criminally modest. I believe, angrily, that America isn’t truly concerned about Ukraine falling back into totalitarian hands. Our efforts are skin deep.

Can we not stand tall? Must we cower to one man? This not Russia’s war, it is Putin's.

It is time to hold other democracies to account. Oil and gas is financing Russia’s war with Ukraine. America, for fuck’s sake, lead the way, insist we work with European allies to stop the flow of oil and gas to democracies' that will eventually pay for their own demise.

If democracy is a flame, Putin has his finger and thumb either side of it. He doesn’t need to start a nuclear war. He will close his finger and thumb.