Don't abandon Ukraine

"I gotta be honest with you, I don't really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other." J.D. Vance made this statement to Steve Bannon on his podcast in February, before the beginning of the Russian War of Aggression. As Americans, we all have the right to an opinion on matters of foreign policy, and budgetary issues, but most importantly, we have the right to elect representatives to a government who represents our national identity and morality. J.D. Vance reflects neither the best interests of our country or our collective morality. "I think we are at the point where we have given enough money to Ukraine," Vance said this month at a rally in Cleveland. If possible, put the images of dead children, of raped women and destroyed Ukrainian cities aside. Ignore the horrors that have been inflicted in the name of Putin and his psychotic goal of re-establishment of the Soviet Bloc. Remove from our collective consciousness the atrocities being committed, the mined playgrounds in Bordyanka and the mass graves discovered in Bucha and other villages when the Russians retreat. What are the actual financial numbers J.D. finds so astonishing? The U.S. has given approximately $13.5 billion total in military equipment and financial aid to the Ukrainian people. Most of that has been in equipment and ammunition that has been transferred from storage buildings to the battlefield. The "purchase price" for this equipment has been paid years ago. This dollar amount represents less than 2% of the 2022 U.S. military budget of $722 billion. This is less than the amount of money paid to defense contractors to develop the NPOESS satellite system program which ended in failure and was written off by the Department of Defense, part of the more than $46 billion in aborted projects the DOD canceled in recent years. This is not the first time our nation has been called to deliver military weaponry to a country facing Russian/Soviet invasion. In 1984, Soviets invaded Afghanistan and President Regan immediately began shipments of weapons, money and "advisors" to train the Mujahidin. The funding was $9-12 billion in 1984 dollars. Adjusted for inflation that number is about $35.7 billion. After the attack on Sept. 11, President Bush asked for support and help from our allies around the world. One of those nations that answered his call was Ukraine. Over 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, fighting alongside American soldiers. When the United States asked for assistance supporting our operations in Afghanistan, Ukraine allowed use of their airspace and airbases to facilitate our military action against the Taliban and supplied over 1,000 soldiers to the ISAF under NATO command. There is no doubt that the Ukrainians are our friends. Now J.D. Vance would leave them to be destroyed by the Russians? Are the lives of innocent Ukrainians not worth 15% of the amount we spent YEARLY for 12 years during our occupation of Afghanistan? Franklin Delano Roosevelt compared sending weapons to the nations resisting Nazi invasion to giving your neighbor a length of garden hose if his house was on fire. When the Ukrainian call for help went out, it was answered by the world. Nations came together and provided financial and military aid, received and are caring for millions of refugees. The civilized, and compassionate nations of the world, led by the United States and our allies are showing the true meaning of selflessness. J.D. Vance would have the United States remove itself from the side of decency to join the nations that do not support a free Ukraine. J.D. Vance does not cast his lot with our traditional allies around the world. He, if elected, would have the United States join the list of nations supporting the terrorism against the Ukrainian people. Who are these countries that support the Russians? China, Syria, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Belarus. Do the United States' values — do your values — align with theirs? The countries aligned behind Russia account for 19 of the 21 hijackers who attacked New York on 9/11 as well as every member of George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil." When speaking to the country concerning U.S. neutrality during the buildup to World War II, FDR said, "The U.S. would remain neutral but I cannot ask Americans to remain neutral in thought as well." I am not asking you to join the International Legion or even to support U.S./NATO forces on the ground. I am simply asking you to give us your garden hose and when the house fire is out … we will hold our heads high knowing we lived up to the values our country was founded on and live in our hearts. To J.D. Vance, I would remind him of another quote, this one from James Bryce, "Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong." Burton is a Sandusky resident.