How a war ends is far more important than vain attempts to explain how and why it started. World War I, for example, ended with a vindictive treaty that was imposed on Germany. It included heavy reparations which would cripple the German economy and weaken its government. It planted the seeds for the Third Reich and an even bloodier WWII.
In April of 1865 on the other hand, Lincoln wanted only to bind up the nations wounds. Many in the North, including large numbers of Lincoln’s fellow Republicans, wanted to punish the Confederacy and its leaders. They wanted Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee tried and hanged as traitors.
Fortunately General Grant and Lincoln were of the same mind. When Lee came to Appomattox to discuss the terms of his surrender he must have been surprised by Grant’s magnanimity. Instead of punishing demands, Grant asked only that his men turn in their weapons and horses and take an oath of allegiance to the Union. When Lee reminded Grant that it was planting time and the men would need their horses, Grant agreed, and they kept their horses.
And so the healing from that long and bloody war began.
There can be no excuse for the naked aggression launched by Vladimir Putin against the poor people of Ukraine. But an explanation of the factors that led up to the launch of hostilities can be found in an excellent piece written by Lee Smith entitled Ukraine’s Deadly Gamble. It should be required reading for every Member of Congress.
Mr. Smith lays out in painful detail how leaders of Ukraine made the critical mistake by misunderstanding the role it played as a buffer state. How they traded their considerable stockpile of nukes for hollow assurances from Russia and the U.S. that we would protect them. He argues that by siding with Western Europe and pursuing admission into NATO, Ukraine was poking at the Russian bear in ways that almost guaranteed an eventual confrontation. Having NATO troops and missiles on their doorstep (especially in a state that many Russians believed to be a part of Mother Russia) was totally unacceptable. Some have compared this to having Russian troops and missiles positioned along what is euphemistically called our southern border.
The author also discusses the role that our CIA played in two Coup attempts. American administrations, going at least as far back as GW have used and abused Ukrainians. They were a proxy. We kept pro-Western leaders in power and Russian leaders off-balance.
Hillary Clinton and CIA Director Brennen strong-armed Ukrainians to lend credibility to the Trump-Russian collusion canard. Democrats again used Ukraine to underpin their second failed impeachment of Donald Trump. Primarily to keep him from learning the truth about questionable actions by American elites. Things like just how much the Biden family profited while old Joe was in charge of Ukraine policy. And of the blackmail efforts by a sitting Vice President to get a prosecutor fired for his investigation into a corrupt company that just happened to be paying his son huge bucks.
Yes, the Clinton and Biden families milked the poor Ukrainian cow for every drop. Now the Ukrainians are suffering. Their brave boys are being sacrificed and we will pretend we had nothing to do with it.
Brooding over past mistakes and miscalculations won’t stop the bloodshed and carnage. Putin must understand by now that a final military victory over Ukraine will be very expensive. Subjugating the Ukrainian people will be nearly impossible. We must understand that pushing Putin further into a corner could produce much more disastrous results.
So, what to do?
Some want to see Putin assassinated. Others just want the Russian army embarrassed by the weaker Ukraine. Both would prove disastrous. Most Russians see Putin as their respected leader. A wounded nuclear bear would be a threat to everyone.
A diplomatic off-ramp must be found.
One of the few people Putin trusts is former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She speaks perfect Russian and reportedly talked to Vladimir regularly. Merkel was instrumental in pushing the Nord Stream Pipeline. She understands the current situation.
Giving her a call may get some serious negotiations started. Ending this war quickly in a way that prevents another must be the objective.