The President made a surprise, or maybe not so surprising, visit to Kiev as he visits Poland. A very symbolic moment, as he promised $500 Million more of aid to Ukraine.
As the creep of war grows, we wonder where the end solution is. All of this raises questions for us:
Does more support mean a longer fight for Ukraine? Will Putin ever allow Ukraine to win? Will he allow them to move his troops out of the territory they took years ago? Is China really gearing up to help supply Russia? Will Iran do more to support Russia? What is the goal of the west? Is it back to the territory and standoff of before the war began a year ago? Is it back to the territory Putin took when Biden was VP?
I don’t know if the western leaders have defined what end they want, and that is a dangerous situation with Putin, a man determined to reestablish Russian dominance in the area.
I do know this.
All the aid, support and reinvention of history underway is interesting. The President supplying aid beyond what he said he would, thought so little of Ukraine’s future that in the first days, remember what he said? On February 26, 2022 he offered to send a plane to get Zelensky out of the country, obviously believing Russia was going to over run them quickly. Zelensky replied:
“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.”
Let’s not forget that.
Here’s a balloon update. As you read it ask yourself if you are proud of the nation’s actions:
The U.S. military ended the search for airborne objects shot down last week near Deadhorse, Alaska, and over Canada and Lake Huron, Mich.
President Biden said that the intelligence community thinks “these three objects were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation, or research institutions studying weather or conducting other scientific research” — not China’s government.
So, we literally shot down balloons for no reason and can’t find out where the debris is.
Yet, we allowed the one real spying balloon to fly over the country and dived into the sea to find it. That report:
Sensors and other debris — “the guts” — have been successfully recovered from the Chinese balloon shot down by a U.S. fighter jet off the coast of Carolina.
“They got almost all — at least that which was recoverable,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is opening up on his announced and potential primary opponents. He attacked Nikki Haley and then really went after Ron DeSantis. It’s very clear now the Republican Party is in for a donnybrook and very divisive 2024 primary.
Their only chance to win is if enough of the party voters realize they are the minority party. They have lost 7 of the last 8 popular presidential votes. If a minority of the minority party nominate an unpopular national candidate, they are doomed. Do enough of them realize that? Right now, it is not clear.
Larry Hogan, the former Maryland Governor, realizing the more candidates running helps the former President, said this over the weekend. His “bid won’t happen if it helps Trump.”
Well, Governor, we can guarantee it will, so forget it now.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy energized a nation with his “the torch is passed to a new generation” declaration.
In her announcement Nikki Haley alluded to the fact it’s time to pass the baton now. Considering that President Biden would be 86 and Trump 82 at the end of their next term, that is a key issue.
Look at the ages of those running:
Haley is 51. Ron DeSantis is 44. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is 51. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is 56. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is 57.
Is the country ready for the next generation?
Speaking of Presidents, the news from Plains, Ga. about President Carter was sad. There are two things about the former President for us.
He was probably the weakest President of our lifetime, but one of the greatest human beings. He certainly gave of himself, and as you hear of the personal wealth of Presidents, consider this:
“Carter is the only president in the modern era to return full-time to the house he lived in before he entered politics — a two-bedroom rancher assessed at $167,000, less than the value of the armored Secret Service vehicles parked outside.”