America, where are you now?

"Some will read this and get riled up. 'Why us? Why does it always have to be us?' Simple answer - because nobody else will do it. Not even the feckless UN. We don't need to have  boots on the ground. All we need to do is supply Ukraine exactly what they need."

Deja vu. Or as Yogi would say, "Deja vu, all over again." Those of us who know just a bit about American history, have seen this movie before. A rampaging thug, brutalizing Europe, and the United States across the ocean, just sitting and watching. Only during World War II, we did not have 24 X 7 cable news where we could see the carnage, live and in color. But - America was not involved, and that was the important thing. Our friends and allies over in Europe, well, they would just have to suck it up and endure. After all, we were sending stuff over there, via the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. Heck, we even sent stuff to Russia. 

As valiant as the Ukraine Army has fought, without more air support, it is probably just a matter of time before Putin turns more cities to rubble, like he has done with Mariupol. The once beautiful city of Mariupol, is now over 80% destroyed, with over 5,000 civilians dead - including over 200 kids. And why does Putin do such dastardly things? How can he get away with it? Because he can. 

When our allies look across the ocean, they can still see our flag. Only now, it is not flying proudly in the breeze - it is hanging limp. Our limp flag is like our resolve right now, and Putin the thug knows it.

Recently, it took Zelenskyy to speak truth to power. "You are afraid of Russia", he told the allies. We are. We are scared to death of Putin. Even when Biden lost his filter in Poland, and uttered those now infamous words about Putin needing to be removed from power, the White House almost wet their collective pants. They could now walk that back quick enough. Meanwhile, Putin just sits back on his throne in the Kremlin, and smirks. He finally has the great and powerful United States, on the ropes.

If we had a normal President, he (or she) would be very direct with Putin. Not a threat, just the facts. And here are the facts Mr. Putin. You and your army need to leave Ukraine now. If you do not, we will be supplying Ukraine MIG jets, anti-air defenses, more anti-armor weapons, state of the art intel support, and anything else which is needed for them to beat your army.

"But, but, but - what about Putin's nukes?", the chattering class might say. A President (with a pair), would remind Putin that we have nukes also. Nobody ever wants to see a nuclear anything used in anger, but we need to quit being cowed by this guy. Otherwise, he will be Hitler 2.0, and some of our NATO allies, will soon be in his sights.

Some will read this and get riled up. "Why us? Why does it always have to be us?" Simple answer - because nobody else will do it. Not even the feckless UN. We don't need to have  boots on the ground. All we need to do is supply Ukraine exactly what they need. What they have been asking for. That would square this circle. Even up an unfair fight.

America, where are you now? What many of us would like to say is this - "Right here Mr. Zelenskyy - and help is on the way".