The case for Ukraine (for America) - Marc Thiessen (WP)

 

The case for Ukraine (for America) A lot of conservatives argue that the United States doesn’t have a good reason to keep supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. To them, columnist Marc Thiessen, also a conservative, says: Here are 10. Marc’s essay lays out in clear, discrete points what he calls the “America First” rationale for supporting Ukraine. You will not find soaring rhetoric about defending democracy here. This argument is aimed at the people who need supporting Ukraine to be good for the United States. Marc argues that continued support would be very good. His first point is that a Russian victory would embolden U.S. enemies the world over. The second point, related, is that a Ukrainian victory would help deter China: If the United States protects Ukraine, China will think it more likely to protect Taiwan, too. His next eight reasons run the gamut from a revitalized defense industry to nuclear nonproliferation to — conservative catnip — the restoration of the Reagan Doctrine. Maybe if Marc can consolidate enough conservatives to support Ukraine, presidential candidate Ron DeSantis will finally pick a side in the fight. Columnist Josh Rogin writes that the Florida governor has refused to reveal an actual position on whether the United States should continue its aid to Ukraine. “By trying to placate everybody,” Josh writes, DeSantis “is pleasing no one.” Josh reports that many Republican insiders assume DeSantis will come out as pro-aid if he can make it past the very anti-aid Donald Trump in the presidential primaries. But what if that’s wrong? Right now, the electorate is left to guess — and that’s an insult to voters. Chaser: The Editorial Board sees nuclear danger rising regardless of how Ukraine plays out. It has a blueprint for the U.S. response.