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DeSantis Is Right About Ukraine
Townhall ^ | 3/16/2023 | Kurt Schlichter

Posted on 03/17/2023 9:02:16 AM PDT by Signalman

Ron DeSantis came out against our current blank check n’ hack cliches Ukraine policy, stating the indisputable truth that Ukraine was not a vital US interest worthy of risking World War III with Russia. The next day he was proven right when a Russian SU-27 knocked a US Reaper drone into the Black Sea. Hey, feeding Russians (and Ukrainians) into a meat grinder is all fun and games until we get dragged into the abattoir too. Of course, all the right people got really mad about it – when Bill Kristol, Adam Kinzinger, David French, Max Boot and Mitt Romney are all for something, you need to be against it. Hardest hit was the GOP establishment – it was very sad because the governor refuses to be dragged along into cheerleading yet another massive foreign policy failure.

And this Ukraine policy of feeding the fire in perpetuity will lead to yet another massive foreign policy failure. Massive failure is all our foreign policy elite knows. Name one of its successes since 1993. Don’t say the Abraham Accords – that was a huge success and had nothing to do with our foreign policy establishment. It was Trump outsiders who did it. The foreign policy establishment brought us Vietnam and Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. It brought us debt, blood, and humiliation. Yet, astonishingly, perpetual nimrods like Mitch McConnell John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham still defer to these utter losers.

But not Ron DeSantis. And he will be vindicated by the time he wins the nomination. Same with Trump should he win the nomination, but everyone expected him to say what he is currently saying – they were hoping that the Great Not Orange Hope would side with Team Sap and he rejected them. Ron DeSantis – who served in Iraq and saw the failure firsthand – has rejected the Beltway consensus. He’s a bit ahead of most of America now, but after another year and a half of this madness he and the American people will be in synch. If he wins the nomination, he will be an anti-war Republican against a pro-war establishment Democrat.

Americans are not pacifists, but they are sick of failure, and that’s what Ukraine is looking to become. Most Americans feel that Ukraine is corrupt, which it totally is – I saw it personally. They feel sympathy for the Ukrainians, as do I (I trained Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine for the Army). And they agree with DeSantis that this territorial dispute – which it is – is not a vital American interest that overcomes other priorities and that is worth endless treasure and maybe even blood. We generally hope Ukraine wins, but this is not our fight. Nor is the war likely to spread to NATO countries where we have treaty obligations – the idea that we need to retake Crimea so the Russians don’t show up in Berlin, much less London, is ridiculous. Americans are not prepared to put up with this conflict forever, but forever wars that culminate in embassy helicopter evacuations and people falling off C-17s are what the Beltway buffoons do.

Here's the ugly fact: This war needs to end in a negotiated peace, one that the Ukrainians are not going to like. The Ukrainians have held the Russians back because they are tough and because we give them enough ammo and gear to do so. But they also succeed because, so far, the Russians have sucked. Their equipment, leadership, and morale stinks. Now the front lines are relatively frozen. It’s nearly WWI-like in some areas. We are not looking at sweeping maneuver warfare but static trench fighting. This eats up men and equipment. We can feed Ukraine more ammo and gear. We cannot feed them more men, and the locals are not buying the propaganda and cheery dance Tik Toks from the front. The Ukrainians are running out of troops. Russia, however, is much bigger. It has more bodies (even though many have fled the country). And it has a history of coming back from setbacks. Napoleon got to Moscow. Then he got driven out. Hitler nearly got to Moscow. Then he got driven back to the Brandenburg Gate. The Russians will fire their ineffectual generals and replace them with solid killers. They will reconstitute their equipment and build new and better armaments. They will train up new forces. To break the stalemate, one side is going to have to generate massive combat power that can shatter the enemy lines. If you are betting that the Ukrainians will do that first, you probably double-down on a 16.

Barring a peace treaty or some bizarre black swan event like a meteor flattening the Kremlin, the best case in the fall of 2024 is that the stalemate continues. The second worst case is that a Russian offensive drives the Ukrainians back. The very worst case is that a Russian offensive drives the Ukrainians back and the geniuses who brought you Baghdad and Kabul pour in American forces to try to stop the Ukrainian collapse.

DeSantis has taken the smart strategic position and the smart political position. He has shown leadership, because the American people will soon come to be where he is now, and they will do so around the time when the election gets into high gear.

The Ukrainians have to do what the Ukrainians have to do – I do not blame them for trying to wring dough and bombs out of Uncle Sucker. Nor am I upset that they appear to prefer to fight and die rather than enter into negotiations that will leave Russians on their territory. I get it. They are patriots supporting their country. But we normal Americans are patriots too, and our country is the United States. We expect Ukraine to pursue its national interests, but we expect America’s leadership to pursue America’s national interests. And it is in our national interest to get this war ended, even if it means Putin holds ground his forces conquered.

The whiners will whine that this is a betrayal of Ukraine. It’s not. We cannot betray a country that it not our own. It is instead a rational and ruthless bit of realpolitik – we must pursue America’s interests, not Ukraine’s. Ending this war is in America’s interest.

Again, I support Ukraine in both the abstract and practice – I would give them some aid. Ron DeSantis would too, just not aid that could expand the war. But it is clear that now America’s national interest is in forcing peace down both belligerent’s throats.

We have lacked a coherent strategy throughout this whole debacle. All we have done is employ reactive tactics. This has led to a stalemate in Ukraine, Russia and China growing closer as allies (and uniting with other enemies like Iran), and the depletion of European war-making capacity. Time to identify our strategic objectives. Our main objective should be to degrade China and maintain American supremacy. A supporting strategy should be to integrate Russia into the West to counter China’s rise. That means we need to get this war ended and start working to bring Russia into the West. “Degrade Russia” is one thing we hear a lot. How about a strong, Western-looking Russia that can keep the Chi Coms from taking all those sweet, sweet resources just sitting there in Siberia? The greatest foreign policy failure of the last 30 years was not Iraq or Afghanistan; it was the failure to bring Russian into the fold after the USSR fell. But our foreign policy hacks are so concerned with personalities – PUTIN! PUTIN! PUTIN! – they cannot focus on the world as it is and how to get it to what it should be.

Ron DeSantis gets it, and that’s why the people who have failed again and again and again are outraged at him. They were hoping they could co-opt him. Instead, when the election comes around the American people are going to be sick of this insanity and he will be right where they are – ready to move on from another endless war that only jerks like David Frum want.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Russia
KEYWORDS: 1938; appeasement; kurtschlichter; rondesantis; townhall; yeahno
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1 posted on 03/17/2023 9:02:16 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: Signalman

Ron’s strategy (likely from Rove) is to get as close to Trump’s positions as possible to appear to be a legitimate substitute, while avoiding uncomfortable questions.


2 posted on 03/17/2023 9:04:57 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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To: Signalman

This is one reason I’ve soured on Mark Levin, who is an ardent proponent of funding Ukraine’s campaign against Russia.


3 posted on 03/17/2023 9:07:08 AM PDT by fwdude (Society has been fully polarized now, and you have to decide on which pole you want to be found.)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

“Ron’s strategy (likely from Rove) is to get as close to Trump’s positions as possible to appear to be a legitimate substitute, while avoiding uncomfortable questions.”

I guess that’s one way of ignoring everything DeSantis has done, and is doing.


4 posted on 03/17/2023 9:09:36 AM PDT by Roadrunner383
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To: Roadrunner383

—> I guess that’s one way of ignoring everything DeSantis has done, and is doing.

Same. All positioning to overcome his Congress record and lack of non-government work experience


5 posted on 03/17/2023 9:13:56 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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Please Support FR
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6 posted on 03/17/2023 9:25:15 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Signalman

I don’t agree with Ron Desantis on this one.

He is correct, that this isn’t the priority for the US right now. He is correct that it is dangerous. However, we can’t exactly just pull out now because we don’t have a ‘goal’. Yes, there should be a plan, but we cannot disengage from this conflict now.

Trump is actually right. We need to force both parties to the peace table. The position that Desantis made really isn’t functional long term now. We can’t now ‘just leave’ the Ukraine conflict, it would be inviting another conflict, it needs a plan and resolution.


7 posted on 03/17/2023 9:26:49 AM PDT by Pete Dovgan
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To: Signalman

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not the result of some globalist neocon plot.


8 posted on 03/17/2023 9:31:04 AM PDT by popdonnelly (All the enormous crimes in history have been committed by governments.)
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To: Roadrunner383

This strategy works only if their are two candidates: Trump and DeSantis. DeSantis is going to lose a lot of mainstream primary support on the other end while chasing the Chomskyite fringe vote. Trump has them all locked up, anyway.


9 posted on 03/17/2023 9:35:43 AM PDT by lodi90
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To: Signalman

American interests such as the southern border can be pursued along with keep Muskovy in check. He’s just pandering.


10 posted on 03/17/2023 9:41:07 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Signalman

The Ukraine business has been chosen by the military-industrial complex as their market, since we Americans are only slightly involved ‘elsewhere’.

The Ukraine business is as old as before the time of Peter the Great. it has been held -released-held again, numerous times, to the profit of Russia, then to the profit of the Ukraine, repeat.

this business is not of American interest, either strategically, or through whispered biomedical enterprises funded by American political moneypots.

mssr. zelenskii is not a proponent of individual freedom , demonstrated by political decree to invalidate the orthodoxical religion, any language but ukrainian, most newspapers and communications other than through state agencies, and stood in the well of Congress, not requesting, but demanding materiel and funds from the American government.

yet, there are members in the halls of Congress who love this man, as there are those within the newsmedia, of all types, as well.

how much like the early days of Castro this seems to you?

as a ‘Cuban missle crisis gi brat’, and, a Vietnam War veteran, this ukrainian business needs to be severed, before, yes i will say it, the russians make irrevokable military maneuvers, by land, by sea, by air, by missiles.


11 posted on 03/17/2023 9:43:17 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

YES, DeSantis is correct—This is a stupid border dispute only and made worse as we wish to use it to break up Russia that refused to do as we say. This is an attempt to keep things the way they were. It will not work. Things are falling apart—due to corruption at home and a view that we are beyond history and destined for One World Utopia. American Rich believe they are “citizens of the World” no longer Americans. They face an inconvenient Truth.


12 posted on 03/17/2023 10:10:30 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade ( Ride to the sound of the Guns!)
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To: Pete Dovgan

“We need to force both parties to the peace table.”

Pray tell, how do you propose ‘forcing’ Russia to do anything at all? You can’t.

And any deal that ends with Russia keeping what they stole will be political poison for the appeasers who make it happen.


13 posted on 03/17/2023 10:17:58 AM PDT by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

“This is a stupid border dispute only”

Right. Russia says that their borders encompass all of Ukraine. The Ukrainians disagree.


14 posted on 03/17/2023 10:19:11 AM PDT by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

American interests such as the southern border can be pursued along with keep Muskovy in check. He’s just pandering.

- - - - - - -

Janet Yellen Admits 24% Cut in Social Security Benefits When Program Goes Broke in 9 Years
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4138612/posts


15 posted on 03/17/2023 10:21:32 AM PDT by TTFX
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To: lodi90

This strategy works only if their are two candidates: Trump and DeSantis.

- - - - - - -

I think you’re wrong. We will know during the primary if the other candidates get significant support.


16 posted on 03/17/2023 10:23:50 AM PDT by TTFX
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To: fwdude

I can’t say “I’ve soured” but I do disagree with an alarming number of people on Russia but I know on other issues 99% of other issues we are in agreement whether it be “99% maybe even 100% of Trump policies, illegals, taxes, limited government... etc.

No, I do not believe we should be the world’s policeman.

No, I did not at all support our involvement in Libya and the taking out Kadaffi.

No, I do not believe we should have troops in Ukraine.

No, I do not support a blank check from our government to ANYBODY.

Yes, I was not for or against Ukraine joining NATO. I was preferring it to remain a buffer between Russia and NATO so I was definately tilting against a NATO Ukraine. Russia’s actions since February 2022 have definately made me pro NATO Ukraine.

If Ukraine were located further east such as somewhere near Armenia or further I would never support military aid. But the location of Ukraine but because of its location and the objective of Putin wanting to take back more nations Most of them now NATO nations, I do support military aid for Ukraine against Russia.

If Trump were President, Russia never would have invaded Ukraine. NOT because Trump and Putin are friends as the media tries to claim, but Putin feared how a President Trump would have responded.

Remember, if Trump did not send Ukraine aid, Russia would be in Kyiv today. It was Donald Trump’s military aid that helped Ukraine push Russia out of the north.


I also support us keeping our promise. Keeping our word is very important so I do support our participation in NATO and supporting friendly nations such as Taiwan if attacked by China.


17 posted on 03/17/2023 11:49:27 AM PDT by tsowellfan
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To: TTFX

I like both Trump and DeSantis.

It is possible that both Trump and DeSantis along with Biden could be on the ballot. All Trump needs to do is run as an Independent.


18 posted on 03/17/2023 11:54:00 AM PDT by tsowellfan
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To: Terry L Smith

Under Reagan we did similar in Nicaragua and in many other countries. The Soviets made their threats. We are still here.

Only difference is, some have grown soft and woke after 8 years of Obama. Lost their compass so to speak.

I’m still the same


19 posted on 03/17/2023 12:01:50 PM PDT by tsowellfan
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To: MeganC

Which is the definition of a border dispute. For which America being involved in is dumb.

Any politician who support this madness and money grab in Ukraine is part of the problem and I won’t vote for them. Trump included.


20 posted on 03/17/2023 12:25:47 PM PDT by Rural_Michigan
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