On the Conflict in Ukraine

I guess that it is time for me to weigh in on what is happening across the globe, especially since it seems that Russia may already be attacking Ukraine.

 For some of my readers, you may recall that I am an extreme non-interventionist. Being a follower of the Non-Aggression Principal means that I really don't think that the US should be the world police and intercede where we have not first been attacked.

For instance, I wholeheartedly agree with us responding to the 9/11 attacks with the use of force, while I disagree with the conflict that was seemingly never ending as well as the war in Iraq. Afghanistan didn't attack us, rather terrorists who resided in Afghanistan did. The proper course of action would have been to swiftly go after those responsible for the attacks instead of declaring an overreaching "war on terror" - which by its definition would last forever.

As for Iraq, without even getting into the WMD debate, they didn't attack us. They never used force against us, so why did we linger so long in the area? Why were we in the area in the first place aside from WMDs? 

And, as I mentioned before in my post about Iran, we were justified in the use of force since American citizens had been attacked. We retaliated and killed the man responsible for the attacks and that was the end of that. Of course, there was posturing on both sides, but things never escalated past what they were.

And let me state right here, that I think what is happening as far as the conflict in Ukraine is concerned is absolutely terrible. 

Now, as mentioned in the first link I posted up above, some countries are forcing sanctions on Russia for their invasion of Ukraine. I'm OK with that, but I'm also a little apprehensive as well since this could further anger Russia and cause a full blown, multi-national conflict.

If this does come to a full blown conflict, will the US then be involved in yet another war? I certainly hope not, as Ukraine is not our responsibility. We are not the world police.

Is Ukraine an ally? It seems that the US government is treating them as such in all but name. 

Some might point to an agreement signed by the US and the UK in 1994 as a de facto alliance, but it seems the agreement was more that we would not try to invade or deny the sovereignty of Ukraine if they gave up their nuclear weapons. The US and the UK also agreed to seek assistance from the UN if Ukraine was the victim of an act of aggression.

So, realisticly, that is what we have done. We have recognized Ukraines sovereignty, and we should have by this point sought assistance from the UN. No further action is needed on our part.

No further action should be taken on our part until such a time as we become the victim of aggression ourselves.

Oh, but our interests in the region are at stake! Poppycock. That is merely an excuse to flex our muscles and try to intimidate Russia. And trust me, after seeing the recruiment videos the US Army put out not too long ago, Russia is not the least bit intimidated by us.

We really have no business interjecting ourselves in a conflict between two other countries. But what if Russia attacks us‽ Well, then we are justified to retaliate. But we are never justified to attack first just because we fear we might be attacked.

If I'm fearful that I might be attacked then I take actions to either protect myself or be able to retaliate. I carry a pistol with me, not so I can attack someone just becuase I feared I may be attacked, but so I can protect myself if someone does attack me. The best offense is a good defense.

In other words, our best bet is to tell Russia and others that if we are attacked (and not just some "interests") then we will respond in kind. We will defend ourselves if attacked, but we will not be the aggressors in any conflict. 

Notice, I said defend ourselves. Not defend a country that isn't even our ally.

Yet, it seems that there are those on the Left and the Right who seem to want us to attack Russia because of their actions in Ukraine. They are basically no better than the warmongers they claim so many politicians are.

We should not hope for war, we should not be looking for any excuse to fight - especially just because we feel threatened. We should hope and pray that we can stay out of an fighting, but be prepared in case the fight comes to our door.

Again, what is happening in Ukraine is terrible. I will not deny that. It looks like they are having their sovereignty threatened. It looks like Russia is attacking simply to bolster themselves and maintin a semblence of power in the region. With the state of the media these days we may never truly be able to separate the real reason from propoganda from both sides.

And yet, while I think what is happening in Ukraine between Ukraine and Russia is terrible, I still don't think that this is the business of the US government or their military. I know many other disagree with me. I know many others want us to go ahead and attack Russia.

But I'd rather avoid conflict. I'd rather the US actually be at peace for a time instead of getting into yet another war. 

These are my political views, and I don't expect everyone to agree with me on these views. I have been a staunch non-interventionist since 9/11 - despite my joining the military and being deployed twice. I always felt like we should have made a quick action to take care of those who were responsible for the attacks against us. I always felt like we should have avoided a war in Afghanistan. I always felt like we should have never even been in Iraq. I felt like we should have stayed out of Syria instead of bolstering the "rebels". And I feel like we should stay out of this conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

And yet I still served my country and their interests, because at the time I felt like it was the right thing to do. Not so much any more. I can not in good conscience advocate for others to join the military to serve the politicians' interests overseas instead of serving the citizens of our country. Perhaps if we went back to minding our own business then I could advocate for people joining the military.

That being said, I still have the utmost respect for those who have served or are currently serving. Most don't see things the same way that I do, and I can't hold that against them.

I'm also still fiercely proud of my own service, and I mourn the loss of most of my mementos of my service (my flag, my clock, my ring, my uniforms, many of my medals, many of my patches). 

But, I digress.

I think that the best course of action for any of us to take, whether American, Ukrainian, or Russian is to pray for peace. We should always be praying for peace, and we should definitley pray for peace now. I'm a firm believer in prayer, and I firmly believe that prayer is always the best course of action.

Sure, our governments may be enitrely secular. But I am not. Many on either side of the conflict are not. We should be praying, constantly, for peace and unity.