WHICH PATH?

As I write this, rioting is continuing in the Ukraine in what appears to be a “grass root,” uprising by a people yearning for freedom. A video clip aptly entitled, “I Am A Ukrainian,” has become viral on the Internet in which a young woman pleads with the world for assistance to be free. They are fighting both Russian citizens of Ukraine and reportedly, small numbers of Russian troops. I don’t know if all (or any) of this is true at this point. What I do know is that we have a choice to make.

Throughout most of the last three quarters of a century the United States, which had, traditionally been an isolationist nation, found itself the leader of the Western World. Even after the end of the “Cold War,” it remained for a period of time, the only Superpower in the word, and thus the world’s policeman. Now, however, we've once again begun to contract our military, so the question arises, can we, and should we (even if we could) intervene in their struggle? Ultimately, such intervention could lead to a direct confrontation with the Russian Federation of a type not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis and, while it is unlikely that either country wants a war at this juncture, mistakes can happen.

On the other hand, these people, young and old fighting together, are the reason our Founders fought and died at Concord and Lexington, Camden and Valley Forge; to be independent of tyranny. But for the assistance of the French (admittedly we were a proxy in their war with Britain), The United States of America would not exist. Can we abandon the Ukrainians and others in Europe, Africa and Asia to their fate, or should we; must we be the world’s policeman and try to maintain the Pax Americana just a little longer?

So, do we help them? Do we?