What’s Honorable About War-Mongering

I thought you might find this part of Walter Russell Mead’s Wall Street Journal column about “Biden’s Only Honorable Course on Ukraine and Russia” interesting:

For Mr. Putin and the Russian nationalists whose support he needs, the consolidation of genuine Ukrainian independence is a threat. Russia needs Ukraine, they believe, to dominate the Black Sea, re-establish itself as the principal power in Europe, and defend the Orthodox and Slavic character of the Russian Federation itself at a time of rapid demographic change. A Ukraine aligned with the West, and especially with anti-Russian countries like Poland and the Baltic republics, is an unbearable humiliation and an unacceptable threat to Russian power.

which is closely aligned with observations I’ve made here. Russia has considered those things to be vital national interests for, literally, hundreds of years. They predate Putin, the present Russian republic, and the Soviet Union.

Here’s his proposed course of action:

Mr. Biden needs to reach a clear decision. If he is committed to helping Ukraine integrate with the West, he will have to convince Mr. Putin that he means business, possibly leading to the dispatch of significant NATO forces to the country. If he does not think Ukraine is worth the risk of a Cold War-style crisis with Russia, he must seek the most dignified retreat Mr. Putin will allow.

Neither course is attractive. Taking a hard line brings the risk of escalation. Many Americans will oppose another open-ended commitment, and Russian enmity for the U.S. will intensify.

Coming so soon after the Afghan meltdown and at a time when many longtime allies doubt America’s word, retreat would be even worse. Russia would become more powerful and more contemptuous of the U.S., while Iran and China will view Mr. Biden as a loser and adjust their policies accordingly.

From a position of strength, the U.S. can and should offer Russia face-saving ways out of the crisis, but on substance Mr. Biden should stand firm. The reality is that Russia has lost its battle for the heart of Ukraine. After encouraging Ukraine to cast its lot with the West for three decades, America’s only honorable course is to sustain Kyiv in this hour of trial.

The highlighting is mine. I would very much like to see the contours of such a “face-saving ways out”. I don’t believe there is one. I’m also skeptical that we are actually in “a position of strength”.

Does anyone believe that such brinksmanship is within President Biden’s wheelhouse? Can anyone provide an example?

I have other questions including:

• Why is expanding the European Union to include Ukraine in U. S. interest? I can see why it’s in Germany’s interest but why it’s in the U. S. interest eludes me.
• Why is expanding NATO to include Ukraine in U. S. interest?

I’m not asking why they’re against Russia’s interest. I understand that. Is the view that anything against Russia’s interest is in the U. S. interest? That’s a Cold War mentality which is very obsolete.