I wonder how many Ukrainians died last night defending themselves against Vladimir Putin’s honde of conscripts, convicts, and mercenaries. How many women were raped and how many children were kidnapped and taken to live in Putin’s vile paradise. But, more than anything, I wonder how long a confederacy of dunces in the American Congress will deny aid (ammunition) to the Ukrainians under the guise of an “America First” policy.

The policy is based on the cynical political assumption that Americans are too confused to see that Ukraine’s battle against Russian barbarism is an example of a foreign people’s willingness to put America’s interests on an equal footing with their own.

For the past two years, Ukrainian forces have held the Russians at bay. They have done this with no American forces on the ground. Clearly, this benefits America by holding Russia in check without costing American lives. But, as importantly, their courage has enabled American military and intelligence agencies to gather a trove of information on Russian logistics, weapons, and battlefield capabilities. Additionally, the military material with which the United States provides Ukraine is manufactured here providing American workers with jobs they might otherwise not have.

Finally, “the American Experiment” has a chance to repay history by supporting an out-gunned, out-manned country fighting a gigantic foe intent on crushing its independence: To give Ukraine a chance at survival as France helped the American colonies defeat the British in our Revolutionary War.

President Joe Biden will forever own the debacle of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and his political allies will forever own the rape of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin should they fail to act.

PAUL BRAY,

Alpena