Better yet, how do we justify our own moral bankruptcy?

Our test is at hand.

Genocide is not too strong of word to describe Russian lunatic Vladimir Putin’s inhuman, brutal and savage attacks on the Ukrainian people. Nor is moral bankruptcy unwarranted hyperbole when it comes to America and Europe turning their backs on the war being waged on innocent civilians.

Thousands have died as Russian forces intentionally bomb homes and apartment buildings. Despite a supposed cease-fire, a mortar barrage killed civilians trying to cross a bridge to flee to safety. Supposed “corridors to safety” to allow civilians to escape to neighboring countries have been closed by direct shelling, Russian troops, in a siege, have shut off water, heat and electricity. The New York Times reports that “thousands could die” in “escalating Russian attacks.”

Evan a captured Russian officer called it genocide. He said that Russian troops hadn’t realized the true nature of their mission; they believed they were going to fight Nazis. He asked for forgiveness.

Exhumed mass grave of Srebrenica massacre victims in 2007

This is slaughter, pure and simple.

And yet, Putin marches on, freezing America, NATO and the European Union in place by threats of nuclear war. Coming from a madman who has lost his marbles, the threat must not be taken lightly. Most nations haven’t , and Putin, singlehandedly and extraordinarily has held an entire continent if not the world at bay. As world that cowers in fear of the possible.

Putin’s war crimes cannot be left standing. If so, any nuclear power (despotic China and possibly Iran, for example) can take over any state they choose. And everyone will do nothing.

So, what is to be done?

Show some cahonies.

Don’t keep telling Putin what we’re not going to do, as we’ve done. Jeez, let him guess, as he’s making us guess. At the least, stop imported Russian crude oil. Shut off all the Russian banks, not just a few. For some inexplicable reason, the Biden administration has left open loopholes in the sanctions. Stop tap dancing around the defeat of democratic principles.

Shut down the skies over Ukraine to Russia. Release those MIGS in Poland for Ukrainian airmen to fly. Deploy “Iron Dome,” the mobile all-weather air defense system deployed in Israel that destroys short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from as 43 miles. The Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) Intercept Land-based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) can counter incoming rockets, artillery shells and mortar fire. Not being a expert, I’m guessing that other defensive systems are available.

The Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) Intercept Land-based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) (U.S. Army)

Where’s the private sector? Hey, journalists, is anyone bothering to ask? Northrop Grumman says on its web page:

“For decades, Northrop Grumman has protected U.S. forces and our allies by designing, developing and delivering weapons of increasing complexity and capabilities for expanded missions and domains. We continue to build upon that legacy to pioneer weapons that consistently outmatch the range, speed, precision and firepower of fielded enemy weapon systems, with the parameters of current platforms in mind.

Is there anything in production that can be useful? One hopes.

Clandestine operations ought to be deployed. (If they’re not already, it’s unforgivable.) There’s too much talk about a “resistance” after Russia adsorbs Ukraine. No waiting around; resistance already should be underway. Perhaps it is, and we’re not hearing about it, as we shouldn’t.

Flood Russia with anti-Putin propaganda. Too many Russians buy into the lie that their country is driving out Nazi forces. RadioFreeEurope/Radio Liberty have been forced to close its Moscow bureau by Putin’s threat of 15 years for spreading “false information” that challenges the charade. Flood Russia with the truth; Russians must be made to understand that Putin has threatened to bring on thermonuclear war. The possibility is scaring the crab out of us; Russians deserve to be similarly frightened. Maybe they’ be frightened enough to do something about the madman running their country.

Putin has “tactical” nuclear weapons that can be used on the battlefield. If he does, if he escalates the war, the response must be swift, commensurate and unambiguous.

Putin must be stopped, NOW. The consequences of allowing him to absorb Ukraine are much too great. A victory of autocracy over democracy. There have been too many lately, giving autocrats evidence that their system of governance is superior. If it comes to that, the United States can no longer pretend this is a limited, regional war.

It’s delicate. I recommend  David Leonhardts’ “Preventing This War: What might have done it?” in the New York Times. It’s an intelligent discussion that reviews our actions and non-actions that might have stopped this bloodbath and what paths are ahead,

History is replete with genocides: the Armenian genocide, the Assyrian genocide, the Greek genocide, and the Great Famine of Mount Lebanon,] The Holocaust. Millions killed in Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda and Darfur.

From high on the mountain of hindsight, we clearly see that these atrocities should have been stopped in their tracks. What, we wonder, stopped anyone from doing it? How could anyone with any sense of compassion and justice allow that to happen? Didn’t they have a moral obligation? History condemns them.

Our test is at hand.

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