'Highly' intelligent J.D. Vance's spiteful position on Ukraine a danger to the world

George Jaskiw
·3 min read
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Dr. George Jaskiw is the vice president of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio and Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University.

To what end Senator Vance?

You declared your animus towards Ukraine’s security shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Differences of opinion are natural, but your position and tone are arguably ill-conceived. Let us ignore moral imperatives and consider purely self-interest.

You contend that by aiding Ukraine we degrade our ability to confront China.

Most analysts, however, consider robust support of Ukraine, as the strongest check on China’s revanchist impulses.

Were Ukraine to fall, increased demands to secure Europe would limit our ability to defend Taiwan.

You dismiss as preposterous Putin’s capacity or intentions to expand his war, even as a growing number of military  experts at home and in Europe, warn about the likelihood of further Russian aggression.

Russia has only been escalating its belligerent rhetoric towards NATO. With 30% of his petrodollar-fueled economy committed to war, Putin can restore his prewar military capacity within 2-10 years.

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Strategic considerations demand that we prepare for and prevent catastrophic events of moderate probability. Mr. Putin’s predicates his conquest of Ukraine on termination of Western support, a termination that you advocate for.

There's been no blank check

A local resident reacts outside a building damaged as a result of missile attack in Kyiv on February 7, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At least three people were killed in a "massive" wave of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine early on February 7, 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
A local resident reacts outside a building damaged as a result of missile attack in Kyiv on February 7, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At least three people were killed in a "massive" wave of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine early on February 7, 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

You rail against blank checks to Ukraine, arguing that they fuel corruption, even though the funds, are subject to close scrutiny. No one is writing blank checks.

No one is flying to Kyiv with satchels of dollars. Ninety percent of our military aid to Ukraine is spent in the United States, $700 million in Ohio.  As to value, in return for 6% of our military budget Ukrainians have shed their blood to degrade 90% of Russia’s pre-invasion forces.

You recently claimed, “There are people who would cut Social Security, throw our grandparents into poverty. Why, so one of Zelensky’s ministers can buy a bigger yacht? Kiss my ass.”

Really Senator?

Tell me who wants to immiserate our grandparents. I too will advocate against them.

Russian allegations that Zelensky, his family or ministers are buying yachts and other luxuries are easily debunked. Why spread crude disinformation?

Why insult a partner being attacked by a proven liar?

Dr. George Jaskiw
Dr. George Jaskiw

You call President Volodymyr Zelensky a beggar.

Why insult the head of state of a NATO partner and our military ally in Iraq and Afghanistan? You are incensed that no one else poses “tough questions," such as why Zelensky resists requests to negotiate and why he throws priests in prisons. The first is based on a falsehood, the second is a paradigm of disinformation.

Ukraine’s leaders, know Russia’s poor record in honoring agreements.

Putin has declared his continuing commitment to conquering Ukraine not to negotiations. His war plans reflect that.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate promotes Russia’s ‘holy war’; an inordinate number of its clergy have been criminally indicted for materially supporting Russia’s invasion. They have been detained for treason, not for religious ministry.

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Good politicians provide context, educate, weigh arguments and seek consensus.

Demagogues traduce, purvey falsehoods and seek to inflame and divide. Senator, after graduating summa cum laude with a degree in political science and philosophy, you served as a combat correspondent with the United States Marines in Iraq.

You graduated from Yale Law School and were a successful financier.

You possess high intelligence, and a capacity for strategic thinking. You appreciate the power of language, and you can certainly distinguish truth from sophistry. Why are those skills so misdirected in your strident, spiteful and dangerous position on Ukraine?

To what end senator?

Dr. George Jaskiw is the vice president of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio and Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Zelensky is no beggar. J.D. Vance attacks put us all in danger