Military aid to Ukraine appears to be held up in Congress, being held hostage for the sake of immigration reform.

Considering that immigration reform has been on the congressional  “to do” list since at least 2006 with next to little having been accomplished, it seems to me, that tying aid to Ukraine to action on immigration reform is really a way of saying No to additional aid without saying it. It’s like saying if you give me a unicorn, we’ll help Ukraine.

This is the saddest, most morally bankrupt situation I’ve seen in congress for some time, if not ever.

While I don’t agree that the Biden administration’s approach to events leading up to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation was the best way to handle the situation, that is the way it was handled, and Ukrainians shouldering the brutal onslaught is the reality of the situation. (This is not to say that this approach doesn’t have its merits, but it is rather expensive in blood and treasure for a war that could have been avoided.) This is what it is.

We cannot now, after the death and destruction that has been wrought upon Ukraine these last two years, turn our backs on their fledgling democracy in the one of the poorest countries in Europe; one with the will but lacks means to secure their right to self-determination, rule of law, and government of and for the people.

We all have some understanding that freedom isn’t free. On the surface, I just do not understand why aid to Ukraine is not unanimous in congress. But my cynical tendencies delve into the bowels of the issue to suppose that perhaps some members of congress might be attempting to sabotage any claim to success Biden may have with his Ukraine policy; to make something like the fall of Kabul into the fall of Kyiv. And as an aside, to some, there could be something thrilling about holding the fate of a nation and its people in their hands – sheer power, indeed.

With great power, comes great responsibility. Will they be derelict and allow even more death and destruction in Ukraine that would entail in the fall of Kyiv? I would not put it past them, and I fully expect that they will have no trouble sleeping at night or living with themselves afterward. No PTSD there, ever. It’s so easy to evade thought when the political and human tragedy is playing out half a world way, and one is so far removed from it. I suppose they haven’t read enough history books or seen enough real-life tyrannically induced blood and gore to be moved by the likely consequences of their choices.

In a similar matter, aid to Israel appears to have little resistance in congress. It’s not that I am necessarily against it. Israel just experienced its version of 9/11, and as other countries around the world pitched in to aid the US in our hour of despair, we should offer to Israel appropriate aid. But I question whether monetary aid is appropriate. War is not cheap, and Israel has means.

Weighing these to aid issues, considering that Russia has heaped a 9/11 upon Ukraine nearly every day for the last two years, it makes more sense to me to prioritize Ukraine aid over aid to Israel. If nothing else goes, aid to Ukraine should.

PS: Aiding Ukraine is the right thing to do. Period.