Dear Virginia Republican Delegation to the US House of Representatives:
Rep. Rob Wittman
Rep. Jennifer Kiggans
Rep. Bob Good
Rep. Ben Cline
Rep. Morgan Griffith
A Clear and Present Danger
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not only an example of tyrannical cruelty and an affront to human decency. It is also a threat to the national security of the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear that his mission is the coercive reassembly of the old Russian Empire and the creation of a Russian sphere of dominance throughout Europe.
In 1994 the United States, Great Britain, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement at the OSCE conference in Budapest, Hungary by which Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal in exchange for guarantees by those three countries of Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The present Russian invasion of Ukraine is a direct violation of that agreement.
As lifelong Republicans and Conservatives, we are concerned that a vocal group in our own party, on television networks and talk radio is taking on an isolationist cast at precisely the wrong time. The sad history of American isolationism before World War II informs us of the dangers of such a policy
The suggestion that the U.S. cease support for Ukraine, or force Ukraine to negotiate a surrender of its territory endangers peace and security in Europe and the world. If this aggression is not confronted it will signal to Putin and his supporters in Iran and China that starting a major war of conquest in
Europe will not be resisted.
Such American abandonment of Ukraine now, would open the door to further conflict in Europe, in the Pacific and beyond. A loss of American resolve increases the likelihood in the future of a general world war in which we would be forced to fight.
The U.S. has given much in aid to Ukraine and we support transparent accounting for those funds, The President, however, must make the case to the American people that Ukraine must be supported. Simply asking the Congress for financial support without a vigorous explanation of what is at stake is not sufficient to persuade the American people to rally to their own security in this crisis.
But let’s face it – it’s the Ukrainians who are doing the fighting. They haven’t asked for a single American soldier. To nearly everyone’s admiration the Ukrainians have already stopped Putin from conquering their country. But the fight is not over. We must not abandon these brave people. To do so will endanger the safety and security not just of Ukraine, but of America and its allies.
All of Europe is in this fight. European financial support for Ukraine now exceeds that of the United States, but Europe’s resolve depends as always on American leadership and commitment. We encourage you, our Representatives in Congress, to support Ukraine aid when the legislation comes before you.
When freedom is threatened, Virginians have always answered the call. The harsh lessons of the 20th Century taught us that confronting tyranny always comes at a price. American support now avoids a much higher price in our blood and treasure in the future.
Signatures:
Jim Gilmore
Former Governor of Virginia
Melvin Adams
Chair, VA 5th District Republican Party
Lee Edwards
Founder, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
Andrew Langer
President, Institute for Liberty
John Lenczowski
Former Soviet Affairs adviser to President Reagan
Tommy Norment
VA State Senate
Bill Pascoe
Herman Pirchner
President, American Foreign Policy Council
Rick Santorum
Former US Senator
Craig Shirley
Author, Reagan biographer
Mark Tooley
President, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Richard Viguerie
Jill Vogel
Va State Senate
Shonda Werry
Patriot Voices
Frank Wolf
Former US Congressman, VA 10th district
READ MORE from The American Spectator:
The Naivete of American Foreign Policy
Another GOP Fail: The Free Ride for Ukraine Nobody Will Take