The letter to Biden signed by 30 progressives wasn’t as pernicious as what Kevin McCarthy said about Ukraine last week—but it was close.
“The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting,” the Democratic congresswoman from Washington explained. This sidesteps the fact that the letter was dated Oct. 24. She should also know that it is very un-progressive to blame workers for the mistakes of their bosses.Even in her withdrawal, she exuded no understanding of what was so dreadful about the letter to begin with.
Yet, though the letter wasn’t as pernicious as McCarthy’s pronouncement last week—he said the U.S. will no longer give Ukraine aAddressed to President Biden, the letter urged him to “make vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire” in Ukraine.
Jayapal noted, in her statement of withdrawal, that Democrats have unanimously supported every request for economic and military aid to Ukraine. The letter also began by thanking Biden for his “commitment to Ukraine’s legitimate struggle against Russia’s war of aggression,” hailed Ukrainians for “their courageous fighting and heroic sacrifices,” and stressed that any peaceful settlement must preserve “a free and independent Ukraine” in a manner that is “acceptable to the people of Ukraine.
Even before Russia’s invasion eight months ago, Biden and his aides approached Putin and his aides about pledges and security measures—for instance, keeping Ukraine out of NATO—that might forestall war. Putin wasn’t interested. Nor does he display any interest in anynow.